Steel Kaleidoscopes

Clay Aiken Dissed Again

In 2003, an unknown singer named Clay Aiken dazzled the competition but finished as a runner-up to Ruben Studdard in the second season of "American Idol."

He recently made his return to national TV competition as a participant on "Celebrity Apprentice." For those who really hadn't seen him beyond what he's accomplished as a singer, expectations were probably low.

How was this kid from North Carolina going to compete in a business/marketing format where the winner had to demonstrate leadership and the ability to navigate through complex personalities to accomplish a goal?

Well, he did just fine. Like "American Idol," he made it to the final against former talk-show host Arsenio Hall. Clearly, Aiken seemed the stronger player throughout the season, showing street smarts, business savvy and delivering results with passion and, at times, a firm hand.

So when Donald Trump hired Hall, Aiken was dissed again.

Surprising.

American Idol: Hiatus

Two years ago, I wrote in this space that I wouldn't be reviewing "American Idol" because of other priorities. After reviving my reviews last season, I am taking another hiatus from singer critique.

It really is about priorities.

Instead of watching the likes of Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet, the potential finalists, belt out unique versions of Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder classics, I was helping my 6-year-old floss her teeth. (Yeah, I caught up through the wonder of DVR after 10 p.m.)

Before that, it was answering her questions about classroom reading etiquette. Then there was the project of  going through all of her old DVDs and watching her make the emotional choice of which ones stay in the family room and which ones are retired to the basement. "Monsters, Inc." and "Finding Nemo" were retired; "Enchanted" and "Tangled" stayed.

A bath, brushing teeth and flossing can easily take an hour.

Then there's math and spelling homework.

From time to time and when inspiration hits, I'll share my views on the singers to watch.

But for now, the keyboard is silent.

American Idol: Finale

The "American Idol" finale is always anti-climatic. We've heard the best, good and not-so-good from each contestant already. That's especially true for these fine finalists, who turned this into an hour of youth-infused, predictable country music.

Before the night began, American voters knew who they wanted. Scotty McCreery had the edge and was destined for the confetti shower. But that was before Lauren Alaina sang to her mom. Here's the order of how the two finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all tonight:

  1. Scotty McCreery
The kid from North Carolina is smooth, surprisingly seasoned and destined for greatness. Just 17, Scotty went from the unknown baritone-voiced redhead who was sticking up for the disrespected kid on group night during the auditions to a household-name country star. He's improved each week, and shined once again last night with a rollicking version of "Gone" to kick off the show. Wasn't crazy about his second and third songs (the new song in finales is almost always weak), but he's done enough to command a consistently high volume of votes. I had him as a shoo-in when the night began, but I think it's going to be much closer. His competitor's mom had something to do with that.
Odds of winning: 3-1

2. Lauren Alaina (bye , bye)
This just wasn't fair. First, a doctor comes out and explains that Lauren had issues with her vocal chords during rehearsals. Then, in the final competitive song of Season 10, Lauren is handed the syrupy "Like My Mother Does" and sings it to her mom. Pass the Kleenex. Poor Scotty is backstage wondering what is happening. Tough call as the Georgia peach pulls a trump card in the final few minutes. Thought she held back and sounded weak during her first two numbers, but it's difficult to predict the outcome when emotions come into play. Sweet 16 singer who will have a great career, but it wasn't enough to dethrone the next Johnny Cash.
 Odds of winning: 6-1

American Idol: Top 3

Haley falls and Lauren rips her panty hose? I was surprised Scotty's fly wasn't open. Here's the order of how the three finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all next week:

1. Scotty McCreery
You have to give this kid props. Listening to the three songs, he was the most consistent of the group. Watching him sing last night after revisiting his audition shows his growth and maturity over the last few months. Nice take on Kenny Rogers. Very melodic singer who holds his notes long and true. See you in the finale.
Odds of winning: 2-1

2. Haley Reinhart
I never thought I would see anyone sing "What Is And What Should Never Be" on AI. She gets credit for attempting it, although it was a little sloppy (tough to cover Robert Plant). Fleetwood Mac cover was breezy, sexy and cool but thought her Alanis cover was uneven. She gets the nod over Lauren because of song choice.
Odds of winning: 5-1

3. Lauren Alaina (bye , bye)
Sweet, sweet voice. Her Lee Ann Womack cover brought memories of Olivia Newton-John in her prime, or perhaps Alison Krauss. Thought her first song was the worst of the night ("Wild One"), which moves her into the bottom spot. Tough call between her and Haley, but I have a feeling Haley's fan base is larger.
 Odds of winning: 7-1

American Idol: Final Four

Last night was really the showdown between Haley and Lauren. James and Scotty aren't going anywhere. And, despite a quirky night, Scotty is looking like your next American Idol. Here's the order of how the four finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all in two weeks:

 1. James Durbin
Odd that he tackled Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," the most performed karaoke song. But kudos to the vocal and style tribute to Steve Perry. Outstanding version of "Love Potion No. 9." Regardless of what happens, we're looking at a bona fide  rock star. Excellent singer who should sail through to the Top 3.
Odds of winning: 4-1

2. Haley Reinhart (bye, bye)
Her reaction to the judges' criticism for Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" may have cost her some votes (boy did she look pissy), but she came back with the best performance of the night with a wildly passionate "I Who Have Nothing." When she's off, she's off, but when she's on, she is amazing.
Odds of winning: 7-1

3. Lauren Alaina
Thought she was going to trip on that dress when she sang "Anyway," clearly the best performance of the first set. Thought she sounded a bit forced and contrived with Elvis Presley's "Trouble," but if voters remember her first song she should be OK. More likable than Haley, which could be the difference.
Odds of winning: 7-1

4. Scotty McCreery
First, the bad news: Typical solid performance of "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?" but schmaltzy, goofy effort and arrangement with "Young Blood." The good news is that, unlike James, Haley and Lauren who will blend into their genres, he's a standout country singer who could be bigger than Johnny Cash.
Odds of winning: 2-1

American Idol: Old and New

So now it's down to your favorite genre. Rock, pop, country, soul or blues. Here's the order of how the five finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all in three weeks:

1. Haley Reinhart
Wow. Have to give her credit. That version of "House of the Rising Sun" was a keeper. Very smooth and passionate. Thought she brought a unique feel to a song I've heard hundreds of times. On this night, she was the best.
Odds of winning: 10-1

   
2. James Durbin
One of the co-favorites and rightly so. Singing Harry Nilsson's "Without You" was the better moment, and his tears were legitimate. Clearly, life on the road away from his family caught up to him. He has all the goods.
Odds of winning: 4-1


3. Jacob Lusk (bye, bye)
Thought his rendition of "Love Hurts" was soulful and sincere. If you're into soul, he's your guy and he delivers fairly consistently. The Bottom 3's are going to catch up with him. Have the feeling his fan base isn't as large as the others.
Odds of winning: 15-1

4. Scotty McCreery
Liked that he did something upbeat ("Gone"), but it's not his comfort zone. "You Were Always On My Mind" was flawless, but we've seen it before. There's not much else he can do, but he's clearly done enough. One of the co-favorites.
Odds of winning: 4-1

5. Lauren Alaina
Never attempt "Unchained Melody" unless you're going to hit "the note." She didn't. Sweet girl with a great voice, but this just wasn't her best night. Deserves to be here at this stage, but she'll need to do something special to reach the finale.
Odds of winning: 7-1

American Idol: Carole King

James and Jacob almost created a "Basic Instinct" moment when they spun J-Lo around. Check the DVR. And Randy hugging James after his solo performance? Simon is cringing somewhere. Here's the order of how the six finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all next month:
   
1. James Durbin
His opening 30 seconds of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" was the vocal highlight of the season. Truly a magical performance. Yes, he can sing, and there were shades of Axl Rose in his prime. Consistent week after week. You have to like his chances after this one.
Odds of winning: 5-1

2. Scotty McCreery
Now that was different. Never thought I'd hear a country version of "You've Got a Friend," but he nailed it. Showed additional vocal range and delivery was spot on. Carrie Underwood, make room on the charts. Cruising toward the finale, but against who?
Odds of winning: 5-1

3. Casey Abrams (bottom 3)
Casey is an acquired taste, which is why he's a long shot to win. He's clearly the best musician and entertainer and wildly more talented than Taylor Hicks, who won this with a unique approach in Season 5. Raucous version of "Hi De Ho That Old Sweet Roll" was well-done.
Odds of winning: 12-1

4. Jacob Lusk (bye, bye)
It's a shame that this soul singer is in trouble because he does have an amazing voice. Sang "Oh No Not My Baby" beautifully. My sense is that his sound doesn't ring relevant in comparison to the competition, which is steep. The tough cuts continue to come.
Odds of winning: 20-1

5. Lauren Alaina
She has a huge fan base, and is marching through the competition with Kelly Clarkson-like confidence. Thought it was a mistake to choose "Where You Lead," as "Gilmore Girl" fans are used to the original. Sweet singer with all of the tools, but not consistent.
Odds of winning: 7-1

6. Haley Reinhart (bottom 3)
Thought the background singers overwhelmed her as she labored through "Beautiful." Arrangement was way too busy and her voice got lost. Good singer, but can't really compete at this level. She may stick around another week, but her time is running out.
Odds of winning: 20-1

American Idol: Songs of the 21st Century

What's with all the F-bombs? Thought this was a family show. Steven Tyler carried on like he was at a wedding, clinking his Coke glass. And Randy was dressed like he was going to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the pilgrims. Here's the order of how the seven finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all next month:

1. Jacob Lusk
Purest vocal of the night and his best in the last several weeks. Easy to sing emotionally when the song is personal. Covering Luther Vandross was a wise choice and will keep him around. Less is more for this talented singer.
Odds of winning: 20-1

2. Casey Abrams
Received some heavy internal marketing with staged J-Lo kiss (just guessing). Rocked out a poppy Maroon 5 tune with grit and bite. Needs to be careful as he comes across as a deranged postal worker at times. Wildly talented.
Odds of winning: 12-1

3. James Durbin
Neat that he covered Muse. Thought the chorus was strong but the verses were muddled. Sounded like he was singing over a tape of himself but that would be cheating, right? Marching band and civil war outfit was original approach.
Odds of winning: 10-1

4. Haley Reinhart (bottom 3)
One of her better performances, singing Adele's chart-topper "Rolling in the Deep." Well-sung, straightforward and simple. Choosing a current hit likely won her a lot of votes but she's still in the lower tier of the talent here.
Odds of winning: 25-1

5. Lauren Alaina
Thought she played this a little too safe. Nice song choice (Sara Evan's "Born to Fly"), and it fit her voice well. Thought Tyler's recommendation to sing Alison Krauss was right on. Looking for something special if she's going to truly threaten.
Odds of winning: 8-1

6. Scotty McCreery (bottom 3)
Just OK and almost tripped on the first step walking out. The voice is solid and he rarely makes a vocal mistake, but he's kind of flat-lined. Needs to step up and do something incredible. Where's the growth? First slot didn't help.
Odds of winning: 10-1

7. Stefano Langone (bye, bye)
This wasn't bad, but we're getting down to the deep cuts. Pre-song story package portraying him as a tenacious flirt may get some of the girl vote, but his time is running out. Great contestant but not winnable.
Odds of winning: 30-1

American Idol: Songs from the Cinema

Song choices soured some of these performances and the absence of Pia was disappointing.  Here's the order of how the eight finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all next month:

1. Casey Abrams
If he leaves tonight, he's going out with what he wanted to do. Passed up the producer-recommended Phil Collins to go with Nat King Cole. Intimate, delicate, incisive performance that left some people scratching their heads while others simply said "brilliant."
Odds of winning: 15-1

2. James Durbin
Great rock vocal that would make Sammy Hagar proud. Clearly, this kid puts his heart and soul into performing. Only downside was heavy reliance on band and audience. James — you only have two minutes to sing, so sing.
Odds of winning: 10-1

3. Stefano Langone (bottom 3)
Another terrific, dead-on effort. He's singing like this could be his last night, which is how you get it done. Sang with passion and is finding out how to connect. Not sure if he has the votes to avoid Bottom 3 again, but he doesn't deserve to be there.
Odds of winning: 25-1

4. Scotty McCreery
With Pia gone, this 17-year-old country phenom has a good chance to win the whole thing. Carrie Underwood paved the path for country stars emerging from Idol and there's no reason to think Scotty can't do the same. A star is indeed born. 
Odds of winning: 5-1

5. Lauren Alaina
Really now, Miley Cyrus? Thought she did a good job with a campy song, but this did nothing to move her forward. Packs a powerful voice, for sure, and is building a loyal fan base. Thought the black dress was a little frumpy. 
Odds of winning: 8-1

6. Jacob Lusk
Clay Aiken set the bar with this one ("Bridge Over Troubled Water"), so Jacob's task was tall. This is an intimate Simon and Garfunkel classic that needs time to build. Thought he turned this into something you'd hear at a gospel brunch.
Odds of winning: 25-1

7. Haley Reinhart (bottom 3)
Cute girl who's using a sultry persona to win votes. Blondie's "Call Me" is not a singer's song and she struggled with the vocal. Thought she was off-key at times and when she turned on the power it sounded more like a screech.
Odds of winning: 30-1

8. Paul McDonald (bye, bye)
When the Kenny Loggins-like singer leaves the show, he has two choices: Pitch teeth-whitening strips or Arizona iced tea. His cactus-style outfits overshadow the fact that he's out of his league here. Seems like a nice guy, but the end is near.
Odds of winning: 30-1

American Idol: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

No one deserves to leave tonight. We're down to pure talent. I don't blame the judges for finding it difficult to find flaws, but what was up with Steven Tyler's "how are the balls of your feet" comment to Ryan?  Here's the order of how the nine finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all next month:

1. James Durbin
Once he gave America a "Mad World" moment, as he did last night with a passionate "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," his versatility was proven. Wild rocker who can sing at all speeds. Emotional performance and best of the night.
Odds of winning: 10-1

2. Lauren Alaina
Soft, velvety version of Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman" was excellent. Seems to be getting better each week. Hit every note perfectly with a polished stage presence. One of the favorites, but what was up with the '80s hair? 
Odds of winning: 10-1

3. Pia Toscano
Kicked ass with a powerful version of Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High." Just dived right into it, building on the chorus and finishing with a strong Broadway-calibre succession of notes. Hard to ignore her chances.
Odds of winning: 5-1

4. Stefano Langone (bottom 3)
His best performance to date with "When a Man Loves a Woman," but Randy's negative comments will hurt him. Thought he nailed this, with a groovy falsetto at the beginning before opening it up. Strong, strong vocal.
Odds of winning: 30-1

5. Scotty McCreery
Love the fact he sang Elvis, cranking it up with attitude on "That's All Right." This had a John Kay and Steppenwolf feel to it, a raw edge with plenty of bite. Gets better each week and would not be surprised to see him in the finale.
Odds of winning: 8-1

6. Casey Abrams
Loved his chances earlier in the competition, but art won't win over commerce. Think he's the best pure musician in the group, once again showing his stand-up bass talents on a CCR classic. Smiled a little more, which will earn him some votes.
Odds of winning: 15-1

7. Paul McDonald (bottom 3)
Thought for sure he would sing Rod Stewart, but instead tackles a Johnny Cash classic ("Folsom Prison Blues"). Thought the vocal was just OK, as he gave much too freedom to the musicians and crowd participation . Just sing, dude.
Odds of winning: 30-1

8. Haley Reinhart
Ah, Haley. Doesn't have the right voice to cover Janis, but did an admirable job with "Piece of My Heart." Thought it was a little forced, but loved the a capella toward the end. Bluesy singer who will likely stick around a few more weeks.
Odds of winning: 30-1

9. Jacob Lusk (bye, bye)
It sucks going first — you're forgotten by the end of the show.  Leaving would be surprising since this kid has been one of the front-runners, but I think we've seen the best from him and others are getting better. Great talent.
Odds of winning: 30-1