Top 12?! American Idol starts with a bit of a down.

This night is not really exciting for me.

Naima open the show with Tina Turner. Though she got the chorus right, the turn from bridge to brdge it wasn’t really smooth.

Then Paul is next, and though he maintain the style he has, yet the throat thingy is bothering his performance. He did successfully bump out some of the querky tone from Elton’s song but. Still not sounding really that fantastic and the already smaller raspy voice is getting smaller Not a rocket man yet.

The Thia is on. Until now it sound like everyone is coming down with the flu. Thia has a great voice, singing Color of the wind is also fine. But I keep waiting for the powerful high notes. They never come. It sound like Thia swallow half of the voice at the top.

James, the interview takes a bit of a longer time and the taurettes just hits. It’s great that he is able to keep his composure there. Now the singing, Bon Jovi………. Well, for the first time he actually did better than all the rest of the top 11. It shows the undertone texture he got, he rocks with every notes, and it sounded like his own song than Bon Jovi. He makes his mark on the show tonight. Top 1 tonight.

Haley?! Taking on Whitney?! Don’t expect for her to sound like the goddess at all. Is it really that bad?! No it’s actually really great. With her style, her voice, the twist with this character, it’s like listening Bette Midler doing Barbara Streisand. It’s a totally different vibe, and it fits well on Haley too.

Though the 2 performance is good. But I’m not feeling it. You hear the contestant Improving. But it is a show, and now the show is dull.

Stefano, with Simply Red, he did a Babyface version of it. showcasing that R&B classic in his voice. Finally a controlled voice. Not more pitchy loose note scream.

It’s great for the competition. But I think the producer really need to tune it up by now. I’m really am not getting much craving out of this week’s show.

Pia takes the stage, taking on another Whitney…… she got the voice, but I keep hearing…… just good voice. Yet there’s not much different with every performance. It’s starting to get dull. And it shows that her voice though has a great tone to it, it still haven’t really find a song that really showcase it.

Scotty….. stays the same with another country. The voice is still low. Now it’s time to see if he got the voice to carry a little different country style. The middle notes of the song is a bit shaky….. he did belt out the last notes pretty well. Yet that’s just about it. Overall it’s just ok tonight, because he didn’t really makes the notes felt yet. We need to see more ups and downs.

Karen…. It is frustrating really. All these great voice…. All I hear is not there yet. Karen look nice, sound nice. But that’s it, just nice. Not really great.

This week the top spot is switch. Casey illness is getting on to him. It’s not a weak performance, but the real truth is that the vocal is straying a little bit too much from the Nirvana. There’s no sexy scream like Kurt. Casey overdo it today. The screaming is too crazy, the Hello is too querky. It lost it’s attraction. The actual impressionistic moment is the last few notes really.

This week, I think the girls are going to take the last 3, I guess it’d be Karen, Thia and Naima.

Lauren comes on with a flu, but she wins it tonight. Actually I think that she is the one girl I think that is coming in with the right fit tonight. The voice is sounding great. The style is fitting well. Love it.

Jacob…….. well, as the old Jacob does. He always start wrong. I dun know why. His voice just didn’t get the first notes right. Hated that, cos he can sound so much greater with that first notes instead of compensating all the time from there on.

Top 5 tonight, James, Stevano, Lauren, Casey, Scotty, in this order exactly.

The top 13 perfrom and one left

Sorry for the delay. But I don’t feel like doing a prediction this week. Because I feel that I’d just go in and become talking bad about most of them. Instead I choose to enjoy the show a bit this week and see who of the 13 is gonna stand out.
The Top 13 performs, Lauren is the first to perform. She takes on the first country girl to go pop, Shania Twain. It is a solid opening, not too bad. Just that the voice has fade a little bit today. Her voice was good, but the pitch ain’t high enough. It didn’t evoke emotion enough.
Oh with this start, it’s the first week of the 14 weeks left of the contest.
Next up, Casey Abram……… can u imagine with a stomach flu still can sing? He is looking a little bit green on the face really. Casey, I think it’s time to hit the psych doctor a bit and see if the stomach is from the nerves. Anyway, he smoothes up some Joe Cocker and show some really sexy jazz up there. And I believe his song choice….. will be the craziest ever. It’ll be nothing u’d have ever heard. He is already a musician before he is here.
It seems the new team of AI music mentor are doing really really good this year. But Ashton is lucky last week. But not good enough. As I said Ashton is not there yet. When it comes to a stage of this year’s bunch. A little bit of imperfection would stand out a lot. As for Ashton, Diana Ross’ she didn’t have enough texture in her voice to hold the song, “The Boss” have a high pitch voice that brings in the cloud of thunder…… Ashton, not quite, it’s just cloud. And surely enough, she is the first to go.
**** one note now, a special report that the Japan earthquake Tsunami has start to reach Hawaii, the Asian side of the Pacific, have receive a little rise in waves, which Australia and New Zealand have turn off their Tsunami warning. But the West Coast still is in observation, because when the wave reach Hawaii there’s reports that it’s rising instead of receeding. So West Coast is waiting to see what would happen when the first wave estimated to arrive at 8am morning. I’m sure the coastal city are sleepless at the moment.
Paul did a great job…. But the dance…… really. But the awkwardness really does work well with his voice.
I’m still a bit bothered about the whole pre-recorded part of the “Live” Show.
I think this year, there’s actually could be finally another man and girl fight in the final show. The reason I say that is that Pia, who close the show last week, is doing a lot more than just sing. She got a great voice, now after this week mentor, she got a soul hook onto the song.
James with Paul McCartney? A rocker singing beetle? You’d melt I tell you. James would slowly melt you with a beetle song. Haha. The third contender in the final race in book will be James. And this year at the end we finally see a little bit of his taurettes
Haley…. did a LeAnn Rimes most memorable country cong, Blues…… that is before she cross over to pop and at the age of 15. But she didn’t really pull it off. It’s not out of tune. It’s just not as amazing as when 15 sings it or as outstanding as high pitch diva sang it. so…… Haley squeek through this week. But the end of the candle is burning in fast. She need to bring on the big gun if she wants to still stay in the game.
Jacob is up next……. R. Kelly?!!!!! Can he Fly? Sure he can. The forth contestant that will stay til the end….. he can sing every R&B out there and he will not ruin it. but his gospel like treatment to every song…… with his mile personality will only get him so far….. so my thought is that he will probably bow out by top 5. If he cannot bring in something really stand out. But AI is proven time after time that it’s not about winning. Because the winning one don’t always succeed. So… it’s about exposure. Who knows, there’s might be another Daughtry in the making.
Oh!??? You ask why is it 6th and not 4th??? Because there’s still Naima coming. You’d be blown away this time. And Scotty…… will close off the 5th. A already sure thing
Thia is here. Smile everyone? Thia pull of a really good one this week and give America something to talk about with her soulful voice. But I find that Thia is a bit faster than the beat. Need to hold the nerve and control the rhythm girl. Good job this time though. But the song is solemn so….. there’s not much hype on the wood work of the song. Thia has done as interesting as it can be.
One more note, that is……. The top 13 performance this year in the result show, is a bit off base. The harmony is not really there. It only kicks in in the second part….. but it still closes with an amateurish act. And Scotty got no solo on a MJ medley hahaha expected.
Stefano, narrow last week, this week is still shaky. It’s a shame really. His voice is….. very sellable. But the manor he presented it is a bit off beat……. I think he gotta smoothen it up a little bit, you gota build it up, a smoother identity to match that voice. Now it’s all over the place and not so charming. You can hear the voice but not the jazz yet.
Karen…. channeling Selena……. Well not too much. She lack that sultriness that Selena have. She is too smooth. She didn’t even match Jennifer’s version softness of the song in the Selena movie. She definitely got the voice but not forceful enough. Oh, if only I can switch her with Stefano. Then it’s be perfect.
Country people, closing off the top 5 spot is Scotty, he can start recording….. erm, which bring in the question…. Is plain just country enough? I think he have to amp up the voice just a little bit. Because the low and smooth is gonna smooth out really soon without some peaks. To tell the truth, I’m sure a lot of Nashville exec is waiting right outside the Theatre waiting for Scotty to be kicked off so that they can sign him into their roaster right off the front door. He got the face, the youth, and the voice. He just need to sign.
Naima closes the show…… err, Rihanna? I dun know. I thought that Naima could take the second spot. But looks like it that Pia is taking the top girl spot. This week, she dances even better than her singing…. A good way to close the show, but just good enough actually. So……
It seems that the spot for the top 6 is settling in more firmly this week. Leading the way is Casey, then James follow by Scotty and the girls, Pia and Naima and Jacob closing off the top semi final.

Tsunami Hit Japan

and the 1st wave is expected to hit the West Coast by the hour. 8am to be exactly. i'm sure a lot of you have not been sleeping. As News of Hawaii is just coming in this second. Prayers for all my friend in Japan. "Kimitachi Daijobu? Ki o tsukete Ne!!!"

and i pray that the wave would receed before passing Hawaii.

A "Beast" Hiding from the "Adjustment Bureau" is a "fighter"

Another week has arrived. Happy Women Day everyone!!!!!

This weekend might be my last Cinema Marathon as most of the OSCAR distribution run is ending.

This weekend we see the premiere of a few super new movies for the spring season leading into summer. Rango is up…… topping US Box Office……. Which will be on the review later next week.

The other 2 movies that came out last Friday are The Adjustment Bureau and Alex Pettifer’s Beastly

Both Matt Damon and Alex Pettyfer have 2 movies on the marquee at this very moment.

The second movie coming from the new star Alex is Beastly, a modern twist on the beauty and the Beast story. Also starring the talent Vanessa Hudgens, who would join the rank of Alex with 2 movies by next month when sucker punch comes out.

Alright, it’s an old story retell. Pretty much the same format as the animated Beauty and the Beast 20 years back, it is a good feeling, humorous, young movie to start with. It is a great movie for the family or those who like to look at good looking guys or girls.

The Adjustment Bureau, the feel of the sets is almost the same as Inception. It’s a small scale, action fiction. As the movie is adapted from a short story, you’ll find that the storyline are pretty simple and straight forward. Matt Damon is a likely pair to Emily Blunt. And the script is pretty well written that created a very believable chemistry between the two on their every encounter. It is a smart movie that will lift up your spirit with a twist. I like the fresh air and find that I would love to know the screen writer for the movie afterwards.

The latest OSCAR encounter for me is The Fighter. Though the movie didn’t take home the awards for best movie and only got the attention for the supporting role. I find that in all movies that is nominated for the awards, this one deal with the reality of a hush life most intimately and it tells a very personal story with great honesty. A dysfunction family, a dysfunction community, a dysfunction team, that actually work in the end to the better part. Sometimes a little consistency and a little persistency can go a long way. We all get roughen up by the Almighty sometimes but love does help and assist every form, even when they are very distorted sometimes. It still brings the good out of us when apply.

American Idol, Top 13 have arrived....... and the most deserving group this year.

Well the votes are in, the top 10 is chosen, most of the prediction is on spot. With Nigel on the producer spot, we knew that there would be a fight for the last spot twice to it like SYTYCD.

Scotty is the first one to go into top 10, together with Pia, and Lauren Aliana comes in first then follows by Thia and Karen then it’s Haley. Then the guys come in with Casey, Paul, Jacob and James. Five for five for me.

Then the twist is, the judges will select 6 of them to duke it out on stage.

So naturally, Jovany is in, with Robbie and Stefano, (I must say I hope that it is Sam and he got a chance to show something on the piano.), Naima, Kendra, Ashton is going in for the girls.

After the fight for the survival……… a not so convincing Ashton and the well deserves Naima got in. and also a surprised Stefano…….. is in. Stefano…. The control is perfect this time. Congratulation. Jovany I must say….. it’s a pity, fight on man. and Also a sorry to Kendra. you go on girl.

American IDol top 24, the ladies are up, half is great, half is not so....

It’s the ladies to take the stage tonight, Naima comes in the second to perform and she nail it to the boot with a not so Jazzy jazz tone and turning it into Naimaism Jazz blues sexy. 1^st lady to register to the top 6 tonight.

Seems like the ladies can sell sexiness like hot cakes. The tweak tonight is on the vocal and the performance is sexy required. So 2 for 2 Kendra hits in the sexy notes with perfect pitch and perfect tone. And the performance is hot.

Rachel, well, I’m not gonna rule her out yet. That sultry voice, is really unique. But……. She did stumble a little bit when she try to work the stage and there’s where some of the pitch goes. The voice is fine. The style is fine. Just no together enough.

The ladies is actually doing better than the guys. The uniqueness simply shine through first the first get go. Those that doesn’t comes out of the karaoke-style singing. It’s just won’t do.

For Karen, The singing is ok. A bit karaoke, not enough energy for a song that needs subtle forces throughout. There is no doubt the girls are all good voices this year. So the standing out is the main niche.

Lauren Turner, not too bad. But she did show some of her bad trait in the voice. While Bette Midler could cover the flaws with great personality, but Lauren still lack that stage presence now. So the unreachable notes does stand out more than a diva voice.

Haley……. Anyone looking for a different version of sexy Alicia? Haley brings it on. She is the kind that u either like her or don’t from the get go. Me I’m on borderline likeliness. The voice got a bit of pitch to it. But the redemption are on the turn down husky. But better than karaoke though. I think she’d have to get more define on what her personality is. And turn down on the little dirty bit of the sexiness part though.

Thia, the baby of the batch, does the silent start treatment. And it best features the best of the voice with a silent confidence to it. It’s almost the same effect with what David Archuleta did in Imagine. Now Thia has totally taken the top spot in my top 6.

Lauren Aliana, tries the country rock turn. It seems to work ok for her. But because how green she is, it’s neither rock nor country yet. She have to amp up that rockiness and coutriness a little bit more. As I’ve said before, for the girls it’s not about the voice. It’s about gracefulness and uniqueness on stage. The voice is natural, but she gotta show more.

Pia, Stand by you? Her singing remind me of a Martina McBride version of the song. One way to close the show on a perfect high note, literally. It’s not pitchy, it’s right to the point, it’s……..High. So after careful consideration, the first will go to Pia

Pia and Thia have the perfect voice with a perfect song and a perfect stage presence, Naima and Kendra is the sexy soulful duo, Lauren Aliana and Haley round up the last 2 for me.

The First 24 is up, Here comes the "Most Talented" American Idol Season

The public voting for American Idol has just begun. The enthusiasm is like nil. I almost forgot that it is today and I’d have slept through the whole time with a nap. But thanks to my loyal and trust worthy alarm clock. Signal me for my 8 o gym time. I gone to switch on the TV. And ran through the whole AI, but after the first 5 I wonder are they singing to win it? Or fighting for who is the worst karaoke singer. Jovany did a really good rendition of a love song. One for the big guy. But as Randy says, it’s still karaoke . Now we hear the voice, really nice, but he need to bring some originality to it.

James however hit it totally out of the park with the Judas Priest. With a much better controlled high notes and rocking in through the song. He has a better tone than Adam Lambert, but does he have the versatility?

Robbi try to do his own thing with "Angel". He got the manipulation of the notes down but he gotta get some identity first to his voice. As Randy says the tones doesn’t really sync throughout.

Scotty, the season country singer. There’s never been a more country singer for the all 10 seasons before. So can he sing anything than that one John Turner song? Well apparently he can. Every notes and every sound is a country nerves hit. He is the total Country package. With a few more show I’m sure some country producer would have picked him up soon, he can go and start his recording right of this chair. The original country voice born to sing nothing but pure, authentic country song. but what's going on with the slandering to the right posture?

With Stefano, we fall back to the all karaoke tone again. We can hear the potential in his voice, but the Bruno Mars song is wrong. It shows more bad things about his voice than the good one. It seems that the top 6 is set from the first day(not all the first 6 is in the greats…. Check the last para for the 6 to beat this year). The rest need to do better to get into that rank and it’s a fight for their life.

The very very Morrisson-esque Paul did his thing. I’m wondering if it’s a good thing or bad thing. The tone is great, but the volume of his voice is not really strong enough. When the camera pan to a wide angle shot, I felt like I could doze off and felt distance. Though he did a Rob Stewart but it lack the rough ruggedness of the gentleman voice. All in all still a good performance. Just I hope that the voice could be louder.

Now we come to Jacob, we all know he got a voice. And it has been heard. But it is idol, popularity does count. Will he get the mass appeal to actually vote for him. It’s in the hand of the America. Finer cross.

Casey Abrams, remember the name, he is the most talented musician on idol stage. But not having his own instrument to hide behind. Could his voice carries him through to the next ground. Well, he is different I’ll give you that, but I think there’s still some tweaking between him and the band yet to be sorted out. He did the screaming Jay part down quite saucily though

The first round goes to, Scotty and James, then Jacob and Casey, the last pair will be Paul and Jovany.

Who would have thought that a rock star and an original country star would duke it out on the same stage. Jacob needs to get a personality, Casey needs an instrument, Paul needs a louder voice sand Jovany needs something in the voice to stand out.

As for the rest of them, need to work "better" guys.