By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, April 22, 2015
It's another week and this is getting very familiar. For the fourth time in a row, Rayvon Owen was in the bottom two. For the fourth time in a row, his Twitter fans saved him.
He has vanquished BoyChild Daniel Seavey and Performer Quaasim Middleton. Both were well earned. But he then surprised me by beating two much more interesting artists.
Tonight, Rayvon took down Quentin Alexander following last week's Joey Cook, a more compelling performer but inferior singer. Quentin's "Shake It Off" was far better than Rayvon's tepid Fleetwood Mac cover. But clearly, I was in the minority in the Twitter-verse. (MJ of MJ's Big Blog and Michael Slezak of TV Line agreed with me to no avail.)
You have to wonder if Quentin's little blow up last week with HCJ cost him. Clearly, he cleanly outgunned Rayvon but still lost.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
I really wasn't all that impressed with Rayvon this week. I respect his pluck and his determination but his performing skills? Sigh. I find him boring. Still.
Nick again was the most consistent performer this week that didn't feature as many "arena anthems" as might have been expected. I give him tops for the week. The other three lacked consistent sway-botting and lighters.
My rankings: 1. Nick 2. Jax 3. Quentin 4. Tyanna 5. Clark 6. Rayvon
I suspect Tyanna will face off against Rayvon. I really hope this time around Tyanna knocks Rayvon off - finally.
Jax ("Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" Jet) - She changes the gender in the song title but otherwise, she appears to channel Gwen Stefani and gives an energetic, fun performance, especially the second half once she moves around. Vocally, she doesn't have a traditionally rock sounding voice but it works okay here. The judges were praiseworthy. JLo: "Totally abandon." HCJ: "I get an idea what you'll be like in concert... That was strong."
Grade: B-plus/A-minus
Feeling old: Jax went to the season 5 tour in 2006. She thinks she was 6 or 7. She had to have been 9 since she's 18 now. Her favorite that year? Katharine McPhee!
After the commercial break: Harry babbles endlessly about J. Lo whacking him with her dress with such impact, it was felt in Taiwan. Or something like that.
Nick Fradiani ("Harder to Breathe" Maroon 5) - He is really close to his dad, who also gigs three times a week. He picks a song by a man he looks like: Adam Levine. It's right in his pocket. He sounds great. He lacks that mischievous, impish thing Adam has, though. He's very very sincere. He needs to smile once in awhile. The crowd loves it. JLo: "You're getting more and more comfortable." He should have had the audience participation. HCJ: "You are doing what we had hoped. You are getting better every week. That was terrific." Keith: "Vocally, you're finding your lane. Now it's about centering. Your eyes are darting all over the plac.e"
Grade: A-minus
Clark Beckham ("Yesterday" Beatles) - This has been done a gazillion times since it came out. He didn't do too badly but it felt very old school and not as compelling as the judges thought. HCJ: "You didn't use any high notes gratuitously." Keith: "It's as if Sam Smith did it... Don't feel you have to be contained. Release even more." JLo: "It was risky. Everyone knows that song so well. In the end, you sang it beautifully.'
Grade: B-plus
Tyanna Jones ("Party in the USA" Miley Cyrus) - It was fun and easygoing, simple as that. Keith: "It's interesting to hear such a great voice. I like you singing something with more weight." JLo: "You are 16 and you should be having fun. You did a great job with it." HCJ: "That was so smart to choose that song. You were so relaxed."
Grade: A-minus/B-plus
Quentin Alexander ("Light My Fire" The Doors) - He funks up this classic and hits a home run. JLo: "You feel so comfortable up there but I just want a little more vocal pow." HCJ: "I thought the stank came in the arrangement. I thought you coasted, which I liked while the band did a great arrangement. It just sounded cool. I dug it." Keith: "You're your own guy. You swim in your own direction."
Grade: A/A-minus
Rayvon Owen ("I'm Not the Only One" Sam Smith) - Uh oh. Trying to beat Sam Smith at his own game? No way. He does a pretty version but he lacks that overarching presence of Sam. Good enough? Probably doesn't matter nearly as much as the second song next hour.
Grade: B-plus
Round TWO
Nick Fradiani ("Maggie May" Rod Stewart) - His increasing self-assuredness is helping him across the board. This sounds great and he looks comfortable. No complaints here. Keith had guitar props to show that a longer strap helps Nick. JLo: "A really good song choice. You're picking songs that suit you. It's about making moments. You don't want every performance sounding exactly the same." HCJ: "In lieu of a critique, do you think you can sustain a two or three hour show on the road?" "I know I can."
Grade: A/A-minus
Tyanna ("Heaven" Bryan Adams) - Felt a little stilted until that lovely last note. JLo: "Wasn't my favorite but I like seeing you in that light." HCJ: "In lieu of a critique, what type of music in a nutshell would you record on your first album?" "I would say I'm most comfortable singing songs like this. I sang gospel/R&B. I'm having more fun when I'm dancing and moving with the crowd."
Grade: B/B-plus
Ford ad: Some Snapchat artist draws cartoons on the "Idols." See? "Idol" is cutting edge and trendy! Cough... cough...
Clark ("Boyfriend' Justin Bieber) - I barely remember this song beyond the chorus since I am not part of the Justin contingent. Clark really re-arranged the song to his liking. It's very soulful and he just takes it home. HCJ: "I think you have done yourself a disservice by setting your bar so high. You're a great melody singer. Fun to do songs not has heavy. That wasn't the right song to do that... It was one giant blues scale. Not sexy." JLo didn't this was the right song either to create a "moment."
Grade: A-minus
Jax ("White Flag" Dido) - Pick your better song to perform second. Jax followed that with a lovely emotion rendition of this Dido song. Keith: "A great song for you." JLo: "That is exactly what you needed to do right now. That just tells me your instincts as an artist and everything about you is so perfectly ready to be in this business. That was so beautiful for you." HCJ: "It was phenomenal."
Grade: A/A-minus
Now onto the two Twitter save guys
Quentin ("Shake It Off" Florence & the Machine) - As one of the bloggers noted, this is finally a true anthem song. He was excellent but swallowed up a bit by the band and background singers. JLo: "Much better vocal performance than last time." HCJ: "It was pretty good but in lieu of a critique: We have something in common that we sing out of tune sometimes. What happens when you go into studio and sang out of tune, would you let them auto tune you on a CD." "I would not." Keith: "You will be very clear in the record you'd want to make. Just take the reins."
Grade: A-minus/B-plus
Rayvon ("Go Your Own Way" Fleetwood Mac) - This song is so not in his pocket. His voice just flatlines on a rock song like this. He tries to inject some energy toward the end but this is DOA. HJC: "You had to get that high note in. What kind of guidance will take from the producer?" "I think it's a balance. It will be a collaborative effort." JLo: "It was a great way to finish the show. You are such a fighter."
Grade: B/B-minus
It's sad that the tour will not have Joey Cook or Quentin Alexander. A true shame.
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