Canadian Idol: The top 20 Perform Part I
got this from National Post
First off, before we get to the singing, what was with Ben's t-shirt tonight? Did he forget to put a shirt on top of the white t-shirt? Also, I didn't really get his joke to Jake, and given what Ben was wearing, I don't really think he should be the one talking. Jake did give good advice to the competitors: "You have to leave everything on the stage as if its your last performance." Very good advice. The Idol-wannabes should take heed to it.
First up was Mark. He did an interesting version of I'm in Love with a Girl. It wasn't the song I would have chosen for him, but he kind of made it work. I think the problem with Mark is his performance style: he sings great, but his stage presence, facial expressions and dancing take away from it just a little bit. It makes him come across as not very sincere in his performance. I think Mark's a great performer, but doubt he's going to last to become the Canadian Idol. The judges were mixed on their reviews and Zack suggested Mark be larger in his performance. How? I don't think Mark can get any bigger than his current performances.
Next up was Paul singing Apparitions. Great song choice. I really liked his raspy voice in this performance, it really suited the song. I think Paul needs to work on his stage presence. More specifically, I think he needs to work on opening his eyes when he sings and looking at the people he's performing to. He has a great voice, don't get me wrong, I just don't think I could sit and watch him for two hours. The judges were mixed again in their responses. Jake suggested he pick songs with more words.
Drew was third this week, and my feelings on him are mixed. He sang this song okay, but if he really wants to be the last one standing, he needs to pick songs more well known. I also don't think he's really the Idol type. I have to go back the judges' old "If I heard you on the radio, would I know it was you" line and I don't think I would know his voice. He just doesn't stand out. That being said, I think it was nice to hear the range in his voice in this song. The judges thought it was strong vocally, but that he needs to be more animated. However, Drew did come across very emotive on television, when he did look at the camera.
Marie-Pierre was next, singing Amanda Marshall's Dark Horse. I don't think it was her strongest performance. She didn't sound right when she sang low. I also don't think she quite captured the emotional essence of the song. I liked the rocker-voice she had near the end. The judges also thought it was too low, with Farley saying she needs to learn to pick songs that work for the strong parts of her voice.
Mookie Morris was up next doing a Kooks hit, Naive. I admit it, I am not Mookie's biggest fan, I don't think he has a chance of winning this thing, but he's fascinating to watch. His energy, coupled with the "Mook-walk" (as Farley coined it) just ropes you in. I would definitely pay to see this guy at a club because you just can't help but watch him. The judges loved it, though Zack thought his confidence faltered a bit in the middle.
Sebastian was up next doing Daydream. I still don't get him. I think it would be nice to see him lose the guitar to allow his body to really move, as his upper body really seems like it wants to. The judges loved it though, each of them saying they didn't know what it was about him. I wish they did so someone could explain it to me, because I don't quite get him. Zack admited from one hetero to a (presumed) hetero, Sebastian turned him on. Okay, then.
I really liked Martin Kerr's version of In Your Eyes. He really knows how to use the stage and how to sing expressively. That being said, I do agree with the judges that I didn't entirely feel his performance. Martin sang it great, but Jake was right, there was no despair in it the way Peter Gabriel does it.
To me, Lisa Bell's version of Sitting on the Dock of the Bay seemed to be very over the top. She has a great voice, there's no doubt, but this really isn't the song to be belting it out with. The beauty of this song lies in its simplicity. I think Lisa would be wise to learn when simpler is better. There is a time to belt, and a time to bring it down a notch. The judges for the most part liked it, though Jake told her some screechy parts came through.
Mr.Bojangles was another interesting song choice of the night for Gary, but I think it paid off very well for him. I liked the way he started the song off soft and then grew in volume and intensity. It was also nice to see Gary do something different than what we've heard from him before. The judges agreed it was a great song choice for him, but Zack cautioned Gary he needs to stop flip flopping between styles and decide who he is and show that to Canada.
Finally, there was Amberly. Sweet, sweet Amberly. Her performance of Everything I Own was entrancing. It was a great way to cap off the evening. I think Amberly has a very Sarah Harmer-ish singer/songwriter quality to her. I don't know if Idol is the right place for her or not, but the judges are right: she is definitely already a star. Just for something different though, it would be nice to see her get off the stool and do something a little more uptempo. Keeping with her vibe of course.
Two to go home:
It's tough to pick this week because I think, for the most part, everyone performed very well tonight. But if I had to pick two to go home I would say Lisa Bell and (as much as I wouldn't want to see it) Marie-Pierre.
First off, before we get to the singing, what was with Ben's t-shirt tonight? Did he forget to put a shirt on top of the white t-shirt? Also, I didn't really get his joke to Jake, and given what Ben was wearing, I don't really think he should be the one talking. Jake did give good advice to the competitors: "You have to leave everything on the stage as if its your last performance." Very good advice. The Idol-wannabes should take heed to it.
First up was Mark. He did an interesting version of I'm in Love with a Girl. It wasn't the song I would have chosen for him, but he kind of made it work. I think the problem with Mark is his performance style: he sings great, but his stage presence, facial expressions and dancing take away from it just a little bit. It makes him come across as not very sincere in his performance. I think Mark's a great performer, but doubt he's going to last to become the Canadian Idol. The judges were mixed on their reviews and Zack suggested Mark be larger in his performance. How? I don't think Mark can get any bigger than his current performances.
Next up was Paul singing Apparitions. Great song choice. I really liked his raspy voice in this performance, it really suited the song. I think Paul needs to work on his stage presence. More specifically, I think he needs to work on opening his eyes when he sings and looking at the people he's performing to. He has a great voice, don't get me wrong, I just don't think I could sit and watch him for two hours. The judges were mixed again in their responses. Jake suggested he pick songs with more words.
Drew was third this week, and my feelings on him are mixed. He sang this song okay, but if he really wants to be the last one standing, he needs to pick songs more well known. I also don't think he's really the Idol type. I have to go back the judges' old "If I heard you on the radio, would I know it was you" line and I don't think I would know his voice. He just doesn't stand out. That being said, I think it was nice to hear the range in his voice in this song. The judges thought it was strong vocally, but that he needs to be more animated. However, Drew did come across very emotive on television, when he did look at the camera.
Marie-Pierre was next, singing Amanda Marshall's Dark Horse. I don't think it was her strongest performance. She didn't sound right when she sang low. I also don't think she quite captured the emotional essence of the song. I liked the rocker-voice she had near the end. The judges also thought it was too low, with Farley saying she needs to learn to pick songs that work for the strong parts of her voice.
Mookie Morris was up next doing a Kooks hit, Naive. I admit it, I am not Mookie's biggest fan, I don't think he has a chance of winning this thing, but he's fascinating to watch. His energy, coupled with the "Mook-walk" (as Farley coined it) just ropes you in. I would definitely pay to see this guy at a club because you just can't help but watch him. The judges loved it, though Zack thought his confidence faltered a bit in the middle.
Sebastian was up next doing Daydream. I still don't get him. I think it would be nice to see him lose the guitar to allow his body to really move, as his upper body really seems like it wants to. The judges loved it though, each of them saying they didn't know what it was about him. I wish they did so someone could explain it to me, because I don't quite get him. Zack admited from one hetero to a (presumed) hetero, Sebastian turned him on. Okay, then.
I really liked Martin Kerr's version of In Your Eyes. He really knows how to use the stage and how to sing expressively. That being said, I do agree with the judges that I didn't entirely feel his performance. Martin sang it great, but Jake was right, there was no despair in it the way Peter Gabriel does it.
To me, Lisa Bell's version of Sitting on the Dock of the Bay seemed to be very over the top. She has a great voice, there's no doubt, but this really isn't the song to be belting it out with. The beauty of this song lies in its simplicity. I think Lisa would be wise to learn when simpler is better. There is a time to belt, and a time to bring it down a notch. The judges for the most part liked it, though Jake told her some screechy parts came through.
Mr.Bojangles was another interesting song choice of the night for Gary, but I think it paid off very well for him. I liked the way he started the song off soft and then grew in volume and intensity. It was also nice to see Gary do something different than what we've heard from him before. The judges agreed it was a great song choice for him, but Zack cautioned Gary he needs to stop flip flopping between styles and decide who he is and show that to Canada.
Finally, there was Amberly. Sweet, sweet Amberly. Her performance of Everything I Own was entrancing. It was a great way to cap off the evening. I think Amberly has a very Sarah Harmer-ish singer/songwriter quality to her. I don't know if Idol is the right place for her or not, but the judges are right: she is definitely already a star. Just for something different though, it would be nice to see her get off the stool and do something a little more uptempo. Keeping with her vibe of course.
Two to go home:
It's tough to pick this week because I think, for the most part, everyone performed very well tonight. But if I had to pick two to go home I would say Lisa Bell and (as much as I wouldn't want to see it) Marie-Pierre.
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