American Idol season 8 finalist, Matt Giraud, was interviewed earlier this week about his experience since appearing on the show. 
He said that he’s been enjoying a little time off since the grueling 52-date Idols Live! tour ended.  He said it was great being able to actually meet the Idol fans since he was used to performing and going straight home when he was on the show.  I can imagine that it was fun to see how people were truly reacting to them in real life!
Matt talked about his upcoming show, Make the Cut, which is a Michigan-based online singing …read more

Matt Giraud sang Carrie Underwood’s “So Small” during the Top 11 performances back in March and he did it again this morning on Live! With Regis and Kelly which is currently airing from Miami Beach.
I thought it was a decent enough performance, all things considered (it was outside and early in the morning), but I didn’t love it.  Watch it and judge for yourself.

Once the competition gets to the Top 5, American Idol gets pretty intense.  Assumedly, contestants make it that far because they have a big enough fan base so, no matter who goes home, a lot of people are going to be very sad. 

Last night, Matt Giraud was sent home and I actually was pretty okay with that.  What shocked me, however, was the fact that Adam Lambert was in the bottom two.  I still can’t wrap my head around that one and it’s one of those situations where I have a hard time believing America’s votes counted. 
On …read more

The results show started with this week’s Ford commercial, we saw the group number (a medley of songs from the Rat Pack era) and then we saw footage of a food fight that erupted at the American Idol mansion while they celebrated Allison Iraheta’s birthday.Natalie Cole and Taylor Hicks performed.  It was a pretty good performance from Taylor and I hope that it gets the word out about his new music and gives his sales a nice boost.
Jamie Foxx also sang his new song “Blame It” but I don’t know if it counts as singing if your voice is so …read more

For “Rat Pack Week” the mentor was Jamie Foxx.  They chose him because he has transcended the barriers in the industry by going from a television star, to winning an Academy Award (Ray) and a successful musician.

Kris Allen was the first to perform, singing “The Way You Look Tonight.”  I thought it was a great performance and Jamie Foxx had some great things to say about him.
Allison Iraheta sang “Someone To Watch Over Me” and I thought it was a very good performance even though judge, Simon Cowell, worried that her lack of confidence would land her in trouble.
Matt …read more

Matt Giraud chose to sing “My Funny Valentine” and mentor, Jamie Foxx, had no suggestions initially but then called him back into the room later and advised him to change the key.  It’s probably good advice because Matt has picked the wrong key in the past (in my opinion).

It seemed that Matt changed the key but appeared uncomfortable with it.  It was a good tip but Matt did not embrace and run with it.  Maybe he could have taken it up a quarter note?  I’m not sure.  It was weird.  Then again, he does deserve credit for picking a song …read more

Matt Giraud chose to sing “Stayin Alive” and the arrangement varied from sounding like a 90s hip hop song to some 70s funk.  I did not love it.  In fact, I’m not sure I even liked it.  It will be interesting to see what happens with Matt during the results show.

Randy said that he didn’t like the song choice or the arrangement but Matt can really sing.  Kara said that he brought the disco feel back to Disco Week and that Matt gave a solid performance.  Paula said that this week, Matt saved his own life on the show.  Simon …read more

The American Idol results show was tonight and it was fun to see the finalists at the premiere of 17 Again and then have the star, Zac Efron, in the audience.

The guest performers were Jennifer Hudson and Miley Cyrus.  Hudson sang “If This Isn’t Isn’t Love” and I thought she gave a good performance.  Cyrus sang her new song “The Climb” and I really didn’t love it.

Anoop Desai, Lil Rounds and Matt Giraud were in the bottom three tonight.  Anoop was the first to be sent back to the couch (thank goodness!) and I was shocked that Lil was the …read more

Matt Giraud chose one of my very favorite love songs from the Don Juan DeMarco soundtrack and, I’m sorry, but I think he ruined it.  The beginning was really nice and I thought it was going to go well but then he just overdid it and I hated it.
Randy said the performance was interesting – it started out well but then it went wrong during the bridge.  Kara was providing commentary but I was too distracted by what Simon was doing behind her to pay attention.  Did anyone see the weird (possibly obscene) mouth gestures he was making?!?
image © …read more

Matt Giraud was born in 1985 and he chose to sing “Part-time Lover.”  I didn’t even recognize it at first because he changed the arrangement so much.  I would have taken it up by a half-note if I had been him since the lower register was not very strong and he didn’t even take on most of the higher notes.  I actually didn’t love this performance.

Randy said that it was vocally one of the best of the night.  Kara said it was incredible on every level.  Paula said it deserved a standing ovation.  Simon said it was a million times …read more