What an odd, odd season it has been! This seems like the season to throw all out conventional wisdom and whatever we have learned before. Nothing seems to matter this year! After a breakout week, where does Gina Glocksen sit with the competition? With just nine contestants left, Sting7 takes another crack at ranking the Idols!
I definitely did not think Chris Sligh would be the third to go! I know, this is the third Ranking in a row started with such a sentence! That is because it has been such a season! Chris Sligh will be on tour with the Idols this summer (barring some unforeseen complication), and he definitely deserves that opportunity. Thing is; he deserved to be in this competition longer!
Chris, I’m at a loss. Don’t think one little misstep should have done you in. I think your fanbase got a little comfy. Yes, there were those syncopation issues, “Every Little Thing” is a nutty song to perform! You’re singing one thing; the music is off doing its own thing independent of you! It’s like playing fetch with a cat! But, it wasn’t THAT sonically bad. There were certainly worse than you. You and I both know that.
I wonder if the folks at Bob Jones realize what a disservice they were doing you, dragging your name through the mud. All because you decided not to turn your Idol time into your own pulpit. Imagine being told you were not being Christian enough? It’s not the reason for your demise, but it couldn’t have helped.
I repeat. There has never been a season like this. As we reflect upon the Top 9, I rank the Idols like so:
Melinda Doolittle (1) – It was Melinda’s time with Lulu and Peter Noone that seemed to highlight the difference between Melinda and LaKisha. It is Melinda’s interpretive skills. Melinda really does seem like someone who knows how to bring the lyrics to life and make them real. That is why she is so effective. When her confidence grows, she will take those natural interpretive gifts to the next level, and her voice will have the soul-piercing capabilities of an Annie Lennox, and that would be brilliant.
Jordin Sparks (3) – Slowly, I have become a believer. I thought there was something kind of hesitant in Jordin’s voice, but that was probably nerves. The judges were always oozing about her limitless her potential was – at the beginning of the Top 24 that made me cock my head to the left. Now, I see it. From taking a song like “I” that just devours the unworthy, throwing down a throw down fun song like “Hey Baby,” you begin to wonder if there is anything she can do!
LaKisha Jones (2) – A week after singing “Diamonds Are Forever” LaKisha slips a notch for being… outshined. Not that there is anything wrong with her singing – it has been impeccable so far – LaKisha’s issue is that, well, she seems a bit dower. Trust me; I’ve known plenty of LaKishas. She’s not upset, she’s not angry, she’s not sad, she’s not mean, she’s just a no-nonsense girl who means business in this competition. Her sense of humor is subtle, not slapstick. Her charm is quiet. She is the soft crackle that comes with the fireplace. Unfortunately, America can’t let her be who she is without finding fault with her, and wants her to be overt and giggly and open. That is not LaKisha. And, unless LaKisha can find a way to win America over, or pretend to be Jordin believably enough, she will be the shocking exit of the season. Trust me.
Blake Lewis (4)– I wonder if Blake knows how much it meant that he did not beatbox during his version of “Love Song” (which was the 311 version of “Love Song”). He kept himself from being pigeonholed, and slowly, he is opening eyes. Sligh’s demise may be Lewis’s gain. I don’t imagine folks who would have voted for Chris S have any interest in Sanjaya or Phil. Maybe, some may opt for Chris R, but Blake will get the lion share of those votes. I say let the voice do the work during Tony Bennett week. Beatboxing here would seem like a mockery. You don’t want that.
Chris Richardson (6) – To all of you who emailed me to thank me for understanding that Chris Richardson’s voice is not nasally, I say you are welcome! (And I have to admit there were a LOT of you!) Chris is a very modern contemporary singer. In this age of runs of slipping into the upper register in the name of neo-soul. Chris is Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown. He is serving his constituency well. As mentioned above, not having Sligh around helps you too. Just keep making smart choices. Do not get careless!
Gina Glocksen (7) – I know I am inviting the pelted rotted fruit, but I was not as wowed by Gina’s “I’ll Stand By You” as some folks. It was a nice job, but I am not jumping up and down. Don’t get me wrong, I have always believed in Gina’s voice, maybe more than she does! What seems to have awakened the world to Gina’s skills is that this is a song she believed. She understood it. I’ll bet you she was thinking of her boyfriend through every syllable. My grandma used to say “nothing rings like the truth.” Her performance was ringing true clear as a bell. That’s the difference.
Haley Scarnato (8) – After dazzling us with her legs and her physical gifts, Haley tried to dazzle us with her voice this week. It worked if your idea of dazzling is muscling your beloved to tears and into submission! Haley went for the fences and ended up striking out. “True Colors” is a song that needs to be practically cooed. Haley added breaks, extended riffs, threw in flourishes, put in track lighting, did some floorboards, installed a shower, it was a mess! Haley could benefit from Gina this week -- take a song that you can emotionally connect with and just sing it. Don’t try to be impressive, just tell the truth. And, if you have another short dress… wouldn’t hurt anything.
Sanjaya Malakar (9) – Having never been to Planet Sanjaya, I’m not quite sure what to say here! Actually, a lot of you do. Like Melissa S, who said “I hadn’t really been watching American Idol, but after reading so much about how bad this Sanjaya guy was, I wanted to see. I didn’t get it. He wasn’t so bad. He wasn’t the best singer on the show, but I thought his voice was kind of pretty. I’m no expert, but I didn’t hear anything that seemed worthy of the nasty things I’ve been reading.” I’m right there with you. I’m beginning to feel a little bad for the guy. And, it takes a bit of bravery to carry the “hell with it” attitude he has been sporting in the last few weeks. There is an incredible self-belief that is required for that. No, Sanjaya, you don’t deserve to win this show, but you are nowhere near as bad as people seem to want you to be.
Phil Stacey (10)– I’ll be dog. Did he really just do another Guarini? I mean, when the critiques are even remotely bad, Phil dismissiveness is just shy of scrunching his face into a ball and throwing a dismissive wave at the world. I am just so unimpressed with Phil; I see nothing that would have advanced him past the audition room at the hotel, let alone in the Top 9. Quit picking on Sanjaya and listen to how little Phil has to offer!
The evolution of Jordin means a Sligh-ed for LaKisha (ahem)! Blake is still the leading man, but Chris R is still within striking distance. Nothing else needs to be said about Sanjaya’s ‘hawk, so I didn’t. Phil Stacey. Why?
Let’s see how it all shakes out next week!
Sting7 has been a respected published writer for many years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.
