I loved this episode of Nashville Star for many reasons. First and foremost, it was only an hour long. Secondly, host Billy Ray Cyrus showed a little bit of personality and I didn’t want to slap him (except for that hanging chad joke). Thirdly, the contestants started to bite back at the judges, who, let’s face it, had it coming. Let’s get right into it.
Melissa Lawson
This week was a double elimination, and Billy Ray opened the show by calling Melissa and Tommy Stanley forward. One had gotten the most votes; one was being sent home without even getting to perform his or her song. Bye bye, Tommy. Melissa sang "Danny’s Song," and even though the beginning low notes weren’t perfect, this was my favorite performance from her. She was soft and not as showy as she usually is, so I could just focus on her voice. John Rich still wants her to work on her nerves, and Jewel wants to make sure that Melissa, her husband, and her five boys are ready for the sacrifices that they’ll be making for the music business. Bring it on, Melissa said. (Okay, I’m paraphrasing.)
Laura & Sophie (pictured)
My favorite moment of the night involved Sophie, but it didn’t happen during their predictable performance of Patsy Cline’s "Walkin’ After Midnight." It happened at the end of the show, when Jewel was rambling on about how it killed her that Pearl Heart was in the bottom two with Ashlee Hewitt instead of Laura & Sophie: Sophie rolled her eyes. You go, girl! If the judges, who put you on the show, keep telling you that you need to go home because you’re too young, ACT IT. I’m not saying that the girls, ages 18 and 16, didn’t deserve the boot — and that they shouldn’t go next week after that awkward bluesy burlesque ending they attempted. But I think the girls might’ve been set up. The pre-performance footage showed them fighting and crying, which just fueled Rich’s rant. (Kudos to Sophie, again, for explaining to him that just because she cried over fighting with her best friend doesn’t mean that she’d cry over an unfriendly crowd.) We weren’t shown whether judge/mentor Jeffrey Steele chose their song for them again this week, but regardless, he should have known that they wouldn’t pull off the "Walkin’" choreography. Those girls need to sit on a stool for a week and concentrate on their harmonies. At least the makeup artist was on their side this week.
After the jump, Shawn fires John, and John takes aim at Coffey (again).
Gabe Garcia
Once again, I liked him, but I thought the judgeslet him off easy. Jewel wanted him to sing Keith Urban’s "Somebody LikeYou" like a tiger, waiting to pounce on the audience. But at times(like when he moved away from the mic stand to work the crowd), hestill looked like a scared cub. John commented on Melissa’s nerves, butnot Gabe’s? Come on, now. He thought Gabe’s performance was hot? Thatdance lesson Gabe took paid off in him occasionally stompinghis left foot! John needs to stop the air-drumming, and judge what he’sactually seeing. Jeffrey, too. He would’ve given Gabe a 10? It was morelike a 7. Jewel was sane: She acknowledged that he needs to keepstepping (and smiling) it up.
Shawn Mayer
I love this girl. Not for what she did onstage, but for what she did off of it: Fire John Rich. He suggested they part ways after she explained that she doesn’t enjoy his mentoring sessions, which consist of him telling her how much she sucks. He understood and told her to call Jeffrey, who does seem like a better fit for her emotions. Jeffrey wants her to use those tears in her songs, and I sorta felt them when she sang "The First Cut is the Deepest." John, however, did not. He would’ve scored it a 5 out of 10. I think song selection is the key for Shawn, and though this was better than last week’s "Breathe," she still hasn’t found what I’m she’s looking for. She can’t be a mini Gretchen Wilson, but the tomboy we met the first week of Nashville Star wouldn’t be wearing those short dresses either.
Coffey
John admits he himself is the last one who should be worrying about whether someone is "country," but he can’t himself when it comes to Coffey. He likened Coffey’s performance of "Proud Mary" to a magician waving his one had so you wouldn’t see what he’s doing with the other. John asked Coffey whether he could go onstage with Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, or George Strait. Maybe if/when we get to hear an original song we’ll have our answer: Does Coffey write country songs? I’ve said it every week: I think his smooth runs would be something fresh for the genre, so I’m hoping the answer is yes. Jeffrey, who admitted it was Coffey’s best performance since Night 1, says he wants to see "less hype and more pipes" next week, but I think Coffey had the balance last night. Unlike when so many Idols venture into the crowd, Coffey was confident and at home (even with that unfortunate rooster dance). I do agree with Jewel though — he does need to sing a ballad next week and show some heart.
Ashlee Hewitt
This week Ashlee went from being a mini Jewel to being a mini Miranda Lambert. She didn’t know what to sing, so John suggested Steve Miller Band’s "Take the Money and Run." On first viewing, I was on Team Jeffrey: I thought it seemed forced. But I watched it again, and I started to dig it. Yeah, there was a bum note early on, but she didn’t let it stop her barefoot party. (Why do people need to sing barefoot? It’s that hard to find comfortable shoes?) John says she’ll make it to the end of the competition; Jewel says she’s one of the few singers on the show who feels like an artist. It’s true, you do feel like the words are coming through her and not as though she’s reciting them. I’m still not buying her, but I’m in the store…
Pearl Heart
This was a painful elimination because last night’s performance of Garth Brooks’ "Ain’t Goin’ Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)" was not only their best, but also arguably the best performance of the season. They sounded tight. The looked great, strapped into electric guitars and skinny pants. And they were having so much fun that even Courtney registered a zero on the awkward scale. These girls will definitely have a future in country music, after they bake a bit. They went out on a high note… after Billy Ray made them stand in 25 SECONDS of silence before he announced their name. Seriously, someone in his earpiece counts it down, right? So painful.
Who should go home next week? And who should win it all?
I’m telling you that Sophie and Laura don’t sound right together. They need to graduate High School and the try to work on solo careers. Pearl Heart kicked a-s last night!
I have to say that in the beginning, I wasn’t too fond of Pearl Heart. I’m a big fan of family harmonies (if you want true harmonies, listen to the Rankin Family in Canada)and I found their’s was quite harmonious. However, last night they got the bum rap, and their performance was awesome for a HARD song to sing. Agree that Laura and Sophie have to go, they just seem like they are in a high school talent show.
I am so disappointed that Pearlheart went home. They were one of my favorites to perform on the show and I was so sure that they would at least be around to the end of the show. Hopefully, they will get a record deal, because I love they way that they sound together.
Laurie and Sophie come across as bratty prima donas. Unfortunately, they don’t have the talent to back up their attitudes. I think America will have had enough of them after this week. Say goodbye girls. Pearl Heart should have stayed longer than these two twits. Melissa is my favorite to win, but I don’t know how she’ll do afterwards. None of the winners have done too much after the show.
I quit watching a few weeks ago, but I checked in one and off last night. Nothing has changed. I heard Coffey pretending to sing (he can’t) — and I heard about a half a minute of those two kids (awful). I also heard Shawn who sang so flat that it was painful.
That’s all I heard, but it was enough.
Laura and Sophie need to go. Laura seems to have a lot better voice than Sophie and will do a lot better with someone who can actually harmonize with her. Sophie can’t sing. I think the producers are sick of them too and showed footage of them fighting to help them get kicked off. This is the second week we’ve heard of them fighting. Like Pearl Heart never fights? Who knows, but I found that interesting and funny at the same time. I found her comments on stage and her rolling her eyes a little immature. But I thought Jewel’s comments about rather them leaving than Pearl Heart was classic. I give her credit for being willing to say what I was thinking but not right in front of them, OUCH!! I don’t care for Ashley’s winey/nasaly singing and Shawn overly dramatic face last night just came off really fake. Kudos fro firing John! Coffey needs to stick with the more soulful sound. Liked Gabe, too. I really liked Pearl Heart, sad to see them go, but I’m pulling for Melissa, Go Mel!!!
Melissa is the my (obvious) choice to win it all. Gabe would be my runner-up. It’s clear that Laura & Sophie should have gone home already. I’m also ready to be rid of Coffey and Billy Ray Cyrus.
–
Noahone.com
The show’s getting tougher and tougher to watch, but the hardest part is dealing with the eliminations. The only answer for totally untalented (Laura and Sophie) and non-country-sounding (Coffey) singers remaining is that many viewers are singing reality-show fans, not country fans. When the show was on its original network, country fans had to seek it out. Now, on NBC, regular reality viewers stumble across it and watch because they like Idol and similar singing shows. Since many aren’t country fans, they vote for Coffey—but why? He sounded not only not country last night, but bad. Laura and Sophie? Neither terribly country nor talented. Even the taste of those who posted here is real questionable. I wonder seriously if “Lockfy” knows what “flat” means when he critiqued Shawn. Her singing was not at all flat. It was the best of the night and probably her best so far. Only gripe is her overdone facial expressions. Right now I’m desperately counting down to Coffey’s elimination.
Laura and Sophie are the best people in this show. They are young and beautiful and have a great voice. At least they have the gut to get out there and do what they do. the judges are way to harsh on them for no reason. If they thought that they was to young y did they out them thu in the first place? This show is getting rediculace.
NBC is getting out of hand with their long pauses to heighten dramatic effect. I normally assume the delay is done in editing but since NS is live, it’s just lame. Why not stick a commercial in there?
Good point that non-country fans might be joining in on NBC and voting for the least country contestants. To me, though, it’s not so clear what country even IS anymore now that it’s mostly pop radio country on country stations. What is Country? Is it the lack of melisma? Skilled twang? Lyric content? Singing the old standards? An infused “southern accent”? I confess I’m listening to Miley Cyrus this very minute (don’t hold it against me!) and much of what I’m hearing from her is something that’s more country pop than pop rock. I think the judges need to drop this issue of what’s country–entirely. Don’t we all need a rest from it?
Love you Mandi but Coffey and Shawn drive me crazy. Laura&Sophie should have gone home. And why is this season so inconsistent-Katie Cook, special musical guests and back-up dancers appear sporadically?
i have watched the show ever since it first came on. i like the mentoring by the judges . i don;t think any judge should coment like the middle judge , and totaly destroy a contestant . coffey is not country . he stinks every week . but pearl heart who i have liked since i first heard them got the boot . they are probably the best trio i have heard since the dixie chicks came about. that song they sang last week did hurt them in votes . why , because it simply wasn’t a good song choice . these girls do best on their feet , with their instruments . i was glad to hear the first mal judge say , come see me , i’ll give you a contract . they deserve one . they don’t need nashvill star to be successful in the music industry . they are stars with out the show .
Jeffrey
Sorry Jeffrey, but she was indeed flat. Perhaps you might want to go back and listen to her — close your eyes listen for the notes — listen for the notes that should have been there. She is a good 1/4 to 1/2 step under. You can like her of course even if she sings flat — but she was clearly off.
If my best friend said ON NATIONAL TV that she feels differently about me now (from what she felt before they appeared on NS), I’d probably cry too…and I’m a few decades older than Sophie. Looks like Laura wants to be the star, while Sophie wants to improve the duo’s chances. Maybe if Laura didn’t pay as much attention to Tommy OFF stage, she’d have more time to make the harmonies work better. I’m rooting for these girls, but Laura needs to get her priorities in order. P.S. — wish Paula Abdul was a judge on this show (or even Simon) — at least the criticisms would be constructive instead of downright mean.