AI S4, Top8 Guys, 3/7/05

Yet again the guys amaze.  Nearly every performance I thought to myself 'it can't get 
much better'... and then the next guy came on and upped the ante.  These 8 gentleman 
would make a very solid top 8 to the show all by themselves (and perhaps they 
should.....).  They're making it very tough on the ladies, let me tell ya...
Overall (Tonight)

1 (1). Anwar Robinson: And finally, FINALLY, comes Anwar to save the day.  Simply 
amazing.  Every week he takes some ridiculously well-established standard and re-works 
it to be his own miracle of music, then performs it with his technically perfect, yet 
still warm and powerful voice.  Just great stuff, taking a song I've heard 3000000 times 
and making it completely brand new.

2 (3). Nikko Smith: Yet another smooth, classy vocal from the old-school of Nikko.  
Gorgeous rendition of a gorgeous song.  He's still got a HUGE problem with yanking notes 
sharp (including that final power note Simon was so enamored with), but it just doesn't 
matter... nothing can keep that voice down for long.  The effortless runs, smooth vibrato, 
and stretching range are just amazing.  Nikko da man.

3 (2). Mario Vasquez: Great job.  Mario's clearly established himself on the more 'fun' 
songs, and this performance rounded him nicely.  He tossed off a couple weak notes in the 
softer sections, but on the whole a wonderful vocal performance.  The main run he worked 
in there was an absolute clinic on vocal control (well, right until he riffed off of it, 
but no harm no foul).  Again, great job.

4 (4). Bo Bice: Bo shows off his softer side with yet another excellent performance.  Bo 
showed most definitely that, along with his rock 'edge', he's simply got an excellent voice.  
A few weak notes in the choruses, but most people would be more than happy with what Bo 
passes off as 'weak'.  Gorgeous performance, I wasn't sure where Bo fit in weeks past, but 
I'm beginning to realize he fits in right at the top of the pyramid.

5 (5). Scott Savol: Scott leads off the show with a very solid performance.  The dancing 
was nothing spectacular, but he kept it understated enough that it wasn't painful, despite 
Simon's protestations to the contrary.  Didn't do anything overly spectacular with the song, 
but it's an excellent vocal to begin with and he did it justice.  Perhaps fell off a bit 
when the notes softened, but this song's about fast power notes and he hit them with 
aplomb (that's a good word).

6 (8). Travis Tucker: Well, I think that, unfortunately, my man Travis' days are numbered.  At one.  
He certainly knows the score though, giving up any pretense of a vocal performance and throwing 
all his eggs in the basket that he could hold - dancing it up and flashing that smile.  I 
still love the sound of his voice, but he's clearly got no future on this show.  Oh well, Travis might have 
a future in this business, since there's certainly nothing in his voice a few pro tools can't 
clean up, and the stage certainly loves his moves.  Time to come home to Virginia...

7 (6). Ant Fedorov: What the HELL was all over his jacket?  Anyway, that aside, clearly his best 
performance.  He finally stopped reaching for notes and just sang a song.  I have to give it to 
him, this sounded excellent most of the way through, especially on the power notes where his smooth 
vibrato took over.  I still don't like him though, and if I could veto someone from the top 12 
it'd probably be him :)

8 (7). Constantine Maroulis: WHERE WAS THE RANDY I KNOW AND LOVE???? "You sang it in tune."  
That's what he says?????? What was he LISTENING to?  There were more missed notes in here than 
there were right notes.  Bah, I thought it was terrible, a "poor impersonation of Sting" perhaps 
as good as I could give.  Ok, well, it wasn't QUITE as bad, listening to it back, as I heard on TV, 
but wow, it certainly wasn't good.  Plus he almost did another one of his little shrieks.  Constantine 
just can't sing very well, plain as that.