The NGH Report - American Idol 11's Top 12 Girls: "I'm ready to be exposed.", Please comment what you think! Options

[nevergoinghome]

The NGH Report – American Idol 11’s Top 12 Girls: “I’m ready to be exposed.”

It’s that time of the year again! The special time when all of the Idol diehard fans peek their heads out of their holes, stretch, and then relentless spout their cynicism and negative outlooks to anyone willing to hear them. It’s like clockwork. “This is the worst season; ever!” “They all suck!” “I can’t believe we’re stuck with these contestants!” If you hear one of these insane men and women voicing their complaints… please, kindly remind them that we just began and they are usually wrong. I’m a little sick of having to remind viewers that almost every season had a period of time where people thought it was “the worst season.” It’s like a fine bottle of wine. Let the thing breathe, people! Be patient, calm, and even forgiving at times. They can’t come out of the gate looking like Kelly or Carrie! It’s a process. Flow with it!

It was the girl’s turn to take the stage and, in my opinion, they are far more talented, as a whole, than the men. Ryan, of course, decided to jinx the whole thing by reminding America that if a girl wins it will be “our first female winner in five seasons.” Way to curse us all, Ryan.

One interesting change I’ve noticed on American Idol this season? The subtle ways they like to take a dig at the Voice. They aren’t dumb. They see the ratings and know that changes will have to be made, but I also think American Idol is a little bit ticked off that the Voice is going around calling themselves “America’s #1 singing competition” so soon. After all, what the hell has the Voice given us? Javier Colon? What did he do? Sell a couple thousand records and then open for a few lame bands on a small circuit tour? I know people in New York City who can sell more albums out of an open suitcase on 42nd street. So, it was satisfying to hear Ryan plug the show as the “only one to make stars.” It’s true. Until The X-Factor or The Voice can deliver… American Idol is still the only place to take a nobody and turn them into a somebody.

Let’s get to the ladies… who, apparently, all thought they were headed to prom. What’s happening with these wardrobe choices? Are these styles in? Have I been out of school for that long?

Here we are!

12. Haley Johnsen – I don’t… I don’t even know what this was… Say what you will about Baylie’s performance… at least it looked like an American Idol performance. Honestly, Haley came off as an audience member who was entertaining the crowd during the commercial break. “Sweet Dreams” could have been interesting, but without changes it was an absolute nightmare. Where do I start? First of all, stop making the gypsy hands. You aren’t a fortuneteller and waving your arms in the air makes you look like a loon. Randy, thoughts? Keep it real, dawg. “This was a little trainwrecky.” I’m not sure there is such a thing as a “little” train wreck, but you tried, so I’ll give you a completion credit. NOT SAFE.

11. Baylie Brown – Baylie sang the classic Idol staple “Amazed.” It’s been sung over and over again with varying degrees of success. This wasn’t anywhere close to a success. Sure, Baylie is unbelievably attractive, and in a form fitting pink dress managed to look sublime, but she didn’t take my advice. The American voters don’t want to support Jessica Rabbit. They want the “girl next door.” The first half of the song was almost entirely flat, though she did manage to pick up some steam towards the end of the number. Unfortunately, her voice was just way too thin to rise above the sound of the band. She might sound good in a studio, but she was consumed by the sound of that studio. NOT SAFE.

10. Chelsea Sorrell – I didn’t realize Minnie Mouse auditioned for American Idol! What happened with her speaking voice? It was a mixture of a young girl and an old stripper. There’s a nice personality in there, but I couldn’t help but think of her as an inferior version of Lauren Alaina. “Cowboy Casanova” wasn’t a terrible song choice to start the show with… if you have diction and are able to open your mouth wider than two inches. You need to have that full sound or else your placement gets lodged between your eyes and you sound sharp and nasally. The verses ate her alive, thought to be fair, I was too busy watching her move around in that dress. Dang, those girls be jumpin’! I feel bad for young Chelsea, because with vocal lessons she could be really good! She’s just out of her depth in this competition. Now, I’ll just move along since we now the judges don’t have anything to say- Wait, what? They judged tonight?! Well, okay, Randy and Jennifer have sometimes given a critique so maybe it’s not such a big deal… Steven? “Watch your phrasing!” WHAT IS HAPPENING?! NOT SAFE.

9. Brielle Von Hugel – What were those things sticking out of her head?! Those aren’t ears, they’re bike pegs. Jeez. This was actually a bit of a surprise for me. “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” was not the most obvious song choice for a singer like Brielle, but the end of the song allowed for a kind of redemption moment. The first half was too low for her, but when she jumped the octave she managed to actually inject some fire into her stale demeanor. If you can’t sing the verse… don’t pick the song. The verse is important. It isn’t just filler until the chorus, and while that part was rocking, I don’t care… mainly, because I hate her. NOT SAFE.

8. Hallie Day – Hallie gives me a Marilyn Monroe vibe, but like… a depressed Marilyn Monroe… Learn to smile more, sweetheart. You seem a bit closed off on camera and that isn’t going to help you connect with the viewers. “Feelin’ Good” was an alright choice, but once the song began to pick up she seemed a little uneasy. Vocally, there were some strong moments, but there were just as many weak ones. She had a tendency to hit a note and then fall off of it too soon. It’s a pretty common error, but it’s one that can be fixed very quickly with some conscious effort. “I want to bring soul into anything I want to do.” Great. Here’s your first step: stop looking miserable!! NOT SAFE.

7. Jen Hirsh – If you were to tell me last week that I’d be putting Jen Hirsh in the middle of the pack, I’d have called you crazy, but here I am… smacking her right in the middle of my rankings. What went wrong? How did this once frontrunner sink so low? “One and Only” should have been a hit for her, but her voice sounded thin and she wasn’t singing from her chest. She was pushing so hard in her head voice that it made her voice seem fragile. I’ve seen her sing before, and I know this wasn’t her, so if she does make it into the finals then she needs to be put on notice. This was not the performance she needed to win this competition. NOT SAFE.

6. Hollie Cavanagh – “Reflection?!” Really?! The song from Mulan? Hollie, who apparently is from England, is cute as a button. Is the theme for this season “Tiny Girls with Giant Voices?” She’s so deceptive! When I heard she was going to sing this, I was like, “Oh no… this will be unfortunate.” But, guess what? The little blonde creature pulled it off! Yes, her voice sounded strained once or twice (mainly due to her terrible habit of wrenching her neck backwards instead of adjusting her shoulders), but for the most part this was a very solid vocal. She was fierce and this was a classic old-school American Idol performance. Hollie needs to keep this up. She might not make it through on votes, but she is certainly a strong contender for a wild card slot. NOT SAFE.

5. Erika Van Pelt - STOP WITH THE MOBILE DJ nonsense. Look, I get what it means, but I think you can just call her a DJ. There are very few DJs that don’t have multiple gigs which require movement. We really don’t need to discern which DJs in the competition are mobile or stationary. Let it go. Erika, trying to rock a “Mom who tries to dress like Kelly Clarkson look,” strutted confidently around the stage belting out Heart’s “What About Love.” Personally, I loved this. The song, the performance, the confidence, and the voice… it all clicked together. Was it unique or original? No, not really. Will I want to watch it over and over again? Unlikely. But it was a very, very solid vocal and that might be all she needed to get a chance to compete for a wild card spot, or, if she is lucky, voted into the top 5 girls. NOT SAFE.

4. Shannon Magrane – Hmm… Shannon has some strategy in her young head. The song, “Go Light Your World,” was religious and full of faith inspired themes, and if you think the heads of the Bible-thumping voters in the South didn’t cock to one side like a mutt hearing a dog whistle… well, I have a bridge to sell you (I honestly don’t get this saying; I’m not in the business of selling bridges. I don’t have the education or interest to start an engineering firm, though I’m sure there are plenty of good ones available if you do a Google search). Shannon, apparently deciding to wear her baptismal robes for this performance, stood perfectly still and delivered a powerful vocal that was almost too on the nose. I’m willing to cut Shannon some slack here, since it’s the first live performance, and allow her to scoot on by with a strong vocal… but there has to be something else in the future. You need to be more than a good singer. You need to be a product. What do I get if I buy a Shannon Magrane record? Besides, of course, coupons for a free purity ring and chastity belt… NOT SAFE.

3. Skylar Laine – I have a new nickname for Skylar. “Deer Hunter.” It’s going to be epic. You know what else was? “Stay With Me!” I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Skylar in the competition, which is odd, because when I saw her in auditions I couldn’t stand her as a contestant. There’s something raw about her… something undeniably authentic. She really is a country girl. Lauren Alaina was a special little princess, Carrie Underwood was a special little princess, Kellie Pickler was… well, just special. They weren’t country, and I can see that now. None of the previous girls terrified me, but Skylar? Man… Skylar could rip me apart. She has an amazing stage presence, and the capability to maintain her breath support while practically goose-stepping across the stage. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of that song. Sign me up; I’m a fan. NEVER GOING HOME.

2. Elise Testone - The top two positions in my rankings were very close this week, but I decided to put Elise in second only because she didn’t seem to have the same confidence on stage that Jessica Sanchez displayed. So, if you watched the program, you would have noticed that both Jen and Elise sang the same song: Adele’s “One and Only.” Who did better with it? Let me put it this way… Elise did to Jen what men do to women in Lifetime Original Movies. This was brutal. It was Russian mob @#$%. Elise, accompanying herself on piano, absolutely murdered the number, and Jen was nothing more than a bad taste left in our mouth. I can’t wait to see what Elise does next, but she very may well have knocked her biggest competitor from the competition in one swift stroke. NEVER GOING HOME.

1. Jessica Sanchez – Unreal. Her voice is unreal. We were told that she was sick before her performance of “Love You I Do.” So, here’s the question I pose to you, my readers… if Jessica can sing like this when she’s sick… what will she sound like when she’s healthy? What could she do with real rehearsal time?! You know how I know Jessica is going to make it into the finals? I couldn’t stop smiling for two minutes straight, and towards the end of the number, I had to reach down and lift my jaw off the floor. Who the hell is this girl and where did she come from?! NEVER GOING HOME.

Who should make it into the top 5 girls?

Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine, Shannon Magrane, Erika Van Pelt

Who will make it into the top 5 girls?

Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine, Shannon Magrane, Hollie Cavanagh

See you tomorrow for the big results!!

NGH

[Cacity87]

I completely agree with your ranking... EXCEPT I'd switch Hollie and Erika Van Pelt. And I really hope that Top 5 makes it through tomorrow!

[guilhermeaoshi]

The NGH Report – American Idol 11’s Top 12 Girls: “I’m ready to be exposed.”

It’s that time of the year again! The special time when all of the Idol diehard fans peek their heads out of their holes, stretch, and then relentless spout their cynicism and negative outlooks to anyone willing to hear them. It’s like clockwork. “This is the worst season; ever!” “They all suck!” “I can’t believe we’re stuck with these contestants!” If you hear one of these insane men and women voicing their complaints… please, kindly remind them that we just began and they are usually wrong. I’m a little sick of having to remind viewers that almost every season had a period of time where people thought it was “the worst season.” It’s like a fine bottle of wine. Let the thing breathe, people! Be patient, calm, and even forgiving at times. They can’t come out of the gate looking like Kelly or Carrie! It’s a process. Flow with it!




12. Haley Johnsen – I don’t… I don’t even know what this was… Say what you will about Baylie’s performance… at least it looked like an American Idol performance. Honestly, Haley came off as an audience member who was entertaining the crowd during the commercial break.



10. Chelsea Sorrell – I didn’t realize Minnie Mouse auditioned for American Idol! What happened with her speaking voice? It was a mixture of a young girl and an old stripper.










[b][b]4. Shannon Magrane – Hmm… Shannon has some strategy in her young head. The song, “Go Light Your World,” was religious and full of faith inspired themes, and if you think the heads of the Bible-thumping voters in the South didn’t cock to one side like a mutt hearing a dog whistle…[/b] well, I have a bridge to sell you (I honestly don’t get this saying; I’m not in the business of selling bridges. I don’t have the education or interest to start an engineering firm, though I’m sure there are plenty of good ones available if you do a Google search). Shannon, apparently deciding to wear her baptismal robes for this performance, stood perfectly still and delivered a powerful vocal that was almost too on the nose. I’m willing to cut Shannon some slack here, since it’s the first live performance, and allow her to scoot on by with a strong vocal… but there has to be something else in the future. You need to be more than a good singer. You need to be a product. What do I get if I buy a Shannon Magrane record? Besides, of course, coupons for a free purity ring and chastity belt… NOT SAFE.


2. Elise Testone - The top two positions in my rankings were very close this week, but I decided to put Elise in second only because she didn’t seem to have the same confidence on stage that Jessica Sanchez displayed. So, if you watched the program, you would have noticed that both Jen and Elise sang the same song: Adele’s “One and Only.” Who did better with it? Let me put it this way… Elise did to Jen what men do to women in Lifetime Original Movies.



NGH

Yey, NGH report came faster this time, thanks man! And I agree about pretty much everything (just would put Shannon lower than Erika, still don´t buy this girl, she seems fake and her song choice was just a smart move to creat some appeal with the audience.
Anyway, you really know what you´re talking about about the technical mistakes this contestans are making, and for most of them (who we saw doing alot better), it have to do with the nerves. Specially the girls, alot of them came of as if they are vocal tired, as if they stretched too much (with the combination of the nerves, can really hurt they voices).
So yeah, like you said at the beginning, people need to give this contestans time to feel confortable on that stage and be able to show they personal best. I´m sure none of them showed they best this week (Joshua probably was the only one who came full force, with Phillip and even the sick Jessica coming closer. Whi? Because they felt more relaxed on the stage).

This post has been edited by guilhermeaoshi: Mar 1st 2012, 12:53 AM

[llyxha]

I always love NGH report

[blkeener]

1. Jessica Sanchez – straight, and towards the end of the number, I had to reach down and lift my jaw off the floor. Who the hell is this girl and where did she come from?!

From SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA! WOOT WOOT! Represent!
....

Also, I'd like to take credit for the judges actually being useful tonight. I think Randy knew I was there and realized how scared he should be...since the last time I was present in the CBS studios, I almost jumped the stage to knock him out after he made Haley Reinhart cry. You're welcome.\


This post has been edited by blkeener: Mar 1st 2012, 4:24 AM

[CloudFuel]

The NGH Report – American Idol 11’s Top 12 Girls: “I’m ready to be exposed.”

It’s that time of the year again! The special time when all of the Idol diehard fans peek their heads out of their holes, stretch, and then relentless spout their cynicism and negative outlooks to anyone willing to hear them. It’s like clockwork. “This is the worst season; ever!” “They all suck!” “I can’t believe we’re stuck with these contestants!” If you hear one of these insane men and women voicing their complaints… please, kindly remind them that we just began and they are usually wrong. I’m a little sick of having to remind viewers that almost every season had a period of time where people thought it was “the worst season.” It’s like a fine bottle of wine. Let the thing breathe, people! Be patient, calm, and even forgiving at times. They can’t come out of the gate looking like Kelly or Carrie! It’s a process. Flow with it!

It was the girl’s turn to take the stage and, in my opinion, they are far more talented, as a whole, than the men. Ryan, of course, decided to jinx the whole thing by reminding America that if a girl wins it will be “our first female winner in five seasons.” Way to curse us all, Ryan.

One interesting change I’ve noticed on American Idol this season? The subtle ways they like to take a dig at the Voice. They aren’t dumb. They see the ratings and know that changes will have to be made, but I also think American Idol is a little bit ticked off that the Voice is going around calling themselves “America’s #1 singing competition” so soon. After all, what the hell has the Voice given us? Javier Colon? What did he do? Sell a couple thousand records and then open for a few lame bands on a small circuit tour? I know people in New York City who can sell more albums out of an open suitcase on 42nd street. So, it was satisfying to hear Ryan plug the show as the “only one to make stars.” It’s true. Until The X-Factor or The Voice can deliver… American Idol is still the only place to take a nobody and turn them into a somebody.

Let’s get to the ladies… who, apparently, all thought they were headed to prom. What’s happening with these wardrobe choices? Are these styles in? Have I been out of school for that long?

Here we are!

12. Haley Johnsen – I don’t… I don’t even know what this was… Say what you will about Baylie’s performance… at least it looked like an American Idol performance. Honestly, Haley came off as an audience member who was entertaining the crowd during the commercial break. “Sweet Dreams” could have been interesting, but without changes it was an absolute nightmare. Where do I start? First of all, stop making the gypsy hands. You aren’t a fortuneteller and waving your arms in the air makes you look like a loon. Randy, thoughts? Keep it real, dawg. “This was a little trainwrecky.” I’m not sure there is such a thing as a “little” train wreck, but you tried, so I’ll give you a completion credit. NOT SAFE.

11. Baylie Brown – Baylie sang the classic Idol staple “Amazed.” It’s been sung over and over again with varying degrees of success. This wasn’t anywhere close to a success. Sure, Baylie is unbelievably attractive, and in a form fitting pink dress managed to look sublime, but she didn’t take my advice. The American voters don’t want to support Jessica Rabbit. They want the “girl next door.” The first half of the song was almost entirely flat, though she did manage to pick up some steam towards the end of the number. Unfortunately, her voice was just way too thin to rise above the sound of the band. She might sound good in a studio, but she was consumed by the sound of that studio. NOT SAFE.

10. Chelsea Sorrell – I didn’t realize Minnie Mouse auditioned for American Idol! What happened with her speaking voice? It was a mixture of a young girl and an old stripper. There’s a nice personality in there, but I couldn’t help but think of her as an inferior version of Lauren Alaina. “Cowboy Casanova” wasn’t a terrible song choice to start the show with… if you have diction and are able to open your mouth wider than two inches. You need to have that full sound or else your placement gets lodged between your eyes and you sound sharp and nasally. The verses ate her alive, thought to be fair, I was too busy watching her move around in that dress. Dang, those girls be jumpin’! I feel bad for young Chelsea, because with vocal lessons she could be really good! She’s just out of her depth in this competition. Now, I’ll just move along since we now the judges don’t have anything to say- Wait, what? They judged tonight?! Well, okay, Randy and Jennifer have sometimes given a critique so maybe it’s not such a big deal… Steven? “Watch your phrasing!” WHAT IS HAPPENING?! NOT SAFE.

9. Brielle Von Hugel – What were those things sticking out of her head?! Those aren’t ears, they’re bike pegs. Jeez. This was actually a bit of a surprise for me. “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” was not the most obvious song choice for a singer like Brielle, but the end of the song allowed for a kind of redemption moment. The first half was too low for her, but when she jumped the octave she managed to actually inject some fire into her stale demeanor. If you can’t sing the verse… don’t pick the song. The verse is important. It isn’t just filler until the chorus, and while that part was rocking, I don’t care… mainly, because I hate her. NOT SAFE.

8. Hallie Day – Hallie gives me a Marilyn Monroe vibe, but like… a depressed Marilyn Monroe… Learn to smile more, sweetheart. You seem a bit closed off on camera and that isn’t going to help you connect with the viewers. “Feelin’ Good” was an alright choice, but once the song began to pick up she seemed a little uneasy. Vocally, there were some strong moments, but there were just as many weak ones. She had a tendency to hit a note and then fall off of it too soon. It’s a pretty common error, but it’s one that can be fixed very quickly with some conscious effort. “I want to bring soul into anything I want to do.” Great. Here’s your first step: stop looking miserable!! NOT SAFE.

7. Jen Hirsh – If you were to tell me last week that I’d be putting Jen Hirsh in the middle of the pack, I’d have called you crazy, but here I am… smacking her right in the middle of my rankings. What went wrong? How did this once frontrunner sink so low? “One and Only” should have been a hit for her, but her voice sounded thin and she wasn’t singing from her chest. She was pushing so hard in her head voice that it made her voice seem fragile. I’ve seen her sing before, and I know this wasn’t her, so if she does make it into the finals then she needs to be put on notice. This was not the performance she needed to win this competition. NOT SAFE.

6. Hollie Cavanagh – “Reflection?!” Really?! The song from Mulan? Hollie, who apparently is from England, is cute as a button. Is the theme for this season “Tiny Girls with Giant Voices?” She’s so deceptive! When I heard she was going to sing this, I was like, “Oh no… this will be unfortunate.” But, guess what? The little blonde creature pulled it off! Yes, her voice sounded strained once or twice (mainly due to her terrible habit of wrenching her neck backwards instead of adjusting her shoulders), but for the most part this was a very solid vocal. She was fierce and this was a classic old-school American Idol performance. Hollie needs to keep this up. She might not make it through on votes, but she is certainly a strong contender for a wild card slot. NOT SAFE.

5. Erika Van Pelt - STOP WITH THE MOBILE DJ nonsense. Look, I get what it means, but I think you can just call her a DJ. There are very few DJs that don’t have multiple gigs which require movement. We really don’t need to discern which DJs in the competition are mobile or stationary. Let it go. Erika, trying to rock a “Mom who tries to dress like Kelly Clarkson look,” strutted confidently around the stage belting out Heart’s “What About Love.” Personally, I loved this. The song, the performance, the confidence, and the voice… it all clicked together. Was it unique or original? No, not really. Will I want to watch it over and over again? Unlikely. But it was a very, very solid vocal and that might be all she needed to get a chance to compete for a wild card spot, or, if she is lucky, voted into the top 5 girls. NOT SAFE.

4. Shannon Magrane – Hmm… Shannon has some strategy in her young head. The song, “Go Light Your World,” was religious and full of faith inspired themes, and if you think the heads of the Bible-thumping voters in the South didn’t cock to one side like a mutt hearing a dog whistle… well, I have a bridge to sell you (I honestly don’t get this saying; I’m not in the business of selling bridges. I don’t have the education or interest to start an engineering firm, though I’m sure there are plenty of good ones available if you do a Google search). Shannon, apparently deciding to wear her baptismal robes for this performance, stood perfectly still and delivered a powerful vocal that was almost too on the nose. I’m willing to cut Shannon some slack here, since it’s the first live performance, and allow her to scoot on by with a strong vocal… but there has to be something else in the future. You need to be more than a good singer. You need to be a product. What do I get if I buy a Shannon Magrane record? Besides, of course, coupons for a free purity ring and chastity belt… NOT SAFE.

3. Skylar Laine – I have a new nickname for Skylar. “Deer Hunter.” It’s going to be epic. You know what else was? “Stay With Me!” I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Skylar in the competition, which is odd, because when I saw her in auditions I couldn’t stand her as a contestant. There’s something raw about her… something undeniably authentic. She really is a country girl. Lauren Alaina was a special little princess, Carrie Underwood was a special little princess, Kellie Pickler was… well, just special. They weren’t country, and I can see that now. None of the previous girls terrified me, but Skylar? Man… Skylar could rip me apart. She has an amazing stage presence, and the capability to maintain her breath support while practically goose-stepping across the stage. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of that song. Sign me up; I’m a fan. NEVER GOING HOME.

2. Elise Testone - The top two positions in my rankings were very close this week, but I decided to put Elise in second only because she didn’t seem to have the same confidence on stage that Jessica Sanchez displayed. So, if you watched the program, you would have noticed that both Jen and Elise sang the same song: Adele’s “One and Only.” Who did better with it? Let me put it this way… Elise did to Jen what men do to women in Lifetime Original Movies. This was brutal. It was Russian mob @#$%. Elise, accompanying herself on piano, absolutely murdered the number, and Jen was nothing more than a bad taste left in our mouth. I can’t wait to see what Elise does next, but she very may well have knocked her biggest competitor from the competition in one swift stroke. NEVER GOING HOME.

1. Jessica Sanchez – Unreal. Her voice is unreal. We were told that she was sick before her performance of “Love You I Do.” So, here’s the question I pose to you, my readers… if Jessica can sing like this when she’s sick… what will she sound like when she’s healthy? What could she do with real rehearsal time?! You know how I know Jessica is going to make it into the finals? I couldn’t stop smiling for two minutes straight, and towards the end of the number, I had to reach down and lift my jaw off the floor. Who the hell is this girl and where did she come from?! NEVER GOING HOME.

Who should make it into the top 5 girls?

Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine, Shannon Magrane, Erika Van Pelt

Who will make it into the top 5 girls?

Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine, Shannon Magrane, Hollie Cavanagh

See you tomorrow for the big results!!

NGH

I swear.. it's literally like I know what you're going to say before you even write it. As soon as Elise said that... once I stopped laughing, I said NGH will have that as the title for the review.

I 100% agreed with your analysis and rankings (though I didn't want to admit liking Jessica or Skylar, I couldn't deny them - they were amazing). I was also pleasantly surprised at the judges ACTUALLY acting like judges!

...and yes - wtf is everyone saying this is the worst season ever? For me, I have never had so many 'favorites' at this stage of the competition... so it could very well be the best.

[ellen49]

I swear.. it's literally like I know what you're going to say before you even write it. As soon as Elise said that... once I stopped laughing, I said NGH will have that as the title for the review.

I 100% agreed with your analysis and rankings (though I didn't want to admit liking Jessica or Skylar, I couldn't deny them - they were amazing). I was also pleasantly surprised at the judges ACTUALLY acting like judges!

...and yes - wtf is everyone saying this is the worst season ever? For me, I have never had so many 'favorites' at this stage of the competition... so it could very well be the best.

Live shows just started and this is the worst season already , if this is the worst season, that would make Season 9,_________ ?

[Belle Book]

The NGH Report – American Idol 11’s Top 12 Girls: “I’m ready to be exposed.”

1. Jessica Sanchez – Unreal. Her voice is unreal. We were told that she was sick before her performance of “Love You I Do.” So, here’s the question I pose to you, my readers… if Jessica can sing like this when she’s sick… what will she sound like when she’s healthy? What could she do with real rehearsal time?! You know how I know Jessica is going to make it into the finals? I couldn’t stop smiling for two minutes straight, and towards the end of the number, I had to reach down and lift my jaw off the floor. Who the hell is this girl and where did she come from?! NEVER GOING HOME.

NGH

And you know how I'm sure Jessica will make the finals? When my dad (who never really watches American Idol happened to watch Jessica and thought she was great! Jessica was AWESOME! Way to go, Jessica! That's my girl!

[coachgel]

and you were right on this one too: You know how I know Jessica is going to make it into the finals? I couldn’t stop smiling for two minutes straight, and towards the end of the number, I had to reach down and lift my jaw off the floor. Who the hell is this girl and where did she come from?

[gsdfan101]

The NGH Report – American Idol 11’s Top 12 Girls: “I’m ready to be exposed.”

It’s that time of the year again! The special time when all of the Idol diehard fans peek their heads out of their holes, stretch, and then relentless spout their cynicism and negative outlooks to anyone willing to hear them. It’s like clockwork. “This is the worst season; ever!” “They all suck!” “I can’t believe we’re stuck with these contestants!” If you hear one of these insane men and women voicing their complaints… please, kindly remind them that we just began and they are usually wrong. I’m a little sick of having to remind viewers that almost every season had a period of time where people thought it was “the worst season.” It’s like a fine bottle of wine. Let the thing breathe, people! Be patient, calm, and even forgiving at times. They can’t come out of the gate looking like Kelly or Carrie! It’s a process. Flow with it!

It was the girl’s turn to take the stage and, in my opinion, they are far more talented, as a whole, than the men. Ryan, of course, decided to jinx the whole thing by reminding America that if a girl wins it will be “our first female winner in five seasons.” Way to curse us all, Ryan.

One interesting change I’ve noticed on American Idol this season? The subtle ways they like to take a dig at the Voice. They aren’t dumb. They see the ratings and know that changes will have to be made, but I also think American Idol is a little bit ticked off that the Voice is going around calling themselves “America’s #1 singing competition” so soon. After all, what the hell has the Voice given us? Javier Colon? What did he do? Sell a couple thousand records and then open for a few lame bands on a small circuit tour? I know people in New York City who can sell more albums out of an open suitcase on 42nd street. So, it was satisfying to hear Ryan plug the show as the “only one to make stars.” It’s true. Until The X-Factor or The Voice can deliver… American Idol is still the only place to take a nobody and turn them into a somebody.

Let’s get to the ladies… who, apparently, all thought they were headed to prom. What’s happening with these wardrobe choices? Are these styles in? Have I been out of school for that long?

Here we are!

12. Haley Johnsen – I don’t… I don’t even know what this was… Say what you will about Baylie’s performance… at least it looked like an American Idol performance. Honestly, Haley came off as an audience member who was entertaining the crowd during the commercial break. “Sweet Dreams” could have been interesting, but without changes it was an absolute nightmare. Where do I start? First of all, stop making the gypsy hands. You aren’t a fortuneteller and waving your arms in the air makes you look like a loon. Randy, thoughts? Keep it real, dawg. “This was a little trainwrecky.” I’m not sure there is such a thing as a “little” train wreck, but you tried, so I’ll give you a completion credit. NOT SAFE.

11. Baylie Brown – Baylie sang the classic Idol staple “Amazed.” It’s been sung over and over again with varying degrees of success. This wasn’t anywhere close to a success. Sure, Baylie is unbelievably attractive, and in a form fitting pink dress managed to look sublime, but she didn’t take my advice. The American voters don’t want to support Jessica Rabbit. They want the “girl next door.” The first half of the song was almost entirely flat, though she did manage to pick up some steam towards the end of the number. Unfortunately, her voice was just way too thin to rise above the sound of the band. She might sound good in a studio, but she was consumed by the sound of that studio. NOT SAFE.

10. Chelsea Sorrell – I didn’t realize Minnie Mouse auditioned for American Idol! What happened with her speaking voice? It was a mixture of a young girl and an old stripper. There’s a nice personality in there, but I couldn’t help but think of her as an inferior version of Lauren Alaina. “Cowboy Casanova” wasn’t a terrible song choice to start the show with… if you have diction and are able to open your mouth wider than two inches. You need to have that full sound or else your placement gets lodged between your eyes and you sound sharp and nasally. The verses ate her alive, thought to be fair, I was too busy watching her move around in that dress. Dang, those girls be jumpin’! I feel bad for young Chelsea, because with vocal lessons she could be really good! She’s just out of her depth in this competition. Now, I’ll just move along since we now the judges don’t have anything to say- Wait, what? They judged tonight?! Well, okay, Randy and Jennifer have sometimes given a critique so maybe it’s not such a big deal… Steven? “Watch your phrasing!” WHAT IS HAPPENING?! NOT SAFE.

9. Brielle Von Hugel – What were those things sticking out of her head?! Those aren’t ears, they’re bike pegs. Jeez. This was actually a bit of a surprise for me. “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” was not the most obvious song choice for a singer like Brielle, but the end of the song allowed for a kind of redemption moment. The first half was too low for her, but when she jumped the octave she managed to actually inject some fire into her stale demeanor. If you can’t sing the verse… don’t pick the song. The verse is important. It isn’t just filler until the chorus, and while that part was rocking, I don’t care… mainly, because I hate her. NOT SAFE.

8. Hallie Day – Hallie gives me a Marilyn Monroe vibe, but like… a depressed Marilyn Monroe… Learn to smile more, sweetheart. You seem a bit closed off on camera and that isn’t going to help you connect with the viewers. “Feelin’ Good” was an alright choice, but once the song began to pick up she seemed a little uneasy. Vocally, there were some strong moments, but there were just as many weak ones. She had a tendency to hit a note and then fall off of it too soon. It’s a pretty common error, but it’s one that can be fixed very quickly with some conscious effort. “I want to bring soul into anything I want to do.” Great. Here’s your first step: stop looking miserable!! NOT SAFE.

7. Jen Hirsh – If you were to tell me last week that I’d be putting Jen Hirsh in the middle of the pack, I’d have called you crazy, but here I am… smacking her right in the middle of my rankings. What went wrong? How did this once frontrunner sink so low? “One and Only” should have been a hit for her, but her voice sounded thin and she wasn’t singing from her chest. She was pushing so hard in her head voice that it made her voice seem fragile. I’ve seen her sing before, and I know this wasn’t her, so if she does make it into the finals then she needs to be put on notice. This was not the performance she needed to win this competition. NOT SAFE.

6. Hollie Cavanagh – “Reflection?!” Really?! The song from Mulan? Hollie, who apparently is from England, is cute as a button. Is the theme for this season “Tiny Girls with Giant Voices?” She’s so deceptive! When I heard she was going to sing this, I was like, “Oh no… this will be unfortunate.” But, guess what? The little blonde creature pulled it off! Yes, her voice sounded strained once or twice (mainly due to her terrible habit of wrenching her neck backwards instead of adjusting her shoulders), but for the most part this was a very solid vocal. She was fierce and this was a classic old-school American Idol performance. Hollie needs to keep this up. She might not make it through on votes, but she is certainly a strong contender for a wild card slot. NOT SAFE.

5. Erika Van Pelt - STOP WITH THE MOBILE DJ nonsense. Look, I get what it means, but I think you can just call her a DJ. There are very few DJs that don’t have multiple gigs which require movement. We really don’t need to discern which DJs in the competition are mobile or stationary. Let it go. Erika, trying to rock a “Mom who tries to dress like Kelly Clarkson look,” strutted confidently around the stage belting out Heart’s “What About Love.” Personally, I loved this. The song, the performance, the confidence, and the voice… it all clicked together. Was it unique or original? No, not really. Will I want to watch it over and over again? Unlikely. But it was a very, very solid vocal and that might be all she needed to get a chance to compete for a wild card spot, or, if she is lucky, voted into the top 5 girls. NOT SAFE.

4. Shannon Magrane – Hmm… Shannon has some strategy in her young head. The song, “Go Light Your World,” was religious and full of faith inspired themes, and if you think the heads of the Bible-thumping voters in the South didn’t cock to one side like a mutt hearing a dog whistle… well, I have a bridge to sell you (I honestly don’t get this saying; I’m not in the business of selling bridges. I don’t have the education or interest to start an engineering firm, though I’m sure there are plenty of good ones available if you do a Google search). Shannon, apparently deciding to wear her baptismal robes for this performance, stood perfectly still and delivered a powerful vocal that was almost too on the nose. I’m willing to cut Shannon some slack here, since it’s the first live performance, and allow her to scoot on by with a strong vocal… but there has to be something else in the future. You need to be more than a good singer. You need to be a product. What do I get if I buy a Shannon Magrane record? Besides, of course, coupons for a free purity ring and chastity belt… NOT SAFE.

3. Skylar Laine – I have a new nickname for Skylar. “Deer Hunter.” It’s going to be epic. You know what else was? “Stay With Me!” I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Skylar in the competition, which is odd, because when I saw her in auditions I couldn’t stand her as a contestant. There’s something raw about her… something undeniably authentic. She really is a country girl. Lauren Alaina was a special little princess, Carrie Underwood was a special little princess, Kellie Pickler was… well, just special. They weren’t country, and I can see that now. None of the previous girls terrified me, but Skylar? Man… Skylar could rip me apart. She has an amazing stage presence, and the capability to maintain her breath support while practically goose-stepping across the stage. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of that song. Sign me up; I’m a fan. NEVER GOING HOME.

2. Elise Testone - The top two positions in my rankings were very close this week, but I decided to put Elise in second only because she didn’t seem to have the same confidence on stage that Jessica Sanchez displayed. So, if you watched the program, you would have noticed that both Jen and Elise sang the same song: Adele’s “One and Only.” Who did better with it? Let me put it this way… Elise did to Jen what men do to women in Lifetime Original Movies. This was brutal. It was Russian mob @#$%. Elise, accompanying herself on piano, absolutely murdered the number, and Jen was nothing more than a bad taste left in our mouth. I can’t wait to see what Elise does next, but she very may well have knocked her biggest competitor from the competition in one swift stroke. NEVER GOING HOME.

1. Jessica Sanchez – Unreal. Her voice is unreal. We were told that she was sick before her performance of “Love You I Do.” So, here’s the question I pose to you, my readers… if Jessica can sing like this when she’s sick… what will she sound like when she’s healthy? What could she do with real rehearsal time?! You know how I know Jessica is going to make it into the finals? I couldn’t stop smiling for two minutes straight, and towards the end of the number, I had to reach down and lift my jaw off the floor. Who the hell is this girl and where did she come from?! NEVER GOING HOME.

Who should make it into the top 5 girls?

Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine, Shannon Magrane, Erika Van Pelt

Who will make it into the top 5 girls?

Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine, Shannon Magrane, Hollie Cavanagh

See you tomorrow for the big results!!

NGH

I AM TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR RANKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!