Post by plannine on Feb 12, 2007 9:29:31 GMT -5
For those who didn't watch, you already know who the winners were, but here's my short reviews of the performances you should hunt down, view and add your comments. [of course most of you know i have strong opinions, so you have been warned]
.The Police - Roxanne
Sometimes a 2 minute song should last 2 minutes. But the Police performed Roxanne the way they did live so many years ago, it broke into a short, extended free form jam. They're back. Nice to hear them. (B+)
Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Make Nice
Even without them winning 5, this was a winning performance. Just listen. (A+)
Rae, Legend & Mayer - Like a Star/Coming Home/Gravity
It's always nice to hear musicians working together. A showcase of newer singer/songwriters. Maybe a bit too much of sameness between the 3. (C+)
Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around
Live, this song sounds so much better, but I guess, i just don't care too much for Justin. But still a good (but a bit long) performance (B-)
Beyonce - Listen
Overblow, oversung. Typical for Beyonce. (C-)
Shakira - Hips Dont Lie
About 30 seconds into this, i got up and went and made popcorn.
(F)
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
A little over the top (and a bit overdone), a case of too long/too much. (C)
Mary J Blige - Be Without You/ Stay With Me*
A OK performance. Too much 'music video' for me. The highlight was the inclusion of 1966's Stay With Me (a hit for Lorraine Ellison way back then). That alone, gave me goosebumps!. (B+)
Christina Aguilera - It's a Mans Mans World*
This is the one place, that a duet would have been nice. (Van Morrison does the most compelling cover of James Browns "Man's World"). She fell short on a few notes, and looked too Hollywood to be singing the Godfather of Soul's song. (C)
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
OK. It's not as annoying live as hearing it for the 1 millionth time. (C+)
Ludacris - Runaway Love
Sometime's the visual is too much, and replaying all the elements of the earlier Mary J performance (and song) - creates good and bad issues. Sameness being the most common. EW&F was wasted in the background (C+).
J.Timberlake/Robyn Troup - Aint No Sunshine*/My Love
Starting with a "can't screw up cover song", which came across well, with the contest winner. But by the time My Love final note ended, i had enough, too much Jason for one night. (C+/F)
Rascal Flatts/Carrie Underwood - Medley (San Antonio Rose/Hotel
California/Desperado/Life in the Fastlane)*
It sounded rough on the classic county swing, San Antonio Rose, but picked up with the Eagles classics. Rascal Flatts rocked. Carrie did not. (Rascal B, Carrie C-)
Smokey Robinson/Lionel Richie/Chris Brown - Tears Of a
Clown/Hello/I Got Freinds
Old Motown beats new Motown into the ground. The 'staged' portion of the audience love Mr Brown, while everyone else slept.
Everything that Smokey & Lionel musically stand for (melody & lyrics), was wasted in Mr Browns 3 ring circus. (B to Old Motown, F to new Motown)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow
A forceless performance. I expected more. It might have been the water they were drinking. (C+)
.The Police - Roxanne
Sometimes a 2 minute song should last 2 minutes. But the Police performed Roxanne the way they did live so many years ago, it broke into a short, extended free form jam. They're back. Nice to hear them. (B+)
Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Make Nice
Even without them winning 5, this was a winning performance. Just listen. (A+)
Rae, Legend & Mayer - Like a Star/Coming Home/Gravity
It's always nice to hear musicians working together. A showcase of newer singer/songwriters. Maybe a bit too much of sameness between the 3. (C+)
Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around
Live, this song sounds so much better, but I guess, i just don't care too much for Justin. But still a good (but a bit long) performance (B-)
Beyonce - Listen
Overblow, oversung. Typical for Beyonce. (C-)
Shakira - Hips Dont Lie
About 30 seconds into this, i got up and went and made popcorn.
(F)
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
A little over the top (and a bit overdone), a case of too long/too much. (C)
Mary J Blige - Be Without You/ Stay With Me*
A OK performance. Too much 'music video' for me. The highlight was the inclusion of 1966's Stay With Me (a hit for Lorraine Ellison way back then). That alone, gave me goosebumps!. (B+)
Christina Aguilera - It's a Mans Mans World*
This is the one place, that a duet would have been nice. (Van Morrison does the most compelling cover of James Browns "Man's World"). She fell short on a few notes, and looked too Hollywood to be singing the Godfather of Soul's song. (C)
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
OK. It's not as annoying live as hearing it for the 1 millionth time. (C+)
Ludacris - Runaway Love
Sometime's the visual is too much, and replaying all the elements of the earlier Mary J performance (and song) - creates good and bad issues. Sameness being the most common. EW&F was wasted in the background (C+).
J.Timberlake/Robyn Troup - Aint No Sunshine*/My Love
Starting with a "can't screw up cover song", which came across well, with the contest winner. But by the time My Love final note ended, i had enough, too much Jason for one night. (C+/F)
Rascal Flatts/Carrie Underwood - Medley (San Antonio Rose/Hotel
California/Desperado/Life in the Fastlane)*
It sounded rough on the classic county swing, San Antonio Rose, but picked up with the Eagles classics. Rascal Flatts rocked. Carrie did not. (Rascal B, Carrie C-)
Smokey Robinson/Lionel Richie/Chris Brown - Tears Of a
Clown/Hello/I Got Freinds
Old Motown beats new Motown into the ground. The 'staged' portion of the audience love Mr Brown, while everyone else slept.
Everything that Smokey & Lionel musically stand for (melody & lyrics), was wasted in Mr Browns 3 ring circus. (B to Old Motown, F to new Motown)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow
A forceless performance. I expected more. It might have been the water they were drinking. (C+)