Post by S.L. on Jul 5, 2007 19:57:50 GMT -5
Duane Johns
Steven: To me, a little subtleness would have made this performance better. You are a strong male vocalist, but your voice stands out too much like a sore thumb in this performance. It's a gentle song, and I felt you didn't sing the song as gently as it could have been. This distracted the emotion of the song/performance in my opinion. You know how to belt and although you are amazingly young, I still think you need to see the whole spectrum of singing softly because the normal and belty dynamics you got under your belt already. I wasn't as sold on the delivery because of it.
Dean: Despite the fact that your voice is cut out for this kind of music (adult contemporary ballads) I just didn’t find myself all that impressed by your performance here. There wasn’t anything particularly offensive about it, but there wasn’t anything particularly extraordinary either.
Charly: I think you did good. Your higher notes still gets trapped too much in your nose, but you are improving each time I see you. My problem is that the song allowed you to be too safe with your vocals. You could have done so much more with a different song. I still like your tone and energy each time you sing. Makes me smile.
Gail Bugeja
Steven: I liked it, but it just didn't stand up to the stronger performances of the night unfortunately. To me, some parts were a bit awkward and a bit iffy like the last part when you went really high. I still think that you definitely have major major potential, but you didn't find that niche yet to make you surprisingly amazing.
Dean: There were good and bad moments here. I don’t feel like your energy level was consistent throughout the entire song and it felt like you were reaching uncomfortably for some of the higher notes. It was sassy in places but you really needed to maintain the energy. When you do a showtune you really have to let loose.
Charly: AWWW GAIL! Vocals were probably the best I've heard you. They weren't forced, and it wasn't safe. However, your song choice let you down. That song is kinda a novelty song...it could really work for you or work against ya. I think it worked against ya, and thats because there was rarely any personality in your voice in that song. I know you have a personality too...but this is a type of song that almost has to be exaggerated and glorified to pull off and I think you held back on the sassyness. You did good, but others have raised the bar. I just don't know if it will be enough.
Heather Ramer
Steven: A very very good vocal performance; the only criticism is that this is a rough song and you need to live the song as it is. I didn't feel the attitude and the emotion. Pick your song wisely or emote better to them. Otherwise, I definitely think you should be in the Final 8. But word to the wise, intensify your game, because a performance like that could even get you eliminated in the early Finals. Next time, you need to just hit this out of the ball park, because at times, I just feel you are holding back your big potential by your song choices.
Dean: Heather is that you? Your tone sounds so very different on this kind of song than your previous submissions. This wasn’t your best performance. It felt a little insincere. I do think you have one of the strong voices in the competition though and we’ll be hearing more of you.
Charly: You sang the song OK...but it was not as good as your audition. In fact, I commended you for having a very honest and natural voice. However , this performance, I felt that you were imitating a country singer and not showing your OWN voice in the song. And once again, that came down to song choice. I thought you were a strong contender for Top 8...but now, I just don't know anymore after this performance.
Holly Christina
Steven: You took a risk singing a song that was meant as a duet, and I give you props for doing that. Despite spot-on vocals, I just feel a bit of that "half-empty glass" feeling at the end of the song because it's a severely powerful song. And I think that's because there's no Andrea with you with that last part. That's the tough part of tackling something originally a duet. The only man I ever know did that was Anthony Callea when he did "The Prayer" (which was a huge risk, but his voice/power/delivery pierce the obstacles). The delivery was alright. But the good side of it is that this was the best i've ever heard you before.
Dean: You have a pretty tone and great range, but I think maybe you need to do something a little more unexpected because this song seemed a bit predictable for you. Where technically you sounded fine, even great - it all just seemed a tad bland for me.
Charly: Absolutely beautiful! Your voice is breathtaking, especially when you get really high in your headvoice. You are no Charlotte church yet, but you pulled this incredibly tough song off...AND you are still in your teens! Nineteen...but thats beside the point. My advice to you now....be VERY careful of song choice. Be versatile, but be aware the strength of your voice and your limitations. You are my dark horse pick.
Jay Michaels
Steven: Unfortunately, it wasn't at the par of the other contestants. Emotion-wise, you deserve top-marks but the vocal and the technicalities killed you in this performance. It was a huge risk singing and then playing with that guitar (as a beginner). The execution wasn't good at all. I think this performance was a risk that was just not calculated well.
Dean: You’re another one I think people find themselves rooting for because you have an underdog quality about you. Unfortunately Jay this performance was a bit hard to sit through. Your backing was far too minimal, the tempo of the song was strange and your vocal was shaky at best. Good luck.
Charly: GRR!!!!! JAY!!!!! You had the perfect song choice picked out for you...but vocals were way too safe and boring. You stretched the timing between notes too long and too often. You should have sang the melody more as intended and your performance would have been WAY better. I think you overfocused too much on the song and vocals that the emotion didn't seem to come naturally. You are a nice guy, but I had to be honest...it wasn't good at this stage of the game.
Regina Beasley
Steven: Overall it was good. I know you have amazing vocals, but now is time to create that spark that edge to make you stand out. Just go out there and give a mind-boggling showstopping performance. Create that moment, and sell it to us. This performance didn't do it. You have the vocals, now it's time to put them in the best use as possible. Push yourself to the max.
Dean: The last thing I ever expected to hear when I sat down to work on my judging was a Tori Amos song, and even if I had expected one you would not have been the most obvious singer to be doing it. I’m a huge fan! Anyway, you sound technically fine on this performance but there’s a lack of emotional connection to the lyrics – at least there is none I can hear in your vocals. I applaud you for surprising me with your song choice but next time really sell it to me. Good.
Charly: I was kinda bored with the song choice, but you still sang it well. The problem that I see you having is being able to sing outside of you comfort zone. You sing amazingly well in your own style, but I worry about your versatilty and being able to connect more with an audience with your song choices thus far. But aside from that....love your range, and its nice to hear your head voice this time around.
Tracy Lynn
Steven: This is was a call a grand slam performance. From Downtown and on, you clearly present yourself as a country superstar with an unique tone with a force that may be unstoppable. What will be interesting is how you will incorporate your country phrasing and style into different themes. And that will ultimately me the biggest challenge. If you stay creative and stay true to your roots with these upcoming themes, you can win this.
Dean: Every week it feels like the songs you sing are YOUR songs. Your recordings are very professional sounding and you really own everything you sing. Your voice is incredible and you really should be out there making a living as a singer if you’re not.
Charly: STANDING O!!! Best performance of the whole entire season thus far! You did what Heather Ramer didn't. You sang naturally in your own style(and country IS your style) and you made it seem flawless. And is this your original song too? If it is, I am very proud of this song, because its very radio friendly and a beautiful, heartfelt vocal as well. You are now the one to beat in my eyes.
Steven: To me, a little subtleness would have made this performance better. You are a strong male vocalist, but your voice stands out too much like a sore thumb in this performance. It's a gentle song, and I felt you didn't sing the song as gently as it could have been. This distracted the emotion of the song/performance in my opinion. You know how to belt and although you are amazingly young, I still think you need to see the whole spectrum of singing softly because the normal and belty dynamics you got under your belt already. I wasn't as sold on the delivery because of it.
Dean: Despite the fact that your voice is cut out for this kind of music (adult contemporary ballads) I just didn’t find myself all that impressed by your performance here. There wasn’t anything particularly offensive about it, but there wasn’t anything particularly extraordinary either.
Charly: I think you did good. Your higher notes still gets trapped too much in your nose, but you are improving each time I see you. My problem is that the song allowed you to be too safe with your vocals. You could have done so much more with a different song. I still like your tone and energy each time you sing. Makes me smile.
Gail Bugeja
Steven: I liked it, but it just didn't stand up to the stronger performances of the night unfortunately. To me, some parts were a bit awkward and a bit iffy like the last part when you went really high. I still think that you definitely have major major potential, but you didn't find that niche yet to make you surprisingly amazing.
Dean: There were good and bad moments here. I don’t feel like your energy level was consistent throughout the entire song and it felt like you were reaching uncomfortably for some of the higher notes. It was sassy in places but you really needed to maintain the energy. When you do a showtune you really have to let loose.
Charly: AWWW GAIL! Vocals were probably the best I've heard you. They weren't forced, and it wasn't safe. However, your song choice let you down. That song is kinda a novelty song...it could really work for you or work against ya. I think it worked against ya, and thats because there was rarely any personality in your voice in that song. I know you have a personality too...but this is a type of song that almost has to be exaggerated and glorified to pull off and I think you held back on the sassyness. You did good, but others have raised the bar. I just don't know if it will be enough.
Heather Ramer
Steven: A very very good vocal performance; the only criticism is that this is a rough song and you need to live the song as it is. I didn't feel the attitude and the emotion. Pick your song wisely or emote better to them. Otherwise, I definitely think you should be in the Final 8. But word to the wise, intensify your game, because a performance like that could even get you eliminated in the early Finals. Next time, you need to just hit this out of the ball park, because at times, I just feel you are holding back your big potential by your song choices.
Dean: Heather is that you? Your tone sounds so very different on this kind of song than your previous submissions. This wasn’t your best performance. It felt a little insincere. I do think you have one of the strong voices in the competition though and we’ll be hearing more of you.
Charly: You sang the song OK...but it was not as good as your audition. In fact, I commended you for having a very honest and natural voice. However , this performance, I felt that you were imitating a country singer and not showing your OWN voice in the song. And once again, that came down to song choice. I thought you were a strong contender for Top 8...but now, I just don't know anymore after this performance.
Holly Christina
Steven: You took a risk singing a song that was meant as a duet, and I give you props for doing that. Despite spot-on vocals, I just feel a bit of that "half-empty glass" feeling at the end of the song because it's a severely powerful song. And I think that's because there's no Andrea with you with that last part. That's the tough part of tackling something originally a duet. The only man I ever know did that was Anthony Callea when he did "The Prayer" (which was a huge risk, but his voice/power/delivery pierce the obstacles). The delivery was alright. But the good side of it is that this was the best i've ever heard you before.
Dean: You have a pretty tone and great range, but I think maybe you need to do something a little more unexpected because this song seemed a bit predictable for you. Where technically you sounded fine, even great - it all just seemed a tad bland for me.
Charly: Absolutely beautiful! Your voice is breathtaking, especially when you get really high in your headvoice. You are no Charlotte church yet, but you pulled this incredibly tough song off...AND you are still in your teens! Nineteen...but thats beside the point. My advice to you now....be VERY careful of song choice. Be versatile, but be aware the strength of your voice and your limitations. You are my dark horse pick.
Jay Michaels
Steven: Unfortunately, it wasn't at the par of the other contestants. Emotion-wise, you deserve top-marks but the vocal and the technicalities killed you in this performance. It was a huge risk singing and then playing with that guitar (as a beginner). The execution wasn't good at all. I think this performance was a risk that was just not calculated well.
Dean: You’re another one I think people find themselves rooting for because you have an underdog quality about you. Unfortunately Jay this performance was a bit hard to sit through. Your backing was far too minimal, the tempo of the song was strange and your vocal was shaky at best. Good luck.
Charly: GRR!!!!! JAY!!!!! You had the perfect song choice picked out for you...but vocals were way too safe and boring. You stretched the timing between notes too long and too often. You should have sang the melody more as intended and your performance would have been WAY better. I think you overfocused too much on the song and vocals that the emotion didn't seem to come naturally. You are a nice guy, but I had to be honest...it wasn't good at this stage of the game.
Regina Beasley
Steven: Overall it was good. I know you have amazing vocals, but now is time to create that spark that edge to make you stand out. Just go out there and give a mind-boggling showstopping performance. Create that moment, and sell it to us. This performance didn't do it. You have the vocals, now it's time to put them in the best use as possible. Push yourself to the max.
Dean: The last thing I ever expected to hear when I sat down to work on my judging was a Tori Amos song, and even if I had expected one you would not have been the most obvious singer to be doing it. I’m a huge fan! Anyway, you sound technically fine on this performance but there’s a lack of emotional connection to the lyrics – at least there is none I can hear in your vocals. I applaud you for surprising me with your song choice but next time really sell it to me. Good.
Charly: I was kinda bored with the song choice, but you still sang it well. The problem that I see you having is being able to sing outside of you comfort zone. You sing amazingly well in your own style, but I worry about your versatilty and being able to connect more with an audience with your song choices thus far. But aside from that....love your range, and its nice to hear your head voice this time around.
Tracy Lynn
Steven: This is was a call a grand slam performance. From Downtown and on, you clearly present yourself as a country superstar with an unique tone with a force that may be unstoppable. What will be interesting is how you will incorporate your country phrasing and style into different themes. And that will ultimately me the biggest challenge. If you stay creative and stay true to your roots with these upcoming themes, you can win this.
Dean: Every week it feels like the songs you sing are YOUR songs. Your recordings are very professional sounding and you really own everything you sing. Your voice is incredible and you really should be out there making a living as a singer if you’re not.
Charly: STANDING O!!! Best performance of the whole entire season thus far! You did what Heather Ramer didn't. You sang naturally in your own style(and country IS your style) and you made it seem flawless. And is this your original song too? If it is, I am very proud of this song, because its very radio friendly and a beautiful, heartfelt vocal as well. You are now the one to beat in my eyes.
