One of my favorites in this year’s competition is the only remaining woman, DaNica Shirey.
Note: As I write this, I’m unaware of who was sent home this week (and will remain so until I return from a business trip on Friday). So I will not be reading any blog comments until after I’ve caught up. But if Shirey was eliminated on Tuesday, I’d be shocked.
Shirey might have the best voice of them all, on a strictly technical level. As one of the judges pointed out, there doesn’t appear to be anything she can’t do.
That said, I detect a lack of soulfulness in her performances that keeps me from rooting for her to win. Maybe it’s a natural by-product of the big-voice diva persona she’s going for (I’ve never been a fan of the Whitneys and Mariahs of the world, either).
My favorite of her performances so far was this lovely take on Joni Mitchell’s ‘Help Me.’ It was an inspired song choice by Pharrell (who seems to have the best track record picking songs) and she nailed it.
Plus, it means I get to hear this great song without hearing Mitchell’s voice performing it.
I think I’m falling
In love again
When I get that crazy feeling
I know I’m in trouble again
I’m in trouble
‘Cause you’re a rambler and a gambler
And a sweet taIking ladies man
And you love your lovin’
But not like you love your freedom
Help me
I think I’m falling
In love too fast
It’s got me hoping for the future
And worrying about the past
‘Cause I’ve seen some hot hot blazes
Come down to smoke and ash
We love our lovin’
But not like we love our freedom
Didn’t it feel good
We were sitting there talking
Or lying there not talking
Didn’t it feel good
You dance with the lady
With the hole in her stocking
Didn’t it feel good
Didn’t it feel good
Help me
I think I’m falling
In love with you
Are you going to let me go there by myself
That’s such a lonely thing to do
Both of us flirting around
Flirting and flirting
Hurting too
We love our lovin’
But not like we love our freedom
Meet Me In Montauk 
Well, prepare to be shocked….as I was that the viewers eliminated the only remaining woman in the competition. I would have bet good money that she would sail into the top 3, and I would have lost. My theory is that the demographics of the show skew toward more women, or perhaps more women voters, who may be more into the guys, as there are a few good looking guys remaining with voices I think are considerably weaker than Danica’s.
Shmaltz personified. Like taking a gorgeous original oil painting down and putting up an older Elvis on velvet. I am sizzling!
lol, Andrea. I’m guessing your indignation is aimed at Clay’s disparaging comment about Joni Mitchell rather than at Danica, whose voice is truly beautiful. 🙂
As one of those woman voters, I can say that I am not to blame that Danica went home. She had my vote.
We just caught up with this week’s show, so I’m reading the comments for the first time now. As much as I like DaNica, I had her in my personal bottom four after this week’s performances.
I would have saved (and America did save) Matt, Taylor, Craig and Chris. However, I would have bumped Damian and replaced him with DaNica in that fifth spot.
Agreed, but it’s a strong top 5 nonetheless. Welcome home!