Idol 14 - Brooke White

14. Brooke White

Season 7, 5th Place

Remember how I said personality doesn't really factor into my liking of an Idol? Well, after 9 seasons, I think Brooke is kind of the only exception to that for me. Ha!

I mean, how can one not help but just LOVE her personality? She's so sweet, kind and definitely one of the nicest people EVER to come on this show. Oh, and she was always so emotional when faced with elimination - or when she got bad comments or something - my heart just went out to her. Really. If you didn't feel just a little sorry for her during her elimination, you are a cold, human being! Haha.

But of course, I also like Brooke White for her musical identity. Sure, she doesn't have the best voice during Season 7 but she knew her vocal limitations and she knew how to make the songs work in her advantage - and I just love that in an Idol.

If I'm being honest though, when I first saw Brooke's audition I was not impressed. AT ALL. I mean, I still would've put her through to Hollywood, but I didn't think she was that special. Her audition was like three notes over and over again. Yes, her tone to me was pleasant, but she, to me, was just fairly average singer. Then, she got the instruments in Hollywood, and that's when the magic just started happening.

The semifinals then rolled around and I thought she performed shockingly well that I suddenly became a Brooke-man! Haha. I thought Happy Together was pretty good, I thought You're So Vain was refreshingly amazing, and her take on Pat Benatar's Love is a Battlefield was brilliant. She really grew on me and proved that she deserved a spot in the Top 12.

After the semifinals round, her performances during the Finals were extremely inconsistent. Her performances ranged from the  unbelievably gorgeous rendition of Let It Be to the disappointment that was I'm A Believer. Haha. But I know Brooke wanted so much to do well, and I could just see her heartbreak every time she got negative feedback from the judges. So, when she got the boot at Top 5 week, she was an emotional wreck. Seriously. I've never seen such a meltdown after someone got the boot like I did with her. Clearly, she had a lot invested in the competition - more than I expected. I thought most of her later performances seemed like she wasn't trying hard, but I must've been wrong. Truth be told, I felt that her elimination was a justified result, but my heart went out to the girl during that moment.

Now, as for her forgetting her lyrics and starting over a couple of songs, I didn't think it was all that bad. It was definitely not something that should've been praised - yes, Simon - but I think that she's human, and that happens. I know some of my favorites have messed up a lot, but it didn't make me like them less. So, it is what it is.

But why did she rank 14 on this countdown even if she wasn't as strong vocally as, say, Melinda Doolittle? Simple, High Hopes and Heartbreak. Her post-Idol album was absolutely fantastic. It had that genuine throwback sound and her voice was just so pure and beautiful. The fact that she didn't resort to make her voice sound too overprocessed that it becomes unrecognizable was admirable. Oh, and one thing that stood out to me was the use of back-up singers. I mean, so much of today's music is all about layering the voice of the lead singer only. Here, I really enjoyed hearing actual back-up vocals. Needless to say, I genuinely adored her album.

Favorite Performance(s): I really loved Brooke's take on Love is a Battlefield. It was such a different direction from the original and it worked beautifully. It seemed emotional, raw, heartfelt and it was very good. I don't know what Randy was smoking when he said she didn't bring anything new to the performance. Really Randy? Have you heard the original version of this song? Ugh. Of course, I loved the gorgeous Let it Be and the lovely You're So Vain. These songs really seem to be a great niche for her as an artist.

Check this out!  

Life Is Okay - Michael Johns with Brooke White

Let It Be

Love Is A Battlefield

You're So Vain

#13 - The Bottomless Diva

Music Video: California Song - Brooke White

So, this is Brooke White's new music video for her, I suppose, third single, California Song. And just like most of her songs in her debut album, High Hopes & Heartbreak, this song is breezy and has that pleasant sound to it. The song has that lightweight feel with indelible melodies. Just pure and beautiful. The video, on the other hand, is just as fun as the song. Sure, it has that that genuine throwback style but I didn't really care much about it. Heck, this music video just made me smile and that's what it's all about. Watch it and enjoy.

Music: If I Can Dream - Brooke White and Justin Gaston

Here's the studio version of If I Can Dream, the song performed by Brooke White and Justin Gaston last night during the results show.

Well, I didn't like the live version primarily because of Justin Gaston. I mean, Brooke looked and sounded great, when she wasn't being shouted-out by what's-his-name with the really bad hair. I felt sorry for Brooke for having to sing with him.

Anyway, it's free on iTunes so I just posted here for you guys! Enjoy!

LISTEN:

American Idol 9: Adam Lambert, Brooke White, and Justin Gaston to Perform On Top 9 Redux Results Show

UPDATE: After the jump, a video of Justin Gaston and Alex Lambert singing Let It Be.

So, we all know that Adam Lambert will not only mentor the remaining Idols this week but he'll also be returning Results night to perform his single, Whataya Want From Me. Brooke White and Justin Gaston are also confirmed to duet on the Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream, which Elliott Yamin sang brilliantly on the show during Season 5 Top 4.

In case you're not aware, Justin Gaston is part of Simon Fuller's web series If I Can Dream, which includes Alex Lambert. He's also the former boy toy of Miley Cyrus and years ago a Nashville Star contestant, which Billy Ray Cyrus hosted.

Now, I love me some Brooke White but why put her with someone relatively unknown and has a limited singing ability? Is this just to promote Simon Fuller's online show?

It is also weird how only Season 7 alumni, except for Ruben, are coming back - not that I'm complaining. It’s even weirder how these Idols are singing songs in the theme instead of songs of their own that are available for purchase everywhere.

People, including me, complain about the current contestants singing songs performed by a former contestant but why bring back a former contestant to sing a song that was performed by a different former contestant. It just doesn't make sense.

I really think this whole bring back Season 7 finalists and have them sing the current theme is a horrible idea. I truly don’t get it. I mean, this doesn’t even help sell their original music. They are artists in their own rights now and they shouldn’t be made to do covers. Why not ask them to perform an album track that fits the theme?

And because the Season 7 alumni are obviously better than the current crop of finalist this year, the performances end up devaluing Season 9 and only helping former Idol contestants a little by reminding the public about them. But still..

And as for Justin Gaston? He, to me, has a very generic tone. Nothing special. I'm not even sure if his voice will blend well with Brooke’s.

ETA: Justin Gaston and Alex Lambert sings Let It Be. Well, Justn sounded alright until Alex started singing. Now I’m all bummed out again about that kid getting voted off. I really do not think that American Idol has had a more unique voice than his. Maybe Fantasia, but really that's about it. Please, someone sign that kid!