Tuesday, April 26, 2011

End of the road for Wildcard Stefano Langone

Last week, after 53,000,000 votes being cast, it was the end of the road for Stefano Langone, with a finish of 7th place. Langone, who hails from Kent, Washington, butched the Ne-Yo hit "Closer." He was in the bottom 3 with Jacob Lusk and Haley Reinhart. Earlier in the results show, American Idol winner David Cook performed his latest single, "The Last Goodbye." Jacob Lusk performed "Dance With My Father" as a tribute to the late great Luther Vandross and to his late father Gregory Lusk, who died when Lusk was 12 years old.

Stefano Langone was born to Carrie and Ernie Langone in Bellevue, Washington, on February 27, 1989. His father is a career advisor at The Art Institute of Seattle and is also a singer and musician. Langone is half Spanish and half Italian. He has been singing and playing the piano since childhood. He attended Emerald Park Elementary School, Meridian Junior High School, then Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington, and then Bellevue College. During his time at Bellevue College, he performed with the college's vocal jazz group called 'Celebration!'. He once collaborated with friend and local rapper and author P. Smith to record hip hop music.

Langone and the rest of the top 11 will participate in the 2011 American Idols Live Tour. He is my third favorite of season 10's top 13. If Jacob Lusk gets voted off, I will pull for James Durbin.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

End of the road for Paul McDonald; Jacob Lusk has a rap sheet

Last week, on American Idol season 10, it has been the end of the road for early favorite Paul McDonald. He is the first male finalist to be eliminated from the competition in season 10. He has landed in eighth place. He is my least favorite of the top 13, and my favorite contestant Jacob Lusk was not in the bottom three that week. McDonald was the first to perform on the performance show that night. The theme was Songs from the Movies. On that night, McDonald performed "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger, featured in the film Risky Business. He was in the bottom three with Haley Reinhart and Stefano Langone. Since 2005, he has been the lead singer of the band Highband Tides, which is now known as The Grand Magnolias as of 2010. Earlier in the results show, Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol, duetted with Jason Aldean. Later that night, Rihanna performed "California King Bed." This week, Jacob Lusk performed "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" by Simon & Garfunkel, featured in the film The Pursuit of Happyness.

William Paul McDonald was originally from Auburn, Alabama. According to his mother Susan McDonald, was born in the East Medical Center Hospital in Opelika, Alabama, on August 29, 1984. He auditioned for American Idol season 10 in Nashville, Tennessee, with Rod Stewart's "Maggie May."

My season 10 favorite Jacob Lusk has a rap sheet. At the time of American Idol season 8, he was cited for getting on the Los Angeles metro train without buying a ticket. He got an arrest warrant when he failed to show up in court. On the day after he got his golden ticket to Hollywood earlier in season 10, he spent three days in jail and was ordered two years of probation. However, he begged the judge to terminate his probation, and his wish was granted, and off to the show he went.

This week, the top 7 perform songs from the 21st century, that is, songs published since the year 2000. On this week's results show, American Idol winner David Cook performs as well as pop star Katy Perry. I think either Haley Reinhart or Stefano Langone is going home. If Jacob Lusk goes home, I will vote for Stefano Langone.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

American Idol shocker: Don't you forget about Pia Toscano

Last week, the the judges, the audience, and the viewers including myself have witnessed what American Idol calls the most shocking elimination in American Idol history. Despite high praise from the judges, the balladeer Pia Toscano got controversially eliminated from the competition, to the shock of the judges, the studio audience, and millions of viewers, scoring ninth place. She was standing there sandwiched between two guys in the bottom three with her: Jacob Lusk and Stefano Lagone. Shortly before her elimination, Jacob Lusk was cleared for the top 8. Pia Toscano was an early favorite and a judges' favorite. On the week of her elimination, she sang "River Deep—Mountain HIgh" by Ike and Tina Turner.

Pia Ann Rose Toscano was born on October 14, 1988. She is of Italian descent. She was born and raised in Howard Beach, New York. She began to perform at talent shows at the age of four, and by the age of nine, she performed in a local church production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." She was the official National Anthem singer in her middle school, P.S./M.S. 207, and she performed at every school event including graduation ceremonies. Toscano was also the opening act for the band called Barenaked Ladies and performed with Josh Groban at Madison Square Garden.

Before her time on American Idol, Toscano worked as a makeup artist and as a wedding singer in the band called "Current Affair." Her musical influences include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Etta James, and the late Luther Vandross.

Toscano originally auditioned for American Idol season 6, but she was cut before the top 40. In 2010, she auditioned for American Idol season 10 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and this time she made it through to the voting rounds. During the semifinals, she impressed the judges with her rendition of "I'll Stand By You", receiving a standing ovation and earning her a spot in the top 13.

On the night after her elimination, Toscano performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Last Monday, she performed on Live with Regis and Kelly. Rumor has it that she fell in love with Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Mark Ballas.

This week the top 8 will perform songs from the motion pictures. I predict that either Paul McDonald or Stefano Langone will be eliminated, but Haley Reinhart is also on the chopping block.  Here is how I predict the top 8 will be placed:

Winner: James Durbin
Runner-up: Scotty McCreery
Third Place: Casey Abrams
Fourth Place: Lauren Alaina
Fifth Place: Jacob Lusk
Sixth Place: Haley Reinhart
Seventh Place: Paul McDonald
Eighth Place: Stefano Langone

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Double Elimination: Farewell to Naima Adedapo and Thia Megia

Last week, as a result of saving Casey Abrams the week before, two American Idol finalists have been sent home. It was curtains for the reggae singer Naima Adedapo and the high school student Thia Megia. Naima Adedapo got critiqued by the judges for her reggae style performance of the Elton John hit "I'm Still Standing." Thia Megia was voted off after a less than stellar performance of "Daniel." During the results show, American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino from season 3 performed her latest single. Earler in the results show, Naima Adedapo dueted with my season 10 favorite Jacob Lusk performing the Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson duet "Solid as a Rock."  The good news is that those two girls will go on tour with the rest of the top 11.

Four girls have been eliminated in a row. Therefore, this may be evidence of the teenybopper vote effect. Pia Toscano is probably immune to the teenybopper vote, but she should not rely on ballads alone.

This week, the top 9 finalists perform under the theme "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." Will.i.am helped the finalists chose their songs for this week. American Idol season 4 finalist Constantine Maroulis will perform the song "Unchained Melody." during this week's results show.  I predict that either Paul McDonald or Stefano Langone will go home. If Jacob Lusk goes home, I will vote for Stefano Langone.