Idol 65 - Ricky Braddy

65. Ricky Braddy

Season 8, Top 36 Finalist

Season 8's Jason Castro Underdog Trophy - awarded to the contestant who wasn't heard breathing a single note through audition rounds and Hollywood week. Haha.

Frankly, one of my biggest fears during Season 8's new format was that it could punish a terrific singer like, yes, Ricky Braddy from getting into the Final 12 because of zero mileage since the start of the season. Obviously, these people had a hard time making a strong first impression in the semifinals just like Ricky.

I mean, under the old format, he would only have place tenth out of 12 male singers to advance to week two of the semifinals. That year, unfortunately, he had to finish no worse than third out of 12 vocalists, or get booted - of course, unless if they'd give him a Wild Card passage to the Finals.

Now, let me say that I was a little iffy when Ricky mentioned that he was singing A Song For You as his first performance on Idol. Don't get me wrong, I like the song, but it was just that Elliott Yamin so thoroughly owned it back in Season 5 that it was almost a crime to perform it again.

Good thing, Ricky treated it with total respect, displaying a tone that was lovely and effortless - except for that hint of strain on the falsetto notes. And while his version didn't quite match Elliott's masterclass version, considering it's week one of the semifinals, the guy deserved some praise, certainly not Simon's lecture about his lack of star quality. Thank God Paula made it a point to note Ricky's utter lack of screen time - a move that's robbed him of the kind of built-in fan base already being enjoyed by his 11 fellow competitors.

When he didn't make the Top 3 of Group 1, I was absolutely sure that they'd pick him as one of the Wild Card contestants to perform again. And thanks to Paula - again! - he was given another chance. Now, from a technical standpoint, Braddy, arguably, outsang all seven of his competitors on that Wild Card show. No, he didn't match Anoop's stage presence and swagger. But he out-charmed, out-interpreted, and out-emoted Jasmine Murray and Megan Joy - though I love her.  Haha.

Yet somehow, the judges couldn't - or wouldn't - find a way to give him one of the four spots up for grabs. Instead, we heard Randy say that the performance was "self indulgent" - pulling out from Simon's dictionary - and we had Simon somehow use the term ''lightweight'' to describe a vocal that was potent and powerful and worthy of praise.

I just didn't get it! Seriously.

Oh, and I absolutely love his original song, Love Me Like LA!

Favorite Performance(s): A Song For You and Superstition was both amazing. I couldn't choose one. Haha.

Check this out!

Love Me Like LA - Ricky Braddy

A Song For You

Superstition

#64 - Celebrity Fit Club