Culturally Preconditioned

Seriously? This is the entire Top 36 this season? Seriously? Well, okay then. Let’s see what the remaining contestants performed tonight :

Von Smith - “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” (Elton John)

Thank goodness he didn’t screech his lungs out tonight. Can he sing? Well, yes, but just based solely on my personal preference, I sure hope as hell he doesn’t make it through. Between him and gay Adam, I’ll take fake Adam any time - and that’s really a compliment to either of them. 5 out of 10.

Taylor Vaifanua - “If I Ain’t Got You” (Alicia Keys)

Not mind blowing but it was a pretty decent for a song that’s been sung to death on this show. I like her name.. Vaifanua.. say it with me, people. Vai-fa-nua. Anyway, Kara is really starting to get on my nerves with her comments “we don’t get to see who. you. are!!!”. Apparently on this show, the only way for people to know who you are is by having a dead wife, being partially blind, have moms in jail, unemployed single moms, be a foreigner working hard to hide accents, and being overpimped by the judges. Singing voice? Who cares? 6 out of 10.

Alex Wagner-Trugman - “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” (Elton John)

He sounded okay, but I can’t help but made me think that song made him sound ancient. It was pretty unforgettable until he started throwing down the mike stand. alol. And Simon nailed it with the ‘growling’ comments cause I thought the same thing - i just couldn’t find the word to describe his grunting. 5.5 out of 10

Arianna Afsar - “The Winner Takes It All” (ABBA)

Did you guys know she’s half-Bangladeshi? Anyway, Arianna.. Arianna.. Arianna.. you dumb (but pretty) girl. You could’ve chosen a more contemporary song, but mmm well, you didn’t. And the arrangement was hideous. I don’t care if the other idiots are calling you PageantBot, but you kicked ass for your audition (the Corrine Bailey Rae song she did was so much better than Megan’s last week) and you have a good singing voice. But.. bad bad song choice. I still hope she’ll be picked for the wildcard. 6 out of 10.

Ju’Not Joyner - “Hey There Delilah” (Plain White T’s)

I don’t like this song but I do like Ju’Not’s voice. His rendition was slow as fuck and I thought he could’ve been off with a much better song, but that was pretty okay. We haven’t got an R&B guy this season in the Top 12, so he just might make it through. 6.5 out of 10.

Kristen McNamara - “Give Me One Reason” (Tracy Chapman)

She sounds like an aging slut. That is all. How awesome would it be if I was a judge on the show and I simply say “I thought you sounded like a cheap floozy whore in a country bar… What? Ryan gets away with all the sexual innuendos comments, and I get blasted for telling the truth???”. 6 out of 10.

Nathaniel Marshall - “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (Meat Loaf)

ohmigod.. the song choice. I did not see that one coming. It was not that bad, to tell you the truth, but I’m still not a fan, though. He didn’t come off as annoying as I thought he would be (like in the Hollywood rounds), so I guess that’s good. 6 out of 10.

Felicia Barton - “No One” (Alicia Keyes)

One of my least favourite songs by Alicia Keyes but she actually sounded quite okay. Something about her voice didn’t quite sound natural at first, it’s not a huge thing, but I just can’t put my finger on it. I still like her and thought for an UNDERPIMPED contestant, she did pretty well. 6.5 out of 10.

Scott MacIntyre - “Mandolin Rain” (Bruce Hornsby and the Range)

I don’t get it. I honestly don’t fucking get it. I thought his performance was cohesively choppy up to the point of being really terrible and so bloody out of tune in certain parts. Ohmigod.. the overpimping for this one is just too fucking overbearing, it’s too fucking ridiculous. But we all know he’s gonna make it through. Oh for fucks sake. His performance wasn’t that good, it wasn’t good at all. Seriously are you fucking kidding me with all the excessive biased praise. Fuck me. Seriously 5 out of 10.

Kendall Beard - “This One’s for the Girls” (Martina McBride)

She sounds like a typical generic country singer, It wasn’t bad but.. I dunno.. it’s all just a big pile of MEH to me. 6 out of 10.

Jorge Nuñez - “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (Elton John)

This guy reminds me of Enrique Iglesias, and that if FAR from good. I can’t believe he actually made it to Top 36. Interestingly enough, it was nowhere being a disaster that I fully expected. I’m not a fan, but overall, it wasn’t too shabby IMO. 6.5 out of 10.

Lil Rounds - “Be Without You” (Mary J. Blige)

Not quite sure why she was all excited being likened to Mantasia during her auditions but whatever. Next to Felicia, (and by a close margin), probably the best of the night but I dunno.. the whole episode tonight left me so blah. I mean, that’s it? The Top 36? For real? Mmmkay. 7 out of 10.

Overall rankings for the night :

1. Lil Rounds - 7 out of 10
2. Felicia Barton - 6.5 out of 10
2. Jorge Nuñez - 6.5 out of 10
2. Ju’Not Joyner - 6.5 out of 10
5. Taylor Vaifanua - 6 out of 10
5. Kristen McNamara - 6 out of 10
5. Nathaniel Marshall - 6 out of 10
5. Kendall Beard - 6 out of 10
5. Arianna Afsar - 6 out of 10
10. Alex Wagner-Trugman - 5.5 out of 10
11. Scott MacIntyre - 5 out of 10
11. Von Smith - 5 out of 10

Predictions :

Highest votes : Lil/Scott (gag). Next highest vote getter : Ju’Not/Jorge. Wildcard : Felicia

And my predictions for the wildcard show (I have no idea how many they’re bringing back) :

1. Tatiana
2. Anoop
3. Anne Marie
4. Ricky

5. Mishavonna
6. Kai
7. Jasmine
8. Matt G

9. Ju’Not/Jorge (whichever that doesn’t make it)
10. Felicia
11. Kristen
12. Arianna :p (I don’t care.)