By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Tuesday, March 15, 2016
We are just 23 days away from the end. I am feeling sad. And I feel rushed watching this top 10 shrink down to (already) six. We've lost two great singers already: Avalon Young and Olivia Rox.
Clearly, the producers see La'Porsha and Trent as the likely finalists already. They very well could be. But the voters' lack of support for Avalon and Olivia makes me wonder what might happen in the next three weeks. At this point, I feel Dalton should go home.
1- La'Porsha Renae (1) - Could we have our fourth black female "American Idol'? We just might. She's holding it down week after week, fashion decisions notwithstanding.
2- Trent Harmon (2) - The producers see him as a potential winner, too. It was no coincidence that they paired him with La'Porsha and he held his own. He's certainly not a type of singer that has won "Idol" before. His often overly theatrical nature may hurt him though.
3- MacKenzie Bourg (4) - He's now the dark horse who I believe could beat Trent and La'Porsha. There is an undercurrent of displeasure toward him because he is not a powerhouse vocalist but he's honestly emotive and very likable. I wouldn't object to him winning.
4- Tristan McIntosh (8) - She is gaining confidence and momentum. She is a bit like Jordin Sparks. Ebullient, young and full of vocal promise. She has converted me over to Team Tristan.
5- Sonika Vaid (6) - She is biding her time for elimination. Beautiful voice or not, her limitations as a stage performer will keep her from the prize. Her "Bring Me to Life" performance was the one exception and I don't know if we'll see that again.
6- Dalton Rapattoni (3) - Sinking fast, Dalton needs to find himself soon or it will all be over in a matter of two days. He is more a one-trick pony than I had anticipated, seemingly overthinking himself on stage into a pretzel. And his vocal power is far weaker than I thought once a band kicks in and smothers him.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Adam Lambert is introducing a new song "Welcome to the Show" on Thursday. He didn't perform it last week at the Tabernacle.
"I wanted to surprise my fans with a new, uplifting anthem for the spring," Lambert said in a release. "I asked Max Martin for help and he paired me up with two great writers and producers; Ali Payami, who worked with me on 'Ghost Town,' and Swedish star Laleh who is also a featured vocalist on the track. I feel this song will give people strength to be exactly who they are."
Here's a sample of the song.
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Fantasia paid tribute to Patti LaBelle during BET Honors:
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Clay Aiken wrote an essay in Huffington Post supporting Bernie Sanders.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm ready for Hillary. I like Secretary Clinton. I anticipate her selection the Democrat nominee, she will be a formidable candidate in the general election, and I believe she'll make a very effective president. I think she's more qualified than anyone who has run for president in decades, and I agree with her on most issues. I just wish she could embrace some more of the progressive ideals that Sen. Sanders talks so enthusiastically about. She needs to be better. She needs to learn from the Bern!
FROM THE RODNEY HO NOSTALGIA BIN:
People Magazine, May 26, 2003:
Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke received six full pages of coverage. This was 2003, when the only option to vote was to call and there was building controversy over busy signals.
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