Episode 10: Final 3 duke it out!

[S.L.]

Discuss your thoughts and what you felt here!

btw: You can now have the ability to check two votes under the same name. Take advantage of that so she/he doesn't go home!

[jaymichaels]

Another great show....

Jake- I was really impressed with both performances and think people have been giving you too tough of a time... you're picking all the songs I would have picked had I still been in the competition which is really really funny.... (Yesterday, When Doves Cry, Ready for Love).... Hopefully we will have a Sim Idol 3... I think I've really improved lately

Elisha- WOW... I felt it... some of my favorite performances from you

Erica- KT Tunstall would have been the performance of the series.... but the timing was way out of there........... I LOVE your voice... great tone/quality

I do have to say that I Miss Mollie Evans.... she was my pick to win....

[ollie]

Jakey- first of all well done with both of your songs- I think his week has been an excellent week for you- yeah you was a little bit over the top with 'When Doves Cry' but I think it was something that impressed me more than irritate- you just stayed very consistant with both songs. Yesterday wasnt a bad song either- I think your second song was much better as it showcased your voice and range more so overall good!

Elisha- Yesterday I felt was excellent, but with what Dean said about your vocal arrangement on your second song choice- 'Reflections' I thought was 100% true- Dean certainly knows what he is talking about and he has that real advantage of pin pointing the exact points where the song flowed off. I think with the range you have 'why did you go down a key on them individual parts- it certainly changed the melody ine and although it was perfectly on key it still didnt sound quite right.

Erica- 'At Last' was excellent, just like your audition piece so I wasnt shocked to see you get this song dead on! With the Beattles song I felt you chose the wrong ype of song to showcase your voice, but then again saying that- I still found it vocally good.

I think this'll be a hard one to judge who will be leaving this week, but all I'm going to say is that '1 of you tonight I felt wasnt as good as I was expecting you to be, but maybe its because you've never showed any sign of weakness in the past untill now!

[S.L.]

Ollie, that was beatles week aka top 4 week...you're a week behind

[ollie]

I know that Steven, I havnt been around in a week, because Ive been disconnected the last 6-7 days, so Ive missed out on a lot!

[neavers]

Ok, so I've been watchin' but not voting, but I watched it today, and despite only remembering hearing 1 song before that the contestants sung, I thought Jake, Erica and Elisha are all great singers. But here we go.

Jake- Well you're first performance was a bit adventurous, and I can honestly say that it was a bad move, and it was pretty dull and there was nothing exciting about it, but I think you made that a little better with your second performance. It was sweet and because I'd never heard it before I would have thought you were the original artist. Great performance on the last one, especially the chorus.

Erica- Great first performance, that country song just fits you to a tee, and even though that was the first performance of this episode, I knew I would vote for you all the way to the end. But, your second performance, even though it was original, it was too original, and like Jake's first performance, you were a little too adventurous, it is a great song and you have the strong vocals for it, but the timing for that one is crucial. I would suggest listen to the original a little more.

Elisha- Hmm, Elisha, you had a great first and second performance, but you get very lost in the crowd, so to say, and I don't think you are that original, you are a good singer, but so are a lot of people, and you just don't bring enough emotion to your performance, you just hit the notes. Like Steven said, you're missing a third element, and it's do hard to find I don't know what it is.

Great episode though.

[♫|Elisha|♫]

To my fellow contestants.. Great job you guys!

I just wanted to touch on a couple of things that bother me a little about a bit of the assessments. You guys know me, and I don't usually say anything and as always, i'm not mad or ungrateful, for I always appreciate everyone's points of view, but I just needed to say a couple of things or I might burst..

First of all.. to say that I'm not original or that I don't show emotion is really not true.. All of the inflections and colors that I add are just a bit of that. It's not like i'm just dully singing the songs all vanilla with no style. Somtimes I feel like you guys expect more out of me and are harder on me than anyone and it is a little upsetting sometimes because I feel like I get picked on for things that aren't apparent. Emotion is my key to singing.. I NEVER sing a song without putting my all into it, and would never put something out there that is "dead" and lacking in that basic thing. I think because I am also a technical singer, a lot of people tend to focus on that, but of all the things I've ever been told about my singing.. almost always, my emotional connection and ability to make people feel things are usually at the top of the list.. And to say i'm unoriginal feels like it's just a way to dig at me when you want to try and find something negative to say.. Nothing I do is copycat.. I always put my own spin on things.. melodically, stylistically. That is what being original is.. being creative and having your own artistic style and spin on things. And it's not like my voice sounds exactly like another artist.. I'm not a "XXXX" impersonator or sound-alike, and though my voice is not as unique as the MOST unique voices out there like, Macy Gray or Louis Armstrong... not every voice has to be THAT distinct.. that is a special breed of singer that doesn't comprise even half the percentage of artists.

The one that you may say is a little less emotional is "We Belong Together" but that is beacause of the very nature of the song.. It's more of a "Groove" song because of the way it is rhythmically written.. not meant for extreme pouring out of emotion until you get to that high chorus of the song when it gets poured on. It just sounds like a "strerile" kind of song especially on the verses to me, even in the original because it's almost "rap-like" in a lot of its delivery. I've listened to the end of mine several times and I don't hear any outlandish flatness to my sound, so I'm not sure what you were picking up on Charly, but perhaps you didn't like the timbre of my voice in that range or something.

On "Chains" I went back and really took your critiques to heart.. I listned to the original over and OVER again, and she is not angry at ALL in the song. Please go back and listen to her! Except for the high parts of the song, she is quite tender and almost more plain in some places than me. I interpret her version, and how I did mine, as not a song of anger, but a song of someone who is lost and in confusion which is a totally different set of emotions. She's not angry at him in my opinion.. she LOVES him, and that's the problem. She's a woman who has been afraid of love and commitment, yet now feels herself hopelessly bound to this man and is just lost and doesn't know how this could happen to her.. HER? the woman who would never fall in love. So that's why she's more tender and "dizzy" like on the song.. she's in LOVE but confused, and at the climax she is crying out in desperation to be able to understand this thing that has a hold one her... that's why that is the time to really "pour it on" and that's where it builds to and why it gets big there all of a sudden. I promise.. I don't just get the lyrics and learn a melody.. I LIVE with the song and take it in to learn what it's about and interpret it how it makes me FEEL..

Now PLEASE do not jump all over me, for I still respect everyone's opinions, and I know they are just that.. opinions, and everyone is certainly entitled to them, and I appreciate that greatly.. that hasn't changed! I just needed to let my feelings out and try to be understood. Too many times in my life, I let people walk all over me and just smile and say nothing, but i'm trying to make some changes in my life.. I'm trying to get "out there" as a singer/songwriter and I know I need to be able to voice my opinions and stand up for myself and show some amount of confidence or I will be eaten alive. I will never be rude or B*tchy about things because that's not my style or my personality.. but if I am confused or frustrated, I will just say what I have to say even if it never changes anyone's mind, if only for my own sanity.

I wish my fellow contestants the very best of luck and think you both are wonderful people and musicians. I respect the judges opinions, even when I don't agree, and am thankful for their presence and dedication to this endeavor. Sorry for the vent.. but I feel like I always let things eat at me too much and it always ends up hurting me...

Here are the links to the full versions of the songs for any interested:

Full version of Chains

Full version of We Belong Together

[S.L.]

I do agree about you about "We Belong Together" which is why I thought it was great. But for "Chains," you back up with some credible points. But someone we judges are sometimes wrong. We're not always right. And to me, I think I was partly wrong on some parts when I re-listened to it. We were a bit overly-harsh this week, I would say so. And you know Elisha, I'll credit where it's due. Because I had a lot of mixed feeling about this performance...was it great? was it good? was it phenomenal? So to me, I wasn't too sure on my comments myself which is why I took the road of something in the middle.

[♫|Elisha|♫]

admin said:

I do agree about you about "We Belong Together" which is why I thought it was great. But for "Chains," you back up with some credible points. But someone we judges are sometimes wrong. We're not always right. And to me, I think I was partly wrong on some parts when I re-listened to it. We were a bit overly-harsh this week, I would say so. And you know Elisha, I'll credit where it's due. Because I had a lot of mixed feeling about this performance...was it great? was it good? was it phenomenal? So to me, I wasn't too sure on my comments myself which is why I took the road of something in the middle.

Thank you.. thank you Steven for not taking me the wrong way! I truly mean no offense to anyone and I don't want you to think that I don't value what you guys have to say. It's BECAUSE I value what you say that I take these things to heart. I don't want you to feel you have to recant anything you've said, because if those feelings were truly what you had about my performances, than I want you to be true to yourself and express them.. Opinions all count and if at the time of writing the review, that is how you felt, then I accept that you felt that way even if I don't undertand or agree. I just wanted to put how I felt out there for a change and try to explain myself a bit. Again, I thank you for not taking me the wrong way..

[chubbaluvva]

Elisha, I actually agreed with you in "Chains"....because I knew it wasn't an angry song at all. I even backed you up in my audio comments saying you conveyed the meaning of the song correctly as a cry for helplessness because of the confusion and emotion. However, people have different interpretations of the same song that can still work if you CONVEY your point correctly.

As for my comments for "We Belong Together", something still didn't sound right after I listened again. I didn't like the timbre of your voice....which is why I thought lower key....but some notes came across a little flat/sharp(I confuse the two sometimes) to me....and it may not be a note related thing....it could be that it your emotion wasn't as strong in certain words you sang. I have to say this though , ALL songs have a meaning or an emotion behind it.....groove song, uptempo, ballad. Gloria Estefan, she has a lot of clubby uptempo songs, and the lyrics talk about danger, love, and other things. Its all in your personal interpretation and how you convey that to people like you would to another person you are just talking to, like your mother. What I think Dean was saying about originality is that.....you understand the artist interpretaion and meaning of the song and conveyed that, but you didn't make that connection well enough to relate it to YOUR own personal experience. Thats why I think he made that comments...and I kinda agree with it. But listen, don't stress over it. Just take it to heart like you normally do and keep doing what you do best.

[gail]

I loved the show!! All of you sounded great. I casted my vote. Best of luck to all of you. xxxxxxxxx g

[molliejevans]

great show, you guys!!!

[ollie]

I agree with you on 'Chains' Elisha and I also think this week was alot better than the previous weeks performances. Emotion isnt just about making a song sound emotionally fake- basically what I'm saying is that although most of your songs are spot on- you need to keep the songs more basic than you do- sometimes I feel as if you overkill- yeah the songs you bring out are really technically brilliant, but as Simon Cowell has said on American Idol and X-Factor that mistakes in a singers vocals or a flaw is a good thing, it sort of breaks you out of that bubble of proffecton. And I dont know weather you've ever been taught to sing or that you're self taught, but if I was to guess I would say that you've been told how to do certain things by that singing teacher and I believe that although there are slight parts that're part of your personality and your style that if you've been helped vocally that you'll always be following a guideline and I think your breath support is very good, but sometimes things are better left simple.

As far as you go with uniqueness I think you're correct in what you say- no you dont sound like anyone else, but when I listen to your songs I always know what each song recording will sound like even before listening and thats because you sound the same in most songs you do, because there will always be about 3 or 4 times in a songs where you'll bend your notes exactly the same but in a slightly different way. I cant explain exactly what I mean, because its hard to judge a technically perfect singer. What makes a good singer is someone who can make each song sound different to their voice so when people listen they think 'this doesnt sound like Elisha. Just try and put a slightly different spin on each song you do and the reason I liked 'Chain' was because you approached the song differently from most of your song recordings and you sounded different from what I'm used to hearing from you Elisha. I think singing is also about recreating yourself ever so often to show different sides to your vocals. I think for you that you need to study the works of Bette Midler, because she'll teach you how to put emotion across and although she is technically good you'll notice that she will sing a song more straighter than yourself- as in she'll just keep to the melody line and not add too much emphesis on each note. If you add too much to a song- that takes more concerntration and when your concerntrating so much you're likely to forget the emotion. All this being said- we all know that you are one of the best female vocalists on the internet and critism is good for you Elisha so that you can learn more about yourself and I think for anyone to get a chance to be judged by such experienced judges as Dean Boudreau, Steven and Charly. Also, this season hasnt been easy for anyone- all the judges have seen alot of great singers from season 1 of Sim Idol and now because season 2 has arrived I guess they expect more now!

[EricaRoane]

Ok... i talked with Dean about my timing..... and he took time to really collaborate on it and though I see what he means ....not saying I am not out of time.... but just commenting on yalls comments lol... Ok I think what yall call out of time is actually just away of me singing it differently than KT does... (just having my take on it I guess) not saying it is a good thing or nothing else other than I will work on it more... but i still dont agree with my timing issues on life by the drop... heck I dont know..... I feel like one of the people that cant hear their mistakes.... and I dont want to be that way.... anyway Thanks again for your critique!!
Jake and Elisha My hats are off to both of you excellent jobs!!!!

[♫|Elisha|♫]

Ollie.. I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Well.. I understand what you are trying to say, but not how it applies to me. Acutally, most people tell me I sound TOO different in everything I do, and that I need to find my style so I CAN be recognizable. Almost every artist has their own "tricks" and stylistic things they like to do that they are known for. It's like a trademark and how people can identify with them. Certain runs they like to do, inflections etc. So on one side I have you saying I sound the same in everything I do, and on the other hand the majority of people saying I sing too many different styles and not enough of a consistant one. I've sung everything from opera to musical theater, to rnb and each differently while still expressing ME in each genre and having my own stylistic "bag of tricks" that I have developed because of the way I feel the songs for each genres. You can see how confusing that would be to have two polar opposite things being said to me...

All I can do is sing songs how I feel them.. and that's exactly what I do, and will continue to do. When I hear the music and "drink in" the style, that's what makes me respond in MY own way and it's different for every style, but songs in the same style will inevitably sound similar because I am ME and have developed my particular style for that genre. IE When I sing an RnB song, it will NOT sound like what I do with a country song, but it may sound similar to another RnB song I do because I have developed my particular sense of style with that genre. And no.. my only training is for classical music.. everything in popular music you hear from me, comes as a result of the marriage of listening to so many singers and merging that with my own particular style tendencies.

So all artists have little stylistic things that carry through to their other songs.. Especially when that artist sings in only one particular style. We hear it all the time.. it's their sound and you know when it's one of their songs playing... Even Bette has her little nuances that let you know right away it's her singing. When she changes it up, is when the style/genre of the music changes because she does sing in so many styles.. But when she does a pop song, you'll recognize it as Bette's pop sound.. when she does a jazz song you'll recognize it as her jazz sound. Notes may change, but little pieces of her style are in each song of the same genre, and that's what makes it distinctly HER.

And as far as doing too much. That's a personal choice that varies from song to song. Some songs I will do more simply, but some I will feel like adding more.. it depends how I feel and is not contrived. Whatever comes out, comes out. Every artist has to find their own style. Look at Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey for two examples. They have distinctive styles and do NOT sing their songs simply either. They are actually far more ornate than I am, and that is cool.. It is their style and it works for them. I try to do what I feel and what works for me. You can't please everyone. If I sang an R&B song straight, I would probably get told that I didn't do enough to it and it didn't fit the style of the song. And as far as imperfections go.. how many studio recordings do you hear where there are imperfections? When I record songs, I go for as close to a studio sound as I can because I save these. If you were to hear me live, it would be a whole different story, as it is with most other artists. For some it is kind of their trademark to be more "imperfect" sounding.. Joe (C)ocker for example.. and that's cool.. that's part of their sytle, but for the most part they try to get as clean a sound as they can on their recordings while still expressing emotion. Imperfection does not equal emotion but it can certainly be a part of emotion..

I always love getting feedback as I've said TONS of times. Good or bad, I always consider what is being said and evaluate it. I never dismiss feedback as I do truly know it can help us learn more about ourselvees.. and I have learned much from the feedback I get, but in evaluating, I have to determine what things make sense to me and what doesn't. I'll go back and listen to my songs and try to see what that person is hearing.. If I do hear it, then I learn from that. When I get so many opposite things being said, I have to determine what I think and use that to my benefit..