Idol 16 - Alex Lambert

16. Alex Lambert

Season 9, Top 16 Finalist

So. Much. Darn. Potential. Seriously.

As I've said before, the Top 16 results night of Season 9 would go down in American Idol history as the biggest injustice that EVER happened on the show. Really. It was the freakin' apocalypse because three - maybe four - people who were eliminated way too early. Yes, once upon a time, we all survived Daughtry's fourth-place finish or Melinda Doolittle's boot a week before the Finale or even Jennifer Hudson getting eliminated at 7th place, but this one stung so badly.

To be perfectly honest, during that week, it was Alex Lambert's elimination that felt a bit demoralizing. It was demoralizing because the show lost the most distinctive male voice in the competition of that season - one that with a little nurturing had the potential to be something special - and we're left with mediocre karaoke singer that was Aaron Kelly and the obviously flash in the pan, Andrew Garcia. Alex, to me, had the very real opportunity to show growth with every single week. When he was eliminated, sure, he wasn't quite there yet but he had too much potential for the show to waste.

I admit, his rendition of James Morrison's Wonderful World was painful to watch as he looked incredibly nervous during his performance but if you just closed your eyes and didn’t focus on that, he really has a pleasing vocal tone to his voice and the song choice was actually great. But yes, I still considered him a cannon fodder after this performance.

Then, Everybody Knows happened and I was floored. His version of this John Legend ditty was fantastic and made me really consider him as a potential dark horse in the competition. I also noticed that week that he  seemed to have this superhuman ability to pick great songs for his voice. Obviously, Alex came from absolutely nowhere and Simon was right when he inspired Alex to always be confident in his voice. I mean, his vocal tone is impossibly lovely.

After that, he delivered another good performance with Trouble although I already expected more from him after the awesomeness that was Everybody Knows. I just wish the producers didn't advice him to sing Trouble instead of Mario's Let Me Love You because the latter seemed a bit more relatable to the apparent demo of the show. Sabotage?! Regardless, he still proved that he had one of the very best natural voices in the competition as his husky tone was immediately identifiable, and would sound amazing on the radio.

Now, after his elimination, I was so glad that Simon Fuller gave him another chance by putting casting Alex as part of his Online Show If I Can Dream where he got to record some songs as demo for record labels and one music video. Personally, his post-Idol materials are really good and I hope he releases an album very soon.

Favorite Performance(s): I have to say, all his Idol performances were really good and it showed his growth as an artist. I'll probably include his music video and his performance of what-could-have-been Let Me Love You in the mix.

Everybody Knows

Wonderful World

Trouble

Let Me Love You (The Ellen DeGeneres Show)

Music Video: I Didn't Know

#15 - Back Up Singer!

Glee Music 2: Sweet Transvestite (John Stamos Demo)

According to rumors, John Stamos' character, Carl, was originally set to play the role of the transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the coming episode, The Rocky Horror Glee Show, instead of Mercedes. Well, I'm not so sure if I'm relieved that he's not donning some fishnet stockings on a highschool play - especially since he's technically a random guy, that's creppy - or I'm disappointed that, at least, a guy will actually play the transvestite role. Ha!

Now, his demo leaked and it obviously sounds more like the original because, yes, he's a man playing a transvestite - not like a girl (Mercedes) playing that role, which makes it a bit confusing and odd. That said, Mercedes' vocals were, as usual, impeccable and fierce. So, whatever. I'll let you be the judge of this. Enjoy!

ETA: So, apparently, this is not John Stamos. Hmm. Thanks to Anonymous for clearing this out.

LINK IS REMOVED

Idol 17 - Paris Bennett

17. Paris Bennett

Season 5, 5th Place

I think I've said a couple times before that Season 5 is one of my favorite seasons and the reason is because there were 3 people that I really really loved. And yes, Paris is definitely one of them.  Let's go back to when I first saw Ms. Bennett in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Now, there are four American Idol auditions throughout the 7 seasons that I freaking adored. One of them was Leneshe Young of Season 8, the other two come from contestants in my Top 10 and, of course, Paris Bennett. She started off her audition with a strong version of Dixie Chicks' Cowboy Take Me Away, though I wasn't so sure that time if it was the best song choice to show off her vocal ability. Thank God for Paula - there, I said it! - she requested for another song, and Paris absolutely delivered. I don't know what it was about her tone on Take Five but I was giddy after watching her sing that. She had the coolest sounding vibrato on the song, amazing phrasing and dynamics. It was just so cool to watch.

At that moment, Paris instantly became my favorite of that season. She reminded me a bit of Fantasia, which is probably one of the best compliments I could ever give because I was just super impressed and I knew we'd be seeing her for a while. So, when the live performances started, Paris was undeniably one of the best in the semifinals. She seemed to really appreciate all sorts of genres of music, performed like a seasoned artist and she dared to show every single facet of her voice - and yes, even her hair. Sanjaya and Lil Rounds were such a copy cat! Haha.

But, I'd say that Paris really started to shine during the Finals. She consistently delivered flawless performance after the other. Needless to say, I loved every single thing she did, except maybe How Do I Live, which was still pretty decent. It's a shame though that Paris never really became one to watch out for. I mean, I don't remember the judges particularly throwing her under the bus, but it was clear that Season 5 was the Chris Daughtry and Taylor Hicks show from very early on. But, if being honest, I would say that Paris was probably the most consistently good performer of all of the Top 12. Seriously.

To me, it's so clear that Paris was born to sing. Music is in her bones, and that's why she did so well with pretty much everything she sang. To me, I still think that Paris left too soon in the competition. But since I knew that Daughtry and Hicks weren't leaving at Top 5, I was already glad that McPhee and Yamin were safe. Oh, and thank God Paris lasted longer than Kellie Pickler! Haha.
 
I really have not kept up with Paris' post Idol career, but I have heard that her first album Princess P was universally panned, which was sad. I mean, she's probably the only black female from the show - besides Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson - to release a modern RnB album, and I wish it could've been better. Well, I heard a couple of songs and it wasn't THAT bad it was just poorly produced. Oh well.

Favorite Performance(s): It's pretty hard for me to name my faves from Paris because she was ALWAYS so good. I definitely loved her audition, though. Hands down one of the best auditions ever. Fever was pure gold. Everything about the performance seemed to be perfect: the way she looked, her attitude, the way her tone sounded on the song. Of course, These Foolish Things I thought was her biggest shining moment as her voice sounded pitch perfect on that performance - almost studio quality. All I Do was one of the strongest during the Stevie Wonder weeks. Work It Out and Be Without You were also really good. Loved them all.

Audition

Fever

These Foolish Things

All I Do

Work It Out

Be Without You

#16 - James Morrison

Album: Pipe Dreams - Mark Salling

Here's Mark Salling's (Puck) new album, Pipe Dreams. According to some unconfirmed reports, this is the reason why his character was suspended for two episodes - conflicts with his contract (?). Interestingly, Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester) is also doing an album and his character, according to reports, will take a time off for Episode 6 and 7. Thus, a substitute teacher played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Anyway, don't fret because Puck will be back the week after The Rocky Horror Glee Show and he’s featured a ton in that episode - it’s basically all about him.

As for his album, it's a bit different than what I was expecting from him. That said, I think that this record got a good mix of jazz, rock and a 60’s folk-beat era sound. Now, is the record any good? Maybe. Although, I'm not so sure if I'm the right person to answer that because this is the type of album that caters to a specific market and, to be honest, I don't think I'm one of them. I'll just let you decide for yourself. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD LINK WILL BE UP FOR 24 HOURS ONLY!!

1. Migration

2. Lone Ranger

3. Higher Power

4. Mary Poppins

5. The Descent (Confessions of a Ghost)

6. Illusions

7. Musical Soulmate

8. Willing and Wonderful

9. Scarlett Glasses

10. Doppelganger

11. Pipe Dreams

12. Fugitive

DOWNLOAD

BUY THE ALBUM!

Glee: GQ Photoshoot with Lea, Diana and Cory borders on pedophilia?

I guess some Glee members are overexposed, literally! Haha.

Lea Michele (Rachel), Diana Agron (Quinn) and Cory Monteith (Finn) recently posed provocatively for GQ magazine and PTC (Parents Television Council) is condemning  and criticizing the makers of the Fox series for allowing the shoot to take place.

According to them:

“It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on Glee in this way,” the PTC says in the release. “It borders on pedophilia … Many children who flocked to High School Musical have grown into Glee fans. They are now being treated to seductive, in-your-face poses of the underwear-clad female characters posing in front of school lockers, one of them opting for a full-frontal crotch shot. By authorizing this kind of near-pornographic display, the creators of the program have established their intentions on the show’s direction. And it isn’t good for families.”

Hmm. I saw the pictures and how I wish Naya Rivera (Santana) was there instead of Cory Monteith (Finn). Haha. But, seriously, while the pictures - especially with Lea Michele - were a bit too much and unnecessary, I don't see it as something that borders on pedophilia more so a near-pornographic material. It's GQ, for crying out loud! Everyone goes provocative for them. If you don't like it, don't buy the magazine.

Also, let's just be clear: photoshoot for a men's magazine ≠ the show. People need to remember that there's a separation between the characters on Glee and the actors that portray them. Am I offended with this photoshoot? Maybe. But will I stop watching the show? Of course not. What the actors do on their own time is their business.

Check out the provocative pictures after the jump!!

Idol 18 - Adam Lambert

18. Adam Lambert

Season 8, Runner-up

It's the GREAT Adam Lambert. Ha!

Where do I start with Adam Lambert? Well, if I had done this list a year ago - like I had intended - he'd probably be about 20 places lower than this ranking. Seriously. If you were reading my reviews during Season 8, you would know that I'm absolutely not buying the whole Glambert thing. I mean, I obviously prefer him over Danny Gokey, but I'm just not a fan.

If I'm being honest, I really do think Adam is THE most overrated Idol contestant in the history of the show. I mean, I don't deny talent - so I do admit that yes, he can sing very well - but he's not the second coming of Freddie Mercury, or anyone else he's been compared to before. Sue me. Haha.

Going back, when the semifinals of Season 8 started, I knew that he was a heavy favorite of the judges and probably one of most popular contestants - along with Gokey and Rounds, the pimpage trifecta - so I went in with an open mind. Sadly, he shrieked through Satisfaction, and the judges tongue-bathed him for it. I was like "Really? You're going to praise that?" Good thing, he started the Top 13 with a pretty good version of Michael Jackson's Black or White. It was still almost murder to my ears but I thought it was better than his semifinals performance.

Then, Ring Of Fire happened and I thought that it was the strangest thing to ever "grace" my television screen. Sure, it was vocally good but it was just too odd for my taste. I mean, I'm absolutely fine with taking liberties with a song, but the arrangement took way too many liberties that it could actually piss off the country folks tuned in to watch the show that week. It was different and creative, I'd gave him that, but I just didn’t get that. Personally, that was the moment I realized that Adam Lambert was too polarizing for people to understand fully - and yes, I'm one of them.

He further proved that he's a polarizing artist the week after that when he absolutely won me over with his rendition of Tracks Of My Tears and eventually the hauntingly beautiful Mad World. Not long after that, I realized exactly what Adam's shtick was. He operated at 1 OR 100, absolutely no middle ground whatsoever. He would sing a slow song one week, and then give a shrieky mess of a performance the next week. Nothing else. He somewhat made everyone think that he was diverse - and not to take that away from him, he probably is - but he never actually proved that on the show. I mean, I cannot think of any performance that was "middle ground" so to speak, except for maybe Black Or White - I'm not even sure. Haha.

Now, come Finale week, I knew Adam Lambert would not win American Idol because, as I've said, he was way too polarizing for the show. Let's be honest, people voted for Kris Allen in the Finale to vote against Adam Lambert. Do I think it was fair? Of course, Kris hasn't shown up on the list yet. Haha. But seriously, it probably was for the best that Adam didn't win. Frankly, Kris Allen fits the image of American Idol more than Adam ever would.

One thing I'm gonna say about Adam though after Idol stint is that I think he's now a little too big for his britches. His AMA performance proves it. That, to me, was a complete disaster and there's a line you don't cross - well, Adam skyrocketed past it. Good thing, some of his post-Idol materials were good enough to merit some respect after the embarrassment that was For Your Entertainment performance at the AMA. He had several moderate hits since the release of his album and I think nothing is going to stop him now. No, he's not the next music phenomenon but I think he's here to stay for a while.

Album Review: For Your Entertainment

Favorite Performance(s): I loved four of his performaces, which I think helped him rank this high on my list. Of course, the ethereal Mad World, his impressive rendition of Tracks of My Tears, his rocking duet of Slow Ride with Allison Iraheta and Michael Jackson's Black or White.

Mad World

Tracks of My Tears

Slow Ride

Black or White

#17 - One of the best Idol auditions EVER!

Glee Season 2: Time Warp Sneak Peek

So, after Glee's tribute to Madonna, Lady Gaga, Journey and Britney Spears, it's time for the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show!

Here's an early look at the entire performance of Time Warp! After that, you may want to watch the original version for reference. Ha! Frankly, this preview gets me more excited for next week. Can't wait. Enjoy!

The cast of Glee does the Time Warp

The Time Warp from 1975's The Rocky Horror Picture Show