But this year I watched almost all of it, though I missed the first episode. I mostly watched because I realized that they were featuring some really bad "talent," which I noticed all had one thing in common: when asked why they thought they could win, they said that their friends had told them they were great. The ones who were actually good would say something else, and always had some doubts about their own abilities. (Maybe they also had honest friends). I'm thinking that it could be those doubts that motivate them to try harder and get better at what they do.
After the first elimination rounds, we were left with only the good ones. Not the great ones, mind you - "great' would not include acts like the Zooperstars, a ridiculous group of people in giant animal costumes, stumbling around like morons on the stage. It would not include the female impersonator whose talent was that he looked sort of like Britney Spears and lip-synced her music. These people would at the very least draw a crowd at a supermarket, though whether people would pay admission to see them is another question.
Later in the season I began to see people eliminated whom I really liked. I'm talking about Jessica Price, Paul Salos, the Wright Kids.
Paul Salos is a Frank Sinatra impersonator, and he is incredible. if you close your eyes, you could really believe it's old Blue Eyes himself, right down to the voice, the attitude, the inflection. This guy has a career if he wants one - if not in Vegas, somewhere else. The Wright Kids belong in Branson - they can do wonders with anything from 60's pop music to blue grass.
And I was actually considering Jessica Price (above) as my third favorite - but as GA pointed out, while she is talented she is not unique, and not really even different than another fifty female country singers, though she is better looking than most of them. Still I like her, and I sort of wish I could adopt her so she could have a decent father - apparently, the scumbag abandoned the family, though Jessica still adores him. That's love for you.So the top five are on tonight, and the voting is over, and we should get to see the winner tonight.
That means I get to express my opinions about them for all the world to see, because this is America, and because I have a blogger account. Here they are, in no particular order.
First up, Eli Mattson:
Eli is a talented pianist and songwriter, who idolizes Elton John, and by sheer coincidence, imitates his style. He only did one song of his own writing during the competition, so far anyway, and that turned out well. He sings almost as well as Elton, but the amazing thing about him is his piano-playing skill. The man is awesome. He could win, but that could be said of anyone in the top five. If he doesn't win, he will almost certainly have a well-deserved recording contract.
Nuttin But Stringz
Here is GA's favorite, and her pick to win. She could be right - if you judge by uniqueness, if that's a word, these guys are almost the definition of the word. Nuttin But Stringz fuses hip hop, classical and rock, and does it so well that it's almost a new genre in itself. These gentlemen play those instruments with skill, flair, and energy. They could easily sustain a two hour Vegas show, and fill the seats every night.
Donald Braswell almost wasn't even in the finals.
The judges tossed him out earlier in the rounds, but another act had an untimely accident, and her spot had to be filled, so they let America vote on who to reinstate. This is the man who had a vocal cord accident years ago, and overcame it to sing again. Personally, I think he is the weakest of the five finalists, but he nevertheless ought to be on Broadway, or wherever they put people with this kind of voice, because being the weakest of these five is not weak at all.
Queen Emily
This beautiful woman is my 2nd choice for winner. She stands there so quietly, with poise and aplomb and humility, but when they cue her, she turns into the most dynamic singer you can imagine. I'll probably get in trouble for this, but she's my new Queen of Soul, with all due respect to Aretha Franklin - assuming you remember her.
Some day she will do a tribute album, with all Aretha covers. I will buy it. Queen Emily could easily fill a Vegas theater, whether she wins or not.
Neal E. Boyd
And here is my personal favorite.
This guy can sing opera as well as anyone. OK, I have to issue the disclaimer: I don't actually even like opera. But that's what makes this guy special - if he isn't phenomenal, then why do I, an opera ignorer, absolutely love him? I could watch this guy sing for hours. They made him do some non-opera too, just to prove he could, and he was great there too - but it's opera that lets him shine, where you see his passion come through. He may not win, in fact I will be surprised if he does - and I don't know if he can fill a Vegas theatre night after night. But if he isn't touring the world with two other tenors I could name by this time next year, there is no justice.
Who do I think will win the competition? If I had to bet, I would sneak out of the casino. I don't think Donald Braswell will win, but of the other four, only the producers can really say at this point.
No comments:
Post a Comment