Welcome to Pure America’s Got Talent

Eli Mattson was really quick out of the gates of America’s Got Talent earning high praise from the judges and a lot of coverage by the show. However, Eli Mattson, from what I remember, has gotten very little time on America’s Got Talent during the Las Vegas auditions. More time has been spent on the likes of Opera singer Neal Boyd and Queen Emily. Few people would argue that those two are more talented than Eli Mattson, but I guess you could say they have more compelling stories. Plus, I’m pretty sure they emit much more emotion than the calm, cool and collected Eli Mattson.

All of that said, Eli Mattson did travel over 2000 miles riding by bus to be on America’s Got Talent. He stepped onto the stage wearing a hat and cool confidence, Eli won over audience members singing “Walking in Memphis” while playing the keyboard. Here’s a video of Eli Mattson’s performance of Walking in Memphis:

My only suggestion for Eli is to remember that in a reality TV show like America’s Got Talent, America votes for personality as much as talent. Eli, don’t be afraid to show America your personality if you want to win.

As most of you know, Jessica Price is my favorite singer on America’s Got Talent. I think that I fell in love with her when she was able to show the jaded Brit, Piers, that not all American girls are like Britney and Paris. I’m not sure that she’ll be able to win, but I’d be so happy if she does.

Well, today I came across a story of someone who attended the same church as her. Here’s their story about Jessica Price.

I can’t believe she’s in the top 40! Okay, I can, because I remember the first time I heard her sing. It was at church and right after American Idol first premiered. She started singing a praise song, and my mom and I looked at each other and were like, “She could make it on American Idol.”

Even on the ride home, instead of talking about the churches message we spent the entire ride home talking about how she had a better voice than most people who we hear on the radio. She was probably sixteen at the time, and my mom said, “I bet if she tried, she could be big.” And as silly as this may sound, I said a quick prayer for her right then and there, asking God if he could bless her in a music career. Wouldn’t it be cool if he did?

I wonder if Jessica Price new that people were praying for her to win and be successful. Regardless of whether Jessica continues on from here, God has certainly blessed her music career. Looks like at least a partial if not complete answer to prayer to me.

A lot was made on America’s Got Talent of Donald Braswell not singing professionally for 11 years since tearing a neck muscle. Well, it turns out that he has sung in what could be considered a professional capacity. Below’s the story from My San Antonio:

Incidentally, a couple of people who saw the performance Tuesday said they were confused by the suggestion Braswell hadn’t sung on a stage for 11 years.

After all, he did perform not too long ago in a San Antonio Symphony concert staging of “Camelot.” He’s also part of the local Three Tenors.

To be fair, I did hear him clarify on the show that he hadn’t sung professionally for 11 years. When I spoke with him, he explained further.

“Professional to me is performing for an audience in a professional environment and to be able to earn a living from it, make it your career.”

That hasn’t been the case since his accident. However, he hopes this opportunity in front of a national audience on “Talent” will help him recapture a singing career.

Meantime, he’s already had the chance to distribute a CD he made less than a year ago, called “New Chapter,” to several of the “Today” show personalities, including host/newswoman Ann Curry and weather personality Al Roker.

In case you missed it, Braswell appeared on the third hour of “Today” Tuesday morning. Curry and Roker also seemed impressed by his story and the faith it took to attempt a comeback.

If you’d like to hear selection from his CD and order one, go to Braswell’s MySpace page.

The fact that he sings with some pretty much professional groups in San Antonio cuts into his story a little, but it’s still remarkable what he was able to do. The problem for me isn’t that his story might be fake. It’s that his singing isn’t even the best opera singer on the show. That means he shouldn’t get voted back in. Unfortunately, I think I might be outvoted.

Someone has compiled a nice short video of America’s Got Talent top 40 results show. It’s in 2 parts and shows almost all of the top 40.

Part 1 - America’s Got Talent Top 40

Part 2 - America’s Got Talent Top 40 (starts with my favorite contestant Jessica Price)

Here’s the list of acts in the top 40. I’m missing a couple of them, but this is what they showed on the results show:
Jonathan Arons, New York, New York (dancing musician)
Indiggo from New York, New York (twin singers)
Nuttin’ But Stringz, Jamaica Queens, New York (musicians)
Kaitlyn Maher, Ashburn, Virginia (four-year-old singer)
Slippery Kittens, Salt Lake City, Utah (burlesque dancers)
Jonathan Burkin, Clyde, Ohio (baton twirler)
Derrick Barry, Modesto, California (Britney Spears impersonator)
Sick Step, Los Angeles/ Orange County, California (dance crew)
Extreme Dance FX, West Covina, California (dance group)
Neal E. Boyd, Silkeston, Missouri (opera singer)
Eli Mattson, Door County, Wisconsin (singer/musician)
The Taubl Family, New Haven, Connecticut (musicians)
D.C. Cowboys Dance Company, Washington, D.C. (dance group)
Joseph Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska (Elvis impersonator)
Beyond Belief Dance Company, Mesquite, Texas (dance troupe)
Paul Salos, Garland, Texas (Frank Sinatra impersonator)
George the Giant, Bakersfield, California (giant/side show performer)
Jessica Price, Freeport, Michigan (singer/musician)
Alex “Elite” Pyles, Galax, Virginia (martial arts)
Sarah Lenore, Plymouth, Michigan (singer/musician)
Flambeaux, New York, New York (fire performance artist)
The James Gang, New York, New York (performance artists)
Texas State Strutters, San Marcos, Texas (dance troupe)
Ronny B, Honolulu, Hawaii (singer/dancer)
Queen Emily, Stockton, California (singer)
The Cadence, Springfield, Missouri (drummers)
The Tapping Dads, Temecula, California (tap dancers)
Shimshi, Las Vegas, Nevada (magician)
Matthew Piazzi, New York, New York (impressionist)
Kazual, Columbus, Georgia (boy band)
Shequida (Gary Hall), New York, New York (operatic drag queen)
The Wright Kids, Rocky Mount, Virginia (family band)
Michael Strelo-Smith, Castro Valley, California (opera singer)
Spc. Daniel Jens, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (singer/musician)
Bruce Block, St. Joseph, Michigan (performance artist)
Dorae Saunders, Columbia, South Carolina (Tina Turner impersonator)
Bryan Cheatham, Dallas, Texas (singer)
ZOOperstars, Louisville, Kentucky (acrobatic dance troupe)
Dallas Desperados Dancers, Dallas, Texas (cheerleading squad)

Now we’ll just have to wait until after the Olympics to see them.