CONGRATS TO PHILLIP & EDDIE IDOL's FAREWELL

Season 11 Idol Winner, Phillip Phillips

I know I'm a little late to the game here, by about a week, but who's counting.....so I'll finally say CONGRATS to Phillip Phillips, American Idol's Season 11 Winner.

It certainly wasn't the outcome I was hoping for, as I thought for many weeks that it would be a Jessica and Joshua finale, as those two were far superior vocally to Phillip. With Joshua ousted the prior week, I thought Jessica was certainly the odds on favorite to take the title. But....America thought otherwise, and as the saying goes, it is what it is. So let it be written.......so let it be done.

With that said, this is my farewell and FINAL post to the Eddie on Idol blog, as I've decided that there will be no more posts on this year's or on any future seasons of American Idol competitions.
It's been a really FUN ride! From the days of posting my personal e-mails season after season to those close to me and who were truly interested in what I had to say, to Kimmy taking those thoughts and posting on my behalf to the Mercury blog, and finally to me taking over the blog the last few seasons. I always tried to be professional, but yet a bit 'edgy' and 'racy', and throw in a bit of that 'eddie-sarcasm' too. I always felt the need to add some flair to the posts, telling it like I thought without mincing words, and maybe at times over-stepping the boundaries of what I should and shouldn't say, but all in all, I tried to have fun with it, and I hope you all enjoyed reading my Idol recaps.

SPECIAL THANKS to those who have followed and supported the Eddie Idol journey for many years, including sweetheart Kathy, brother Ron, cousin Gregory, sister Judy, niece Pam, co-worker and friend 'Orange' Ray, special friends Pete and Mary, Cindy at the Mercury, Eileen and Diane at the Mercury, Publisher Tom Abbott, media partner Jim Lucas, and last but not least, the gal who started me on all this, Kim Toth, who cannot be given enough THANKS for all her support and help through the years. THANKS KIMMY.....YOU ROCK!!!

Final THANKS to all those readers who have taken the time to follow me through the Mercury's 'Town Square',  your support has been very much appreciated!

Now......as Ryan would so often say....it's time to dim the lights.....and here we go........as Eddie Idol is.......OUT!

Cheers........Ed



IDOL FINALE: SONG GRADES....& WHO SHOULD WIN?

Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips, Season 11 AI Finalists

For one last time, well 3 times actually, we watched and listened last night as Jessica Sanchez, the little girl with the BIG voice, and Phillip Phillips, the laid-back guy with the quirky facial expressions, battled each other for a shot at the Season 11 Idol Title. And for much of the night, I thought it was a pretty good battle, until the final performance by Phillip, which had the judges giving him a standing ovation and once again, putting him on a pedestal for America to vote him in as the Season 11 Idol Winner. Will it happen? Probably.....Should it happen? NO, it shouldn't. Let's go Round by Round and hand out some grades here......dim the lights, here we go....

Round 1: Simon Fuller’s Song Choices

Simon Fuller picked “I Have Nothing,” a Whitney song, for Jessica. Phillip got to perform “Stand By Me.”

Jessica had a much tougher song and pulled it off gracefully as she does with all Whitney songs. Well done version....GRADE: A-
Phillip struggled through parts of his as he's done all year trying to reach some notes.....it was just OK, and clearly no way near Jessica....GRADE: B-

ROUND 1 WINNER: JESSICA



Round 2: Contestants’ Favorite Song Choice from Season 11

Jessica....chose to sing 'Prayer", a song she did back in Vegas Week, and it was absolutely an incredible vocal, damn near perfect! She really showed off her control and range vocally, and it was another shining moment for her for sure....GRADE: A
Phillip......chose to perform “Movin’ Out” by Billy Joel, from Billy Joel Week earlier in the season. He surely showed here he can make a song his own! He did it well, with special thanks to the blond sax player as well....GRADE: A-

ROUND 2 WINNER: JESSICA.......by a small margin


Round 3: The potential 1st Hit Singles by each contestant

Jessica.....obviously received some very bad advice here on song choice at a very critical moment, and struggled through 'Change Nothing", a song that was very forgettable. She sounded off key a bit, and the judges did not like it either.....sad way to end the night for her.....GRADE: C+
Phillip.....was obviously schooled correctly and chose to sing "Home", complete with a frekin' marching band to help him through it, wow! Flashbacks for me when Lee DeWyze performed with a marching band in Season 9......and yet another Lee DeWyze-like performance from Phillip, yet the judges do everything they can to heap praise on him and anoint him the winner....GRADE: B

ROUND 3 WINNER: PHILLIP

So....after all that, the edge clearly is in Jessica's favor. And one must wonder, does one final 'winning' performance by Phillip an Idol winner make? It shouldn't!

Going back over the 11 weeks of performances from this season, Jessica has clearly been much more consistent and clearly the better vocalist of the two. It's because of her consistency and her ability to sing a wide range of music, and more so above all else, because of her amazing voice...... 

 I believe Jessica Sanchez should be the Season 11 winner of American Idol.

Will she have the support from America's Votes to pull it off tonight? I sure hope so.....but...I also won't be shocked if it doesn't happen.

MORE FROM EDDIE IDOL WITH MY 'FINAL' SEASON 11 IDOL POST TOMORROW......AFTER THE BIG 2-HOUR+ FINAL SHOW ON FOX TONIGHT!! 

IDOL UPDATE: SEASON 11 FINALE TONIGHT!

Jessica vs. Phillip, Season 11 Finale

Where has Eddie Idol been? No recap of the TOP 3 last week, say it ain't so! YES......I watched the show on some down time during my fishing trip to Potter County, unfortunately, technology was at a minimum up there and I was not able to post any thoughts to the blog. Needless to say, that was probably a good thing....as I was very disappointed in the show itself, worst of the year in my opinion since the TOP 24 was announced, and even more shocked when the BEST male vocalist was voted off with Joshua Ledet leaving and being denied a shot in the Finale tonight against Jessica Sanchez, which was my Season 11 Finale prediction all along.




Phillip's home visit

So instead of Joshua we get Phillip Phillips in the Finale tonight, thanks in large part to the judges last week, and let's throw Jimmy Iovine in the mix here too, for putting on a 2-hour 'Phillip Phillips Pimping Show' for us all to watch and languish over. There's no way that Phillip is even close to Joshua vocally. As a musician and stage performer, he may be better, but vocally he can't compete even on his best performance with Joshua.  But....this is what America has given us, so as the old saying goes, to quote EI follower Cindy Levan, 'it is what it is'.

On the other side of the stage we'll have the very talented and top female vocalist of Season 11 in Jessica Sanchez. There was never a question in my mind that Jessica would be in the Finale, she's that good! I said it before and I'll say it again here, she's the BEST vocally on the show in the last two years, and the best since Adam Lambert. Barring Idol setting her up to fail like they did last week with horrible song choices, she should win this thing going away. She's well, and she's trending well ahead of Phillip in social media.  As of noon Sunday, Jessica had nearly 389,500 followers on Twitter to more than 312,000 for Phillip. Jessica also led in Facebook 'likes', nearly 233,500 to a little more than 191,000 for Phillip. That shows she has a very strong following. Hopefully all goes well tonight for Jessica and tomorrow we get our first female Idol winner since Jordan Sparks won in Season 6.

OK.....that's the wrap-up from Eddie Idol on the 'FINALE ON FOX'! Who do you think should win? We'll see what happens after tonight and America votes for the SEASON 11 WINNER tonight on FOX! More from Eddie Idol......after the FINALE performances tonight!

PS--Leave it to Idol to throw one more curve at us. After week after week of two-hour performance shows all year long, Idol is only an hour show tonight, from 8-9 PM. So you can expect a very rushed show, why this decision I have no idea....and one that runs over the one-hour time slot, so set those DVR's accordingly.

IDOL UPDATE: TOP 4 GRADES & WHO GOES HOME?

AI Season 11, TOP 4....Can Hollie get enough votes to hold off the others?

Last night's IDOL TOP 4 Performances show had a dual theme: 'California Dreamin' (contestants picked songs from artists in CA or songs about CA) and 'Songs You Wish You Wrote' (Songs they love and wish were there own). Here's what they chose to perform:

California Dreamin' (Song Choice #1)

• Phillip Phillips-Creedence Clearwater Revival's Have You Ever Seen the Rain
• Jessica Sanchez- Etta James' Steal Away
• Joshua Ledet- Josh Groban's You Raise Me Up
• Holli Cavangh- Journey's Faithfully

Songs You Wish You Wrote (Song Choice #2 w/Jimmy Iovine as the sole Mentor)

• Jessica Sanchez- Jennifer Holliday's And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
• Hollie Cavanagh- Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me
• Phillip Phillips- Damien Rice's Volcano
• Joshua Ledet- James Brown's It's a Man's Man's Man's World

I found it interesting that several songs chosen were done by the TOP 4 of The Voice over the last two weeks....coincidence? I think not! Oh well....based on what went down last night, and with a celebrity-type visit back home coming up on the line for the TOP 3, dim the lights....here we go!.......

BEST OF THE NIGHT:

JESSICA SANCHEZ.......I know I'll get some arguments here from EI followers Pete and possibly Orange Ray as well, but I rated both of her performances slightly better than Joshua's last night, and her final one, the Dreamgirls hit "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" was arguably one of the BEST ever on the Idol stages! WOW!!!! It was an incredible performance and it was based on that exceptional vocal that I give her the edge over Joshua and a spot in the FINALS....OVERALL GRADE: A 

ALMOST AS GOOD:

JOSHUA LEDET......I graded him in the A's as well, but I wasn't as blown away with either of his songs as the judges were, mainly because I heard both songs performed, and performed better I might add, by Chris Mann and Juliet Simms on "The Voice" over the last two weeks. Don't get me wrong, Joshua had a great night, and he deserves a spot in the FINALS....OVERALL GRADE: A- 

 

BOTTOM 2:

PHILLIP PHILLIPS.....His rendition of CCR "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" was boring and forgettable, and the choice to do an unknown and abstract song "Volcano" was better, thanks mainly to the backup singer who helped him out big time. But I was not as impressed as the judges were. I'm hoping, for the 3rd straight week by the way, that he gets sent home tonight, and I think he deserves to go home more so than Hollie......but sadly....he has all the millions of teen girls supporting his efforts....so he's probably safe...OVERALL GRADE: B-

HOLLIE CAVANAGH......Talk about being thrown under the bus!! YIKES! The Judges may have officially sealed Hollie's fate with the lackluster comments after her 2nd song "I Can't Make You Love Me", which I thought was way better than the judges did. The judges obviously showed NO LOVE at all toward her. It'll be a shock if she's in the TOP 3, and if so, it just might be even a bigger shocker that the person who goes home would be someone other than Phillip....could it happen? Hmmmm....we shall see tonight.....OVERALL GRADE: B-

WHO GOES HOME?:

Well, as I already stated, I think the person who SHOULD go home tonight is PHILLIP PHILLIPS, but sadly, the person most likely headed home early, and not the way she was hoping to go back home to TX, is HOLLIE CAVANAGH.....I'd love to be wrong here.....but NOT at the expense of either Jessica or Joshua! If either of them go home tonight, IDOL should just be embarrassed and pull the show off the air after this season!



OK.....that's the wrap-up from Eddie Idol on this week's TOP 4 performances! Let's see what happens after America votes in your 'IDOL TOP 3' tonight on FOX! More from Eddie Idol......after the show!

IDOL UPDATE: TOP 5 GRADES & WHO GOES HOME?

TOP 5, Season 11, American Idol

Last night the TOP 5 on Idol, with Little Steven  as the mentor, sang two songs each, one from the 60's and one from British hits of the past, leading to some interesting song choices and a variety of performances.  I have no idea how America will vote tonight, but I'll give my thoughts here on who should stay and who should be sent home......dim the lights, here we go....

BEST OF THE NIGHT:

Hollie Cavanaugh......Rising from the ashes similar to Haley Reinhart did last year, Hollie is back! She had two back-to-back stellar performances last night, leading off the show with 'Tina Turner' like energy and finishing with a slowed down version of "Bleeding Love" that was very well done. She's peaking at the right time, and there's no way she deserves to be in the Bottom 3 tonight, but you never know with the way America votes.....OVERALL GRADE: A

ALMOST AS GOOD:

Joshua Ledet.......with yet another standing ovation from the judges on his 2nd song from the Bee Gees that was just outstanding, and an opening Motown song, he's right where he should be at this time, and is light years ahead vocally over his lone male contender in Phillip Phillips. I'll go with the expert opinion of close friend and Idol follower Pete 'R+B' Rosendale, who says, and I quote, "I have not seen an R&B talent like him in my lifetime since Sam Cooke! Yes, he is guilty of over-singing at times... but, let him get with the right producer...and look out!"....gotta' agree with Pete, he's right on with Josh, and knows a thing or two about music.....Joshua is an amazing talent vocally, and in my opinion, is a LOCK for the finals!  ....OVERALL GRADE: A-

GOOD ENOUGH TO BE 'SAFE'?:

Jessica Sanchez......I think she could end up in the 'bottom 3' tonight, but she really sang the Joe Cocker song beautifully, and I think that will save her tonight. She's vocally light years ahead of Skylar, but not that far ahead of Hollie, who is closing the gap the last few weeks! I still think it's Jessica and Josh in the Finals though.........OVERALL GRADE: B+

WHO's IN TROUBLE TONIGHT?:

Skylar Laine......I'm sorry, but I don't get all the hype from the judges on her......she was 'off key' and rushed on the first song by CCR, and even though the 2nd song from Dusty Springfield was more in her wheelhouse, it still wasn't a 'WOW' moment. Based on stage presence and energy, not vocals, she's average at best and I think will be standing on stage with possible elimination tonight......OVERALL GRADE: C+

 

Phillip Phillips......I know.....I said it last week and I'll say it again.....for being only one of two guys left on the show, and an early front-runner to reach the finals, he had yet another very mediocre night last night....his rendition of "Letter" from the Box Tops was average, and the classic Zombies song "Time of The Season" was poorly done, and nothing about it was special like when Blake Lewis performed it in Season 6...I believe PP is in BIG trouble tonight...OVERALL GRADE: C

SO.......WHO GOES HOME TONIGHT?

I say the bottom two tonight are SKYLAR and PHILLIP......and will NOT be surprised at all when it's 'Mr. Double P', PHILLIP PHILLIPS being sent home packing. People have to start seeing that he is very limited in his range vocally, and is not even close to Joshua, Jessica or Holly in vocal talent. He's another glorified Lee DeWyze.....and that ain't all that great....I'm just sayin'....

OK.....that's the wrap-up from Eddie Idol on this week's TOP 5 performances! Let's see what happens after America votes in your 'IDOL FINAL 4' tonight on FOX! More from Eddie Idol......after the show!

IDOL UPDATE: BRITISH WEEK & TOP 5 RANKINGS

Elise perfroms, Top 6

Last week I finally got it right on who would be sent home, as we said goobye to 28 year-old Elise Testone, the oldest of all the Idol contestants remaining in the competition.

For Elise, as Jimmy Iovine said, and I have to agree with, it was a matter of not picking the right songs, which certainly did her in last week


Next up for the remaining TOP 5 Idols — British Week, which we’ve had various twists on this theme in recent years with  Rolling Stones Week,  Beatles Week and  Lennon-McCartney Songbook Week. But the last time we’ve had a 'British Invasion Week' was back in Season 6, when Blake Lewis took on "Time of the Season" by the Zombies, and did such an awesome rendition it seemed for sure that would be his first single.

So as we head into British Invasion Week and tonight's performances , here are my TOP 5 RANKINGS :

1. JESSICA SANCHEZ - I still think she's got the best voice and overall talent, plus I think this is the year that a girl takes the title. If she's not in the Finals, then once again, America just doesn't know talent when they see or hear it!
2. JOSHUA LEDET- He's much better vocally than Phillip Phillips, light years ahead of him in fact, and will have a spot in the Finals in three more weeks.......or my name's not Eddie Idol!
3. PHILLIP PHILLIPS- He's yet to land in the dreaded Bottom 3, even though the last 3-4 weeks he's been mediocre at best on the stage with his performances. He's got a huge fan base, which will keep him in it until it's a choice between he and Joshua for which guy gets the most votes to get to the finals.
4. HOLLIE CAVANAUGH- She's survived the 'Bottom 3' a record 4 times, and maybe this is the week her luck runs out, but I still think she is better and stronger vocally than Skylar Laine, and I have her ranked here by the slimmest of margins over Skylar. 
5. SKYLAR LAINE- I'll give her the edge over Hollie for likability and stage presence, but not vocally, which is why I have her 5th. But I won't be shocked if she's still around for a few more weeks, as I think she has a strong fan base out there with all the C+W folks voting.

What’s your TOP 5 Rankings look like? Who’s your pick for the FINALS and to win it all?

Based on the last few weeks, it will certainly be very interesting to see who lands in the bottom three this week and to see who gets eliminated. More from Eddie Idol after tonight's Idol 'FAB 5' performances on FOX!