Sassy11's Blog

Big Broadway - Did They Deliver - Razzle to Dazzle or Fizzle Drizzle?

It was great seeing Andrew Lloyd Weber working through the kinks, cobwebs and interesting voices.  Most of the contestants I'm sure, never even heard of half of the songs I'm sure.  Yet, there were a lot of surprises and some disappointments.  Let's check it out on the rundown from my dog eared notes:

1.  Syesha - Virtually every week I've ranted at how disappointing this gal has been overall.  This week, she polished off the look, coiffed that hair and made a splash vocally.  It was unexpected and about time!  I was saying, okay - FINALLY!  This venue suited her best, in this girls humble opinion.

2.  Jason - Possibly he has to worry this week about being in the final low end.  Overall he stood ground, delivered his song AND no one was injured in the process.  He took a song that many are familiar with AND no male has dared trod before.  He muscled up the courage, pushed back his dreads and went on with the show.

3.  Brooke - Stop, start and pause.  For a second I'm sure most of us were thinking, she had made the horrid mistake of forgetting every word of her lines.  Which if any of you have ever performed in public, you know the agony of that experience.  Just getting up there in front of so many people, is nerves enough.  Really feel like this is a dreadful experience for any performer to do.  I know it happens, but on live TV we expect to see polished.  You just can't stumble, fumble and start.  This isn't grade school where you get "do overs".  Sorry, Brooke... I'm sure this week's bleak performance is going to cost you. 

4.  David - Where Brooke failed, David took over with his polished performance.  To me he did the unexpected with a standard that many feel only the female voices should undertake.  Really think that is a sign of raw gifted talent.  Rare moment when a performer can really take something and turn it into his or her own.  David did that this week.  To me, this is what American Idol is all about. 

5.  Carly - Weber was impressed and now I can see why.  She pumped up the musicality with "Jesus Christ Superstar".  First time I've seen her smile, that made the whole performance much better overall.  Her vocie was on target.  Yeah, for those music majors, she was faulty and pitchy in the middle.  The refrains, she made that into her own and showcased her vocals.  We all knew she had it back there, this week with this song, she was allowed to deliver.

6.  David Cook - Totally unexpected and I'm not sure which way to go on this performance.  Overall he delivered this with keen sensibility.  It was too rounded and polished for his style.  Really felt he did the song justice and went over the top.  It was like listening to David Bowie's spin on something totally unexpected.  The only comparison to think of.  You think he's going to rock the house down, and he throws a curve ball with a classical rendition.  Operatic with a touch of unique spin. 

Okay folks, lay it out in the open.  What are your thoughts on this week's performance?  Overall, were you surprised at the theatrical spins on this as well?

Bring out the top names in music, the crowd gets revved up.  I've been saying it all year.  Really think the performers work better with other entertainers.  It is a mentoring process.  They can get direct feedback from each other.  Plus, you get the chance to see what type of uniqueness will come out of it.

Mariah Carey was looking fabulous.  Glad to see it.  Mimi is a pro.  She really stepped up to the voice box and gave one-on-one feedback.  Musical interpretation through the eyes and ears of a major star. 

David Archuleta - The kid has vocal pipes.  He kicked it out into the song park with his voice.  Really think he was right on target.  Excellent professionalism in this kid from the get go.  If you hate him, you better hold on to your seatbelts.  He is going to be with us in the music world.  So hang on Nelly!

Carly Smithson - She pulled her look together tonight.  Really think that works for a performer, especially the females.  She had to do something with the militant femme look she has been sporting these days.  Enough of the Fashionista and on to the vocals.  She fared well, but I think much to my surprise she didn't deliver it.  Just when you think she can do it, she faltered with the ball.  It's like getting the opportunity to run to the finish line and score that major point.  She didn't, I felt jipped-robbed.  

Brooke White - Dazzling outfit and she threw in some stardust with her performance.  Felt she played up the songwriter aspect, when she choose to play it from the piano.  Vocally, we all know she isn't a Mariah Carey.  Good strategy play on her part.  Think her song version could be a country and western twist on Mariah's song. 

Syesha - She is consistent, persistent and somehow always manages to not reach up to the brass ring in performance.  Yet, I've armwrestled a few folks who have her down on their radars as one of the top this year.  So glad she did not try to do a high note with one of Mariah's song.  That was a safe move on her part.  It definitely would have cost her.

Kristy Cook - Some of you hate her and some of you are rooting for her.  She has paled over the weeks.  Yet, this song tonight was a solid performance.  This song was a good choice for her.   Really felt she brought a uniqueness to the perspective.  A twist or spin with a solid performance. 

David Cook - One word: AMAZING!  He chose a song that everyone knows.  At first you think, Oh my goodness he didn't just pick that song.  Yes he did and deliver he did.  Wow!  If you didn't see it, believe me, you missed a major moment.  Really think his version will be recorded.   I've noticed something about the fans for DC.  If you don't like Rock and Roll, many don't get his vocals.  Yet, if you like to pump it up a notch and kick up the volume, you get his style immediately.   To sum it up, he hit one out of the ball park and the crowd went wild. 

Jason Castro - A bit campy and safe with his beach bongo attitude toward his song.  When I closed my eyes and didn't directly look at him, something unique transformed.  The song wasn't half bad.  He wasn't praised too highly for his performance.  I started to chuckle a bit when Randy said his performance was like a beach laui (with the bongo drums).  Somehow, I thought....oh no!  Now Hollyweird will try to cast him in a Frankie Avalon remake of "Beach Blanket Bingo".  I jest, but seriously wouldn't that be weird?

Fox fans who are your two picks for this week to walk the plank (to go home)?

(Before you say it.  I know only one performer goes home this week.  Just giving you guys and gals an opportunity to have two picks.)

American Idol kicks this week off with another round of hopefuls.  The wannabe stars waiting in the wings to fly off to stardom.  Let's round it out as the AI hopefuls kick it up a notch with vocals this week.  Let's take it from the beginning, from one of the BlackEyed Peas songs, where he says..... Alright, Alright, Alright

Let's kick these notes into gear- - 1, 2, 3 let's all jump on the American Idol jive, give us a star before our eyes.  Let's transform someone into a legend.  Hopefully they won't be a fledgling.  Everybody from here to there has a pick.  Some slick and some who won't make us sick. 

Well, that is how we'd like to see it happen.  Let's see from the armchair confessionals this week if that occurred.  My notes right before the dog chewed the corner pages are as follows (No particular order.  Just random dog eared notes:)

Michael Johns - Steady and steadfast, no out there power, yet no falter make you go sit out in the dugout style either this week.  He may go on to the next round.  I'm sure the screaming teens will keep him alive onto next week.

Jason Castro - Pulls out a stylish curl from his locks.  Who knew it was there?  Somewhere between the dippity do and gel factor, he managed to pull out something sustainable.  Just when I was ready to write him off, he pumps up the charisma out of the handbag of unusual, yet recordable appeal.  He may last on folks to the next week.

Syesha - Really think she has to start being herself and not everybody else's voice.  Yes, she sings well. Heck, if she showed up here in Houston to sing, I wouldn't boo her off the stage.  Do think she needs to stop trying to be Whitney, Fantasia, Mariah or the next Flava voice of the moment.  Think she might be in the bottom, she could be in peril.

David Cook - He proves that even the best have a down day.  His vocals were on target, but his song choice was wishy to pitchy off this week.  Really think he can do better.  He has proved it several weeks in a row.  He has to pull the act together and get the voice picked back up.  Don't think he will be leaving.  His fan base can remember the good days.  Don't think one bad night from weeks of outstanding knockout performances will land him in the rookie pit.

Brooke White - You gotta give her A for effort.  She tries, yet it is just like Simon said, "It isn't bad.  It is like a pleasant walk in the park.  Forgettable, possibly."  So that could be her downfall this week.  She needs to lay off the sappy to sappiest melodies and kick it up with better.  She could be in peril to leave.

Carly Smithson - The more I see her perform each week, the more she reminds me that militant vocals just aren't too pretty for a female.  Think she would do better to soften the vocals and show us she has star power.  So far she isn't razzle dazzle star diva quality.  I'm sure it is lurking in the wings, it just missed its landing with us this week.  She could slowly kick herself down a few notches with her weak performing skills.

David Archuleta - Smooth move this week playing the piano and showcasing his strong voice.  Outstanding selection that really soared right up there with the angels.  Some in my group keep saying he doesn't have what it takes.  Really think he is the one so far that keeps hitting a home run with performance audience appeal. 

What do I know folks.  I'm just a gal who likes singing and evidently critiquing musical talent.  Tell me your thoughts.  I know all of you have some awesome spins on this subject.   Feel free to join the armchair analysis crew on the performances this week.

Everybody's continual question:  Who's gonna go?

Okay, this week kicks off with one of America's best female songwriters and entertainer.  Yes, it would be Dolly Parton.  Really think she brought out the sparkle in everyone's voices this week.  I actually think the contestants do better when they sing songs from famous singers and receive the feedback from the performer.  Don't you think it would have been neat if the Fab Four (Beatles) had been there and actually gave some hysterical input to the American Idol group?  I do, really think it would have been really interesting.  Enough of that, let's move on to this.  Instead of my rundown spill that so many of you have become immune or accustomed to, let's take to the audience.  This week the interaction between the callers to the singers and judges was quite interesting.  Let's imagine you could ask any of them a question.  Okay bloggers, I know you guys can think of some great questions.  Go for it!  Let's hear it for some of those questions you would like to ask them (Contestants, Judges or Ryan)

I was trying to think of something that was impactful for this week.  Kept thinking about those DJ's spinning records and the crowd goes wild when your favorite performer would appear.   The action packed armchair adventure continues this week as the songs tossed and turned through the ocean of song selections.  

From the armchair my notes were as follows (no particular order):  Ramiele was really awful, really awful but not horrid.  She gets the award from me for having the most "really's and awful" in one sentence award.  She was just about to get the sympathy vote when Paula explained she had voice problems.  But, she blew it when she became over confident and said something about her voice was just fine.  Wait, regroup Ramiele that was not great vocals.  Chikezie highly disappointed me this week.  I couldn't believe it.  I've been rooting for him, I guess everyone has a bad night.  He wasn't horrid by a longshot.   Apparently horrid is just lurking in the nearby wings.  Kristy Cook belted out a song that was patriotic.  She did a decent job at it, but she has that lackluster umph that is missing.  Jason Castro toyed with a safe and predictable ballad.  Yet, this week's song pick was better.  I enjoyed the Spanish flair he threw into his version.  Syesha still tries to be a Mariah Carey that she is not, stay away from any high notes.  Yet, her vocals were solid for this week.  She will likely go on to next week.  Brooke's act altogether was not the top of the line for this week.  Stop and start musical number that came across as shoddy.  I still can't believe that half of these folks for this season have seriously made some major faux paux's and still hang in.  What I'm looking for with this group is professionalism.  Few of them have it.  I'm still thinking that is tops too, along with singing.  Michael John's performance was solid and stellar this week compared to his last few.  Carly was perfectly predictable too with no razzle, nor dazzle.  She will hang in for next week.  David Cook brought out the performance and is slowly edging himself into the top alignment.  David Archuleta seems to be the judges favorite comment pick-a-part guy.  He had a solid performance and the judges are off the mark.  Brooke is the one they should be punching.  Just my two cents.  She is older than David and should have her professionalism pulled together.  Okay, that's from me, a Mom I tell it like it is from the Mom's perspective analysis pit group.

What are your thoughts?  Agree or disagree?  Who will stay or who do you want to go this week?

American Idol kicked off this week with another round from the Beatles songbook.  Let's see there were four guys from Liverpool and only one contestant to sing.   To me the odds just didn't add up for the contestants.  The trick for the gals and guys was to select a song that would be suitable for their voice.  Guess what, apparently this not an easy accomplishment.  Some of the talented chose complicated songs or something that it took four guys to harmonize on.  So I'm sitting here wondering if the tough will remain standing to sing next week.  Okay, here's my breakdown from the arm chair analysis pit. 

Amanda Overmeyer broke out into a hive rendition of Back in the USSR.  To me it was predictable and pitchy.  Sort of like getting bee stings and then some honey vocals mixed within the overall impact.   Kristy Cook carefully selected her song this week with Hide your love away and to me, this was much better than last week's performance.  She does need to kick up the volume in stage presence.  David Archuleta selected a well thought out selection with Long and Winding Road.  Really think the slow moving ballad showcased his vocals better this week.  Definitely a standout vocal.  Michael Johns has the look, but forgot his sound this week with his performance, A day in the Life.  A complicated song that was atrocious artistically.  I know he can do better.  But, he might be on the cutting block this week if the young people don't feel the connection to keep him on til next week.   Brooke White showed up from the other side of the sun.  Beaming in yellow sunrays.   No, no I jest but you get the picture.  A bit sappy with a wrong sound and odd, totally too odd to pinpoint.   David Cook pulled out the plug with his performance version of Day Tripper.  This is a hard song to sing for a group or one person.  He handled this song very well compared to his pals.  Jason Castro selected My Michelle and to me it sounded decent compared to what I heard all evening, aside from Archuleta, Cook & Cook (Kristy and David).  Carly Smithson's selection had me leaving the room for a brief intermission.  I seriously thought it was pale and lackluster with no brilliance.  The Blackbird Fly Free song flew out to my other room as I came back just in time for Chikezie's song.  Okay, it didn't receive much enthusiasm from the judges.  But, I dunno from a distance that song was not that bad.   I thought the harmonica was brilliant and I'm actually thinking that the American Idol judges don't have a good ear for country and western sound.   Tyeshia's version of Yesterday was good.  But the falsetto pitch tone to her voice on the high note missed the mark and actually sounded sour.  I think if she would have been smarter she would have sang that out to its fullest potential and not tried to overdo the run.  Seven of us were gathered near the TV to offer our critiques.  I had everyone jot down their results.  None of us knew what the other was thinking or writing.  Weird ALL SEVEN of us said the same thing about that high pitch note she did with the song Yesterday.  Wild I tell ya.  Ramiele was okay, but she definitely was better than last week.  Still think she could have played with the song better vocally and carefully told the story with her voice. 

Okay armchair American Idol enthusiasts, what was your take on the performances?  I won't be able to get back online for tomorrow.  So I will turn the gauntlet over to PBMom in honor of her birthday week to let her recap and tell us who she thinks will get the boot.  Go for it PBMom. 

One aspect of Spring is to utilize those clay pots for growing herbs.  If you have limited space for gardening, then herb gardening fits right in.  Also various cactus is great for container gardening.  But for this topic, let's focus on herbs.   While recently shopping at Home Depot I spotted these wonderful assortment of plant containers to get you started in herb gardening.  This to me would be really great for those of you who want to start out with the seed packlets from Burpee, etc.   Many of the local plant nurseries are already selling various herbs that have been propagated.  You might select a few.  I think for a beginner it would be best if you put each variety in its separate container.  Label the container with the name of the herb (this helps when it starts growing and you suddenly get enthused, but now you can't remember what it is.) 

This is a fun project for the whole family, young or the old, and to enlist the children.  Have the child select various herbs.  There doesn't have to be a rhyme or reason.  Just let them select what they like.   When the plants start growing, they will really get enthused.  Particularily if you add it to a festive dish.  Let the child water and care for their herb plant.   Older children, everyone from all ages, apartment or condo dwellers can have fun with container gardening too.  Older children may enjoy researching their specific plant.  This way they learn about the herb too. 

Kitchen Garden theme could be: thyme, basil, tarragon, cilantro, fennel and dill,  Chili peppers, broccoli, oregano, parsley, thyme, chives, cabbage or summer savory.
Scented Garden theme could be: lavender, pineapple sage, oregano, rosemary, mint, geranium or lemon balm. 

To get you started try this:  potting soil, peat moss, and perlite.  Don't forget to select your container.  The beauty about this is that you have a wide variety such as clay, strawberry jars, to hanging baskets.

Most of the herbs thrive well with 4-6 hours of sunlight.  You may have to water twice daily and don't over water the plants.  You don't want the roots to rot.  The great aspect of container gardening is that you can move them indoors during the Winter season.  Utilize them in your cooking or crafts.  Have fun and happy gardening!

Partial Shade Loving Plants

I gathered together a list of plants that do well in our Texas climate.  Shade loving plants that some of you might find useful.  As with all types of plants, some do require care.  To get you started, try your hand at growing one of these on the list.  Let me know your results, I'd love to see and hear how you progress on this endeavor.  I've tried to compile some interesting varieties for those that do not have a green thumb, time or energy to spend out in their yard.  Those of us who enjoy gardening, planting and tending the flowers, please feel free to add to the list.  I'm hoping that many of us who do have a green thumb can pass on that love to others.  Spread the joy this season by venturing out into your yards and sharing your cuttings with others.   Recently received a beautiful gift from one of my coworkers who loves various cactus.  He put together a wonderful assortment for me.  Truly a treasure when you receive something like a plant (for me anyway). 

Sassy's fun list of partial to full shade loving plants:

Begonia, impatiens, caladium, coleus, petunia, sweet alyssum, hosta lily, periwinkle, fern (some varieties, not all), dahlia, columbine, daylily, butterfly lily, lily of the valley, oak leaf hydrangea, hibiscus (various varieties can tolerate partial shade), rhododendrons, wild ginger, mint (various varieties - this is really good if you have an area/ground that receives a lot of moisture.  It does need some sunlight in order to thrive heartily.  Mint loves moist soil.  Plus on the up side, that side of your yard will be fragrant and you can add it to your tea or foods.  Fun and useful plant.)  African violets are wonderful indoor plants that enjoy partial shade. 

Come on folks, get those gardening rakes out and start planting.  Enlist your children too!  Pass on the love of flowers.  Who knows, maybe you might not have a green thumb, but one of your family members does. 

Happy gardening folks!

Spring is one of those fun seasons where flowers are in bloom.  The birds and nature just abound with color.  Then we have the very busy crowd (myself included), who enjoy this time of season to clean out the clutter. 

Share some of your favorite cleaning tips.  Come on, everyone has something or maybe you have a tip that someone else shared with you.  

Here are a few.  Hope you enjoy. 

Denture cleaning tablets are something I stumbled on by accident.  I call this one my serendipity fun cleaning tip.  My Grandparents had these denture tablets and I accidently opened one and put it into the wash.  Purely for experimental purposes.  Well, it turned out that Grandma's white linens looked gorgeous.  She asked me what I used.  Now, this one is funny.  I made her and my Grandpa swear on a Bible that they would not give me a whipping if I revealed the secret ingredient. Then I revealed the secret ingredient, which was denture cleaning tablets.   Now, this story is one of my Grandpa's favorite stories to share.   Dissolve one tablet into 1/2 cup of water.  Dab onto the spot or throw it into the wash as I did.  But, make sure you separate those whites and make sure no colored items are in the wash.  I'm a stickler on this topic.  It was one of my chores as a youngster to do the wash.  Well, I did a good job at it.  Everyone in the family would come to me with their stain dilemmas...Counselor of Stain

Shave cream is another unknown that is pretty handy.  Used this on several occasions at the office.  Seriously, the guys in the conference room were piglets apparently.  They would spill coffee and red soda on the cream colored carpet.  Well, I asked one of my piglet co-workers (who always managed to be clean shaven), if he had some shave cream.  Well, lo and behold it worked.  It also worked on the tie of my boss once for a lunch tie stain episode.  He was going to a really important meeting.  I told him to give me his Gucci tie.  Well, he reluctantly handed it over (telling me over and over again how much it cost).  Anywho, I dabbed some of the shaving cream onto the stain.  It worked.  Guess why?  Because it is a whipped form of soap.  Pretty cool huh?   Use the white shave cream though, because the gels have tint in them and could stain the blouse, carpet, etc.  You also could use the dishwashing liquid.  Some of those are tough on stains...(no pun intended).

Club soda works great too.  So always have that handy for emergency spills. 

Lemon juice and salt work well on some mildew stains. 

Hydrogen peroxide (not the kind for bleaching your hair) and 1 teaspoon of ammonia are good for brightening white linen and cotton. 

Okay guys and gals this week American Idol opened the Lennon and McCartney songbook.   Now some of you may be thinking this is no big deal and that anybody can sing the Beatles songs.  Right?  How wrong and oh contrare my dear friends. 

Let's take a look down memory lane via American Idol.  Let it Be sung by Brooke White had sincerity with heartfelt country, but it was a big wry as a slow moving traing.  Just like a long train winding down a country road, I couldn't wait until she finished.   Sayeisha chose Got to get you out of my Life and it had a Las Vegas goes to idol feel.  Feel like she is in jeopardy this week of leaving.  Chikesi took on a run of flair and performed one of the highlights of the performance.  Ramiele chose In my Life and it bored me to tears.  Felt she has not yet lived up to her vocal potential.  Disappointing for such a talented young lady.  Jason Castro sang a rendition of Yesterday and it was weirdly off, but yet in an odd way it is salvageable.  He will probably last on til next week.  But he will definitely have to pull it together.   Carly Smithson sang Come Together which was good, but not as strong for her voice as it could be.  David Cook pulled out a blast from the past with Eleanor Rigby.  This to me sounded great.  Such a standard rock with an attitude that leaves with impact long after the song was over.  To me he and Chikesie pulled together their performances better than anyone.  David Hernandez sang I saw her standing there and it made me want to go grab a remote and channel hop until the song was over.  Amanda Overmeyer represented the girls with style this week with a Hard Days Night.   She pulled together a rendetion that made a soulful bluesy impact.   Michael Johns appeared with Across the Universe and for a brief moment the stars stood still til he could find his pitch.  Yet, if he would have done it another way vocally it could have been a memorable performance.  It goes to show that one false key and you can come across wrong.  Kristy Cook tried a country twist on Eight Days a Week.  The judges did not like her performance, but it actually worked better than Brooke's.  Weird how some cannot judge country and western.  Really think she will go on to record some interesting hits in the country and western scene.  She might go home, but she won't be forgotten.   She definitely did not deserve  the "horrendous" remark.  That would be Jason Castro in my humble opinion.  David Archuleta sang We can work it out.  He failed to work it out in pitch and left me wondering if he would be searching for his tune next week.  

What were your thoughts about this week's performance?  Did you think there was a song that should have been sung by one of the performers?

Cook and White to me will eventually appear in the country and western scene.  Houston's Kady Malloy does seem to be struggling with identity and shine through personality.  Don't get me wrong Houston fans, she is a lovely girl.  I do think that she is so versatile that perhaps she struggles with song selections.  I'd like to see her pick better songs.  The songs she has been choosing are lackluster ones that barely help and sometimes hurt her popularity.  Ramiele is another case in point of wild song choices that do not match up to her vocals.  She is off when she needs to stand out. Randy mentioned it as well and I fully agree.  Amanda reached for the gold this week.  She does have that blues quality to her voice and it suits her.  Great song selection that suited her voice.  I keep thinking she would really stand out beautifully if she went back to her blonde highlights, she has a pretty face.  Carly Smithson shows why she will give David Archuleta a run for his money with her strong performance.  Syesha's performance isn't top, but it doesn't warrant long lasting appeal either.   On to the guys this season, they seem to have it pulled together better than the girls.   Luke has soap opera star quality and I'm hoping he will hang in there and showcase his vocals better.   I'm a Wham fan and that song is corny, but for the happy a fun song.  It definitely takes a confident guy to sing that song and he gets kudos on bravery.  Noriega is downright "Sanjaya with an attitude", a bit flipISH and not hipISH.  Castro hangs in for the round and his performance reminded me of a folk singer.  Perhaps that is his niche, he will probably belt out "Time in a Bottle" if he hangs in for the long haul.  Hernandez remains strong and steady where Archuleta shows he is human and can mess up.  Yet, even when he sings off he is so endearing, you easily forgive him.  Charisma that some of the flippant ones surely need to bottle some of his charisma and use it.  Word nerd hangs in and pulls out a nice vocabulary that hopefully will have him lasting the next round.  Overall, the guys and gals this season are struggling with harmony, pitch and melody.   Which indicates to me that many of them need professional vocal coaching and voice technique training.  Some already have an attitude way before they are stars which is not an endearing quality.  In fact, early in the competition it makes them conceited.

Which ones do you pick to leave this week?

Wild night for the guys on American Idol.  Each year like many of you, I anxiously await for the guys to stand out and take notice.  Really think this year the guys can pull it off IF they remain solid and powerful vocally.    Some have that star factor and others just glide by on those vocal free slopes with a bit of painful off keys.  

My recap is purely for fun and in no way should be reflective of what some of you may be thinking.  Yet, as a dedicated American Idol armchair enthusiast, here are my notes: (feel free to get your red markers out and scratch through them)

John Michaels has that appeal, yet his performance was a bit lackluster.  Felt rather slighted, was expecting a bit more from him.  Maybe I was pinning too much on his last week's performance.  Overall, he maintained and didn't sway me, nor swoon me in any way.  Think he will hang around though and hopefully improve on his song selections for his voice.   Robbie Carrico just doesn't impress me that much, but chalk it up to the others are so much better.  Luke Menard stands out with his voice, yet he sometimes gets too pitchy and doesn't hang in there and deliver way over the top.  He needs that extra octane and maybe since Starbucks was off today, he didn't get that caffeine rush I was expecting.  Still look for him to hang in for the duration.  Robbie a.k.a. Rocker Dude wannabe wasn't a "Quiet Riot" by any means of the stretched vocal imagination.  He needs to tap into that angry rocker dude voice and pull out the power for us.  Danny Norriega is annoyingly weak, no stand out there impact, but he has charisma.  Let's hope for the Danny fans his charisma doesn't wane as the competition gets going.  Overall I think he plays it too safe with his songs and doesn't try to think outside of the box vocals to impress us.  Think he needs to work on his showmanship skills.  David Hernandez packs punch with powerful to strong delivery in those pipes.  Think he has the potential to stand toe-to-toe with the best.   Yaeger isn't all that shabby and neither were the Doobie Bros. song he sang.  Although I do have to agree that some songs do offer more for a singer.  He played it too safe and that might cost him as the competition gets stronger.  Chikezie was better by a mile than he was last week.  Last week I'd written him off as a maybe.  This week he may just hang in there for a few more rounds.  David Cook brought out the rocker dude and even gets marks for having an attitude with Simon.  Let's hope the word nerd doesn't get too filled with his thesaurus to suit his own agenda.  David Archuleta has that X factor with a dash of star potential and no attitude.  A very humble young man.  Really pulling for him to go far in his career.  His voice is very good for his age and some are saying he is the one to watch in this competition.  Do think David A. vs David H. might be how it could play out.  Let's hope each one can pull out a power packed performance.   The guys aren't shabby and they certainly are flying high as eagles.  Let's hope they remain on the mountaintop. 

Who were your favs from the guys last night?