American Idol Episode 38 - Top 3 Performance Review

Submitted by The Critic on Tue, 2006-05-16 18:02

Tonight our three remaining American Idol contestants have a real challenge on their hands. Two of them will go through to the Grand Final and one will miss out. To get there, they will each be singing three songs. One chosen by the judges. One chosen by themselves. And one chosen by legendary music producer Clive Davis.

I am finding it really hard to decide who I want to see in the Grand Final. Now that Chris Daughtry has gone, I'm thinking that it should probably be Taylor and Katharine but Elliott has really stepped it up. If Elliott can continue to impress this week then we may very well see him in the final with Taylor as I think Katharine may on her last legs in this show.

It's going to be a big night so buckle yourself in and get ready for a real treat.

Stay tuned for details as they come to hand.

Elliott Yamin
Clive's Song choice: Open Arms
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5701 or 1 866 436 5704 or 1 866 436 5707
TXT Vote to 5701
My Thoughts: This is a nice song for Elliott. Once again he's singing it but he's so broadway. Great voice. But better on broadway than in pop music.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Katharine McPhee
Clive's Song choice: I believe I can Fly
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5702 or 1 866 436 5705 or 1 866 436 5708
TXT Vote to 5702
My Thoughts: As much as I am over this song I am loving Katharine's phrasing in the verse. She's quite Christina Aguilera sounding tonight which is surprizing for me to actually admit that I'm liking.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Taylor Hicks
Clive's Song choice: Dancing In The Dark
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5703 or 1 866 436 5706 or 1 866 436 5709
TXT Vote to 5703
My Thoughts: When Bruce Springsteein first released this song I loved it. Hearing Taylor's performance of it was ok but it felt a little reserved for me.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Elliott Yamin
Paula's Song choice: What You Won't Do For Love
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5701 or 1 866 436 5704 or 1 866 436 5707
TXT Vote to 5701
My Thoughts: Elliott is slightly off his pitch in this song which makes it a little harsh on the ear. After the wonderful vocal performances he has been putting out, this kinda undoes all of that. Not a great vocal at all.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Katharine McPhee
Simon's Song choice: Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5702 or 1 866 436 5705 or 1 866 436 5708
TXT Vote to 5702
My Thoughts: What is it with the song choices for Katharine tonight?? However, starting accapella and bringing in a soft guitar is real classy. This is so tender and sweet. Once again I am loving her phrasing. I am impressed that Katharine has twice been able to wow me with two songs that I really aren't big fans of.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Taylor Hicks
Randy's Song choice: You Are So Beautiful
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5703 or 1 866 436 5706 or 1 866 436 5709
TXT Vote to 5703
My Thoughts: This is once again a nice song choice for Taylor. He doesn't have the best the chops left in the competition by any stretch of the imagination but he's so entertaining. Fantastic.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Elliott Yamin
Elliott's Song choice: I Believe to my Soul
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5701 or 1 866 436 5704 or 1 866 436 5707
TXT Vote to 5701
My Thoughts: This was an ok performance for me but I don't think Elliott has pulled out the same level of performances that he did last week. This may be the last time we'll see him on the stage tonight.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Katharine McPhee
Katharine's Song choice: I Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5702 or 1 866 436 5705 or 1 866 436 5708
TXT Vote to 5702
My Thoughts: This is an adventurous song that Katharine has chosen and while it wasn't her best performance of the night it was definitely the kind of song I'd expect to hear her choose. Katharine has a great voice and I think she's done enough to put her into that Grand Final spot.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Taylor Hicks
Taylor's Song choice: Try a Little Tenderness
Ph Vote: 1 866 436 5703 or 1 866 436 5706 or 1 866 436 5709
TXT Vote to 5703
My Thoughts: Well... The intro of this was just plain boring. Thankfully there is some life after the intro where the Taylor that we've all come to know and love over the last 15 weeks or so is able to come into his own. I can't see the grand final without him in it.
Randy:
Paula:
Simon:

Voting Numbers and Voting Information

Submitted by ~american idol fan~ (not verified) on Tue, 2006-05-16 19:18.

I think katharine did very

I think katharine did very good! like always! :)

Submitted by Richard Sandoval (not verified) on Tue, 2006-05-16 23:15.

I cant believe that Taylor

I cant believe that Taylor has gone this far. I have enjoyed him from the beginning. Lets wrap this thing up so I can buy his record!

Go Taylor...

Submitted by lilsis74 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-05-17 07:52.

I have to say - last night

I have to say - last night was a struggle for Eliot. he definately did not bring his A game - and that is sad, because i really want to see Eliot and Taylor in the final two. I don't think Kat deserves to be there at all. She has not been listening to the judges. She is to busy working the cameras - and many people i have talked to agree with this - her last song last night was awful. How can you sing "Ain't Nothing But the Blues" while continuously flirting with the cameras and smiling??? I am big on connecting yourself to a song, and Kat lacks big time in that field. she also can't seem to listen to the judges when they tell her she does not have the voice she strives for - the whitney or maria all over voice - just sing the songs. when she over-sings she ends up pitchy and off and ruins her talent that she obviously has. Eliot is a dream voice - he just needs the confidence to back him up. and Taylor - charisma, vocal talent....we'll be seeing him next week! SOUL PATROL!

Submitted by rockerman (not verified) on Wed, 2006-05-17 09:38.

Last week chris got kicked

Last week chris got kicked out - 138 responses, this week - 4 responses just goes to show who was this seasons star, o well i hope taylor wins, soul patrol 4 life :)

Submitted by amio (not verified) on Tue, 2006-05-23 04:07.

I think all the Idol

I think all the Idol hopefuls lack the phrasing and diction required to be great, at this point; but they are all young, so perhaps the developemnt of such will remain to be seen.

Katherine has somewhat of a big voice that gets screechy during high notes and contrary to the opinion many seem to be posting, has the worst phrasing of the three. During her "Over the Rainbow" rendition, beginning and ending words to entire choruses were lost due to unsure, noncommitted emphasis at the start and out-of-breath, melt-away attempts at melisma at the completion. I think her mother's uncontrolled, surprisingly ungracious applauding of Elliott's departure (as opposed to that of her own daughter's) sealed the next round of voting for me. What could be mistaken for a perplexed deer-in-headlights lack of responsiveness on the part of Katherine during her somewhat defensive responses to the judges' evaluation is revealed to be an unable-to-be-checked calculating, disdainful hauteur that seems to have been passed from mother to daughter. Yes, the mother is beautiful, as is Katherine in a Linda Ronstadt meets Jessica Alba kind of way, but man, does she come off as cold, cold, cold.

Taylor is just funny and funky. He's pleasant and at this point has ensared some sort of a cult of personality. I'll vote for him because I like my American Idols nice and approachable. Afterall, it's not only a singing, but popularity, contest too, right?

I think if many voters had seen the montage of Elliott's heartfelt visit to his hometown, they would have voted him in over Katherine.

Submitted by Gety (not verified) on Fri, 2006-06-09 16:35.

Elliott should have at least

Elliott should have at least gotten to runner-up. :(

(and yes, i did vote. lol)

www.yaminmachine.com

Submitted by sonyguy (not verified) on Wed, 2006-05-17 07:43.

McPhee is by far the best

McPhee is by far the best vocalist of the three. Her tone and phrasing is astounding. She forms each note like an old master artist. Elliot also is great, but is a notch below Cat. He does however have great melodic skill and is willing to take chances musically. On the other hand Taylor is so boring musically, it's hard to believe that he has gotten this far. There is no depth to his voice at all and he has such limited vocal chops compared to Cat and Elliot. I guess Americans are quite ignorant when it comes to music(and Presidents) so it's not so suprising that Taylor is the favorite to win this thing. At least Simon has been honest about him. As someone in the music business, I know that I speak for many others when I say, thank you Simon.

Submitted by The Critic on Wed, 2006-05-17 14:42.

I have to agree with you

I have to agree with you SonyGuy! The only thing that Taylor has going for him is that he is extremely entertaining to watch and I think that is why he's made it as far as he as in American Idol.

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