Music Blogs

Alright, here we go!  We’ve got 16 Idols and we’re fast approaching the Top 10!  This is when things really start to get exciting.  Idols step it up a notch and start to show us what they’re made of.  Or not…

The eight hopefuls that performed last night didn’t seem to be as hungry for the Idol title as I hoped.  Also shocking is that Zack Werner and I have more in common when it comes to what appeals to our ears than I could have ever imagined!  I found myself agreeing whole-heartedly with about 90% of the “crabby judges” statements.  He may be the timbit version of Simon Cowell, but he’s honest and well…right.  Half these contestants do not have what it takes to move albums off a shelf or up the charts, sorry, it’s true!  That’s why there will only be one Idol.    

As far as I’m concerned, it’s pretty easy to draw a line down the middle of the Idol stage, dividing the truly talented versus those who should stick to owning the local Karaoke night.

Standing out from the pack on the talented side of the stage is Theo.  This boy dominated his fellow hopefuls last night!  His chill approach makes it easy to watch him and easy to not scoff at the fact that he covered Colbie Caillat’s “Bubbly”.  His performance was effortless, natural and entertaining.  It also helps that Theo is consistently good! 

Also consistently good is Marie- Pierre.  I dare to say that Marie-Pierre may have the most rock ‘n roll in her than any of the other Idol hopefuls.  This girl just goes for it and gives it her all and it’s paying off.  She’s been sweet and soulful all the way to raspy and rocker, that’s range, that’s making any album you want!  Marie-Pierre took on Janis Joplin’s “Piece Of My Heart” and blew the roof off!  However, what may work against here is that her range is creating a blurred identity. 

Usually hanging out on the talented side of the stage is Amberly.  Her song choice of “You and I Both” by Jason Mraz may have really hurt her.  This isn’t a track that can be easily covered.  That point was proven when Amberly wasn’t able to be her normal charismatic or vocally enticing self as a result of this choice.  But apparently I wasn’t watching the same show as the judges.  In their eyes Amberly can do no wrong.  Apparently they didn’t let their ears chime in on this one.  However, based on past performances, in my books, she's still talented, but currently, she’s straddling the line.   

As I have said before, the contestants have to be VERY aware of their song selection.  Amberly’s wasn’t the best for her, but she wasn’t alone!  As a result of less than Idol worthy performances, the other hopefuls find themselves on the Karaoke side of the stage. 

Martin Kerr fell victim to the bad song choice.  Martin chose to perform Coldplay’s “Fix You”.  This song is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful pop ballads ever written!  Unfortunately, Martin came across as a little too country and not enough rock ‘n roll to pull it off.  Even more tragic was that Martin was the first performer of the night, so his weak effort made the follow-up performances seem that much better (not by much). 

Adam Castelli has been giving it everything he’s got.  He’s working on making song arrangements his own, being very strategic with his song choices and putting 150% behind it when it comes time to perform.  However, with all that being said, I rarely find Adam memorable.  He also never comes up in conversation with any of the Idol die-hards I know.  Why is that?  Oh, I know, he just can’t bring it home.  I know, harsh, but true!  He can arrange a song, has great musicality but his singing just isn’t at the level it should be and when all is said and done, this is a singing competition.  This personal judgment I have of Adam makes me cringe, I really did want him to come into his own, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen under the Idol title.    

To really come into your own as an artist, you have to know who you are, what your sound is as a result of that identity and build from there.  From day one, Omar’s voice and presence has screamed R&B singer.  So, what would possess him to take on Garth Brooks’ “If Tomorrow Never Comes”?  If he had been able to add some of his smoothness to it, then it could have proved real chops.  However, in my opinion and apparently also Zack Werner’s, this was not the right song choice by any means!  I believe that Omar thinks that he’s got the chops to be a chart-topping R&B singer, I believe that the judges were behind that at first, but I also believe that his time on the Idol stage is coming to an end.

I would like to put Mark Day on the talented side of the stage.  Just on a different type of stage.  Mark Day is the Canadian Jack Black (with more civility).  Every performance feels like a shtick; a very well-tuned, in key shtick.  Mark would be great on Broadway, or at Just For Laughs, Second City etc. but not as the Canadian Idol.  Sorry Mark!  I really do find you quite entertaining though! 

Last up was Mookie Morris.  I should love Mookie, the rest of Toronto seems to, the judges seem too, even the fellow hopefuls seem to.  But I do not!  I also think almost every person in the Toronto Facebook network has become a member of the Mookie Morris fan page.  I did not.  Mookie is cool, Mookie is different, Mookie is not a bad singer, but despite being able to play an instrument, Mookie is not a musician, artist or Idol.  He even chose one of my current favourite songs “Valerie” by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse and I still can’t love him.  Is it just me?  Am I missing something?  I don’t feel the charisma everyone is talking about.  I just don’t. 

That’s my rant as the competition really gets going.  I can’t wait for the other half of the 16 to perform…mostly because of the Piggot brothers, but can you blame me?