what did y'all think E's performance on tuesday? sure the song choices didn't work in his favor. but i thought that was one of his most "off" nights as far as overall performance goes. i really liked the Ray/Hathaway song. he had some pitch problems in the 1st and 2nd song but what really bothered me was he looked uncomfortable. he seemed to have lost his confidence and fighting spirit. part of me really want to know what made him lose his mojo that night. i know its too late now but i keep thinking if he had kept up the momentum from the previous week he would have made it to the finals. something just didn't seem right on tuesday night. why did he lose his confidence when he needed the most? could it have made a difference if he got the pimp spot? i really want to ask the man himself.

I agree. He did not look good. I thought he sounded great if you didn't see him, but he didn't really look that happy and everything looked off.

I agree. He sounded great but didn't look happy. Sort of zapped of energy. I'm assuming he was really tired and the stress of all those weeks on Idol finally got to him. Frankly, I don't know how they all can handle that stress for so long. It's a lot of pressure to go out and perform and be judged by such a huge audience for months on end.

well, he said in the interview that it was a bit more stressful, because on top of it being another performance the songs chosen for him weren't exactly what he would've chosen for himself.

being a singer myself, there's always added pressure someone "respected" wants you to sing a certain song and those songs are usually not great. there's A LOT of added pressure.

i totally think e felt the pressure. because during 'i believe it to my soul' he looked himself.

JMO.

If anyone has seen Idol Extra, he talks about it a little- he had one less day to rehearse and he knew he flipped the words around on Open Arms. Also- he wasn't to psyched about it and didn't think he did it justice. E also said he lost his voice a little bit after the homecoming visit- which is why he might have seemed a little strained on Tuesday.

I think the performances seemed a little off- but the Donny Hathaway/Ray Charles cover was amazing. But listening back on the mp3s, you're not really able to tell.

Key thing though- Elliott was cool with his chocies and wouldn't change a thing- and I totally agree with that.

And I heard that they were trying to get him to change his song at the last minute because they thought it was too obscure.

Which is interesting if you think about it. I think that when Elliott refused to change his songs for TPTB, they decided to give up on him. Which is perfectly okay, Elliott shouldn't be a pushover (even though right after the performance I wanted to shake Elliott for choosing the song, I was so very frustrated).

I loved the beginning of Open Arms. The tone was excellent. They could have transposed it down a half step or two, but it was nice. WAY too short to make any sort of lasting impression however. He should have stolen time from WYWNDFL and given this more time to develop.

yes. i think he was a bit off most of the night. you couldn't see his face light up the way it normally would on perfromance nights. but he got a litt back once he sang his third song. i still enjoyed it, don't get me wrong. he was just -- off. but i know he's better than those performances. because hes the bestestststststs. ^-^

& they were trying to get him to change the song, mostly paula. but he opted for his own.

You know what's awesome....

HE didn't make any excuses during the show unlike some people... about why he was having an "off" night.

He took his criticism like a pro and moved on.
THAT is awesome.

I agree that Tuesday wasn't his best, specially since we were all going in still high on Elvis week. We were just expecting him to totally blow it out of the park. And you know he wasn't his normal self.. watching back his performances... you really can see it.

I actually liked his Open Arms performance. I didn't even notice that he switched the lyrics. Why? B/c he recovered SO flawlessly that anyone who didn't know the words to the song wouldn't have picked it up.

I didn't like Paula's choice though. He sang it wonderfully, but I just wasn't a fan of the song at all. The music just screamed bad 70's cruiseship music. Plus I hated the way it ended.. b/c it just ended too abruptly. There weren't any real high points in the song.

Also really didn't like the music for I believe to my soul. I LOVE the lyrics.. I LOVE his voice, but I just can't stand the music lol. It also had a baaad 70's thing going on with it. I expected 70's cops to come running onto the stage at any minute with their big thick pornstar mustaches and bellbottoms.
:afro:

He seems to have developed congestion because he has been heard coughing during his recent interviews. I feel that this may have contributed to the slight issues with his singing (slight!).

The song choices from Clive and the judges were "boring" and they should have given him (all of them) better material to work with.

I do think, however, that I Believe It To My Soul was fantastic!!!

I think his vocals were not as good as his other performances... but still it wasn't great. The last one was great though. I kinda noticed he was kinda lacking energy or enthusiasm in the first two songs...maybe he's just really tired. But he still did good considering Clive's and Paula's choice kinda sucks.

Someone posted here a USAToday article about him:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/ne...interview_x.htm

He was quoted as saying: "I had the feeling all day long and all night that my time was up and I was able to make peace with that and accept it and it was okay with me."

In other words, he didn't think of himself as being the winner. He maybe thought he gave it all he could but he didn't really have this much faith in himself. He thought he had the intuition he was going home after the show, but it really was his own feeling to begin with that this is as far as he can go. His attitude was defeatist. That's only what I THINK has happened. Of course it might have been entirely different. But it wouldn't surprise me since Elliott is not that confident in himself to begin with and what he got from the production and the media was not encouraging him that he could actually win this thing. He came all fighting the week before, but I guess there's just so much you can do. My impression from his performance was that he simultaneously gave it all he could and fought it AND didn't really believe he could win. I think also his voice was over-strained during the competition, having no training and very little experience. He tends to put too much pressure on it which could be solved with a bit of professional training.

Love your avatar! Geez, I'm seriously missing the creative gene. How do you guys do that AND make those cool pics in the signature area?

Back to the topic at hand...Elliott's voice was still beautiful. I watched all three songs on youtube this morning. I love every note that comes out of his mouth BUT he was not the same. He had a quiet resolve. I think he knew what was coming regardless of how the show played out that night. Coupled w/ him being tired from the trip, and the fact that he no doubt knew the shaft he was getting by TPTB....it's no wonder he looked like he did. But his voice is/was/will always be magic to me, even with an off night. Elliott's off nights are always better than most others' best nights. IMO....

I watched the performances again, too, and I have to say, I think they ROCKED. The first time through, I didn't think so. I thought he was off. But watching just those performances alone, without all the craziness from Ryan and the judges and Kat getting pissy and then getting a tonguebath and Taylor spazzing out and all the things I SWEAR they do to highlight certain people and take focus away from others COUGH*elliot*COUGH... Well, those were terrific performances. If he'd gone last instead of first, if they'd given him Kat's extra minute to sing and some really cool instrumentals and backdrops and backups.... I think we would've all seen the first-time through that he was awesome, as usual. They know how to arrange things to make somebody stand out and somebody fade away, and they used all their tricks because they were afraid after Elvis night that he could take the whole thing, and I really think Nigel wanted his pretty princess in the finale.

So, they get what they wanted. But they won't have me watching. Like with Bo and Carrie last year, I just don't care and I won't watch.

But, honestly, I watched again and Elliott is WONDERFUL. He sounds and looks great. He did not have an "off" night. The lighting designers and directors and people in charge were the ones who were off. WAY OFF.

I think I had heard in one of Paula's interviews that she actually gave him a few choices and he chose WYWDFL from that list. I wonder what the other choices had been? Not that it matters. I thought Elliott did a wonderful job, and he said that he would not change a thing.

I thought that he had never looked so miserable. It looked like he had his fill and was almost ready to go. I don't think its in him, however, to give a bad performance. I don't think he's capable!

i totally agree with you - open arms could have been transposed down a half step. i watched the performances again. still i think he looked tired and lacked of enthusiam. wish he had Taytay's energy.

I heard him say in a the interview with Ryan that his blood sugar levels had been elevated lately, so that may have contributed to his fatigue.

I didn't want to shake him. I thought it was great he insisted on his own thing even though it was a risk. It made me appreciate and respect him. He did it throughout the competition and it did get him far. Last year I had to watch Anwar Robinson go down the tube when he stopped doing what he really likes after Simon told him he's at risk of boring the audience. Since then he just wasn't the same person, the same singer, it wasn't it, it didn't sound good and didn't look natural. So I was really happy Elliott went all the way. I also think it pays in the long run when you show real character. And lyrics wise his last song as a contestant was quite an exit - both the name of the song "I Believe To My Soul" which was pretty much a statement and the lyrics ("One of these days and it won't be long you're gonna look for me and I'll be gone" - so true :yes:) were just great exit. Smart choice to me.

E definately looked alot less energetic than in previous weeks. I am betting that the elevated blood sugar levels had alot to do with it. Even though he said he was using more insulin to try and keep the levels in check, I would not be surprised if the whirlwind of the trip back home didn't take a toll on him as well. It's hard to go coast to coast, really messes with your internal clock. The proper amount of sleep is sooooooo important for diabetics! Hopefully, he will have some downtime over the next few weeks before heading back to LA.

Stress causes your blood sugar to go up....so I can only imagine how he was struggling with that over the last week or so. I also saw someone say that he was taking more insulin to control the levels...which makes sense. More insulin can cause you to be more emotional and moody...so he was probably feeling like crap. Which could be why he was less then 100% on Tuesday and even Wednesday.

During his Open Arms I remember thinking he looked both tired and uncomfortable. That was so sad for me to watch. I agree that it is better to just listen to the songs then to watch them again. I love hearing his voive but it makes me sad to think he was uncomfortable or sick or something.

I definitely noticed a difference in his spirit. To me, he sounded pitchy when first watching, which was just so unusual. He didn't seem to be connected to the songs. I think that maybe if he had different songs chosen for him, he might have been able to be more into the performances. The Ray Charles song....I did a big "????" when I saw it the first time. I just didn't know what was going on with the song. But now I think it's awesome...even when the voice breaks a little. (Btw, was that intentional?)

the problem was that during the bobby caldwell song he only got to sing half of a verse. the whole verse is so short

"I guess you wonder where I've been
I searched to find a love within
I came back to let you know
Got a thing for you and I can't let go

My friends wonder what is wrong with me
Well I'm in a daze from your love, you see
I came back to let you know
Got a thing for you and I can't let go"

and he only got to sing half of that. i don't know if AI was setting him up to fail or what but that song was truncated beyond recognition. i mean he got to sing for 1:15, kat's somewhere over the rainbow was 1:45 long

the last song he sang obviously didn't connect with the audience. but if you listen to the version he sang as he was eliminated, it was way better. why? because on tuesday he was COMPLETELY overpowered by the band. he was fighting it the whole time and just couldn't take over the band.

i know people don't want to hear about conspiracy posts but i personally think they were screwing him over from the start of that show.

I agree with the 3rd song choice. I thought the lyrics were appropos. One of these days and it won't be long you're gonna look for me and I'll be gone. AI is going to wish they had of pimped Elliott in the years to come. Trust me they will take credit for his success though.

I just listened to I believe ( the last song he sang Tuesday) and it sounded really good on the mp3. Better than the television. He sounded congested to me on the tv but on the mp3 you don't notice it that much. I think I have decided it may be on of my Elliott favorites. Just downloaded it as a ringtone on my phone. Just wish I could get connected so it would save to my phone grrrr. I love hearing E when my phone rings!!

I am going to go against the flow and say that I thought Elliott was amazing Tuesday night, especially considering the crap he was given to work with. He didn't seem defeated to me, or overly tired, or ill...I think he is too much of a trooper to go out there and NOT give it his all.

I have rewatched and rewatched Elliott's three performances from Tuesday night, and I still don't get what you all are talking about, I really don't. He didn't have quite the sparkle that he had on the previous week, but he didn't seem any lower to me than he was on most weeks, he really didn't.

I honestly watch that man's every little expression, every sparkle in his eyes, every twist of his fingers, and have for weeks and WEEKS on end now...and I honestly didn't see a defeated Elliott in any way, or a sick Elliott, or a too-tired-to-give-it-his-all Elliott. I saw good old, hard-working, super-talented, slightly nervous Elliott, doing what he does best.

And "I Believe To My Soul" was a flippin' masterpiece on Tuesday night...I detected NO nervousness in that performance, I didn't think the band drowned him out (and they often have!), and I think he got across his point through the choice of song AND the lyric.

The ONLY time I saw him with a bit less spark was during the critiques by the judges, but considering that they were ALL pretty harsh on him for the first time ever, I am not too surprised.

Can I just say one thing? I don't think it's fair to say that Elliott didn't look "himself" on Tuesday. What Elliott were you all looking for? I think everyone was hoping that the Elliott from "trouble" would emerge but then again, he picked that song himself and went withit even though most of us "music" people were like, "Ohhh....doesn't quite have the personality to pull that one off". But he proved us all wrong. That Elliott, however, was not the same Elliott as the one on Open Arms or WIWDFL, but think about it, he didn't pick those. He's just not a mainstream kind of artist and they were trying to "box" him in to see if he fit. He knew he didn't fit that mold, but he tried anyway.

In case anyone cared, they were worked hard over the weekend so it's not as if he got any rest and he needs it more than most. Vocally, listen to the mp3's. NOT A PROBLEM PEOPLE. Open Arms was very good. He had one pitch issue on "arms", but he went for a "trill" there that didn't quite work stylistically. That is all. The second song, he was a little above the note, but not bad at all. The song just didn't go anywhere. You can't create something out of nothing you know. And the third song I though was fantabulous. People make a big deal about him cracking on that note at the end, but do you even know how high that note he was going for was? Probably as high as a high C to a D above middle C which is unheard of really for a guy to belt. He tried, but his voice was tired.

Don't be hard on the performances. Overall he did have a better night than McScreech, but she just happens to have boobs and she had the performance of her life that night. That's all.

It definitely wasn't his best night, although I agree that he was better than Kat. There was definitely a missing spark. Maybe he just felt ready to go, you know? I sort of got that impression in his interviews.