Idol Chat with M&M – Power Ranking The Top 12 Boys

Tonight, the American Idol Top 12 boys sing FOR YOUR VOTES on stage at the Detroit Fillmore. Tomorrow night, it’s the girls’ turn. These episodes were taped last week. Click for song spoilers and discussion.

Today, Mac and MJ rate the Top 12 boys. Watch out for the girls tomorrow. How would you rate the Top 24? Sound off in comments.

MAC: 1) Clark Beckham– Everything about Clark suggests to me that he’s the frontrunner. He’s a WGWG (and piano), he has been heavily featured throughout Hollywood week, he delivers consistent performances, and he’s easy on the eyes. On top of that, I fully believe the producers support a Clark victory. Sam Smith has been good business for X-Factor UK, and Clark could be good business for Idol. After having two winners who didn’t sell albums, I can’t imagine they don’t want a chart topper this season.

MJ: 1) Clark Beckham – Yeah, Clark ticks all of the boxes. He’s a charismatic performer with a soulful, appealing voice. He’s cute, he’s musical, he’s southern. He is also potentially marketable, depending on the material. With blue eyed soul making a pop comeback, he could be the first Idol winner to hit the charts since Phillip Phillips.

MAC: 2) Savion Wright– Redemption arcs have carried a returnee to the top spot the past two seasons. Savion already has a built in fanbase from last year, when he got a ton of screentime and failed to make the Top 24. This year? He’s now got an even more expanded fanbase. And if he talks about his brother at some point during the competition, he might win the whole thing. I don’t want to suggest that he should, but he’s sitting on a “backstory” that a large chunk of his fanbase is probably unaware about. Could he be the first black male winner since Ruben Studdard? He’s got a shot.

MJ: 2) Rayvon Owen –  Rayvon Owen has my #2 spot. He may not have the fanbase that Savion has, but he’s come out of nowhere to make a splash. Other than his group song, Rayvon has been consistent and his sound is unlike anything we’ve heard on Idol before. If he continues to make good song choices he could be a surprising front runner.

MAC: 3) Rayvon Owen – Nipping at their heels is Rayvon, who is only slightly behind Clark and Savion. I think it would help if we saw him play an instrument, as silly as that may sound. He’s contemporary though, and that could help with regards to “who can sell records”. Rayvon’s biggest step going forward is probably going to be needing to do an uptempo at some point, and also work a much larger stage. He’s kind of a “stand and sing” guy, and without an instrument to give him reason to be planted, he’ll look boring on a big stage.

MJ: 3) Qaasim Middleton – I had written Qaasim off, but his HOB performance revealed a singer who is also a GREAT performer and that goes a long way on Idol. Plus he’s got a loveable stage mom. The producers have to keep her in the wings.

MAC: 4) Trevor Douglas– He’s also been given a ton of screen time this season, and silly back story about being a nerd. He has made some interesting song choices in the past, and not all of them have connected. I don’t think he’s a lock for the Top 12, but I think it’s his spot to lose right now. I can’t take too many points away from Trevor, except maybe that Burning Love wasn’t that great.

MJ: 4) Nick Fradiani – I would love to put Trevor in my #4 spot, because I am a fan. But he stumbled at the HOB, and with the competition as tight as it is, there’s no room for mistakes. Instead, my #4 is Nick Fradiani, who has been a very consistent and professional performer throughout this competition. He also came into the contest with a bit of a fan base from AGT.

MAC: 5) Riley Bria– He’s got the “male country artist” vote in the bag this season. I don’t consider him deep country, like Dexter was. His is a more mainstream country, like his idol Keith Urban is, or Rascal Flatts. His crossover appeal could land him in the Top 12. If he was a better singer, he’d have a better shot. He’s not though. He’s a “good enough” singer.

MJ: 5) Savion Wright – Savion is a great comeback story and has a slew of fans rooting for him. But to be honest, I’m a little worried about his placement and song choice for next week (via the song spoilers). If he kills it, I’ll move him higher on the list.

MAC: 6) Mark Andrew – If one of the “old guys” makes the Top 12, I’m thinking it might be Mark Andrew. He’s played up the “I’m a dad” angle. Honestly, I think him and Nick have almost equal shot. Idol doesn’t always go for the older contestants, but both of the guys this year are strong artists. They might just both make it. We’ll have to see how these next few weeks pan out. Mark needs to work on the scraggly look though. After seeing his hair without a beanie, I understood why he was wearing the beanie. He needs an Idol stylist immediately.

MJ: 6) Riley Bria – Riley is a fresh face, appealing and musically talented. He’s got a lane all to himself as the only country male singer, which should help him. That his pop country sound leans toward generic is the thing that could hurt him.  As far as Mark is concerned, I think he’d do better in a season that wasn’t full of so many charismatic performers.

MAC: 7) Nick Fradiani – Basically everything I just said about Mark Andrew, except he doesn’t need to worry about the scraggly look. Nick does need to work on the same issue that often plagues solo rock singers which is “are you a solo artist, or do you need to front a band?” Before we had a rocker win, this question didn’t matter. Nowadays, rockers don’t always win Idol. Sometimes it goes to a singer/songwriter WGWG instead. I think Nick and Mark have probably about the same amount of fans right now, and either could make the Top 12.

MJ: 7) Trevor Douglas – Back to Trevor. He has to sing well these next couple of weeks, or won’t make the Top 12. Performances like the one he delivered at the HOB will just not do.

MAC: 8) Quassim Middleton– Or it could go to Quassim. Quassim is interesting, and he’s a ball of energy. I worry that he’s cheesy, and just needs to reign it in a bit. I think he’ll have a good week this week, but will it be enough to get him to the Top 12? I don’t know.

MJ: 8)  Daniel Seavey – Yes, Daniel’s voice is still changing. Yes, he would have benefited by sitting out a year or two. But I think this kid already has people. I wouldn’t count him out as a Top 12 contender. He’s likeable and despite his vocal issues, musically talented. He’s more than just a pretty boy.

MAC: 9) Quentin Alexander– I like Quentin a lot more than I’m ranking him, but he’s a niche contestant. I’m hoping he pulls out a second week, and makes the Top 8 boys, but I can’t imagine he makes the Top 6 boys. Even with all the style and swag, niche contestants usually don’t bring in big voter bases. The boys this year are really good. If this was Season 12? He would probably be the last boy standing, but this year, he’ll be lucky to be top 8.

MJ: 9)  Mark Andrew – I really think Mark is on the bubble out of all the pop/rock guys, I would rank him last. Not because of his vocals so much, but more because of his lack of screen time, and that the others have more appealing personalities. I wouldn’t count him out if he pulls out a great performance.

MAC: 10) Daniel Seavey– I’m pretty sure this boy is one-and-done. But his decision to play a mandolin this week pulled him above Adam for me, because that’s such a freaking ballsy choice. I don’t think Daniel is ready for this competition. He’s like a sea monkey. His voice is still changing, he’s still growing. He would have been more successful if he had waited a year. Still, a mandolin? Gotta give the little guy some props. Maybe he’ll make it a week longer than Eben did.

MJ: 10) Quentin Alexander –  The interesting thing about Quentin is how he can dazzle you with his style, swag and taste, to the point where you forget that his vocals are limited. There are better singers in this competition. I also agree that he’s niche. He’s cool, but maybe a little too weird (HELLO NADIA TURNER) ultimately, for America. In a weaker field, he might make the finals. But against the talent this year, I have my doubts.

MAC: 11) Adam Ezegalian – A decent singer. We all assumed he was Chris Slighing his way into the Top 12, but he hasn’t been nearly entertaining enough for that to be true. If you take away the entertainment factor, he’s just an above average rock singer, and with the boys being as stacked as they are this year, I can’t imagine Adam survives the first week. Not with four guys going home.

MJ: 11) Adam Ezegalian – Do we really need the second coming of Caleb Johnson? I really don’t think we do. Caleb won last year because he was the only entertainer in a field of duds. That’s NOT the case this year. He might squeak by the first week, but I can’t see him making it into the finals.

MAC: 12) Michael Simeon– He’s a sacrificial lamb. The producers made a big deal about Sarina and Savion being returning contestants, but not Michael. And while I’m trying to remain spoiler free for my audience this week, I can tell you that his song choice definitely factored into his placement in this chart. There is absolutely no way he will survive this week. Sure, he’s cute, but there are other cute boys singing better songs, who are way more interesting than Michael “Dance With Me J.Lo” Simeon.

MJ:  12) Michael Simeon – Michael’s HOB performance was weak and made his vocal limitations pretty clear.  Michael has a really sweet tone, but his presentation isn’t dynamic enough to compete. If he can put together a really GREAT performance, he might pull it out. But I agree with you about next week’s song choice. He’s going to have a problem.

MAC: I think it says a lot that we don’t agree on much, but we agree on who is clearly the front runner, and who is absolutely dead last right now. The middle is all jumbled, but our 1st and Last are the same.

MJ: Everything could absolutely change after tonight’s performances! It’s early in the game.

About SirMac 241 Articles
Contributor to mjsbigblog.com. EIC of macthemovieguy.com, Contributor at houseofgeekery.com. Holds a BA in Film from the University of Central Florida.