Gabe's take on the Top 11

As I've been pretty busy this semester, I have not had much time to make posts and really discuss the folks this season or in general beyond the random, small, and occasional comment. First off, these are my thoughts, I know plenty of you will not agree, but that's fine; my hater-shades are on full force. Agree, disagree, or not care, I don't.

First off...this is my favorite season in YEARS. The competition is so close, and even for those of whom are not the best singers in the world, they are incredibly entertaining. It has been a long time since I have been so excited about Idol. :)

But here goes:

These are general comments, not just about this week's performances. Also, there is no one I'm super gaga about. I still would have liked to see Lauren Turner make the Top 13---but I think this is potentially one of the closets Idol groups ever.

Casey Abrams - Casey, Casey, Casey. "Crazy, Sexy, Cool". Haha, really I think Casey is a born performer and is definitely one of the more entertaining people this season. I completely love his voice and I love what he attempts to do. I can continue going on saying completely positive things about him, because I really do love him, but what I am starting to fear is that he is going to be that contestant that flatlines. Incredible through auditions, starts off the Live shows really good...but then loses something and never really gets it back. Think Jasmine Trias. The past two weeks, he's growled and gnarled and while that is good in moderation, it's starting to really reveal his weakness and he's seeming really one-note. I can see him getting the redemption card.

Thia Megia - Thia...Thia seemed like she would be incredible judging from her Youtube videos pre-season, but so far, that has not been the case. She's sweet, and I think on a technical level, probably the overall best singer in the group, but I think she's just not ready for this yet. She just seems entirely too sensitive and unsure, not only about her performances, but herself in general. I can just picture her behind-the-scenes, getting told to do something or something in some way she wasn't comfortable with (performance wise)..and just going with it and raising no objections. If she waited a few more years, she would probably be blowing everyone out of the water.

Jacob Lusk - Oh mister Lusk. The best thing I can say about him, is that when he's on...he is on. Jacob, I think, has the most vocal potential out of just about anyone this season. His range is just awe-inspiringly incredible and I love his tone and what he does with it, for the most part. I do not think his first week was as bad as many people attempt to make it seem, but last week was absolutely a mess. He also definitely has Fantasia syndrome, it seems. You either absolutely love his voice or you absolutely hate it. If Jacob could continue showing control and restraint I think he is one of the few this season with the possibility of having a "moment". You could disagree with me if you want, but we have not had one since David Cook. Adam Lambert came close, but he was just short of a cigar.

Lauren Alaina - There is no doubting that Lauren has a powerful instrument, and she really knows how to use it. The main thing that is deterring her for now is her personality. People are really not feeling the "I'm a cutesy southern Christian girl with plenty of attitude and charm, jus with lil sass to get y'all all excited and want more *tehe*", vibe. The beginning of the season also harmed her, as lots of people took to her as the one "shoved down our throats". It is interesting though, because she is really starting to blend in a bit. I feel like she might potentially continue to blend it and be safe, not really in danger, but not really blowing people away week from week...until halfway in the competition where she really emerges and somehow finds herself in the finals. Will it happen? Probably not, but I think the potential is there. I am personally waiting to be blow away by Lauren like I was from the 2nd part of her audition, she clearly has it in her, let's see if it comes out. She is definitely improving.

Stefano Langone - Stefano. I want so, so badly to like his voice, but the bottom line is, I don't. It has nothing to do with his singing ability, he is actually quite good, and thus far, one of the more consistent players this season. I just do not like his voice. I am also not at all amused by his want-to-be-cool persona, and so he just leaves me with virtually nothing. I'm just going to leave here with him, because I know probably more than anyone else from this list, he is hardest for me to judge because I just really do not like his voice sounds, never mind whatever he does with it.

Haley Reinhart - Haley, poor Haley. She is either going home today or no doubt is going to be the one in the bottom 2 nearly every week. It's strange, she obviously has connected with the audience at one point, because she really does have a lot of fans---but something is not connecting with the main stream. I think she may have been so much more successful in a previous season, but in this one she is just sallowed up. It is definitely a shame, though, because she has such a deep, soulful, and sultry voice. It's really rich. You can also tell that while it may be hard to tell "who she is musically", she has a definite feel and love for music, and it's not too hard to imagine that just like her performances, what she is into is all over the map. Maybe she really does just need a focus?

Scotty McCreery - I almost don't even want to touch Scotty, because he's probably just that: Untouchable. I think if anyone has a default Top 5 spot, it's him. He's country, he's marketable, and there is no doubt he's going to get signed as soon as he leaves. I also hear of lots of random people loving him, and etc, etc. He could sing "baby lock dem doors" for the next few weeks and still top the votes. I personally think he completely butchered the song this week, but weeks prior I couldn't complain much beyond maybe one or two performances being on the boring side. He knows his niche and he takes advantage of it. So again, I'm just not going to say much.

Pia Toscano - Pia at this point is still probably the one to beat. She's a female like they've been looking for the past few seasons, she's a masterclass vocalist, and she's incredibly pretty to boot. She is clearly making it far, if not winning it all. I think enough has been said about her so I will spare my babble. She's great. If anything is holding her back though, it is that she is just a bit too well put together. She is missing a certain edge, something rough, or just something to make people see that she is not just a "perfect creature". Even Carrie Underwood had the "naive, innocent country girl discovering the world for the first time" thing going on. Pia comes off as a put together NYC socialite. She got her grandpa story last week, but is it enough?

Paul McDonald - Oh my goodness, everyone loves this guy. I wish I did as well. The funny thing is, as I've said in posts of the past, I am such a sucker for a unique and great tone. Paul definitely has one, but for him, unlike many others, it is not enough for me to get to love him. I think he was fantastic in Hollywood and great during auditions, but since the Live Show started, he has been off. He just seems all over the place when he sings, and maybe I'm just deaf, but it hardly ever seems that he is in key. I want him to impress me, because he definitely could impress me, but it's just not happening. I am kind of resentful of him being the VFTW pick as well, it just seems like he has entirely too many fans. I think that honor belongs to the lovely lady below.

Naima Adedapo - I think Naima does something really special; she knows how to be bad, and make it super entertaining. If she could really hone into things and really push, she could make it really really far (at least compared to what was originally expected of her). Normally, I'm not too favoring of those contestants who get carried around because they're bad, but yet they get attention, especially when they are as bad as Ramiele---but you can really tell that what she does have a specific intent and a purpose, and she really, at least attempts, to think things through. This week was perhaps her best vocal performance, which will toss of her some votes, but that African dance is what everyone will be talking about, and what everyone will remember. It's smart, and even if she does find herself in the Bottom 3 again, I'm certain she is not going him (watch me eat my words).

James Durbin - When I first found out that Durbin had Tourettes and Aspergers, I was completely "awww"...no lie, I'm a weirdo, and hearing stories/seeing documentaries about those disorders (substitute Autism in general for Aspergers) can get me very quickly and easily emotional and emotionally attached (my gosh, just drew a fall back to Tru Confessions which I saw again on the Disney Channel this weekend and it was INCREDIBLE as always)---but, this is where a lot of you are probably going to severely dislike me ... only perhaps as much as I severely dislike this kid. I absolutely despise his personality, so I can't pretend that that's not a factor in all of this...but beyond, sure he can scream, sure he's emotional and sure he sings with a lot of energy, but it just does not work for me for some reason. He's not the best at control, either (though I must admit, a good crop of these individuals aren't) and what bothers me the most is that his voice just seems to lack depth. ...he just sings, and words come out. I shall compare to Lambert, just because that's what everyone does, and there is just a something that Durbin doesn't have and probably will never. How to define it, I don't have a clue, but I don't hear it in his voice at all. It just leaves me flat and wanting so much more. I generally like to watch the show without looking at the TV at all, just listening to the voices and the way they sing their songs, and he's just so, so blah to me. He's like the pizazz without the bang. A shiny present with nothing inside. That hot date you cannot even have a conversation with.

Look at me, I'm wearing a tail! Weee!

Again, Season 10 has been my favorite season in a very long time. I am very happy that the focus on the show is back where it belongs: to the contestants, and I am even more pleased that the crop of talent this year is pretty great. The thing that I also like most is the return of all the CHEESE. It is such an important factor in what made the classical days of Idol what it was, and I love seeing it in full force and full string this season. Keep it going kiddos! :)

Bloodhounds, you are now released! BASH ME! Mwuwahahahaha.