American Juniors, July 22: Notice Me

The Thompson sisters are in the band and America can be at peace again. Now, maybe we can start voting with our ears instead of our hearts. Frankly, Morgan Burke, Danielle White, Lucy Hale, and A.J. Melendez deserve that. Let’s get serious. Yes, Stinger is scrappy tonight.

So, if it’s gonna bug that I will cut a 10-year-old to shreds, do not pass go. RealityNewsOnline is chock full of excellent articles. I’m sure you’ll find something you like. Tonight, I am possessed by Simon Cowell. Proceed with a full stomach.

Ryan kicks off the show with 101 sister act jokes. You knew it was coming. You heard them before. He introduces a gleeful, if not a bit smug looking, Taylor and Tori Thompson. Their futures are secure.

Ryan introduces the judges. Deborah Gibson; this week’s guest judge, Jordan Knight (what‘s with the Knights? we have Gladys Knight, Jordan Knight, Brian McKnight... who‘s next, the late Ted Knight from heaven?); and the aforementioned Gladys Knight.

Tonight’s trip in the wayback machine drops us off at 1962. Now the songs are older than *I* am!

On we go...

A.J. Melendez, “The Night Has 1000 Eyes”

Deborah says she missed his energy last week, and he excels in the up-tempo numbers, good job. Jordan wants to know how many girlfriends A.J. has and the babbles something incomprehensible. Gladys says he is still a charmer, but can he sing? Yes, he can, she says.

What’s great about A.J. is that he is so comfortable with the up-tempo numbers. And time and time again, we’ve seen Juniors totally swallowed by the production and that never happens with A.J. He is a natural on stage, and ‘1000 Eyes’ skirts really close to cheesy, but he was tuneful and strong with it. Made it fun. He DESERVES your attention.

Danielle White, “Locomotion”

Deborah says Danielle is better suited for ballads, but congratulates her on taking the risk. Jordan agrees with Deborah, he could tell on Danielle’s last note that there is a beautiful voice in there. Gladys says the song tonight did not show off Danielle’s skills.

And, it didn’t. See above about swallowed in the production. Danielle was engulfed by it! I’d like to get whoever chose this song for her in a room for about an hour. Damn it, I can get Danielle in this band! “Locomotion” grated me when Little Eva did it, annoyed me beyond control when Kylie Minogue did it, and to her credit, Danielle was palatable. But, it is not going to get her in the group. Rough night for her because she DESERVES your attention.

Chantel Kohl, “Don‘t Make Me Over”

Deborah noticed the power at the end, and agrees that Chantel has a “cutting” voice and showed great dynamics. Jordan says she has a great voice and says more things incomprehensible. Gladys repeats that they need a “cut” in the group. It almost sounds like she’s threatening them!

(Of course, Chantel’s dad was ball of goo watching his daughter sing. Ryan asks him what runs through his mind. “I see her in a stroller, and outgrowing clothes, and now she’s so big--” and he gets choked up again. Ryan tells Chantel her Dad needs a hug. A true ‘awww’ moment. Is my mood lightening?)

In the beginning, Chantel’s pitch was all over the place, but when she started belting, she made the hairs on my neck stand up. Awesome! I know she has a following, and she may have made me a believer tonight.

Chauncey Matthews, “Moon River”

Deborah gushes that she didn’t think he could top last week, but he nailed. Nothing else to say. Jordan says he was phenomenal and admitted to welling up. Gladys says she’s speechless, yet goes on to say that he has grown in the competition and confesses she knows he has a cold, and he was wonderful despite it, and that is true talent.

CHAUNCEY! My boy! Two weeks in a row! He pulled me out of my chair, and you know what, Jordan, I welled up too. What is so cool about Chauncey is that he blessed with a gorgeous vibrato that gives him almost angelic, surreal quality, and that voice will only get richer and more textured as he grows older. He is one of the few contestants I can say I honestly enjoy hearing. Chauncey is For Real. And, he DESERVES your attention. I think he’ll get it tonight!