bill bodkin previews the 2011 season of American Idol, looking back at the last month of auditions and giving you his top picks …
It’s a new year and a brand new American Idol. Last year, the show ended with acid-tongued anchor Simon Cowell bowing out in order to bring The X Factor over to the U.S. Simon’s departure far outweighed the actual competition, with his over-long farewell speech forcing network’s to cut away from winner Lee DeWyze’s final performance.
It seemed as though Idol more about the show than the music.
This season, without Cowell (or judges Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi), the series promised us to bring its focus back on “the music.” Veteran platinum-selling recording artist and film star Jennifer Lopez and iconic classic rock vocalist Steven Tyler were brought in. Legendary music mogul Jimmy Iovine was hired as an in-house mentor for the contestants. There were stories and rumors floating about that the search for a “big voice” as opposed to a “singer-songwriter” would be the emphasis this season. The last three seasons, all of whom have championed the singer-songwriter, have seen ratings decrease.
So I guess it’s all about the music again, right?
For me, the jury is still out on that one. We’re still seeing the same schtick from the judges that we do every year. There’s the role that Paula Abdul filled: the hyper-sentimental, “I hate eliminating people judge” this year played by Jennifer Lopez. While she’s better at it than Kara DioGuardi, J-Lo has been too much too soon in terms of her tears and her praising of wardrobe.
Steven Tyler has assumed the role of the loose canon that Cowell perfected many years ago. While I do believe Tyler legitimately has some good advice and can be a bit more likeable than Cowell, his penchant for flirting with female contestants and doing his trademark rocker howl is already old.
And the “dog” himself Randy Jackson is back … as Randy Jackson, albeit with a twist. Jackson has been a bit more harsh this year than normal. Maybe he realizes he can’t coast without Cowell sitting at the opposite side of the table?
In essence, the new-look judges table hasn’t separated themselves from last year’s judges … yet. We still have to hold some hope at that now that the show is officially starting, their collective games will be upped. And these new judges (love them or hate them) have a wealth of musical experience — maybe they can bring something new, exciting and fresh to the series?
The contestants this season have been … well, not so great. I think there was a lot of weak competitors, even when it came down to the finals last week. The male talent pool was very shallow, and I think even more of the guys that made the Top 13 could’ve been cut for the sake of some very talented females.
Irregardless of who did and didn’t make the cut, here are my top four favorites (in no particular order).
Paul McDonald: He’s the odd duck this year. His unique, Kenny Loggins-esque look and sound was the stuff that usually gets people the axe, but there’s something about McDonald that you just like. His ’70s singer-songwriter throwback look and sound isn’t something we’ve seen too often in the past few seasons of Idol, and if the show is looking to take a refreshing, music-based approach back to the hearts of America, McDonald might be the best way to go. With that being said, he is a singer-songwriter, and if Idol is searching for that big, pop voice like Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood, McDonald’s chances are not too hot.
Naima Adedapo: Despite her weekly fashion faux paus-es that your wife will point out, Naima is probably the best soul singer on the competition. I mean, she can wail — the power in her voice is unbelievable. Her biggest downside is that America did not vote her into the Top 10. However, if she has a strong season, we could easily see her joining the ranks of former Idol winner and soul singer Fantasia.
Casey Abrams: If Seth Rogen could sing, he’d be Casey Abrams. This beardy, afro-ed singer has the blue-eyed soul chops that could send chills up your spine. He’s an engaging personality, oozing charisma and I think he’s the best singer of all the guys in the competition. However, I think it’ll be the looks that kill. His appearance doesn’t scream “American Idol” as it does for some of the other chappies in the competition. Then again, look at Taylor Hicks. His crowd-pleasing “soul patrol” antics lead him to Idol glory, although not the massive mainstream success one would hope for.
Pia Toscano: Ladies and gentlemen, my choice for the 2011 American Idol. She’s got the look and she has the big voice. Pia Toscano has “Idol” written all over her. Her beauty is the type that commands a stage presence. Her voice has a radio-friendly quality, a sweetness to it, and it’s memorable. If AI is looking for a big set of pipes and a good-looking package to back it up, then I sincerely believe Pia Toscano takes the cake this year.
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