The Missing Mean Judge is ready to hand out some grades on Top 24, Round 2 in Disneyland. [cue Pigmeat Markham Here Comes the Judge]
Odell Blunton, Jr. (Platinum ticket winner) Bruno Mars Uptown Funk. Nice voice, but this was loungy. He kept singing “too hot,” and it never got past lukewarm.B
Elleigh Marie CeeLo Forget You She’s cute, but as far as her singing goes . . . F
Mackenzie Sol Nick Jonas Jealous. TERRIFIC arrangement but he lacked the talent to pull the song off in a believable way. Would love to have seen Quintavious sing this. C+
Jennifer Jeffries Lewis Capaldi Something in the Water. Engaging voice, but this performance never went anywhere. C
Jelly Roll I like him.
Emmy Russell Benson Boone (former Idol contestant)[1] Beautiful Things. Mesmerizing. Compelling. Convincing. A
Ajii Tems Higher. Commanding. Compelling. Convincing. Songwriters need to be sending this man songs, stat. A
Kennedy Reid Reba Fancy. There’s something here. It wasn’t 100% apparent in this performance, but this could be Idol’s classic diamond in the rough. I want to see her focus on lyrics match her stage sass. B+
Jack Blocker Kacey Musgraves Rainbow. Competent, but nothing to see or hear here. C
Roman Collins Marvin Gaye How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You). Have Glory! He done took a classic to ch’uch, ya’ll. A
KBlocks Katy Perry Harleys In Hawaii. I have few words. I don’t get it. She is one of the Top 24? I clearly am missing something. Cool arrangement, though. D
Mia Matthews Holly Dunn Daddy’s Hands. Lovely voice. Emotionally connected. Sang with great conviction. I want to hear more. B+
Triston Harper Blake Shelton God’s Country. Waymint. Maybe HE is the diamond in the rough this season. Except that he’s not that rough. He’s better than Scotty McCreery was at this point in the competition, and Scotty won the whole darn thing[2]. I can see why he was saved for the Glory Spot. A-
Overall, I thought the talent level was higher on Monday than the prior night. I’m NOT going to say “BEST TALENT EVER!” or anything close to that, but there are some Idolists with promise.
See you next week.
[1] Benson dropped out during Hollywood Week in the season won by Chayce Beckham and has since gone on to success with over 60 million followers on Spotify. And I’m still bitter that Casey Bishop (4th place) didn’t win.
[2] Still bitter that My Girl Lauren Alaina didn’t win.
Ray's Musings 
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