Nashville Star week 4

Nashville Star – Week 4 6-30-08

Each contestant will perform twice and in between the judges will alternately unfairly give praise where none is due, and tear their performance to shreds. It should prove to be entertaining.

The show brought the contestant’s families out to visit and Blake Shelton performed on tonight’s show. It wasn’t that great or un-cheesy.


Ashlee Hewitt Don’t Stop Believin’ (by Journey) Timid beginning on Piano. More than a few pitch problems, which we haven’t seen from her before. Maybe having her family in the audience psyched her out a little.
Ashlee Hewitt Help Me Make it Through the Night (by Tammy Wynette) Beautiful. Vocals were better this time and the best overall.

Coffey Hey Good Lookin’ (by Hank Williams) Jewel coached him to stretch out his phrases to make the song vocally interesting. I think he really nailed it tonight. Jeffrey Steele and John Rich didn’t like it and they skewered him.
Coffey Country Roads (by John Denver) Jewel was the only judge to offer notes on this song. And I could tell by his face that he was mad about the previous song’s comments. He could barely contain himself. His jaw was set and I think he was so mad he was trembling.

Tommy Stanley God Blessed the Broken Road (by Rascal Flatts) It was okay. Ballads are not his strong suit. Fast songs that make him twitch and flail appear to suit him.
Tommy Stanley Tiny Dancer (by Elton John) Brilliant! A really nice arrangement.

Pearl Heart - I don’t know who did the song they sang or the name. Don’t need to. They sucked. The judges liked it, but I think they suck too.

Why won’t anyone sing a song by say…Alan Jackson? Or Loretta Lynn? OR ANY COUNTRY ARTIST? Why won’t any of these folks sing a country song?

There is no bigger fan of this show, than me. But come on guys. Let’s pretend there is a least tangential contact with the country format. Well, back to the show….

Pearl Heart’s second song – who cares

Melissa Lawson This One’s for the Girls (by Martina McBride) Wow! I didn’t even know she could play the guitar! She was awesome. She’s my favorite. Even though, I’m saving room for Gabe Garcia.
Melissa Lawson Landslide (by Fleetwood Mac) With the Dixie Chick’s arrangement, she was fabulous.

Shawn Mayer Breathe (by Faith Hill) She’s looking better and sounding better all the time. The stylists are making her look softer and very glamorous.
Shawn Mayer Forever and Ever, Amen (by Randy Travis) some really bad pitches. Finally on a country song, though. John Rich gave her some tough love tonight. I bet that will be all the inspiration she’ll need to be over the top next week.

Gabe Garcia Dead or Alive (by Bon Jovi) John Rich likened his performances to paint drying….up until now. He’s really good just standing behind the mike. I’ve said it before: he’s the only one I’d like to sing along with.
Gabe Garcia The Fireman (by George Strait) He’s authentic and he sings soooo good. I think he’ll make it in country music even if he doesn’t win.


Bottom two:
Alyson Gilbert She’s in Love With the Boy (by Trisha Yearwood) Pitchy, Pageanty eyes. Nothing I learned on my own. I’m just copying what the judges have said. But she has the best legs in the competition. Her surprise at seeing her husband seemed forced. When he hugged her, her eyes bulged a little, like she was surprised at the affection. I bet they’re having trouble and I think that helped make her performance weird. Voters sent her home. Too bad, she’s okay.

Laura and Sophie Walkin’ on Sunshine It was gross. But they’re going on to next week. Hey, I’m always up for a trainwreck. And I don’t have to wait until the next show. Their second song had a Casey Jones written all over it.
Laura and Sophie Because of You

You've been great, I'll see you hear next week.