Analysing "Yellow brick road" (Elton John) covered by ABI CARTER - American Idol Top 12 performance

Yep, the people love Abi. No question about that. At this stage in the competition most people simply vote for the person they connect with most, and not necessarily the best singer and performer.
However, I have been a fan of Abi's from the very beginning. Her tone, technical ability and emotional connection all impressed me from the outset. Lately, however, there have been moments in some of her performances where I don't think she made the best choices, sometimes in terms of arrangement and key, sometimes vocal choices during the performance. There has also been many moments where I felt a little disconnected from her, as I see her planning and thinking about what she's doing, in stead of simply emoting.
Having said all that, I believe she can have a brilliant career if she surrounds herself with the right people and remains open to coaching and advice.
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[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

6:04 - Abi’s big grand finale note measured over 15 seconds long. That’s 15 seconds without stopping to take a breath in. There’s nobody else in this competition who can touch that.

[@user-wx4of1oq2x]

Abi says beautifully " I feel as though it means to not let people put you in a place that you don't belong in". i feel those words sum up Abi as an artist which effects every choice she makes.. From song selection to key. Each for her reason .NOT another's They are Abi's modifications. The Long phrase showcasing her gift. & why she shines... so much so that you could (as you stated ):hear a pin drop" .I chose her as winner after 1st audition. Love her fine piano playing as well .Wishing each of these artists futures that shine like🌠 stars. Thank you for expressing your opinion so brilliantly.💥

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Beautiful comment - thank you so much 😊

[@OMAS72877]

Plus, at the start of the chorus, it was not a mistake, she slid into the note because she knew it'd be hard to go straight from the end low note of the verse into that high note of the start of the chorus. She's smart, with this song.

[@matthewwootten]

Exactly!!!

[@lindawarden-burglund9603]

I just love Abi! She is a beautiful soul with an ethereal, rather hauntng voice. I would love to see her win. You're right when you said, " Abi knows how to do Abi really well!" Thanks, as always, for your expert analysis! Your channel is one of my favorites!

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Thanks so much for your lovely comment again 🌷

[@corky344]

I love Abi Carter and although I am a person who enjoys music for what I hear, I do enjoy listening to your analysis

[@tonyrice954]

I think she is amazing, and...., I am getting her connection to the songs, but not her all in hunger for this thing. There continues to be more, "I really want to show you what I can do"(which is phenomenal), and not quite as much, "I am hungry for this thing and I dare you to try and stop me". Abi has every right to demand this, go get it girl!

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Great comment, thank you 😊

[@nunopereira526]

It's called control.

[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

6:05 - That Grand Finale Note at the end measured over 15 seconds long. 15 seconds without stopping to take another breath in. There isn’t anyone else in this year’s American Idol who can touch that. I truly hope that America has ears that function and votes to make Abi Carter the 2024 American Idol.🥇🏆

[@wtcarter2]

I LOVE this song sung by Abi. (And that end run was amazing!) But I still couldn't understand a few of her words. (She needs to better enunciate.) She also needs to get out and walk the catwalk and put on a show if she wants to win this thing! There are excellent artists in this group. Abi has the total package and is not necessarily bound to a niche (like country singing). And I love her smile! (But, then again, I'm very biased!)

[@OMAS72877]

I get the strong sense that she talked the end of the first verse BECAUSE she knew it'd be risky to hit that low note after she did hit it the first time.

[@richardroberts344]

Excellent analysis. I love Abi too. Don't think she'll win because the best singers rarely do...eg Roman and Jayna...that was sad😢

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Thanks for watching and sharing your view with us. I really appreciate it 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@bradcrawford1998]

I like you sir. You are VERY fair and on point here. After last weeks performance judge Luke Bryan told Abi she should mix it up and come out from behind her piano. I agree, I'd like to see her show a little diversity. I LOVE Abi and her voice, charisma, show stopping performances BUT she has a LONG way to go I think to being a live performer. I will admit, IF so she does is sits behind a piano and sings ballads all night, not so sure I want to pay good $$$ to see her live someday. I want to be entertained a little bit too. I don't think anything is wrong with that. There is ONLY one Elton John who could pull that off, sitting behind his Grand Piano 🤔

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Thanks for your comment! I appreciate your kind words, too 😊

[@aurorapicardat856]

I watched Elton John on a video singing the same song but it didn't connect with me. I like Abi's better.

[@aurorapicardat856]

Sara Bareilles sang this song behind a piano, too. I felt more connected to Abi's song better. And Mr Bester, if you watch Sara Bareilles rendition, she also did not sing the word "singin" - she just said it like Abi. I found Abi's rendition better because I found her voice more emotional and more angelic frequency

[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

Y’all want Abi to get out from behind the piano??? Wow, are y’all about to be shocked. Her performance of “Bring Me To Life” changed everything. Go Abi!!!

[@SharonCovey]

Cannot understand some of her words.

[@estebantapia3593]

Sorry for saying this, but English is not my mother language, I haven't been in any country where English is the language they speak and I can still understand every single word she's singing🥺

[@keekeemyfirstcat8410]

I loved her when she sang a country western song.

[@robertbell9725]

I like Abi very much. Expect her to be a top finisher. There were 2 places in the song where she ran out of breath at the end of a phrase and went flat. I heard them in the original performance and see that you point them both out here. She is one of the top 10 with good pitch control so it was a surprise to me. There are a couple of the young ones that are off multiple times per song but have cute stories that are out over their skis right now and should go home. Abi is not one of them. Expect top 3 for her.

[@alleez8604]

Angelina Jordan did it 4 years ago in AGT . Have a look on it

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Angelina is amazing... thanks for watching!

[@peacebewithyou6048]

I'm surprised that you didn't mention that Abbie did Angelina Jordan's version of Yellow Brick Road (or it was very similar.) And . . . I think Jordan's version is by far the best and it was an extremely good choice for Abbie to do it! I think she did a good job of it!!!!!

[@bitsandblocks7826]

This arrangement of Yellow Brick Road is by Sara Bareilles, which Angelina Jordan covered. I’m a big fan of Abi but it doesn’t compare with the original. Later in the season her cover of Bring Me Back To Life was outstanding. It might be the “Devil’s Music” but rock is her lane :-)

[@aurorapicardat856]

That's funny, I was thinking the same. And before Abi, I used to love and admire Angelina Jordan so much because of her angelic voice. But now I think that Abi sounds angelic too but conveys deeper emotion coming from her heart.

[@diegordss]

Sometimes I feel a little insecure about her moving to a higher moment in the song, but I still like her versions.

[@victorbradshaw7359]

I guess I am different much more comfortable in my bass voice the highs wear me out lol ok I'm a man and so it makes sense

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Thanks for your comment! Appreciate your support 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@warrenschulze350]

I am not a fan of these "Theme" nights, myself, but there have been a lot of #1's so you should be able to find a good song. The trouble is, if you don't do a lot of changing-up, you get compared. I understand she is pretty much self-taught, so she is, in my opinion, lacking a little in composition skills. She needs someone like yourself, to really put that beautiful voice on the right path!

[@stoneyboy1970]

This was not a good performance. It was quite boring in fact. I think she’s trying too hard to be “special”, as opposed to simply letting go and giving amazing performance. It’s almost as if she is trying to tip toe through each round without taking any risks.

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Yeah... I think it's a constant struggle for these guys between 'staying in their lane' vs taking calculated risks 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@nunopereira526]

People got literally silent in their souls just hearing her sing. What you think it's lacking, it's because most of people are not used to a singer with such control. She's already a star much better than most celebrities out there

[@robertobrandoli4462]

the best cover version for sure is singed by Sara Bareilles 13mio of views... singed but not played because Abi is a lot better on the piano and very close to Sara as vocalist... hehehe

[@matthewwootten]

Don’t quit your day job, if you have one. She’s exquisite, brilliant and unique, but your patronizing attitude won’t allow you to experience it.

[@hollijoyal9796]

She ripped off the Sara Bareilles version almost exactly

[@JohanBesterYourVocalCoach]

Interesting... I'll have a look at it!

[@courtneycoley8487]

And she did it amazing

[@robertyouens7764]

She ripped it off or she honored Sara Bareilles version because she liked it and it suited her voice and artistry.

[@joshuadillon4396]

I mean it’s a talent show full of all rip offs.

[@danielregalado65]

she's a fan of Sara Bareilles and if I were in her shoes I'd do the same thing which could help promote Sara and Sara's version who's one of the most underrated artists

[@erimus1]

This was a copy of Angelina Jordan’s version - good but not better than Angelina.

[@nunopereira526]

This was much better than Angelina's version. Miles away

[@CreativeCapitalStrategie-wl4ry]

Too bad she copied Sara Bareilles version of this song and didn't have the integrity to credit her for the rendition. It's almost note for for note Sara's.

[@nunopereira526]

We must have a really different hearing.

[@patriciaguzman4466]

Angelina Jordan sings it so much better than Abi