<p>I don’t think that the best singers made the Top 10, but it was as close as you could get. So much of this is likability which is why like musicmom1215 I think Clint did not make it. I did not like him nor do I like Ashton (great singer!). I loved Robbie but he is so young that he has other chances. It will be interesting to see how quickly the wildcards go.</p>
<p>Casey reminded me instantly (during the audition rounds) of so many kids I’ve known over the years at music/drama camps.The band geek. The drama nerd. I loved the melodica he played! A kid my kids would have been friendly with. Real musician, sense of humor, quirky. I “knew” him instantly and became a fan. Hope he goes all the way!</p>
<p>cathymee-
You hit it exactly on Casey. Real musician, nerdy, quirky.
Much like our DS and his crew from HS, and then three different music programs, undergrad and grad. Casey is so obviously comfortable in his skin and on stage…hope he goes far.</p>
<p>disappointed with the new format. 1 live performance and then 14 cuts…but then 6 people chosen by the judges get another chance? All 24 should have been given at least 2 live performances…IMO</p>
<p>Tonight is the first night that I’m really sitting here watching. Thus far, I’m not at all impressed. I’m wondering whether not knowing any of the back stories is making me more objective.</p>
<p>Wow! Pia is amazing. I had goose bumps while she was singing. She is far and away the best in my book!</p>
<p>She sounded great, but I don’t feel like she was really connecting with the song.</p>
<p>OK, I really liked James.</p>
<p>Liked Paul McDonald until he showed up tonight wearing a Marine Corps dress blues coat as a casual top. Maybe he was trying to pay homage to the military? Didn’t work…</p>
<p>Loved, Loved Haley’s performance!</p>
<p>^^^^ Yuck!</p>
<p>it seemed like tonight was all about the screaming and not really singing…was disappointed.</p>
<p>For me Pia was a little vacant. Loved James.</p>
<p>Stefano really won us over. Haley was amazing also.</p>
<p>This show is my guilty pleasure–between it and Top Chef, I watched TV for 3 solid hours, I’m ashamed to say. Tonight was the first time I really missed Simon Cowell. Randy was the only one who didn’t gush all over everyone, and his critiques were not nearly as accurate and entertaining as Cowell’s.</p>
<p>I dislike most country music, but it was interesting to me that 3 of the contestants picked country, or at least country-pop. Says a lot about American musical taste these days. I’ll leave it to the sociologists to figure out what it all means.</p>
<p>Thoughts on a few of the performers:</p>
<p>Pia–nice voice, a very competent performer, but hard to see how she could fit into today’s music scene.</p>
<p>Jacob–so horrendously off key that I had to put my hands over my ears; I have no idea how the judges didn’t hear that.</p>
<p>Casey–totally entertaining, can’t wait to see what he does next week.</p>
<p>Naima–a mediocre singer and a worse dancer yet I couldn’t take my eyes off her (and want to pay for her dental work). Weird that her “idol”, Rihanna, is someone who can barely sing herself.</p>
<p>Scotty–seems to have a huge fan base for some reason, but if week after week I have to listen to him sing country songs that all sound the same, in that voice that never varies, it will be a long, cruel spring.</p>
<p>Stefano–lots of potential in this boy, but he was a little nasal tonight.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that there won’t be any “theme weeks” this season, which is very disappointing to me–if they aren’t going to make Jacob sing country or Scotty sing a show tune, a lot of the fun of the show will be lost.</p>
<p>Pia continues to shine, putting in strong performances back to back. She looked amazing in that Gold dress! She DOES need to connect better to the audience, however. If Naima can work out the kinks in her vocals, she may be the one to challenge Pia. Jacob is a phenomenal talent, but not at his best tonight with some of the notes. I can also see him on Broadway, if he doesn’t become a contemporary artist, maybe starring in Lion King. Casey was his rock-solid self and another contestant who really shines when he plays an instrument. James may very well be the front runner now. Another perfect song choice, beautiful tone, and great performance. He’s getting my vote tonight! Paul had a little bit of an off-week, imo. Stefano is likeable but I don’t see him as a contemporary artist. He reminds me of an Italian version of Mario Lopez. Stefano would be great on Glee. Thought James and Scotty had the best performances of the night.</p>
<p>Sound continues to be an issue. I thought the music producers could have gotten much more from the talented performers, especially with Thia (great beginning only), Karen (pitch problems), and Hayley (too much yodeling and hula movement).</p>
<p>The show really needs to let the performers play their instruments-- sooner than later!</p>
<p>I was also really disappointed. The girls were particularly weak - heard very little singing along with some screaming and yodeling.</p>
<p>MommaJ for AI judge!</p>
<p>These got my votes:</p>
<p>Lauren got my “you were better than the judges said, but you had the bad luck to be the first one to hit the stage” pity vote. If she could have sung that song with a little more sauciness, it would have been much better.</p>
<p>Haley got my “a person could do a hula to your song” vote.</p>
<p>Naima got my “you had trouble with your singing, but your performance was mesmerizing” vote.</p>
<p>Scotty got my “I like how you told the producer to lay off my style and my song” vote. Don’t know how far not growing your style is going to take you in this competition, but I do predict a music career (and maybe marrying a country and western female star) for him.</p>
<p>Thia got my “you made me feel old by not knowing about Charlie Chaplin and your producer didn’t really help your cause” pity vote.</p>
<p>The people who got my “you deserve to be here next week” votes: Casey (no flies on that performance), James (not as good as Sir Paul on the soft parts, but better than Paul on the screechy parts) and Pia (just no more Celine Dion songs, please).</p>
<p>Is it just me, but Paul was horrible when he danced! It was painful–worse than Mick Jagger!</p>
<p>Jacob–his voice is just not my cup of tea.</p>
<p>I was not that impressed with some of the song choices last night and I’m not sure those all-so-great producers did some of the performers any favors (think Thia). The judges realize that the producers did the arrangements, sometimes the voting audience do not.</p>
<p>Pia sounded great - I think she has the strongest voice. Casey, Paul & Jacob have such unique styles and all are truly talented. I’m not a fan of Ashton, Hayley, Karen, Naima (Rihanna, really?). The others I like, some weeks more than others.</p>
<p>I also would like to thank those of you who can remember their names. I know who they are when I see/hear the name, but for those who already can pull them out of the air from memory - kudos!</p>
<p>Are we watching the same show? I thought Haley was awful! So many of her notes were off, and she was boring as a rock. </p>
<p>I changed the channel to Modern Family while Jacob sang. Just horrible. </p>
<p>The country performers chewed their words.</p>