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Allison Iraheta – Performance Profile, American Idol 2009 Season 8

May 5, 2009 by vongsundara

Allison Iraheta performs Cry Baby (Janis Joplin), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 9 (May 5) Top 4: Rock Music with mentor Slash

Allison Iraheta did a great job with this Janis Joplin classic. The song was a little repetitive, but Allison’s voice shone through really well, and she put in a lot of emotion into every phrase.

Allison Iraheta’s new haircut this week is totally awesome. Adam Lambert’s hair stylist did her job well with Allison. Allison really rocked out the stage this week with her performance. She really does transform once the music starts.

Review Score: ★★★★☆

Allison Iraheta performs Someone To Watch Over Me, American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 8 (April 28) Top 5: Rat Pack Standards with mentor Jamie Foxx

The tone of Allison Iraheta’s voice matched this song perfectly. I really enjoyed listening to her rendition. Unfortunatley, Allison lost the melody a couple of times, which is too bad because this could have been an even better performance than it was.

Allison Iraheta looked nice in her black dress and toned-down hair. Allison’s performance skills are ridiculous for someone of her young age. She may be the most polished performer on the entire show.

Review Score: ★★★½☆

Allison Iraheta performs Hot Stuff (Donna Summer), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 7 (April 21) Top 7: Disco

Allison Iraheta did a good job in stripping away a lot of the production values in her opening to the song. It’s too bad that she didn’t stay tender the whole way through as the ending was way overdone. Allison sounds great when she’s in her range, but she definitely struggles when trying to stretch herself vocally, too often grunting instead of singing.

What an interesting entrance to Allison Iraheta’s performance of Hot Stuff. I had seen the stage move for the judges’ entrance, but no one had actually used it during their performance yet. Allison was looking a like a futuristic hoochie tonight.

Review Score: ★★★☆☆

Allison Iraheta performs I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith) from Armageddon, American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 6 (April 14) Top 7: Idol At The Movies (Quentin Tarantino, mentor)

Allison Iraheta performs I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith) from Armageddon, American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 6 (April 14) Top 7: Idol At The Movies (Quentin Tarantino, mentor)

Allison Iraheta’s voice came off as really amateur this week. The opening of the song was very weak, and Allison’s vocals had no breath support throughout. Allison did hit one nice high note, which was a welcome change from past weeks when Allison grunted instead of hitting the high notes (*cough* Alone *cough*).

Allison Iraheta’s styling was a little less fabulous than last week, but it still worked out well. Allison’s hair went well with the belt and jacket.

Review Score: ★★☆☆☆

Allison Iraheta performs I Can’t Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 5 (April 7) Top 8: Year They Were Born

Allison Iraheta performs I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 5 (April 7) Top 8: Year They Were Born

Allison Iraheta chose another good song to showcase her voice. She does have an annoying habit of grunting high notes instead of actually trying to hit the notes properly. Overall, Allison’s vocals were still quite solid for this song.

Allison Iraheta’s hair and wardrobe were a great improvement over last week’s disaster. Allison’s leather jacket and black skirt were totally cute. Allison’s stage performance came off as professional as usual.

Review Score: ★★★☆☆

Allison Iraheta performs Don’t Speak (No Doubt), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 4 (March 31) Top 9: Popular iTunes Downloads

Allison Iraheta performs Don't Speak (No Doubt), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 4 (March 31) Top 9: Popular iTunes Downloads

Allison Iraheta did a great job at reinterpreting the vocal arrangement of Don’t Speak. Allison has a unique enough voice to pull off this sing, as she can easily distance herself from the original rendition. Allison’s vocal arrangement for the first verse was especially strong.

I have no idea what Allison Iraheta was thinking about when she chose her hair and costume this week. It was so absolutely over the top that I don’t know what to think. It was like a weird Cyndi Lauper Hallowe’en costume. It was nice seeing Allison with a guitar; it helps give her some extra rocker cred.

Review Score: ★★★★☆

Allison Iraheta performs Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone (The Temptations), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 3 (March 25) Top 10: Motown (Smokey Robinson, mentor)

Allison Iraheta performs Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (The Temptations), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 3 (March 25) Top 10: Motown (Smokey Robinson, mentor)

Allison Iraheta chose a great song and was able to showcase her amazingly tone and timbre without stretching outside of her comfort zone. The last note that Allison hit was especially nice.

Allison Iraheta’s stage performance was professional as usual. Her hair was well done, and this may have been her best outfit to date. The white jacket on top of her dress with the leggings was wonderful.

Review Score: ★★★★☆

Allison Iraheta performs Blame It on Your Heart (Patty Loveless), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 2 (March 17) Top 11: Grand Ole Opry (Randy Travis, mentor)

It’s strange hearing Allison Iraheta singing a hardcore country song. I thought she would take a fringe country song and make it rock. Instead, she’s singing this song straight up. Overall, I didn’t really quite get it. The vocals and performance weren’t bad, but it wasn’t memorable either.

Allison’s hair looks good with the flower in it and the matching red leather jacket. The dress under the leather jacket also looked good.

Review Score: ★★½☆☆

Allison Iraheta performs Give In to Me (Michael Jackson), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 1 (March 10) Top 13: Michael Jackson

Allison Iraheta does an outstanding vocal job on Michael Jackson’s “Give In To Me.” I didn’t really understand Allison before this week, but she definitely proved me wrong. The tone of Allison’s voice is amazing on this song. I would like to hear Allison stretch herself vocally a bit more. This song stayed in her comfort zone the entire time and sounded like she was hitting the same two notes over and over. Allison hasn’t shown any falsetto whatsoever throughout this entire competition. I don’t want to get too negative, though, because Allison had an amazing performance. Maybe Allison will prove me wrong on the above critiques in her upcoming performances.

Allison Iraheta’s hair and black top look really great. Her short mini-skirt is a little scandalous in a Cher kind of way, which is a little too suggestive and creepy for a 16-year-old.

Review Score: ★★★★☆

Allison Iraheta performs Alone (Heart), American Idol 2009 Season 8, (February 26) Top 36 Group 2: Billboard Top 100 Hits

Allison did capably well in this performance, but I just don’t understand her vocally. First, she chooses an all-time belting classic with signature high notes and then avoids singing the high notes. The most disappointing part is that she has the backing vocal hit the high notes while she sings harmony. What’s the point of choosing this song if you can’t hit the notes or even attempt them. She couldn’t even hit some of the semi-high notes and instead grunts her way through. When Allison is in her range, though, she sounds very nice. It’s too bad that the range in her upper register is so limited. This performance was also incredibly shouty in parts.

Allison chose a nice black dress and definitely has a signature look with her red hair and black nail polish. The stage performance was very rock and definitely believable. Allison’s got potential, but I hope she doesn’t choose classic power ballads anymore.

Review Score: ★★★☆☆

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1362One Response2009-05-06+03%3A30%3A22vongsundara to “Allison Iraheta – Performance Profile, American Idol 2009 Season 8”

Lindsey on May 15th, 2009 9:01 AM

I just had to comment on your review about Allison's "Alone" performance. True she might not have as great a vocal range as others, but you're saying she's singing the harmony during the song? The high notes that the background singer is singing was actually the harmony. Listen to any rendition of the song, the background vocals ALWAYS sing the higher notes, so Allison was actually singing the melody :) I mean go back and watch Carrie Underwood's performance, same thing….background singers sing the high notes, and we all know Carrie has a great vocal range.

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Allison Iraheta – Performance Profile, American Idol 2009 Season 8

Allison Iraheta performs Cry Baby (Janis Joplin), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 9 (May 5) Top 4: Rock Music with mentor Slash

Allison Iraheta performs Someone To Watch Over Me, American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 8 (April 28) Top 5: Rat Pack Standards with mentor Jamie Foxx

Allison Iraheta performs Hot Stuff (Donna Summer), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 7 (April 21) Top 7: Disco

Allison Iraheta performs I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith) from Armageddon, American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 6 (April 14) Top 7: Idol At The Movies (Quentin Tarantino, mentor)

Allison Iraheta performs I Can’t Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 5 (April 7) Top 8: Year They Were Born

Allison Iraheta performs Don’t Speak (No Doubt), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 4 (March 31) Top 9: Popular iTunes Downloads

Allison Iraheta performs Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone (The Temptations), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 3 (March 25) Top 10: Motown (Smokey Robinson, mentor)

Allison Iraheta performs Blame It on Your Heart (Patty Loveless), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 2 (March 17) Top 11: Grand Ole Opry (Randy Travis, mentor)

Allison Iraheta performs Give In to Me (Michael Jackson), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 1 (March 10) Top 13: Michael Jackson

Allison Iraheta performs Alone (Heart), American Idol 2009 Season 8, (February 26) Top 36 Group 2: Billboard Top 100 Hits

Join The Discussion On The Comments and Message Board

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