OH MY WORD it’s TWO HOURS?
I had no idea.
But praise the Lord for DVR – we’re gonna fly right through all those pesky commericals.
Rudy Cardenas – “Free Ride” – First of all I would really, really like to own a t-shirt like the one he has on tonight. He sounds good, though he may have been a little over-the-top first time out, what with all the “WOO!”-age. But the boy can sing – no doubt about it. Fun way to start the show. I give him big points for being calm under pressure.
And it feels a little bit like old times to see Paula being outraged by Simon’s comments again.
Brandon Rogers – “Rock With You” – A little old school MJ from his “Off The Wall” days? I can get on board with that. And young Brandon can certainly sing well. But I think the problem for me is that the song is a little boring – not really something that the crowd can get into. I’m rooting for him, so I hope he comes out with all guns blazing next week.
Jason “Sundance” Head – “Nights In White Satin” – OH, y’all. I am so sad, because this is one of my least favorite songs EVER. I was hoping he would come out and sing something really fun. Also, it’s a little strange, because when he sings loudly, he sounds just a little bit like Meatloaf. I’m worried that tonight’s performance wasn’t quite as distinctive as he needed for it to be. Aside from, you know, sounding like Meatloaf.
Paul Kim – “Careless Whisper” – OH, it takes me right back to seventh grade to hear this song. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like it then, and I wish I liked it better tonight. I do like the tone of this guy’s voice – but I just didn’t like this song choice. As Randy would say, “it was just aight for me.”
Chris Richardson – “I Don’t Wanna Be” – BIG POINTS for singing something catchy and crowd-pleasing, for doing an original take on a Gavin DeGraw song. And I do believe I detected a hint of a young Justin Timberlake on the stage. I thought he was adorable…even though his voice wasn’t perfect, he had personality for days. Really liked it. Afterwards I looked at D. and said, “Well, he was darlin’.” We’ll be seeing him for awhile.
Nick Pedro – “I Will Be Your Man” – He seemed to lose his way about half way through the song, but he does have a beautiful voice. And I appreciated that he didn’t try to scream or “overdo” the song. Once his nerves settle down, he’ll probably do just fine.
Blake Lewis – “Somewhere Only We Know” – I LOVE THIS BOY. I thought he was going to beat box, and then he hit us with a ballad. He’s great. He’s unique. And I LOVED seeing his daddy singing along with him. It sort of made me want to cry.
Sanjaya Malakar – “Somethin’ ‘Bout Your Love” – He seems like the sweetest person ever. And I love me a Stevie Wonder song. But I don’t think Sanjaya found his singing groove tonight. I just wanted to hug him.
Chris Sligh – “Typical” – He hasn’t even started singing and I’m sitting here on the couch saying “COME ON, NOW! COME ON!” And now that he’s singing, I have absolutely no idea what he’s singing, though I’m hearing the word “typical” a lot, so I’m assuming that that’s the title. I didn’t love the song, but I love him, so I’m going to continue saying “COME ON, NOW” all the way through the rest of the rounds. I’m just sayin’.
Jared Cotter – “One” – Y’all, isn’t he handsome? He’s really sort of disconcertingly handsome. And he did a nice job with the song until that unfortunate falsetto moment, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll go through to the next round.
A. J. Tabaldo – “Oh My Love” – Well MY WORD he was comfortable on that stage. It’ll be interesting to see what he does to set himself apart from the pack, because I think he’s going to have to take some risks to really break out. Very fun performance, though.
Phil Stacey – “I Could Not Ask For More” – I was really, really happy when he picked up that microphone stand and WENT TO TOWN after a sort of ballad-ish start. He did a great job once he really opened it up and sang. LOVED the second half of the song.
Who will go? My guesses? Sanjaya and Sundance. I don’t think they did enough to set themselves apart from the pack.
Best of tonight?: Blake Lewis. Without boxing a single beat. I thought he was FANTASTIC (remember, I’m trying to work that word into my vocabulary. How’s it working for me? Sounding okay?). I liked Chris Robinson a whole bunch, too.
Back tomorrow night with the Top 12 Ladies.
Can’t wait to see what y’all think in the comments!
Blake Lewis is my fave!!!!! The boys were just too “nervy” tonight!! They’ve got to find their groove. I think Sanjaya and Nick will be heading home…Hope the girls do better!
This is when I fell in love with your blog last year – your AI recaps, and here we are again, and I – I get to be FIRST to comment. Whoohoo!!! So probably kiss of death but I love the Daddy guy who loves to sing so much he missed his babys birth to audition and his wife loves him enough that she was okay with that. Not only does he seem to have what it takes, but she obviously does too. I agree with you on who’ll go – thanks for the recaps – you do so great at just sweeping it all up together and making it make sense for the rest of us. xoxo
My top picks: Blake Lewis and Phil Stacey. Poor Sanjaya… I think he’s out. I’d like to see Sundance do something really awesome, but tonight definitely wasn’t it. I really feel out of it because we missed “Hollywood Week” last Tuesday night and we forgot to record it… I hope I feel the groove again after tomorrow night!
Great recap! You’re right on with it…I didn’t think I would like Blake Lewis but tonight I thought he did a great job! I’ve really been liking Chris Sligh, think he’ll go through but it wasn’t his best. And Phil did a good job too. None of them just really blew me away but Blake came the closest.
I think Sanjaya might go, not sure on the other one.
Okay, I LOVED the beat boxing guy tonight, and so did Dh (he reminded him of the Coldplay lead singer). And I TOTALLY had an outfit just like Paula’s when I was in 8th grade. Yuck!
Sherry
Oh, and I forgot to say that Dh called Sundance “Sunshine”…I was cracking up!
Sherry
Paul Kim completely lost me with Careless Whisper. It was bad when George Michael sang it and it was bad tonight, especially when he pointed to his bare feet when he sang “guilty feet have got no rhythm”.
Love Chris Sligh, love him. Blake Lewis was definitely the best tonight.
And yeah, Sanjaya is probably going home. Bless his heart.
I think Phyllis is looking down and smiling at you for using the word “FANTASTIC.” That’s what I think.
Oh, yeah. And a big ol’ *YAWN*. :)
I’m with you all the way. 7 or 12, 7 or 12 that was what was running through my head the rest of the evening.
I was just tickled at the Teletubbies comment. May bite him later, though.
I think Phil has the stage presence.
OK, I HEART Blake because my only memory of that song is interminable Sundays after church, when my parents would lie around reading the paper and listening to (horrors!) soft rock! I HATED THAT SONG, and now, I love it. That’s the power of an actual good performance, which most of those other guys wouldn’t know if it came up and sang off-key in front of them. Sundance Head… wow. “Nights in White Satin”? (BTW, thanks for posting the titles, because my entire life I’ve thought it was “Knights in White Satin”… WHOLE different song.) That’s a terrible song, hard to sing even if you’re doing it right. The boys totally stunk up the joint tonight.
I just love stoppin’ by here from time to time for a little lift :)
I liked Brandon, Nick, Blake and Jared the best tonight! I had the same reaction as you for Sanjaya. I just wanted to give the kid a hug. He never should have listened to his sister. He should have picked a song he loved to sing.
I betcha Simon and Ryan and knock down, drag em out war of words after the show tonight. Man that was uncomfortable between the two. The last guy looked like he just wanted off that stage before he got caught in the fire.
You are spot on with your commentary. I am totally into Blake Lewis. He was awesome tonight and really surprised me. I had no idea he could sing. I think it could be Sundance and Paul “Barefoot” Kim that goes home. Sanjaya may get a second chance.
I’m totally with you on Blake…you wait..he’ll be spittin’ and slobberin’ up a storm next week with Randy encouraging him in the beat boxing.
oh, and get rid of the barefoot guy already…there is no dude i know with nice enough feet to show off like that..
Girl! I think they need to pull a 4th chair up to the judges table and invite you to AI for the season-you are “fantastic” and you SO make me laugh! I had to “leave” the show and tuck my girls in bed. Fortunately, we are still BEHIND THE TIMES and have VHS, so I recorded the show! I am so jealous that you have DVR. The girls and I will watch after school today. I so love this show!
Sign me up on the Blake Lewis wagon. He was just so darn cute!
I cannot believe I forgot to record the show tonight! So glad that you had my back and gave me a great update! Can’t wait for the girls tonight.
I love that you are keeping up with the American Idol list… I’m so hooked…
My pick…I think Paul Kim and Rudy.. sorry Rudy, you should probably go.. although I love little Sanjaya, I know he might go.. but he’s so cute. I could just pinch him…He’s so real.
I love,,, yes.. Chris Sligh and his meatloaf act.. I love Nights in White Satin. My others are Sundance, Blake and Phil Stacy… Awesome…
And I think I would love to sit down with Simon for one hour…I would like to see if he’s always like that. I think I could hold my own with him…I wonder if he knows the Lord??
Blessings
Connie
I just posted a recap too! Then I came over and saw this. FUN!! Yours is much more thorough than mine. I wasn’t reading you this time last year. I look forward to your weekly recaps!
I totally am on your side with Blake. What a cool guy and a great song choice.
OH! I have to agree with Big Mama’s comment. Pointing to the feet was MAJORLY high on the cheese factor scale. ugh. (I wanna give him the benefit of a doubt & think he simply got caught up in the moment.)
Blake was fabulous! Very current & cool.
LOVES me some Chris Sligh but I DO hope he can keep his mouth in check. Hope he keeps in mind that Simon could buy and sell him 10 times over & wields MUCH power over his future career! ;-)
Is it just me, or is poor little Sanjaya the long lost twin of Jack Black’s sidekick in Nacho Libre? I’m just sayin’ . . .
Come now girl…with comments like these not only could you be a guest bloggyjudge but you should be toootally comfortable having the words “ROCK ON” roll off your tongue.
We have adoption classes on Tuesdays and dont get home until 10:30 – Our satellite feeds the show starting at 11:00 and I stayed up almost to the end…who knew I could come get the re-cap here!
Phil was awesome, Blake was great and UNIQUE, and well, my boy Chris Sligh – he’s got it in him but he did make Simon akward and that’s gotta earn him points.
Tinky Winkie, Dipsy, Lala, Po…
Ohhhhh – I love American Idol season!! The best part is — We get to do it all over again tonight!!! I was so sad that Sundance flopped. Chris Sligh cracked me up again. I almost fell out of my chair laughing when he said he’d go postal if he had to sing “Sweet Home Alabama” again during the Birmingham audition. I live in B’ham, and yall we do OVER PLAY that song!! I love the song but I can relate. It’s funny that people on talk radio here are mad at him for saying that. I loved Rudy – the guy that kicked the show off. I don’t remember him from preseason, but I thought he was really fun last night. BooMomma – This is fun!!!! I can’t wait until your post tonight!!
Loved Blake, Chris and Chris. I thought everyone else was a little off tonight, but I’m sure they will get better.
Was any one else shocked that Ryan thanked Randy and Paula at the end of the show and totally ‘dissed Simon by not saying anything to him. That was cold! I wonder what is going on behind the scenes.
Thanks for doing this!
I went and wrote my own post before I read yours so now I can’t wait to see how we “compare!” My complete thoughts are on my blog at http://spitoutthecat.blogspot.com/2007/02/american-idol-im-so-hooked.html … now to read YOUR thoughts and comment :::grin::: Oh my we’re polar opposites on Chris Richardson! LOL I told mom he should be the first to GO! (And I’m impressed you know the real names of all the songs – some I made up ’cause I had no idea!)
Loved loved Blake!!!! Also thought Chris R. and Phil did Fantastic!!! Frankly, ALL the others put me to sleep. Really pulling for Chris Sligh and Brandon to be stronger next week. The Kim guy and Sanjaya need to go. Also, forgive me, I didn’t get the whole teletubbies joke. Could someone explain. Living in a bubble her in MS. Ha Ha
Woops! Here in MS — not her in MS!!
I am TOTALLY with you on your predictions – totally!
I was so pleasantly surprised by Blake! Woohoo!
Oh, I’m not sure how I found your blog – but I’m glad I did!
love blake lewis. chris sligh was actually singing a mute math song, which is a christian band. i wasn’t crazy about the song, but i thought it was good to put them there. oh you hit it with meat loaf, seriously, nights in white satin? what was he thinking.
Sorry…had to come back and fix my misspellings.
Despite his not-strong performance, I will go on record as saying there’s no way Sanjaya is going home this week…he’s way too cute and precious (man, I hope I’m right…I think he’ll get the grandma and pre-teen vote). My 6-yr-old loves him; of course, maybe I shouldn’t use my child as a prognosticating tool…he did latch on to Ace, Kellie Pickler and Bucky last year. Yikes!
There is a site I found a couple of years ago that monitors the call-in voting and then predicts who will go home….interested in knowing the site or what they predict?
It’s not 100% accurate but is usually almost right on.
Loved your recap! I thought the exact thing about Sundance sounding just like Meatloaf! What was up with that?
My fave are Blake, Chris, Chris and Phil. I was surprised to like Chris R and Phil.
So excited to follow your blog through the magical journey of AI!
I posted mine on my blog :) I agree with your go home pics. Chris was NOT one of my faves (matter of fact I couldnt remember his name LOL) he had that bobblehead thing going on that freaked me out. anyways, drop by to read my recap thoughts if ya wana ;) xoxo melzie
I agree with all of your comments. I LOVED Blake. It’s helps that I love the song, too. I thought the judges weren’t as positive about his performance as I was. He has a great sound to his voice.
I had to laugh at ellebell’s comment about Sanjaya looking like Jack Black’s sidekick on Nacho Libre. Hadn’t noticed that myself, but when I read it…. so true! I like that young man and I don’t think he will go home yet. I think he will get a lot of the young girls votes. I also agree that he needs to pick his own songs and step it up a couple of notches. I was sooo looking for Sundance to pull out all the stops…maybe next week. My pics to leave are Paul, Nick or Rudy. I totally agree with the majority that Blake was the best of the night. I don’t think he has had a bad performance yet though…he’s the one the others better watch!
Well, I wanted to watch it but we had promised to take the girls out, and since we don’t have DVR, I only caught the last half hour. The recap of Blake looked good, and I thought Phil did really good as well.
HOWEVER, at this very moment, I am waiting for the cable guy to come and install the beautiful thing that is DVR and Digital Cable. YES MA’AM. (Now I know all of y’all reading won’t be impressed, but Boo will.) Anyhoo, this very afternoon while I fold laundry, I intend to catch up with our mutual friend Ms. Paula Deen, and then while I’m at church tonight, I fully expect my TV to record AI for me. (I’m gonna try not to kiss the man when he comes. Ben frowns on that sort of behavior.)
21st Century, I have arrived! ;-)
Boomama, you were SO KIND in your recaps of each singer. I would have been much more cruel because I thought EVERYONE but Blake STUNK! I was bored out of my mind and I usually like the boys better than the girls…so I’m really dreading tonight! Hopefully the girls will prove me wrong :)Thanks for your blog! LOVE reading it everyday!
Emma Kate,
Teletubbies explanation: Simon Cowell once produced a Teletubbies record. So, Chris was dogging him for that.
Hey, you’d better let up on my little Sanjaya. :)
Love ya!
OK am I insane? I thought “Somewhere Only We Know” was an old old song.
I missed the show last night cuz I was helping Ashleigh move into her new home. But I sure did enjoy reading your *fantastic* recap. : )
Blake and Phil are my favorites so far. I also like Chris Sligh. But Blake really impressed me!!
I don’t even know what in the world was going on since I am, um, not watching this season, BUT–what was up with Paula? She doesn’t look so good, no?
I am all for Phil! He is from Jacksonville, a good christian, worship leader, Navy guy!! And family man, love his voice!!
I’m guessing Sanjaya and Paul Kim are out, but I LOVE me some George Michael!
Two hours?? It seemed like 10 to me. With the exception of Blake (whom I loved) everyone sounded kinda bland.
I also wish Chris had not made such a mean-spirited comment to Simon. It just put him on Simon’s mean old level. And whoo, boy, the tension between Ryan and Simon? Drama, drama, drama.
My favorite last night? Blake Lewis. By a long, long shot. But my man is Chris Sligh. I love him. And Rob and I both think Sanjaya and Sundance will go this week. Sanjaya is a sweet, sweet boy but he’s just too gooey. And Sundance had a couple of great moments in the beginning but he can’t seem to pick it up again. Very disappointing performance last night.
The only thing I have to say is that last guy is CREEPY looking…the way he stares straight on at the camera…you can’t see his mouth and he looks like that horror monster creature form the 20’s or 30’s with the bald head and the pointy ears…it gives me the willies just thinking about him…That aside, he and Chris Sligh had the best performances.
Wow, I’m thinking you must be younger than me or taking really good notes or somethin. You know their names and the song names too.
I describe them more like “the guy who had a target on his shirt” or “the one who pointed to his feet”.
I think Sanjaya and Sundance should go. I think Sanjaya is sweet and has a nice voice, but just not a lotta strength behind him. And poor Sundance. We’re rooting for him, but he just doesn’t seem like he can deal with the pressure. He doesn’t really seem happy ~ more like a fish out of water.
But the guy with the target on his shirt was totally hokey to me. I hope they all do better with their song selections next week. It was almost sad to see how much better many of them did in their auditions than they did on the show last night.
Maybe the pressure is just too much there…
Put me down for Blake Lewis. He’s my number one. Then Phil Stacey and then Chris Sligh. Those are my top three faves.
Blake blew them all out of the water.
I like Chris, but really I just want him to say something funny.
I wish Sundance would have done better. I like him. And how cool would it be to have the next AI be named Sundance?
2 cents…there ya go.
Boomama I’ve been turned on to some really neat blogs thru these comments, we need a mr linky of AI commenters on their blogs so I can visit them all every week LOL xoxo melzie
I don’t think any of these guys stand a chance against Melinda and Lakisha-
No doubt about it-Those girls can sing!!!
yes, but did you vote???
I like your recaps and pretty much agree with most of them. :)
Before this I wasn’t really sure who I liked or if any of them were even good enough (with exception of Chris Sligh because I am still majorly in his court) but this was a good show and at least now I have more of an opinion. :)
I think Sundance will go, too, but I’m not sure about Sanjaya. For me, there were a few a’ight performances and I’m not sure which one will go. I guess we’ll see. :)
Those girls – just amazing – and just beginning…wow! I had to comment again on my (leetle, tiny) obsession.
Blake, Chris S., and Phil are my top three guys.
I thought all the guys sounded like they were auditioning for the Backstreet Boys or something. What’s with all the breathiness? And don’t they make guys with deep voices anymore?