Wow

Well did anyone see that coming. Ashley Leitao! And Casey Leblanc survives another week. I guess Maritimers are looking after their own and British Columbians don't care. I wasn't Ashley Leitao's biggest fan but that was way too early.

Canadian Idol Top Nine

Stevie Wonder night. Why do they do it to these poor kids. It is like Elton John night. These are two of the best male voices in popular music in the last 40 years. Why don't they throw Bono at them to complete the destruction. In my opinion there were only two performances that weren't embarrassing to Stevie Wonder's legacy, Josh Palmer and Suzi Rawn. Suzi only because she wasn't even doing Stevie, she was doing the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Casey Leblanc

Pops: Nice Kareoke. If she got this far doing this she will get a little further.
Mavis: Heaven help this song - very odd timing.

Josh Palmer

Pops: Nailed it. Awesome.
Mavis: Looks like he belongs - his style may get tiring though

Amber Fleury

Pops: Too low to show off her voice. Strong finish but a little too muted.
Mavis: Beautiful voice, never heard of this song - really great.

Daryl Brunt

Pops: Vocally it wasn't bad but he has zero prescence. Weird way to lead off Superstition but he sounded nice doing it.
Mavis: Music picked up temp but he didn't - didn't enjoy the song and move with it enough.

Ashley Leitao

Pops: I'm not feeling it (all over).
Mavis: Great song, a little low in parts but nice energetic performance.

Rex Goudie

Pops: Awful. Unfortunately Pastime Paradise is not as good a song as Gansta Paradise and it showed in this performance.
Mavis: Stevie rocks out? Not feelin' it.

Mellisa O'Neil

Pops: Was it just enough? Great song done just alright.
Mavis: Groovy music and no one moves? Ho hum.

Aaron Walpole

Pops: Complete fromage!
Mavis: He tried really hard but it didn't work.

Suzi Rawn

Pops: When I heard the song selection I knew it would Chili Pepper style. She almost won me over last week but lost me this week. I just find the Suzi stomp way too annoying.
Mavis: What's with the echo? More Suzi than Stevie. OK.

Bottom 3

Pops: Aaron Walpole. Daryl Brunt. Mellisa O'Neil is going home.
Mavis: Casey Leblanc. Daryl Brunt. Melissa O'Neill is going home.

BattleStar Galactica is a hit...in the US

Sci Fi Channel grabbed three of the top four basic cable programs in adults 18-49 with the return of its Friday original programing block.
"Battlestar Galactica" looked especially strong at 10 p.m., opening its second season to its highest ratings ever, just more than 3 million total viewers. It also notched the No. 1-rated show in all of television in the male 18-49 and 25-54 demographic for the hour.

Now if we in Canada didn't have to wait until the fall all would be good. At least with strong ratings like this we expect several more seasons. Hey, maybe even a remake of Buck Rodgers. One can hope. ;)

On the other hand

I found this review of last weeks Top 10 on Canadian. I couldn't resist linking to it from this passage:

...Looking less than comfortable was diva-in-training, Daryl Brunt. The Sudbury, Ontario high school student always looks a bit terrified, as if judges Jake Gold and Farley Flex will rip him up to pieces for dinner, but that extra fear transmits some needed vulnerability when you're singing a schmaltzy Roch Voisine song. A bit more self-assurance and he'll be as fabulous as Ben Mulroney's pointy pink shoes.

Dvia-in-training - nice!

Here is another review page and another couple as well - Foxes on Idol. Someone who likes Casey Leblanc as much as I do.

...Casey started out at a really rapid tempo, and showed more nerves than even Daryl has. It got no better, and in fact, it was pretty darn painful to watch. She struggled with volume, and… well, most everything. At least she didn’t forget her lyrics or fall off stage. I will be kind and go no further, but this performance was… legendary. Can the power voters of NB (and points east) save her, or did Emily get an unexpected reprieve? I dunno, there were more people in the audience than where Casey lives.

Wrong Again

It is no surprise that my picks for the bottom three were wrong (Daryl Brunt - hey 1 right, Aaron Walpole and Casey Leblanc, with Casey Leblanc going home), what is more suprising is that Mavis was as off as she was (Emily Vinette, Casey Leblanc and Amber Fluery going home).

Neither of us liked Emily Vinette early on so to heartbreak that she is gone. Seems that Caset Leblanc has some serious hometown support so she will last longer than she deserves to. Daryl Brunt is on the verge of a total meltdown so he is in serious trouble. And Mellisa O'Neil is going to have to step it up.

In reality it looks like there isn't much left in the Top 9. It appears it is going to come down to Suzi Rawn, Rex Goudie and Ashley Leitao. But it is probably too early to predict that.

Top 10 Review

Well, we are finally at the Top 10 stage and let me just say that the results were not inspiring. A couple of good performances but overall it was pretty flat.

Aaron Walpole

Mavis: Just didn't sound good - off key?
Pops: Not the right song for his voice. He could be in trouble

Emily Vinette

Mavis: I love this song and I knew the "crying" part is hard to do (Roy Orbison after all) and she did a nice job
Pops: Started rough - I sense she is yelling, not singing the chorus. End was good.

Daryl Brunt

Mavis: He's all over the place in this song - ouch.
Pops: He seems like such a little boy. Nervousnous killed his performance. Horrible.

Suzi Rahn

Mavis: Guess she can't always rock but she was bang on in this song.
Pops: Much better. I typically don't like her but I enjoyed that.

Mellisa O'Neil

Mavis: Easy listening FM, here we come.
Pops: She is in tune, which is a nice change tonight. I just wish there was a little more power in her voice. Nice performance overall though.

Ashley Leitao

Mavis: Nice song for her voice - well done.
Pops: Safe. Sang it nice but a tad boring.

Rex Goudie

Mavis: Song stays the same - nice but not overly good.
Pops: I am sure what to make of this. Good not great. But enough to move on.

Amber Fleury

Mavis: Tough to do someone's "signature" song. Cheated on all the high notes - there are better songs for her.
Pops: Tough song choice. Sings it fairly well but no where as good as Sarah McLachlan.

Josh Palmer

Mavis: I really like this song - very careful, practiced...controlled but great.
Pops: Again, not sure what to make of this. I didn't think much of it.

Casey Leblanc

Mavis: This girl had the most votes in her group!? Not as good as Shania.
Pops: Safe. It did get better as she went along.

Bottom Three

Mavis: Emily Vinette. Casey Leblanc. Going home: Amber Fleury
Pops: Daryl Brunt. Aaron Walpole. Going home: Casey Leblanc

Wild Card Elimination Round

I am not sure if this night was even intended. My sense was last nights begfest was to get into the Top 10. Either I misunderstood or Canadian Idol realized how foolished it was and has them sing. Either way here are our reviews.

Stephane Aubin

Mavis: Now we are lounge singing, nice when it picked up.
Pops: Trying to make it his own. Not bad. Came off a little boring.

Barrett Peitsch

Mavis: Speaking of cheese. Choppy and insincere.
Pops: This guy has horrible phrasing. No power behind his voice. This song should be emotional but he evokes nothing.

Devika Mathur

Mavis: tried to make some unique changes to the song - voice not strong enough
Pops: Kereoke. Bad Kereoke! She just doesn't sing well enough.

Vince Benenati

Mavis: Started out with the Inglesias rip-off but does well on the higher notes - pretty good. Top 10
Pops: I prefer upper-range Vince to husky Vince. If he styaed there he could work. Top 10.

Aaron Walpole

Mavis: Don't like this song, doesn't have the rich tone of the current version. Lots of energy. Top 10.
Pops: This guy can sing. Didn't leave anything in the bag on this performance. Top 10.

Dianelys Hernandez

Mavis: Has a great voice, accent gets in the way but nice performance. May not appeal to Canadians
Pops: I bet she could kick on Latin Idol. However...I hated it.

Luke O'Reilly

Mavis: I believe he tried to be sincere but he just doesn't have a strong enough voice. No chance.
Pops: He has a nice voice. Just nice. Not good enough to move on.

Josh Palmer

Mavis: Definately unique in this competition but I think he's a poser - trying too hard to be Noel Gallagher/Brit Pop
Pops: Not the right forum for this guy. Has potential but comes off cold. Considering he was not even top 3 in his original group I don't see how he moves on.

Suzi's through...and Melissa too

I guess it is just me. I think Suzi Rawn is a poser and I can't stand the Suzi Stomp but Canada disagrees. And it makes sense that Melissa O'Neill got the most votes this week.

Time to tally the predictions...it wasn't even close.

Mavis: 7/8
Pops: 4/8

By the way, the pleading to get into the Top 10 is weird. They should have let them sing again. And Zack agrees.

Wild Card predictions to come.

What is with the wild card selections. Ben Mulorney introduces them and then the judges rip them. How about picking some good performers. Oh well. Here is what we have to pick from.

Barrett Peitsch
Julie Tellier
Luke O'Reilly
Dainelys Hernandez
Stephane Aubin
Jenn Beaupre
Aaron Walpole
Danian Vickers
Josh Palmer
Devika Mathur
Vince Benenati

Which confirms that Mavis knows what is going on and Pops has no clue. Mavis picked 6/11 wild card contestants correctly. Pops, 3/11. But really do Jenn Beaupre and Danian Vickers really belong even at this level?

Canadian Idol Elimination Round 4

Well we are at the last of the elimination rounds (not counting Wild Cards) and all in all it wasn't the strongest night. It was actually hard to pick two to go through. I should let you know that we write our reviews before we hear the judges. I will vouch for Mavis on a couple of her reviews - especially Keely Hutton.

Genevieve Nadeau

Pops: Really bad song choice. Not good at all.
Mavis: Piano still too loud. I would love to see more power on the higher notes - nothing there.

Luke O'Reilly

Pops: Not bad but there is something missing - maybe presence or power in the voice.
Mavis: I wouldn't listen to a lot of records by this guy. Kalan's been done.

Keely Hutton

Pops: Misses the big note so misses the song. Weird key change as well. Good last note but not nearly enough.
Mavis: Don't sing out loud - at least the high notes - rest was polished.

Aaron Walpole

Pops: I liked it. Best so far tonight. A little camp at times but still he has a good voice and a strong performance. Top Ten.
Mavis: Nice voice - could stand to hear him again - high notes a bit off. Wild Card.

Danian Vickers

Pops: Way more personality singing than talking. Back half was pretty bad - started screeching!
Mavis: I think it realy helps to choose a song people know - nice voice, bad vibrato.

Suzi Rawn

Pops: Not enough range in the song - I am not a fan of her voice. She has a prescence but I question if she has a built in voting demographic. I think the ride is over...until the Wild Card round anyway.
Mavis: Husky voice. I did like it beacuse she had some energy especially compared to everyone else. Top Ten.

Matt Kennedy

Pops: Killed the first half and died on the second. Hard to know what to make of it. Maybe enough. Wildcard.
Mavis: Started great - hit a bad note and fell apart. Still he could make it through. Wildcard.

Melissa O'Neil

Pops: I wish I knew the song....really strong voice, althought lacking the connection. She did enough to get to the Top Ten.
Mavis: everyone is straining in the upper register tonight. Nice voice. I'm just not blown away. It is hard to pick two tonight and as such she will go to the Top Ten.