Insights on X Factor Philippines Eliminations

For the past few weeks, we witnessed talented Filipino singers who auditioned in X Factor Philippines. Since auditions, I became a fan of some of the contenders who made it to the top 20 through final 12. However, there are some contenders who are deserving to make it farther than the other remaining contestants.

AKA JAM from Groups category. They are Jhelsea Maine Flores, Auriette Divina, Katrina Velarde, Ashley Campbell, Alyssa Quijano and Monique Lualhati. They auditioned as individual acts but the judges decided to form them as a group. Their elimination is one of the most controversial ever in X Factor Philippines.  Photo Courtesy of X Factor Philippines Facebook Fan Page

• First of all, in the Judges Homes round, the judges make a very good line up of contenders for top 20.
• I am having a hard time to choose who will make it to the top 12 especially in Groups Category mentored by Gary Valenciano. The five acts who made it to this category are Sweet Bliss, Daddy's Home, 5th Avids, Takeoff and Lucky Girls (changed their name into A.K.A. JAM). All of them did a great job in their auditions to bootcamp but in the end, Sweet Bliss and 5th Avids were eliminated. However, the two acts eliminated did a very good job in their auditions to bootcamp because of the blending of their voices and perfect song choice.
• The top 5 contenders who make it to the Over 25 category mentored by Pilita Corrales are Paulo Castro, Joan Da, Cristine Ledesma, Modesto Taran and Mark Mabasa. At first, I didn't accept the fact that Cristine Ledesma and Paulo Castro were eliminated. The reasons why these two contenders are deserving in the top 12 because Paulo made an impressive performance during the auditions because of his voice which is similar to Michael Jackson. On the other hand, Cristine Ledesma is also deserving in the top 12 for the reason that she is the total package singer: the beautiful looks, the classy voice and the sophisticated style. However, when the top 3 contenders (Mark Mabasa, Joan Da, Modesto Taran) started to show their talent in the live shows, they deserve their spot there.
• The first three weeks of eliminations were such a not so good nights for me. In the first week, Joan Da and Jerrianne Templo made it to the bottom 2, although Joan did a very good acoustic rendition of Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning" and Jerrianne did a soulful and powerful performance of "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack during the performance night, but they are the bottom two. In the end, Jerrianne was send home after the decision of the judges. 
• During week 2, Takeoff did a rendition of Backstreet Boys' "Larger than Life" although they have a good choreography but there are many sharps and flats in singing while Mark Mabasa did a very good rendition of The Beatles' classic "Got To Get You Into My Life" and they are the two contenders who got the lowest number of votes in top 11. However, Mark Mabasa, one of the frontrunners in the contest was eliminated via deadlock.
• The third week of the live shows was more shocking when two groups namely Daddy's Home and AKA JAM made it to the bottom two. Both of these groups from Gary Valenciano's category are very good and consistent from their auditions to the live shows. However, because of the shocking revelation, the judges were having a hard time to vote and AKA JAM was sent home through deadlock.

I am wondering why the very good contenders went home. Is that because of lack of support from the voters or other reasons behind the contest? Well to the top 9 remaining contestants good luck and more power. The nine remaining contenders are Kedebon Colim, Jeric Medina and Gabriel Maturan from Boys category under Martin Nievera; Allen Jane Sta. Maria and KZ Tandingan from the Girls category mentored by Charice; Joan Da and Modesto Taran from the Over 25's under Pilita Corrales and Takeoff and Daddy's Home from Groups by Gary Valenciano.

Couch Potato Review: Memorable Commercial Jingles in Philippine TV (Part 3)

Here's the top 10 best commercial jingles in Philippine TV.

Sharon Cuneta with daughters Frankie and Miel.

10. Nido (powdered milk drink for babies). This commercial was advertised in TV during 2010 to 2011 starring actress and TV host Sharon Cuneta and her daughters Frankie and Miel. I love the lyrics of this song because of the meaning which shows love to our parents and children by saying "You're my number one!"
Memorable Lyrics: "Look at me now, you're my number one. Bright as the day, you're my number one!"

The song "Just A Smile Away" was used in 1990 Close Up ad.

9. Close Up (toothpaste). In the late 80's and early 90's, songs such as "Closer You and I" by Gino Padilla and "Just A Smile Away" by Jaime Garchitorena are used as commercial jingles for Close Up. Most of the commercial models in the classic advertisement are showing love to each other with their beautiful smiles in their face.

Memorable Lyrics: "You were just a part of a dream, nothing more so it seems. But my love would keep much longer, I can't forget the picture of your smile. Cause everytime I close my eyes you come alive. The closer I get to loving you the closer I get to touching you give it time just a little more time we've getting closer you and I." and "There's a closeness that I feel that I am sure, you're just a smile away, just a smile away."

Colgate commercial with the kids.

8. Colgate (toothpaste). Two years ago until now, this is one of the unforgettable kiddie commercial jingles I heard in present time. I love the kiddie melody and the message of the jingle where kids will brush their teeth three times a day to avoid cavities.

Memorable Lyrics: "Brush brush brush three times a day. Brush, brush, brush keeps cavities away. Brush, brush, brush three times a day, brush with Colgate. Sheegeesheegee. Isa, pagkagising brush brush brush. Dalawa bago kumain brush brush brush. Tatlo bago matulog brush brush brush. Brush, brush, brush. Brush brush brush three times a day brush with Colgate."

Alice Dixon with Palmolive soap commercial in 1987.

7. Palmolive (soap). Nothing beats the classic ad of Palmolive in 1987 starring the two young and blooming ladies named Alice Dixon and Shiela Ysrael. They are one of the best and beautiful commercial endorsers in Pinoy TV because of their classic tagline "I can feel it!"

Memorable Lyrics: "It really works, you won't believe it. I can feel it!"

Two young ladies do the beat in Coca Cola.

6. Coca Cola (coke softdrinks). Two young ladies spending their time while singing the song and beating the table to form a melody. It became a hit among teenagers during 2003 and 2004.

Memorable lyrics: "Ito ang beat sabay-sabay, ito ang beat bawal sablay. Pabilis nang pabilis wag magmimiss wag magmimiss. Gets mo na, gets ko na! Aaahhh! Coca Cola! Nahihilo, nahihilo. Nalilito, nalilito. Coke ko'to Coke ko' to COKE Ko 'TO!"

Camella Homes with the petite child actress Chacha Canete.

5. Camella (real estate company). I remember this commercial in 2009 with a small girl named Cha-cha who moved so awkwardly because she felt that her home is too small. But she realized in the end, that she lives in a big house.

Memorable Lyrics: "Bulilit, bulilit sanay sa masikip. Kung kumilos, kumilos ang liit-liit. Bulilit!"

McDonald's slogan from 2005 up to present: Love ko 'to!

4. McDonalds (fast food chain). The song and English tagline for McDonalds is "I'm lovin it!". In 2005, American Idol season 3, third placer Jasmine Trias was invited in the Philippines to sing the Filipino tagline "Love ko 'to". Today, it is used as the tagline for McDonald's commercial. 

Memorable Lyrics: "Paparapapapap Love ko 'to!"

Milo commercial in 2004 with the young AJ Perez.

3. Milo (chocolate drink). The tagline used for Milo was used since 1980's in order to promote this chocolate drink as a healthy drink and it gives energy. Some athletes such as Bea Lucero and Japoy Lizardo became endorsers as well with young celebrities such as Rayver and Rodjun Cruz and AJ Perez. I think the drink is such a big help in sports.
Memorable Lyrics: "Great things start from small beginnings. Growing up with Milo. Milo Everyday!"

Mr. Clean ad in 1997 with the jingle "Labadami, Labango!"

2. Mr. Clean (detergent soap). The jingle was originally sang in the late 80's with soprano singer Sylvia La Torre. It has been used until the 90's which showed the effectiveness of Mr. Clean in whitening and cleaning the clothes.
Memorable Lines: "Labadami, labango. Mr. Clean mahal ka namin dulot mo ay labadami, labango!"

Jollibee and the mascots.

1. Jollibee (fast food chain). This is the most memorable commercial jingle I always remember since when I was a child. Even the kids of the 90's love to sing this song and mothers love to say "We will going to Jollibee" in order for their babies and kids to become happy. Filipino families went to fast food chains such as Jollibee during weekends.
Memorable Lyrics: "Isang tulog na lang, Jollibee na naman. Ang araw lulubog bukas mabubusog. Sa chickenjoy manok at yumburger bilog. I love you Sabado pati na rin Linggo hintay ka lang Jollibee nandyan na ako. Panlasang Pilipino, at home sa Jollibee"

That's it thanks for reading the three part blog series on memorable Pinoy commercial jingles. These are my personal favorites and based on the opinions and perspectives of other people as well with the impact among the viewers and in pop culture. You can search that commercial jingles on Youtube and other blog sites. Thanks a lot!

- Jonathan - 

Couch Potato Review: Memorable Commercial Jingles in Philippine TV (Part 2)

Here is the next set of commercial jingles which are memorable to the Filipino audience particularly with the kids and women, plus the men and the masses as well. They are remarkable because of the meaning of the song plus the convincing power of the products they delivered.

Palmolive Naturals Soap with endorser, Anne Curtis.

1. Palmolive Naturals Soap (soap). A commercial by actress Anne Curtis where she sang with the tune of MYMP's "Get Me" in 2011 for Palmolive Naturals Soft and Moisture with a slogan "Music for my Skin and Soul." Then in 2012, she sang the jingle in the tune of True Faith's "Perfect" for Palmolive White and Moisture. I think it is funny but cute because Anne Curtis showed her talent in singing although it is not good plus her confidence and her beauty which makes her a perfect commercial endorser for Palmolive Soap.

Memorable Lyrics: "Para sa puting pang-diyosa" (Palmolive White and Moisture) and "I feel your soft caress upon my skin like a touch from a rose." (Palmolive Soft and Moisture)

Royal Tru Orange ad in the 1990's.

2. Royal Tru Orange (orange-flavored softdrink). A commercial in the 1990's sang by the late Francis Magalona. He performed it with the tune of his rap song "Ito ang Gusto Ko." It has a significant message to the people especially in advocating peace, friendship and care for nature.

Memorable Lyrics: "Ito ang Gusto Ko, RTO, Ito ang Gusto Ko Royal Tru Orange"

Nikki Gil, an actress, singer, TV host and VJ gained her popularity in 2004 Coca Cola commercial.

3. Coca Cola (coke softdrink). A one-and-a half minute commercial in 2004 which starred by Nikki Gil while she was walking in the streets of Manila, giving Coca Cola to the people she met while singing.

Memorable Lyrics: "Sana'y masabi sa awit kong ito, lahat ng ninanais nitong puso ko. Sana saan man patungo sa buhay may pag-ibig may pag-asa may saya at saysay. Sana sa bawat sandali matikman mo, sarap ng pagsasama at simpleng ligaya. Tara na sakyan lang malay mo, andyan lang andyan lang ang hinahanap mo." 

Sonny Padilla with the two women in Family Rubbing Alcohol ad.

4. Family Rubbing Alcohol (rubbing compound / alcohol). A commercial in the 1990's featuring Sonny Padilla, an international boxing referee and the father of singer Zsa Zsa Padilla plus the two customers which are the housewife and the doctor who bought the said brand of alcohol in the supermarket. This commercial was used in boxing matches aired in RPN 9 and IBC 13 during the 90's.

Memorable Lyrics: "Family Rubbing Alcohol. Di lang pampamilya pang-sports pa!"

B-E-A-M means smile. A popular jingle during the 90's in radio.

5. BEAM (toothpaste). A commercial jingle in the 1990's and early 2000's which aired in radio and television. 

Memorable Lyrics: "B-E-A-M means smile. Smile kami pag BEAM. Beam na Beam ngiti'y protektado, panalo sa presyo panalo pag BEAM!"

Vilma Santos in the classic ad of nail polish brand "Caronia."

6. Caronia (nail polish). A popular commercial in the 1980's with four beautiful ladies dancing. The nail polish is also endorsed by Vilma Santos and the defunct gag show "Tropang Trumpo" did a spoof of that classic.

Memorable Lyrics: "Caronia, Caronia, there's every reason to sing and dance the secret of beauty is in your hands."

Carnation Evap, the full cream milk.

7. Carnation Evap (evaporated milk). In the summer of mid-1990's, I remember this song during my elementary days that is why I decided to taste the local delicacy and thirst quencher halo-halo with Carnation Evap. I remember the can of this milk was topped with a toque in the said commercial.

Memorable Lyrics: "Halo-halo iba't-iba kay tamis kapag sama-sama. Carnation Evap! The full cream milk!"

Sunny Orange, a bottled juice drink in the 1990's.

8. Sunny Orange (bottled juice drink). The famous bottled juice brand in the 1980's to 1990's with different flavors such as orange, lemon, grapes, strawberry and ice cola. Then, the rival of this brand is Ritchie's Orange. It is pronounced as Zenny Orange in the later parts of the song.

Memorable Lyrics: "Sunny Orange I love you, Lemon, grapes, strawberry (Ice cola in the 90's version). Sunny Orange super quality."

Maggi Sinigang sa Miso with the young Sam Concepcion.

9. Maggi Sinigang sa Miso (food seasoning). One of the commercials in the early 2000's featuring the young Sam Concepcion, who is the winner of the first season of singing contest for kids Little Big Star in 2005. It is proven that Sam's got the talent in singing and rapping at his young age. He is also with his dad Raymond Concepcion in this commercial.

Memorable Lyrics: "Parang may isang anghel sa aking labi na nakalutang sa ulap at nangingiliti. Kung ang alat at asim ay tulad ng hain ni Inay. Suspetsa ko ang buong mundo ay mapayapa at masaya."

Life is colorful with souped vegetables for Knorr commercial.

10. Knorr Sinabawang Gulay (food seasoning for soup). One of the commercials in the late 2000's with the Goin Bulilit Kids Nash Aguas and Sharlene San Pedro. The most important message of this commercial is to encourage the kids to eat vegetables in order to have a healthy lifestyle.

Memorable Lyrics: "Makulay ang buhay, makulay ang buhay sa sinabawang gulay."

Marian Rivera in "Skinwhite"

11. Skinwhite (whitening lotion). It is one of the commercials which lead Marian Rivera to stardom plus the jingle "Shine" which was sung by Regine Velasquez. The song was originally an entry in the 1996 Metropop Song Festival which placed second after Jaya's "Sometimes You Just Know." After this ad, there is also Mika Lagdameo, a model who paired with a guy and it has a beautiful storyline.
Memorable Lyrics: "There I was alone in the shadow, couldn't found my way. Cause you make me shine, shine, you keep me shining through. It's true, I'm shining on all because of you."

12. Nescafe (three-in-one coffee). Last year, I remember this commercial with a girl singing with the people who are bitter (meaning disappointed or bored) and they become happy.
Memorable Lyrics: "Good morning sa inyo, Sweet and Mild ang kasama ko. Tamis ng iyong halik, umaga at walang pait. Good morning sa inyo!"

Wait for the last part of the couch potato review for the top 10 best Pinoy commercial jingles and songs of all time!

Couch Potato Review: Memorable Commercial Jingles in Philippine TV (Part 1)

As a couch potato, commercials and advertisements are part of TV habit among Filipinos in their households. Actually, there are some people who are bored in commercial breaks while others are enjoying it by imitating the actions and dialogues as well with memorizing commercial jingles. Since when I was a child up to now, there are remarkable Pinoy commercial jingles that I still remember because it is easy to sing and recall plus the mass appeal of the songs. 

Here is the list of my most memorable commercial jingles in Pinoy TV. Come and let us have a recall of the timeless songs from the Pinoy TV commercials and advertisements. The criteria for selecting the commercial jingles are recall from the masses, relevance of lyrics to the viewers especially in imparting Filipino values and the entertainment value. Now, let us proceed to the list of the classic commercial jingles in Philippine TV. Here is the first ten out of the thirty memorable commercial jingles I remember:

Philippine Airlines Shining Through advertisement in the 1980's.

The 1987 Coca Cola commercial with the song "Tomorrow's People" became a hit all over the world
with versions from different dialects. In the Philippines, Lilet is the one who performed the song.

United American Tiki Tiki Star, multivitamins for kids (2000 - present)

Pampers (2010)

1. "The beauty of the Philippines shining through, Philippine airlines." - Philippine Airlines, flag carrier of the Philippines (I watched this advertisement via Youtube and it promotes Philippine tourism as well. One of the most beautiful commercials.)
2. "I am the future of the world, I am the hope of my nation, I am tomorrow's keeper. I am a new inspiration and we got a song to sing to you and we got a message to sing for you." - Coca Cola, softdrink brand (It became a worldwide hit in 1987 where it has versions from different parts of the world. The title of the song is "Tomorrow's People" with meaningful lyrics and touching accompaniment) 
3. "You're in good hands with Metrobank." - Metrobank, a commercial bank (reminds me of my childhood and teenage days between late 90's and early 2000's)
4. "Mag-Sarsi ka para maiba, may pagkakataong umangat sa iba." - Sarsi, softdrink brand (commercial during the 80's which encourages the viewers to stand out among the rest)
5. "United American Tiki-tiki Plus for Babies." (1990's to early 2000's) + "United American Tiki-tiki Healthy Buong Body." (2000's) - United American Tiki-tiki, a multivitamin syrup for kids (easy to remember plus kids always know the lyrics)
6. "Mahaba-habang inuman SanMig Light." - San Mig Light, a beer
7. "Sabado Nights." + "Tama na yan inuman na!" - San Miguel Beer Pale Pilsen (for 5 and 6, we can enjoy moments with our friends through bondings but I am not drinking beer so folks, drink moderately and responsibly)
8. "More energy, mas happy." - Enervon, a multivitamin supplement for adults (be energetic and smile to gain happiness in work and celebrities such as Carmina Villaroel and Michael V became endorsers)
9. "Good morning, good morning dahil sa Pampers ang sleep mo, ang sleep mo mahimbing. Iwas leaks, iwas leaks up to ten hours masarap ang gising." - Pampers, diapers for babies (A child friendly commercial with an elephant)
10. "3 in 1 plus 1 Happy Kaarawan." - Selecta 3 in 1 + 1, an ice cream with four flavors namely Chocolate, Ube, Strawberry, Mango (Groovy dance moves with Vhong Navarro)
11. In addition, the jingles of the shampoo brand Rejoice  from "Sunod sa Galaw" by the Jaboom Twins, "Walang Sabit" by Sandara Park and "Kering-Keri" by Kim Chiu are also unforgettable and 70's commercial of Kodak singing Paul Anka's "Times of Your Life". 

Wait for the second part of my memorable commercial jingles in Philippine TV.

Couch Potato Review: American Idol 13

Stunning performances. Positive reviews from the judges. Standing ovations weekly. Wow! Definitely, it made a milestone in American Idol history, where the contestants of eleventh season is considered as the most talented bunch we ever had. From auditions to the final round, we witnessed the best talents across America and they made a remarkable impact to the fans and viewers of Idol. 

I would like to express my overall review for the top 13 contenders of season 11, as well with other remarkable contestants who deserve a spot in the final 13 but cut. 

Eliminated Contenders (Top 13)

The finalists of American Idol Season 11 L - R clockwise: Colton Dixon, Heejun Han, Joshua Ledet, Elise Testone, Phillip Phillips, Jermaine Jones, Shannon Magrane, Erika Van Pelt, Jeremy Rosado, DeAndre Brackensick, Skylar Laine, Jessica Sanchez and Hollie Cavanagh.

1. Jeremy Rosado. He is one of the standouts during Hollywood Week where he belonged to the group "Hollywood Five" with their rendition of "Mercy" by Duffy. He made it to Vegas Round with his solo performance of "I Know You Won't" where he received a standing ovation from the judges which made him advanced to the top 24. He did a heartfelt rendition of "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles during semi-finals and "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder in top 13. He was sent home first where the judges chose Elise Testone to save. However, he had that soulful voice which matches his R&B style.

2. Jermaine Jones. He is dubbed as the "Gentle Giant" of season 11. He had that very low voice which resembles to Scotty McCreery of season 10. His reinstatement which leads to the top 25 and his heartfelt rendition of "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross made him to the top 13. But he was disqualified because of previous criminal records. I think Reed or Eben is more deserving in his spot.

3. Shannon Magrane. She is the total package singer: a beautiful face, stunning height, a good family background and an amateur voice for a teenager. She reminds me of Carrie Underwood in terms of looks and vocal style. Although she forgot the words during Group Round in Hollywood Week, she received a standing ovation from the judges with her rendition of "What A Wonderful World" which makes her one of the early favorites. Her rendition of the Christian song "Go Light Your World" is considered as her best performance. However, she struggled in the top 13 stage where she didn't reach the high notes in her performance of "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. She made a rebound in her studio performance of the song and her performance of "One Sweet Day" by Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey in top 11. She needs to improve her craft because she is young and someday, she will be a great singer.

4. Erika Van Pelt. She is a versatile singer where her voice truly matches different genres of music such as rock, ballads and upbeat songs. She had that raw voice which is solid and she proved her versatility during the competition especially in the live shows. She proved her solid performances in her rendition of "What About Love" by Heart where she picked a rock song, "The Edge of Glory" where she sang in upbeat tempo and "New York State of Mind" where she showed her mellow side. She had an ultimate makeover during the contest because her hairstyle and color changed.

5. Heejun Han. He is one of the most memorable contestants in the show because of his humor and the talent that entertained the viewers. Heejun Han is the first Korean American who made it to the finals of American Idol (Paul Kim from season 6 and John Park from season 9 made it to the semi-finals). He had that romantic and soulful voice for a balladeer plus the clear phrasing and he puts emotions to the song that he rendered. Definitely, his best performance would be "All in Love is Fair" by Stevie Wonder and "A Song For You" by Donny Hathaway which gave him a standing ovation from the judges. 

6. DeAndre Brackensick. He is a returning contestant from season 10 where he was cut in the top 40. This season, he made it to the top 13 with his semi-final performance of Earth, Wind and Fire's "Reasons". He had that clean falsetto, soulful voice and a curly hair which made him as a soul / R&B singer. His remarkable performance of "A Woman's Work" by Kate Bush is also impressive.

7. Colton Dixon. He is the rocker of the season and a returning contestant from season 10 where he was cut in the top 40. He is musically gifted and he had that strong showmanship where he knows how to perform in stage with his rocking performance. He is one of the most consistent performers in the season with his performance of "Decode" by Paramore (top 24) where he truly rocked the stage. He showed his tender side with "Lately" by Stevie Wonder on top 13 and his musical talent on "Piano Man" by Billy Joel on top 10. He also showed his inventive side (which is similar to David Cook) with his rendition of "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga and "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire on top 7 but he was eliminated during that time which was surprising among the judges and fans of the show.

8. Elise Testone. She is one of the early front runners during the auditions to Vegas Round with her group performance of "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" along with Reed Grimm, Haley Johnsen and Eben Franckewitz plus her performance of "It's a Man's, Man's World" by James Brown which earn her a spot in the semi-finals. She is a very professional performer and she had that husky and rockin voice which the judges remind of Janis Joplin. Her best performances would be in top 11 with "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green, "Vienna" by Billy Joel during top 10 and "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zepellin on top 9. 

9. Skylar Laine. At first, I thought that she was just a mediocre country singer who auditioned in the show. However, she emerged as one of the best and most consistent performers in the top 13. Her voice is similar to Reba McEntire and she had that strong showmanship especially in her top 24 performance of Faces' hit "Stay With Me." Her best performance will be "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler on top 8 night. Her duet with Colton Dixon with the Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton hit "Islands in the Stream" is also memorable. Therefore, her performance of "The Show Must Go On" by Queen is such a phenomenal performance, which was mentioned by Randy Jackson.

Remaining Conteders (Top 4)

The remaining four contenders of American Idol season 11:
 Phillip Phillips, Hollie Cavanagh, Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez.
Source: www.hollywoodgossip.com

1. Hollie Cavanagh. She is one of the returning contestants from season 10 who made it to the finals of this season. She improved a lot from last season and she is also a total package singer aside from Shannon Magrane. She has the pretty voice that matches her powerful vocals which she has the potential to become a belter. She had a lot of screen time in season 10 during Hollywood Week but in season 11 she appeared in the green mile round. Her best performances will be "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera (top 24), "All the Man That I Need" by Whitney Houston (top 13) and "The Power of Love" by Celine Dion (top 11). These three performances showed her vocal prowess and her exceptional craft in singing where I considered her as part of final two this season. However, she struggled in the following weeks because of wrong song choice and sometimes, she lacks of emotions while singing or even pitch problems. In top 5, she did a very good rendition of Ike and Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High" which earned her a spot in top 4.

2. Jessica Sanchez. She is one of the front runners in the show with her standing ovation from the judges for two consecutive weeks with her semi-finals performance of "Love You I Do" by Jennifer Hudson and "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. Other memorable performances she did including "Everybody Has A Dream" by Billy Joel (top 10), "Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce (top 9), "Fallin" by Alicia Keys (top 7) and "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross (top 6). She is one of the exceptional contestants because of her powerful and soulful voice and she has the makings of a diva. She is always earned positive reviews with her performances weekly. However, she was saved by the judges from elimination in top 7. Definitely, she deserved it because she will make a name in the music industry plus her heartfelt and powerful performances of her songs. Next time, I think she need to become careful in choosing upbeat songs which suited her voice and style. She is a Filipino Mexican contestant and Filipinos are hoping that she will make it to the finale where Jasmine Trias earned the third place in American Idol 3, the highest placement made by a Filipino in the show.

3. Joshua Ledet. He is one of the most praised contestants in the history of the show because every week he received a standing ovation from the judges and audience as well with the positive feedback. He is always consistent from his auditions to the final five. He is memorable with his performances of Christina Perri's "Jar of Hearts" where he received his first standing ovation and in Vegas where he performed "Blue Suede Shoes" along with Shannon Magrane which is out of the box. He had a lot of best performances and his song choices are truly great especially his rendition of "When A Man Loves A Woman" (top 11), "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (top 8), "I Believe" (top 7) and "To Love Somebody" (top 5). His voice and style is similar to Fantasia Barrino and Jacob Lusk that is why there are cases that he sounded the same every week and the song choices are sometimes predictable. However, he showed his vocal prowess and his soulful style every week. Best performance in a group or duet, definitely his collaboration with Jessica Sanchez with the song "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me" by George Michael and Aretha Franklin.

4. Phillip Phillips. He is one of the early favorites and most consistent contenders in terms of singing style which is similar to Dave Matthews. He is also popular among girls because of the looks, appeal and his music style is on the mainstream. He can be a rocker or an acoustic singer. He made a big impression to the judges in his audition where he played the guitar with his rendition of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. He also had a quality of being inventive where he truly owns the song especially with his performances of "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins during the top 24. He also did an encore of his audition piece "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder in top 13 and his most memorable performances would be "Movin Out (Anthony's Song)" by Billy Joel in top 10, "U Got It Bad" by Usher in top 7 and "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen in top 6. I think he needs to have out of the box performances for Phillip because there are times that he sounded the same or singing the same genre every week. Therefore, he is one of the best singers in season 11.

Who among this remaining four contenders will be the winner of eleventh season?

Notable Semi Finalists who Deserve a Spot in the Finale


1. Reed Grimm. He is one of the most colorful characters I've ever watched in the show. He is quirky but a true blue and talented musician. His auditions impressed me with his piece the theme song of U.S. television series "Family Matters." He also received positive feedback and praise with his group performance of "Hold On, I'm Comin" by Sam & Dave along with Jen Hirsh, Creighton Fraker, Aaron Marcellus and Nick Boddington and in Vegas week with his performance of "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" with Eben Franckewitz, Elise Testone and Haley Johnsen. He also did an amazing job in "Georgia On My Mind" in his second solo in Hollywood week with drums. (Note: He only had 30 minutes to prepare for that piece) In the semi-finals, he owned the Maroon 5 hit "Moves Like Jagger" in a jazzy accompaniment. But I am wondering why he didn't chosen for the top 13, although he has the talent and his identity as a singer and musician.


2. Jen Hirsh. She is having a powerful but sweet belter and she had that wide range of voice. She also deserves to be in the top 13 because she is one of the front runners in Hollywood Week where she received a standing ovation in her performance of "Georgia On My Mind." She also received positive feedback with her semi-finals performance of "One and Only" by Adele. She has the melody and the emotions while singing.


3. Eben Franckewitz. The youngest contestant of the season who sings like a pro. He is a total package singer with his looks (resembles to Justin Bieber or Greyson Chance) and having that angelic voice to sing classics. He is also deserving to be in the top 13 because of his consistency from auditions to Las Vegas Week. In the semi-finals, his performance was not so good because of the wrong song choice. Therefore, Eben is still young and he can improve his craft.


4. Hallie Day. She is classy singer which matches her look. She did a strong start in her audition with Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." She remains consistent and she made it to the top 24. She also deserves to be in the top 13 because of her classy but powerful vocals. Her performance of "Feelin Good" in top 24 was okay but she is ready to make it on the music industry.


Related Articles:

• Couch Potato Review: American Idol 11 - Top 13 Performances
• Couch Potato Review: American Idol 11 - Semi Finals - Female
• Couch Potato Review: American Idol 11 - Semi Finals - Male

Couch Potato Review: American Idol 11 - Top 13 Performances

The top 13 contestants of American Idol. First row: Joshua Ledet, Colton Dixon, Hollie Cavanagh and Jessica Sanchez.
Second row: Heejun Han, Shannon Magrane, Deandre Brackensick, Jeremy Rosado and Skylar Laine.
Third Row: Elise Testone, Philip Phillips, Jermaine Jones and Erika Van Pelt.

After the semi-finals, the top 13 were selected by people's votes and judges choice as a wildcard contender. The theme for the performance night was the songs of Stevie Wonder, which performed by male contenders and the songs of Whitney Houston for female contestants.  Here's my review on the top 13 performance night of American Idol season 11.

Shannon Magrane sang "I Have Nothing" where I am expecting that she can nail the song and one of the best performances of the night. But the nerves gave the best of her on that evening. She had the powerful voice to deliver that song. However, she needs to tell the story of the song.  When I heard the studio version of her song, she did an amazing job. Score: 7.0 

Elise Testone did a wrong song choice for her amazing voice with her rendition of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" I am hoping next week that she is safe and not part of the bottom 2. Score: 8.0 

Erika Van Pelt sang "I Believe In You and Me" where she nailed the song but she didn't reach the high notes. She needs to improve her performance next time because she had that beautiful and soulful voice. Score: 7.8

Jermaine Jones proved that he deserves a second chance in his rendition of "Knocks Me Off My Feet" where his low baritone trademark matches the song. Score: 8.5

Jeremy Rosado touches the heart of the audience with his performance of "Ribbon in the Sky." It wasn't his best performance but he interprets the song in a beautiful way. Score: 8.4

I am wondering why Joshua Ledet made it to the bottom 3 guys although he had a very good performance of "I Wish." I think he made it to the bottom 3 although he did a very good job but he is similar to Jacob Lusk of season 10. Score: 8.9 

Skylar Laine said that she didn't sing a Whitney Houston song in her life. But when she performed "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", it was proven that she can sing any song not just a country but any kind of song. In other words, she is versatile. Score: 9.0

Deandre Brackensick did a reggae performance of "Master Blaster (Jammin)" where he did a soulful and groovy performance plus his clean falsettos. Score: 9.1 

Colton Dixon sang "Lately" which suits his voice and I love the transition from mellow introduction to the rock part. He is a versatile singer and he owned the song. Score: 9.5

Philip Phillips sang "Superstition" where this song is also his audition piece. He is a very good musician and singer. He got an entertaining performance with his guitar as an accompaniment but predictable song choice because other contenders sang that in previous seasons. Therefore, he is a true artist. Score: 9.8

MY TOP 3 BEST PERFORMANCES:

Heejun Han chose "All In Love Is Fair" which is a perfect song choice for him and much better performance than last week.  His voice is smooth and soft, clear and truly romantic. It proves that he is a very good singer in singing ballads, maybe next time I want to see him singing upbeat tempo songs. Score: 9.9

Hollie Cavanagh sang "All The Man That I Need" where she performed effortless but powerful. She had the clear phrasing and diction and she deserves to come back from last season. She is one of the best singers for the eleventh season. Score: 9.9

Jessica Sanchez once again received a standing ovation and positive reviews from the judges with her performance of "I Will Always Love You". She did a fantastic belting and soulful performance and that was superb. Score: 10.0

Blogger's Note:

Predictions and Elimination: Elise, Erika and Shannon made it to the bottom 3 girls while Jermaine, Jeremy and Joshua made it to the bottom 3 boys. In the end, Elise saved by the judges and Jeremy was eliminated first from the competition. On the coming weeks, I am looking forward to Heejun, Colton, Phillip, Jessica and Hollie to the top 5 and one of them will become the winner of American Idol. Therefore, I am also looking forward to the two female contenders will make it to the finale (it was happened last season 3 where Diana DeGarmo and Fantasia Barrino competed in the finals of that season). But watch out because there are also competitors who will emerge as dark horse maybe it is between Elise Testone or Skylar Laine. However, I want Hollie, Jessica and Heejun made it to the final three. Lastly, all of the contenders for the eleventh season are great and exceptional.

Couch Potato Review: American Idol 11 - Semi Finals (Female)

We also have the 12 girls who made it to the top 24 of the eleventh season of American Idol. They have different music styles that matches their look and packaging.

Chelsea Sorrell

Chelsea Sorrell did a great start with her performance of "Cowboy Casanova" by Carrie Underwood. She had a powerful voice which is applicable in other genres such as rock and country. However, she didn't showcase her vocal prowess and this was a safe song choice. Score: 8.0 

Erika Van Pelt

With her rendition of Heart's "What About Love" Erika Van Pelt showcased her powerful vocals and very good voice quality. She hit the notes and very good song choice. Score: 9.4

Jen Hirsh

Jen Hirsh proved herself once again as one of the best singers in the competition with her performance of "One and Only" by Adele. She has the clear phrasing and soft but powerful and wide range of voice. Score: 9.6 

Brielle Von Hugel

Brielle Von Hugel sang Roy Orbison's "Sittin on the Dock of the Bay" where she proved that she is a true performer with her movements and confidence on stage. She improved a lot from the previous season. Score: 9.3 

Hallie Day

Hallie Day delivered a classy rendition of "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone. One thing that I can say to her is sultry singer and woman. Score: 9.0

Skylar Laine

The country girl Skylar Laine performed "Stay With Me" with her strong vocals and country style of singing and she had a lot of energy in performing in stage. She had a strong confidence and she had the voice which is similar to Reba and the confidence in her performance which resembled to Tina Turner. She is a rockin country singer.  Score: 9.4

Baylie Brown

The comebacking contestant from season 6 Baylie Brown sang "Amazed" by Lonestar. She looks gorgeous and her voice is beautiful. She did an effort but not a good song choice for her. She reminds me of Antonella Barba but Baylie is a better singer. Score: 7.5 

Hollie Cavanagh

We also have returning contender from season 10, Hollie Cavanagh who sang "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera. She showed huge improvement from last season (where she cut before the top 24) where she had the clear phrasing and a crystal-clear voice. It was a perfect song choice for her. Score: 9.9 

Haley Johnsen

Haley Johnsen performed "Sweet Dreams" by Eurhythmics where she had an amazing voice but the performance is not good and definitely, wrong song choice. Score: 6.0 

Shannon Magrane

Shannon Magrane sang an inspirational song from Kathy Troccoli entitled "Go Light Your World" which showcased her vocal prowess. She's got the look and the packaging (especially her pretty face and height). Overall, she's got the the exceptional singing talent at the age of 16. Score: 9.8

Jessica Sanchez

Jessica Sanchez wowed the judges and the audience with her rendition of "Love You I Do" by Jennifer Hudson. She is the one to beat among the girls in this competition because at her young age of 16, she's got the powerful voice, soulful vibe, strong showmanship, stage confidence and the musicality. Definitely, she is one of the best American Idol contestants ever. Score: 10.0

Elise Testone

Elise Testone closed the performance night with her rendition of "One and Only" by Adele. She's got the musicality where she played the piano and an amazing voice. She is truly a professional and versatile singer. Score: 9.7


In the end, Jessica, Hollie, Shannon, Elise and Skylar made it to the top 5 highest votes among the female semi-finalists and made it to the top 10, while Erika, Jen and Brielle were chosen by the judges for wildcard round where Erika was selected for top 13.

Couch Potato Review: American Idol 11 - Semi Finals (Male)

Right after the nerve-racking regional auditions, the intense Hollywood week and the spectacular Las Vegas round, the top 24 were already selected for the eleventh season of American Idol. Last week, the boys were able to compete first for the slot in the final 13. 

Reed Grimm

First up, we have Reed Grimm  with his performance of Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" where he had a jazzy rendition of the song, Reed is truly a genius where he knows how to use the drums while singing (proven in his Hollywood Week performance of "Georgia In My Mind") and he is one of the best singers of the season. He had the quirky personality and moves, strong showmanship and musicality as well with his unique voice. Score: 9.8

Adam Brock

We also have Adam Brock with his rendition of "Think" by Aretha Franklin. He did a brave attempt to sing that diva song with his soulful voice which can be owned by a African American singer jazz or soul singer. He had a powerful voice, that is why he called as "White Chocolate" by Steven Tyler. Score: 8.4

Deandre Brackensick

Then we also have the comeback contestant from season 10, DeAndre Brackensick with his version of Earth, Wind and Fire's "Reasons". He is also have a soulful voice and clear phrasing of word. The best part of his performance is the very smooth transitions in terms of hitting the falsettos. Score: 9.5

Colton Dixon

With his performance of Paramore's "Decode" Colton Dixon showed his strong showmanship on state as an indie rocker. He started his performance while playing the piano and he lose on that instrument and he knows how to move the stage as a rocker. Score: 9.6 

Jeremy Rosado

Jeremy Rosado delivered a heartfelt rendition of "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles. He had the clear diction and he knows how to connect with the audience with this song choice, a perfect song choice and a beautiful performance. Score: 9.9 

Aaron Marcellus

Aaron Marcellus received a standing ovation with his performance of "Never Can Say Goodbye" by Jackson 5. He had a beautiful and wide range of vocals especially the last note was truly phenomenal. Score: 8.9

Chase Likens

Chase Likens made the girls cried with a country song "Storm Warning" where he got the looks, packaging and a good voice. But he lacked of screen time in this season. Score: 8.2 

Creighton Fraker

Creighton Fraker did a soulful and heartfelt performance of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" where he reminds me of Justin Timberlake. Score: 8.4 

Phil Phillips

Phil Phillips shown his originality in his cover of Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" where he performed with a rock acoustic version. He is one of the distinct voices in American Idol and he truly owned the song by making his own arrangement. He is one of the most likable contestants so far. Score: 9.9

Eben Franckewitz

The youngest contender this season was Eben Franckewitz who captivated the judges with his angelic voice and cute looks. He performed "Set Fire To The Rain" by Adele. He had a very beautiful voice and he can make it to the top but he didn't stand out during that time because of his song choice. However, he showed a strong confidence and he sings like a pro. Score: 8.6

Heejun Han

The lovable and funny Korean American Heejun Han who became an early favorite in this season performed "Angels" by Robbie Williams. He had a soulful voice, clear phrasing and he is truly a likeable person because of his sense of humor and looks. His voice is smooth but not powerful. Therefore, he should sing different genres of music in order for him to win this season. Score: 9.2 

Joshua Ledet

Joshua Ledet performed Jennifer Hudson's "You Pulled Me Through." He had that soulful R&B/gospel vibe in his voice. He reminds me of Jacob Lusk of season 11. Another outstanding performance where he is also making a female song into a male version.  Score: 10.0 

Jermaine Jones

The gentle giant Jermaine Jones definitely deserves to come back with his deep soulful baritone in his rendition of "Dance With My Father" Score: 8.6


In the end, Jermaine, Heejun, Joshua, Colton and Phil made it to the final 13 as the top 5 highest votes among the boys while Reed, Jeremy and Deandre selected by the judges for the wildcard performance where Jeremy and Deandre were selected.


Blogger's Note: The top 7 guys who made it were truly deserving but I am expecting that Reed Grimm will make it to the top 13. I am looking forward for him to have a recording contract soon because he is a truly a musical genius and a quirky musician.