Seven Singers Singing and One Odd Act

Seven Singers Singing and One Odd Act by Roxanne McDonald

Solo vocal- heavy “America’s Got Talent” reveals the top eight acts remaining.

So my friend emailed me and asked who I thought was going to take the “America’s Got Talent” competition this season. I had to/have to say that my favs must be America’s favs, as

all but one act making it through to the next round of finals is a vocal one, and even Sideswipe stepped it up—figuratively and literally—last night. I have no sense of who will win, though.

I can’t choose between them, but I hope beyond hope that Butterscotch and Cas Hayley are the last standing; and I’m still rooting for them, though The Glamazons were a bit spectacular visually but off vocally. Too much going on to “entertain”, which may have thrown off their focus, slowed down the progress they have made thus far improving on their voices.

Anyway.

The final eight were revealed as follows, and, as Jerry Springer made VERY clear, in no particular order:

Robert Hatcher sang “Let’s Stay Together,” which was beautiful, but not remarkable enough.

Julienne Irwin sang “Crazy”. The song was waaaay over her head. Way.

Terry Fator and his new [to us] puppet Johnny Davis did a Tony Bennett and Dean Martin number, singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “That’s Amore,” respectively. But it was another “not-what-you-would-expect” situation, as rather than Terry taking one voice and the puppet taking the other, he let snarky little Johnny take both personas and songs. Love his work, but I don’t know if he can convince the country to name it the most talented of the season—only because we are so overwhelmingly removed from the days of Shari and Lambchop.

And despite how kids in the crowd had brought their own ventri-men, you all know who you are who know what I mean. I could have cried when there was no more Lambchop, but who today will have the connections to nostalgia to choose Fator over, say, Butterscotch or even Cas?

Cas Hayley performed Reggaed-out version of “Easy”. This guy is an anomaly, an enigma, a true star. And so yeah, I don’t care to hear [or read] how some can’t wrap their pea brains around his Cajun affects.

Jason Pritchett performed “If Tomorrow Never Comes.” He gets a hard buzz-ass time from Piers, but really, while he is a lovely singer, like Hatcher he just doesn’t make himself all that memorable.

The Glamazons did a full-throttle, complete with sparkles and disco balls and dancers, “It’s Raining Men.” I found it

disturbing to watch, really, as the choreography was way clustered and there was a degree of awkwardness that ruined the otherwise campy, poke-fun sexy of the routine.

Butterscotch did an absolutely pristine [beat-box/singing/piano-playing] “My Funny Valentine.” And she has just glowingly evolved. What a dignified, gorgeous, and brilliant performer.

And Sideswipe actually answered their call: I had my barf bag handy, but was moderately impressed when they brought on an act with some substance, offering an quasi-operatic, dramatic, contemporary and relevant context for those foolish high kicks and aerials that were so blah before when they had nothing to hang on—no storyline, no text or subtext, just air kicking and flipping.

That left The Duttons and The Calypso Tumblers to go home—which almost always sucks…when decent, unique, or more ambitious and appealing troupes get booted.

Don’t know if voters think they wouldn’t be able to remember all the names in a group or what. But clearly, we can’t get enough of American Idol, for the singers have taken over the stage as a result of what Springer said was millions of votes.

SirLinksAlot America’s Got Talent links

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