Favorite performance this week? Lee DeWyze’s “The Boxer”. Yep. And I’m one of those people who believe his live performance was over-praised by the judges.
So peeps, check out the You Tubes and tell us what YOU think.
Download Top 7 Idol performances HERE, or click the links below
- Casey James – “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” – Ho hum. I really dig Casey’s voice, but this performance is phoned in. Very karaoke. This song would have only worked with some serious re-arranging. Otherwise, comparisons to the original are inevitable. – AUDIO – VIDEO – YOU TUBE
- Lee DeWyze – “The Boxer” – The first time I listened to Lee’s recording, I got chills. His vocal is so beautiful and heartfelt, and the phrasing is gorgeous. The live performance suffered from the Idol edit, and Lee’s lack of ease on the Idol stage. But this recording? I love it. – AUDIO – VIDEO – YOU TUBE
- Tim Urban – “Better Days” – Tim’s voice has a beautiful tone, but his phrasing is dull and his range is limited. But on this recording, with the vocal issues cleaned up, his sincerity shines through. His live performance could have been a moment if he had the vocal chops to pull it off. Tim’s unrelenting optimism and spirituality is a perfect match for the Goo Goo’s hopeful message. – AUDIO – VIDEO – YOU TUBE
- Aaron Kelly – “I Believe I Can Fly” – Aaron’s recordings always sound good. But I couldn’t get through this song twice. It’s so boring. Aaron has two problems–he can’t pick songs and he has no stage presence. But, his voice does record nicely. He could have a decent country career. – AUDIO – VIDEO – YOU TUBE
- Siobhan Magnus – “When You Believe” – I was so impressed with Siobhan’s beautiful vocals on Tuesday, that I forgot how lame this song is. Ugh. The recording strips out everything that was good about her live performance. The result is a very dull, indeed. Siobhan is better than the material she’s picking lately. – AUDIO – VIDEO – YOU TUBE
- Michael Lynche – “Hero” – Big Mike is one of the best pure singers out of this bunch. The judges love Mike in the R&B box, but I like him best singing neo-soul or soulful rock. I like his take on Chad Kroeger’s “Hero” and think his warm vocals improve the original. – AUDIO – VIDEO – YOU TUBE
- Crystal Bowersox – “People Get Ready” – My second favorite of the bunch. A beautiful vocal, but not as powerful as her live performance. Still, Crystal is wonderful as always. Her rich vocals are soulful and moving. The recording would be much better without the over-orchestration. – AUDIO – VIDEO – YOU TUBE