Sun, Jun 8, 2008
"Nashville Star" - Season 6 Premiere - June 9, 2008
USA's "American Idol"-style talent competition moves over to big sister network NBC for its sixth season.
New host Billy Ray Cyrus informs us that the search for the next music superstar starts now.
We get shots of crazed auditioners and meet the judges: folk-pop gone country star Jewel, songwriter Jeffrey Steele, producer John Rich of Big and Rich (and producer of Jewel's new country album "Perfectly Clear.")
Credits- a zippy sequence that flies over an animated crowd - including waving flags and cowboy hats- up to a stage where a lone man is playing for the masses. (Hmm, no female counterpart?)
Billy Ray tells us that the top 50 will go to the top 12 and that Taylor Swift will be performing.
Auditions: We get shots of crowds in Pittsburg (sic), Denver, Charlotte, Austin, Tallahassee, Houston, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Nashville. Contestants line dance, cry, sing together, cry, barbecue, and cry. Apparently, the show is looking for trios and duos as well as soloists. We hear snippets of each type good and bad.
We get a shout out to the armed forces and this year the show held auditions on the U.S.S. Virginia. Apparently, some of the soldiers and marines think Billy Ray Cyrus is a legend. He sings his song "Some Gave All"- about the ultimate sacrifice- for them. It's very touching. Then the military folks audition. They only show the good ones thankfully.
Back in the studio Cyrus gives a shout out to the military.
We are formally introduced to the judges the three J's: Jewel (an edgier Paula Abdul-type), Rich (the Cowell-esque blunt talker), bassist and songwriter Steele - who's written songs for Cyrus, Leann Rimes, Rascal Flatts, and Faith Hill among others- holding down the Randy Jackson role.
We get a clip package of the top 50 arriving to Nashville- this show's version of Hollywood- for "Judgement Day."
We get little snippets of good and bad - boring, tight, fake accents, oddly lots of covers of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away"- and Rich telling one geeky contestant "there's a very good chance that someone would beat the crap out of you on the Grand Ole Opry." Ah, Nashville, so welcoming to those outside of the cookie-cutter's edges. They come out to tell the remaining contestants to buck up.
Some start to shine: a cute black cowboy, a snazzy trio, a couple of good duos. The judges go over the photos, Jewel and Rich butt heads a bit. (Setting the tone perhaps?)
Top 12: They're introduced via a group sing as each one comes out singing a line from "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane, and more recently Rascal Flatts. Unlike "Idol" the judges stand, dance, clap, and singalong, Jewel's even strumming a guitar.
Charley Jenkins, 29, Roosevelt, Utah (the one who sounded tight) Tommy Stanley, 22, USS Kitty Hawk (although certainly he wasn't born there) Gabe Garcia, 28, Lytle, Texas (one of the ones who "Drift-ed Away") Coffey, 28, Bangs, Texas (the black cowboy) Justin Gaston, 19, Pineville, Louisiana (a male model looking dude) Alyson Gilbert, 28, Jackson, Tennessee (a spirited redhead) Third Town: a trio with Toni, 35, Toni, 29, and Jeff, 37 Las Vegas, Nevada Melissa Lawson, 32 Arlington, Texas (a cute, plus-sized gal) Laura & Sophie, best friends, 18 and 16 respectively, Eastlake, Ohio Pearl Heart: a sister act trio with Angela, 21, Amy, 21, and Courtney, 17, Florissant, Missouri Ashlee Hewitt, 20, Lancaster, Minnesota (a pretty blond for whom this song is either pitched too low or she's just not a very strong singer) Shawn Mayer, 21, May City, Iowa (a striking brunette with the same problem)
Performance: Taylor Swift, "Picture to Burn." Swift tries to give her all to this teenage girl scorned anthem but honestly she seems breathless and a little flat throughout. She looks super cute in her Nashville-goth black dress though.
John Rich points out to the contestants that Swift's sensibilities are unparalleled right now which is why she's the hottest thing in "our format." He thinks she kicks country ass. Steele wants that from the contestants. Swift's advice to the contestants is to figure out what makes them different and treat people with respect because a performer is nothing without fans.
Cyrus tells us what the winner will receive: a Warner Brothers recording contract, an AEG Live concert tour, a Toyota truck, and a performance at the 2008 summer Olympics. (Way to cross-promote, NBC!) Tonight, one contestant will be eliminated by the judges after the performances and then America gets to vote.
Contestant #1: Pearl Heart
Video: They're sisters and music is their passion. Their parents moved to Nashville to help them pursue the dream. They finish each other's sentences, they're cute.
Song: "Wide Open Spaces," Dixie Chicks
Performance: They sound pretty good, the little one who sings lead overdoes it a little, but overall a good start.
Jeffrey: He loves their family harmonies and sense of oneness.
John: Incredibly good.
Jewel: Is in love with them but wants to see the little one work more on being a frontwoman, she wants them to murder people, musically speaking that is.
Contestant #2: Tommy Stanley
Video: We see him work as an engineer and write songs on Kitty Hawk. His parents are supportive.
Song: "Walking In Memphis," Marc Cohn
Performance: Tommy does a jaunty, countrified version of this, upping the tempo, maybe a little too much, it feels like he's rushing. He's cute but not compelling, he seems nervous but sounds good in general.
Jeffrey: Thinks he has the crowd but still isn't sold, reveals he was his worst critic during the auditions. Thinks he has talent in a Keith Urban vein but isn't there yet.
John: Believes he made a mistake by oversinging and he felt like his nerves took over the melody. But says he should be proud of himself.
Jewel: Disagrees a little bit and does so with a suddenly Southern accent. She likes what he did.
Cyrus thanks him for serving our country.
Contestant #3: Shawn Mayer
Video: She's a motorcycle mama, part-time mechanic, hog farmer, and volunteer firefighter. She left her boyfriend behind and she's country to the bone. She cries.
Song: "Piece of My Heart," Janis Joplin
Performance: She does it in the Faith Hill vein with a little more grit, she comes on a little strong, angry, desperate, and wild. She sounds okay though.
Jeffrey: Thinks she's great but wants her to be even better.
John: Felt like she was singing in a bar not on national TV.
Jewel: Knows she has the notes - and proceeds to sing a few of her own- and tells her not to be afraid to stretch the range.
Contestant #4: Third Town
Video: They have been playing for 14 years, they're the oldest in the competition, but they're ready for the challenge.
Song: "Elvira," Oak Ridge Boys
Performance: Kind of a hokey song choice but they're cute and old time country fans will dig it. Again the lead singer is overdoing it both walking around and haranguing the audience to have a good time, exuding that same nervous energy. They sound great though and the bass singer is most impressive on the "oom-pa-pa mow-mows."
Jeffrey: He feels like he's at the county fair.
John: His question is who's the lead singer, they say they all are, he thinks that's a problem. Wants one identifiable sound.
Jewel: Thinks they're good at getting the crowd going but they need to figure out how to make them a modern act.
Contestant #5: Coffey
Video: Is a single dad with an adorable little girl. Is going to put his best foot forward.
Song: "Drift Away," Dobie Gray
Performance: God, these people love this song. I used to love this song. He way oversings the intro. He has a pretty voice with nice bits of grit, he sounds nervous and trembly in places. He exhorts the crowd to singalong. They do. He ends on a nice falsetto flight.
Cyrus advises Coffey to not let his daughter go into show business. Not sure why, it seems to have worked out pretty well for him.
Jeffrey: Had a few pitch issues. He's got a thing he loves and needs him to calm down a little.
John: Is the best thing hes seen so far.
Jewel: When Jeffrey says the thing about pitch, she screeches "what??" And Rich points out that since they just made a record together he knows that she has pitch issues too. (It's super rude but incredibly entertaining in a "no you didn't!" way). She says, to Rich I think, "when you can hit half the notes I can hit you can fricking talk to me, you no-singing son of a gun." She says he has a one octave (and pronounces it awk-tayve) range. Ooh, feisty. Steele claims he can hit all those notes.
Contestant #6: Laura & Sophie
Video: They have been BFFs for seven years. They don't date or go out they just sing. They think it's fate that they met. They're determined.
Song: "Stand By Your Man," Tammy Wynette
Performance: They switch off the lines then come together in the chorus. They sound great, perfect harmonies. I think Rich may have a problem with switching off though. They seem a little nervous but it doesn't mar the performance.
Jeffrey: Great, great singing.
John: It's hard to come up with a criticism.
Jewel: Thinks they're great but wants them to include the crowd in the friendship.
Contestant #7: Gabe Garcia
Video: He shows us his supportive family in the backyard. He wants to represent for the Hispanic community in country music since there are so many fans and so few mainstream, popular musicians.
Song: "All My Ex-es Live in Texas," George Strait
Performance: He's a classic country hat act with a strong smooth tenor. Rich is thrilled with his choice and he and Jewel do a little dance.
Jeffrey: Wants to get him creased Wranglers and a starched shirt because he has a shot.
John: Says whoever becomes the next Nashville Star is going into the studio with him and says his voice is pure country and would love to record it.
Jewel: Thinks it's exciting he's here and loved his song.
Contestant #8: Alyson Gilbert
Video: She loves music and animals and is studying animal science in college. We see her shear sheep. She's got amazing cheekbones and dimples, she looks a little like a glamorous young Reba.
Song: "Suds in the Bucket," Sara Evans
Performance: She's a little busy with her big eyes and hand movements and she drops a note here and there but she has a winning way about her.
Jeffrey: Thinks it's all great: the voice, the look. She reminds him of Martina McBride and says to individualize herself.
John: Thinks Jeff's a little deaf because even though the ending was strong the start was shaky and asks if he's wrong. Thinks she overdid it like a pageant contestant. He's concerned because she was good not great.
Jewel: She agrees, and says she's not trying to mock her and then proceeds to mock her by singing the song with the big eyes like Alyson did, she wants to have it coming from the gut.
Contestant #9: Ashlee Hewitt
Video: She has 12 brothers and sisters and lives on a ranch. Her dad is in Iraq.
Song: "Bubbly," Colbie Caillat
Performance: She countries it up and it feels like she's overdoing the accent a bit, but she has a gentleness and nice trills her voice, which is a bit Jewel-like. Very pleasant.
Jeffrey: Agrees with Jewel that there's something there and hopes she makes it to the next round.
John: He loved that it was simple and he felt it.
Jewel: Likes her sincerity and sweetness and needs to showcase her voice going forward.
Contestant #10: Charley Jenkins
Video: He's a real cowboy, roping and riding all his life. His dad died of cancer recently. He's a hard worker.
Song: "I Like It, I Love It," Tim McGraw
Performance: Another classic country hat act voice, this time a baritone. He seems a little nervous and stiff as he walks around but he's sweet and has charm even if the performance is a little karaoke.
Jeffrey: He hated it and wanted no more of it even though he liked his voice.
John: Likes him a lot and his voice but doesn't love it that he ran around like a Garth Brooks impersonator in Vegas.
Jewel: Liked that he came out to the crowd but didn't love it since he was stiff and goofy with his body.
(Charley doesnt look to take criticism too well)
Contestant #11: Justin Gaston
Video: He is in fact a male model, but wants to be a musician.
Song: "Drops of Jupiter," Train
Performance: He is in fact, superhot. He sounds pretty good. Jewel looks charmed. He makes an ill-advised Up With People arm movement, twice. He's a little too laid-back. The camera loves him and he loves it back.
Cyrus says he feels old and ugly standing next to him.
Jeffrey: Didn't like the performance. Jewel wants to know why.
John: Thought it was pitchy but loved hearing it as a country song, thinks it worked. Says the singing was shaky.
Jewel: Thinks he needs to woodshed. Liked the song choice but says when you look that good you're going to have to sing that much better.
Contestant #12: Melissa Lawson
Video: She has five kids and looks like she's lost a little weight since the auditions. She wants to show America that you don't have to be a size 6 to be a superstar.
Song: "Something To Talk About," Bonnie Raitt
Performance: She's got a great big voice, the start is a little low but the meat of it sounds strong. She's not afraid to move her body around. The best pure vocal performance of the night and she's got great spark.
Jeffrey: Calls it a grand slam.
John: He couldn't stop looking at her and tells her it won't be her going home tonight.
Jewel: Wow. Loves her attitude and says Mick Jagger could learn a few moves from her.
Bottom Two: Charley Jenkins, Alyson Gilbert
Voted Off: Steele votes to send Charley home, Rich votes for Alyson, Jewel breaks the tie and sends Charley home.
Charley says he loves country music and wishes the remaining competitors good luck and tells people to stay tuned.
USA's "American Idol"-style talent competition moves over to big sister network NBC for its sixth season.
New host Billy Ray Cyrus informs us that the search for the next music superstar starts now.
We get shots of crazed auditioners and meet the judges: folk-pop gone country star Jewel, songwriter Jeffrey Steele, producer John Rich of Big and Rich (and producer of Jewel's new country album "Perfectly Clear.")
Credits- a zippy sequence that flies over an animated crowd - including waving flags and cowboy hats- up to a stage where a lone man is playing for the masses. (Hmm, no female counterpart?)
Billy Ray tells us that the top 50 will go to the top 12 and that Taylor Swift will be performing.
Auditions: We get shots of crowds in Pittsburg (sic), Denver, Charlotte, Austin, Tallahassee, Houston, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Nashville. Contestants line dance, cry, sing together, cry, barbecue, and cry. Apparently, the show is looking for trios and duos as well as soloists. We hear snippets of each type good and bad.
We get a shout out to the armed forces and this year the show held auditions on the U.S.S. Virginia. Apparently, some of the soldiers and marines think Billy Ray Cyrus is a legend. He sings his song "Some Gave All"- about the ultimate sacrifice- for them. It's very touching. Then the military folks audition. They only show the good ones thankfully.
Back in the studio Cyrus gives a shout out to the military.
We are formally introduced to the judges the three J's: Jewel (an edgier Paula Abdul-type), Rich (the Cowell-esque blunt talker), bassist and songwriter Steele - who's written songs for Cyrus, Leann Rimes, Rascal Flatts, and Faith Hill among others- holding down the Randy Jackson role.
We get a clip package of the top 50 arriving to Nashville- this show's version of Hollywood- for "Judgement Day."
We get little snippets of good and bad - boring, tight, fake accents, oddly lots of covers of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away"- and Rich telling one geeky contestant "there's a very good chance that someone would beat the crap out of you on the Grand Ole Opry." Ah, Nashville, so welcoming to those outside of the cookie-cutter's edges. They come out to tell the remaining contestants to buck up.
Some start to shine: a cute black cowboy, a snazzy trio, a couple of good duos. The judges go over the photos, Jewel and Rich butt heads a bit. (Setting the tone perhaps?)
Top 12: They're introduced via a group sing as each one comes out singing a line from "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane, and more recently Rascal Flatts. Unlike "Idol" the judges stand, dance, clap, and singalong, Jewel's even strumming a guitar.
Charley Jenkins, 29, Roosevelt, Utah (the one who sounded tight) Tommy Stanley, 22, USS Kitty Hawk (although certainly he wasn't born there) Gabe Garcia, 28, Lytle, Texas (one of the ones who "Drift-ed Away") Coffey, 28, Bangs, Texas (the black cowboy) Justin Gaston, 19, Pineville, Louisiana (a male model looking dude) Alyson Gilbert, 28, Jackson, Tennessee (a spirited redhead) Third Town: a trio with Toni, 35, Toni, 29, and Jeff, 37 Las Vegas, Nevada Melissa Lawson, 32 Arlington, Texas (a cute, plus-sized gal) Laura & Sophie, best friends, 18 and 16 respectively, Eastlake, Ohio Pearl Heart: a sister act trio with Angela, 21, Amy, 21, and Courtney, 17, Florissant, Missouri Ashlee Hewitt, 20, Lancaster, Minnesota (a pretty blond for whom this song is either pitched too low or she's just not a very strong singer) Shawn Mayer, 21, May City, Iowa (a striking brunette with the same problem)
Performance: Taylor Swift, "Picture to Burn." Swift tries to give her all to this teenage girl scorned anthem but honestly she seems breathless and a little flat throughout. She looks super cute in her Nashville-goth black dress though.
John Rich points out to the contestants that Swift's sensibilities are unparalleled right now which is why she's the hottest thing in "our format." He thinks she kicks country ass. Steele wants that from the contestants. Swift's advice to the contestants is to figure out what makes them different and treat people with respect because a performer is nothing without fans.
Cyrus tells us what the winner will receive: a Warner Brothers recording contract, an AEG Live concert tour, a Toyota truck, and a performance at the 2008 summer Olympics. (Way to cross-promote, NBC!) Tonight, one contestant will be eliminated by the judges after the performances and then America gets to vote.
Contestant #1: Pearl Heart
Video: They're sisters and music is their passion. Their parents moved to Nashville to help them pursue the dream. They finish each other's sentences, they're cute.
Song: "Wide Open Spaces," Dixie Chicks
Performance: They sound pretty good, the little one who sings lead overdoes it a little, but overall a good start.
Jeffrey: He loves their family harmonies and sense of oneness.
John: Incredibly good.
Jewel: Is in love with them but wants to see the little one work more on being a frontwoman, she wants them to murder people, musically speaking that is.
Contestant #2: Tommy Stanley
Video: We see him work as an engineer and write songs on Kitty Hawk. His parents are supportive.
Song: "Walking In Memphis," Marc Cohn
Performance: Tommy does a jaunty, countrified version of this, upping the tempo, maybe a little too much, it feels like he's rushing. He's cute but not compelling, he seems nervous but sounds good in general.
Jeffrey: Thinks he has the crowd but still isn't sold, reveals he was his worst critic during the auditions. Thinks he has talent in a Keith Urban vein but isn't there yet.
John: Believes he made a mistake by oversinging and he felt like his nerves took over the melody. But says he should be proud of himself.
Jewel: Disagrees a little bit and does so with a suddenly Southern accent. She likes what he did.
Cyrus thanks him for serving our country.
Contestant #3: Shawn Mayer
Video: She's a motorcycle mama, part-time mechanic, hog farmer, and volunteer firefighter. She left her boyfriend behind and she's country to the bone. She cries.
Song: "Piece of My Heart," Janis Joplin
Performance: She does it in the Faith Hill vein with a little more grit, she comes on a little strong, angry, desperate, and wild. She sounds okay though.
Jeffrey: Thinks she's great but wants her to be even better.
John: Felt like she was singing in a bar not on national TV.
Jewel: Knows she has the notes - and proceeds to sing a few of her own- and tells her not to be afraid to stretch the range.
Contestant #4: Third Town
Video: They have been playing for 14 years, they're the oldest in the competition, but they're ready for the challenge.
Song: "Elvira," Oak Ridge Boys
Performance: Kind of a hokey song choice but they're cute and old time country fans will dig it. Again the lead singer is overdoing it both walking around and haranguing the audience to have a good time, exuding that same nervous energy. They sound great though and the bass singer is most impressive on the "oom-pa-pa mow-mows."
Jeffrey: He feels like he's at the county fair.
John: His question is who's the lead singer, they say they all are, he thinks that's a problem. Wants one identifiable sound.
Jewel: Thinks they're good at getting the crowd going but they need to figure out how to make them a modern act.
Contestant #5: Coffey
Video: Is a single dad with an adorable little girl. Is going to put his best foot forward.
Song: "Drift Away," Dobie Gray
Performance: God, these people love this song. I used to love this song. He way oversings the intro. He has a pretty voice with nice bits of grit, he sounds nervous and trembly in places. He exhorts the crowd to singalong. They do. He ends on a nice falsetto flight.
Cyrus advises Coffey to not let his daughter go into show business. Not sure why, it seems to have worked out pretty well for him.
Jeffrey: Had a few pitch issues. He's got a thing he loves and needs him to calm down a little.
John: Is the best thing hes seen so far.
Jewel: When Jeffrey says the thing about pitch, she screeches "what??" And Rich points out that since they just made a record together he knows that she has pitch issues too. (It's super rude but incredibly entertaining in a "no you didn't!" way). She says, to Rich I think, "when you can hit half the notes I can hit you can fricking talk to me, you no-singing son of a gun." She says he has a one octave (and pronounces it awk-tayve) range. Ooh, feisty. Steele claims he can hit all those notes.
Contestant #6: Laura & Sophie
Video: They have been BFFs for seven years. They don't date or go out they just sing. They think it's fate that they met. They're determined.
Song: "Stand By Your Man," Tammy Wynette
Performance: They switch off the lines then come together in the chorus. They sound great, perfect harmonies. I think Rich may have a problem with switching off though. They seem a little nervous but it doesn't mar the performance.
Jeffrey: Great, great singing.
John: It's hard to come up with a criticism.
Jewel: Thinks they're great but wants them to include the crowd in the friendship.
Contestant #7: Gabe Garcia
Video: He shows us his supportive family in the backyard. He wants to represent for the Hispanic community in country music since there are so many fans and so few mainstream, popular musicians.
Song: "All My Ex-es Live in Texas," George Strait
Performance: He's a classic country hat act with a strong smooth tenor. Rich is thrilled with his choice and he and Jewel do a little dance.
Jeffrey: Wants to get him creased Wranglers and a starched shirt because he has a shot.
John: Says whoever becomes the next Nashville Star is going into the studio with him and says his voice is pure country and would love to record it.
Jewel: Thinks it's exciting he's here and loved his song.
Contestant #8: Alyson Gilbert
Video: She loves music and animals and is studying animal science in college. We see her shear sheep. She's got amazing cheekbones and dimples, she looks a little like a glamorous young Reba.
Song: "Suds in the Bucket," Sara Evans
Performance: She's a little busy with her big eyes and hand movements and she drops a note here and there but she has a winning way about her.
Jeffrey: Thinks it's all great: the voice, the look. She reminds him of Martina McBride and says to individualize herself.
John: Thinks Jeff's a little deaf because even though the ending was strong the start was shaky and asks if he's wrong. Thinks she overdid it like a pageant contestant. He's concerned because she was good not great.
Jewel: She agrees, and says she's not trying to mock her and then proceeds to mock her by singing the song with the big eyes like Alyson did, she wants to have it coming from the gut.
Contestant #9: Ashlee Hewitt
Video: She has 12 brothers and sisters and lives on a ranch. Her dad is in Iraq.
Song: "Bubbly," Colbie Caillat
Performance: She countries it up and it feels like she's overdoing the accent a bit, but she has a gentleness and nice trills her voice, which is a bit Jewel-like. Very pleasant.
Jeffrey: Agrees with Jewel that there's something there and hopes she makes it to the next round.
John: He loved that it was simple and he felt it.
Jewel: Likes her sincerity and sweetness and needs to showcase her voice going forward.
Contestant #10: Charley Jenkins
Video: He's a real cowboy, roping and riding all his life. His dad died of cancer recently. He's a hard worker.
Song: "I Like It, I Love It," Tim McGraw
Performance: Another classic country hat act voice, this time a baritone. He seems a little nervous and stiff as he walks around but he's sweet and has charm even if the performance is a little karaoke.
Jeffrey: He hated it and wanted no more of it even though he liked his voice.
John: Likes him a lot and his voice but doesn't love it that he ran around like a Garth Brooks impersonator in Vegas.
Jewel: Liked that he came out to the crowd but didn't love it since he was stiff and goofy with his body.
(Charley doesnt look to take criticism too well)
Contestant #11: Justin Gaston
Video: He is in fact a male model, but wants to be a musician.
Song: "Drops of Jupiter," Train
Performance: He is in fact, superhot. He sounds pretty good. Jewel looks charmed. He makes an ill-advised Up With People arm movement, twice. He's a little too laid-back. The camera loves him and he loves it back.
Cyrus says he feels old and ugly standing next to him.
Jeffrey: Didn't like the performance. Jewel wants to know why.
John: Thought it was pitchy but loved hearing it as a country song, thinks it worked. Says the singing was shaky.
Jewel: Thinks he needs to woodshed. Liked the song choice but says when you look that good you're going to have to sing that much better.
Contestant #12: Melissa Lawson
Video: She has five kids and looks like she's lost a little weight since the auditions. She wants to show America that you don't have to be a size 6 to be a superstar.
Song: "Something To Talk About," Bonnie Raitt
Performance: She's got a great big voice, the start is a little low but the meat of it sounds strong. She's not afraid to move her body around. The best pure vocal performance of the night and she's got great spark.
Jeffrey: Calls it a grand slam.
John: He couldn't stop looking at her and tells her it won't be her going home tonight.
Jewel: Wow. Loves her attitude and says Mick Jagger could learn a few moves from her.
Bottom Two: Charley Jenkins, Alyson Gilbert
Voted Off: Steele votes to send Charley home, Rich votes for Alyson, Jewel breaks the tie and sends Charley home.
Charley says he loves country music and wishes the remaining competitors good luck and tells people to stay tuned.
Sun, Jun 15, 2008
"Nashville Star" - Top Eleven Performance Show - June 16, 2008
Host Billy Ray Cyrus announces that we're live and this is "Nashville Star."
Apparently, Cyrus wasn't enough in the hosting department and Katie Cook has been added to introduce him and occasionally throw to commercial. She's like his own personal Dunkelman.
Cyrus tells us that last week was awesome and tonight apparently is going to be even bigger.
The contestants were divided into groups: Men, women, and groups and each one was given a judge as a mentor for the rest of the competition.
The girls get John Rich, the boys get Jewel, the groups get Jeffrey Steele, which he didn't want because he finds it hard to focus them. Now the judges are also part of the competition as rival mentors and they talk trash about each other.
Cyrus tells us last week's votes have been tallied and that the last two artists called out tonight will be up for elimination. As each group is called up we get a video recap of last week and the mentors talking to them.
Contestant #1: Laura & Sophie (the cute BFF teens)
Song: "Rocking With the Rhythm in the Rain," The Judds
Video: Jeffrey counsels them to let the viewers in on their friendship.
Performance: They do this by starting off back to back and moving to different sides of the stage and coming back together. They sound pretty good but a bit out of sync harmony-wise sometimes.
John: Thought they did a great job. But since they're so young wants to hear songs that are more their age.
Jewel: She adds she's worried about them singing songs they're not already comfortable with since they've been singing that one together for years.
Jeffrey: Still feels like he's at a slumber party. He says good job but wants to see them step it up going forward.
The girls tell Billy Ray that it was amazing working with Jeffrey.
Contestant #2: Ashlee Hewitt (the pretty blonde)
Song: "Ring of Fire," Johnny Cash
Video: He says the challenge with Ashlee is getting her to come out of herself.
Performance: Strumming her guitar she's still gving off the coffeehouse/Colbie Caillat vibe, she sounds good enough and she pushes it a little bit showing off more power than last week and a nice little yodel in her voice.
Jeffrey: Says he closed his eyes wondering if he could picture her singing in front of a million people, and he says there was a lot of fire on that ring of fire.
Jewel: Liked her changing it up, using her capo, and rocking with the guitar behind her back.
John: He expected something good and got something better. He tells her to listen to Jewel's new record - which he produced- since she's the reigning queen of folk-country.
Contestant #3: Justin Gaston (male model dude)
Song: "Hey There Delilah," Plain White T's
Video: Mentor Jewel wants Justin to hurt her and bring his heart into the lyrics
Performance: He looks really tentative and as if he's reading off a teleprompter, but perhaps he's just gazing at Jewel, who makes him nervous. He's strumming his guitar, seems nervous, and is hitting some bad notes. It's a nice rolling and tumbling arrrangement of the song. He ends with a smoldering stare. He was better last week.
Jeffrey: He says his performance stepped up but he's not sure about him.
John: He tells him man to man that he comes off very sweet, not in a good way. He asks Jewel if she actually mentored him or just made out with him for 30 minutes. (After Jewel talks John adds he doesn't believe Justin deserves to be in the competition.)
Jewel: She tells John he's just jealous. She agrees that he's sweet and that he should be who he is, which is sweet. She agrees that some of it was off-key and says that it's not that he can't sing but that he needs to get control of his singing.
Contestant #4: Alyson Gilbert (pageant girl who looks like Reba)
Song: "Every Breath You Take," The Police
Video: John reiterates that she should've been gone last week- she had been in the bottom two- and tells her to try and be more comfortable and less pageant-y. They work on different keys.
Performance: A little pagaent-y with her arms and she oversings a little, but instead of going wide-eyed she crinkles her eyes intensely. She hits some bad notes though. The arrangement had a weird rhythm too that she wasn't quite in the pocket of.
Jeffrey: Says it was like two different performers from last week to this week. (Which is a compliment).
Jewel: Agrees it was much improved and tells her when in doubt do what Reba does and just be still and kind and accessible.
John: Notices she's crying a little and says those are "I just nailed it" tears.
Contestant #5: Pearl Heart (the sister trio that is Dixie Chicks-esque)
Song: "Who Says You Can't Go Home," Sugarland
Video: Jeffrey tells the front girl to own the stage and for them all to come out of their shells.
Performance: They're a little awkward, but endearingly so. They're rushing the beat, but the harmonies sound great though, especially when the instruments drop out and they rock it a cappella. Front girl sounds terrific but has some gawky Brooke White-type moves.
John: Calls it a vast improvement from last week. He says he'd normally give her a break because she's 17 but since she sounds great and Taylor Swift was 17 when she started and can rock the house, she should be able to also.
Jewel: Tells her she needs to take dance lessons to get more physical.
Jeffrey: Tells her she needs to focus on the song, not just sing the words because she can sing. And he tells her sisters to support her.
Contestant #6: Tommy Stanley (the sailor)
Song:"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)," Big & Rich
Video:Jewel tells him not to move too much which is Vegas-y. He says he knows he's taking a chance singing a John Rich song.
Performance:He's a little goofy with eyes and his arms which are stiff and he's singing so fast he's losing his breath - and the cameraman- a little. He's also pushing so hard that the notes are not real great. Rich is flattered though and he's playing along.
Jeffrey:Calls him a kiss-ass. Says it was a good job.
John: Says the ass-kissing worked. He jokes that Big Kenny is on hiatus and maybe they can hit the road together. Seriously though, he says Tommy's got a lot of potential and he's starting to feel him more. He wonders if any of the ladies on the show have fallen for this man in uniform yet. Tommy just smiles coyly.
Jewel:Says he's great and to not rush his phrasing.
Contestant #7:Gabe Garcia (the Hispanic Texan)
Song:"Have You Ever Seen the Rain," Credence Clearwater Revival
Video:Jewel tells him to engage the audience and not be so shy.
Performance:He tries to be engaging by smiling a lot but this is kind of a sad song right?
Jeffrey: (Who tends to talk while the audience is still clapping which makes him hard to hear). He thinks he still looks like a deer in the headlights tells him to just sing the song and not worry so much about the band and the arrangement and he's got a good shot.
Jewel: Tells him slow and steady wins the race and was glad to see him enjoying himself.
John: Tells him to turn his Texas on and the ladies will love him and that he did a good job.
Contestant #8:Shawn Mayer (the voluptuous brunette)
Song:"He Stopped Loving Her Today," George Jones
Video:She wants to prove she's not just a bar singer. She wants to prove she's special by performing the most beloved country song ever. John calls it dangerous but is impressed too.
Performance: She's very earnest and regretful. Her ambition outstrips her gift. She's a little shaky and hits some rough patches. It seems like an acting performance. The judges don't look psyched.
Jewel: Notices that she teared up and asks her how much she wants this. Shawn says John called her a crybaby but that her tears aren't fake and she wants to kiss the stage and she's living her dream and thanks the crowd. She works herself up and it does seem a little put on. Jewel says as a woman she needs to be kind to herself and that she thinks she has talent and that she did a good job.
Jeffrey: Wasn't sold on it. Says that she shouldn't be going for big "Star Search" notes on a song like that but let the words mean something. Jewel disagrees and thought she did let her voice illuminate the meaning.
John: He thought she climbed halfway up Mt. Everest and respects her taking on the challenge and says she can make it and that it was a good job.
Contestant #9: Coffey (the black cowboy)
Song:"Waiting on the World to Change," John Mayer
Video:He's excited to learn from Jewel. She tells him his vocal riffs need to mean something.
Performance:Strumming his electric he gets a little stiff with pointing arm movements. He sounds okay but it's very rehearsed, doesn't feel super in the moment. He does a short, not that impressive guitar solo. It's much blander than last week.
Jeffrey: He calls him Charlie. (Is that his first name?) He says when he looks at him, he likes his charisma, but when he closes his eyes he doesn't feel it musically.
John: He likes his singing but he hasn't heard who Coffey - which he pronounce Coff-ay- is yet because he's singing to much like Mayer and not enough like himself.
Jewel: Says he was a little stiff and wants him stick around another week to show people what he can do.
Guest Performance: Trace Adkins,"You're Gonna Miss This." Big, brawny Trace, does his big, brawny Trace thing, ballad-style. The contestants chime in choir-style on the last chorus and they sound kick-ass and Trace genuinely digs it and gives them a big hand at the end.
And with Coffey as the last safe contestant we know that the...
Bottom Two: ... is Melissa Lawson (the cute chubby girl with the big voice) and Third Town (the good but old-timey sounding male trio)
Contestant #10:Melissa Lawson
Song: "(You Make Feel Like) A Natural Woman," Carole King/Aretha Franklin
Video: John thinks she's good and could be even better. She hits a clunker during rehearsal and tells her to be careful as she's not Mariah Carey.
Performance:She starts strong but high. She's a little intense with the eyes. The edit is weird and although she hits the first big note she's slightly flat on the next two.
Jewel: Thinks America is crazy to put her bottom two and that she's one of the best singers. She notes that Aretha has a big voice and when Melissa went high it got a little thinner and to watch that.
John: Wants to know what she'd give herself on a scale of 1-10. She says knowing what she could do she'd give herself a 7 or 8. John tries to talk but...
Jeffrey:...interjects that 7 to 8 is not going to make it every week. He says she is a ten and needs to strive for it. John thinks she could get a job on Broadway in a snap but as far as country music she looked like she was acting to him just a little bit. John tells her to cut loose and be a real artist. She says the fans need to give her another chance.
Contestant #11: Third Town
Song:"Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen/"Mountain Music," Alabama
Video: Jeffrey thinks it's a huge risk and wants to talk them out of it. They think it's going to be great though and really show what they can do. (Really we've had a lot of familiar songs tonight but not a lot of actual, pure country songs, arrangements by the band notwithstanding and no matter how you shape it, this isn't a country song.) At the end they change their mind and go back to the more traditional Alabama song, which feeds into the old-timey complaint of last week.
Performance:The lead singer comes off kind of cartoony with his bed head and nasal voice. They do feel more like a group this week instead of 3 lead singers until the end when they go their separate ways again. They try to whip up the crowd and do a pretty good job. The end harmonies are tight.
John:He says that last week he asked them to pick a lead singer and they were still scattered. He says he asked Randy Owen of Alabama to watch the show tonight and that he probably just switched the channel. He throws up his hands.
Jewel:She says they didn't win her over even though they got the crowd, especially since she's seen Japanese karaoke singers get the crowd going.
Jeffrey: Is so glad they listened to him and changed their song. He thinks it's their best one yet and hopes it's not too late.
Eliminated: Third Town. They hug Melissa and graciously clap for her.
We get a video of their send off. Billy Ray tries to get them to Monday-morning quarterback it. They say they picked the wrong songs and even though the judges didn't like the three singer thing they hope America does. Billy Ray promises to check them out when he's in Vegas and calls them a class act.
Host Billy Ray Cyrus announces that we're live and this is "Nashville Star."
Apparently, Cyrus wasn't enough in the hosting department and Katie Cook has been added to introduce him and occasionally throw to commercial. She's like his own personal Dunkelman.
Cyrus tells us that last week was awesome and tonight apparently is going to be even bigger.
The contestants were divided into groups: Men, women, and groups and each one was given a judge as a mentor for the rest of the competition.
The girls get John Rich, the boys get Jewel, the groups get Jeffrey Steele, which he didn't want because he finds it hard to focus them. Now the judges are also part of the competition as rival mentors and they talk trash about each other.
Cyrus tells us last week's votes have been tallied and that the last two artists called out tonight will be up for elimination. As each group is called up we get a video recap of last week and the mentors talking to them.
Contestant #1: Laura & Sophie (the cute BFF teens)
Song: "Rocking With the Rhythm in the Rain," The Judds
Video: Jeffrey counsels them to let the viewers in on their friendship.
Performance: They do this by starting off back to back and moving to different sides of the stage and coming back together. They sound pretty good but a bit out of sync harmony-wise sometimes.
John: Thought they did a great job. But since they're so young wants to hear songs that are more their age.
Jewel: She adds she's worried about them singing songs they're not already comfortable with since they've been singing that one together for years.
Jeffrey: Still feels like he's at a slumber party. He says good job but wants to see them step it up going forward.
The girls tell Billy Ray that it was amazing working with Jeffrey.
Contestant #2: Ashlee Hewitt (the pretty blonde)
Song: "Ring of Fire," Johnny Cash
Video: He says the challenge with Ashlee is getting her to come out of herself.
Performance: Strumming her guitar she's still gving off the coffeehouse/Colbie Caillat vibe, she sounds good enough and she pushes it a little bit showing off more power than last week and a nice little yodel in her voice.
Jeffrey: Says he closed his eyes wondering if he could picture her singing in front of a million people, and he says there was a lot of fire on that ring of fire.
Jewel: Liked her changing it up, using her capo, and rocking with the guitar behind her back.
John: He expected something good and got something better. He tells her to listen to Jewel's new record - which he produced- since she's the reigning queen of folk-country.
Contestant #3: Justin Gaston (male model dude)
Song: "Hey There Delilah," Plain White T's
Video: Mentor Jewel wants Justin to hurt her and bring his heart into the lyrics
Performance: He looks really tentative and as if he's reading off a teleprompter, but perhaps he's just gazing at Jewel, who makes him nervous. He's strumming his guitar, seems nervous, and is hitting some bad notes. It's a nice rolling and tumbling arrrangement of the song. He ends with a smoldering stare. He was better last week.
Jeffrey: He says his performance stepped up but he's not sure about him.
John: He tells him man to man that he comes off very sweet, not in a good way. He asks Jewel if she actually mentored him or just made out with him for 30 minutes. (After Jewel talks John adds he doesn't believe Justin deserves to be in the competition.)
Jewel: She tells John he's just jealous. She agrees that he's sweet and that he should be who he is, which is sweet. She agrees that some of it was off-key and says that it's not that he can't sing but that he needs to get control of his singing.
Contestant #4: Alyson Gilbert (pageant girl who looks like Reba)
Song: "Every Breath You Take," The Police
Video: John reiterates that she should've been gone last week- she had been in the bottom two- and tells her to try and be more comfortable and less pageant-y. They work on different keys.
Performance: A little pagaent-y with her arms and she oversings a little, but instead of going wide-eyed she crinkles her eyes intensely. She hits some bad notes though. The arrangement had a weird rhythm too that she wasn't quite in the pocket of.
Jeffrey: Says it was like two different performers from last week to this week. (Which is a compliment).
Jewel: Agrees it was much improved and tells her when in doubt do what Reba does and just be still and kind and accessible.
John: Notices she's crying a little and says those are "I just nailed it" tears.
Contestant #5: Pearl Heart (the sister trio that is Dixie Chicks-esque)
Song: "Who Says You Can't Go Home," Sugarland
Video: Jeffrey tells the front girl to own the stage and for them all to come out of their shells.
Performance: They're a little awkward, but endearingly so. They're rushing the beat, but the harmonies sound great though, especially when the instruments drop out and they rock it a cappella. Front girl sounds terrific but has some gawky Brooke White-type moves.
John: Calls it a vast improvement from last week. He says he'd normally give her a break because she's 17 but since she sounds great and Taylor Swift was 17 when she started and can rock the house, she should be able to also.
Jewel: Tells her she needs to take dance lessons to get more physical.
Jeffrey: Tells her she needs to focus on the song, not just sing the words because she can sing. And he tells her sisters to support her.
Contestant #6: Tommy Stanley (the sailor)
Song:"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)," Big & Rich
Video:Jewel tells him not to move too much which is Vegas-y. He says he knows he's taking a chance singing a John Rich song.
Performance:He's a little goofy with eyes and his arms which are stiff and he's singing so fast he's losing his breath - and the cameraman- a little. He's also pushing so hard that the notes are not real great. Rich is flattered though and he's playing along.
Jeffrey:Calls him a kiss-ass. Says it was a good job.
John: Says the ass-kissing worked. He jokes that Big Kenny is on hiatus and maybe they can hit the road together. Seriously though, he says Tommy's got a lot of potential and he's starting to feel him more. He wonders if any of the ladies on the show have fallen for this man in uniform yet. Tommy just smiles coyly.
Jewel:Says he's great and to not rush his phrasing.
Contestant #7:Gabe Garcia (the Hispanic Texan)
Song:"Have You Ever Seen the Rain," Credence Clearwater Revival
Video:Jewel tells him to engage the audience and not be so shy.
Performance:He tries to be engaging by smiling a lot but this is kind of a sad song right?
Jeffrey: (Who tends to talk while the audience is still clapping which makes him hard to hear). He thinks he still looks like a deer in the headlights tells him to just sing the song and not worry so much about the band and the arrangement and he's got a good shot.
Jewel: Tells him slow and steady wins the race and was glad to see him enjoying himself.
John: Tells him to turn his Texas on and the ladies will love him and that he did a good job.
Contestant #8:Shawn Mayer (the voluptuous brunette)
Song:"He Stopped Loving Her Today," George Jones
Video:She wants to prove she's not just a bar singer. She wants to prove she's special by performing the most beloved country song ever. John calls it dangerous but is impressed too.
Performance: She's very earnest and regretful. Her ambition outstrips her gift. She's a little shaky and hits some rough patches. It seems like an acting performance. The judges don't look psyched.
Jewel: Notices that she teared up and asks her how much she wants this. Shawn says John called her a crybaby but that her tears aren't fake and she wants to kiss the stage and she's living her dream and thanks the crowd. She works herself up and it does seem a little put on. Jewel says as a woman she needs to be kind to herself and that she thinks she has talent and that she did a good job.
Jeffrey: Wasn't sold on it. Says that she shouldn't be going for big "Star Search" notes on a song like that but let the words mean something. Jewel disagrees and thought she did let her voice illuminate the meaning.
John: He thought she climbed halfway up Mt. Everest and respects her taking on the challenge and says she can make it and that it was a good job.
Contestant #9: Coffey (the black cowboy)
Song:"Waiting on the World to Change," John Mayer
Video:He's excited to learn from Jewel. She tells him his vocal riffs need to mean something.
Performance:Strumming his electric he gets a little stiff with pointing arm movements. He sounds okay but it's very rehearsed, doesn't feel super in the moment. He does a short, not that impressive guitar solo. It's much blander than last week.
Jeffrey: He calls him Charlie. (Is that his first name?) He says when he looks at him, he likes his charisma, but when he closes his eyes he doesn't feel it musically.
John: He likes his singing but he hasn't heard who Coffey - which he pronounce Coff-ay- is yet because he's singing to much like Mayer and not enough like himself.
Jewel: Says he was a little stiff and wants him stick around another week to show people what he can do.
Guest Performance: Trace Adkins,"You're Gonna Miss This." Big, brawny Trace, does his big, brawny Trace thing, ballad-style. The contestants chime in choir-style on the last chorus and they sound kick-ass and Trace genuinely digs it and gives them a big hand at the end.
And with Coffey as the last safe contestant we know that the...
Bottom Two: ... is Melissa Lawson (the cute chubby girl with the big voice) and Third Town (the good but old-timey sounding male trio)
Contestant #10:Melissa Lawson
Song: "(You Make Feel Like) A Natural Woman," Carole King/Aretha Franklin
Video: John thinks she's good and could be even better. She hits a clunker during rehearsal and tells her to be careful as she's not Mariah Carey.
Performance:She starts strong but high. She's a little intense with the eyes. The edit is weird and although she hits the first big note she's slightly flat on the next two.
Jewel: Thinks America is crazy to put her bottom two and that she's one of the best singers. She notes that Aretha has a big voice and when Melissa went high it got a little thinner and to watch that.
John: Wants to know what she'd give herself on a scale of 1-10. She says knowing what she could do she'd give herself a 7 or 8. John tries to talk but...
Jeffrey:...interjects that 7 to 8 is not going to make it every week. He says she is a ten and needs to strive for it. John thinks she could get a job on Broadway in a snap but as far as country music she looked like she was acting to him just a little bit. John tells her to cut loose and be a real artist. She says the fans need to give her another chance.
Contestant #11: Third Town
Song:"Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen/"Mountain Music," Alabama
Video: Jeffrey thinks it's a huge risk and wants to talk them out of it. They think it's going to be great though and really show what they can do. (Really we've had a lot of familiar songs tonight but not a lot of actual, pure country songs, arrangements by the band notwithstanding and no matter how you shape it, this isn't a country song.) At the end they change their mind and go back to the more traditional Alabama song, which feeds into the old-timey complaint of last week.
Performance:The lead singer comes off kind of cartoony with his bed head and nasal voice. They do feel more like a group this week instead of 3 lead singers until the end when they go their separate ways again. They try to whip up the crowd and do a pretty good job. The end harmonies are tight.
John:He says that last week he asked them to pick a lead singer and they were still scattered. He says he asked Randy Owen of Alabama to watch the show tonight and that he probably just switched the channel. He throws up his hands.
Jewel:She says they didn't win her over even though they got the crowd, especially since she's seen Japanese karaoke singers get the crowd going.
Jeffrey: Is so glad they listened to him and changed their song. He thinks it's their best one yet and hopes it's not too late.
Eliminated: Third Town. They hug Melissa and graciously clap for her.
We get a video of their send off. Billy Ray tries to get them to Monday-morning quarterback it. They say they picked the wrong songs and even though the judges didn't like the three singer thing they hope America does. Billy Ray promises to check them out when he's in Vegas and calls them a class act.
Sun, Jun 22, 2008
"Nashville Star" - Top Ten Performance Show - June 23, 2008
Apparently there are "Nashville Star" dancers now, they hoof it up as Dunkelwoman tells us that tonight the top ten will be putting a country spin on pop songs.
Billy Ray says this week they're doing things differently and calls out the names of Tommy Stanley and Gabe Garcia. One is a top vote-getter the other is in the bottom two. Tommy is in the bottom two. Gabe is safe through to next week and will sing first. For some reason Achy Breaky Billy thinks that this constitutes "one wild start." We're unsure why.
Group Sing: "Like a Prayer," Madonna. Melissa, the big girl, starts off really strong. It's not terribly country but it's nice. The group comes in, they make a very nice chorus. Tommy's up next and he has some trouble with the key. John Rich pumps his fist in approval. Alyson, the mini-Reba, does just fine. This is also not in a key that favors Gabe. Laura & Sophie are like butter though. A real choir comes down the aisles a-singing and-a clapping. Ashlee, the pretty blond, and Coffey, the black cowboy, do okay. Man-cake Justin looks good. Pearl Heart sound lovely and intense Shawn is the only one that actually sounds kind of country.
Video Package: Judges/mentors Jeffrey, John, and Jewel talk about this week's "pop goes country" challenge. John is taking his ladies to his bar. Jeffrey's taking the groups to his recording studio. Jewel is taking the boys to her appearance on Leno.
Contestant #1: Gabe Garcia
Song: "Livin' La Vida Loca," Ricky Martin
Video: A recap of last week. Gabe is psyched and thinks people will be surprised. Jewel wants him to be more outgoing by telling a story. He wants to inject a little Spanish flavor.
Performance: He smiles and looks confident. He sings it as if George Strait was singing it. It's a nice bouncy arrangement with dark undertones. We also get a snappy routine from the dancers. All of sudden it's "Solid Gold" up in here. He ends on a nice, big high note.
Jeffrey: He's still not seeing him too relaxed but he blew his mind.
John: Reminds him that they're both Texas guys and he thinks Gabe turned the Texas on, like he told him to last week.
Jewel: Reveals Gabe jumped at the chance to have the optional back-up dancers. Tells him he can loosen up more.
Contestant #2: Pearl Heart
Song: "Love Shack," The B-52s
Video: Recap of last week. Rehearsal with Jeffrey. He wants lead singer girl to be more confident when she says "knock a little louder, sugar." They practice in the mirror.
Performance: Very cutesy, like the B-52s channeled through the Dixie Chicks and the Andrews Sisters. They sound great and are a bit, if not a lot looser. The dancers high step it on side stages.
John: Thought it was great and that they look great. He saw them looking at each other nervously and it was distracting.
Jewel: Thought it was great but that standing together was cheating and eventually they'll have to separate. She tells Courtney to just be herself and authentic.
Jeffrey: He agrees with John, but calls it a great job.
Contestant #3: Alyson Gilbert
Song: "I Think We're Alone Now," Tiffany/Tommy James
Video: Recap of past performances. John wants Alyson to be consistent. John wants to make it rock. She wants it slow. So she's going down the middle.
Performance: She starts it slow sounding lovely. It speeds up going into the chorus but she's still singing it lightly. And she's not moving at all, just walking. She's not too pageanty anyway. It's kind of boring and not very sexy, which seems to be what she was going for.
Jewel: Wonders about her high heels and if they make her nervous. She thought it was pitchy.
Jeffrey: Says he's been waving her flag but he doesn't know who he's getting week to week. It was a little too pop for him.
John: He asks what she was doing. He says she took it to this "vanilla mediocre spot." He's still thinking she should've rocked it.
Contestant #4: Ashlee Hewitt
Song: "(You Drive Me) Crazy," Britney Spears
Video: Recaps. She's worried about bringing the energy up. John wants her to work the stage. She practices a lot.
Performance: She gives it a locomotive groove and a cutesy Taylor Swift-style vocal. It works pretty well thanks to its great melody and her charm.
Jewel: Sees a lot of herself in her, thought it was great, and wants her to not look so perfect.
Jeffrey: Saw that she looked a little uncomfortable and says not to worry because she's got the goods.
John: Sees her moving up on the arc and says it was good.
Papa Montana jokes it was so good that it made him want to shave his head.
Contestant #5: Coffey
Song: "Umbrella," Rihanna
Video: Recaps. Mentor Jewel needs him to be tender and sincere not just cute and charismatic. He's going to sing it for his daughter. He practiced a lot.
Performance: He beat boxes a little at the start. Panders to the crowd by saying "I'm in Nashville, Tennessee." Then he starts feeding the crowd the lyrics to help them singalong. He calls out his daughter's name. It's not very country, but it sounds good. He starts to pound on his guitar, calls out for more strings, asks the crowd to sing with him, beatboxes again. It's all very busy and chaotic. The crowd loves it, or at least the song.
Jeffrey: Says he knows they love him but if this is the real Coffey he's not on the train.
John: This is the guy he saw in the auditions and liked and calls him a country soul singer like John Anderson who is in the audience. Jeffrey argues that there was no country in the song.
Jewel: She warns him against the gimmicks. John asks what was gimmicky. She points out all of the above. John says he thought it kicked ass.
Contestant #6: Laura & Sophie
Song: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," Michael Jackson
Video: Recaps. They want to step it up. Jeffrey helps them with the arrangement and they love it. He wants to bottle their passion and get it onstage. The stress of the show is fraying their friendship a bit.
Performance: They're wearing way-too-cute ruffle dresses. The arrangement is working, if a little hokey and the harmonies are strong but only one of them is really working it stage and camera-wise.
John: Thinks they look like they should be on the top of the birthday cake. Thinks MJ should watch the show and remember how to sing that song. (Yikes!) His only problem musically with it was that he doesn't like the unison singing.
Jewel: Compliments Jeffrey's arrangement, liked them singing apart, thinks they look like cupcakes and thinks they're getting away from novelty act and into modernity.
Jeffrey: Thought it was fabulous and was blown away and thinks they need to come out of their shells more.
Doc agrees it was fabulous but in 2008 he is just now being disturbed by the idea of Michael Jackson singing a song called "Pretty Young Thing." Welcome to the party Billy!
Perfomance: Danity Kane sings its song "Damaged." Diddy's harem, er, singing group does its Pussycat Doll routine by doing a little so-so singing and a lot of posing and dancing.
Contestant #7: Shawn Mayer
Song: "Bye, Bye, Bye," N Sync
Video: Recaps. She believes in herself. John thinks it's a ballsy choice and he likes that about her, because he's like that. She's scared because it's coming off rock.
Performance: She starts it out slow like a ballad all sad, then turns sassy. She struts and strums and twangs it up to make it more country. Because the melody is so strong it works. (Those Swedes who write for the pop tarts and boy banders know from melody). She enlists the help of two of dancers, which doesn't totally work but the song, somewhat shockingly, does. The crowd digs it.
Jewel: Is shocked and impressed she went outside her comfort zone, was impressed with the dancing, and thought she really made it country. She liked that she was smiling since Jewel thinks she often seems sad.
Jeffrey: It wasn't very country to his ears. He wants to see the real her. He thinks it's going to be "Bye, Bye, Bye" for her. (I'd put my money on Alyson).
John: He thinks the most country and American thing about her is that she's not scared of anything. He doesn't think it was perfect or the best but she takes chances and if she can keep getting better she will do great.
Contestant #8: Melissa Lawson
Song: "True Colours," Cyndi Lauper
Video: Recaps. John says now it's about picking the right song. He likes her choice and thinks she's a great singer. She wants to countrify. She misses her kids.
Performance: God this song is beautiful. She does it as a piano ballad starting quietly. It doesn't feel super country but it sounds terrific and tender. For some reason she leaves off the last "like a rainbow." The crowd digs it.
Jewel: She thinks she's a great country singer.
Jeffrey: Wants to know what happened to her since she's selling herself as the plus-size contestant who doesn't care what people think and it looks like she lost about 40 pounds. (She's lost 67! Good for her!). Forget about the performance because it's a ten.
John: He says he likes to work not with great singers but great artists and she just showed she was one.
Contestant #9: Justin Gaston (the other half of the bottom two)
Song: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," Cyndi Lauper (again)
Video: Recaps. Jewel wants to help him project and sing out so he's not just beautiful but also actually sounds good. He practices, a lot.
Performance: He does it straight country and actually sounds pretty good. He looks super nervous though. The dancers are dancing in pajamas. He muffs the high note but recovers well and does a great speak-sing "hey girls, dont you want to have some fun?" call out at the end that is simultaneously old-timey country and kind of Dwight Yoakam-esque. It's playful but effective and a huge improvement.
John: Thought it was his best by far and thought he sounded country. Worries that it's too little, too late.
Jeffrey: He's eating the mean words he wrote about not buying his act, literally, by eating a piece of paper.
Jewel: Calls him most-improved, says he made it country and could tell he worked hard. She also hopes it's not too late. (This certainly seems like a flaw with this show, right?)
Contestant #10: Tommy Stanley
Song: "Maniac," Michael Sembello (from "Flashdance")
Video: Recaps. He believes in taking chances. Jewel wants to hear how he'll make it country. They work on trying to make the vocals country. He says its a struggle. (Probably because it's a terrible choice. Really, you have all of pop music to choose from and you choose this?)
Performance: He starts it as a piano ballad and then it's another fast singing one that has him rushing a bit. It starts to feel, not country, but, um, showtune-y, no matter how much pedal steel is on it. The writhing dancers don't make it any more country. He hits a big note at the end that sounds more Clay Aiken then Clay Walker.
Jeffrey: Loved the last note, but didn't get his country bone going on. (John wants to know what that means).
John: Says he sang it great but it was "pop goes pop." He wants to know if he can make a country record. Tommy says he can. Jeffrey interjects that he should've played his guitar.
Jewel: Observes that Justin out-country-ed him tonight and scolds him for not taking her notes. John wants to know how he feels knowing that Justin out-country-ed him. (With a Cyndi Lauper song no less.) Jewel says she doesn't know who she'd pick to go home now.
Going Home: Justin. Which is too bad because he was so much better. He gives his thanks and says he had a great time.
Final Thoughts: Jewel's heart is broken and she's so proud of him. John says he was tough on him and he doesn't think he's a great country singer but does think that he has greatness in him. Jeffrey has eaten his words so he has nothing to say.
Apparently there are "Nashville Star" dancers now, they hoof it up as Dunkelwoman tells us that tonight the top ten will be putting a country spin on pop songs.
Billy Ray says this week they're doing things differently and calls out the names of Tommy Stanley and Gabe Garcia. One is a top vote-getter the other is in the bottom two. Tommy is in the bottom two. Gabe is safe through to next week and will sing first. For some reason Achy Breaky Billy thinks that this constitutes "one wild start." We're unsure why.
Group Sing: "Like a Prayer," Madonna. Melissa, the big girl, starts off really strong. It's not terribly country but it's nice. The group comes in, they make a very nice chorus. Tommy's up next and he has some trouble with the key. John Rich pumps his fist in approval. Alyson, the mini-Reba, does just fine. This is also not in a key that favors Gabe. Laura & Sophie are like butter though. A real choir comes down the aisles a-singing and-a clapping. Ashlee, the pretty blond, and Coffey, the black cowboy, do okay. Man-cake Justin looks good. Pearl Heart sound lovely and intense Shawn is the only one that actually sounds kind of country.
Video Package: Judges/mentors Jeffrey, John, and Jewel talk about this week's "pop goes country" challenge. John is taking his ladies to his bar. Jeffrey's taking the groups to his recording studio. Jewel is taking the boys to her appearance on Leno.
Contestant #1: Gabe Garcia
Song: "Livin' La Vida Loca," Ricky Martin
Video: A recap of last week. Gabe is psyched and thinks people will be surprised. Jewel wants him to be more outgoing by telling a story. He wants to inject a little Spanish flavor.
Performance: He smiles and looks confident. He sings it as if George Strait was singing it. It's a nice bouncy arrangement with dark undertones. We also get a snappy routine from the dancers. All of sudden it's "Solid Gold" up in here. He ends on a nice, big high note.
Jeffrey: He's still not seeing him too relaxed but he blew his mind.
John: Reminds him that they're both Texas guys and he thinks Gabe turned the Texas on, like he told him to last week.
Jewel: Reveals Gabe jumped at the chance to have the optional back-up dancers. Tells him he can loosen up more.
Contestant #2: Pearl Heart
Song: "Love Shack," The B-52s
Video: Recap of last week. Rehearsal with Jeffrey. He wants lead singer girl to be more confident when she says "knock a little louder, sugar." They practice in the mirror.
Performance: Very cutesy, like the B-52s channeled through the Dixie Chicks and the Andrews Sisters. They sound great and are a bit, if not a lot looser. The dancers high step it on side stages.
John: Thought it was great and that they look great. He saw them looking at each other nervously and it was distracting.
Jewel: Thought it was great but that standing together was cheating and eventually they'll have to separate. She tells Courtney to just be herself and authentic.
Jeffrey: He agrees with John, but calls it a great job.
Contestant #3: Alyson Gilbert
Song: "I Think We're Alone Now," Tiffany/Tommy James
Video: Recap of past performances. John wants Alyson to be consistent. John wants to make it rock. She wants it slow. So she's going down the middle.
Performance: She starts it slow sounding lovely. It speeds up going into the chorus but she's still singing it lightly. And she's not moving at all, just walking. She's not too pageanty anyway. It's kind of boring and not very sexy, which seems to be what she was going for.
Jewel: Wonders about her high heels and if they make her nervous. She thought it was pitchy.
Jeffrey: Says he's been waving her flag but he doesn't know who he's getting week to week. It was a little too pop for him.
John: He asks what she was doing. He says she took it to this "vanilla mediocre spot." He's still thinking she should've rocked it.
Contestant #4: Ashlee Hewitt
Song: "(You Drive Me) Crazy," Britney Spears
Video: Recaps. She's worried about bringing the energy up. John wants her to work the stage. She practices a lot.
Performance: She gives it a locomotive groove and a cutesy Taylor Swift-style vocal. It works pretty well thanks to its great melody and her charm.
Jewel: Sees a lot of herself in her, thought it was great, and wants her to not look so perfect.
Jeffrey: Saw that she looked a little uncomfortable and says not to worry because she's got the goods.
John: Sees her moving up on the arc and says it was good.
Papa Montana jokes it was so good that it made him want to shave his head.
Contestant #5: Coffey
Song: "Umbrella," Rihanna
Video: Recaps. Mentor Jewel needs him to be tender and sincere not just cute and charismatic. He's going to sing it for his daughter. He practiced a lot.
Performance: He beat boxes a little at the start. Panders to the crowd by saying "I'm in Nashville, Tennessee." Then he starts feeding the crowd the lyrics to help them singalong. He calls out his daughter's name. It's not very country, but it sounds good. He starts to pound on his guitar, calls out for more strings, asks the crowd to sing with him, beatboxes again. It's all very busy and chaotic. The crowd loves it, or at least the song.
Jeffrey: Says he knows they love him but if this is the real Coffey he's not on the train.
John: This is the guy he saw in the auditions and liked and calls him a country soul singer like John Anderson who is in the audience. Jeffrey argues that there was no country in the song.
Jewel: She warns him against the gimmicks. John asks what was gimmicky. She points out all of the above. John says he thought it kicked ass.
Contestant #6: Laura & Sophie
Song: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," Michael Jackson
Video: Recaps. They want to step it up. Jeffrey helps them with the arrangement and they love it. He wants to bottle their passion and get it onstage. The stress of the show is fraying their friendship a bit.
Performance: They're wearing way-too-cute ruffle dresses. The arrangement is working, if a little hokey and the harmonies are strong but only one of them is really working it stage and camera-wise.
John: Thinks they look like they should be on the top of the birthday cake. Thinks MJ should watch the show and remember how to sing that song. (Yikes!) His only problem musically with it was that he doesn't like the unison singing.
Jewel: Compliments Jeffrey's arrangement, liked them singing apart, thinks they look like cupcakes and thinks they're getting away from novelty act and into modernity.
Jeffrey: Thought it was fabulous and was blown away and thinks they need to come out of their shells more.
Doc agrees it was fabulous but in 2008 he is just now being disturbed by the idea of Michael Jackson singing a song called "Pretty Young Thing." Welcome to the party Billy!
Perfomance: Danity Kane sings its song "Damaged." Diddy's harem, er, singing group does its Pussycat Doll routine by doing a little so-so singing and a lot of posing and dancing.
Contestant #7: Shawn Mayer
Song: "Bye, Bye, Bye," N Sync
Video: Recaps. She believes in herself. John thinks it's a ballsy choice and he likes that about her, because he's like that. She's scared because it's coming off rock.
Performance: She starts it out slow like a ballad all sad, then turns sassy. She struts and strums and twangs it up to make it more country. Because the melody is so strong it works. (Those Swedes who write for the pop tarts and boy banders know from melody). She enlists the help of two of dancers, which doesn't totally work but the song, somewhat shockingly, does. The crowd digs it.
Jewel: Is shocked and impressed she went outside her comfort zone, was impressed with the dancing, and thought she really made it country. She liked that she was smiling since Jewel thinks she often seems sad.
Jeffrey: It wasn't very country to his ears. He wants to see the real her. He thinks it's going to be "Bye, Bye, Bye" for her. (I'd put my money on Alyson).
John: He thinks the most country and American thing about her is that she's not scared of anything. He doesn't think it was perfect or the best but she takes chances and if she can keep getting better she will do great.
Contestant #8: Melissa Lawson
Song: "True Colours," Cyndi Lauper
Video: Recaps. John says now it's about picking the right song. He likes her choice and thinks she's a great singer. She wants to countrify. She misses her kids.
Performance: God this song is beautiful. She does it as a piano ballad starting quietly. It doesn't feel super country but it sounds terrific and tender. For some reason she leaves off the last "like a rainbow." The crowd digs it.
Jewel: She thinks she's a great country singer.
Jeffrey: Wants to know what happened to her since she's selling herself as the plus-size contestant who doesn't care what people think and it looks like she lost about 40 pounds. (She's lost 67! Good for her!). Forget about the performance because it's a ten.
John: He says he likes to work not with great singers but great artists and she just showed she was one.
Contestant #9: Justin Gaston (the other half of the bottom two)
Song: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," Cyndi Lauper (again)
Video: Recaps. Jewel wants to help him project and sing out so he's not just beautiful but also actually sounds good. He practices, a lot.
Performance: He does it straight country and actually sounds pretty good. He looks super nervous though. The dancers are dancing in pajamas. He muffs the high note but recovers well and does a great speak-sing "hey girls, dont you want to have some fun?" call out at the end that is simultaneously old-timey country and kind of Dwight Yoakam-esque. It's playful but effective and a huge improvement.
John: Thought it was his best by far and thought he sounded country. Worries that it's too little, too late.
Jeffrey: He's eating the mean words he wrote about not buying his act, literally, by eating a piece of paper.
Jewel: Calls him most-improved, says he made it country and could tell he worked hard. She also hopes it's not too late. (This certainly seems like a flaw with this show, right?)
Contestant #10: Tommy Stanley
Song: "Maniac," Michael Sembello (from "Flashdance")
Video: Recaps. He believes in taking chances. Jewel wants to hear how he'll make it country. They work on trying to make the vocals country. He says its a struggle. (Probably because it's a terrible choice. Really, you have all of pop music to choose from and you choose this?)
Performance: He starts it as a piano ballad and then it's another fast singing one that has him rushing a bit. It starts to feel, not country, but, um, showtune-y, no matter how much pedal steel is on it. The writhing dancers don't make it any more country. He hits a big note at the end that sounds more Clay Aiken then Clay Walker.
Jeffrey: Loved the last note, but didn't get his country bone going on. (John wants to know what that means).
John: Says he sang it great but it was "pop goes pop." He wants to know if he can make a country record. Tommy says he can. Jeffrey interjects that he should've played his guitar.
Jewel: Observes that Justin out-country-ed him tonight and scolds him for not taking her notes. John wants to know how he feels knowing that Justin out-country-ed him. (With a Cyndi Lauper song no less.) Jewel says she doesn't know who she'd pick to go home now.
Going Home: Justin. Which is too bad because he was so much better. He gives his thanks and says he had a great time.
Final Thoughts: Jewel's heart is broken and she's so proud of him. John says he was tough on him and he doesn't think he's a great country singer but does think that he has greatness in him. Jeffrey has eaten his words so he has nothing to say.
Sun, Jun 29, 2008
"Nashville Star" - Top Nine Perform - June 30, 2008
Dunkelwoman stands with the top nine and tells us they're all going to sing twice tonight.
In the audience:Randy Owen of Alabama; Vanessa Williams; Figure skater Scott Hamilton
In the "it's never too early to get them started" department Billy Ray's little daughter Noah introduces her dad and our host who informs us that it's "family night" on the show. The contestants haven't seen their families in a month and were surpised at their mentoring sessions when their relatives showed up en masse. They're also in the crowd waving signs for their kin.
Contestant #1:Ashlee Hewitt
Song#1: "Don't Stop Believin'," Journey
Video: Ashlee's dad, who was serving in Iraq, was able to come back and reunite with the whole, very large Hewitt family. John loves the idea of a Journey song, he says of her idea to start on the piano and throw on her guitar "wham, that's show business." He calls her an untapped natural resource and it's time to for her to show a whole lot more.
Performance: She starts at the piano, throws in one of those little sighing/hiccup things that is meant to connote "country." She grabs her guitar and sings. She doesn't have much pizzazz and she has a couple of trouble spots pitch-wise sliding up to notes but she's perfectly pleasant.
Jewel: Thought the move from piano to guitar was too clinical and that she needs to have some attitude and curb her nerves, but thought the singing was great.
Jeffrey: Calls it the Barbara Mandrell show since she played two instruments. Tells her it's about to get harder and to let nothing shake her confidence.
John: Thought she made the switch well, but she keeps starting weak and ending strong and he wants her to always start strong and end strong.
Song #2: "Help Me Make It Through the Night," Kris Kristofferson
Performance: This performance is much shorter, sounds fine but is kind of limp.
John: Says it sounded like a modern-day Tammy Wynette. Tells her she needs to be mentally tough.
Contestant #2: Coffey
Song #1: "Hey Good Lookin," Hank Williams
Video: Little Savannah runs to him all supercute. Jewel thought it was sweet. Jewel doesn't think the song he picked is vocally challenging enough and she warns away from the gimmicks- hollering at the crowd at the end of every line- that he thinks make him an "entertainer."
Performance:Wearing a black cowboy hat, Coffey sidles through the song. He sounds fine, but Jewel's right, there's not much to this song vocally. He throws in just one "come on band!" and does a little falsetto riff.
Jeffrey: He says it was too little, too late. He's not getting it but that the second half was alright.
John: Goes superharsh style saying that a cowboy hat doesn't make someone country and he should go audition for "American Idol" where they break pop stars. He says he's a good singer, not a country singer. Coffey sasses back that since John Rich has never been to tiny Bangs, Texas where he's been mucking out stalls and doing something with rabbits he doesn't know how country Coffey truly is.
Jewel: Calls herself the mediator and then goes on to criticize his song selection and hopes he does a ballad next time.
Song #2:"Take Me Home, Country Roads," John Denver
Performance: He barely gets out one line and immediately yells "sing with me!" He sings some more and then yells "let's sing as a family!" He is clearly rattled by what John said and seems near tears.
Jewel:Says she knows he's half country/half pop and verifies his rural roots and reiterates that he should do a ballad next week.
Contestant #3:Tommy Stanley
Song #1: "God Bless the Broken Road," Rascal Flatts; "Tiny Dancer," Elton John
Video:He hasn't seen his parents in over a year and they have a lovely tearful reunion. Dad tells him to country up the Elton John song. Jewel gives very little advice over a video phone.
Performance:He's still fidgety with his eyes and head but a little more still overall on this ballad, his pitch is not so great though. He's decidedly average.
John: Thanks him for his service and says he'd like to have a beer with him but it's not called "show friends" it's called "show business" and that it seems like he has to "concentrate" on being country and that, like Coffey, maybe he should go elsewhere or just be a Navy man full-time.
Jeffrey: Saw him power through a bad note and was impressed.
Jewel: Misses the swagger of previous weeks.
Before his second song the producers surprise him with three of his crewmates from the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, who came from halfway around the world. He's visibly surprised.
Song #2:"Tiny Dancer," Elton John
Performance: He sounds fine but goofs the lyrics.
Jewel: Says he's had a rough couple of weeks and knows it was hard to sing all choked up with the surprise. He sounded better. And she thought that song sounded more country than the country song. She also thanks him for serving our country.
Contestant #4: Pearl Heart
Song #1: "I'll Still Be Loving You," Dan Fogelberg
Video: They're reunited with their dog, parents, and brother. Jeffrey hands them what he calls one of the best songs of all time. It's a very personal song for him and he chokes up talking about a child he lost several years ago and that if they get it right he will lose control. (My gosh, what a terrible thing to happen to a parent. God bless him.)
Performance: Someone is completely off and throwing the harmony out of whack, it's intermittently strong and awful.
Jeffrey: He says they rose to the occasion, he got a chill bump. He thinks they still look a little stiff.
John: Says when they really got it right that it was really good but they missed a few spots and they need to work on being perfect.
Jewel: Thought that when they stood up it was good.
Song #2: "One Way Ticket," LeAnn Rimes
Performance:They sound a lot better.
Jeffrey: He wants them to let the people love them and says he's so proud.
Contestant #5:Melissa Lawson
Song #1: "This One's For the Girls," Martina McBride
Video: She is surprised and pleased to see her husband and five little boys. John is on board with her song choice and her decision to play guitar.
Performance: She starts strong in a low register sounding a lot like Mary Chapin Carpenter and shines on the higher chorus. She's got a lovely smile too. It's light and breezy but well done. She gets huge cheers from the crowd.
Jewel: She compliments her lower register and her high notes and says she looks cute.
Jeffrey: He's got nothing and asks her what she needs to do next. She says she wants to polish her guitar skills so she can keep playing it.
John: Says if "NS" was over tonight she would be the undisputed winner.
Song #2: "Landslide," Fleetwood Mac
Performance: She sits on a stool and gets tender. Short but sweet.
John:He's worried about her nerves stealing her breath.
Contestant #6:Shawn Mayer
Song #1: "Breathe," Faith Hill
Video:She screams at the sight of her parents and sister. John thinks it's time for America to see Shawn's girlie side. She says she likes flowers and chocolate and we see her getting a pedicure.
Performance:With her head tilted she's doing that shaky lower register thing Jewel was talking about before. But once the chorus hits she's in her wheelhouse. She's waving her arms around a little uncontrollably though. She shows off her pretty smile too.
Jewel:Thinks the song was a good choice and it was nice to see her be girlie but tells her to be a little careful with her breath.
Jeffrey:Thinks the losing of her breath was kind of good and likes that it makes her voice seem less ambitious.
John: Was shocked at how well it came off but is still worried about her. He asks if she thinks she's improving and she believes she is. He's worried about her competition and thinks she showed off some nice vocals tonight.
Song #2:"Forever and Ever, Amen," Randy Travis
Performance:Strumming her guitar, short and fine, but still seems to be struggling with her breath a bit. She ends by saying "God bless you Randy Travis."
John: Says she just made his point about letting her nerves get to her and nailing one song and not the second one. He tells her that she's not competitive enough to go all the way.
Performance:Blake Shelton, "Home." Blake sings his tender ballad as video of the family reunions play on the screen behind him.
Contestant #7:Gabe Garcia
Song #1: "Wanted Dead or Alive," Bon Jovi
Video: Glad to see his mom, grandma, brother, sister-in-law, and niece. His dad passed away in October. Jewel tells him to bring out a little attitude and sex appeal.
Performance:He does the first verse in his strong lower register and goes up for the second, both sound great. He seems a little nervous with the "showing attitude" part. As he throws his hands out to the crowd for the "Wanted!!" echo in the chorus, Jewel grimaces.
Jeffrey: Wants to know what the hard-core country fans are going to think but thought it was great.
John: Thought it was like watching paint dry up until this point but that this was a good step forward.Thinks he's the best male vocalist in the competition but he needs to be more comfy onstage.
Jewel: Loved how he showed off more personality and his gravelly higher register and wants him to start flirting with the audience.
Song #2:"The Fireman," George Strait
Performance:This is right in his good spot. Jeffrey and John dance along.
Jewel:Thinks America should vote for him because he's genuinely country and that his family did a good job raising him.
John: Thinks people should vote for him because he can make hit country records all day long.
Bottom Two: Alyson Gilbert and Laura & Sophie. Each will sing once. Whoever survives will get to sing their second song.
Contestant #8:Alyson Gilbert
Song #1:"She's In Love With the Boy," Trisha Yearwood
Video:John yells at her for not taking his advice last week. She's psyched to see her mom and husband. John likes her choice and she says she's going to take his advice. Mom sits in on rehearsal and makes sure she follows John's advice.
Performance:She starts off John's way but then struggles with the lower part. She mugs a bunch with her eyes, hints of pageanty-ness are rearing their ugly heads again. She's hitting some bad notes but she's showing some pizzazz.
Jewel: Notes that the popping eyes are back and that she needs to find some soul and some hurt. She doesn't know what her head trip is because she knows she's a better singer than this.
Jeffrey:Thinks she ignored the advice to let the song just speak for itself.
John: Thought she took advice well but that she only had moments of brilliance, not a wholly good performance.
Contestant #9:Laura & Sophie
Song #1:"Walking on Sunshine," Katrina & the Waves
Video:Jeffrey advises them to be laid back and rock it up. They are thrilled to see their families. They work hard.
Performance:They slow it down and rock it out, trading lines and then harmonizing. It's very cute, as are their stripe-y tube tops. What's not so cute is the bad notes they're hitting. Halfway through they bring it up to tempo and do a little choreography, there are still a lot of bad notes though.
Jewel:Says it should've been a lot of things it wasn't. She liked the slow arrangement but it just didn't work. She accuses one of them of falling apart right before their eyes as if she was going to cry. The accusee, I think Laura, says "I don't think so." Not sassily just that she thought she was okay.
John:Thinks they're nice girls but it felt like a high school talent show and that's not a good thing. He also thinks winning would be the worst thing to happen to them because the music business would chew them up and spit them out. One nods her head in agreement. He does think there's something great there but that they're a few years away.
Jeffrey:Says he was proud of their work but that they missed a bit and if they squeak through to next week they've got to figure out how they're going to make it work.
Going Home:Alyson Gilbert. She watches her journey. She's crying, her family cheers. John tells her that she's a great singer but that her equation is not right. Her encourages her to push forward and figure out how to make it work. He wishes her well.
Song #2:"Because of You," Kelly Clarkson
Performance:The lower register girl is fine, the high-harmony singer is just murdering it. They must be incredibly stressed out.
Jeffrey:Asks them to focus and tells them they have the least to lose being young with bright futures ahead of them and they need to focus to keep from being eliminated.
Dunkelwoman stands with the top nine and tells us they're all going to sing twice tonight.
In the audience:Randy Owen of Alabama; Vanessa Williams; Figure skater Scott Hamilton
In the "it's never too early to get them started" department Billy Ray's little daughter Noah introduces her dad and our host who informs us that it's "family night" on the show. The contestants haven't seen their families in a month and were surpised at their mentoring sessions when their relatives showed up en masse. They're also in the crowd waving signs for their kin.
Contestant #1:Ashlee Hewitt
Song#1: "Don't Stop Believin'," Journey
Video: Ashlee's dad, who was serving in Iraq, was able to come back and reunite with the whole, very large Hewitt family. John loves the idea of a Journey song, he says of her idea to start on the piano and throw on her guitar "wham, that's show business." He calls her an untapped natural resource and it's time to for her to show a whole lot more.
Performance: She starts at the piano, throws in one of those little sighing/hiccup things that is meant to connote "country." She grabs her guitar and sings. She doesn't have much pizzazz and she has a couple of trouble spots pitch-wise sliding up to notes but she's perfectly pleasant.
Jewel: Thought the move from piano to guitar was too clinical and that she needs to have some attitude and curb her nerves, but thought the singing was great.
Jeffrey: Calls it the Barbara Mandrell show since she played two instruments. Tells her it's about to get harder and to let nothing shake her confidence.
John: Thought she made the switch well, but she keeps starting weak and ending strong and he wants her to always start strong and end strong.
Song #2: "Help Me Make It Through the Night," Kris Kristofferson
Performance: This performance is much shorter, sounds fine but is kind of limp.
John: Says it sounded like a modern-day Tammy Wynette. Tells her she needs to be mentally tough.
Contestant #2: Coffey
Song #1: "Hey Good Lookin," Hank Williams
Video: Little Savannah runs to him all supercute. Jewel thought it was sweet. Jewel doesn't think the song he picked is vocally challenging enough and she warns away from the gimmicks- hollering at the crowd at the end of every line- that he thinks make him an "entertainer."
Performance:Wearing a black cowboy hat, Coffey sidles through the song. He sounds fine, but Jewel's right, there's not much to this song vocally. He throws in just one "come on band!" and does a little falsetto riff.
Jeffrey: He says it was too little, too late. He's not getting it but that the second half was alright.
John: Goes superharsh style saying that a cowboy hat doesn't make someone country and he should go audition for "American Idol" where they break pop stars. He says he's a good singer, not a country singer. Coffey sasses back that since John Rich has never been to tiny Bangs, Texas where he's been mucking out stalls and doing something with rabbits he doesn't know how country Coffey truly is.
Jewel: Calls herself the mediator and then goes on to criticize his song selection and hopes he does a ballad next time.
Song #2:"Take Me Home, Country Roads," John Denver
Performance: He barely gets out one line and immediately yells "sing with me!" He sings some more and then yells "let's sing as a family!" He is clearly rattled by what John said and seems near tears.
Jewel:Says she knows he's half country/half pop and verifies his rural roots and reiterates that he should do a ballad next week.
Contestant #3:Tommy Stanley
Song #1: "God Bless the Broken Road," Rascal Flatts; "Tiny Dancer," Elton John
Video:He hasn't seen his parents in over a year and they have a lovely tearful reunion. Dad tells him to country up the Elton John song. Jewel gives very little advice over a video phone.
Performance:He's still fidgety with his eyes and head but a little more still overall on this ballad, his pitch is not so great though. He's decidedly average.
John: Thanks him for his service and says he'd like to have a beer with him but it's not called "show friends" it's called "show business" and that it seems like he has to "concentrate" on being country and that, like Coffey, maybe he should go elsewhere or just be a Navy man full-time.
Jeffrey: Saw him power through a bad note and was impressed.
Jewel: Misses the swagger of previous weeks.
Before his second song the producers surprise him with three of his crewmates from the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, who came from halfway around the world. He's visibly surprised.
Song #2:"Tiny Dancer," Elton John
Performance: He sounds fine but goofs the lyrics.
Jewel: Says he's had a rough couple of weeks and knows it was hard to sing all choked up with the surprise. He sounded better. And she thought that song sounded more country than the country song. She also thanks him for serving our country.
Contestant #4: Pearl Heart
Song #1: "I'll Still Be Loving You," Dan Fogelberg
Video: They're reunited with their dog, parents, and brother. Jeffrey hands them what he calls one of the best songs of all time. It's a very personal song for him and he chokes up talking about a child he lost several years ago and that if they get it right he will lose control. (My gosh, what a terrible thing to happen to a parent. God bless him.)
Performance: Someone is completely off and throwing the harmony out of whack, it's intermittently strong and awful.
Jeffrey: He says they rose to the occasion, he got a chill bump. He thinks they still look a little stiff.
John: Says when they really got it right that it was really good but they missed a few spots and they need to work on being perfect.
Jewel: Thought that when they stood up it was good.
Song #2: "One Way Ticket," LeAnn Rimes
Performance:They sound a lot better.
Jeffrey: He wants them to let the people love them and says he's so proud.
Contestant #5:Melissa Lawson
Song #1: "This One's For the Girls," Martina McBride
Video: She is surprised and pleased to see her husband and five little boys. John is on board with her song choice and her decision to play guitar.
Performance: She starts strong in a low register sounding a lot like Mary Chapin Carpenter and shines on the higher chorus. She's got a lovely smile too. It's light and breezy but well done. She gets huge cheers from the crowd.
Jewel: She compliments her lower register and her high notes and says she looks cute.
Jeffrey: He's got nothing and asks her what she needs to do next. She says she wants to polish her guitar skills so she can keep playing it.
John: Says if "NS" was over tonight she would be the undisputed winner.
Song #2: "Landslide," Fleetwood Mac
Performance: She sits on a stool and gets tender. Short but sweet.
John:He's worried about her nerves stealing her breath.
Contestant #6:Shawn Mayer
Song #1: "Breathe," Faith Hill
Video:She screams at the sight of her parents and sister. John thinks it's time for America to see Shawn's girlie side. She says she likes flowers and chocolate and we see her getting a pedicure.
Performance:With her head tilted she's doing that shaky lower register thing Jewel was talking about before. But once the chorus hits she's in her wheelhouse. She's waving her arms around a little uncontrollably though. She shows off her pretty smile too.
Jewel:Thinks the song was a good choice and it was nice to see her be girlie but tells her to be a little careful with her breath.
Jeffrey:Thinks the losing of her breath was kind of good and likes that it makes her voice seem less ambitious.
John: Was shocked at how well it came off but is still worried about her. He asks if she thinks she's improving and she believes she is. He's worried about her competition and thinks she showed off some nice vocals tonight.
Song #2:"Forever and Ever, Amen," Randy Travis
Performance:Strumming her guitar, short and fine, but still seems to be struggling with her breath a bit. She ends by saying "God bless you Randy Travis."
John: Says she just made his point about letting her nerves get to her and nailing one song and not the second one. He tells her that she's not competitive enough to go all the way.
Performance:Blake Shelton, "Home." Blake sings his tender ballad as video of the family reunions play on the screen behind him.
Contestant #7:Gabe Garcia
Song #1: "Wanted Dead or Alive," Bon Jovi
Video: Glad to see his mom, grandma, brother, sister-in-law, and niece. His dad passed away in October. Jewel tells him to bring out a little attitude and sex appeal.
Performance:He does the first verse in his strong lower register and goes up for the second, both sound great. He seems a little nervous with the "showing attitude" part. As he throws his hands out to the crowd for the "Wanted!!" echo in the chorus, Jewel grimaces.
Jeffrey: Wants to know what the hard-core country fans are going to think but thought it was great.
John: Thought it was like watching paint dry up until this point but that this was a good step forward.Thinks he's the best male vocalist in the competition but he needs to be more comfy onstage.
Jewel: Loved how he showed off more personality and his gravelly higher register and wants him to start flirting with the audience.
Song #2:"The Fireman," George Strait
Performance:This is right in his good spot. Jeffrey and John dance along.
Jewel:Thinks America should vote for him because he's genuinely country and that his family did a good job raising him.
John: Thinks people should vote for him because he can make hit country records all day long.
Bottom Two: Alyson Gilbert and Laura & Sophie. Each will sing once. Whoever survives will get to sing their second song.
Contestant #8:Alyson Gilbert
Song #1:"She's In Love With the Boy," Trisha Yearwood
Video:John yells at her for not taking his advice last week. She's psyched to see her mom and husband. John likes her choice and she says she's going to take his advice. Mom sits in on rehearsal and makes sure she follows John's advice.
Performance:She starts off John's way but then struggles with the lower part. She mugs a bunch with her eyes, hints of pageanty-ness are rearing their ugly heads again. She's hitting some bad notes but she's showing some pizzazz.
Jewel: Notes that the popping eyes are back and that she needs to find some soul and some hurt. She doesn't know what her head trip is because she knows she's a better singer than this.
Jeffrey:Thinks she ignored the advice to let the song just speak for itself.
John: Thought she took advice well but that she only had moments of brilliance, not a wholly good performance.
Contestant #9:Laura & Sophie
Song #1:"Walking on Sunshine," Katrina & the Waves
Video:Jeffrey advises them to be laid back and rock it up. They are thrilled to see their families. They work hard.
Performance:They slow it down and rock it out, trading lines and then harmonizing. It's very cute, as are their stripe-y tube tops. What's not so cute is the bad notes they're hitting. Halfway through they bring it up to tempo and do a little choreography, there are still a lot of bad notes though.
Jewel:Says it should've been a lot of things it wasn't. She liked the slow arrangement but it just didn't work. She accuses one of them of falling apart right before their eyes as if she was going to cry. The accusee, I think Laura, says "I don't think so." Not sassily just that she thought she was okay.
John:Thinks they're nice girls but it felt like a high school talent show and that's not a good thing. He also thinks winning would be the worst thing to happen to them because the music business would chew them up and spit them out. One nods her head in agreement. He does think there's something great there but that they're a few years away.
Jeffrey:Says he was proud of their work but that they missed a bit and if they squeak through to next week they've got to figure out how they're going to make it work.
Going Home:Alyson Gilbert. She watches her journey. She's crying, her family cheers. John tells her that she's a great singer but that her equation is not right. Her encourages her to push forward and figure out how to make it work. He wishes her well.
Song #2:"Because of You," Kelly Clarkson
Performance:The lower register girl is fine, the high-harmony singer is just murdering it. They must be incredibly stressed out.
Jeffrey:Asks them to focus and tells them they have the least to lose being young with bright futures ahead of them and they need to focus to keep from being eliminated.
Sun, Jul 6, 2008
"Nashville Star" -Top Eight Perform- July 7, 2008
Back to an hour and no fooling around. Dunkelwoman intros Billy Ray. Billy Ray intros the finalists. Tonight there will be a double elimination. And for one the journey is ending right now. He calls forward Tommy and Melissa. One is a top vote getter, the other is going home.
In the audience: John Rich's granny; Lisa Loeb;
Going Home: Tommy Stanley
BRC congratulates him and Tommy says thanks and says he was glad to pursue his dream, not just on his own behalf but on behalf of the Navy. He tells people to pursue their dreams. Jewel says she's proud and the show won't be the same without him. BRC tips his cap to Tommy and the military.
Contestant #1: Melissa Lawson
Song: "Danny's Song," Loggins and Messina
Video: She's lost almost 70 pounds! We see her working out hard. (No matter what else happens, good for her!!) John Rich calls her hot and thinks she can be a great artist.
Performance: This is a nice tender performance mostly in her lower register. It feels a little rushed tempo-wise, but she sounds good. The crowd gets up as the song picks up in the second half when she hits some big notes.
Jewel: Thought it started a little low. She's wondering if she and her family are ready for the hard work. Melissa says she is.
Jeffrey: He loves hearing her sing every night.
John: Tells her to watch her nerves and says she's at the top of the heap on the show and he has big hopes for her.
BRC asks if she's missing her boys. She is. BRC says one of her sons asked him "Where's Hannah Montana?"
Contestant #2: Laura & Sophie
Song: "Walking After Midnight," Patsy Cline
Video: They're aggravated with each other. Their friendship is melting down and they're bickering and crying. It's kind of heartbreaking actually.
Performance: They come out holding hands. They're bouncy but trying to be a little more sultry and adult. They sound very country but the harmonies are not super-crisp. They each take a solo, Laura's a little stronger, and work the edges of the stage before coming back together. They're fine but the final note is a wreck.
John: Same thing as last week. He says it's like band camp and if he was their big brother he'd pack their bags. He says they can't be crybabies. He says the business is harsh and asks what would happen if people walked out of their shows. Would they cry? He's pouring on the tough love. Sophie asks if it's still the "high school thing"? He says they're just not ready and they'd be better off giving it time.
Jewel: Agrees that they need to go home for their own good. Sophie responds that fighting with her best friend really hurts which is why she was crying but if people walked out of their show she would understand that they didn't like it. She says she and Laura are fine now.
Jeffrey: Asks how they are. They say they're ok. He says he believes in them and wants to help them.
Contestant #3: Gabe Garcia
Song: "Somebody Like You," Keith Urban
Video: Jewel wants him to be flirty and intense. She wants him to seduce the audience. He takes dance lessons to loosen up.
Performance: Strumming his guitar he's looking around, smiling, stomping his foot, and sounding strong. John is air drumming and singing along. The crowd is up and dancing. He takes the mike off the stand and works the sides of the stage reaching out and touching people's hands. He points out to the crowd and pumps his fist at the end. It's still a tiny bit stiff but very charming.
Jeffrey: Wondered if he had this in him and calls him a 10.
John: From one Texan to another he says it was "caliente."
Jewel: She says good job on taking notes and she wants to keep stepping him up.
Contestant #4: Shawn Mayer
Song: "The First Cut is the Deepest," Cat Stevens/Rod Stewart/Sheryl Crow
Video:Shawn fires John as her mentor and goes with Jeffrey who tries to help her milk the emotional power of the lyrics. She has to hit a home run this week to prove to John that she did the right thing.
Performance:She strums her guitar and it seems like she's acting again as she gets all teary-eyed looking and heaving her way through the lyrics. She sounds fine but her scrunchie faces aren't working.
Jewel: Says it took guts to fire John and that everybody can't always get along and that Shawn needed nurturing not abuse. Thought it was nice to see her show some restraint
John: Even though he thought it was gutsy to fire him too and that talented people don't always get along he still didn't think she was great. He gives it a five out of ten. He asks Jeffrey what amazing mentoring advice he gave her that resulted in that performance.
Jeffrey: He says he told her to stay out of the way of the song and let it carry her. Tells her to put her tears into her song. He's proud but she's got a long way to go.
Contestant #5:Coffey
Song:"Proud Mary," Credence Clearwater Revival/Ike andTina Turner
Video: Jewel and Coffey debrief over the beating he took last week. She says they were rough on "my boy," and the 11 African-American viewers of this show cringe. (Of course, she didn't mean it that way, it just sounded awkward). She wants to see new sides of him. He wants to take it to the next level.
Performance: He does an uptempo, rocking, Robert Cray-like version. He sounds just okay. He tries on a faux-gruff growl and throws in some "come on"'s and stuff. He hands off his guitar and comes down and does a little jig in front of the judges' table. He throws to the guitar solo. He comes back in all gruff again and ends with "somebody say yeah!" It was energetic but the vocals weren't spectacular.
Jeffrey: Says he's the best he's been since the first show but he feels like he needs less hype and more pipes.
John: Says he's the last person to talk about country/not country given that he wears fur coats and such but he still feels like all the "entertaining" Coffey does is sleight of hand to distract from his vocals. He asks if he can hold his own onstage with Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, or George Strait.
Jewel: Says America disagrees with John and that both Americans and Coffey are responding to her mentoring. She then uncomfortably calls him "my boy" again. She says next he needs to do a ballad to get him "real."
Contestant #6: Ashlee Hewitt
Song: "Take the Money and Run," Steve Miller Band
Video: John wants Ashlee to throw a party onstage. John calls her a hippie chick and she agrees. She decides to go barefoot. She wants to be fun and flawless.
Performance: She starts off by speaking the first line about Billie Joe and Bobbie Sue. The arrangement has a nice sliding feel to it. She seems like she's having some fun but she also sounds like she's straining her voice. The arrangement is really pretty funky and cute.
Jewel: Calls her one of her favorites and says she seems like one of the few that feels like an artist. She doesn't say anything about the actual performance.
Jeffrey: Loves her but didn't like this performance. Tells her to be herself.
John: Liked the bare feet. He thinks she pulled it off wonderfully. He can't believe she's in the bottom two and that it was a mathematical error because she will be in the final rounds.
Contestant #7: Pearl Heart
Song: "Ain't Going Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up," Garth Brooks
Video: Jeffrey says being good isn't enough and they need to jazz things up with a little glitter. He puts them onto the Brooks tune and thinks they should all play guitar. They are concerned that it's tricky but are determined.
Performance: All three are wielding guitars, none are really playing though. The fast tempo, impressively, isn't derailing their harmonies one bit. They sound pretty great. One puts her guitar to the side. They are very cute and smiley, but they're clearly concentrating very hard. The crowd's totally in their corner. They hit a tremendous final note and they all strum it out.
John: Calls it awesome, says "holy moly" and asked what happened to Pearl Heart. Can't believe they've given their best performance on the night they're in the bottom two.
Jewel: Says no disrespect to L&S but they outworked them and outshined them and can't believe they're in the bottom two not L&S. She also compliments their guitar work.
Jeffrey: Is super proud and is also devastated they're in the bottom two and thought they took his direction superbly.
Going Home: Pearl Heart (The crowd boos this decision, but they nicely cheer that Ashlee gets to stay.) They hug and cry. It really is too bad, they were terrific tonight. The crowd cheers them. One says they're going to miss the other contestants and will be rooting for all of them. BRC says he's fallen in love with them.
Final Thoughts: Jeffrey says they know where he lives and that they are superstars with a great work ethic and that he hopes to hear from them soon.
Back to an hour and no fooling around. Dunkelwoman intros Billy Ray. Billy Ray intros the finalists. Tonight there will be a double elimination. And for one the journey is ending right now. He calls forward Tommy and Melissa. One is a top vote getter, the other is going home.
In the audience: John Rich's granny; Lisa Loeb;
Going Home: Tommy Stanley
BRC congratulates him and Tommy says thanks and says he was glad to pursue his dream, not just on his own behalf but on behalf of the Navy. He tells people to pursue their dreams. Jewel says she's proud and the show won't be the same without him. BRC tips his cap to Tommy and the military.
Contestant #1: Melissa Lawson
Song: "Danny's Song," Loggins and Messina
Video: She's lost almost 70 pounds! We see her working out hard. (No matter what else happens, good for her!!) John Rich calls her hot and thinks she can be a great artist.
Performance: This is a nice tender performance mostly in her lower register. It feels a little rushed tempo-wise, but she sounds good. The crowd gets up as the song picks up in the second half when she hits some big notes.
Jewel: Thought it started a little low. She's wondering if she and her family are ready for the hard work. Melissa says she is.
Jeffrey: He loves hearing her sing every night.
John: Tells her to watch her nerves and says she's at the top of the heap on the show and he has big hopes for her.
BRC asks if she's missing her boys. She is. BRC says one of her sons asked him "Where's Hannah Montana?"
Contestant #2: Laura & Sophie
Song: "Walking After Midnight," Patsy Cline
Video: They're aggravated with each other. Their friendship is melting down and they're bickering and crying. It's kind of heartbreaking actually.
Performance: They come out holding hands. They're bouncy but trying to be a little more sultry and adult. They sound very country but the harmonies are not super-crisp. They each take a solo, Laura's a little stronger, and work the edges of the stage before coming back together. They're fine but the final note is a wreck.
John: Same thing as last week. He says it's like band camp and if he was their big brother he'd pack their bags. He says they can't be crybabies. He says the business is harsh and asks what would happen if people walked out of their shows. Would they cry? He's pouring on the tough love. Sophie asks if it's still the "high school thing"? He says they're just not ready and they'd be better off giving it time.
Jewel: Agrees that they need to go home for their own good. Sophie responds that fighting with her best friend really hurts which is why she was crying but if people walked out of their show she would understand that they didn't like it. She says she and Laura are fine now.
Jeffrey: Asks how they are. They say they're ok. He says he believes in them and wants to help them.
Contestant #3: Gabe Garcia
Song: "Somebody Like You," Keith Urban
Video: Jewel wants him to be flirty and intense. She wants him to seduce the audience. He takes dance lessons to loosen up.
Performance: Strumming his guitar he's looking around, smiling, stomping his foot, and sounding strong. John is air drumming and singing along. The crowd is up and dancing. He takes the mike off the stand and works the sides of the stage reaching out and touching people's hands. He points out to the crowd and pumps his fist at the end. It's still a tiny bit stiff but very charming.
Jeffrey: Wondered if he had this in him and calls him a 10.
John: From one Texan to another he says it was "caliente."
Jewel: She says good job on taking notes and she wants to keep stepping him up.
Contestant #4: Shawn Mayer
Song: "The First Cut is the Deepest," Cat Stevens/Rod Stewart/Sheryl Crow
Video:Shawn fires John as her mentor and goes with Jeffrey who tries to help her milk the emotional power of the lyrics. She has to hit a home run this week to prove to John that she did the right thing.
Performance:She strums her guitar and it seems like she's acting again as she gets all teary-eyed looking and heaving her way through the lyrics. She sounds fine but her scrunchie faces aren't working.
Jewel: Says it took guts to fire John and that everybody can't always get along and that Shawn needed nurturing not abuse. Thought it was nice to see her show some restraint
John: Even though he thought it was gutsy to fire him too and that talented people don't always get along he still didn't think she was great. He gives it a five out of ten. He asks Jeffrey what amazing mentoring advice he gave her that resulted in that performance.
Jeffrey: He says he told her to stay out of the way of the song and let it carry her. Tells her to put her tears into her song. He's proud but she's got a long way to go.
Contestant #5:Coffey
Song:"Proud Mary," Credence Clearwater Revival/Ike andTina Turner
Video: Jewel and Coffey debrief over the beating he took last week. She says they were rough on "my boy," and the 11 African-American viewers of this show cringe. (Of course, she didn't mean it that way, it just sounded awkward). She wants to see new sides of him. He wants to take it to the next level.
Performance: He does an uptempo, rocking, Robert Cray-like version. He sounds just okay. He tries on a faux-gruff growl and throws in some "come on"'s and stuff. He hands off his guitar and comes down and does a little jig in front of the judges' table. He throws to the guitar solo. He comes back in all gruff again and ends with "somebody say yeah!" It was energetic but the vocals weren't spectacular.
Jeffrey: Says he's the best he's been since the first show but he feels like he needs less hype and more pipes.
John: Says he's the last person to talk about country/not country given that he wears fur coats and such but he still feels like all the "entertaining" Coffey does is sleight of hand to distract from his vocals. He asks if he can hold his own onstage with Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, or George Strait.
Jewel: Says America disagrees with John and that both Americans and Coffey are responding to her mentoring. She then uncomfortably calls him "my boy" again. She says next he needs to do a ballad to get him "real."
Contestant #6: Ashlee Hewitt
Song: "Take the Money and Run," Steve Miller Band
Video: John wants Ashlee to throw a party onstage. John calls her a hippie chick and she agrees. She decides to go barefoot. She wants to be fun and flawless.
Performance: She starts off by speaking the first line about Billie Joe and Bobbie Sue. The arrangement has a nice sliding feel to it. She seems like she's having some fun but she also sounds like she's straining her voice. The arrangement is really pretty funky and cute.
Jewel: Calls her one of her favorites and says she seems like one of the few that feels like an artist. She doesn't say anything about the actual performance.
Jeffrey: Loves her but didn't like this performance. Tells her to be herself.
John: Liked the bare feet. He thinks she pulled it off wonderfully. He can't believe she's in the bottom two and that it was a mathematical error because she will be in the final rounds.
Contestant #7: Pearl Heart
Song: "Ain't Going Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up," Garth Brooks
Video: Jeffrey says being good isn't enough and they need to jazz things up with a little glitter. He puts them onto the Brooks tune and thinks they should all play guitar. They are concerned that it's tricky but are determined.
Performance: All three are wielding guitars, none are really playing though. The fast tempo, impressively, isn't derailing their harmonies one bit. They sound pretty great. One puts her guitar to the side. They are very cute and smiley, but they're clearly concentrating very hard. The crowd's totally in their corner. They hit a tremendous final note and they all strum it out.
John: Calls it awesome, says "holy moly" and asked what happened to Pearl Heart. Can't believe they've given their best performance on the night they're in the bottom two.
Jewel: Says no disrespect to L&S but they outworked them and outshined them and can't believe they're in the bottom two not L&S. She also compliments their guitar work.
Jeffrey: Is super proud and is also devastated they're in the bottom two and thought they took his direction superbly.
Going Home: Pearl Heart (The crowd boos this decision, but they nicely cheer that Ashlee gets to stay.) They hug and cry. It really is too bad, they were terrific tonight. The crowd cheers them. One says they're going to miss the other contestants and will be rooting for all of them. BRC says he's fallen in love with them.
Final Thoughts: Jeffrey says they know where he lives and that they are superstars with a great work ethic and that he hopes to hear from them soon.
Sun, Jul 20, 2008
"Nashville Star"- Top Five Performance/Elimination- July 21, 2008
Dunkelwoman welcomes us and introduces Billy Ray Cyrus who gets right down to the nitty gritty by announcing that Coffey is the first safe contestant.
It's original song week.
Contestant #1:Coffey
Song: "Southern Man"
Performance: It's uptempo and lively in presentation and tells his tale in a genial fashion but marginal from a vocal standpoint.
Jeffrey: Says it was kind of novelty but he pulled it off.
John: Thinks it was a good performance but doesn't picture it being a hit at country radio.
Jewel: Thinks the song was "him" and people dug it.
Contestant #2: Melissa Lawson
Song: "Ready to Stand"
Video: She's nervous because she's very new to songwriting. She's only been doing it for a few months. She plays it for John and he thinks she's a natural.
Performance: It's a slow swinging number with uplifting and even occasionally funny lyrics. She sings it well. It sounds like the perfect coronation number. Which it probably will be.
Jewel: Thought she took advantage of writing to her voice.
Jeffrey: Thinks it's a great lyric and thought she delivered the melody well.
John: Is becoming more and more impressive each week. Tells her to stay focused and stay on her game.
Performance: John, Jeffrey, and Jewel - in keeping with the week's theme - sing their original hits. Jewel begins with "You Were Meant for Me" and "Foolish Games." Jeffrey- who has a strong voice of his own- takes over with "What Hurts the Most" (a hit for Rascal Flatts) and "The Cowboy in Me" (Tim McGraw). John steps up and joins Jeffrey for "Hicktown" (which John wrote for Jason Aldean). Jewel joins the men for a quick romp through Big and Rich's "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)."
Contestant #3: Gabe Garcia
Song: "Lost Weekend"
Video: Jewel brings Gabe to the Grand Ole Opry to soak up the history. Gabe is excited to prove he can do this.
Performance: It's a sweet midtempo number about recapturing the magic in a long-term relationship. This is perfect contemporary boilerplate and could totally be on country radio right now, it has a Kenny Chesney vibe. He sings it well.
Jeffrey: Loves what's going on tonight. He had notes prepared to criticize but he has to throw them away. He really liked it.
John: He liked it too and believes it could be a big old hit. He cautions Gabe that he's not up against the other contestants but ultimately other artists in country music. He thought Gabe's voice, look, and song are great but that he still needs to up his stage presentation and connection with the audience.
Jewel: Understands radio hits are important but warns him to not be generic in his songwriting.
Bottom Two: Ashlee Hewitt & Shawn Mayer
Contestant #4: Ashlee Hewitt
Song: "Mike's Hard Lemonade"
Video: Excited to showcase who she is as an artist. She's been writing songs since she was ten. John likes it. Tells her to watch her enunciation.
Performance: It's a cutesy number about a cutesy girl with a rose tattoo and a hickey thanks to a cute cowboy and the title drink. She seems more comfortable singing her own song and is doing a nice job of it.
Jewel: She loved the song and wants to help write her songs.
Jeffrey: Really impressed by the songwriting skills at her age.
John: Points out that all the judges have been told no so if she goes tonight the folks in Nashville would be foolish to not give her a record deal.
Contestant #5: Shawn Mayer
Song: "I'm Not Looking Back"
Video: Jeffrey takes her to the Opry. She cries. The song is about leaving her boyfriend in Iowa. She cries. Jeffrey is impressed with her skills as a writer.
Performance: It's a ballad. She looks beautiful and natural. She sings easily about walking out that door. (Original week really brought it out in people this week). It's not the strongest of the bunch, but it too, could easily be a hit. It's her best performance by far.
John: Says she's taken quantum leaps in the last two weeks. If she's gone tonight it's just bad timing. Says she did an excellent job.
Jewel: Says it showed her strong suit: she's dangerous and best with her own material.
Jeffrey: Loved the structure. Says it could be a hit by Faith or Martina. Win or lose, he thinks she has a shot at songwriting in Nashville.
Going Home: Ashlee Hewitt. She cries but she smiles through the tears. BRC says she's a star waiting to happen. The crowd and judges give her a standing O.
Dunkelwoman welcomes us and introduces Billy Ray Cyrus who gets right down to the nitty gritty by announcing that Coffey is the first safe contestant.
It's original song week.
Contestant #1:Coffey
Song: "Southern Man"
Performance: It's uptempo and lively in presentation and tells his tale in a genial fashion but marginal from a vocal standpoint.
Jeffrey: Says it was kind of novelty but he pulled it off.
John: Thinks it was a good performance but doesn't picture it being a hit at country radio.
Jewel: Thinks the song was "him" and people dug it.
Contestant #2: Melissa Lawson
Song: "Ready to Stand"
Video: She's nervous because she's very new to songwriting. She's only been doing it for a few months. She plays it for John and he thinks she's a natural.
Performance: It's a slow swinging number with uplifting and even occasionally funny lyrics. She sings it well. It sounds like the perfect coronation number. Which it probably will be.
Jewel: Thought she took advantage of writing to her voice.
Jeffrey: Thinks it's a great lyric and thought she delivered the melody well.
John: Is becoming more and more impressive each week. Tells her to stay focused and stay on her game.
Performance: John, Jeffrey, and Jewel - in keeping with the week's theme - sing their original hits. Jewel begins with "You Were Meant for Me" and "Foolish Games." Jeffrey- who has a strong voice of his own- takes over with "What Hurts the Most" (a hit for Rascal Flatts) and "The Cowboy in Me" (Tim McGraw). John steps up and joins Jeffrey for "Hicktown" (which John wrote for Jason Aldean). Jewel joins the men for a quick romp through Big and Rich's "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)."
Contestant #3: Gabe Garcia
Song: "Lost Weekend"
Video: Jewel brings Gabe to the Grand Ole Opry to soak up the history. Gabe is excited to prove he can do this.
Performance: It's a sweet midtempo number about recapturing the magic in a long-term relationship. This is perfect contemporary boilerplate and could totally be on country radio right now, it has a Kenny Chesney vibe. He sings it well.
Jeffrey: Loves what's going on tonight. He had notes prepared to criticize but he has to throw them away. He really liked it.
John: He liked it too and believes it could be a big old hit. He cautions Gabe that he's not up against the other contestants but ultimately other artists in country music. He thought Gabe's voice, look, and song are great but that he still needs to up his stage presentation and connection with the audience.
Jewel: Understands radio hits are important but warns him to not be generic in his songwriting.
Bottom Two: Ashlee Hewitt & Shawn Mayer
Contestant #4: Ashlee Hewitt
Song: "Mike's Hard Lemonade"
Video: Excited to showcase who she is as an artist. She's been writing songs since she was ten. John likes it. Tells her to watch her enunciation.
Performance: It's a cutesy number about a cutesy girl with a rose tattoo and a hickey thanks to a cute cowboy and the title drink. She seems more comfortable singing her own song and is doing a nice job of it.
Jewel: She loved the song and wants to help write her songs.
Jeffrey: Really impressed by the songwriting skills at her age.
John: Points out that all the judges have been told no so if she goes tonight the folks in Nashville would be foolish to not give her a record deal.
Contestant #5: Shawn Mayer
Song: "I'm Not Looking Back"
Video: Jeffrey takes her to the Opry. She cries. The song is about leaving her boyfriend in Iowa. She cries. Jeffrey is impressed with her skills as a writer.
Performance: It's a ballad. She looks beautiful and natural. She sings easily about walking out that door. (Original week really brought it out in people this week). It's not the strongest of the bunch, but it too, could easily be a hit. It's her best performance by far.
John: Says she's taken quantum leaps in the last two weeks. If she's gone tonight it's just bad timing. Says she did an excellent job.
Jewel: Says it showed her strong suit: she's dangerous and best with her own material.
Jeffrey: Loved the structure. Says it could be a hit by Faith or Martina. Win or lose, he thinks she has a shot at songwriting in Nashville.
Going Home: Ashlee Hewitt. She cries but she smiles through the tears. BRC says she's a star waiting to happen. The crowd and judges give her a standing O.
Sun, Jul 27, 2008
"Nashville Star"- Top Four Performance/Elimination - July 28, 2008
Dunkelwoman introduces the final four and Billy Ray Cyrus. BRC tells us that the winner will be crowned next week.
Dunkelwoman returns to tells us that everyone will sing once then there will be an elimination. Then the top three will sing again. Also we'll see everybody's big homecoming, which included a charity performance.
Contestant #1: Shawn Mayer
Song: "Here For the Party," Gretchen Wilson
Video: Shawn's excited to go home to her little town and she's all choked up at the awesome reception she gets at the mall and radio station and stuff. 6,000 folks came to her show.
Performance: It's an uptempo honky-tonker and Shawn plays around with the guitar players. She sounds pretty good, maybe a little tight, and moves easily onstage.
John: Is a fan of the song, which he wrote. He thinks she's come so far that she made his friend Gretchen's song sound like her own.
Jewel: Sees her starting to shine and showing confidence. Warns her that, not unlike Spider-man, with great fame comes great responsibility and to remember that.
Jeffrey: Thinks she missed the last high note but loves that she's being a pro working through the pain of a wisdom tooth issue.
Contestant #2: Gabe Garcia
Song: "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson
Video: Goes home and it's awesome, big crowds, parades, the mayor, concert etc. He beats out Shawn with a crowd of 10k. (Her town is tiny though).
Performance: He's jazzed and smiling, rocking a black cowboy hat, sounding strong.
Jeffrey: Thinks the start and end were a little shaky but knows he's sick. Asks if he's ready for the road. (He is). Tells him, as he did Shawn, to make his last performance count.
John: Says Gabe could fill the void in country music and build a bridge to the Hispanic community. He thinks he's the real deal.
Jewel: Was glad to see him go home because she is from a small town in Alaska. She wants to make sure he remains dedicated and focused. (Her hair looks adorable, a short, wavy, bob).
Contestant #3: Coffey
Song: "Sweet Home Alabama," Lynyrd Skynyrd
Video: Goes home and it's, you know, awesome. He hangs with dad and daughter, encourages some city kids, meets celebrity fans Patricia Heaton and Sinbad- who claim, respectively, to watch every week and vote. His concert draws less folks because it's inside. They don't tell us how many are in the hizzy so we're going to assume it's less than 6,000 so Gabe still leads
Performance: He starts off by giving a shout out to Ronnie Van Zant, sings pretty well, but insists on filling every space by shouting out to the crowd to sing and tosses his hat to someone in the crowd. It's one of his better vocal performances but still doesn't feel super-country, more cruise-ship-y.
Jeffrey: Thinks this was pretty good and in his element when he's not overdoing it too much. Calls him a great showman and says his charisma's carried him this whole way. He doesn't know if he's the next "Nashville Star," but says he's "a star."
John: Agrees he has charisma and showmanship and is a star but still doubts that he's a "Nashville Star."
Jewel: Calls him a natural as a performer but warns him that there's a difference singing live and in the studio and that he should be aware of that. She thought he was great tonight though.
Contestant #4: Melissa Lawson
Song: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," Pat Benatar
Video: Guess what? Melissa's homecome is awesome. Her kids are excited. She goes to her high school, where she was unpopular and there's a lovely crowd. Her concert is at the high school so they don't tell us how many folks are there, but it looks like more than Coffey, but still less than Gabe.
Performance: She's sassy and shiny in black and having a good time. She sounds great. There's nothing crazy country about the arrangement.
Jewel: Says she showed restraint and hit money notes when she needed them.
Jeffrey: Thinks she's always great but that the other contestants are sneaking up on her. He gets tired of the money notes.
John: Asks her "Miss America" style why she wants to win and what it would do for her. She says she's never wanted anything more and that it would change her life and the lives of her children, which is her responsibility.
Instead of doing the elimination, BRC is going to tell us one by one who is advancing to the finals and then they will perform.
Finalist #1: Shawn Mayer
Song: "The Dance," Garth Brooks
Video: She's teary and excited to not only be making her dreams come true but somehow through the magic of television making other people's dreams come true too.
Performance: It's an earnest ballad. She sits, she seems confident. It's weird her voice has never seemed as big as it should given her brassy looks and personality, it's pretty enough but just a little thin.
John: She should be proud to have made it this far and says she's light years ahead of where she was 10 weeks ago when she was tending bar in Music City.
Jewel: Thinks she would make a good winner because she will help her record label with the vision for her career.
Jeffrey: Is really impressed with how she's working with the pain and singing great.
Finalist #2: Melissa Lawson
Song: "Jesus Take the Wheel," Carrie Underwood
Video: She would really be excited to win.
Performance: Her low register is the best in the competition. She really has the best range and power overall. She should totally win. Although Gabe might sell more records. She's a little sharp at the end but otherwise spot-on.
Jewel: Thinks it was very beautifully sung. She wishes her success and loves her family and hopes she can make it in the harsh realities of the business.
Jeffrey: Thought the verses were a little low but when she was in the zone it was perfect, he loves her.
John: Gave her a standing ovation and says she has a shot at winning because she can connect with country audiences around the, um, country.
Going Home: Coffey. He's very grateful and blesses everyone. BRC lets us know that the top 4 will be touring this fall.
Finalist #3:Gabe Garcia
Song: "Living in Fast Forward," Kenny Chesney.
Video: He would be really excited to win.
Performance: A tiny bit shaky but right in his good-time country wheelhouse.
Jeffrey: Reminds America to vote. Says his voice is radio all day long.
John: Reiterates he could be so important to country music. Congratulates him on his growth. Says there's a record deal for him no matter what happens.
Jewel: Agrees with all of the above and can't wait to see him stretch it out even more.
Dunkelwoman introduces the final four and Billy Ray Cyrus. BRC tells us that the winner will be crowned next week.
Dunkelwoman returns to tells us that everyone will sing once then there will be an elimination. Then the top three will sing again. Also we'll see everybody's big homecoming, which included a charity performance.
Contestant #1: Shawn Mayer
Song: "Here For the Party," Gretchen Wilson
Video: Shawn's excited to go home to her little town and she's all choked up at the awesome reception she gets at the mall and radio station and stuff. 6,000 folks came to her show.
Performance: It's an uptempo honky-tonker and Shawn plays around with the guitar players. She sounds pretty good, maybe a little tight, and moves easily onstage.
John: Is a fan of the song, which he wrote. He thinks she's come so far that she made his friend Gretchen's song sound like her own.
Jewel: Sees her starting to shine and showing confidence. Warns her that, not unlike Spider-man, with great fame comes great responsibility and to remember that.
Jeffrey: Thinks she missed the last high note but loves that she's being a pro working through the pain of a wisdom tooth issue.
Contestant #2: Gabe Garcia
Song: "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson
Video: Goes home and it's awesome, big crowds, parades, the mayor, concert etc. He beats out Shawn with a crowd of 10k. (Her town is tiny though).
Performance: He's jazzed and smiling, rocking a black cowboy hat, sounding strong.
Jeffrey: Thinks the start and end were a little shaky but knows he's sick. Asks if he's ready for the road. (He is). Tells him, as he did Shawn, to make his last performance count.
John: Says Gabe could fill the void in country music and build a bridge to the Hispanic community. He thinks he's the real deal.
Jewel: Was glad to see him go home because she is from a small town in Alaska. She wants to make sure he remains dedicated and focused. (Her hair looks adorable, a short, wavy, bob).
Contestant #3: Coffey
Song: "Sweet Home Alabama," Lynyrd Skynyrd
Video: Goes home and it's, you know, awesome. He hangs with dad and daughter, encourages some city kids, meets celebrity fans Patricia Heaton and Sinbad- who claim, respectively, to watch every week and vote. His concert draws less folks because it's inside. They don't tell us how many are in the hizzy so we're going to assume it's less than 6,000 so Gabe still leads
Performance: He starts off by giving a shout out to Ronnie Van Zant, sings pretty well, but insists on filling every space by shouting out to the crowd to sing and tosses his hat to someone in the crowd. It's one of his better vocal performances but still doesn't feel super-country, more cruise-ship-y.
Jeffrey: Thinks this was pretty good and in his element when he's not overdoing it too much. Calls him a great showman and says his charisma's carried him this whole way. He doesn't know if he's the next "Nashville Star," but says he's "a star."
John: Agrees he has charisma and showmanship and is a star but still doubts that he's a "Nashville Star."
Jewel: Calls him a natural as a performer but warns him that there's a difference singing live and in the studio and that he should be aware of that. She thought he was great tonight though.
Contestant #4: Melissa Lawson
Song: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," Pat Benatar
Video: Guess what? Melissa's homecome is awesome. Her kids are excited. She goes to her high school, where she was unpopular and there's a lovely crowd. Her concert is at the high school so they don't tell us how many folks are there, but it looks like more than Coffey, but still less than Gabe.
Performance: She's sassy and shiny in black and having a good time. She sounds great. There's nothing crazy country about the arrangement.
Jewel: Says she showed restraint and hit money notes when she needed them.
Jeffrey: Thinks she's always great but that the other contestants are sneaking up on her. He gets tired of the money notes.
John: Asks her "Miss America" style why she wants to win and what it would do for her. She says she's never wanted anything more and that it would change her life and the lives of her children, which is her responsibility.
Instead of doing the elimination, BRC is going to tell us one by one who is advancing to the finals and then they will perform.
Finalist #1: Shawn Mayer
Song: "The Dance," Garth Brooks
Video: She's teary and excited to not only be making her dreams come true but somehow through the magic of television making other people's dreams come true too.
Performance: It's an earnest ballad. She sits, she seems confident. It's weird her voice has never seemed as big as it should given her brassy looks and personality, it's pretty enough but just a little thin.
John: She should be proud to have made it this far and says she's light years ahead of where she was 10 weeks ago when she was tending bar in Music City.
Jewel: Thinks she would make a good winner because she will help her record label with the vision for her career.
Jeffrey: Is really impressed with how she's working with the pain and singing great.
Finalist #2: Melissa Lawson
Song: "Jesus Take the Wheel," Carrie Underwood
Video: She would really be excited to win.
Performance: Her low register is the best in the competition. She really has the best range and power overall. She should totally win. Although Gabe might sell more records. She's a little sharp at the end but otherwise spot-on.
Jewel: Thinks it was very beautifully sung. She wishes her success and loves her family and hopes she can make it in the harsh realities of the business.
Jeffrey: Thought the verses were a little low but when she was in the zone it was perfect, he loves her.
John: Gave her a standing ovation and says she has a shot at winning because she can connect with country audiences around the, um, country.
Going Home: Coffey. He's very grateful and blesses everyone. BRC lets us know that the top 4 will be touring this fall.
Finalist #3:Gabe Garcia
Song: "Living in Fast Forward," Kenny Chesney.
Video: He would be really excited to win.
Performance: A tiny bit shaky but right in his good-time country wheelhouse.
Jeffrey: Reminds America to vote. Says his voice is radio all day long.
John: Reiterates he could be so important to country music. Congratulates him on his growth. Says there's a record deal for him no matter what happens.
Jewel: Agrees with all of the above and can't wait to see him stretch it out even more.
Sun, Aug 3, 2008
"Nashville Star" - Season Finale - August 4, 2008
Dunkelwoman, looking very hubba hubba for the finale, welcomes us. All duded up, the judges introduce their contestants. John introduces Melissa Lawson as "one of the most gifted vocalists I've ever heard in my entire life." Jeffrey introduces "risk-taker" Shawn Mayer. Jewel introduces Gabe Garcia who she calls "country through and through." Dunkelwoman tells us 5 million votes came in. She then introduces host Billy Ray Cyrus who's a performer tonight. And what's he performing?
Performance: "Achy Breaky Heart," with a little help from the Nashville Star dancers and the final three contestants, who rise to the, um, challenge. At the end, all of the finalists from the season come out and do a little singing and line dancing.
Encore Performance #1: Gabe Garcia
Song: "Celebrity," Brad Paisley. He's all smiles and sweetness. A little pitchy but very charming.
Jewel: His mentor tells him what a pleasure it's been to get to know him. She's really proud of him.
Encore Performance #2: Melissa Lawson
Song: "My Wish," Rascal Flatts. It starts a little rough but is very nice.
John: Her mentor tells her she's become more beautiful every week and asks her how it feels to know that tomorrow morning, potentially, millions can go download her music on iTunes. She's a fan of this concept. John says whether she wins or not she's an awesome superstar.
Encore Performance #3: Shawn Mayer
Song: "Gunpowder and Lead," by former "Nashville Star" finalist Miranda Lambert. Oddly, not her strongest vocal but a spirited performance.
Jeffrey: If you had asked him at the beginning of the show if she would be standing here this night he would've said no -- but he's proud of the way she's come around, taken advice and improved. He calls her his dark horse.
Video Clip: The finalists hang out in what looks like the "Gone Country" house and get advice from their judges/mentors. They talk about work, business, record labels. They bring in a syndicated radio guy to explain how the radio-artist "partnership" works. Then, OMFG, George Jones arrives to offer up advice. Apparently, the country music legend watches the show and thinks they're doing a great job. We don't get to see what the infamous "no-show Jones" has to tell them.
First Elimination: Shawn Mayer. She's spunky about it. She says she would've done nothing differently. She also notes that Miranda Lambert got third place so maybe that's a sign. She hopes to earn a record deal and a spot on the Opry stage. We watch her journey. Jeffrey reiterates his pride.
Performance: Gabe and Melissa sing "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. (You think they knew they were the final two when they rehearsed this one? Or do you think they had them all rehearse it?) They sound terrific harmonizing together, very complementary.
We look back at Melissa's journey before her...
Final Final Performance: "Something More," Sugarland. Very nicely done. (But really can't we get on with this?)
Jewel: Calls it a treat to watch her sing and loves her tone and wishes her luck.
Jeffrey: Asks how she feels. She feels insane. He loves her and wishes her luck.
John: Says you can't practice to get what she has and it's a God-given gift. He congratulates her.
We look back at Gabe's journey before his...
Final Final Performance: "Gone Country," Alan Jackson. Very charming and perfectly sung.
Jeffrey: Says he's already country and loved his consistency and wishes him the best.
John: Thinks he's done himself, his state, and his heritage proud.
Jewel: Thanks him and thinks there's a great future for him.
BRC asks who it will be. The judges skirt the issue. Jeffrey tells Jewel she can't pick her own so she picks Melissa. John hammers away at the mother of five, HIspanic-American themes, and calls it a photo finish. Jeffrey jokes that he thinks Pearl Heart is going to win and then says he's going with Gabe.
Video Clip: We see them both record the potential first single with John in the studio. They both want to win. Melissa goes one further saying she's going to win.
John tells us how great they both were. (He must have a piece of both of them).
Jeffrey tells them that this is just one peak or valley in their careers.
Jewel congratulates America for putting the right two people in the finals.
Dunkelwoman gets all pageanty-presidential debate on the finalists and asks Gabe what winning would mean to him since there hasn't been a Hispanic country music superstar in "quite some time." (As Prince might say forever is indeed "a mighty long time.") Gabe wants to not only represent Hispanics but all country music fans and it would be a dream come true. She asks Melissa how it would change her and her family's life. "Completely" is the short answer.
Winner: Melissa Lawson... who gets bragging rights, a Warner Brothers concert tour, an AEG live concert tour, a spot performing at the Olympics in Beijing, and a Toyota truck. The confetti flies. She hugs Gabe. The judges stand for her. She thanks all those who voted for her. She sings the final song, which will be her first single "What If It All Goes Right." She sings it well and suffers the indignity of confetti falling in her mouth, twice. The other finalists crowd around her and her kids come up and hug her. Considering all the distractions she proves herself a real pro, just killing it.
Congrats, Melissa!
Dunkelwoman, looking very hubba hubba for the finale, welcomes us. All duded up, the judges introduce their contestants. John introduces Melissa Lawson as "one of the most gifted vocalists I've ever heard in my entire life." Jeffrey introduces "risk-taker" Shawn Mayer. Jewel introduces Gabe Garcia who she calls "country through and through." Dunkelwoman tells us 5 million votes came in. She then introduces host Billy Ray Cyrus who's a performer tonight. And what's he performing?
Performance: "Achy Breaky Heart," with a little help from the Nashville Star dancers and the final three contestants, who rise to the, um, challenge. At the end, all of the finalists from the season come out and do a little singing and line dancing.
Encore Performance #1: Gabe Garcia
Song: "Celebrity," Brad Paisley. He's all smiles and sweetness. A little pitchy but very charming.
Jewel: His mentor tells him what a pleasure it's been to get to know him. She's really proud of him.
Encore Performance #2: Melissa Lawson
Song: "My Wish," Rascal Flatts. It starts a little rough but is very nice.
John: Her mentor tells her she's become more beautiful every week and asks her how it feels to know that tomorrow morning, potentially, millions can go download her music on iTunes. She's a fan of this concept. John says whether she wins or not she's an awesome superstar.
Encore Performance #3: Shawn Mayer
Song: "Gunpowder and Lead," by former "Nashville Star" finalist Miranda Lambert. Oddly, not her strongest vocal but a spirited performance.
Jeffrey: If you had asked him at the beginning of the show if she would be standing here this night he would've said no -- but he's proud of the way she's come around, taken advice and improved. He calls her his dark horse.
Video Clip: The finalists hang out in what looks like the "Gone Country" house and get advice from their judges/mentors. They talk about work, business, record labels. They bring in a syndicated radio guy to explain how the radio-artist "partnership" works. Then, OMFG, George Jones arrives to offer up advice. Apparently, the country music legend watches the show and thinks they're doing a great job. We don't get to see what the infamous "no-show Jones" has to tell them.
First Elimination: Shawn Mayer. She's spunky about it. She says she would've done nothing differently. She also notes that Miranda Lambert got third place so maybe that's a sign. She hopes to earn a record deal and a spot on the Opry stage. We watch her journey. Jeffrey reiterates his pride.
Performance: Gabe and Melissa sing "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. (You think they knew they were the final two when they rehearsed this one? Or do you think they had them all rehearse it?) They sound terrific harmonizing together, very complementary.
We look back at Melissa's journey before her...
Final Final Performance: "Something More," Sugarland. Very nicely done. (But really can't we get on with this?)
Jewel: Calls it a treat to watch her sing and loves her tone and wishes her luck.
Jeffrey: Asks how she feels. She feels insane. He loves her and wishes her luck.
John: Says you can't practice to get what she has and it's a God-given gift. He congratulates her.
We look back at Gabe's journey before his...
Final Final Performance: "Gone Country," Alan Jackson. Very charming and perfectly sung.
Jeffrey: Says he's already country and loved his consistency and wishes him the best.
John: Thinks he's done himself, his state, and his heritage proud.
Jewel: Thanks him and thinks there's a great future for him.
BRC asks who it will be. The judges skirt the issue. Jeffrey tells Jewel she can't pick her own so she picks Melissa. John hammers away at the mother of five, HIspanic-American themes, and calls it a photo finish. Jeffrey jokes that he thinks Pearl Heart is going to win and then says he's going with Gabe.
Video Clip: We see them both record the potential first single with John in the studio. They both want to win. Melissa goes one further saying she's going to win.
John tells us how great they both were. (He must have a piece of both of them).
Jeffrey tells them that this is just one peak or valley in their careers.
Jewel congratulates America for putting the right two people in the finals.
Dunkelwoman gets all pageanty-presidential debate on the finalists and asks Gabe what winning would mean to him since there hasn't been a Hispanic country music superstar in "quite some time." (As Prince might say forever is indeed "a mighty long time.") Gabe wants to not only represent Hispanics but all country music fans and it would be a dream come true. She asks Melissa how it would change her and her family's life. "Completely" is the short answer.
Winner: Melissa Lawson... who gets bragging rights, a Warner Brothers concert tour, an AEG live concert tour, a spot performing at the Olympics in Beijing, and a Toyota truck. The confetti flies. She hugs Gabe. The judges stand for her. She thanks all those who voted for her. She sings the final song, which will be her first single "What If It All Goes Right." She sings it well and suffers the indignity of confetti falling in her mouth, twice. The other finalists crowd around her and her kids come up and hug her. Considering all the distractions she proves herself a real pro, just killing it.
Congrats, Melissa!