--- Love the Southern hospitality as I enter the arena. “Welcome, sir.” “Thank you kindly.” “Enjoy the show, ya hear.” Now I see where awesome host Lindsay Ellis gets it from!
--- It seems that more people auditioned in Charlotte than came to see the winners?! Can’t complain about the second-row seats though.
--- Starting the show with a Ryan Seacrest video and the Idol intro music is a smart choice. You feel like you’re part of an episode.
--- Who gets the second biggest applause in the contestant countdown on the video monitor? Burnell Taylor! Candice deservedly gets first, followed by Kree third, and Angie fourth.
--- Kree and Candice shout, “Let's welcome Aubrey Cleeland!” And…no one reacts. Her performance, “[Nutra] Sweet Dreams and [Generically] Beautiful Nightmares,” doesn’t help matters.
--- Paul Jolley goes for Carrie Underwood's “Blown Away.” Well sung, but I wasn't. His rendition of Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights” sounds like the waiter from Office Space trying to sing.
--- Curtis Finch Jr. shimmied out in his blindingly white suit, and I was ready to bash him. Yet, he came out and did Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man," and he tore it UP!!! He restrained himself for so long. The extended Mickey Mouse falsetto at the end was a bit much, but he earned that. Best of the night so far.
--- I may be a “Hopeless Case” when it comes to dance music, but Amber Holcomb’s bland performance did nothing to convert me.
--- The boys' “Locked Out Of Paradise” is much better. It helps that it’s a much better song. Surprised they actually said the “sex” chorus – at least it’s not “Gorilla.” Like the yellow lights and the mini spin from my new friend Curtis.
--- Devin Velez slays “Somos Novios” – especially the “mas oscuro” part. It’s impossible to see Paul Jolley doing that.
--- All these angelic, family-friendly girls perform Pitbull's “I Know You Want Me” about “getting nasty.” Awkward.
--- Burnell, in all red (heh), sings Rihanna's “Diamonds in the Sky.” Amber gradually joins in from the other side of the stage. Powerful.
--- “We Are Young” is by far the best full-group song they’ve done. Again, it helps when you have a good song. Lazaro Arbos sings for the first time haha. It’s for four seconds – he sings for another four the next song… PJ actually does well. Omg, Candice emerges, barely sings a verse, and it still stands out.
---Sigh, One Direction’s “Live While We're Young.” Fine, it's catchy -- and enjoyable to hear the screams.
--- An intermission??? First intermission in 138 concerts. A really long one too. At least Randy Jackson comes on the screen at one point and says something informative. Kidding. Randy does come on, but it’s not informative.
--- The Phillip Phillips commercial is somewhat informative. It teaches me this equation: Elliott Yamin + Jack Johnson = Phillip Phillips. Good voice, likable, but boring. None of Elliott’s runs or underdog charisma.
--- Angie Miller's cover of Jessie J's “Mamma Knows Best” on top of the piano is hot. There’s no pyrotechnics, but there’s fire. Second best of the night, half standing O. Crazy to think last year she was graduating high school. Here comes her original song! The background instruments distract, and I wish she wasn't in red / the whole thing was quieter, but still good.
--- Awwww, Janelle Arthur auditioned in Charlotte and was at the show in Nashville last year in the last row! For all its negative aspects, that’s what Idol is all about! Her cover of Keith Urban’s “Where the Blacktop Ends” is solid.
--- Lol, Lazaro is “Feelin' Good” in his all-pink ensemble. I swear, James Porter, vocally, he does a good job.
--- A good job should not get Lazaro a second song. Power slurring does not put you on the “Edge Of Glory.”
--- Kree Harrison, “Up to the Mountain”!!
--- Kree, Alabama Shakes!!! I literally shouted this band name out loud I was so pleasantly surprised. “Hold On”’s got soul. I swear she looked and motioned at me at one point. Perhaps because the rest of the crowd was AWFUL. Worst first four rows ever. I felt inappropriate getting out of my seat. She lied about how good the crowd is, but it was a lie. Brittany Howard's voice is, honestly, more varied and powerful, but "Hold On" remained the best moment of the concert.
--- Upbeat group dance number led by CANDICE GLOVER. She auditioned here too! Glad she got her single out of the way early. The whole arena swayed to it, without prompting. The lyrics made it much better than expected: “Get rejected, look yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself…I Am Beautiful.”
--- I’m biased against midtempo, but Candice’s new song about summer grew on me by the end.
--- The crowd FINALLY got its act together and gave a standing ovation for “Love Song,” by far the high point of the Idol season.
--- HA, we go from the deeply meaningful “Love Song” to a bescarfed Paul Jolley singing about wanting to touch my face. Huh?
--- The final song’s transition from Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” to Phillip Phillips’ “Gone” was clever – and, if you have to incorporate the whole group, the perfect ending.
Grade: B+
American Idol Season 12 - Angie Miller "You Set... by FanReviews
Candice Glover - Love Song - American Idol 12... by IdolxMuzic
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