Music Blogs

This is a pretty big week for the Idol hopefuls.  The three remaining contestants; Drew, Theo and Mitch are testing their stamina, performing two songs each.  This week the hopeful trio were put to another can you rock like a Canadian test, only this time from Bryan Adams.   

 

Bryan Adams is a pivotal Canadian rock icon.  Adams started out as a boy from Kingston Ontario who had big dreams.  Musically Bryan Adams has been solid gold all the way, having sold an excess of 65 million records, winning two Grammy awards, and Juno awards his achievements are nothing to scoff at.  Even more impressive is that Adams achieved all this while being an avid photographer and hugely philanthropic.  His home and native land awarded Bryan with the order of Canada.  While this may all be in the past, Bryan Adams is still going strong and has recently released his 11^th album!  Geez, does that make you feel slightly average or what?

I dare to wager that the first introduction that Drew, Theo and Mitch had to Bryan Adams was the Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves movie….but that’s just a personal bet.  

Drew kicked off the show with his rendition of, “Cuts like a Knife”.  Adding his rocker vibe to really bump up this 80’s track resulted in another strong performance for Drew.  In fact, I’d say that Drew gave Theo serious competition with this performance.     

This performance was also enough for Jake to finally figure out who Drew was and that apparently is someone who shares a likeness to Bryan Adams.  That’s a pretty awesome complement if you ask me.  However, had I been at the judges table I would have offered this, when going rock, go full throttle.  Bryan Adams may be genre-fied as more adult alternative than rock, but Drew, if you’re a rocker, then giv’er, don’t hold back!

The Piano man (as I now like to call him), Theo followed red hot rocker Drew with his rendition of, “Heaven”, Bryan’s first #1 hit in the US!  If you frequent clubs, then chances are you’re more familiar with the “dance-infused” version of this song.  Tonight however Theo took it to the complete opposite end of the spectrum with his personal style.  The great element was that Theo incorporated Bryan’s rocker nature with a backing band.  I have no criticisms of this performance.  In fact, it was pretty rad.  To support my stance, even grouch Mcgrump Zack Werner labeled this Theo’s “most signature performance to date.”

Rounding up the first set of performances was Mitch who performed, “Heat of the Night”.  Before Mitch performed, Bryan Adams weighed in on Mitch saying that, “if he’s going to hold that guitar, he’s going to have to hold it like he means it and if he’s going to sing, he’s going to have to sing like he means it.”  Mitch has been consistent the entire season, but now it’s time to step it up.  Unfortunately Drew and Theo got two thumbs up from their teacher this week, sorry Mitch. 

To be completely honest, I just don’t feel like Mitch’s vocal timbre suited this song.  While I’m on the honesty trail I might as well also mention this, his walking forwards with the mic stand in hand, guitar slung over his shoulder, Mitch looked like he was in physical discomfort, not full of savvy and cool.  For anyone that doesn’t know, mic stands are actually kinda heavy.  Then when he planted himself in his usual stance to deliver the rest of the performance, he looked angry which isn’t an emotion that I see jiving with Mitch’s personality all that well. 

DING DING, Round II!

Coming out of the corner with the one, two punch was Drew, performing a rendition of, “I’m Ready” that not only showcased a whole new side of Drew, but proved that Drew is actually ready to hit the ground running and devote his life to music (if he so chooses). 

As I said a few weeks ago, I think Drew has the makings of a great front man.  He’s talented, versatile and easy to look at.  Sadly his baby blues haven’t won over Zack Werner who described this performance as “Bryan Adams in Bryan Adams the musical”…ouch!  I personally don’t think anyone would agree with that judgment though.  There was some drama to his performance, that I’ll recognize, but it was just the right bit to command attention, especially from the ladies. 

For Theo’s second performance, he took on the Adams/Sporty Spice duet, “When You’re Gone”. 

What made this song so fun, other than Sporty Spice was that it was upbeat and catchy.  Somehow Theo’s performance lacked that very vital element.  He slowed the tempo of the song down to where it seemed sluggish.  With lyrics of that nature I think you either have to strip it down and channel the emo or bump it up and play on the overflowing anxiety that you feel in the situation that the lyrics play on.  Theo just also lacks any stage-worthy sauntering abilities, so when he tries to work the stage it just looks awkward. 

Mitch closed the show with, “When You Love Someone”.  His tender personality resonated and Mitch seemed totally at home in the performance.  However, his tone just didn’t mesh with the song (again) nor his arrangement.  When someone is singing you a love song, or performing one, a pitchy phrase can really just ruin the moment and sadly for Mitch, there were a lot of those ruined moments.  Mitch’s distinct vocal tone works really well with some songs and not so well with others.  Which is why I’ll stick to singing along with P!nk and not Celine Dion. 

My guess is that Mitch is going home.  Wonder if I’ll be eating my words…

I leave you now with the latest from Bryan Adams