America’s Got Talent Season 7 – San Francisco Auditions: Power Rankings
And here are my thoughts about the acts from the San Francisco auditions!
David Garibaldi and his CMYK: Performance Art
I always did love seeing art done on stage. And add dancing to it is interesting, but I am not entirely convinced that this could be fleshed out into a full Vegas show. I mean there have been other types of performance artists that have come through the show… But none really lasted all that long.
Final Verdict: going to have to see what he brings to Vegas… So the jury’s out.
Cristin Sandu: Balancing
– Facebook Page
We have seen a variety of circus acts come through the America’s Got Talent stage… Balancing and Juggling being the two popular ones. How is this going to stand out? I don’t know… But I think all of these circus-related acts should come together for a variety performance show.
Final Verdict: depending on how he steps it up will determine his progression on the show.
Lisa Clark Dancers: Dance Troupe
– Facebook Page
I have to agree with Howard, when it comes to dance groups I am not exactly enthralled as I used to be, they have to bring something different to the stage. But I disagree with Howie in the sense that you don’t have to necessarily need to have a specific trick or move to stand out above the rest… Take a look at the various dance troupes that have come onstage at Dancing with the Stars. I like this group, and as long as they continue to push their boundaries and be more encompassing of all the various genres I think they have the chance to win Howie and America over.
Final Verdict: will probably pass the Vegas round, might be short of the Top Ten though.
Magician & Concert Pianist (I need names):
This seeing a person cut in half is nothing new… Seeing that same person play piano convincingly, is… But how could they top what they just showed during auditions? I mean there’s was one magician that I really liked back in Season 5 and he was having trouble coming up with bigger tricks to stay on the show.
Final Verdict: I am not convinced of this act’s staying power beyond Vegas
Mika Grigorio(sp?): Vocalist
The one thing that semi annoys me about there being vocalists on AGT is that there are other singing competitions out there (The Voice, American Idol, Duets, etc) so why here? Unless she doesn’t fit the age limit. Beyond that, she has a pleasant voice, and it needs a bit of polish. America has a tendency to really like the vocalists… But I personally would rather see more variety than vanilla.
Final Verdict: she has the potential, depending on what she does next.
Mike Price: Juggler
I felt bad when he dropped the pins… But when I saw how well he recovered and continued with the trick I was impressed. Tis boy has got some grit to him and I like that, but as I mentioned with the balancing act earlier his progression on this show will determine how long he will last on it.
Final Verdict: depending on how he steps it up will determine his progression on the show.
Dave Burleigh: Impressionist
He’s funny and has some good impressions in the bag. He needs to really build his comedic base and I agree with Howard be a bit edgier to really catch the audience attention. If he could pull off some female impressions that would be great. Though, I don’t know how well a one man impressionist act will do… Though looking at Terry Fator it can be done if he does a whole conversation of impressions. What I found to be interesting is that looking at his website he also is a comedian and has a band… hmm.
Final Verdict: the guy has got some potential in him, he could pass the Vegas round.
Luiz Meneghin: Opera Singer
We have seen our share of opera singers (Neal E Boyd, Paul Potts from BGT, Prince Poppycock) so I don’t know what he could possibly add to the stock. With operatic voices reaching their peak a few years ago, he really needs to bring someone big to the table if he wants to have any chance of some staying power. He has a good voice and some room for growth and potential… So I don’t know.
Final Verdict: skeptical, he could pass Vegas week… But beyond that I don’t know.
Granny G: Rapper
This is what I am talking about! It’s a novelty FTP be sure, but it’s a darn good novelty. As long as she has some really good material ready for when she needs to perform it, she’ll have some legs on this show… Much like Grandma Lee the stand up comedian.
Final Verdict: as long as she brings out original material, this old girl’s going to be around for quite some time. Possibly eve Top Ten
Broom and Dust Pan Concert (I didn’t catch a name)
Umm, I have no idea how to comment on this. I’ll admit that using everyday tools as instruments is mildly fun and interesting to watch… but I saw something like this in Blue Man Group, and that was an interesting show. So other than a passing thought… what else could he bring to the table?
Final Verdict: Most likely not going to pass Vegas
Tim Hockenberry: Vocalist
– Facebook Page
– MySpace Page
I really like this guy, he has amazing vocals and a good roughness that he has under control. I really wish I could see him on The Voice though, he could really get himself trained a little more… but still. He reminds me of a lot of the other singers that have come through just minus the extremes in his story (Michael Grimm, Eli Mattson). America tends to go for good old fashioned “vanilla” and he can be that.
Final Verdict: I definitely see him going as far as the Top Ten, will he though?
Funk Beyond Control: Dance Troupe
What else is there to say about a dance troupe that hasn’t already been said? They have some good tricks and dance moves… but can they keep an audience attention for long? Not only that… what makes then unique and stand out from the crowd?
Final Verdict: Depending on how they could raise the bar, I’m not entirely convinced on the staying potential
Emily A Band (Is the name correct?): Band
We only got a snippet of this act and I wasn’t nearly as impressed as the judges seem to be.
Final Verdict: Unless there is more to them, I’m thinking they aren’t going to pass Vegas.
Martial Arts Flying Studio: Performance Art
I always did like the lion dance, but I’m afraid that between the lion dance and the dragon dance, they might not have more up their sleeves. Still I’m curious to see more… so here’s to seeing more.
Final Verdict: May pass the Vegas round, but need to see more.
Turf: Extreme HipHop Contortionist
OMG, this guy is so incredibly smooth and the contortion doesn’t hurt either. But I have the distinct feeling that he was dancing then contortioning (is that even a word?) then dancing then controtioning… it was very 1-2-1-2-1-2… I would really like to see him actually melt the two together. Heck, I’d love to see how he’d fair on a show like So You Think You Can Dance, because he has a lot more smoothness to his hiphop that you don’t always see.
Final Verdict: He has a lot of potential, but a one-man dance show is kind of difficult. I see him going thru Vegas, but beyond that? Dunno
“R=Luiz Meneghin: Opera Singer
We have seen our share of opera singers (Neal E Boyd, Paul Potts from BGT, Prince Poppycock) so I don’t know what he could possibly add to the stock. ”
Again, none of them are opera singers.
I don’t know if you’ve sing at all, but try to imagine yourself on stage of a theater, dressed in an uncomfortable period costume. You have no microphone, no electronic enhancement of any kind. Let’s say the theater is small – about 2000 seats (The Met is 3800 seats). You have a naturally strong and beautiful voice, but you’ve also trained for years to use your body for resonance, to use low larynx technique to produce extra frequencies so that your voice soars over the orchestra and is heard even when you sing very softly. It’s physically demanding, like being an Olympic athlete. But then you have to do it in a 2-5 hour performance, 2-3 times a week, at worst – every other day. But never two days in a row.
You have to memorize pages and pages of music and words. Very difficult music, much of it more difficult than a few arias you’ve heard. In the original key, as written, not shortened or simplified. You have to be near-perfect vocally. You’ve also studied the languages so you can understand what you sing, you probably also read the books operas are based on to better understand the characters.
Most importantly – you have to act with your voice. A 15-year old doesn’t sound the same as a 40-year old. Every phrase has meaning, the emotions expressed in every word may be different. Your phrasing, the dynamics, volume variation have to express it. But you also need to move, especially today, sometimes dancing, sometimes singing while lying on your back or kneeling.
This is what it means to be an opera singer. Don’t you think this is a little bit different than sounding “operatic” while singing with a mic?
What is wrong with the title “classical crossover” or if it’s too long – “popera”? It’s only one character longer than “opera”, but it is so much more accurate.
@kitty – perhaps I should have termed that particular group as “classical singers”? The problem is that after watching America’s Got Talent since Season 2, I know how NBC is going to classify Luiz… and they will do that by calling him opera or classical. They did the same thing for Neal E Boyd, Prince Poppycock, etc.
So even though I understand and agree w/ your definition of a true opera singer…. NBC does not… and to keep things consistent with the show, I have to cater to the lowest common denominator.
To give a bit of background of myself, I was classically trained as an opera singer in my high school and college years. Then I forgo that route in favor of my intended major (engineering) and eventually made the transition into musical theatre post college. I currently participate in various community theatre productions in the Chicagoland area. I don’t have the same kind of extensive training as actual opera singers, but I have done my fair share to know what it entails….
However, my understanding does not always equate to the average passing interest… And yes, I could have classified Luiz and others as “popera” however, I doubt that NBC would and again I prefer to stay as consistent and broad based until NBC dictates otherwise.
I see, I haven’t realized you had classical singing background yourself. The problem I see is that this classification of these singers as “opera singers” misleads those who are not familiar with opera – 20 years ago it probably wouldn’t have mattered since there was more knowledge of opera then. It’s also unfair in a sense to these singers as it invites comparisons…
I wonder if just putting “opera” in quotes when talking about them would both match what NBC says and indicate that they aren’t really opera singers. Maybe classical or operatic. But yes, now that I read your comment, I realize your dilemma better.
@kitty – not a problem… possibly putting quotes for opera would be a good differentiation… but that may also invite more questions for the passing / casual interest.
You can also look at it in the view that by classifying them as opera – although it would invite unfair comparison – could be a way to bring opera closer to the mainstream… which is a thought.
A good example of a classically trained opera singer nowadays would be Chris Mann who was featured in NBC’s The Voice.