American Idol 4, February 21: The Curse of Stevie Wonder

Jared Yates, "How Could I?"

Randy - "I don't understand that song... very average, slightly below average really"

Paula - "I wish you guys had picked songs you'd done before because those songs are far superior."

Simon - "We don't have make excuses for anyone... it was like a ghastly boy band audition for which you wouldn't be picked."

Sting7 - How could he sing this? Jared definitely has stage presence, and my mind reels at the number of songs he would have been just devastating with. Not this one. Too bad, because Jared didn't get the camera time most of the males did, so he really needed to nail this one to win some fans that didn't know him yesterday. I think he's in trouble.

Anwar Robinson, "Moon River"

Randy - "I was a bit worried when you first came out... but you sang it, you put it down! Congrats!

Paula - "I want to buy the recording. I'd play it in my car. Beautiful."

Simon - "You didn't do a bad Stevie Wonder impersonation, it worked for you. Good job."

Sting7 - I love a contestant who takes chance! You know I do! Fantasia, Fantasia, Fantasia! This was a risky move in the highest degree. I mean, I kept hearing Chauncey Matthews, first of all, and the jazzed out version mind offend lovers of the originals, but what I like about Anwar is he is all tone and pitch. Not much vibrato, but you don't have to have that. Perfect pitch, perfect tone, excellent done.

Judd Harris, "Traveling Band"

Randy - "Another very odd song choice... but it was definitely fun and you can definitely sing."

Paula - "That is your niche.. you love that kind of music and you do it well. Definitely a crowd pleaser."

Simon - "You're a good entertainer, Judd, but I have to admit I was sitting here thinking "I've been to so many horrible musicals," in the past where you're seeing these kind of performances and you're thinking 'roll in the interval!' but I'm thinking a lot of girls will vote for you for that."

Sting7 - Where did this little spitfire come from? I like this kid, but twice now we've seen him doing bar band classics. It's fun occasionally, but I don't know if it can win him the competition. He made some fans tonight (some here at RNO!), I think he'll be okay.

Joseph Murena, "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You"

Randy - "Another kind of safe performance, but it was alright. It wasn't your best performance, you can sing!"

Paula - "I think it was one of your best performances, you have a beautiful tone. It's not an easy song to sing."

Simon - "Not much more to add.. It gets you there, it's just not very exciting."

Sting7 - Singing a song performed ad nauseum by the late Laura Branigan and Michael Bolton, I would say pick again. But, Joseph, who we don't know so well either, has a wonderful tone, and he has enough charisma to make me believe him when he sings and that's half the battle. He's affecting, versus affected and that's nice for a change! He looks like a man up there, and there are plenty of women voters who will appreciate his lack of squealitude.

Mario Vazquez, "Do I Do"

Randy - "That's the bomb, best performance of the night!"

Paula - "Touchdown! Touchdown! Awesome!"

Simon - "You proved how important charisma is to this competition... not the best vocal, but the best performance of the night."

Sting7 - I was already a Mario fan, already willing to pick him Top 5 at this point, but he survived the Stevie curse, despite losing his breathing by encouraging people to "come on." Knock. It. Off. His breathing was off from that point and it never came back. He even clipped the bridge because he was out of breath. But, he had the most energetic performance of the night, and he is so popular already, he's earned a mulligan.

I believe this is how the voting should end up:

1. Anwar
2. Mario
3. Judd
4. Scott
5. David
6. Anthony
7. Joseph
8. Nikko
9. Travis
10. Bo
11. Constantine
12. Jared

But this is how I think the voting will end up:

1. Mario
2. Anwar
3. Anthony
4. David
5. Travis
6. Joseph
7. Judd
8. Nikko
9. Scott
10. Constantine
11. Bo
12. Jared

Which means Bo Bice and Jared will be the first to go. Hey, maybe I'm wrong, hope I am, I'd like to see what else these guys can do. We'll find out Wednesday! Tomorrow night, the ladies!

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for 16 years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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