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America's Got Talent Recap: "Sing Like a Man"
Hey everyone it's time for more AGT auditions. How many weeks until we get to callbacks? Seriously. Anyway tonight one contestant makes the judges cry so I can't wait for that, although for sure he won't be on until the end.
For now we start "summer's number one show" (must they say that every week?) in Atlanta (again). And in come the judges, with some highlight comments from this season mixed in.
First up is health inspector Billy Dodson, coming in to the Rocky theme in the background. He claims to have a unique gift. That could either be really good or really bad. He proceeds to sing really high opera, but actually is not bad. Quick buzzes from all three judges shut him up. He admits the piece was written for a female, and Sharon asks him to sing like a man. They don't even let him do that and instead send him on his way. I actually thought he was pretty good... shows what I know about singing.
Next is another cute girl, Alexandra Pyles, 10 years old. I love her accent! She says she learned to do what she does as a baby, and she won a contest when she was five. I wonder what she does. She comes out with her dad, who is part of the act. I'm getting a total Miss Congeniality flashback!! She basically shows some self-defense moves and pretends to beat the hell out of her dad. (For those who don't know Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality plays an FBI agent undercover at a beauty pageant, and for her talent in the contest she beats up her partner in a showcase of self-defense). Anyway it takes talent to do this but I'm not really excited or impressed by it. Neither is Piers, who quickly X's her. She does do some flips, and it gets interesting, although the father does as many as she does, and at his age that is probably more impressive. The audience loves it, though. The Hoff asks her to be his security guard. Piers is not as impressed- he doesn't think she'll win, and I have to say I agree. Sharon doesn't think it will work in Vegas but thinks she should be in a martial arts movie. David votes yes, Piers votes no. Sharon asks Alex what she'd do next, and Alex says she'd bring in multiple attackers. That does sound impressive, and Sharon sends her to Vegas. I don't think she'll get far, though.
After the break we meet a woman named Sarah Lenore. She's a 19-year old waitress who used to sing and dance in the mirror. Aw! She left her whole family to come to Nashville and pursue her career. Sara comes out with guitar and says she wants to be America's next big thing. The beginning starts off a bit shaky as she sings Carrie Underwood's hit "Before He Cheats" but by the high notes she sounds really good! She should stick more to the high notes and she'll really have something. Right now she's not as good as Carrie, but not bad. Another standing ovation from the audience! Piers loved it, Sharon says to work on her individuality, and David thinks she is raw but can progress. She is sent off to Vegas. I think she's certainly good enough to go to Vegas but unless she improves she won't go too far.
Now a montage of acts. Flambeaux does a fire act, including breathing and blowing it. Odd, but entertaining. Nicole Romana pole dances. Not my thing, but Piers and David certainly enjoyed it. Dance troupe Giwayen Mata dance to African beats. All get through to Vegas.
Next is family group SQ Entertainment. It is group of cousins. They put on funky hats and do some fancy flips and dance moves. They are pretty good but there are several acts like them already going to Vegas and they don't really stand out to me. Wow I'm harsh tonight. Maybe I'm in a bad mood because of the HK finale(I won't say the results in case anyone out there hasn't watched it yet. But let's just say my favorite didn't win). Anyway, the audience loves them too. David tells them to class it up but they look good. They get three yes's and are off to Vegas.
Another break, and we are back in NYC for what seems like the thousandth time this year. Hoff hugs some random fans before getting ready for auditions.
First up is The James Gang, a group from the toughest streets of Harlem. They came from broken homes and poverty but still want to become stars. They rap and sing, a mash of old and new, according to them. They are really good! They sing and dance in sync, and it really is a mix of rap and singing. The audience is on their feet tapping to the beat. It did get a little long towards the end but it was still really entertaining. All three judges vote yes and they are off to Vegas. They are my favorites of the night so far.
Side Note: I'm really excited by the Heroes trailer!!
After another commercial we meet young Victoria Jacoby. I saw her in the previews- she's adopted from China and is a mini contortionist. Her family seems really proud of her. And I love her pink outfit!!! With a tail!!! She starts her act, and some of those moves look painful! But they are really cool. She even picks up a glass with her feet and drink it- with her head between her legs! Wow that really is insane! The audience and judges love it too. Sharon says Victoria knows her craft. Piers says she was "brillant". She sails through to Vegas. Another favorite of the night.
One more commercial break, and we meet Matt and Elaine,aka Polka Today, from Staten Island. They are the number one polka dancers in the country, and claim they are the Michael Flatleys of polka. They met at a polka dance and fell in love on the dance floor. Aw! Polka's not my thing but let's see how they do. They're not bad although it looks more like swing dancing than polka. The audience grows restless and starts the "X" chant. The three judges almost simultaneously buzz the duo. David says it looks like they were in a blender. Piers says it looks like fifties dancing. They get three no's and are sent back to Staten Island.
Now a montage of bad acts. Good there haven't been that many tonight yet! Mr. Phil does an odd dance and sings horribly. Peter McIntosh is the next Terry Fator, except you can see his mouth moving the entire time. Although he does curse out the judges, which is always fun. Ursula Knudson sings opera pretty well in my view but David calls it the "worst act he ever saw". Rachel Star raps badly while standing on shattered glass. The glass thing takes guts but it's not really a talent that can be part of a show, and the rapping was horrible. Debra Weiner sings really off-key and keeps singing after getting three X's. David runs on stage and hugs her, then dances with her as they head offstage. Funniest moment of the night!!
So tonight's only an hour, which I just realized, so the only act left is the amazing guy from the previews, who brings everyone to tears. His name is Kyle Rifkin from Harlem. He's and R&B singer whose father was an alcoholic and whose mother was abused, so he had to grow up real fast. His mother then left the family, so he had to be the man of the house and raise his brothers. He entered singing contestants to earn the money for food. One day his mother showed up out of nowhere and today she's so proud of how he raised his brothers for all those years. They are all crying before he even goes onstage. I hope he lives up to the expectations from the previews. He sings "Ain't To Proud to Beg" and it's not as good as I was expecting but it's still really good. The crowd is on their feet and Kyle breaks down in tears. David says he is what the show is about (he does say that a lot though). Kyle then brings him mother out onstage and they share a hug. Now Jerry is crying too. Piers feels like Kyle is the heart of America and is one of the best acts of the season. Sharon says he's amazing. Of course they all send him off to Vegas. And they are playing AI's "Flying Without Wings" although it doesn't sound like Ruben Studdard's version, so I wonder who sings it.
So that's it for tonight. Next week we get another great singer, this one who tore a muscle in his throat and hasn't sung in 11 years! He sounds great in the auditions! My faves tonight were the rapping James Gang, the contortionist, and Kyle, although I'm not as crazy about him as everyone else is. Any other standouts? Post your thoughts below.
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Jul 9, 2008 12:12 AM
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I thought the first guy did really well! I was disapointed that they didn't let him hit the high note, I bet it would have been fantastic!!
The little controtionist was really neat!
The James Gang was good, I liked them but the ending was kind of drawn out!
Great recap!!
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Jul 9, 2008 12:54 AM
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I thought tonight showed some of the most unique talent. First lets talk about Billy Dodson. He is what they call a counter-tenor in music circles. It's a rare and difficult way to sing and not done by many men. They should have given him a chance. I know many people have never heard of counter tenors, let alone understand them. They need to broaden their understanding away from just pop music. The judges disappointed me.
It sounds like the rest of it we felt about the same way, Mel. I really liked the uniqueness of the James Gang. They said they mixed old and new and they really did it well. It reminded me a little of Broadway, except it leaned to rap music a bit more than it would have in a stage production. I think if they keep it up they should do well.
Then there was Kyle Rifkin. I was crying before he started. Then he tears rollling down Jerry Springer's face just got me again. I don't know if he is the best singer, but he sure had all the soul anyone would want.
I will be glad when auditions are over.
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Jul 9, 2008 1:50 AM
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Hello Mel....hi Cindy and Indy......Billy (the counter-tenor) has potential. A little pitchy - but not often - and the tone was off by a smidge, but the "sing like a man" comment was just wrong. He was not singing in falsetto, I do know that. I liked him. The little pink wonderment was my favorite....extraordinary.
Yeah......these auditions are getting old. Ready for the real thing.
xoxo, Zia
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Jul 9, 2008 7:17 AM
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Hey indy500! Yeah I liked the first guy too! I thought it was a unique sound and based on the rest of the comments below I can see we're not the only ones.
Hey CinderAngelkc! Yeah Billy really was talented and unique, wasn't he? I thought the James Gang reminded me a bit of the music from In the Heights on Broadway (haven't seen it, but saw them perform on the Tonys). And I can't wait for auditions to end too!
Hey aunthill! I liked the little girl too. She's one of the young kids who actually has adult talent. And yeah the auditions are getting a bit old. At least they were shortened to an hour last night.
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Jul 9, 2008 2:16 PM
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