He lights my fire

I'm hoping they saved the best for last, as they usually do. Michael Johns, the cutie Australian is up next and after his "Bohemian Rhapsody" during Hollywood week, I kind of look forward to anything he wants to sing.

I'm a little disappointed that he's chosen "Light My Fire" by the Doors - I was hoping he'd choose something perhaps a bit more obscure, that he could really put his own stamp on, but still, it's not a bad song choice at all, just not what I was hoping for.

I like the extra touch of wearing a scarf... it looks really good on him - and not everyone could pull it off. His voice is great, as expected, and he does a great job with the song.

Randy tells him that he loved him the first day he saw him, that he feels like he's watching a true legend rock performer, that he was the bomb. Paula says it was great ending to the show. Simon says he's the most consistent contestant they've had, that he's loved every one of his auditions. He says it wasn't as good as "Bohemian Rhapsody" but he has a natural charisma of a lead singer.

So, now for the tough part - who should go home? Well, I think Garrett Haley is a shoo-in. No one knows him from a hole in the wall and his performance was boring. I think in terms of performance, Luke Menard should go, too, but I'm not sure it's his time yet. I think it may be Chikezie Eze, who very conspicuously dropped his last name - and picked up an attitude. So that's it... My vote is for Garrett Haley and Chikezie Eze

The dreadlocks won me over

OK, so here's my chance to be open-minded. Colton Berry is up next and I'm going to do what I can to get over this horrible bias I have against him for taking my adorable dork's spot. Granted, he independently annoyed me earlier tonight, but it's still early enough that I can turn it around, that I can maybe root for him at some point.

But then he starts talking about singing the teletubbies theme song when he's nervous. What 18-year-old even admits to knowing the Teletubbies theme song, let alone to singing it out loud? OK... I'm being too quick again... it's just so easy to dislike him.

Oh yeah... he sings Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." You can't get much better than that in song choice (especially since the Beatles are not yet in the mix). You know who he reminds me of? A good portion of you will likley have no idea who I'm talking about, but when he smiles, he reminds me a little bit of a very young Luis Miguel, an extremely famous Mexican singer. Not a lot - Luis Miguel is quite handsome - but just a tiny, tiny bit. But anyway, back to the singing, I must admit, it's very good. OK - that's it. That's all I'm willing to give up tonight.

Randy says it was pretty good. Paula says it was nice to hear a different side of him - she says it wasn't his best performance but that he made an eager and fun attempt. Simon said it was OK, but that he wasn't listening to a recording artist, that he didn't represent himself and that it was all a waste of time.


Garrett Haley is a bit of a mystery and I have to admit, I have no interest in him at all. He's a bit like a modern-day Leif Garrett, and just by the looks of him, you can tell already that he won't be selling any records. I realize I'm getting meaner, but it's 2am and my patience tends to thin as I get tired. And really, I just can't imagine that he'll be so good that I'll change my mind on it.

I was right... He takes one of my favorite songs, Neil Sedakas's "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and just slaughters it. He actually slows it down and ,makes it ballad - I mean, what could he have been thinking??? I mean, his voice is lovely - I don't want to take away from that. And the song choice would have worked for him, if he had done it at the right speed. It's just so dull. I'll be completely floored if he makes it through to next week.

Randy says it's a great song but that he didn't do anything with it. Paula tells him to take chances and Simon reiterates that it was boring and that he looked terrified and that he's very pale. Not sure why that's relevant, but whatever.

Jason Castro is interesting and kind of stunning with his beautiful bright eyes (are they blue or green?), flawless skin and funky dreadlocks. I mean, he's got a different energy than the rest of the contestants - kind of sexy, but not in an obvious way like Luke Menard. Just a very cool, good-looking guy.

He's the first to play an instrument - he plays the guitar while he sings Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream" and he's got something - I don't know what, but he makes you want to watch him. I found myself totally engaged, I completely forgot to listen to the lyrics of the song so I could look up the title - I had to rewind my TiVo. I think I fell in love a little bit - he's delicious, I think.

Randy tells him he loved the guitar, and that it was all right. Paula says he blew her away, that his take on the song was so minimal, effortless and really joyful. Simon says it was in the top 2 performances of the night. He says that he, like David, just has it. He's great with the camera, great song. He makes the song sound current, he has charisma and agrees with Paula and says that it was indeed effortless.

Coming down a bit too hard

Robbie Carrico is up next and he talks about how he was in boy/girl pop group and how they toured with Britney Spears in 2000. But now he wants to do rock, and there's something about him that I find very bland. I don't dislike him, but there's nothing really there to really grab hold of, nothing to relate to, nothing to root for.

He sings "One Is the Loneliest Number" by Three Dog Night. It's OK, but again, there's nothing about him that's fantastic. Plus, he wants to be a rocker, but he doesn't seem to really fit the part. I don't know - I'm very confused by him.

Randy says it was nice and Paula tell him he picked the perfect song and that he's authentic. Simon says it's the only performance that they've seen tonight that makes any sense, meaning that the performance was current. He kind of hits on my thoughts by wondering if he's really comfortable being a rocker or is he meant to be a pop singer. Robbie says he can sing anything but he loves rock and this is him.

David Archuleta is a bit of a dork, but I love it. He seems to be so genuinely excited about everything and so genuinely flattered when people tell him he's great. I'm hoping he won't turn into Melinda Doolittle, who always looked shocked when they praised her, to the point where you start to question the sincerity.

He sings "You Better Shop Around" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (I think) and as expected, it's awesome. It's not as good as "Heaven," which he sang in Hollywood, but it's still pretty fantastic. He's a perfect mix of a man and a little boy. His voice is so mature, the voice of a man, but he's so cute and so boyish, that it's crazy to hear such a big voice come out of his body.

And he has this crazy nervous energy - he keeps giggling and breathing heavy, which makes him seem even younger than he is. I love him... can't wait to see more of him.
Randy tells him he was brilliant and that he has a gift because he sanf the song so mature for someone who's 17 years old. Paula says it was a bold choice for him and that he did a great job and Simon says, "When you got it, you got it." He tells him it was the best performance of the night so far.


Danny Noriega is next and he's another one I love. I still think he looks like a really pretty girl - his features are flawless - gorgeous, almond shaped eyes, full lips, nice cheekbones - he's incredibly beautiful, and somewhat feminine, but he starts singing and his voice is perfectly masculine. Although listening to him talk about his swagger was somewhat not masculine, but you know what, whether masculine or feminine, gay or straight, subdued or flamboyant, I could care less. He can sing and I like watching him. He sings Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock," and for the most part, it's awesome - he falls behind the music in a couple of spots, but he's so entertaining that you barely notice.

Randy tells him it was pretty good, that the song choice didn't allow him to do his thing, but that he loved the performance. Paula tells him she loves listening to how his voice goes in and out of these colors....huh? Simon tells Paula he doens't understand a word of what she just said and asks her, "What color was that?" He then tells Danny that the performance was verging on grotesque. He says if he's going to take on Elvis, at least do it well. He tells him it was hideous, awful and if people tuned in during his performance, they would not believe the show contained some of the most talented kids in America. I think he's being way too hard on him - his performance was not bad at all and his voice is better than most. I'm not sure why Simon is picking on him, but he's wrong this time.

And I feel so bad for Danny, because he's having a hard time taking it all in. You can see he wants to cry and is doing all he can do keep it together. When Ryan is calling out his phone number, he can't even bring himself to smile for the camera. It wasn't fair for Simon to be so mean - I hope this doesn't get Danny down - he did a great job - not his best, but certainly way above average.

So, finally, the debut of Luke Menard, an incredibly good-looking guy from Indiana. He auditioned last season and didn't make it and I have to be honest, I don't really know what he said during his interview - I was so taken by how gorgeous he is.

He sings "Everybody's Talkin'" by Harry Nilsson and it starts out pretty good, but he has a hard time staying in tune - he's not off-key completely, just slightly off the note he's supposed to be on... he's probably really nervous, which we've seen in past seasons in the first show. The problem is that this season, no one has screwed up due to nerves, so his pitch problems are that much more noticeable. But have I mentioned how yummy he is?

Randy tells him it was very pitchy, almost consistenly sharp the whole time, tells him it wasn't great. Paula says it wasn't the best song choice and Simon says he was forgettable. Now, I need to disagree there - I may not remember what he sang by tomorrow or how well he sang it, but I can safely say that I will certainly remember Luke Menard.

Why a ballad? Why?

Colton Berry is annoying - they interview him briefly, since we haven't seen much of him and he starts by saying that he looks like Ellen DeGeneres, which he does a little, but not nearly enough to mention it on live TV and then when Ryan mentions how the judges were hard on him for being too theatrical, he says he's been working on it, but that he has a background in theater, so he's been drawing on that. Frgive me for being an old fart, but he's 18 - he's not old enough to have a background in anything. Has he even finished high school? I'll admit, I was prepared to dislike him because he got the last spot instead of Kyle, my adorable dork, but now he's giving me ample reason to find him irritating.


Anyway, next up is David Cook. Thank goodness, the stylists on the show did something with his hair - it's still not ideal, but wow, what an improvement from the last time we saw him.

Ohhhhh... David Cook is the guy who slaughtered Bon Jovi during his audition - I had completely forgotten. But you know what? I'm willing to let it slide, because I like how he tries to stay grounded. He makes a comment about how he's glad that Simon said no to him during Hollywood week, because he says if Simon had said yes, he would have had way too much of a comfort level. It's like he can admit getting carried away with the praise. I found that endearing, and while I don't find him physically appealing nor do I think he has a real shot at winning, I'm beginning to like him.

My first thought as he starts singing The Turtles' "So Happy Together" is NNNOOOOOOO!!! He's singing it like a ballad and while his voice sounds good, this song was meant to be faster. Here he goes again, messing with a song that should never be messed with. Maybe I shouldn't have let the Bon Jovi thing go so quickly.

But I freaked too soon... what a sigh of relief... he speeds it up and sings it extremely well - he even adds a rock flavor to it. I still love the original, but I really enjoyed his performance. He looks totally at home on stage - he doesn't seem nervous at all and he just kind of owns the space. I loved it - it was great.

Randy had the same reaction I had when he first started singing - "NO!" - but he says that while the beginning was a little weird for him, he worked it out and made a rock joint out of it - that it was crazy. Paula says he rocked it, made something original. Simon said it was good - that he shouted the song a bit in the middle - but that he'd never heard the song sung like that and that he almost made it believable.

Jason Yeager is up next and I think it's really cool that his son has been with him kind of the whole way through this process. It may be hard on his son, though, listening to all the criticism. For example, I'm sure it would be difficult for him to hear that I can't stop staring at the ridiculous streak of blond hair his dad insists on keeping in his otherwise brown hair. It's so silly, I don't even know what to say about it. I thought maybe he would have wised up after seeing himself on TV, but apparently, he must actually believe it's chic. Who knows?

But all joking aside, watching your dad be at the mercy of the judges must be nerve-wracking, especially for such a young kid, who probably still looks at his dad as if he's Superman. I do love how Jason is doing the show to show his son that you can achieve your dreams - it's quite touching, because so few of us, in my opinion, really get that chance to reach for the stars.

Jason sings "Moon River," which I believe is from "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and I almost feel bad for him. He sings it well, but here's my problem with it. We haven't seen that much of Jason - just a glimpse, really, during Hollywood week. This is the first chance he has to show America who he is, and he's singing a ballad - what could be more boring?

Randy tells him he did a good job, but that he needs to maintain his concentration. Paula says she loves that song because she did her first ballet recital to that song. And then Jason says that he dedicates that song to his grandmother, who taught him that song when he was little. Simon asks him (did he call him David?) how old he is and when he answers 28, Simon tells him he came off as much older with that song. He tells him it was very cruise ship and that many young people watching the show won't get it.

I like how Jason admits to the fact that he's had some vocal coaches tell him to avoid being too cabaret... he acknowledges that what Simon said is true, and I like when people can accept criticism. It shows their willingness to improve and more importantly, it shows humility. He's setting a good exmaple for his son, I think.

Put the ego away, please

They keep saying that this season has the best talent ever. I'll admit that this group seems to be a bit more polished than past seasons, but it's so early in the game, it seems premature to be saying that this season's cast is better than all the rest. After all, past winners have gone on to major success - we don't know what will become of this year's winner yet.

But anyway, let's get started with our Top 12 guys. Tonight's theme is the 1960s and first up is David Hernandez. I thought he was great during Hollywood week and have been looking forward to his performance tonight. However, in his interview, he talks about how when he sings, it comes from the soul and there's nothing cheesier than people who overly romanticize their love of music. I mean, I can understand that he has a passion for it, but by mentioning his soul, he somehow turns something sincere into something cliche and lame. He also talks about how he comes from a single parent home and how he lived in low-income housing, so singing is an escape for him.

He sings "In the Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett and it starts out really good, although I'm not crazy abouut his facial expressions. He looks kind of pained. But the beginning is slow and totally highlights his voice, but probably knowing how boring ballads can be, he speeds it up after a little bit and really does a great job with the song. It's definitely a great start to the competition.

Randy tells him he likes how he started with the whole gospel vibe but that he lost it just a little toward the end, but that is was really good. Paula tells him he has a really good voice and that he colors up his vocals or something like that. I'm not really sure what she means or where she's going with her commentary, but she liked him, I got that much out of it. Simon tells him it was better than he thought it was going to be, but that he seemed stiff and that he needed to loosen up a bit.


Next up is Chikezie Eze, who made it all the way to the end of Hollywood week last season before being cut. He says he went home and worked hard to improve. And after being complimented during Hollywood week this season, he says, "Finally, someone recognizes my... the work I put in." I feel like he wanted to say that finally someone recognized his talent. A bit of an ego - and way too early, I think.

Wow - he comes out in a bright orange suit - seriously. Orange pants, orange blazer and a white shirt. I mean, it's not horrendous, but it's not stylish or cute - at least not in my opinion. Anyway, he sings Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday" and it's just OK. I remember liking him more during his audition. I think I so loved his name that I didn't pay much attention to his voice, because I think he sings this song a little too low for his range and while he recovers a bit during the chorus, the verses are rough and I don't know - it didn't blow me away.

Randy says it was pretty good, but that he didn't make the song new and fresh and that he was kind of an old-fashioned singer. Paula tells him he's come a long way and that he looks great (apparently he's lost a lot of weight) and that he's a throwback to great R&B. Simon starts off by calling him Chikoozie and tells him he hated the whole performance. He says the suit is hideous and Chikezie interrupts him and says, "White, gray and black... c'mon dude... who's your stylist? Charlie Chaplin?" And in that moment, I go from liking Chikezie to thinking that he's kind of an idiot.

Let me explain...It's the first week of competition and he's already showing that he can't handle criticism. And the viewing public doesn't know him well enough for him to be trading barbs with Simon - not yet anyway. I think it's a bad move on his part to start talking back the first night. And Simon continues to tell him that his wink was hideous, his 'woo' was hideous, that he was old-fashioned, corny, cheesy and that his performance could have been something they filmed 40 years ago.

Chikezie makes it worse by trying to explain that since it was 60s night, he was trying to take a song of one genre and sing it in another genre of the same era. I don't know what he means, really. I think he's just being kind of a show-off, trying to show America that he doesn't take crap from anyone and truthfully, it just rubbed me the wrong way. On the first night out, these guys should be humble and accept the criticism - especially a guy that didn't even make it last season - just listen and learn.

It's a shame, really - I was hoping he would do well, but instead, I'm left hoping he leaves Thursday.