Post by S.L. on Aug 1, 2006 20:09:53 GMT -5
Sim Idol 2: Episode 8 "Final 6" is up!
This week, the final 6 takes on the theme of Diane Warren Songs. Because Charly, our 2nd judge, is moving, we have a special guest judge for this week. The episode is on the site now! You can vote for more than one person too!
www.freewebs.com/simidol2006
www.simidol2.tk
In-Depth Judges Comments:
Mollie Evans – “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill
Steven: I thought your vocals were good as always, but I felt the performance wasn’t as phenomenal as last week. What I liked from last week not shown this week was that personal connection and emotion you sang; that is true artistry and that shows a sign of a true artist. In this performance, you sang it like any other way and not like an artist in my opinion. Last week, you nailed it on the head to show yourself as an artist and not just a singer. To be an artist, feel the song and tell a story when you sing it. The emotional connection wasn’t as strong as last week. So this week was a step back. It seems Country songs are not the best for you…lol. It was good, but I want more. I want an artist and not just a singer.
Dean: There was a little opportunity here to hear a bit of a softer side but the time limit seems to be the culprit I think. The softer parts of a song don't have that "WOW EM" factor and so in editing, I suppose the belty moments would get chosen. Overall, I think you're still relying on big belty songs to carry you through. Your harmonies were nice and I think you did a great job but you can only hear someone belt at the top of their lungs so many times before you think - "ok, this is getting old."
Ollie: It’s the powerhouse herself, some songs you tend to shout too much, but this was a perfect song choice for your voice.
Charly: Mollie, you picked a good song for your vocal ability. Alothought this wasn't as great as last weeks, I am glad to switched it up and show something new. LOVED the harmonies in this one. It was still great, and you have to keep up the bar you raised.
Elisha – “How Do I Live” by LeAnn Rimes
Steven: I loved your vocals and you definitely showed a lot of originality. I loved the ending, but there is one big concern is that you made the interpretation and originality a bit over-the-top. This is a simple country ballad by LeAnn Rimes, and although you made your own, you over-did it with all these vocal acrobatics for me. To me, subtlety is the key for originality when doing this song because this song is all about simplicity. Metaphorically, it’s like fitting so much into something small. To me, it wasn’t your best and sometimes less is more at times. In this occasion, it is. It was good, but I know you can offer more.
Dean: For me you have the best instincts about performances. You show as much of your voice as you can in every performance. High, Low, Loud, Soft…you show that you are versatile and strong in all aspects of your voice. I think this performance was breathtaking and really makes me want to hear the entire song. d**n on those high harmonies! More so impressive, You managed a fresh take on a song that would normally seem really karaoke - cause it was overkill when this song was popular. Wonderful! Outstanding even!
Ollie: The day I make a bad comment about your vocals will be the day I eat my hat, this is as always- spot on!
Charly: Another contry song by Diane Warren. I like how you changed it up a little because I am so tired of this song being sung so safely. I know firsthand though....its not...it takes range to do. And, Elisha, YOU GOT IT! I do agree a bit with Steven, there were parts where you were a bit too showy for me, but you did manage to keep my attention through this particular song, which is a feat in itself.
Aaron Lawrence – “Tell Me Where It Hurts” by Kathy Tricolli
Steven: This song has so much potential. I personally don’t like the country version of this song. And I didn’t like the country version on you. A Filipino acoustic group M.Y.M.P. made this track into an acoustic song in 2005. And holy s***! That version would fit 1000000x better for you. In fact, if you took that acoustic route, you could really tackle that song like a true artist. You could infuse your unique tone and style to that song. But after me ranting, that country version doesn’t help you as much, but it was better than last week. But it didn’t wow me. It was good, but I’m telling you go acoustic with that song.
Dean: I think you definitely picked a better song for your voice this week. Good dynamics in your performance but until the chorus I didn't get any feeling from you. It picked up considerably with the chorus, but then there were some odd timing issues and the end ad libs felt completely out of place. Not a bad performance but I don't know if it will see you through eliminations!
Ollie: This I felt was far too mellow tone, you were way out of timing with this and it sounded a little off key.
Charly:
More contry...O VEY! Aaron, you are way too much like me musically wise. Kathy Troccoli....YAY! having said that, it was an odd choice of some from you. Though you do try to make songs your own, I felt you didn't here. This song didn't do you any favors vocally in the beginning. It got better in the chorus, but to me, you should have stepped it up...go uptempo if you had to. If you had done a more uptempo songs that shows your strength. (HINT: "Everything Changes")...I probably would remember to vote for you. But this was just...meh...
Jake Dee – “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
Steven: I actually think this is your best performance so far in the competition. Again, you said it in your intro, a rock ballad infusing your soulful style. And I felt the execution was spot on, and you definitely showed tons of emotion in that song. Compared to such an average performance last week, this week was so much better by a mile and you probably are one of the better ones tonight. For me, it needed a bit more spark or that “wow factor” because it was a nanometer short of being fantastic. It was a very good job! I really enjoyed it!
Dean: Jake…I'm impressed…you put a lot of emotion into your song this week. I felt a bit distracted at first because the backing seemed a bit odd but I'm honestly impressed by your vocal performance this week. Not only was it heartfelt I think you're working on your enunciation and you picked a great song to show what you can do. Nice job!
Ollie: You have improved quite a bit over the passed years, this is good, but I expected more from you here, try not to worry so much about your voice sounding so pretty and practice hitting them notes dead on- still a very good job though overall.
Charly: Thank God you didn't do the country version of this song...LOL. You took a big risk with infusing your style with rock and it payed off BIG TIME! Best performance of yours yet. Not only that, you open up more and more each week. Its like you are showing more of you emotionally week after week. And you listened to the critiques about the diction, cuz it is much better this week. You are growing my friend. Keep at it.
Suzanne Lanoue – “Because You Love Me” by Celine Dion
Steven: Sucre Bleu! This was not a good choice Suzanne. In fact, out of all your performances, this was your worst one by miles. This performance felt consistently flat and I felt you just didn’t gel or connect with the song as well. Vocally, it was just flat and you try hitting those notes but it didn’t go your way. The emotional connection wasn’t there too. And that’s a big component if you sing any of Celine Dion’s songs. It is that connection of love and emotion into a song. And you just didn’t succeed of doing it. I’m sorry but that was not good at all; pretty much below average.
Dean: This performance was really iffy. Your voice and style felt really out of place here. I don't know what to say except this song really wasn't right for you. It felt like you struggled through the whole thing. Notes were off here and there. The ad libs sounded really forced. I'm sorry but I think you might have sealed your fate in the competition.
Ollie: This was awful- sorry, but you struggled to stay in key throughout and I would say you were the weakest this week with Aaron second. Don’t do songs you can’t actually sing, you would have been better to have chose an easier challenge.
Suzanne: EEEK! Suzanne, this was your worst performance here. Tough song to sing to begin with. It lacked sizzle, you went off tune at times, and your tone did not match up mood of the song. I think if you had took the time and learned a new song...you would have fared better. Just because you know a song doesn't necessairily mean its gonna fit you. I do like your operatic range and your high showy notes, but you gotta find a way to build up to those notes and make it all flow together in the most appropriate way.
Erica Roane – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Jefferson Starship
Steven: The perfect song choice for you for Diane Warren Week would have been Heart’s “Who Will You Run To,” and I wished you could have picked that for this week. But you know, this wasn’t the perfect song choice for your voice, but your vocals are always consistent. But then again, it was just another performance for me. And I would like to see the true side of Erica to come out. Last week was a little tease of that, but give me that rock-ish, bluesy style you bring. You have a great grit in your voice to tackle that Heart song, and I want to hear you bring that grit out more! Show us some rock! It was good, but not the greatest thing you did.
Dean: Ok Erica, I'm gonna take a stab at the mystery and say that I think you get too into singing and you get ahead of your song. This seems to be a re-occuring problem. You start off fine and then you slip out of timing, as the song builds you start your vocals too early. However, I think this track works surprisingly well on your voice! You had some grit in on the belted notes and until that last note your vocal was powerful. You lost it on that last note though. Pretty good job but try to sort out that timing problem.
Ollie: I love the egression show cased here. You showed power and range, just watch you don’t shout the song too much.
Charly: I REALLY LOVE THIS SONG! I think this was a great song choice for you as well and I just love your performance skills in this one.....LOL. Timing was better this around, but I can still hear you get ahead of the song. I agree with Dean about the power towards the end....it faded out. But I enjoyed you this week and you worked it out!
This week, the final 6 takes on the theme of Diane Warren Songs. Because Charly, our 2nd judge, is moving, we have a special guest judge for this week. The episode is on the site now! You can vote for more than one person too!
www.freewebs.com/simidol2006
www.simidol2.tk
In-Depth Judges Comments:
Mollie Evans – “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill
Steven: I thought your vocals were good as always, but I felt the performance wasn’t as phenomenal as last week. What I liked from last week not shown this week was that personal connection and emotion you sang; that is true artistry and that shows a sign of a true artist. In this performance, you sang it like any other way and not like an artist in my opinion. Last week, you nailed it on the head to show yourself as an artist and not just a singer. To be an artist, feel the song and tell a story when you sing it. The emotional connection wasn’t as strong as last week. So this week was a step back. It seems Country songs are not the best for you…lol. It was good, but I want more. I want an artist and not just a singer.
Dean: There was a little opportunity here to hear a bit of a softer side but the time limit seems to be the culprit I think. The softer parts of a song don't have that "WOW EM" factor and so in editing, I suppose the belty moments would get chosen. Overall, I think you're still relying on big belty songs to carry you through. Your harmonies were nice and I think you did a great job but you can only hear someone belt at the top of their lungs so many times before you think - "ok, this is getting old."
Ollie: It’s the powerhouse herself, some songs you tend to shout too much, but this was a perfect song choice for your voice.
Charly: Mollie, you picked a good song for your vocal ability. Alothought this wasn't as great as last weeks, I am glad to switched it up and show something new. LOVED the harmonies in this one. It was still great, and you have to keep up the bar you raised.
Elisha – “How Do I Live” by LeAnn Rimes
Steven: I loved your vocals and you definitely showed a lot of originality. I loved the ending, but there is one big concern is that you made the interpretation and originality a bit over-the-top. This is a simple country ballad by LeAnn Rimes, and although you made your own, you over-did it with all these vocal acrobatics for me. To me, subtlety is the key for originality when doing this song because this song is all about simplicity. Metaphorically, it’s like fitting so much into something small. To me, it wasn’t your best and sometimes less is more at times. In this occasion, it is. It was good, but I know you can offer more.
Dean: For me you have the best instincts about performances. You show as much of your voice as you can in every performance. High, Low, Loud, Soft…you show that you are versatile and strong in all aspects of your voice. I think this performance was breathtaking and really makes me want to hear the entire song. d**n on those high harmonies! More so impressive, You managed a fresh take on a song that would normally seem really karaoke - cause it was overkill when this song was popular. Wonderful! Outstanding even!
Ollie: The day I make a bad comment about your vocals will be the day I eat my hat, this is as always- spot on!
Charly: Another contry song by Diane Warren. I like how you changed it up a little because I am so tired of this song being sung so safely. I know firsthand though....its not...it takes range to do. And, Elisha, YOU GOT IT! I do agree a bit with Steven, there were parts where you were a bit too showy for me, but you did manage to keep my attention through this particular song, which is a feat in itself.
Aaron Lawrence – “Tell Me Where It Hurts” by Kathy Tricolli
Steven: This song has so much potential. I personally don’t like the country version of this song. And I didn’t like the country version on you. A Filipino acoustic group M.Y.M.P. made this track into an acoustic song in 2005. And holy s***! That version would fit 1000000x better for you. In fact, if you took that acoustic route, you could really tackle that song like a true artist. You could infuse your unique tone and style to that song. But after me ranting, that country version doesn’t help you as much, but it was better than last week. But it didn’t wow me. It was good, but I’m telling you go acoustic with that song.
Dean: I think you definitely picked a better song for your voice this week. Good dynamics in your performance but until the chorus I didn't get any feeling from you. It picked up considerably with the chorus, but then there were some odd timing issues and the end ad libs felt completely out of place. Not a bad performance but I don't know if it will see you through eliminations!
Ollie: This I felt was far too mellow tone, you were way out of timing with this and it sounded a little off key.
Charly:
More contry...O VEY! Aaron, you are way too much like me musically wise. Kathy Troccoli....YAY! having said that, it was an odd choice of some from you. Though you do try to make songs your own, I felt you didn't here. This song didn't do you any favors vocally in the beginning. It got better in the chorus, but to me, you should have stepped it up...go uptempo if you had to. If you had done a more uptempo songs that shows your strength. (HINT: "Everything Changes")...I probably would remember to vote for you. But this was just...meh...
Jake Dee – “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
Steven: I actually think this is your best performance so far in the competition. Again, you said it in your intro, a rock ballad infusing your soulful style. And I felt the execution was spot on, and you definitely showed tons of emotion in that song. Compared to such an average performance last week, this week was so much better by a mile and you probably are one of the better ones tonight. For me, it needed a bit more spark or that “wow factor” because it was a nanometer short of being fantastic. It was a very good job! I really enjoyed it!
Dean: Jake…I'm impressed…you put a lot of emotion into your song this week. I felt a bit distracted at first because the backing seemed a bit odd but I'm honestly impressed by your vocal performance this week. Not only was it heartfelt I think you're working on your enunciation and you picked a great song to show what you can do. Nice job!
Ollie: You have improved quite a bit over the passed years, this is good, but I expected more from you here, try not to worry so much about your voice sounding so pretty and practice hitting them notes dead on- still a very good job though overall.
Charly: Thank God you didn't do the country version of this song...LOL. You took a big risk with infusing your style with rock and it payed off BIG TIME! Best performance of yours yet. Not only that, you open up more and more each week. Its like you are showing more of you emotionally week after week. And you listened to the critiques about the diction, cuz it is much better this week. You are growing my friend. Keep at it.
Suzanne Lanoue – “Because You Love Me” by Celine Dion
Steven: Sucre Bleu! This was not a good choice Suzanne. In fact, out of all your performances, this was your worst one by miles. This performance felt consistently flat and I felt you just didn’t gel or connect with the song as well. Vocally, it was just flat and you try hitting those notes but it didn’t go your way. The emotional connection wasn’t there too. And that’s a big component if you sing any of Celine Dion’s songs. It is that connection of love and emotion into a song. And you just didn’t succeed of doing it. I’m sorry but that was not good at all; pretty much below average.
Dean: This performance was really iffy. Your voice and style felt really out of place here. I don't know what to say except this song really wasn't right for you. It felt like you struggled through the whole thing. Notes were off here and there. The ad libs sounded really forced. I'm sorry but I think you might have sealed your fate in the competition.
Ollie: This was awful- sorry, but you struggled to stay in key throughout and I would say you were the weakest this week with Aaron second. Don’t do songs you can’t actually sing, you would have been better to have chose an easier challenge.
Suzanne: EEEK! Suzanne, this was your worst performance here. Tough song to sing to begin with. It lacked sizzle, you went off tune at times, and your tone did not match up mood of the song. I think if you had took the time and learned a new song...you would have fared better. Just because you know a song doesn't necessairily mean its gonna fit you. I do like your operatic range and your high showy notes, but you gotta find a way to build up to those notes and make it all flow together in the most appropriate way.
Erica Roane – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Jefferson Starship
Steven: The perfect song choice for you for Diane Warren Week would have been Heart’s “Who Will You Run To,” and I wished you could have picked that for this week. But you know, this wasn’t the perfect song choice for your voice, but your vocals are always consistent. But then again, it was just another performance for me. And I would like to see the true side of Erica to come out. Last week was a little tease of that, but give me that rock-ish, bluesy style you bring. You have a great grit in your voice to tackle that Heart song, and I want to hear you bring that grit out more! Show us some rock! It was good, but not the greatest thing you did.
Dean: Ok Erica, I'm gonna take a stab at the mystery and say that I think you get too into singing and you get ahead of your song. This seems to be a re-occuring problem. You start off fine and then you slip out of timing, as the song builds you start your vocals too early. However, I think this track works surprisingly well on your voice! You had some grit in on the belted notes and until that last note your vocal was powerful. You lost it on that last note though. Pretty good job but try to sort out that timing problem.
Ollie: I love the egression show cased here. You showed power and range, just watch you don’t shout the song too much.
Charly: I REALLY LOVE THIS SONG! I think this was a great song choice for you as well and I just love your performance skills in this one.....LOL. Timing was better this around, but I can still hear you get ahead of the song. I agree with Dean about the power towards the end....it faded out. But I enjoyed you this week and you worked it out!
All the other categories, I chose songs I already knew and had recorded, so I could just make a clip and send it to you. So that's why they were all better than this one. Just telling you, not making excuses exactly. I thought I did ok on it, but like you said, not my best, and that is why. Not enough time! So all you are really judging here is how fast someone can learn a song, not how good they are at singing. So maybe you should just call it SimFastSongLearners or something