Nashville Star – First Live Show
Tonight the top 11 perform live as we find out who America voted off at the end of last week’s show. The mentors are stuck with a group to lead through the competition, Jeffrey gets the Groups, Rich gets the women and Jewel gets the men. Kelly Cook helps along with the introductions and stuff this week, while Billy Ray
They’ll be called to perform one at a time, in a random order down to the last too. The last two called to perform will be up for elimination, and after all of the performances we’ll find out who’s going home. Talk about nerve-wracking! Poor kids!
We start with Laura and Sophie who sing Rockin with the Rhythm of the Rain. It was ok, but nothing to write home about, and it was off in places, but the judges, they loved it, of course. Rich says it was really good, but should try for songs more close to their age, Jewel figures they did so well because they’ve sung the song a lot and wants them to do something new, and Jeffrey says it was a little slumber party.
Up next is Ashlee Hewitt, singing Ring of Fire. Again, nothing to write home about. She did better when she dropped the guitar and decided to rock out a little bit, but the judges go gaga and say she might take the folk-country title away from Jewel. Huh.
Justin Gaston is up with Hey There Delilah and he does ok, after being completely nervous and intimidated by working with Jewel. Jewel, of course, is enamoured with him, while the guys aren’t sure he’s strong enough to go much farther – John goes so far as to say he doesn’t deserve to be on the show at all, and Justin is understandably hurt by that. Hopefully if he makes it through he’ll step it up as a direct result of that comment.
Alyson Gilbert is safe despite her pageant-y ways, and Rich tells her she shouldn’t be there, but resolves to help anyway. She sings Every Breath You Take, and the judges go gaga once again, loving the performance.
The trio Pearl Heart sings Who Says You Can’t Go Home, and poor Courtney looks like an uncoordinated cow clumping around on the stage in a way it’s almost painful to watch. Poor kid! The harmonies sound off as well, the twins blending perfectly, but Courtney not finding the blend completely. The judges seem to think they’ll work it all out though.
Moving on, and Navy boy Tommy Stanley is up and sings Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy – a song Rich wrote and performs. ballsey! He’s encouraged to work on his lyrics when they’re fast a bit – they get muddled – but otherwise, everyone loves it. Rich makes the 18th unprovoked comment of the night that is a bit off color and odd, but we just move right on along despite the awkwardness. Heh.
Gabe Garcia performs Have you Ever Seen the Rain, and it’s no frills, straight up sound. The judges want him to open up more, but agree he did well.
Shawn Mayer sings He Stopped Loving Her Today, and gets a little teary-eyed while she sings and expresses afterwards how happy she is to be there. The judges are split on her, but think she will eventually get there.
Coffey is safe – and I’m pissed. Why on earth is Melissa in the bottom two? She was AWESOME last week! I’m now officially annoyed. Coffey sings Waiting on the World to Change, and the judges want him to change, as he’s not there for them yet, his voice isn’t cutting it even if he has a lot of charisma.
Trace prolongs the agony for the bottom two, Melissa and Third Town, by performing with them all, and then Melissa Lawson performs You Make Me Feel like A Natural Woman. Even she knew she could have hit it out of the park much more then she did, giving herself an 8, knowing she could be a 10. They want her not to settle, and all the judges think she should not be in the bottom two.
Third Town, of course, they agree should be at the bottom. They wanted to do Bohemian Rhapsody, but are talked out of it and do Mountain Music instead and they still completely annoy me with their antics and EmoBoy’s flouncing around and helium voice. Thankfully, they are eliminated. Whew. Melissa is safe!
As for me and what I think of these guys? I dunno if it’s the accoustics or the show itself or what – but I’ve decided this is NO Can you Duet – and I long for Caitlin and Will to show these kids how it’s done!
