Post by S.L. on Jul 2, 2007 23:11:56 GMT -5
Adis Tsomidis
Steven: Vocally, it was decent but safe. I just felt your performance felt a bit safe, boring, and foregettable no matter if it was 1st, 3rd, or last to perform. One of the bigger culprits to me was your song selection. You want songs to accentuate the good qualities of your voice and singing like your emotion, like your vocals. There was just an odd emptiness in this performance, and I think the execution of the performance wasn't that good.
Dean: I feel a bit like a broken record when I review your songs cause I always seem to have the same things to say. I love your tone, it’s smooth and airy and has a lot of appeal, but your delivery is always a little rough around the edges. Try to avoid inserting “h” sounds into words where there don’t belong, such as “flood” – You sing “in the flu-huh-hud.” You did a really nice job here, but a note or two seemed strained on the hook. Good song choice. Good job.
Charly: You sang the song well in the verse. I like the whole mysterious vibe you put in it. Here comes the chorus, and WHAT the HECK happened? You lost me. The melody was off-key most of the time. Possibly because the chorus was too high out your range? I do love this song, but the chorus ruined your chances i think.
Andy Hare
Steven: It's undeniable that it was a very good vocal, but the big problem is that d**n song choice. To be honest, I was really pulling for you to make it in the Final 8, but I just felt this performance did not level up to the other performances of the night. It's part of that WOW factor. To be, the song was stale and it kinda made you stale. If you listen to previous performances like your audition and downtown acapella, it presented strength, wonder, curiousity, and freshness. This performance was the opposite of what I think you shouldn't be singing.
Dean: I think song choice might have been your defeat this week. It fits your tone but when up against the others in the group it seems a tad forgettable and I think to the listener it seems to lack a certain emotional connection. You have a unique and beautiful tone and I think you have the potential to do well here with the right song choices.
Charly: I think you sang the song solidly well, but that was about it. I felt that you could have sold the song a bit more emotionally, and you could have used some more of that YO in the song. Granted, the song choice is a theatre type of piece, but it just didn't grab my attention.
Erica Roane
Steven: I loved it. We can hit you with any genre and you give it that Erica-bluesy-soulful spin to it. This Macy Gray song is a prime example of that. Ever since the last obstacle of timing, you definitely improved in that department, and I think you are a force to be reckoned with now. Great job.
Dean: Unexpected is the best word I can come up with. Macy Gray was one of those novelty artists who had her one major hit and then sort of never lived up to her own hype. At first the song choice threw me off until I got into it and realized that you really did something special here. My only complaint was that you did the song too “by the book” and I wish you would have made it your own in your vocal arrangement. Otherwise this was a surprisingly good fit for you. Nice job.
Charly: I have to be really honest with you....You have grown so much. The Erica last year and this year are like two different singers. I personally hated this song with Macy Gray's vocal, but you really make me like it more with your vocals. Your vocals were great for this song and I loved your higher notes. However, somwhere where you hit the high note....you cut your note so short, like you ran out of breath. I would love to hear more of those higher tones of yours, but if you do show those off, make sure you got more breath to suppot them.
Heather Davis
Steven: Unfortunately, I just felt this isn't you. Although your Landslide performance from Downtown was a bit questionable, I think it presented what Heather has to offer and I just don't think your true colors shined in this performance; thus, the performance felt amazingly safe despite the vocals were spot-on mostly.
Dean: Here comes Heather the sex kitten! You took this opportunity to show us you can do some vocal acrobatics and vocally you sounded good. I felt this arrangement was a tad boring but I realize you’re limited by what backings you can find. “Summertime” is a song that’s been done so often in competitions that it’s really hard to put your own mark on it and despite it being a fantastic song, and a good fit for your voice it might not have been the best choice for you.
Charly: Heather, finally, you did something to catch my attention. This is the voice I remember hearing. Your voice is back. BUT...Once again, song choice is what killed you. I think you sang it OK, but I think you did too many runs that sound the same in the song. You focused a lot on the vocals IMO, that I didn't believe what you were singing. I would have loved more passion.
Joanne Hall
Steven: I liked it, but didn't love it. But I'll tell you why I think you did the right thing though. You presented yourself as a huge powerhouse, and this performance showed a different color to you; that may be the case when people can find this a tad awkward. This showed some of your usual grit, rawness, and some of the sweet and sensitive parts of your voice. So I'd say this was good.
Dean: You have a classic maturity in your voice that really sells this kind of a number moreso than some of your competitors could. Your vocals SOAR. Where I’m not really a fan of the song on a personal level I recognize that your performance is strong and technically the best in your group. Wonderful job.
Charly: I have to be honest, I found that to be very dull. It felt like the song went on forever in slow motion, and your low voice didn't help. This is what I was hoping you wouldn't do. Try to pick songs to compliment your voice, but at the same time engages us. The vocals were OK, just no spark to me.
Laura Broad
Steven: Undoubtedly, this was the best performance of the night. Such a light, angelic voice tackling an r&b, urban song. And yet, you rose to the occasion and above the adversity. Your ad-libs were great, and you showed a subtle rough attitude to the song that made it stand out. It was the biggest risk of the Top 14 and it definitely worked. I loved it.
Dean: When I saw “Crazy” and heard that opening groove I was really expecting this to be a trainwreck. In the end you really blew me away. This is hands down my favorite from the group. You have a great tone and range. Your voice is very marketable yet you show a sensibility that makes me think you’re more than just a pretty voice and there’s some artistry behind it. Can’t wait to hear more of you!
Charly: LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! The first half was sung very well and solid...but you really impressed me with that second half. This is how you do runs, but keep them interesting. You had my head spinning and twirling, and you had me melt at your ending in your head voice. Best of group 1 in my eyes.
Muhammad Jami
Steven: This was a very interesting performance. I love your artistry and you present us with an original. You just presented something so different than everyone else, but I'm doubtful of how capable your vocals can stretch. Despite that, I still feel you offer something special to the competition which makes this show one heck of a melting pot of pop, country, blues, soul, rock, and etc. The chorus we kinda lost your voice a bit, but this song shows effort and it was actually a very good song. I liked it.
Dean: I’m rooting for you. You have a great tone and a lot of potential and skill, but I think this was a terrible song choice for you as it didn’t really show us much of what you can do. Unfortunately a lot of people are getting cut this round and I fear with the other strong performances from your peers that yours may get lost in the shuffle. Good luck. ***Would like to add that I was unaware Muhummad's track was an original and as such I will take back my comment that it was a "bad song choice" - my only problem with it was the fact that it really didn't showcase his voice in a way that made him stand apart from or above the others in his group. As a songwriter/artist I respect that he submitted an original as I've done that in competition before and was eliminated as a result. It's tough when the listening audience want to hear you sing a song they're familiar with and you want recognition as a songwriter
anyway.. my apologies again!
Charly: Obviously, I disagree with a lot of people who rated your song. I thought that YOU sir have a lot of balls to display your original. And I for one loved it. It made you stand out and it was different from what I am used to hearing in these competitions. It had a kinda dark, eerie, but theatrical Nine Inch Nails vibe. You sang from your soul. Granted, you could have done more to display your voice in the main vocals rather than in the harmonies....but I think this was very well put together, and a very solid.
Steven: Vocally, it was decent but safe. I just felt your performance felt a bit safe, boring, and foregettable no matter if it was 1st, 3rd, or last to perform. One of the bigger culprits to me was your song selection. You want songs to accentuate the good qualities of your voice and singing like your emotion, like your vocals. There was just an odd emptiness in this performance, and I think the execution of the performance wasn't that good.
Dean: I feel a bit like a broken record when I review your songs cause I always seem to have the same things to say. I love your tone, it’s smooth and airy and has a lot of appeal, but your delivery is always a little rough around the edges. Try to avoid inserting “h” sounds into words where there don’t belong, such as “flood” – You sing “in the flu-huh-hud.” You did a really nice job here, but a note or two seemed strained on the hook. Good song choice. Good job.
Charly: You sang the song well in the verse. I like the whole mysterious vibe you put in it. Here comes the chorus, and WHAT the HECK happened? You lost me. The melody was off-key most of the time. Possibly because the chorus was too high out your range? I do love this song, but the chorus ruined your chances i think.
Andy Hare
Steven: It's undeniable that it was a very good vocal, but the big problem is that d**n song choice. To be honest, I was really pulling for you to make it in the Final 8, but I just felt this performance did not level up to the other performances of the night. It's part of that WOW factor. To be, the song was stale and it kinda made you stale. If you listen to previous performances like your audition and downtown acapella, it presented strength, wonder, curiousity, and freshness. This performance was the opposite of what I think you shouldn't be singing.
Dean: I think song choice might have been your defeat this week. It fits your tone but when up against the others in the group it seems a tad forgettable and I think to the listener it seems to lack a certain emotional connection. You have a unique and beautiful tone and I think you have the potential to do well here with the right song choices.
Charly: I think you sang the song solidly well, but that was about it. I felt that you could have sold the song a bit more emotionally, and you could have used some more of that YO in the song. Granted, the song choice is a theatre type of piece, but it just didn't grab my attention.
Erica Roane
Steven: I loved it. We can hit you with any genre and you give it that Erica-bluesy-soulful spin to it. This Macy Gray song is a prime example of that. Ever since the last obstacle of timing, you definitely improved in that department, and I think you are a force to be reckoned with now. Great job.
Dean: Unexpected is the best word I can come up with. Macy Gray was one of those novelty artists who had her one major hit and then sort of never lived up to her own hype. At first the song choice threw me off until I got into it and realized that you really did something special here. My only complaint was that you did the song too “by the book” and I wish you would have made it your own in your vocal arrangement. Otherwise this was a surprisingly good fit for you. Nice job.
Charly: I have to be really honest with you....You have grown so much. The Erica last year and this year are like two different singers. I personally hated this song with Macy Gray's vocal, but you really make me like it more with your vocals. Your vocals were great for this song and I loved your higher notes. However, somwhere where you hit the high note....you cut your note so short, like you ran out of breath. I would love to hear more of those higher tones of yours, but if you do show those off, make sure you got more breath to suppot them.
Heather Davis
Steven: Unfortunately, I just felt this isn't you. Although your Landslide performance from Downtown was a bit questionable, I think it presented what Heather has to offer and I just don't think your true colors shined in this performance; thus, the performance felt amazingly safe despite the vocals were spot-on mostly.
Dean: Here comes Heather the sex kitten! You took this opportunity to show us you can do some vocal acrobatics and vocally you sounded good. I felt this arrangement was a tad boring but I realize you’re limited by what backings you can find. “Summertime” is a song that’s been done so often in competitions that it’s really hard to put your own mark on it and despite it being a fantastic song, and a good fit for your voice it might not have been the best choice for you.
Charly: Heather, finally, you did something to catch my attention. This is the voice I remember hearing. Your voice is back. BUT...Once again, song choice is what killed you. I think you sang it OK, but I think you did too many runs that sound the same in the song. You focused a lot on the vocals IMO, that I didn't believe what you were singing. I would have loved more passion.
Joanne Hall
Steven: I liked it, but didn't love it. But I'll tell you why I think you did the right thing though. You presented yourself as a huge powerhouse, and this performance showed a different color to you; that may be the case when people can find this a tad awkward. This showed some of your usual grit, rawness, and some of the sweet and sensitive parts of your voice. So I'd say this was good.
Dean: You have a classic maturity in your voice that really sells this kind of a number moreso than some of your competitors could. Your vocals SOAR. Where I’m not really a fan of the song on a personal level I recognize that your performance is strong and technically the best in your group. Wonderful job.
Charly: I have to be honest, I found that to be very dull. It felt like the song went on forever in slow motion, and your low voice didn't help. This is what I was hoping you wouldn't do. Try to pick songs to compliment your voice, but at the same time engages us. The vocals were OK, just no spark to me.
Laura Broad
Steven: Undoubtedly, this was the best performance of the night. Such a light, angelic voice tackling an r&b, urban song. And yet, you rose to the occasion and above the adversity. Your ad-libs were great, and you showed a subtle rough attitude to the song that made it stand out. It was the biggest risk of the Top 14 and it definitely worked. I loved it.
Dean: When I saw “Crazy” and heard that opening groove I was really expecting this to be a trainwreck. In the end you really blew me away. This is hands down my favorite from the group. You have a great tone and range. Your voice is very marketable yet you show a sensibility that makes me think you’re more than just a pretty voice and there’s some artistry behind it. Can’t wait to hear more of you!
Charly: LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! The first half was sung very well and solid...but you really impressed me with that second half. This is how you do runs, but keep them interesting. You had my head spinning and twirling, and you had me melt at your ending in your head voice. Best of group 1 in my eyes.
Muhammad Jami
Steven: This was a very interesting performance. I love your artistry and you present us with an original. You just presented something so different than everyone else, but I'm doubtful of how capable your vocals can stretch. Despite that, I still feel you offer something special to the competition which makes this show one heck of a melting pot of pop, country, blues, soul, rock, and etc. The chorus we kinda lost your voice a bit, but this song shows effort and it was actually a very good song. I liked it.
Dean: I’m rooting for you. You have a great tone and a lot of potential and skill, but I think this was a terrible song choice for you as it didn’t really show us much of what you can do. Unfortunately a lot of people are getting cut this round and I fear with the other strong performances from your peers that yours may get lost in the shuffle. Good luck. ***Would like to add that I was unaware Muhummad's track was an original and as such I will take back my comment that it was a "bad song choice" - my only problem with it was the fact that it really didn't showcase his voice in a way that made him stand apart from or above the others in his group. As a songwriter/artist I respect that he submitted an original as I've done that in competition before and was eliminated as a result. It's tough when the listening audience want to hear you sing a song they're familiar with and you want recognition as a songwriter
anyway.. my apologies again!Charly: Obviously, I disagree with a lot of people who rated your song. I thought that YOU sir have a lot of balls to display your original. And I for one loved it. It made you stand out and it was different from what I am used to hearing in these competitions. It had a kinda dark, eerie, but theatrical Nine Inch Nails vibe. You sang from your soul. Granted, you could have done more to display your voice in the main vocals rather than in the harmonies....but I think this was very well put together, and a very solid.
