Monday, February 18, 2008

Is Colton Berry Good Enough For American Idol?

Is Colton Berry Good Enough For American Idol?

Colton Berry is a very talented and gifted artist, but good enough for the Top 12? It remains to be seen whether or not Colton Berry is good enough to make American Idol's Top 12.

A Few Things Colton Berry Will Have To Do

Colton Berry will have to sing like never before. Song selection is critical and choosing the wrong song will send Colton Berry home from the American Idol competition.

Not only is the song selection critical, but Colton Berry will have to be at her best. As there are only a few true amateurs in the Top 24, this will make it harder for Colton Berry to reach the top 12.

It's no secret any longer that most of the Top 24 American Idol contestants have had either previous recording contracts or professional experience. This is something Colton Berry as well as the other American Idol contenders will have to deal with.

What about the American Idol judges? Well, now that they're in the weekly competition, the Judges decision will not affect Colton Berry as much as in previous shows when Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell had the final decision. No, the judges will critique Colton Berry but it will be the American Idol viewers who have the final say in whether or not Colton Berry stays or goes.

Does Looks Hurt or Help Colton Berry?

Let's face it, Colton Berry is one of the better looking contestants this year on American Idol. Whether we like it or not, looks matter and this is an advantage for Colton Berry. Not only do looks count, but the wardrobe selection also matters, again, Colton Berry has shown style and class when choosing what to, or what not, to wear on stage.

Not only do looks count, but stage presence also counts and this is another positive that Colton Berry has. Colton Berry commands the stage and is entertaining to watch move around the stage. Interacting with the audience is another area where Colton Berry shines. Viewers like seeing performers interacting with the crowds.

What, If Any, Changes Should Colton Berry Make?

It's no secret that the American Idol Judges do not like to see contestants perform easy songs. They want the performers stretch their musical limits. This may be one area where Colton Berry does not have an edge. Colton Berry will have to resist the temptation so choose easy songs and pick hard songs that will not only impress the judges, but the Viewers as well.

Since there's been 6 years of American Idol so far, Colton Berry or the other contestants should not have a problem choosing songs. They should know what the viewers and judges like.

Another area that Colton Berry needs to stay away from is trying to sound like a famous performer. We've seen many American Idol contestants go down because they tried to be like someone else other than their self. Let's watch and see who makes this mistake this year.

Also, Colton Berry will want to watch what she says during interviews each week. We all know the camera looks for weeknesses. Colton Berry doesn't want to be seen appearing week or over confident. Both turn off Judges and TV watchers. There have been several times in the past that American Idol viewers were turned off by contestants appearing whining or cocky. Colton Berry will have to avoid making either of these mistakes.

Colton Berry Will Need Help From Other American Idol Competitors

Just selecting the right song, wearing the right clothes and having a perfect performance may not be enough for Colton Berry. Colton Berry will need help from other American Idol contestants as well. This means that at least one contestant will have to have poor song selection or have a poor performance for Colton Berry to make it to the American Idol top 12.

This will be true all the way to the end. As long as viewers dislike one other contestant more than they dislike Colton Berry, there'll be a spot in the Top 12 waiting.

What Impact Will The American Idol Judges Have?

If history is any indication, the American Idol Judges criticism will have little effect on whether or not Colton Berry makes it into the top 12. In the past, Simon, Paul and Randy have critisized contestants who made it all the way to the end. Although Colton Berry may have feelings that get hurt by bad comments from the Judges, it will be the viewers who ultimately decide on whether or not Colton Berry makes it into the American Idol Top 12. For example, last year Taylor Hicks was critisized several times by Simon as being nothing more than a lounge singer, yet viewers ultimately chose him as the American Idol for Season 6. Colton Berry will need to make sure the crowds are pleased, not the Judges.

What Do The American Idol Viewers Like?

American Idol is really about contemporary Pop music. That is the most popular music played today and that's where the money is and American Idol knows this. This is why country singers, Blues and Rock singers have all had a hard time making it into the Top 12. They're trying to sing songs that they are not familiar or comfortable with. I believe Chris Daughtery is a fine example. He probably made it further than any other Non-Pop singer and by all rights, was by far the best of all of Season 6 contestants. So how did Taylor Hicks win? Because he had a better on stage performance than Chris and could sing popular songs while doing it. Look at where Chris is now at the top of the charts. It's been stated that Taylor Hicks and other Season 6 performers have lost their recording contracts. If Colton Berry wants to make it to the top, song selection and stage performance had better please the younger Pop loving generation.

All in all, Colton Berry has a pretty good chance of making American Idol's Top 12. If you're a fan of Colton Berry, you need to get on the phone each week and vote to make sure it happens. Only time will tell whether or not Colton Berry is in the Top 12.