It seems like, without fail, there is one performer every single week on American Idol that compels me to speak out. I tell myself, I'm not going to email anyone about Idol tonight because it's silly. I'm not going to bother voting, so why do I care?
And then there's just one performer ... they just make me go, damn, I gotta say something about that.
Tonight? Nikko Smith.
Okay, so naturally before I can get it all out, the judges have made their comments and so I'm thrown: they loved him.
I mean, I didn't hate it, but for me it was SO predictable.
For those of you who don't know, I believe Nikko is the 7th member of New Edition. For those of you who don't know New Edition. Bobby Brown (and yes, Nikko's resemblance to Brown has been noted) started his career in the black boy band. And not to go all up in the history of boy bands (because you know it goes way back), but back in the day, New Edition was to black girls what New Kids on the Block was to white girls. In one group, girls' crushes could run the gamut from Ronnie to Bobby to Ricky to Ralph to Mike and to my personal choice, Mr. Johnny Gill. So as you can see, even though Bobby isn't "with the group" since his "King of R&B" status has obviously taken him elsewhere, there are still 6 members of NE. Nikko is the seventh.
And since I do know about New Edition, I felt that Nikko's song choice was utterly predictable. As SOON as he said, I'm singing Sisqo. I thought, "This boy needs to be in New Edition." And before I could work out my reasons why, I'll be john brown if Nikko didn't do it for me by saying something to the effect of I chose Sisqo because he used to be a part of this group, Dru Hill (90s version of New Edition) and their style influenced my singing.
Yeah. Okay. And so he sang well, but I just feel that there's almost a need for like, Black Song Star -- oh wait, there's the Apollo. Okay. So maybe he should be on Apollo.
Now on to the rest of the bunch. I'm out of show sequence but right now I'm thisclose to muting Nadia. I like how these bits before they sing (you know where they disclose why they chose their songs) are rather prophetic, lol. Take Nadia for instance. What did she say? She had trouble picking a #1 song ... and what did we hear? Trouble. Shaky wavery trouble. I loved the look though :) The natural mohawk was hot! She sounded really unsure and nervous. I have to say that she looks different every single time I see her. I don't know yet if that's a good thing or not, though.
Anthony: Now I have to say, I LOVE that song. In fact, I'm fixing to put it on right now (that's right FIXING!) because y'all know I loves me some George Michael and he and Aretha blew the hell out of that song. Man! That is good good stuff. This is kinda funny since before I knew he was an immigrant, I thought he sang like he learned English through song. It's not so funny now that that turns out to be the case, but I'm still chuckling because I can't get past the fact that his performances are so affected. You know what they remind me of? This involves stereotyping, but it's so true: I know you probably don't watch figure skating, but I have to tell you that there appears to be some sort of epidemic where these Russian people hear great music and they FEEL it -- they genuinely feel it -- and so they want to ACT on this feeling. So they try it. And I give them props for trying it, because it's not the most natural thing for them. But aren't they fearless? So fearless in fact, that I'm scared for them. The entire time he was singing and trying to shake his Russian bon-bon and dancing and giving his show face (you know the snap 'n smile!)
Oh dear. What has happened to my girl Mikalah. I think it's all gone to her head. She is faltering under the pressure. This is RUFF. She is trying so hard, and sounds like she's got some vocal strain to deal with ... it's hard. Yeah, she needs to regroup -- if she gets to stay. I'm still rooting for her, too. She just has personality and I wonder where it's going and why it isn't being conveyed through her singing anymore. Sadness. I think she may be gone unless that Jessica girl can make herself leave like I know she can.
Huh? Anwar. When he said what he'd be singing, I was like, oh that might be hot. So far it's just aight for me. He is so cute though -- that smile is luv.lee. But this is a risk for him, but thankfully he hit the Chaka note. He's alright with me. I mean seriously, he could sing bout anything and I'd dig it.
Okay, back to Carrie: man she gets a 10 in my book for channeling the 80s hair to match the song by Heart. I personally hate that song, but she has been the best so far because she brought that.
Constantine: Personally, I agree with Paula (gulp). It was the perfect song for him because there's something cheeky about that one. I for one haven't bought in to his whole rocker facade because I don't think his demeanor is hard core. He's kind of goofy sensitive guy with a potpourri song style. What I mean is, he seems influenced by a lot of sounds and he's just trying to make some sense of it. He has that smoldering thing down, but he also seems to be trying to charm us in a more lighthearted way. I thought he did that song right. I enjoyed it because I just thought it totally fit him. Because you can just see him rockin' out to that song in his bedroom can't you, lol? I can. Fun stuff.
OH GORSH. Total eclipse. This is SO her song. I don't know why -- I think it relates to this song being overplayed in Junior High for like Ghost Out or something??? Some dance -- but somehow this is equated with white trash melodrama to me. So this is the perfect song choice I think. I'm not saying she is trashy, but she for reasons I can't quite put my finger on reminds me of that sort of girl -- she's like a Gretchen Wilson in a sense, really around the country 'neck way. It certainly wasn't brilliant, Randy. I thought it was strained. I think Randy might be a breast man.
Huh? Out sung? Dern. I think it may be Mikalah's swan song tomorrow night. I am pulling for Anthony or Nikko. Anthony really makes his vowel sounds clear. Clearer than American english, which is how you know he ain't from here.
Nikko just bores me though. And what is wrong w/ Paula? She is jonesin' for Nikko. Sumpin' goin on there? Although Nadia was weak tonight.
I think it'll be Mikalah though. Sadness, but she hasn't been bringing it.
Oh and Bo. I liked it. I love me some Croce so that was a swell choice, and I love how he stays real to singing songs for the people who put him there and mean something to him. I think it's really sweet and fascinating how he makes each one fit him. My man Scott sang another one of my favs tonight. Against All Odds is a great song. I love it, and he really added enough soul to it to keep it from being schmaltzy. Because I remember either last season or the one before that someone sang that song and it was so soft I almost gagged. But Scott put some heart behind it I thought -- or maybe that was just girth. Either way, it was good stuff. He stays on my list.
So my bubbles are: - Nadia - Mikalah - Nikko - Anthony - Jessica
I just don't care for Nikko, Anthony or Jessica, so unless they wow the hell outta me, they'll be on my list erry week, lol. I mean, I like them alright, but not nearly as much as I like the others -- they don't feel like idols to me. Still, I can't fight the slow and gradual realization that I have gotten terribly bored with this show. And I know some of you reading this probably don't bother to watch it, so you've probably been bored, but I didn't exactly want to send the same email to like 4 different people so this is why I made space for it here. At the very least you can feel free to offer me your reasons for avoiding the show, as I wonder if my growing reasons match your own ...