The World of Scott Mindeaux

American Idol 7.13.2 The Top 5 Results

It’s Wednesday everyone and you know what that means! Someone is going home tonite.

Will Brooke be “Believing” that she will move to the Top 4. Will Jason “Morn” his loss? Or will Syesha be the “Lord of the Nighttime” and prevail??

Hold on everyone…it’s results night!

Neil Diamond is the mentor this week and it was interesting seeing the contestants sing their interpretations of his songs.

As with all results shows, here is the medley. THis is awful. This has to be one of the most awful gropu performances I have ever seen. What a mishmash of singers up there. Hearing Brooke and Syesha sing side by side was soooo painful. End it soon please!

Jason Castro is up first.  Ugh…he is SAFE! It is a popularity contest and not a talent contest.

David Archuleta comes on stage and he is looking goofy. Don’t be so shocked that you are SAFE. You knew you were.

Next week is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show. My guess is that they will sing songs from any of the inductees into the Hall of Fame.

David Cook front and center. He will be fine, they will leave the last two for the drama (Brooke and Syesha).  He is SAFE.

This leaves Brooke and Syesha in the bottom two.

Natasha Bedingfield (sister to Daniel) sings tonite as the first guest. I assume Neil will sing soon. Now we’re at the dreaded Q&A section. Don’t bring this back next year. On a side note, how cute about Simon’s first crush and kiss.

I thought they weren’t doing the Ford Commercial this week. It’s placement is a bit late today. Today’s commercial is “Catch the Wind”.

Neil sings “Pretty Amazing Grace” from his newest album. Neil is on tour this summer.

We’re back to Syesha and Brooke. Brooke already has that frumpy look on her face and she has already started to cry. I feel bad for her, but she is going HOME tonite.  She did the audible sobbing into Syesha mic as she gave her a hug of comfort.

So we say goodnight to Brooke and we are down to Syesha and the boys. Join us next week as we tackle some of the greatest from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

So here is our Top 4: Syesha Mercado, David Archulta, David Cook and Jason Castro.

American Idol 7.13.1 – The Top 5

Hello everyone, THIS is American Idol! We’re down to the Top 5 tonight as last week’s surprise departure of Carly Smithson has us all scratching our heads.

This week music legend Neil Diamond is in the house to mentor our Top 5 hopefuls in the quest to be the American Idol. Tonight each contestant will be singing TWO songs. Ugh. All this in the quest to stretch it out to an hour. The judges will hold their critiques until after the performance of the 2nd song.

First up tonite, Jason Castro

Jason Castro
Forever in Blue Jeans

Dude…you forgot the words in front of Neil Diamond? Nice beginning. I know you feel more comfortable with the guitar, but how bout putting it down for once and interact with the audience. Move boy! I think the song choice is an easy one for you. There is nothing about the performance that seemed challenging at all.
Score: 7

David Cook
I’m Alive

David has the raspiness in his voice to kinda match Neil Diamond’s unique voice. Nice exciting opening, lots of energy. I said this of Jason, put the guitar down and interact with the audience and enjoy your time up on the stage.  One could close their eyes and believe that it is Neil Diamon singing the song back in the day. On a technical note, the singing was on spot!
Score: 8+

Brooke White
I’m a Believer

Interesting that Neil Diamond wrote I’m a Believer that was popularized by The Monkees. I don’t know, the song started off kinda hokey and you have that stupid smirk on your face.  I just don’t think this song offers any music challenges. This was your cop out song. You know the judges will critique your second song more. I just don’t “believe” that this was the right song for you. Yes it was peppy, yes it was fun, but it was not Brooke White.
Score: 6+

David Archuleta
Sweet Caroline

Neil calls him a prodigy. This is a classic Neil Diamond song. There was some pitch problems at the beginning of the song. It even sounded unsure.  This song was very telling. Here is a fast paced, pop-type song and I think you struggled.  You like the long, stretched out notes and it seemed out of place with this song.  It looked and sounded like you were struggling with how to “fit” into the song. Probably one of my lowest scores for you this entire season bro. I wasn’t feeling it.
Score: 7++

Syesha Mercado
Hello Again

Neil thought she picked out the right songs. Neil wanted to give her a hug and probably the only one that he said he was “pleased” with. Nice opening. Last week and this week, you took the time to connect with your audience. You’re not wearing shoes again this week! How funny. Don’t rush..you’re getting a bit ahead of the band. Nice strong vocals. Actually one of my favorite performances of the first 5.
Score: 8

Randy’s favorites David Archuleta and David Cook. Paula is on drugs and thought they sang their 2nd songs already. Simon called Brooke’s performance a nightmare, David Archuleta as amateurish and Jason as forgettable.

Part II

Jason Castro
September Morn

It sounds “real”. Thanks. There was a point where there was a music note shift and it was done nicely. I think the tempo of your song is a bit fast. This song was originally sung more slower. Watch the pitch there in the bridge to the 2nd part of the song. Definitely better than the 1st performance, but there were pitch problems.

Randy said it was just “ok”. He wants to hear the best at this point of the competition. Paula felt he was safe and that he needs to get out of his comfort zone. Simon says they don’t recognize him. No attempts to make the song his own and that they were both forgettable.
Score: 7-

David Cook
All I Ever Need is You

Seacrest addressed him as the rocker, yet the song was more a ballad. Soft opening, some pitch problems, but you pulled it together. We’ve gotten to the 2nd part of the song and here is the rocker side coming out. Neil was right when he said you picked out two songs that weren’t that well known but that’s a good thing. Good performance David you made this your own and I think the judges will make notice of that. For a song I didn’t know, I really liked it. So far tonite, the best song.

Randy said he is a fan and that he rocked the house. Paula is proud of him. Paula called him the American Idol. Simon thought the second song was brilliant.
Score: 9

Brooke White
I Am I Said

You wrote the lyrics on your hand? The feel of this song defintely has that Neil Diamond feel. Compared to your first song this one is definitely better. America will remember this song more so than you being a “Believer”. I think you put a little spin of your own making it “folksy”.

Randy said nice job. Paula said what she just did it and connected with the audience. Simon said he really hated the first song. He said this is the Brooke we like and that it was better than the first song. Well done.
Score: 8

David Archuleta
America

Somehow when I heard that Neil Diamon was the mentor this week, I knew that Arculeta was going to sing America. I want to like you tonite, but it seems like you are trying so hard this week and adding all those flourishes to the song where it doesn’t need it. I think the tempo was a bit rushed and really feel that if you took it down a notch you would have a well-played performance. It just felt like you were dying to get to the end of the song. Compared to David Cook’s 2nd performance, he did better in my opinion.

Randy said he was in the zone. Paula said it was the perfect song for him. Paula loves him. Simon said it was a smart choice and that it was very good.
Score: 7+

Syesha Mercado
Thank the Lord for the Nighttime

I honestly feel that Syesha is the only one who has put any effort to the “look” of her performances. Peforming also means making a connection to the audience. She works the stage and flirts with the audience. Vocally I like this song better than your first. You go girl!

Randy said she finally realized herself. Paula said her first song was vunerability was touching. On the second shows her fun said and love the theatrics. Simon appreciates the theatrical part but thinks she may be in trouble.
Score: 8

So who will be leaving tomorrow as we narrow down to the Top 4.  It’s hard to tell. Will America reember the 1st songs while they dial the phones tonite. Here is who is definitely staying tomorrow: David Cook and David Archuleta. I think Brooke will make it just barely. So this leaves Jason and Syesha. Syesha has never done well in the popularity contest, yet Jason’s performances were very bland.

I’m going to go with Jason Castro going home tomorrow.

Addicted to Rock Band

I have never owned a game console. Well, that’s not true I did own an Intellivision way back in the day.

Ben was at work today and I was just relaxing on my last day here in DC. So what did I do?

I played Rockband for most of the afternoon. Ben and I were up pretty late last nite and I didn’t get up until 11 this morning.  Ben had to leave for work at 10.

I never realized how much I want to own a Playstation 3 just to be able to play Rock Band and to have a Blue Ray player!  We were at Tyson’s yesterday and went to the Sony store and stared into the screen of a 52″ Bravia with BlueRay. Oh my god…it was like I could crawl into the picture, it was so clear.  Even animated features were amazing.  I can’t afford a Playstation 3 much less an LCD screen.

Ugh.

My character name is Rampant Rixx. Rocker dude with black hair and blue streaks , black shirt with holes.  Haha.

We’re going to plug in the microphone and try the vocals now! How fun!

I’m ok on the guitar by the way!

Why Do People Do What They Do?

I was walking around Dupont and was walking by Raku – an Asian Diner that has been there for several years. It’s near the circle and has outdoor seating which makes for nice people watching.

I noticed a woman picking things out of her dish from a distance. As I got closer, I found her picking out all the bean sprouts out of her PAD THAI!!

What?!?!

One of the main ingredients of Pad Thai is Bean Sprouts! Why would you order it? Better yet, order it without the Bean Sprouts. I’m not sure why it frustrated me so, but it did.

Let it go Scott…let it go…

Need Sleep…

So since Monday, the 21st, I have gotten a total of about 12 hours of sleep. Thats 4 days with only half a day’s rest.  I made it back to DC around 12:30am. The Amtrak was late about 45 minutes from New York. I kept trying to sleep on the train, but because of all the jostling, I kept waking up.

Suffice it to say, it has been a long day that started at 4:20 am [EST] and its 2:42 am [EST] now on Friday and I have had NO sleep.  I worked today in Somerset. It was good meeting everyone.

I have three more days left in DC.  I havent gotten to do anything that has been on my list yet.

Ugh.

Somerset Here I Come

4:20 am
Good morning everyone. It’s Thursday, April 24. I’m in Washington DC (well….Rockville, MD) Time to get up and shower. I didn’t get much sleep, Ben (my friend and guy that I’m staying with this week) burned his hand while getting food out of the oven. It appears to be a mild 1st degree burn.  We put ice on it initially then ran water over it for several minutes.  The pain seemed to go away when under water.  We found some Neosporin and put that on his fingers.  He and I didn’t get to bed really until about 2:45am.  I hope he is ok.  He was in alot of pain. I couldn’t sleep much since I was worried about him. I’m heading to Somerset, NJ today to visit the Ignite East offices and do some IT work while there.  I’m on the clock today, taking a break from my “break”. I’m on vacation this week in Washington DC.

5:12 am
Took a short 8 minute walk to the Rockville Metro station.  I thought it would be filled with more people than that, but it was very sparse.

5:50 am
Arrived at Union Station and got my tickets. I’ve only seen Union Station bustling with activity and commotion. I’m sure when I get back tonite, the station will be buzzing.

6:35 am
Boarded Amtrak Regional Train 130 on my way to Somerset. There will be a couple of stops along the way. My destination is Metropark, NJ.

6:49 am
We just stopped off at BWI Airport and on our way to Baltimore. The conductor still hasn’t been by to validate my ticket. I’m in Business Class on the train. The sun started its visible rise on the horizon. It’s a soft orange glow. I’m tired.

6:53 am
I’m really sleepy, but the jostling of the train might make it hard to sleep. The conductor came by and punched my ticket. He was a little too awake for me, at this hour.  Come back in an hour and let’s see how I feel! [smile]

7:01 am
Pondering how to track my time today. I logged into Buddy and couldn’t find a category for travel time.  I guess technically I’m on the clock as soon as I left the apartment eh? I’ll figure it out later. I’m hungry. The cafe cart is about 4 cars back. I just got up to go to the restroom and I almost fell into someone (at least he was kinda cute) while trying to walk the middle aisleway. Don’t this I’ll risk spilling something on my way back from the cafe. So far there are only about 8 of us in Business Class.  There is a woman across the aisle and one row back, she is having outmeal or something. Another passenger about 4 rows up had a danish and a bottle of water.

7:15 am
Arriving now at Baltimore. The last pickup was BWI and now there are about 20 people in my car. Everyone is reading the WSJ or the Washington Post.  A guy just came back from the cafe cart and he had a coffee and danish. I’m hungry. Now arriving, Baltimore Penn Station. All aboard! Lots of poeple at this station.  Lots of folks heading up to NY I suppose. Next stop Wilmington, DE.

7:32 am
Just plotted the route from the train station at Metropark to the office. It is about 13 miles.  MD (Michael Dembicer) couldn’t pick me up today since he is on deadline with Femara. I’ll take a cab from the station to the office.  The guy in front of me got some kind of breakfast sandwich. I can smell the sausage. Ugh.

8:16 am
Wilmington, DE. Next stop Philadelphia.

8:23 am
Just got the inVentiv American Idol pool update from Amada at Palio. What?!?! Carly was voted off?? Are you kidding me?? Ummm…Brooke forgot the words! Top 6 and she forgot the words and lives to tell about it! So annoying. So after all these weeks, I have yet to score on the leaderboard.

8:44 am
Philadelphia. I am soooo sleep and my stomach is growling. Next stop Trenton, NJ.

9:12 am
Trenton, NJ. Next stop Metropark – my stop!

9:34 am
I’m here!!!