New Orleans. Top five of the night in order. Let's go!
Jelly Joseph
Street singer Jelly Joseph certainly has a good on-camera personality and brought some unique phrasing to the ubiquitous Adele hit. It was very cool and pretty for sure, but it left me wanting just a bit more of…something. Perhaps more control or more emotion or perhaps I’m just looking for something to criticize after six nights of Idol auditions.
Tiffany Stringer
I know some of you are rolling your eyes for putting Tiffany in the “yes” category but hear me out. Yes, Tiffany was too cutesy and cheerleader-esque performing “Want U Back” and, yes, it lacked any real depth beyond a smiley, girl-next-door charm. All that is true, but Tiffany’s voice had a surprising amount of character for her age and, more than almost anyone in The Big Easy, I wanted to see more of what’s in her. If she can continue to grow and improve vocally, there might be a place in the pop market for someone like her.
Quentin Alexander
For the record, I thought Quentin’s tribal schoolboy outfit was weird and ugly, but what do I know about clothes? Anywho, fashion aside, his smooth take on “Royals” is one I’ll remember. If he continues to take those risks Harry was talking about, he has big potential.
Nalani Quintello
I wished they showed more of Nalani, ‘cause her sweet and spicy acoustic One Republic cover was musical, restrained and really quite pretty.
Adam Lasher
This artsy, skateboarding, indie rocker with a “robotic pancreas” is just so cool, Santana pedigree or no. He’s got a good personality, he’s good looking in a rugged sorta way and he’s a guitar-playing badass even with a “raggedy-ass cast” (Am I allowed to use the word ass twice in one sentence?). I’m not sure how he’ll fit within Idol’s formula, but he’s an artist to watch.
Others who got a golden ticket included:
- Grayson Turner who had potential but whose flip flops and fairly bland voice left me wanting more.
- Mikey Duran who sounds like he needs a lozenge but wrote a really catchy tune I’d download right now.
- Tori Martin who tried way too hard.
- Hope Windle who was, as Harry said, too bland and wooden.
- Ricky Dale Hendricks who had a great, authentic country spirit but who lacked in the vocal department.
- Dakota Suarez who had a pretty voice and is definitely a born performer in drag or out.
- Erica Washington who has nice control and a pretty, if not very heavy, voice.