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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2006 > March > 07
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
3/7: Mandisa’s night again!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mandisa is the queen of the kingdom and Katharine, Kellie, Ayla, Paris and Lisa are part of her court. In the meantime, Kinnik and Melissa are the likely departures Thursday, as Simon noted. This was a much better night than a week ago, even better overall than week one.
Mandisa (Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Womanâ€? ) — Trivia: She sucked her thumb til she’s 24. Trenyce sang this song season two. Mandisa is singing it even better. Perfect song choice for her in style and lyrics. That was hot! Randy: “Yo. I’m giving you your props. Check it out. This to me is the best vocal by a female this season. She just sent the benchmark.â€? Paula: “That’s what we’re talking about. Your range was awesome. You sang your butt off.â€? Simon: “Every one of these girls are going to hate your guts tonight because you made everyone who appeared before you appear ordinary. This is the only one I would rewind on my tivo and watch again. It was in a completely utterly different league.â€?
Katharine McPhee (Aretha Franklin’s “Thinkâ€?) – Katharine (now dubbed Mcâ€?Feverâ€?) denied odd rumors that she had dropped out because of pregnancy was denied. She does a rousing version of Aretha. It was entertaining and upbeat. Pitch perfect. She’s winning me over little by little. Randy: “Dawg pound. We got a hot one right here! Very nice!â€? Paula: “It’s great to see you cut loose. You are a well-oiled machine.â€? Simon: “I have to agree with Randy. That was a risk and you pulled it off. You made it effortless. You will sail through.â€?
Kellie PIckler (Melissa Etheridge’s “I’m the Only One”) She loves her dog Comet. Anyway, we are hearing a Melissa Etheridge song AGAIN. But she does a fine job. She doesn’t have the greatest voice in the competition but she picked a solid song for her vocals. Love her enthusiasm! Randy: “I knew I liked you before because of the dog thing. I have the dawg pound here. Every week, yhou’ve been very consistent. A great song choice. You did a great job.” Paula: “You’ve got your groove on.” Simon: “You are known as a naughty little minx.” “What’s a minx? she asked innocently. He said, “A nice bad girl.” then the shociker: “I prefer you to last year’s winner,” he said. WOW! “I’m a mink,” she said. “No, a minx,” Ryan said. I think Simon’s in luuuuuv. :)
Ayla Brown (Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten� ) – Trivia: she thought her dad was Elvis. She picked a current top 40 hit. It’s a good song choice for her. She really is trying to loosen up, break that robotic thang. And she did an excellent job. I liked her for the first time. Randy: “The song was okay. I think you got to be cautious with songs like this. It’s not a singer’s song. It only has a five-note range. It’s not going to give you a ‘wow’ factor.� Paula: “I love to give you credit. You fight the fight every single week. You are working your butt off. It’s interesting to hear a contemporary song. I think you handled it and rose to the occasion.� Simon: “That was pretty good actually. I love you in your film clips. I’d just love that young person we see on the film be on the stage as well. That’s more appealing than what we heard tonight. It was good but it wasn’t fantastic.� “It was a risk but I feel I needed to take the risk,� she said. “This is more of a performance song.�
Paris Bennett: (Miami Sound Machine’s “The Congaâ€?) — It was light, frothy and good. Not a showstopper, though. Randy: “It wasn’t my favorite choice. You can sing anything. I want you to challenge yourself. You have this unbelievable talent.” Paula: “I prefer you doing uptempo. It’s a very difficult song to sing. I was surprised by the choices you made melodically but they captured my attention.â€? Simon: “Last week we said do a younger song. But to be honest, it’s your enthusiasm, your age, just the fact, you’re a great entertainer will get you through. I think you’re feeling the nerves because it’s an important week. Vocally, it was okay. People love you. So see you next week.â€? “I’m going to dance my way to the top 12,â€? she said.
Lisa Tucker (Tiffany Taylor’s “Here’s Where I Stand�) – She shows off a little Jimi Hendrix guitar playing, which was funny. Then, the song, which was just okay. She does it with verve and finesse and a sheen of professionalism. But again, not a showstopper, not a “wow.� “Still a little older for me… I want you to slay it. It didn’t come off great, great for me, just alright.� Paula: “I see a seasoned performer. I always go back to your poise and performance value is amazing. I wish you had sung a song we could get into.� “We think you’re supertalented but you’re singing songs which sound like your mum’s choosing them. They’re not believable for you. There is a disconnect. You will sail to the next round.�
Kinnik Sky ( Alicia Keys “If I Ain’t Got You�) – She is a chitlins fan. This is a tough song to sing. She does a good job with the verse, but she doesn’t blowtorch the chorus. It sounds off. She needed that final kick which she didn’t quite get. Randy: “I love the song. Started out amazing. Got a little sharp. Caught up with it at the end. I don’t think you nailed it.� Paula: “You found your style. You found your style. I don’t know if you could hear yourself. You were off with your pitch and stayed sharp.� Simon� Midway through, ti was really appalling. It went all over the place. I think you have booked your plane ticket home. At least you can have your chiklits.� Um… chitlins. She acknowledged being sharp but said, “The next time, the only sharp I’ll be is in my dressing.�
Melissa McGhee (Heart’s “What About Love� ) She’s into fast cars. So why not a Heart song? It’s a good song choice for her, a decent smoky voice. But she still has a feeling of a backup singer, not a lead. “That song choice was really good. Got a little away from you at the end. You had the look and the poise. You even sounded like Ann and Nancy.� Paula: “You’ve been improving, you’re coming out of your shell. You are a powerhouse, a force to be reckoned with.� Simon: “I totally disagree. I think that last note booked your plane ticket home, sweetheart. You shouted the song. I think you’ve blown it.�
3/7: Bo Bice on Thursday’s results show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since they gave Carrie the publicity last week, now it’s Bo’s turn. Bo, who lost promotional momentum after he got sick again a few weeks ago and has seen his album sales drop off rapidly with minimal radio airplay, will try to goose things up by singing “The Real Thing” Thursday night during the results show.
Here’s the breathless Fox press release:
Tuesday, March 7, 2006 HOT FROM FOX…
BO BICE RETURNS TO “AMERICAN IDOL� TO PERFORM HIS HIT SINGLE “THE REAL THING� THURSDAY, MARCH 9, ON FOX
Top 12 Finalists to be Revealed This Week
Last year’s runner-up Bo Bice returns to the AMERICAN IDOL stage this week to perform his hit single “The Real Thing.� After his performance on the results show Thursday, March 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), this season’s Top 12 Finalists will be revealed.
Bice’s first album, “The Real Thing” (19 Recordings/RCA), produced by Clive Davis, made a smashing debut on the Billboard album chart, opening at No. 4. The album is nearing Platinum and has sold over 550,000 units. Bice’s current single “The Real Thing” is being played on Top 40 radio, and his video is airing on VH1 and MTV. The video debuted on TRL Thursday, March 2, at No. 8 and moved up to No. 2 on Friday, March 3, and No. 1 on Tuesday, March 7.
Tonight, Tuesday, March 7 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 8 girls perform in hopes of getting enough votes to secure a spot among the Final 12. Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 8 guys will have their shot at joining the Top 12 Finalists, who will be announced on the results show airing Thursday, March 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). On Thursday’s show, after the performance by fan-favorite Bice, four more contestants will be eliminated, ending their quest to become the next American Idol.
Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.
-FOX-
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3/7: Most overlooked Idol contestants
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
EW, in thumbsucking mode, came up with the top 5 most overlooked Idol contestants here
They are, from five to one, Jessica Sierra, George Huff, Trenyce, Lisa Leuschner (remember her? She was pretty good) and Jennifer Hudson.
Personally, I’m still partial to our very own Vanessa Olivarez, and last year’s Nadia Turner. Naturally, Tamyra Gray is another one who got booted before her time. And I was always a big fan of “Scooter Girl,” who never even made it into the final 36 in season three.
Who are some others you felt were ripped off too early?
