Burnell burns the house down!

Here we are again, in Sin City with 10 guys to see and only half of them can be chosen to be seen again. NO I’m not talking about your last bachelorette party… Idol is back with the second crop of guys’ performances. Last night’s girls’ performances were great, and it gave Idol the opportunity to show us some more of the awesome contestants they’ve been hiding. I expect the same from tonight, to see some hidden gems pried from the cave of wonders. Lazaro Arbos is up tonight, so my fingers are crossed for him. #idolsuddendeath Here we go! #idolguysRyan is at the pool at the Mirage… lucky guy… oh they’ve cued the dolphins even.. probably the most dramatic “THIS is American Idol” ever. Here comes Ryan, and he presents the judges to us. Mariah is again looking stunning, definitely diva’d out. I guess she really travels with the twins everywhere she goes. DANG GIRL.

Up first is Mathenee Trico… oh he is from the Bahamas. He immediately comes out with the swag and the attitude… bringin the funk! I love this! His vocal has energy, and he puts out quite a performance. He has confidence, he is tearing up this stage! Amazing job, especially for the number one position. He also has some crazy high notes that are rocking… he straight up HIT that! Keith says he has a huge range and immense power, plus Keith loves the entertainment value. However he says Mathenee shouldn’t let the entertainment overshadow an emotional connection. Nicki says he shouldn’t aim to please people, and it didn’t feel current but more karaoke. Randy says he’s an amazing talent, but the song choice was wrong and makes him question who Mathenee is. Mariah says she has always liked him because he is like a real person. However she says she felt a little disconnect between him as a singer and the entertainment he just gave them.

The “Turbanater” Gurpreet is up next!! I love that he’s so funny and makes the turban a fashion accessory. While he has a nice stage presence, the whole thing begins very simply. I almost feel like he’s more talking the song than singing it. He’s good, but this is really nothing great. He has a few moments where he falls flat, and it’s almost feeling a little fake. Like he’s there to put on a show. Towards the end he seems to step out more into the song and open it up, but it’s not much and I don’t get a big connection from him. Fool does love to scat, though is energy level is like at a 30%. Keith says he likes his voice, but likes it better with the guitar. He didn’t think the song choice was good. Nicki misses the intimacy he has previously sung with, wishes he had brought the guitar. Randy is in disbelief… “honestly… that was terrible.” He has to be honest and tell the truth. Mariah was disappointed and missed his softer voice. He keeps pumping up how much better he’ll be if they let him go through! Too late brother!

Vincent Powell is next… dang.. he’s sang back up for Whitney Houston! Can’t wait to see what he brings us. Tonight he is soooo on point. OMG he is singing some real baby makin music up there! Randy is clearly feelin it. He’s bringin the soul and digging deep for the growl.  Oh wow he is amazing, he has total confidence and he knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s got a crazy good falsetto too, he just knows how to work out this song.  Amazing end note…. this guy is the REAL DEAL y’all!! Ovation from the judges! Keith says that was crazy… the crowd won’t shut up! Keith loved it. Nicki says he did work, brought the sexy old fashioned. She said that was a good vocal, it hit her “somewhere.” Randy says the show just started with him, and this is what Randy calls “the complete package”… a real singer, a real entertainer, who knows the whole audience. Randy loves it..oh my gosh… #inittowinit it’s a hashtag folks… it’s official. Mariah only needs to say one word: “Finally.” Omg… Zoanette yells “get it Papa Smurfs… GIT IT.” wow… Ryan says “thank you Zoanette boo.” THIS IS GETTING TO BE TOO MUCH!

Next at it is Nick Boddington… well this is a total 180 from what we just saw. His vocal is a lot quieter, more harmonious… a.k.a. boring. Come on Nicky B! I like this guy and until now I’ve been pulling for him but this boring Adult Contemporary pick is not going to have anyone remembering him. His last riff is good, but the whole thing was just kinda dull. Keith likes the “timber” in his voice. He is struggling to give feedback, and says he never was able to have a connection with Nick. He says Nick should pick a song that lets him shed his heart. Nicki loves the warmth in his voice, but tonight wasn’t a 10. She says maybe a different song could have jumped off better, it wasn’t his best. Randy says he has a big voice, but it wasn’t his best tonight… he didn’t have a moment from Nick. Mariah says there was one moment, but tonight wasn’t his best connection.

Next is Josh . He is at the piano for his song… okay we’ll see. He’s very sappy as he sings, he seems like he’s definitely thinking of someone specific. He’s doing good, and definitely is connected to the song, he seems like he’s having a lot of fun with it. Half way through he gets up from the song, and it gets choppy and almost rappy. Innnnteresting. It’s good, the last note seemed off!! Weird!! It was an original song! Keith says he wishes Josh would cut loose and go crazy, wants to see him lose control. Nicki wishes he would have stayed on the piano, when he came off he seemed disconnected like he was trying to perform for the judges. Randy says the original song was a risk, but he liked it… liked where it went, but wasn’t WOWed by it. Mariah loves that he is a singer/songwriter and showed that off. She was also impressed by the audience’s response. She has the BEST feedback. She says the familiarity of the song sometimes pulls people in, and he had a bolder edge without that.

Up next we have David. He’s got the guitar, singing “You Give Me Fever”… oh okay, this whole thing feels very pageant-y. It’s like he’s a county fair act. His voice is good, it’s not bad, but I’m not getting any passion or inspiration from him through this. He’s just kind of going through the motions. There are no ‘moments’ as Randy would say that are jumping out at me, and unfortunately it’s very forgettable! The end has a big note, and is the best part of the song! Very subdued and tame. Keith says David had his moment at the end, but that’s all. He mentions some country singers, but says the song choice was not the best. Nicki says she felt like the song was like him singing in front of his family. Randy thankfully agrees with Keith, likes the bluesy flavor in his voice, and likes that he is differentiated by that. He is intrigued. Mariah likes how he’s been inspired by a wide range of artists, and says tonight wasn’t his best performance.

Nexxxxt is our only semi-finalist from the Aloha State! Bryant is from Hawaii!! I can’t wait to hear this guy. Wow he’s got a super smooth R & B like voice going on. Daaaang this guy is a heart melter. He’s doing a real jazzy “New York State of Mind” and he is NAILING IT! He is so easy to listen to, his voice is perfect, there are no pitch problems, he sings effortlessly… like butta!! Oh look out, midway through the song he really opens it up showing us his amazing range… do it B! Wonderful! Keith says it was a standing ovation performance. Says Bryant has a beautiful voice, and made a great song choice. Nicki loved his last note, the falsetto… but nothing else. WTF? Dang B… she is rude! Randy loved the beginning, but was waiting for it to go somewhere, and it never went anywhere. Mariah says he sounded professional and had a beautiful tone, and has raw talent. Maybe not his greatest performance, and needs to control the moments of excitement. COME ON GUYS!

My boy Burnell Taylor is up next! He has lost a LOT of weight! OMG he has lost 40 lbs!!! Congrats B! He has some interesting hand motions going on when he sings, but it’s nothing distracting… artistic. He has a great voice, he really opens it up. He has a really unique tone, he is definitely leaving it all out there. He is in this song, totally feeling it… omg he is so sweet! This is just perfection! What an amazing performance! Keith says he looks great.. and really liked that performance. He says Burnell is very original and in the end he fell in love with it and was connected to it. Nicki says she would pay to see him sing. She says the fact that he lost that weight, she sees that he has released the stress and struggle of his life. Says he’s the best of the night. Randy loves his story, and was captivated by him tonight. Loves that he’s different, and loves that he adds his own flavor to it. Mariah loves how authentic he is and she was touched by him… and she’s been rooting for him since he auditioned.

Next is my boy Lazaro Arbos! He is such a miracle. His song is giving me goosebumps from the start. His voice is so striking… it’s smooth and powerful and deep and I just would NOT expect it from him at all. He’s so good! This song is really not exciting though. Some of the big high notes get a little pitchy and flat, he is clearly very emotional throughout. Awww the audience is going crazy! Keith thanks him for singing his song, says he’s a great singer. However, he says it wasn’t the best song for him and goes on a technical rant as to why. Despite that, he loves Laz’s spirit and felt that it shined through. Nicki says she loves that he always gives them himself, loves that he feels it and gives them his authentic self. Randy says it wasn’t the perfect song, but when he hits the chorus, and hits his sweet spot, and it’s like nobody else. Mariah says there is a purity and simplicity that comes from how music brings him through his struggle and applauds him for coming so far, because it’s not easy!

Tonight’s last contestant is Cortez. He comes out swinging y’all… he’s sing “Ricochet”!! He’s got it really slowed down, and he is hitting all the notes perfectly. Wow he is really awesome, he is nailing some really high notes. I am speechless! One of the best of the night, this guy totally came out of nowhere for me with this song. Absolutely incredible!! Keith loves that song, and calls it a really bold and brave move to put that song in a ballad form. He says the song was really unforgiving and there were moments where he got a little tripped up, but the power of his big high notes gave him overall redemption of the song. Nicki is caught up in sex appeal and can barely even give criticism… he seems disappointed by her lack of actual feedback! Randy is surprised by his range, and is really into him as an artist. He a fan y’all. Mariah says she has been a fan of his since the beginning, she loved the arrangement.

Well that’s a wrap! The ball goes into the judges’ court as they have to now send half of these fine studs home. First up to hear the  news is David… ohhhh that can’t be good. I mean after seeing all these peeps and how good they are.. how is there room for him? I guess there’s not … it’s a no for tonight! Bryant is up next… will he go through? I have no idea on this one, Keith says it’s a no! Wow that was quick… the audience is not happy about this!! He is stiff as he hugs the judges, until he gets to Keith! awww. Vincent is out next.. okay this has to be a yes.. it just HAS to be, he threw it DOWN up there. Nicki wastes no time telling him he’s going through!! Thank GOODNESS. Mathenee is out next… here’s another one who’s news could go either way. Randy says he had a risky night, and didn’t make it through! Dang they are being tough. Lazaro is next, poor guy is always SO nervous! He better calm that down because it’s not going to change. He is getting news from Mariah, how bad could that be. She tells him America’s going to get to see him again… he’s through! GOOD. Back to more results… Cortez! ok, he is another one that should absolutely  be going through. COME ON judges? I dont know though… feels like theres still a number of people left. He’s through!! PHEW. Next Ryan calls up Josh… well with Burnell still waiting, we know he’s going through… so they would probably not let Josh through now then, right? Nicki is giving him the news… she is not even convincing! It’s a no! Okay.. it’s Burnell’s turn folks! Randy goes through a whole speech about things going all kinds of ways, finally to tell him he’s made it and is gonna REPRESENT LA… he’s through! So that leaves Nick and Gurpreet… who apparently are best friends! Mariah is giving the news… lol, she can barely stand it. I mean come on, Randy actually told Gurpreet it was terrible… I think we know how it’s going to go. She carries on and makes it seem sooooo difficult. Finaly, she dismisses Gurpreet! Nick is going on!!

So that is all! We have weedwacked half of these contestants down, so that we can let the pretty flowers grow. Tonight Vincent, Lazaro, Cortez, Burnell, and Nick are going through! Tune in next TUESDAY for a special 3 night run of Idol!