Nashville Star, Week One

Last night marked the premier of the new season of "Nashville Star", the longest-running reality show on TV.  At the end of the season, one lucky and talented performer will win a recording contract and the opportunity to sing at the Summer Olympics.  For the next 11 weeks, I will be giving my review of the performances as we count down to the big winner.

Charley Jenkins - sang "I Like It, I Love It" by Tim McGraw.  Had good audience participation; had a big voice, but sounded and acted like a Garth Brooks impersonator in a bar. 
Tommy Stanley - sang "Walking In Memphis" by Mark Cohn.  Excellent song choice, as it is one of my favorites.  Good stage presence, but yelled too much and oversang and lost the melody.  Concentrated too much on the guitar and not on singing.  Props for being in the Navy.
Gabe Garcia - sang "All My Exes Live In Texas" by George Strait.  Stayed on pitch; great voice. King George would have been proud.  Will definitely be in the final two, but the judges will soon tell him to get some more stage presence. 
Coffey - sang "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray.  Another favorite song of mine, but the vocals were too Whitney-sized; should have remembered that this is a country music competition; trying to be a Cowboy Troy wannabe.
Justin Gaston - sang "Drops Of Jupiter" by Train. Good voice with control, but vocals were a bit shakey.  Should have picked a country song.  But he has the looks and people will vote for him just because he's cute.
Alyson Gilbert - sang "Suds In The Bucket" by Sara Evans. Too much stage presence - too theatrical.  Over-sang the song.  Tried too hard to prove her talent. The funniest part of tonight's show was when one of the judges said she was a Martina McBride wannabe, especially since she sang a Sara Evans song.
Third Town - sang "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys.   A Rascal Flatts wannabe.  Good crowd participation, though, but a bit too much stage presence. They acted like they were in a middle school talent show instead of trying to win a recording contract.
Melyssa Lawson - sang "Something To Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt.  Would have preferred a country song, but nailed it.  Very powerful voice with control.  Will be in the final two, and could possibly go all the way. She has the will to win the competition.
Laura and Sophie - sang "Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette.  Were on pitch with tight harmonies, but need to get the audience involved.  Major props for singing this song in the competition, but need to show more energy on stage.
Pearl Heart - sang "Wide Open Spaces" by the Dixie Chicks.  Shakey vocals, but had good tight harmonies.  Need to watch the high notes.
Ashlee Hewitt - sang "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat.  Bad song choice - was like singing in your bedroom instead of singing on stage trying to win a record deal.
Shawn Mayer - sang "Piece Of My Heart" by Janis Joplin.  Tried too hard - we don't need another Janis Joplin; sounded like a karoke version.  Needed to choose a country song.

The judges voted and Charley Jenkins was the first contestant voted off.  I wasn't all that surprised, but I was disappointed that the contestants didn't come out with guns blazing on the first week.  I was expecting to be blown away by all 12 of the contestants but was very disappointed for the most part. 

Each week I will announce the winner of what I call the performance ahat "Made My Ears Bleed."  The first winner was not one of the twelve contestants, but instead Taylor Swift for her performance during the show.