One21music covers Christian music artists competing on American Idol. Now that Michael Lynche, the last of the Christian music artists on Season 9, it looks like our job is over. But before we bow out of American Idol Season 9 we would like to offer our final thoughts.

This season had the lowest number of Christian music artists in recent memory and they certainly did not experience the success of Season 8 Christian music artists.  Michael Lynche, Tim Urban, Didi Benami and Lacey Brown made it to the American Idol Season 9 Top 12.  Lacey Brown was eliminated at 12 and Didi Benami was gone at 10.  In one of the best stories of Season 9,  Tim Urban used his joyful determination to win the hearts of America… Continue reading

Last night’s show ended with mentor Jaime Foxx making excuses for the American Idol Season 9 Top 4.  It seems that Jaime Foxx believes movie songs make it difficult for the Idols to show off their talents.  Then why does American Idol put these songs into the competition at this critical juncture?

Usually, the duets aren’t too great.  Last night they were the best parts of the show.  What does that say about the star power of the American Idol Season 9 Top 4?  No one really distinguished themselves last night, so anyone could go home.

I think Casey James and Christian music artist Michael Lynche will be in the Bottom 2.  Casey James starts his new, post Idol, career tonight and that seems about right.

Join us to find out what really… Continue reading | 1 Comment

American Idol Season 9 is in the home stretch.  Two more weeks to the finals and the entire season is really up in the air.  As weak as we believe Casey James appears, any one of the top 4 can win. In our American Idol Season 9 Power Rankings we discuss how close the top 4 are and how victory will be determined by who can deliver one or two break out performances over the next few weeks.

Tonight the American Idol Season 9 performers will perform one solo song and perform one duet.  Jaime Foxx will mentor the Idols as they sing songs form the movies. Lee Dewyze and Crystal Bowersox will be paired in one duet while the Michael Lynche and Casey James will team up for the… Continue reading

We are in the final stretch of American Idol Season 9 and this has really been a mystery season for me.  It seems as if Season 9 has been going on for two years yet I can remember very little of what has happened.  I can only remember five performances.

I thought Katelyn Epperly’s heart-breaking interpretation of “The Scientist” would take her into the American Idol Season 9 Top 5.  It was the most polished, professional performance of the season.  Crystal Bowersox’s breakdown at the end of her mind blowing take on “People Get Ready” was a breakthrough in her image.  That may have given America enough insight into Crystal, the girl, to propel her to victory.  Lee Dewyze’s “Treat Her Like A Lady’ separated him from the other mid tempo… Continue reading

Last night’s show convinced me of one thing.  I would like to go on a road trip with Harry Connick Jr.  The dude was funny, engaged and smart. Wouldn’t it be cool to drive Route 66 in a ‘67 El Dorado convertible singing Rat Pack standards?  I also learned the American Idol Season 9 performers have limited stylistic range.

Michael Lynche was the only American Idol Season 9 performer to deliver  the vocal stylings and performance swagger necessary to realize the promise of these songs.  Lee Dewyze was over praised for bending “That’s Life” into a blues style he could handle.  Crystal Bowersox has lost her magic after being forced into the country pop and jazz standards genres.  Crystal may be able to sing the phone book but unless it is… Continue reading

The American Idol Season 9 Top 5, Crystal Bowersox, Christian music artist Michael Lynche, Lee Dewyze, Casey James and Aaron Kelly, perform the songs of Sinatra under the tutelage of Harry Connick Jr.  This is not a great week for any of the Top 5.  Sinatra will be a stretch for all of them.  I would think Michael Lynche would have the best skills to translate Sinatra but, as I said in our American Idol Season 9 Top 5 power rankings, he needs to break his mold this week and do something outrageous and big.  Sinatra does not translate too well to what Michael Lynche needs.

Last year, the Top 5 performed the songs of the Rat Pack, essentially the saem theme and it cost Matt Giraud his place on… Continue reading

Well here we are, the American Idol Season 9 Top 5.  Are you excited?  Have you latched onto Crystal Bowersox, Michael Lynche, Lee Dewyze, Casey James or Aaron Kelly.  Do you eagerly anticipate their cds?  Are you buying tickets for the American Idol Season 9 Tour?  My answers are no, maybe, no and definitely not.

Last week told us nothing.  if you read our American Idol Season 9 Top 6 performance live blog, you will see that only two performers, Lee Dewyze and Christian music artist Michael Lynche did anything remotely interesting with Shania Twain’s songs.  The rest of the performers bog downed into the blandness of country pop music.  Even Crystal Bowersox stumbled through some throw away song about cupid or something.  It cost Siobhan Magnus her place on… Continue reading

Who will make it to the American Idol Season 9 Top 5?  Join us tonight as we live blog the Top 6 results show.

Shania Twain mentored last night with insight, compassion and grace.  That did not transfer into a night of great performances.  After a strong start by Lee Dewyze and Christian music artist Michael Lynche, the show went south in a hurry.  Michael and Lee both reinterpreted Shania Twain’s songs, making them current and stretching them out of the country pop genre, without trashing the original beauty of the songs.  Casey James made a valiant but bland attempt to deliver a country ballad.  Crystal Bowersox, Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus all three fell into the hokey cotton candy that is country pop.

Michael Lynche is the last of the Christian… Continue reading | 3 Comments

American Idol Season 9 heads into the final stretch tonight.  Idol Gives Back is over, next week we will be left with the Top 5  and, after this week, there are only five performance shows left.  We cover Christian music performers on American Idol.  We lost Tim Urban last week so only Michael Lynche remains to carry the flag on American Idol Season 9.

Our American Idol Season 9 Power Rankings has Michael Lynche at number 2 behind the runaway best performer of the season, Crystal Bowersox. However, we don’t believe Michael or Crystal will win American Idol Season 9.  Despite a season of near perfect singing, voters don’t seem to love Michael Lynche.  He is still on the show because the judges saved him after he was shockingly eliminated… Continue reading

American Idol Season 9’s version of Idol Gives Back raised $45 million for charities around the world and proved how difficult it is to walk on that stage and deliver a quality performance.  Alicia Keys, Elton John and the Black Eyed Peas all stumbled through off key performances.  Jeff Beck and Joss Stone were interesting with their version of “I Put A Spell On You” and Carrie Underwood’s “Change” was as good as she always is.  Mary J. Blige was a revelation with her version of “Stairway to Heaven”.

We lost Christian music artist Tim Urban went home on Wednesday night.  What a great story.  Tim Urban did not survive Hollywood Week but was pulled back in at the last minute when Chris Golightly was disqualified.  Tim struggled mightily during the… Continue reading | 2 Comments