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'America's Got Talent': Nuttin' but Stringz rules all
I hope you aren't expecting a recap of President Bush's address. I'm way too excited about the Top 5 on America's Got Talent to pay much attention to him; he sort of sounded like the teacher from Charlie Brown to me. Who do you think will win it all guys? I'm rooting for Nuttin' but Stringz, but let's see how the performances go. Jerry welcomes us and we get a recap of how each of the Top 5 made it there. The plinky-plunky strains of dreams and hope play. Doesn't it just tug at your heartstrings?
Our first act tonight is Nuttin' but Stringz. I don't know how I feel about them going first. Are people going to forget them? Don't forget about NBS, voters! They start on opposite sides of the stage, playing a very haunting melody while bathed in silver light. Then the awesome part kicks up. Wail on those violins, boys! Some creepy dancers with umbrellas descend from the ceiling like Cirque de Soleil meets Mary Poppins. The hip-hop beats drop and the guys get the audience pumped up. This part is good, but it goes on a little long. They get back to the fiddling and are so clearly absorbed in their playing... it's really amazing to watch. Yay! Piers says incredible and that the winner should be the most dynamic and unique act and that Nuttin' but Stringz is it! WOO! Piers is my boyfriend again. Sharon loved it and The Hoff says "Nuttin' but VEGAS!"
Donald Braswell is our next act tonight. He's singing "You Raise Me Up" again, which is a disappointment. I want to see something new! Well, he does have approximately 15 back-up singers in robes. So that's what the Idol choir does when that show isn't in season! He once again starts low and quiet, but not unsupported (coughNealEBoydcough). Donald really is a good singer, but I'm bored. As the big part swells, some sparks go off and the choir kicks up, it's all very Tent Revival Meeting. And then he lets loose with a crazy yell that is NOT GOOD. Yikes, Donald. Don't overdo it. He's gonna bust a vocal chord, which he really cannot afford to do at this point. On his big last note, which isn't good either, he's bathed in purple light that makes it look like he is passing a stone. Sharon says he's nice but his personality is not as good as his voice. True, sister. She says he belongs on Broadway. Also true. The Hoff, wearing some god-awful pendant that he stole from the set of Charmed, says he is ready to go back to church. Exactly! Donald is like Joel Osteen as a singer. Piers didn't love the last note but says he did very well.
Our middle act tonight is Neal E. Boyd, Opera Singer. Over/under on how many times he cries tonight? 3. He cries in his pre-show video. THAT'S ONE! Neal sings "Nessum Dorma" and he's in a freakin' tuxedo with that [redacted] backwards hat on! Oh my god, take off the damn hat! You're in a bleeping TUXEDO! Ugh. The purple light on Neal's face makes me want to yell, "You're turning violet, Violet!" He also makes quite the passing-a-stone face on the big notes. Have you gotten the idea how unimpressed I am by this guy? His big last note is drowned out by the percussion while some sparks just dribble down from one little spot. America's Got Talent obviously does not have Idol's budget. The Hoff says this is what the show is about as Neal cries again. THAT'S TWO! Piers says he is in a "strange and uncomfortable position" (Like the backseat of a volkswagon?) because he agrees with The Hoff. It's weird, Piers, but you'll get used to it. Sharon loved it.
Eli Mattson is up next, performing "Against All Odds," which is a good song (once I get the image of Scott Savol singing it out of my head). He has ditched the hat tonight! Very classy, Eli (coughNealEBoydcough). It's very quiet and soulful at first, backed by some nice strings. (Haha, I just typed "stringz." Haha.) I really hope this guy gets a record deal out of this show, I really like his voice. He's getting choked up, which is sweet (because it doesn't happen every damn night). I wish this song was a little more piano-heavy, but overall I liked it. Understated and simple. Piers likes seeing him without the hat and says the female fanbase has multiplied. Darn tootin', Piers. He also likes the way Eli makes songs his own. Sharon says "just fabulous" and thinks he'd be an amazing winner. The Hoff likes how real Eli is and then babbles about the name of the song being "Take a look at me now," which... not quite, Hoff. But good try.
This means Queen Emily is our final performer. I'm surprised she got the pimp spot, because I don't think she's going to win. Maybe that's why, but I don't think any of the solo singers (Donald, Neal or Emily) can sustain a show in Las Vegas. She performs "One Moment in Time." Oh barf. She is also very sparkly tonight. Maybe she's hoping the voters can be distracted by shiny objects. They probably can be. She gets a little sharp on the big notes and then can't handle the drop from the big note to the low note. She spends the last part of the song shouting a lot and giving us the crazy eyes. She then SHRIEKS out a note. Good lord. That was not good. Piers says she looks like a queen tonight and that she sang with passion (read: not very well) but that every act has been incredible. He thinks she'll struggle to win against Nuttin' but Stringz. Sharon says she is a diva tonight. Hmmm. The Hoff very lecherously says, "You look more like a princess to meeee." EW! What does that even mean? Queens are better than princesses. Candy Land taught me that.
Recap: Nuttin' but Stringz sewing up the competition with their awesomosity, Donald singzzzzzzzzzzz... wha?, Neal doing something, I don't know, I can't stop looking at that stupid hat, Eli Mattson taking off his hat because he wants to be my boyfriend (oh, and doing very well), and Queen Emily frightening me so much with her shrieks that I think I peed a little.
I hate this blog.. it sucks haha big time
Erika | Sep 24, 2008 7:52:21 PM | #"You're turning violet, Violet!"
LOL
wjm | Sep 24, 2008 7:58:16 PM | #Well... Don just want to tell America how thankful he is, thus, singing again "You Raise me Up". It showed his versatility by giving this song a different yet awesome version. Whoever wins, surely deserves it! Congrats to the Final Five!
BCC | Sep 24, 2008 9:55:00 PM | #I hope NBS wins, but a lot of people probably ran to the bathroom to throw up after the president spoke, so I hope they didn't miss their performance. It's always better to go last (in my opinion.) Anyone can belt out a song, but Nuttin But Stringz has a unique talent.
Nancy | Sep 24, 2008 10:25:48 PM | #I think NBS is good but I am not sure why they are on talent show that is supposed to find new talent. According to their web site they have a recording contract, CD, a manager, booking agent, been on various talk shows and have even played at the White House for the president.
Barbara | Sep 25, 2008 12:20:12 AM | #What is wrong with Sharon? To tell Donald that he should be in a Broadway show "playing someone else" because he has no personality--how rude to a very nice gentleman. (Like Neal E Boyd, Queen Emily and Eli are full of personality).
I'm not sure what it is she doesn't like about Donald--I think maybe it's his niceness (prefers the Elvis in the tight pants I guess). But perhaps America will see that Donald is a genuine gifted entertainer. I like NBS, but I don't think I could take a one hour show of them. Donald, on the other hand, as the Michael Crawford, Tom Jones, Humperdick variety and could certainly keep an audience engaged with a variety show for an hour.
I for one am tired of the "cry babies" (Neal and Queen Emily)--get over it. Everyone starts from scratch, so I'm pretty tired of hearing about it and watching you cry. The best thing about this being the last performance night, is we don't have to watch either of them cry--and we don't have to see the stupid Neal Boyd hat--hopefully ever agin. Didn't anyone ever tell him that you don't wear a hat--particularly backwards--with a Tux? My vote is for Donald--with NBS my second choice and Eli my third.
We'll see if anyone else feels the same.
Lucy | Sep 25, 2008 12:44:44 AM | #NBS can put on a decent show when then have people flying in from the ceiling, but they just aren't very good violin players. I expect more from Juliard trained violinists. And their show is getting old. Do they know any other songs? Its sounds like they have played the same song every time.
Nancy said that anyone can belt out a song, but I have to disagree. Singing is an incredibly difficult task. Singing well is even more difficult. I thought Neal Boyd did a spectacular job and clearly has the best voice among the competitors. My vote is for him. And I like the hat. It's different and it makes you remember him. Great job, Neal!
J.T. | Sep 25, 2008 2:32:54 AM | #"He once again starts low and quiet, but not unsupported (coughNealEBoydcough)."
LOL. And so true.
I was also disappointed that Donald sang this song. I was hoping he'd do an aria from an opera or at least something in Italian. Sharon wouldn't have known the difference. I still like Donald overall.
I like Eli as well. I don't mind it if either he or Donald wins. I am not crazy about NBS, just don't see myself listening to them for an hour, but I'd prefer them winning over Neal and Emily.
Sharon annoys me. She puts down Donald and tells Neal his is the best ever (????) rendition of Nessun Dorma? What planet is she on? Has she ever set foot into an opera house? This was not even good, much less "best ever". Can't she hear how he totally messed up last two notes? Couldn't hold them at all. His breathing was bad. This aria is well above Neal's level of technique and it is wrong for his voice. Couldn't he have chosen something else, more suited for his light lyric tenor than an aria written for a heavier voice? Like, I don't know, "una furtiva lagrima"? Why not choose something he can do well? I can find many opera singers on YouTube who do Nessun Dorma better than Neal, not even world famous singers, just young tenors struggling to make a living. This singer, for example, performs on a cruise ship and not in an opera house (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaTnP6N9_9I&feature=related) and does it way better than Neal, no comparison. Oh, and Sharon, this is not a "song", it is an aria.
kitty | Sep 25, 2008 9:12:27 AM | #I am sorry to say that I was disappointed in all of the performances last night.
NBS: What is the attraction of this duo? Every performance sounds the same to me and it all screeching and jumping around. I keep looking for a melody and some serious violin playing.
Don Braswell: Well you blew it. Why do a song you had already done. If you have to sing Broadway, why not Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific or The Phantom's Theme?? No way he can win now.
E. Boyd: For an opera singer he only seems to know one aria. This was Pavoratti's signature song and Boyd can't measure up.
Eli Matson: He may be a good singer but I can't get over the way he bites off the ends of his words. It seems so contrived and affected.
Queen Emily: Started good but then got screechy and whats with the gravel voice. Whitney Houston was much better even on drugs.
Andrea-I know that this recap/blog is your own oppinion, but you don't have to be rude. Haven't you evere heard the saying,"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Yes Neal does kind of cry alot, but his voice is wonderful and maybe his hat is a security thing like a blaket. Have you ever performed on stage? Probably not. So stop putting him down. NBS were good, but I agree with others that they wouldn't be able to do a whole show. I was disappointed with Donald and didn't see Queen Emily. Eli was fantastic. I hope if he doesn't win he will get a record contract.
m | Sep 25, 2008 11:54:07 AM | #Nuttin but stringz is amazing. I saw them last night for the first time and I couldn't believe it. Compared to N.B.S the rest of the talent was so so. If you are interested, you can get some of their music from this site http://nuttinbutstringz.net Enjoy!!
Justin Blaufuss | Sep 25, 2008 8:33:01 PM | #Nuttin But Stringz was the most talented act. They should win.
Susan | Sep 25, 2008 9:20:36 PM | #My vote was for NBS. Clearly, the more talented and best prepared for a show on the Vegas strip. For those that said "they were looking for some serious violin playing", there it was. Their songs have all been different for the most part; although there may have been a part in this last one that sounded similiar to a previous song. If you don't think they can play the violin, you have obviously never seen a good violinist.
Great Blog, right on!!!
Neal E Boyd, good story, but uhm no.
Eli, only other one I would agree with winning.
Queen Emily, uhm thanks for playing...
Donald Braswell, great heart, take Sharon's advice and head over to Broadway.
BK | Sep 26, 2008 11:26:59 AM | #Was the final show Thursday night? I missed it and i just want to know who won. Can somebody tell me?
Mary Green | Sep 27, 2008 2:24:43 PM | #Mary,
The final show where the winner is picked will be aired on Wednesday, October 1st at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
Laurie | Sep 28, 2008 12:42:01 PM | #we missed the last show in oct. its noe feb. please let us know who won. thanks,deb.
deborah | Feb 17, 2009 12:44:44 PM | #we missed the final show in oct please let us know who won. thanks deb.
deborah | Feb 17, 2009 12:46:36 PM | #I love to sing and i am going to sing on the show
Kennedy | Feb 18, 2009 6:53:49 PM | #I love Mike E.
Madison Myers | Feb 18, 2009 6:55:13 PM | #
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