AI Top 11 Redux Report Card Redux
http://americanidolreportcard.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/slap-batman.jpg
Hey, I’m a bold practitioner of owning up to my errors of judgment. What kinda wannabe critic would I be if I weren’t, at the very least, honest to myself, and at the most, to you, my loyal readers?
But, for the first time in years, I hastily published my Report Card sans another look. As I’ve written about ad nauseum in the past, I don’t base my final grade on the one live performance of the night – it’s not fair to the Idol (not that any of them would give a shit even if they knew - and they don't - I existed) and not fair to you. My initial reaction is just that, reactionary. So, I always feel the need to revisit the performances and reevaluate them to make my decided grade. As Randy would say, I owe it to you, for me, for you.
So many of my favorite writers, bloggers and Idol commentators (some who are actually close friends of mine) do what they do for a living. They have, literally, all night – hours and hours – to hone their craft and create their incisive, and often bitingly funny, observations. I don’t have that luxury. Chock it up to old age if ya want, but, I need to sleep. I have a full-time job that has no time for Idol. So, while I wish I could hunt-and-peck away until dawn, that’s not happening anytime soon.
After watching the performance show last night, I wrote my Report Card. But I actually felt a little guilty (I know, I have issues) for not re-listening to the performances. So, I loaded the MP3s (of last night's live show) onto my iPod and heard them all again on my way to work.
What a difference a few hours – and a good night’s sleep - make. And, you’re welcome (I am doing this on my lunch break here at work, after all…)
While I’ll stick by the majority of my grades, I switched a few and I feel I under-valued a performer I usually have little patience for.
While I’ll stick to the crux of my original written assessment, I’d have to re-grade Haley Reinhart's gauche “Bennie & The Jets” from a C+ to a B+ - the single largest upgrade I’ve ever given. Still unappreciative of her sexing every performance, her vocal tics (that grunting! That growling!), while still in superfluity, didn’t distract from that smoky sonority I wrote about. Sans visuals, it was far superior than anything she’s given yet on that Idol stage. Her harlot tendencies are still as embarrassing as Mariah Carey’s, who she clearly emulates in performance vibe, but as pure vocal finesse, I got it wrong. This time.
It’s still the most affected performance of the year. But the affectation worked in her favor. Again, this time.
Other re-grades:
Paul McDonald B Minus > B (not nearly as “close to awful” as I surmised. Still “accidentally amusing”, though)
Jason Lusk C > C Minus (In Lusk’s case, the comic contortions negate the horror vocals, and Jeebus knows we need the distraction)
James Durban B > B Minus (the entertainment value outweighed the hair-metal vocals)
Lauren Alaina B > B+ (sonically, as pleasantly Country Pop as Natalie Maines, though, still a tad too staid)
I’m on the fence about downgrading Stefano to a straight B, but I think I’m safe with the B+.
I'd like to promise this won't happen again, but, well, I apologize in advance if it does. And, at the very least, you'll know I'll own up to it.