Category Archives: Canadian Idol

Welcome to the Top 9 Results show of Canadian Idol, where we learn whether what was apparently “the greatest show ever”. I don’t really agree, at all, but what can you do?

We open with a recap of last night’s events…why, I have one of those too! Click here to read Cultural Learnings’ recap. Meanwhile, the show is as I remembered it: The people who really stood out were outside of my genres of music, and no one really nailed it out of the park for me. So, really, anyone can go home this week. Who’s it going to be? Let’s find out.

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Okay, CTV: you need to promote it heavily when you move the night for Canadian Idol. Because we totally forgot about it, and even with my apathy towards the season I have to keep up with these blogs. They appear to have forgotten to tell the lighting people the show was tonight, because Ben’s blinking up a storm.

Jaydee Bixby – “Runaway” (Made Famous by Elvis Presley)

He completely missed the tempo on the opening to this song, and never felt in control of the song until its conclusion. And, for an Elvis song, it didn’t really feel all that energetic either. While I know what he was going for, he needs to stop singing Rockabilly/Country at least one week. Please?

My Mother’s Opinion: “If they don’t say that sounded like karaoke…”

What the Judges Think: Jake felt he was out of tempo with the band, Farley thinks that while vocally good it wasn’t risky enough, Sass felt there wasn’t enough movement, Zack is happy about the chest hair but feels that he was grooveless off the top and revue band fare. He wants something more interesting, as do I.

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9:30pm: Welcome to tonight’s elimination, which shall be preceeded by the Top 10 Group performance. Specifically with Brian and Dwight starting off…a Nickleback song. And then Matt Rapley and Greg. Guess who sounded out of place? It was Jaydee Bixby, with Matt in a close 2nd. These people are going to be terrible at group sings, I can tell already.

9:31pm: The girls kick into…Avril Lavigne’s terrible single from ERAGON. I can’t believe this hit #1. Carly Rae gives a weak vocal, Mila gives a weak vocal, Tara gives an awful vocal. you can barely tell Khalila starts singing, and then Martha powers her way through singing Avril Lavigne as if it is the most serious song ever. Ugh.

9:32pm: 2.5 Million votes…that sounds low, is that low? I hope it’s low. Ben pimps Rihanna, who is really a perfect choice for being little but a hit machine. A good one, too. And now for a recap. You can just head back to my own recap for the lowdown.

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We’re live at the John Basset Theatre, and Ben Mulroney has suited up…and oh god, Jaydee is singing Conway Twitty. Unless someone else is singing Conway Twitty. Which sounds unlikely. Regardless, there was some rather unfortunate names thrown around in that little preview of the song list (MORE Celine? Bad, Canadian Idol). So let’s see how a rather mediocre Top 10 performs in what could be their last week in Toronto. Unless they hook up with one of the other Idols, they might stick around. Just sayin’.

Dwight D’Eon – “Unwell” (Matchbox 20)

There’s all sorts of hometown stuff, but it’s your usual Fisherman stuff…and he’s singing the same artist as last week. Except this time he’s wearing a straightjacket. I am honestly completely and totally confused right now. Oh, he was just hugging himself with his leather jacket lined up. Still, singing the same artist week after week is a terrible idea. The song doesn’t really make him into anything but a decent singer covering Matchbox 20 songs…none of that screams Canadian Idol to me. He did absolutely nothing with that song.

What the judges think: Jake agrees with me on the Matchbox 20 repetition but liked it, Farley thinks he looked better prepared, Sass would have found it more interesting if he had sang it better (I agree!), and Zack thinks he is on a good growth curve and thinks he’s a rock star…is he seriously the person with the most cred left in this competition? Le sigh.

Estimated Voting Position: With all of Nova Scotia now behind him, Dwight could reach #6.

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Canada has spoken, and it’s about time we got around to a Top 10. Who made the cut, and who fell by the wayside? All the info after the jump. And trust me, it’s downright explosive. Could four favourites have been the ones going home?

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It’s the final week of the pre-Top 10 portion of Canadian Idol, and looking at tonight’s performers…I don’t know if there is a worthy Top 5 here. But, I can be proven wrong: here’s their opportunity to prove, once and for all, that they belong here. Tonight, it’s the girls’ turn to shine or, conversely, not shine.

Annika Odegard – “Ordinary Day” (Vanessa Carlton)

Dearest Annika, I am quite sorry for this…but that just doesn’t work. Much like last night’s opener Matt Rapley, the piano didn’t help you. In your case, you were very engaging performance wise but the voice didn’t hold up; this is the exact opposite of Matt whose performance didn’t improve but his voice stayed consistent. Annika isn’t a terrible singer, but that was vocally off for me. It was much better, more real, but I think it still needs a lot of work in the vocal department. In fact, it was really off key. (Also, is she dating that curly haired youngin’ she met during auditions? Or are they just friends? Any gossip, anyone?)

What the judges think: Jake thinks she has finally rediscovered himself, Farley thinks she let down her hair, Sass thinks she’s good, and Zack thinks it was good as well.

Worthy of Top 5? No. Look, this showed a lot of promise, but without that piano she was apparently terrible, and then she sings arguably worse but with a piano and she’s immediately infinitely better? She was more engaged and real, maybe, but the voice still isn’t mature enough to sell me on it. While she was relatively great for the judges compared to last week’s drudging, I don’t think she was any better here vocally.

Khalila Glanville – “For You I Will” (Monica)

This is more like it: after last week’s unfortunate song choice, Khalila chooses to belt out an R&B power ballad that showcases her voice well. She isn’t perfect, or overly original, but it is much more what she is trying to do. There were some rough moments, but her voice actually did a really good job of making its way through the song. It was a performance that doesn’t make you turn the channel, but at the same time won’t change your mind about her or the show.

What the judges think: Farley felt that she pushed her voice a bit more than usual, Sass thinks that she didn’t have enough wow factor, Zack thinks it was trying a bit too hard to hit a home run but has a ludicrous amount of positive things to say about her, and Jake thinks there was a couple of off moments but overall strong.

Worthy of Top 5? Yes. Even though she’s not perfect, Zack is right: she is mature and sophisticated and has room for growth within the competition.

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It’s the final week of the pre-Top 10 portion of Canadian Idol, and looking at tonight’s performers…I don’t know if there is a worthy Top 5 here. But, I can be proven wrong: here’s their opportunity to prove, once and for all, that they belong here. On a non-musical note, Idol is working with Ronald McDonald House to build a vacation home for families with sick children. Details on the auction being organized to raise funds can be found at Idol.ctv.ca.

Matt Rapley – “I’ll Be There” (The Jackson Five)

Matt is incredibly honest in telling us that he basically just stands around when he performs. So, this time, he sits around and performs while playing the piano. His voice sounds pretty damn impressive considering that he is also playing the piano, but sitting down is the last thing he needed to show more energy in his stage performing. It was interesting to see it, and it does prove him as a real musician, but I don’t think it allowed him to showcase anything we didn’t already know. Still his best performance thus far.

What the judges think: Jake felt he was too close to the mic but was glad to see the piano, Farley felt that he needed more energy, Sass thinks that it was smooth and beautiful, but Zack believes that he hasn’t demonstrated enough maturity or standing for something enough to make a record. Zack doesn’t think he’s at that level.

Worthy of Top 5? No. I’m with Zack, he just doesn’t have enough energy or artistry involved. He’s just a completely and utterly bland performer, even behind his piano. He’s not terrible, he’s just nothing. And that’s almost as bad.

Greg Neufeld – “Daughters” (John Mayer)

Greg wants an intimate moment on stage, and we get to see a lot more rehearsals this week. This is good, because it makes more sense when Greg is sitting on the stage. He performs the song from there, and it’s good…but as the Elder points out: “Greg Neufeld is to John Mayer as Mika is to Queen.” I didn’t feel it was all that intimate, but it was the opposite of Rapley. In sitting down, he actually grounded his annoying dancing and allowed the energy to flow through vocal dynamics and singing, of all things. It’s an engaging performance of a song that worked for his voice, even if even John Mayer hates its popularity.

What the judges think: Farley felt it was great, Sass felt he nailed it, Zack feels that he might have some issues with being too perfect for the public but thinks he is very, very good, and Jake thinks that you can never be too perfect and that Greg is, in himself, a show.

Worthy of Top 5? Yes. No matter how much we bring up “Rocket Man” (Which went unmentioned tonight), I think that Greg is a seasoned performer that could be a strong addition to the Top 5…especially considering the other options.

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7:29pm: We’re starting early according to my computer, but not according to my watch. Ben arrives on stage wearing his usual attire, and it appears the girls are up first. Please note: Ben’s shirt is unbuttoned, and it seems like he has a sunburn as opposed to a tan under there. It does not look pretty. Not that he ever does.

7:30pm: We’re saying hello to the judges, who were harsh this week. It was really all their fault, so they can’t complain too much. And now we recap: The Guys and The Girls.

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After last week saw the departure of two girls, one of whom was more than out of place without her instrument of choice, this week we’ll divide the pageant girls and the musicians even more distinctly due to the instrument rule being in effect. Of course, like the guys, very few will likely end up using them. Will it separate the best from the rest, or just result in more muddled performances? Let’s watch and see.

Martha Joy – “To Where You Are” (Josh Groban)

Two nights, two Josh Groban songs. If Zack was talking about pageant stuff last night, this is yet another example of it. These young singers are talented, but they need to pick songs and perform them instead of just singing them as if that’s all they need to do. Josh Groban needs to be put on permanent hiatus for this series, without a doubt.

Instrument: Nope, she’s focusing on the singing.

What the Judges Think: Jake felt no emotion and thinks it might be a lack of experience, Farley felt she made a decent effort but felt some stylistic choices were off, Sass felt it was shaky in the beginning, and Zack thinks that she needs to live up to her last name and thinks she is at the highest level of any singer in the competition technically.

Growth from Last Week: I’d say it was better than last week, but it was still Josh Groban so it can only be so much growth.

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[Sorry for the lateness on this particular recap: I was away for the day and had to watch Idol in two parts thanks to travel time]

And we’re back for another week. After the debacle that was last week’s episode, the producers are allowing performers to bring their guitars (Or other instruments) on stage with them to give them a boost of confidence and showmanship. Will it make all the difference in the world, or just drag them down? Let’s find out.

Liam Styles Chang – “She’s So High” (Tal Bachman)

This song basically all comes down to whether or not he can hit the high notes in the chorus, and the answer is that he can. He can also nail the lower register stuff, which makes for an engaging and quality performance.

Instrument? Nope, Liam has gone guitar-less. And I think it’s a good choice, as he is able to focus on hitting the notes in the song as opposed to performing with the guitar as well.

What do the judges think? Everyone loves the ability to go from high to low, but Zack felt that there wasn’t enough dynamism in the high notes to make it a record worth buying…but then completely back tracks and claims that he’s a rock star. Oh Zack.

Growth from Last Week: A less inventive performance might knock him down a few pegs, but staying vocally consistent is important at this stage in the competition.

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