Top Ten Guys(10-1)

Here we go...love the Ryan intro..."The guys are back, and this time it's personal"....uh, hello...everything is personal if your a person...very classy note starting the show with a congrats to Jennifer Hudson..will he question Simon?? They are dedicating their performances this week to people that inspire them...he was last on Tuesday's show a week ago, and he is first tonight...
Phil gets it started..."Missing You"...solid start...good presence on the stage..not a great song as far as his range, but an okay start to the night...Judges: Randy: showing his power Paula: liked the tone, can hear him on the radio now...Simon: thinks he's popular, is a very nice guy with an unoriginal voice. Still not hearing anything unique...Well, best two out of three??? Simon doesn't see him leaving....
Jared..with some Marvin Gaye...hmmm...well, his tone is like Marvin's..and he sounds weak, like the dance moves...he's having a good time...pitchy...some of them..yikes...he took a chance...judges: Randy: steamy face move, liked it..Paula: good looking guy, kinda song he didn't have to push....(no pun intended)...Simon: glad he made the attempt, reminded him of the Love Boat, if they had a cabaret singer on the loveboat....comeback: that would have been a great loveboat, man....well apparently we're no longer a family show after some Marvin Gaye...hey, Jared had fun...AJ up next....
AJ taking a risk, very vulnerable with the band playing low..nice..."Feelin Good" good timing, he's got good timing, solid tone....Judges: Randy: better than last week, kinda nice Paula: has a real real real real real good voice. Simon: made himself standout, looked strangely comfortable...so far the best of the night for me...great arrangement too, liked the cold start, was different and unique...Sanjaya, next...
Sanjaya...like the look, fits the song...just not sure if the song 'fits' him...seems like another week where he didn't know song selection...seems very nervous, not projecting with his voice...Judges: Randy: nice kid, like a bad high school talent show, like he borrowed his dad's hat...Paula: sang on pitch, has an old soul, pick songs that celebrate your youth, Simon: agreed with Randy, weak, weird, no impact. Sanjaya seemed like he was whispering during the song, not sure what's in his head, but he may have a ticket punched for a trip home...and he'll be "Steppin Out" this week....
Chris, "Trouble" next...opposite of Sanjaya, picked the right song for his voice...sounds great, good stage presence, solid vocal tone...Judges: Randy: good to see him return, good choice Paula: liked it too, real awesome Simon: very good singer. One of the better ones tonight, although we're only through four..six to go, and I have a feeling the best of the night is still to come.
Nick and "Fever" next...little change of tempo from Richard Marx and "Now and Forever" last week...he's been here before, but didn't get this far remember...solid vocal from Nick, however the drummer seems to be more into the song than the singer...there are several ways he could have gone after this song, and he took the safe version, he didn't really make it his own, it was ordinary. Judges: Randy: nice Paula: liked it Simon: Thought it was good, lacked charisma on the song. again, lack of charisma this week, Blake Lewis next...
Blake..."Virtual Insanity"...did a great job at the start, with some vocal mixing...tome is great, stage presence is great, pretty good arrangement. Judges: Randy: good to see him return..liked it..Paula: smart choices, unique, no one else like him Simon: thought first part was copycat, didn't see any originalty, very disappointed....I disagree, I thought the performance was fine, the scatting in the middle was a nice touch.
Brandon Rogers up next.. Brandon singing "Time After Time"....his vocal is solid. Not a bad song, it's interesting hearing a male vocal on the song, not sure though...Judges Randy: liked the sentiment, didn't do a lot vocally. Paula: felt his heart in the song Simon: its a singing competition, needs to come out and make a 'wow' impact. needs to show why he's a great singer...Simon wants to hear it now...his performance was weak, even though he put his 'heart' into the performance..not too sure about that performance.
Chris Richardson, "Geek in Pink"..did Gavin DeGraw last week and it wasn't original...lets hope this isn't a slaughter. I like the stretch he is taking and the risk...solid vocal, good stage presence...judges: Randy: Chris is in it to win it tonight, lovin him tonight Paula: liked it Simon: best tonight by a mile...and I totally agree with Simon, he had a great time on stage, vocally he was on, best so far tonight...ONE to go...ONE...Sundance closes the show...
Sundance singing, "Mustang Sally"...great song for his voice...good way to end the show..solid performance, opening that big voice...even like the dance moves...Lakisha officially has some competition from the guys...best of the night...hands down....Judges: Randy: that was hot. Paula: bring it like that every week. amazing range. Simon: still thinks Sundance can do better, but a big improvement.
Tonight, overall better for the guys, with "Dedications" week you really can't do much or pick too much on these guys for the songs they chose to dedicate, or maybe you can...what do you think? I'll be back with a recap of the night for the guys shortly, ladies tomorrow....they're not sweating..that I know...back in a bit