Haley Reinhart's Stellar Performances

I didn’t like Haley at first. At all. But then she started singing like crazy and I was hooked. She was that good throughout. Ever since Benny and the Jets, she has not disappointed me once. This is the makes of a true artist.

So I’m watching Haley do Alanis, and I’m wondering: How could she not have gone to the final? In Randy’s words: ‘What kind of a show is this?’ She alone delivered the whole package every single time. Seriously. I have two words for you. Standing. Ovations. When did Lauren get one? When did Scotty? And how many times did Haley get them from the judges and the audience? At least four times. In a row.
Come on, America. Did you wake up with ear plugs in your ears or did you leave your sense at the bank? 

The Commercial Wave and American Idol

Haley Reinhart started slow, uncertain, like a scared child in front of a large mountain of ice-cream. But she scraped and crawled and ate the stage (bad metaphor much?) until she reached a point where outstanding performances rolled out of her sleeves and into our open hearts, warming us with her talent, professionalism, and unique rasp of a voice.

And that’s what I was talking about all along. She had all three tickets (gift, style, and craft) and was headed for the win, as it should have been. Naturally, she was shot down by the ‘Scotty and Lauren’ blob of zombie fans who wanted nothing more but to be further amused by the show they had forgotten was for talent, and not appearances or likability. 

Now, Lauren Alaina illustrates perfectly how far you can go with a very generous genetic streak, unpolished and sweet, but a little short of greatness. I admit, her voice is spectacular. And for a while there, I thought it was enough.