Because I Can… the random thoughts of Marc Scott

Here we go… live blogging my thoughts as I watch the American Idol Results show.

My first thought… for the love of bacon people… make these shows 30 minutes!  Dragging the show out for a full hour is cruel and unusual punishment!!!

I am not surprised Michael is in the bottom 3.  He didn’t have a very strong performance last night.  I certainly hope this isn’t the end of the road for him though.

On the other hand, I am utterly shocked that Allison is in the bottom 3.  She is, in my opinion, one of the top females on the show.  Her vocals, for 16, are insane!  The girl oozes talent.  If she goes home tonight I might have to throw up or something.  OK, so maybe I won’t throw up, but I would have to do something drastic!

I love Brad Paisley.  The Fishin’ Song (or I’m Gonna Miss Her, or whatever they call it) is one of my all time favorites.  It’s classic.

The fact that Megan is not in the bottom 3 and Allison is, is entirely ridiculous!  Megan, as far as I’m concerned, was the worst performance of the night.  I understand she was sick and all, but really… she sure as heck isn’t better than Allison!

OK… bottom 3 of Michael, Allison and Alexis… that blows my mind… I mean… it BLOWS my mind!!!  The 2 best females on the show are in the bottom 3.  America… who the crap are you voting for???

And it’s down to Michael and Alexis and guess what… neither one of them deserve to go home!

I am so frustrated with the Idol bottom 3 that my hand has randomly started bleeding as I sit here and blog about this! :p  OK, so maybe that’s not why my hand is bleeding, but I did just look down and notice that it was bleeding!

Why does Carrie Underwood have a dead spider in her hair?

Sounded like Randy Travis was losing his voice or something tonight.  He wasn’t his usual Randy Travis self.  Love that guy.  Solid duet with Carrie and Randy.

No question, if necessary, judges will save Alexis

WOW! Michael is safe.  I can’t believe Alexis, who is the best female on the show is singing for her life now.

This is one messed up Idol.  It should’ve never got to this point.  The bottom 3 was completely screwed up tonight.  I can’t figure this one out.  America must need better dialing instructions… I blame it on Seacrest! :p

If I didn’t love my TV so much, I’d throw it out the window right now.  How is Alexis out and Megan is in?  It’s ridiculous.  I can’t believe the judges didn’t save her.  I was sure they would’ve saved her.  I don’t even know what to say.  I need to go to something drastic now…

Scott out! :p

Country week.  This will be great for some, and it will be tough for others.  So here we go, live blogging Idol.  For what it’s worth, Randy Travis is cool!

Michael Sarver doing Garth Brooks. Risky song.  Like Randy Travis said, lose the lyrics in any spot and it will be hard to recover.  He nearly lost it once on Ain’t Going Down Till The Sun Comes Up.  All in all, he did a good job.  It wasn’t the greatest demonstration of his vocal ability, but it was a good performance.  VERDICT: I think he’ll be OK.

Side note… Kara has a great smile.

Allison Iraheta is up next.  This girl is a rock chick, so to hear her do country should be interesting.  I love this girls smokey voice.  She has bright hair.  Very bright red hair.  Even as I listen to this girl sing, I can’t believe she is 16.  Hokie Dina this girl has a voice.  I think Patty Loveless would be proud. VERDICT: Allison sails through.

Another Garth song… hmm… notice a trend?  I miss Garth.  Anywho, Kris Allen is doing To Make You Feel My Love.  I’m surprised that he is not using his guitar.  I think I would’ve liked to hear him do it with just his guitar.  What a soulful performance.  Wow.  This guy really shows more and more ability every week.  That was awesome.  VERDICT: No worries for this guy.

Lil Rounds doing country.  This is going to be a tough one for her because this girl is R&B.  She can sing though.  I get worried whenever anybody sings Martina McBride.  There are just some artists that shouldn’t be touched, and I think a lot of stuff from Martina falls into this category.  The judges adore this girl though.  I wonder if she could ever do wrong in their eyes?  All in all, a OK vocal performance considering that she said herself she’s never heard a country song outside of a movie.  VERDICT: Safe

I am just not a big fan of Adam Lambert.  I’m really not.  I mean, he is a musical theatre guy.  He could do musical theatre like nobody else I’m sure, but I just don’t like his vocals in this competition.  What do I know though?  The judges practically bow at the alter of Lambert.  Thankfully Simon tells it like it is.  Brutalized Johnny Cash as far as I’m concerned, but he’ll be around regardless.  VERDICT: Like it or not, Adam is safe.

Scott MacIntrye doing Martina McBride… huh???  This is very odd to me.  I’m worried about his song choice.  He really does have a good voice, and I love to watch him at the piano.  He is a different artist when he is at the piano.  If he recorded a CD of just him playing piano, for what it’s worth, I’d buy it!  I love listening to him play.  All in all, I was surprised.  It was better than I originally expected. I’m confused by Paula.  Does she want the blind guy to dance around the stage?  Stay behind the piano Scott!  VERDICT: He should go through.

Alexis Grace is the female to beat in my opinion.  She is good.  It’s that simple.  Another girl with a smokey, rocky voice.  Her take on Dolly Parton’s Jolene was safe I thought.  It did show a different side of her though.  She can soften it up, while still flexing her vocals.  VERDICT: Nothing to worry about for several more weeks I’m sure.

Danny Gokey is just awesome.  I’ll buy CD when it comes out.  I suspect it’ll come as as American Idol 2009, but even if he doesn’t win, I’ll still buy his CD when it comes out.  Trust me… there will be a CD!  He did Jesus Take The Wheel and I loved his version of it.  He has such a powerful voice and he sings with some serious passion. VERDICT: See you in the finale.

Anoop Desai singing Willie Nelson.  When Randy Travis says, “heck that was good man” that has to be a huge confidence boost for a guy!  It’s a new Anoop tonight.  Very smooth vocals.  I think it was one of the top performances of the night!  A HUGE improvement from last week.  I think Anoop Dog is back!!! VERDICT: He’ll be safe.

Megan Corkrey doing Patsy Cline.  Her performance didn’t impress me at all.  In fact, it was very uncomfortable for me to listen to.  The judges are singing her praises though.  I don’t get it. VERDICT: Should be the end of the road.

Why are all the guys singing songs by females?  It seems odd to me.  However, I love Matt Giraud, and I think he can sing anything.  This is another guy with some serious soul and I love watching him at the piano.  I really hope he is around for awhile.  He brings a great flavor to the competition. VERDICT: Vote this guy all the way to the finals!!!

So there we are, the Top 11 have performed.  Based on performances tonight… Megan impressed me least.  I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the end of the road for her.

OK.  Here we go.  Live blogging Idol, sort of.  I’m watching it on the PVR, but live blogging while I go.

What’s with the booth announcer?  Not a big fan of that guy.  He just doesn’t seem to be the right fit.  Maybe I’m just jealous because I wish it was me! :p  Kara is looking fabulous tonight by the way. :-p

Michael Jackson night… I’m good with that.  This could work well for some of the performers tonight.

First up, Lil Rounds kicks off the show with “The Way You Make Me Feel” which is one of my favorites.  It was OK for me.  But just OK.  That song kicks tail, and I don’t feel like she kicked tail.  Too bad too, because she is more than capable, vocally, of kicking tail.  Judges praise seemed a little much for me.  Maybe you had to be there live or something?  VERDICT: Judges lover her… she is safe.

Scott MacIntyre doing Michael Jackson?  This could be interesting.  He’s at the piano for “Keep The Faith.”  This is what we’ve been waiting for.  Scott at the piano.  At least, it’s what I’ve been waiting for.  You can tell right away he is just more comfortable when he’s at the piano.  OK, he nailed it.  The last couple weeks I’ve thought he was pretty week, but he nailed it tonight.  Great performance!  Simon hated it?  Hmmm.  I usually agree with Simon.  Not on this one.  VERDICT: Great story… he’s safe.

Somebody needs to help Kara learn how to use a microphone!

Danny Gokey picks PYT.  I wasn’t a big fan of the start, but he stepped it up big time.  This guy could sing the phonebook and it would be a hit.  Really, there is nothing else to say!  Awesome performance, HUGE stage presence.  America… meet your next Idol.  I do agree with Simon on the Michael McDonald comparison.  I agree with that entirely.  VERDICT: Give it to him now.

Michael Sarver and You Are Not Alone.  Interesting choice for him.  Would not have been the song I would’ve picked.  This guy is such a good singer though.  I love his voice.  He has great tone, and great control.  The fact that he is a roughneck is so cool to me, because you just don’t put the two together I guess.  I know that’s a stereotype, but he is definitely shattering it.  VERDICT: He’s safe.

Jasmine Murray was a wild card pick, and personally, I just don’t get it.  I don’t know how she is in and Kristen McNamara is in.  I know, I need to get over that!  She has an OK voice.  I just think there are some people that are a little better that got sent home.  She was solid tonight that, singing I’ll Be There.  I’ll give her that much.  VERDICT: Singing for her life, in my opinion, she might have saved herself tonight.

Kris Allen had on moments and off moments in Hollywood and the early rounds, but I do think he can sing.  It’s amazing how much more comfortable some of these guys are with their instruments.  It really does make a noticeable difference.  Kris did Remember The Time and it seemed very plain and simple to me.  Maybe a little forgettable.  To me, thus far into the show, this is the weakest performance.  VERDICT: I think he might be in the danger zone.

Allison Iraheta kicked some SERIOUS tail during her group of 12 performance.  In fact, she owned the night that night.  What a smokey voice.  And what is she?  16?  Wow.  She sang Give In To Me and it just seemed a little awkward to me.  Maybe not the best song choice.  I still think she has an incredible voice though, and she definitely seems very comfortable on stage.  VERDICT: She’ll be back.

Anoop Dog… Anoop Desai.  What a cool, fun guy.  Beat It is a stretch.  Some songs just shouldn’t be redone.  Michael owns this song.  He has a good voice and he is just so easy to like though.  He seems pretty comfortable on the stage too.  That’s always a good thing.  VERDICT: Wrong song, we’ll see.

Jorge Nunez… sorry, but I am just not interested in this guy, nor have I been from the beginning.  I don’t know why.  I mean, he is a good singer.  VERDICT: People seem to like him.  I am not one of them.

Megan Corkrey just doesn’t strike me a someone who would sing Michael Jackson.  She did Rockin’ Robin and to me, it was a little goofy.  I don’t know.  She reminds me a bit of Natalie from the Dixie Chicks.  She has a good voice and she can sing.  It just seemed like a joke performance.  VERDICT: Odd… very odd.  Not sure.

Adam Lambert… I’m still trying to figure out what the big deal is with this guy.  If I close my eyes and listen to him, I wouldn’t be sure if he was a guy or a girl.  I suspect he’d own Musical Theatre, but I don’t feel the same way about Idol.  I will definitely stick to Michael’s version of Black and White.  VERDICT: People love him.  Judges love him. He’s safe.

I am so glad Matt Giraud got another chance courtesy of the Wild Card.  There is something about this kid.  He’s got soul.  He’s like Danny in that regard.  Plus, the piano makes a HUGE difference for him.  He seems much more confident when he has a piano.  He did an awesome version of Human Nature.  VERDICT: Love him… hope he stays!

Save the best for last tonight?  I think maybe.  Alexis Grace… dang.  Unquestionably the top female in the competition in my opinion.  She is simply awesome.  It’s like Danny… what can you say?  You really don’t need to say anything.  Just shut up and listen and her performance speaks for itself.  VERDICT: Top female… see you for many weeks to come.

So two are going home.  Hmmm.  Based on performance… Megan and Anoop probably need to be worried I think.

I had to wait until I got home from work to watch American Idol tonight.  Now I’ve watched it, here are a few random thoughts…

Jesse Langseth was bad.  Plain and simple.  I fast forwarded it.  Wrong song.  Bad performance.  Sank her own ship.

Matt Giraud… love this guy.  Still love his performance of “Georgia” from Hollywood.  I’m so glad he got a second chance.  He blew it bad with Coldplay.  He definitely picked a better song tonight.  Something more in his element.  This was the Matt that caught my attention in the beginning.  So glad he gets a spot in the Top 12!  I think he’s going to be around for a while… as long as he doesn’t try anymore Coldplay!

Megan Joy Corkery… she was one that I considered “on the bubble” during her Top 36 performance.  I don’t know how to describe her other than unique.  She just brings a different vibe to the mix.  Not sure how long she’ll last overall though.

Did anybody get the feeling that the judges had their minds made up before the performances even took place?

Von Smith is an epic over-singer.  That’s really all there is too it.  Fast forwarded most of his performance too.

Jasmine Murray has just never really impressed me.  She has had moments, but overall, there are FAR better females that got sent home.  Kristen McNamara and Felicia Barton are among them.

Ricky Braddy was awesome with his Top 36 performance.  He just didn’t stand a chance being in the same group as Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver, as I have said before.  I thought he did a great job tonight too.  He is definitely better than some of the other guys that got through.  I hope he comes back and tries again next year. It’s too bad that he got sent home.  This one doesn’t make sense to me.

Tatiannoying… I mean, Tatiano Del Toro.  Umm… nice accent?  Where did you pick that up?  Walmart?  Good grief.  This girl is a fruit loop.  I think, maybe, she is mentally unstable.  I mean, she is all over the map.  I must, however, give credit where credit is due.  At times, she can sing.  There is a voice in there.  She just needs to eliminate all the drama and then take that excess energy and channel it into her singing.  I’m glad she sang Whitney again though.  That guaranteed her failure to move on!

Anoop… keep the traffic coming to my blog brother!  Anybody else find it ironic that Tatiana sings Whitney and Annop-dog follows it up with Bobby Brown?  HA!  This guy is just cool.  Not the strongest male singer, but he’s just fun to watch.

Of those that performed tonight, I am glad to see Anoop and Matt move through.  I’m still really bitter that Megan and Jasmine are in and Kristen McNamara is out.  That is simply wrong!  That’s ridiculous!

I am to flabbergasted to even piece together the words necessary to blog tonight.  So this one is going to be short.  First, Idol results…

Lil Rounds… good call.  Great singer.  I’m happy with this choice.

Jorge Nunez… really?  I mean… really?  Sentimental pick or what?  Definitely NOT among the Top 3 performers last night. Don’t get me wrong, the guy has a good voice.  But I just don’t get this one. 

Scott MacIntyre… clearly this is a judges pick.  I mean, they’ve been pushing him all along.  He has a great made for TV story.  The guy has had his moments.  He does have a voice.  I think he is definitely better with a piano. But the last 2 times I’ve seen him perform it’s been weak.

Now the losers… Ju’Not Joyner and Kristen McNamara, as far as I am concerned, are the biggest losers of the night.  Two of the best performances, two of the best voices, and neither of them are through.  That’s just ridiculous!  If somebody has a logical explanation for how Tatiana Del Toro gets a second shot over Kristen, I’d love ot hear it… and then tell you how nuts you are! :p  I will draw the same comparison for Von Smith and Ju’Not.  It’s just mental!

Three people will get in via the Wild Card.  If Tatiana Del Toro is one of them I will do something drastic. I don’t know what that would be, since drastic really isn’t in my nature… but I’ll come up with something!

If I had to pick 3 from the Wild Card list it’s got to be Matt Giraud, Anoop Desai, and I’d call it a toss up between Megan Corkery and Ricky Braddy with the decision leaning slightly more towards Megan.

Matt was awesome in Hollywood.  Then he had a brain fart or something, and sang Coldplay.  As long as he picks something with soul, which is more in his element, he’ll be good.  Anoop gets in because Randy loves him and google searches of his name generate more traffic on my blog than any other googled Idol.  Megan has a shot because she is unique amongst the other females.  Ricky Braddy nailed his song in the first group of 12, but when you’re up against Michael Sarver and Danny Gokey, you don’t stand a chance!  I’m glad he is getting another shot.  I hope he does well.

I guess we’ll find out tomorrow night.  In the meantime, if you need me, I’ll be screaming into my pillow over the prospects of Tatiana making it to the Top 12.

Busy night tonight.  A funeral visitation, a trip to Ikea.  A fire call.  Building furniture.  However, I did just finish Idol and here are a few quick thoughts…

Jackie Tohn: Bad song!  Even worse pants!  She’s fun.  I like her personality.

Ricky Braddy: I don’t even remember this guy, but he nailed it tonight.  Wow.  Of course, it helps that he song one of my all time favorite songs (although I prefer the Michael Buble version).  Great vocal.  Solid performance.  I’d like to see him stick around.

Alexis Grace: The girl has got soul!  Wow!  Best female of the night hands down!  She’ll be back.

Brent Keith: I think this guy is a lot better than his performance would make you believe.  There is something there, but I don’t think he put it out there as much, or as good, as he could have and should have tonight.  Look for this guy to pop up on Nashville Star perhaps.  Plus, Kara thinks he is cute.  Having Kara think you’re cute is worth the Idol journey alone!

Stevie Wright: Train wreck!  Wrong key!

Anoop Desai:  I’ve liked this guy from day one, but he didn’t bring it tonight.  Definitely the wrong song choice!

Casey Carlson: You know what I love, I love when somebody tanks, and instead of critiquing the song, they just talk about how beautiful you are!

Michael Sarver:  I love this guy.  I seriously have been pulling from him.  But totally wrong song tonight!!!  He’s got soul.  He needs to pick better songs if he is given another chance.  I hope he gets that chance.  He really is a great singer!

Ann Marie Boskovich: She has a good voice.  Tonight was not her best performance though, and the stakes are high.  Tonight needed to be her best performance.

Stephen Fowler: Bad spin on a great song.  I really like this guy, but he finished himself off tonight.  That’s too bad.

Tatiana Del Toro: When I found out she was singing Whitney I actually cheered.  Only Whitney sings Whitney and does it well.  So I cheered because I knew she was putting, what stinking well better be, the final nail in her coffin!!!  If she comes back, then America is screwing with the show on purpose!

Danny Gokey: I have picked this guy to win from audition week.  But, if I’m going to be completely honest, I wasn’t nearly as impressed as Randy, Paula and Kara were.  I was with Simon.  It was good, it wasn’t great.  It’s also not even close to what Danny is capable of.  No worries though.  He’s guaranteed to be back.  He’ll have a chance to redeem himself!

All in all… a rather forgettable show filled with a lot of less than stellar performances.

I’m living blogging round 4 while I watch it.  So here are my random thoughts…

Anoop Desai is the first to make it in.  Good choice.  I like this guy.

Von Smith seems to try way to hard, and as a result, I’ve been unimpressed thus far.  I think if this guy relaxes a bit maybe he’d be a little better.

Adam Lambert is way to theatrical for me.  Unless he steps it up, I don’t expect him to last long.

Taylor Vaifanua has been on and off and on and off.  If she can control her nerves though, I think she could be one of the stand out females.  She really has great pipes.  I look forward to seeing more of her.

Joanna Pacitti… good grief.  For a girl who was a professional recording artist, how is it possible that she has forgot her lyrics every single time?  Simon is so hardcore about lyrics and I can’t believe that she is in.  This one really bothers me.  She was terrible.  She never gave a single audition worthy of being here.  The conspiracy is apparently true!!!  They are trying to fix Idol.  Speak with the vote!  That’s all we can do now.  Somebody more deserving is going home to keep this girl in.  That sucks!

Have I ever mentioned that Kristen McNamara is a cutie?  She said “Oh golly.”  That’s adorable.  I’m glad that she is through, and I think Simon was totally wrong and I’m glad he got out voted on this one!  That being said, you had to know she was going through.  She is the one that’s got all the TV time.  I didn’t even know who the other girl was.

Scott MacIntyre brings a cool dynamic to the show.  When he sings and plays he is really good.  His voice reminds me a bit of Josh Groban.

Lil Rounds is going to be another one of the stand out females!

Simon is brutal sometimes.  I mean, just brutal.  He’s honest, but still, it’s hardcore!

OK, after a brief interruption for a fire call… we’re back to live blogging Idol.

Danny & Jamar are simply great.  Great singers, great friends, great guys.  Definitely an inspiration.  We should all be so lucky to experience friendship like that.  Danny, as I’ve said all along will be there at the end.  I am really surprised that Jamar isn’t in.  Actually, I’m shocked.  How is it that he gets sent home and somebody like Joanna gets to stay?  That is utterly ridiculous!  Everybody in the room knew he belonged!  I think they got this one wrong!

Stephen Fowler has such a fantastic voice.  If anybody deserves a second shot, he deserves it.

Norman Gentle… Nick Mitchell… I don’t even know what to say about this guy.  I really don’t.  But somebody please explain to me how he is in and Jamar is out?  That’s just wrong!!!

Have I mentioned in this blog that Kara is so cute?

Jackie Tohn reminds me a bit of Melissa Etheridge.  A bit a raw, gritty, raspy rock voice.  But she can sing a ballad too.  I’m looking forward to seeing her develop.

For the love of bacon… Tatiana Del Toro… what do we have to do to make her go away???  This is the most outrageously stupid thing!  How is this possible?  What a crock.  I quit!!!

Jackie Midkiff deserved to make it through over Nathaniel Marshall no question.  I don’t get it.

So it comes down to Matt Breitzke and Michael Sarver (formerly Jeremy Michael Sarver???).  Both of these guys are so cool with such great stories.  I have liked them both from the beginning.  I think it’s awesome that they’re both in.  That is definitely the right call!

So now the fun begins!

I’ve just finished watching Kara… uh… I mean, Idol.  I know how much so many of you await my recaps for my incredible insight *choke, so here we go…

Has anybody else but me ever noticed that every season is “our biggest season ever?”

Quote of the night… contestant in the makeup chair, “I feel like my manhood is being taken from me.”  Amen brother!  I’m with you!

No offense to Barry Manilow, but when the average age of your contenstant is 24, is he really the best pick?  I bet the vast majority couldn’t even name a single Manilow song!

Anoop Desai… he is one to watch.  Same goes for Stephen Fowler.

Can somebody please explain to me why “Norman Gentle” is still on this show???  He’s just annoying.  If he’d just drop the act and sing, then maybe there is something there.  But he won’t drop the act.  Go home!!!

Wanna make an episode of American Idol better… drop in a little Michael Buble!!!

I’ve wanted a Ford Flex since before they came out… where is my Ford Flex?

Danny Gokey is still where my money is at!!!  Refer to the post, “I’m Calling My Shot” for more on this topic.  His friend Jamar has some serious pipes too.

Simon, brother, please… Bikini Girl?  Come on now!  She can’t sing!  For the love of someone greater… she’s too young for you.  Let it go Simon, let it go!

And finally, Jeremy Michael Sarver may be a roughneck from the oil fields but the guy can sing!!!