Michael Giltz: American Idol Top 24: The Men http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/american-idol-top-24-the-_b_87503.html[4/5/2009 7:47:05 PM] APRIL 5, 2009 HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING STYLE GREEN WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY 23/6 VIDEO BLOGGER INDEX ARCHIVE Make HuffPost Your HomePage Get Email Alerts Twitter: Follow Us BIG NEWS : Angelina Jolie | Madonna | Chris Brown & Rihanna | Paul McCartney | More...</p><p> LOG IN | SIGN UP Michael Giltz Posted February 20, 2008 | 01:02 AM (EST) BIO Become a Fan Get EmailAlerts Bloggers'Index American Idol Top 24: The Men Read More: American Idol , David Archuleta , Ellen Degeneres , Music , Paula Abdul , Pop Music , Randy Jackson , Reality TV, Rock , Ryan Seacrest , Simon Cowell , Entertainment News A strong start for the Top 24.</p><p> And by strong I mean finding three or four men that look rocksolid.</p><p> Three or four really good guys and three orfour really good girls will mean a strong Top 12.And even though we've winnowed it down frommore than 100,000 auditions, it's still amazinghow some really weak singers can make it pastthis stage.</p><p> The judges had an off night -- too much bantering amongst them makes it feel like theshow is about them instead of the singers.</p><p> And to a person, they all spoke nonsense about how singers needed to make the songs -- it was Sixtiesnight -- sound "current." Do they mean adding beat box elements a la Blake Lewis or a hip-hoparrangement.</p><p> Paula even cautioned them from singing ballads and insisting you should alwaysspeed up a ballad at some point so you don't sound stodgy.</p><p> Ballads are passe? They're all wrong.You don't have to radically re-arrange a song or start slow and speed up a ballad.</p><p> You just have tosing it well.</p><p> David Hernandez -- He sang "Midnight Hour" and in time-honored tradition, he started it slow and then speeded it up a bit to its standard mid-tempo arrangement.</p><p> Hernandez did the same thing to great effect with the Stephen Stills classic "Love The One You're With." I thought his vocals were terrific, despite a weak final flourish.</p><p> Plus he came across as modest but not mousy.</p><p> And he's got a LOT of room for improvement.</p><p> David was rooted to the spot on stage and he wore a dreadful silk shirt with some sort of descended epaulettes feature.</p><p> Best of all, he doesn't seem desperate.</p><p> And again, his voice sounded great.</p><p> A little better styling and hopefully a little more comfort on stage and he'll step it up.</p><p> He's definitely got huge potential.</p><p> Chikezie -- yes, it's the beginning of the great makeover.</p><p> At Hollywood and the Top 24 and Top 12, we always see people do some dramatic makeovers, including the slaughtering or wholesale changing of their name.</p><p> Chikezie has gone with just one word and why not? It's a fun one.</p><p> Chikeziehad a fun red suit (though it didn't help when a Geiko ad at the commercial break showed backup Be the First to Submit This Story to Digg Get Breaking News Alerts Share Print Comments never spam Popular Stories on HuffPost Fashion Face-Off! Michelle Obama And Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Finally Meet In France (VIDEO, PHOTOS, POLL) *Video, poll and slideshow Levi Johnston TalksSafe Sex With Tyra Banks (VIDEO) ***UPDATE*** 8:30pm: People.com is reporting that Sarah Palin has issued...</p><p> Oscar de la Renta Slams Michelle Obama's Buckingham Outfit As Major Designers FeelIgnored While Michelle Obamahas made lesser...</p><p> Verena von Pfetten 7 Lessons To BeLearned From Carla Bruni So here's the thing.There's no shortage of articles dedicated to thatcertain je ne...</p><p> Huff TV Arianna Discusses MichelleObama's "Fantastic" Style On CBS' 'Fast & Furious' HAUL: Rakes In $72.5M Madonna Tot's Dad Found: 'At Last I Can Be Part Of Mercy's Life' Farrah Fawcett's Son Arrested As She's In Hospital Michael Giltz: American Idol Top 24: The Men http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/american-idol-top-24-the-_b_87503.html[4/5/2009 7:47:05 PM]singers in similar suits for comic effect).</p><p> And he sang the Spiral Starecase song "More Today Than Yesterday" at a far too draggy tempo.</p><p> He wasn't awful but I felt like I couldn't relax and enjoy hisperformance because I was so worried about how he'd do.</p><p> Saved a bit by a big Idol flourish at theend. (You know, a big note held for a while.) David Cook -- another big makeover, with Cook happily ditching the dreadful red streak in his hair and that rooster-like appearance on top.</p><p> Good job! he sang "Happy Together" by the Turtles and again, they started it slow and then...speeded it up to the song's standard tempo. he was prettygood and moved around well and had a solid finale that overcame a weak high note.</p><p> Cook's bigproblem for me was that when he tried to be sexy he just looked smug.</p><p> Here's where the judgesmade no sense.</p><p> Randy talked about how Cook really rocked the song out -- in fact, it except for theslightly slower intro, he performed it just like the Turtles.</p><p> Why? Cause THEY rocked it out.</p><p> Thisisn't some sweet pop song he roughed up; "Happy Together" is explosive at the chorus.</p><p> Doesn'tRandy know the song? Simon said it was a "weird" song to choose? Huh? It's a seriously rocking song and not a stretch at all for a would-be rocker.</p><p> Again, don't they know what this song originally sounded like? OK, but he'll have to watch the smug thing.</p><p> Jason Yeager -- good to know Jason loves his son and dedicates this song to his late grandmother.</p><p> I don't think there were any other sympathy cards to play but he could have used them since his version of "Moon River" was deadly dull.</p><p> Doing some sort of Bobby Darin or FrankSinatra revamp might have helped -- not because this would have made the song morecontemporary or "new" or relevant, but simply because it might have made it easier to sing.Nothing exposes vocal weakness like a strong, simple melody with long lines like this one.</p><p> AndyWilliams can sing, dude.</p><p> Jason Yeager, at least here, could not.</p><p> After Paula said she did her firstdance recital to this, Simon's line that he bought his first puppy to this song was for me therepartee highlight of the night.</p><p> Bobby Carrico -- the rocker who sang "One," made famous by Three Dog Night and written by the great Harry Nilsson.</p><p> I thought it was a little uncomfortable though not disastrously so.</p><p> Robbie couldn't really rock out on it because it's more of a pop song and the falsetto was tricky.</p><p> Having thebackup singers trilling away didn't help toughen it up.</p><p> He seemed to be fighting the mellowness ofit but had a good ending and a big note at the end can cover a lot of shaky work.</p><p> And Simon'sright: he does seem more like a Hollywood casting agent's idea of a rocker than an actual rocker.Overall, decent.</p><p> David Archuleta -- "I'm getting shaky just thinking about it," says Archuleta in taped intro.</p><p> So is everyone else, kid.</p><p> Already a serious front runner for the finale, Archuleta looked smooth and confident and YET also boyish and wholesome and excited to be there and all those other puppydog, Tiger Beat qualities viewers will love.</p><p> He sang "Shop Around" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. (And by the way, is it too much to ask them to flash the name and original artist of thesesongs at least briefly?).</p><p> And he did great.</p><p> A little rough on the low notes though I don't thinkraising the key would have been a good idea.</p><p> It's always dangerous when the show plays favoritesand they did it here, spending oodles of time with Archuleta.</p><p> One of the trickiest parts of the showis learning how to make the most of your camera time without saying the wrong thing or comingacross wrong, which can happen in a million different ways.</p><p> Archuleta just smiled and gee-whizedhis way through every moment, including Ryan's cringe-inducing joke that people could only votefor Archuleta, not adopt him.</p><p> Terrific.</p><p> Danny Noriega -- the diva of the show and he loves it, Noriega has the opposite problem of letting his forceful personality overshadow his talent.</p><p> He will definitely appeal to teen girls who see him as their best friend etc and the gay vote (two of the big three voting blocks, with the third being middleaged housewives), which will like his snappy attitude.</p><p> But too much attitude can be a turn off to Middle America and the judges spent so much time bickering about him Noriega had toomany opportunities to make faces, squint and offer up retorts.</p><p> As for his performance, I thought"Jailhouse Rock" was a left field choice that didn't give him any chance to shine vocally.</p><p> But it DIDtoughen up his image a bit.</p><p> He might have looked foolish singing it but in fact looked convincing, Ithought.</p><p> And the white shirt and tie was a good look.</p><p> Luke Menard -- the second trainwreck of the evening.</p><p> Menard insisted after the judges trashed him that "people are going to remember this tomorrow." Yes, but unfortunately they'll remember it as being very weak.</p><p> Paula's comparison to Kenny Loggins was spot-on and maybe Menard is good-looking to get a pass this week and get another shot.</p><p> But his tepid take on "Everybody's Talking" "Washington Unplugged" Arianna was on CBS' "Washington...</p><p> Huff TV Arianna Appears on ABC's "This Week" Roundtable With George Stephanopoulos (VIDEO) Arianna was a guest this morning on... "BRUNO" TRAILER! Calamity, African Babies, Chase Scenes And More (NSFW VIDEO) IT'S HERE! The trailer for this July's Sacha BaronCohen...</p><p> NATO Leaders Focus On Afghanistan, But Most Reject Obama'sPlea For Troops (SLIDESHOW) STRASBOURG, France— On the eve of the NATO...</p><p> First Lady Fashion At Friday's NATO Concert (PHOTOS) Another night, another fashion opportunity for NATO leaders and their spouses! See...</p><p> Diana Palin, Sarah Palin's Sister-In-Law, Arrested For Breaking Into Home ANCHORAGE, Alaska —Police say Alaska Gov....</p><p> John Oliver Explains The Real Reason You Never Touch TheQueen (VIDEO) John Oliver was upsetenough to drop his monocle when he...</p><p> Jim Cramer Declares The Depression "Over" (VIDEO) On Thursday's episode of "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer declared that the depression...</p><p> New Jay Leno ShowRejected By NBCAffiliate In Boston BOSTON — Boston'sNBC affiliate says it will air a local newscast instead of...</p><p> Ice Bridge Ruptures In Antarctic (VIDEO) An ice bridge linking a shelf of ice the size of Jamaica to two islands in Antarctica has Scientists Find Rocket Fuel Chemical In Infant Formula ATLANTA — Traces of aMichael Giltz: American Idol Top 24: The Men http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/american-idol-top-24-the-_b_87503.html[4/5/2009 7:47:05 PM] SNL: Madonna And Angelina In Weekend Update...</p><p> Reality Star Jade Goody Buried In Lavish...</p><p> Robert De Niro Nanny Sues For $40,000 Alex Da Silva, Celebrity Choreographer Accused Of...(made famous by Harry Nilsson, but not written by him) was too high-pitched and too bland and wispy to do anything but make you cringe.</p><p> Colton Berry -- another very young kid (we've got lots of Latinos and lots of high schoolers this season) and this one is proud of his theater background.</p><p> I thought Colton's look was good and that he carried himself well during the judges' comments. (The self-deprecating claim that he looks like Ellen Degeneres was a nice attempt too.) Even better was his habit of singing the theme song from Teletubbies when nervous.</p><p> He sang "Suspicious Minds" -- made famous by Elvis and covered by Fine Young Cannibals in a similar style which makes the judges' claim that Colton needed to make the song "fresh" and "current" seem especially silly.</p><p> I thought Colton's vocals were quite strong, especially on the by now obligatory slow opener before the song is speeded up passage.</p><p> There are lots of slow breaks in this song and he navigated them very well.</p><p> Plus he had the all-important big Idol finale featuring a big note held for a while.</p><p> I think he made the most of his strengths here since the song is very dramatic and theatrical to begin with.</p><p> Smart choice.</p><p> Plus he looked cute.</p><p> That never hurts.</p><p> Garrett Haley -- another Tiger Beat contestant, this one with serious Leif Garrett hair.</p><p> Haley looks dreamy on the closeups but didnt handle the banter well.</p><p> He was off-key with Ryan at the beginning (don't say 'yeah, lots of chicks scream for me') and passive at the end with the judges.</p><p> The Neil Sedaka tune "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" was savvy as far as appealing to his corecontingent of teenage girls.</p><p> The vocals were not terrible and his pin-up-ability will probably gethim a pass.</p><p> Jason Castro -- He made a great choice of the Lovin Spoonful gem "Daydream," a tune that can't help but put a smile on your face.</p><p> As the only guy who played an instrument (in this case, an acoustic guitar), Castro stood out even more.</p><p> He had loads of personality and charm, a realentertainer.</p><p> One word of warning: as I've said before, playing an instrument and being anentertainer can cover lots of flaws and if you turned your back to the TV and just listened to hisvocals, they were actually quite rough at numerous points of the song.</p><p> I enjoyed it a great deal andhopefully he'll gain in confidence and be stronger vocally down the road.</p><p> Again, the judges soundedgoofy when they insisted Castro had made this song sound current and relevant.</p><p> How? By playingit on an acoustic guitar? He didn't rearrange the tune or shake it up in any way.</p><p> He sang it in apefectly straightforward manner.</p><p> He just did it with a great deal of charm.</p><p> Michael Johns -- having been in a band signed to Madonna's Maverick label, Johns definitely seems like the male who had the biggest previous break (Archuleta was the winner of Star Search at 12 but never did anything afterwards).</p><p> He covered "Light My Fire" by the Doors, a tune heKNEW was featured heavily in Hollywood week and which he did at an audition.</p><p> Couldn't he atleast have sung a different song by the Doors? Frankly, I thought he looked the part and coveredthe stage well.</p><p> But his two big moments in the song to sound rough and dangerous? Didn't do it forme.</p><p> Certainly good enough to get through but he should be knocking it out of the park and I'd ratethree or four guys higher.</p><p> Finally, how sad it is to have 100,000 auditions, Hollywood week and now the Top 24 focusing on the Sixties and yet if we've heard a single protest song, I missed it.</p><p> Didn't anyone even sing something as universal as "Blowin' in the Wind" or god forbid a real protest song? We are at war, a war most of the country is well and sick of by now.</p><p> You think someone would want to tap that emotion.</p><p> It's too early in the competition to say which men should really go home since a good half dozen of them are sure to go and too many are weak to get it right.</p><p> The ones to go through should definitelyinclude David Archuleta, Jason Castro, David Hernandez and Michael Johns.</p><p> Everyone else isvulnerable but if I were going to pick two people to go home, it would be Jason Yeager and LukeMenard.</p><p> Who did you vote for? More in Entertainment...</p><p> Computers India Barack Obama Michelle Obama Sports Olympics Housing Crisis Fox News Cars MORE BIG NEWS PAGES » Books by this author A cabin of one's own: New England's MacDowellColony celebrates 100years of artistic utopia.And the gay and lesbianartists who prosperedthere celebrate ... (Thenational gay & lesbiannewsmagazine) by Michael Giltz Affairs to remember:Farley Granger beddedAva Gardner, ShelleyWinters, and LeonardBernstein.</p><p> In hisautobiography, IncludeMe Out, Hitchcock's muse... (The national gay &lesbian newsmagazine) by Michael Giltzchemical used in rocket fuel were found insamples of...</p><p> HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES This Blogger's Books from Michael Giltz: American Idol Top 24: The Men http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/american-idol-top-24-the-_b_87503.html[4/5/2009 7:47:05 PM] Michelle Obama's Clothing Has Sean Hannity All Out OfSorts Cenk Uygur: Have WeReached the Tipping Pointon Guns? RICHARD POPLAWSKI,Pittsburgh Gunman, Kills 3Police Officers Dr.</p><p> Rachel Ehrenfeld: DoesIran Harbor Osama binLaden? Comments 10 Pending Comments 0 HuffPost Stories Surging Right Now Ads by Google Watch Idol Performances Watch The Idol Performances Free! It's Easy w/the Free Videos Toolbar Videos.alottoolbars.com Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to View Comments: Newest First Expand All mch755 See Profile I'm a Fan of mch755 permalink Love the commentary.</p><p> I'm not normally a watcher of AI, but people kept telling me that this crop of singers would be great this year.</p><p> Umm..not too impressed at this time, well at least with the guys.</p><p> Though the little guy, David A, he's real good, very charming and will really appeal to a broad spectrum of watchers.</p><p> I also like Jason Castro, mellow and smooth, and I like David H, though he did look terrified to be the first up.</p><p> Dianne See Profile I'm a Fan of Dianne permalink I hope David H. makes it through.</p><p> Being the first performer on the first "real" episode of the seasonmust be terrifying, and I thought he did well.</p><p> I love little David A.</p><p> The kid has serious talent and he's the only one that I really look forward to seeing again.</p><p> Luke is hunky.</p><p> Chikezie is cheesy and I want him to go home.</p><p> Jason and his guitar were interesting, but I'm not sure if the guy really has any chops.</p><p> I actually thought Garrett did a good job with his song,and handled the judges' comments well.</p><p> Jason has a very nice voice, and I enjoyed listening to him,but anyone who chooses "Moon River" out of all the fantastic 60's songs is doomed, in general.</p><p> As for Danny -- pouts on four year old girls annoy me.</p><p> On a flaming teenage boy, it's the kiss of death.</p><p> Hopefully, I'll never have to see hin again.</p><p> Michael Giltz See Profile I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink Thanks for your comments.</p><p> If david A is your favorite, you're far from alone.</p><p> I don't thinkDanny is going away yet, but we'll find out tonight. 67bug See Profile I'm a Fan of 67bug permalink Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:51 PM on 02/25/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:40 PM on 02/20/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:59 PM on 02/21/2008Michael Giltz: American Idol Top 24: The Men http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/american-idol-top-24-the-_b_87503.html[4/5/2009 7:47:05 PM] I didn't know "Jail House Rock" was a 60s song.</p><p> Sure it didn't come out in the 50s? Michael Giltz See Profile I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink Great question, 67bug! I wish I'd thought of it myself.</p><p> As you so correctly pointed out, "Jailhouse Rock" was a hit in 1957/1958.</p><p> It entered the charts in October, with the moviehitting theaters on November 8, 1957, per the IMDB.</p><p> The song stayed on the Hot 100 for 27 weeks and was #1 for 7 weeks in a row.</p><p> As far as I can tell, the song did NOT re-enter the charts in the Sixties (as some songs often do).</p><p> Why indeed was that song allowed on "sixties"night? They could have sung "Return To Sender" or "Viva Las Vegas" or alexina See Profile I'm a Fan of alexina permalink I am backing Michael Johns based not on his performance of Fire last night, but on his BohemianRhapsody.</p><p> I agree that he did not let the anger and emotion of Fire show through where in BohemianRhapsody, I did hear raw emotion.</p><p> I am the Woodstock generation and prefer the raw, rough Acid Rockto what we termed "bubblegum".</p><p> Unfortunately my taste is not usually represented so I am hoping to hear more of the type of music Joplin, Hendrix, Doors and Cream rocked with tonight instead of "Leader of the Pack" type music that does not define what my peers listened too.</p><p> It would be kind ofnice since we again have an unpopular war if someone did chose a Woodstock song such as "If I had a Hammer" Michael Giltz See Profile I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink Johns' Bohemian Rhapsody was very good.</p><p> I'm sure he'll do it again at some point in the competition.</p><p> And at least we know one of the women will go for a Hendrix, CCR, Cream vibe."If I Had A Hammer" -- I think my head would explode is someone did something that politicalon Idol.</p><p> At least Blowing in the Wind can seem sort of passive (when done poorly).</p><p> Sadly, thebiggest hit of the 60s by a woman was To Sir With Love -- a tune we don't need to hear but thanks to Lulu's appearance last season we probably will again. gavintiegirl See Profile I'm a Fan of gavintiegirl permalink I called and voted for 3 contestants in this order: 1.</p><p> Danny Noriega2.</p><p> Michael Johns3.</p><p> Jason CastroI agree that Luke Menard was bad.</p><p> In my opinion it was the most painful performance of the night by amile.</p><p> His voice was mouse like.</p><p> He has a following for his 90210 looks, but oh boy, they are all homecrying in their pea soup today.</p><p> Luke was a DUD big time! It might have helped if he had dressed thepart.</p><p> He looked like a slob.</p><p> I could go on forever, but I will spare you.</p><p> I hope the girls are more exciting tonight! Michael Giltz See Profile I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink What did you like about these three, especially Danny? And why not the producers' favorite Archuleta? Do you not like him or do you assume others are voting for him already? Thanksfor reading. gavintiegirl See Profile I'm a Fan of gavintiegirl permalink To answer your questions; I like Danny because he has personality.</p><p> He adds spiceto the show, spice the no one else has if you know what I mean.</p><p> I think he is cuteand I heard his voice during Hollywood week and it sounded powerful.</p><p> I am justwaiting for him to burst out and show it off.</p><p> Michael Johns is just a smokin hottie and a good singer.Jason Castro is cute and just a different kind of performer.</p><p> He may not be the best singer but his style is his own.</p><p> Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:38 PM on 02/20/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:34 PM on 02/21/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:41 PM on 02/20/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:29 PM on 02/20/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:14 AM on 02/20/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:31 AM on 02/20/2008Michael Giltz: American Idol Top 24: The Men http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/american-idol-top-24-the-_b_87503.html[4/5/2009 7:47:05 PM] HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING GREEN STYLE WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY FUNDRACE ARCHIVE Advertise | Login | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Jobs | FAQ: Comments & Moderation | FAQ: Huffpost Accounts | Contact Us Copyright © 2009 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | Archive | User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type Comments are closed for this entry With regards to David Archuleta; he is cute and a good singer, I just don't regard him like everyone else does.</p><p> I think the show's producers like to build hype around onecontestant that they feel is most marketable.</p><p> And you know how easily the sheepcan be herded.</p><p> His voice is not as strong as everyone seems to think.</p><p> I am just not sold on him.</p><p> I think his version of "Imagine" was eh! Don't believe the hype is what I say.</p><p> You must be logged in to reply to this comment.</p><p> Log in or Ads by Google Watch Idol Performances Watch The Idol Performances Free! It's Easy w/the Free Videos Toolbar Videos.alottoolbars.com Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:10 PM on 03/02/2008
