Ashton Jones
This one has the “it factor”. Great voice, stage presence, cute, likeable personality and self-confidence. Small young lady with a lot of bigness about her, but I don’t think she’ll go all the way. I can see her in a “girl group” or even as a lead in a Broadway musical.
Brett Loewenstern
This unique, hippie-style, flower-child has a distinctive sixties vibe and seems like a sweetheart, sending out good vibes of love and peace. Nice voice, but lacks power and is not a cross-over artist. Won’t be a lady’s man type and guys won’t relate to him. May not go very much farther in the competition.
Casey Abrams
Multi-talented, but no crossover appeal and while it’s wonderful that he is very unique, he won’t fit into the American Idol machine down the road. Lacks star power and mass appeal. Interesting and good voice though.
Clint Gamboa
This one is full of spunk and is a vocal powerhouse, but something is not quite right with the overall appeal factor. Great enthusiasm and self-confidence though.
Haley Reinhart
Nice vibe, cool chick, attractive. She started off a little shaky, but pulled it together. She could become a crossover artist with the right grooming, but needs to kick up her physical energy level and find a niche. Great voice.
Jacob Lusk
Shades of Luther Vandross. This man can sing, but he may frighten the ears of moreconservative and timid listeners. Powerful gospel vibe, but that style is not for everyone. Great dude, great voice, but all that hollering is not for all ears. May not be able to crossover into the overall appeal zone.
James Durbin
Love this guy, but he’s a screamer and that may scare people who aren’t into the whole rock thing. I love rock music, which is why I like him. I like his vibe and swagger coupled with just a little hint of a heart. It makes for an appealing package. I also think he could cross over easily into other genres and clean up nice. Good-looking dude. The problem is that American Idol fans may be burned out on rocker-types after Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert and David Cook.
Jordan Dorsey
Aw, he’s so handsome. I like this guy. Great smile and confidence. Could be a male diva in the making. Seems a bit controlling, but I guess one needs that in the entertainment business. Good voice and has the potential to do many things with his talent.
Jovany Barreto
Great voice and nice abs, but kind of on the arrogant, cocky side. He’s a little too gassed up on himself already, but he does have a good voice. I don’t find him likeable and don’t think he could be a crossover artist and appeal to a lot of people. He reminds me of one of the Jersey Shore guys with all that false bravado. It diminishes his talent. It’s like you see him and can’t focus on his voice.
Julie Zorilla
Love, love, love this chick. Natural beauty, sexy without seeming overbearing. Girlie girl, but one that other women will be able to relate to and guys will love because of her exotic looks. Great voice, confidence and stage presence. I like her flouncey little dresses.
Karen Rodriquez
Cute girl, repping the Latinas. Great voice, beautiful smile, classy off-the-block style. Very likeable. Lights up the stage. Should be able to crossover into any genre. Good personality and seems to work well with people.
Kendra Chantelle
Good voice, but lacks oomph. I’m not sure where she could fit into the music business. Doesn’t seem that she’s found herself yet as an artist. Kind of non-descript but no better or worse than Sara Bareilles or Natasha Bedingfield.
Lauren Alaina
Very young. Very cute. Great voice. She started off with a bang and seems to have fallen apart. Not sure if she’s ready for the big-time yet, but we will see. She has potential.
Laura Turner
Big powerful voice, but not sure where she’ll fit in. Broadway maybe. I see the talent but not the fire that’s required for star quality. Lacks oomph and style.
Naima Adedapo
Love this lady and her voice. Great personality and stage presence. Good confidence level. Very unique and interesting look. Strikingly and uniquely beautiful. She has a lot of style. I could see her doing some neo-soul stuff like Jill Scott, but non of that poppy-type music. Not sure yet how she’ll fit in as she goes genre-jumping during the show.
Paul McDonald
What a great smile, sweet voice and mellow vibe. I like this dude and it’s obvious that he loves to perform. You can feel his passion when he sings. Although he doesn’t have one of those big, glaring voices, it’s clear that he loves crafting and stylizing music. Not quite sure where he’ll fit in and if he has the pizzazz to be the next American Idol.
Pia Toscano
Hmm, not sure how she can be categorized. Beautiful lady with a good voice and killer legs. Seems confident, but not sure how the American Idol machine would shape her and where she’d fit in within the music business. Females may not like her because although she may be the nicest girl in the world, but she has that “Oh-Yeah-I-Can-Steal-Your-Boyfriend Look”. Not saying she’s like that at all obviously, but she has that Kardashianesque look to her and that may turn people off and detract from her talent.
Rachel Zevita
Good voice and cute, but I don’t know about this one as an American Idol. I could definitely see her doing Broadway stuff. Has a lot of style and maturity.
Robbie Rosen
Killer voice and great personality. Hard to believe that he’s only sixteen. His talent transcends his years. If the show is really about singing talent and not about image. He may go far, but I don’t think he’ll win.
Scott McCreery
I like some country music and certain country artists, but this young man has one hell of a voice. It’s rare to hear somebody with so much richness, tone and depth. I like his country style, but think he’s going to have an extremely hard time genre-jumping as he’s stuck on what he does best and that’s country. Whether he wins or not, this kids got a country music deal waiting somewhere in the wings.
Tom Halperin
Me likey this guy, but not sure why. He’s good-looking and has a great voice and style. He loves his music and that’s apparent, but I’m not sure where he fits in as a male singer. I want to see what he can do. I want to see him really let go and rock out.
Stefano Langone
Very likeable young man with a great voice, but I don’t think he’s going to go to much farther in the competition. He may be good in a “boy band” and the world could use a great boy band right now, don’t you think?
Tatynisa Wilson
Great voice and confidence. Really cute young lady and she wants this so bad, you can feel her dreams jumping out of the television screen. Sometimes she seems to get jumbled up inside her own talent and messes up and you can’t do that as an artist. You have to be on top of your game at all times. She cracks under pressure and gets ahead of herself.
Thia Megia
Cute and bubbly, but I don’t think she’s ready for prime-time yet. Maybe she can come back in another year or two. She needs to find herself as a singer and define herself style-wise. She is just a baby though at only fifteen and has years to perfect her style and talent.
And The Winner Is?
Now, after all of that, I think that the ones who are going to make it to the bitter end will be Karen Rodriquez, Ashton Jones, James Durbin, Julie Zorilla and Naima Adedapo.
As for the winner, I believe, from what I’ve seen so far, and considering a complete package and star quality, it’s going to be either Julie or Naima or Karen. I’m thinking maybe Julie will win unless she falls apart at some point or fails to be creative. Remember, this show is based on not only musical talent, but a few other factors as well. Karen could win or come in second, if she doesn’t pigeon-hole herself by trying to play up to Jennifer Lopez.
Right now, I’m thinking Julie, but that may change as the competion goes forward.
