Quest Club of Arizona

It was too late to make comments last night so I will make my comments and go right into the results and the wild card choices: The group was really strong in the men and not so good in the women. That pretty well set it up for Lil Rounds. I thought that Kristin was pretty good, and I like Felicia Barton (the one called back for a second chance). I was very disappointed in the performance of Ariana Afsar (cute as a button). It was a very poor performance.

There were four guys who I thought had a chance to make it: Von Smith, Ju’not Joyner, Scott MacIntire, and Jorge Nunez. I liked Joyner the best. I got goose bumps during his song, but I was concerned for him because of all the chatter concerning some of the other contestants, and the hard plugs for MacIntire and Nunez. I felt Joyner might fall through the cracks. That would be too bad.

One other contestant caught my attention and in the old format she would have advanced I think. Kendall Beard, the country singer. She looked like and sounded like Kellie Pickler, and if you have been following, Kellie is very successful in Nashville.

RESULTS: Lil Rounds was the class of this group and could win the whole thing. Scott MacIntire was also picked, and though he’s a very good singer, it was an emotional pick. The final two were Joyner and Nunez, and after the strong plugs by the judges it was preordained that it would be Nunez, and it was. All three were very good singers and none a surprise. But the surprises of the night were yet to come.

THE WILDCARD PICKS: Von Smith, Jasmine Murray, Matt Giraurd, Megan Corkray, Ricky Braddy (a slight surprise, but he was deserving), and Anup Desai. The two surprises: one made me very happy and the other kind of yuck. Jessie Langseth I thought was terrific in a soulful and bluesy way, but Tatiana Del Toro…very good voice, but such an emotional train wreck. The other surprise was Ju’not Joyner being passed over. He was my favorite tonight. It was almost like he was too good, made it look too easy. He had a great back story too, but ????????? He just didn’t connect.

Who will make it tomorrow night for the last three spots: I think Matt Giraurd and Megan Corkray (Simon likes her), and maybe Von Smith or Anup Desai. What do you all think?

I can’t disagree with two of the three that got through tonight. Danny Gokey and Alexis Grace were the class of this group, but Michael Sarver although a great guy and good for the show to move on there were a number of singers better then he was. Now the nine losers have to try to come through the wild card compeition. I think Anup will make it that way.
Having Michael Johns and Carly Smthson on tonight made the current crop seem not as good. Both have big voices and I love to hear them sing.

Tonight it was Danny Gokey and then the rest. I don’t know if this guy is a really good singer, or a special singer, but what I do know is if you have been following the show from the beginning, that he is a special person who sings. Tonight he sang one of my favorites songs, Hero, and he did it quite well. I suspect he has a huge following already. He reminds me of Elliot Yamin. Nice guy, good voice, getting better every week, makes great song choices and never makes a mistake so he goes deep.
None of the women grabbed me like Danny did. I did like Jackie Tohn. Thought she was an excellent performer. The judges liked Alexis Grace, and even though I think she is very good it just didn’t do much for me.
I was disappointed in a couple of singers who I think are better but didn’t show it tonight. Anup Desai and Michael Sarver didn’t live up to my expectations. Sarver sang a song that Bo Bice knocked out of the park and so in my mind he came off poorly. Too bad because I really liked the guy.
There were two singers I like a lot that I think will get passed over: Ricky Braddy has a wonderful voice, and Brent Keith could be our annual cowboy.
Tomorrow night I’ll be looking for a woman to do a Danny Gokey for me.

We are now starting the process of paring down the group to the top 24: 12 girls and 12 guys. I still can’t remember many of the names of people I liked except the Osmond boy. I like him. He is afflicted with a serious disease (mulitple sclirosis (sp?) or something like that). He seems calm, confident but not cocky, has a really nice voice, handsome, and a big time name. He should go far in spite of his name. I like the goofy guy because he drives Simon crazy and he has a pretty good voice, and the blonde nature girl who changed her song at the last minute.

I also think anyone who cries should be elimated immediately because they aren’t tough enough for this. I think you have to have thick skin to make it in the music business, and you have to take criticism. Some critcism is constructive and some destructive and you have to sort that out. At times Simon uses it to manipulate the votes like he did last year against David Cook (it didn’t work). Only tough, together people can make it in the music business just like in sports. MORE GOING ON TONIGHT, I THINK.

We are now in the second week of American Idol. The program is the same: bad contestants, good and interesting contestants, but a new judge. Kari something. What do you think of her? Is she a plus or minus? Will this years show be better or worse? Will we find a Carrie Underwood or David Cook?

Let me know if you get this blog. If this works I will send my comments this way and you can comment right on the posting.