Jack Blocker is honestly my favorite so far! He reminds me so much of Fritz! Also, the uniqueness of Philip Philipps! I feel like people are sleeping on what he can do with his voice. The control he has switching registers, the sweet clarity he can have, but then add some rasp. Also, the forced flips and rasp really gave so much emotion. He is such a storyteller!

I've been watching Idol for many years and I love seeing new talent. What I don't like is all the background that is shown during the first appearance. It seems so fake or some producer likes this person better and trying to influence the public. Just let the talent sell the person.

Loved that Micaela arrangement so much that I pulled out my keyboard to do a cover. lol. She was a little nervous, but that take on the song really took over the audition.

You are right about Blake’s song. He made you feel it

Odell was the first to give me chills.

Odell is my favorite. Gives me Willie vibes, from the soul and authenticity of his voice. Also great call on Joshua Ledet. He's an amazing singer.

Good to have you back. Wish you were sitting next to Lionel and Luke. Over the years of watching every episode, and I’m only a music lover no expert, I find Katie gets worse at her job, that’s the kindest way of expressing my opinion.

Odell was definitely my favorite 🙌🏻 But I love the churchy style of singing! Agree with Clark that the platinum ticket thing seems like better planning this year.

I got the course! No kidding, I went to the piano while doing the suggested warmup and hit D6 on the piano, pulled out a pitch finder so I could check my pitch, breathed in and exhaled to hit the D6. It was more resonate and not squeaky, I was shocked. Plus, I hit the D6 and it sounded good, I kept thinking "yoga voice." Thanks Clark

Glad you're back, always enjoy your take! I swear you're looking younger every time I see your videos! I feel like Jack is gonna make it far, he's got something there. I'm so excited for this season!

The first thing I do when American Idol start, I look for your channel and subscribe. Greetings from South Africa

I literally wait all year just to have these videos!!

🎉As before, I watch idol by watching the idol breakdown and q&a 😊. I really like your reactions snd commentary. (Then sometimes I may watch the individual idol auditions or shows I like. )

Sweet set up, Clark. I really enjoy these breakdowns and your hair is looking pretty fly tonight. I actually didn't like watching Jack because of his facial moves, but I did enjoy his voice. I started watching Blake a few weeks ago on Instagram and I noticed he sang with Maverick City at a concert recently. He's obviously got a future in worship leading, so if Idol doesn't work out, he will be continuing in the Christian worship circle.

Jack Blocker is giving me Damien Rice vibes. I love it...keep the faces...it's authentic

First time hearing Odell and I’m floored!

It never gets old helping adoptees find their biological family! I cried right along!

Glad to have you reviewing this show and your class sounds amazing. I need to gift it to my worship leading son.

Yes, Clark. Though I don't agree on everything, I really love your critiques.

Hair is looking great, Clark.

🙏 I'd sure like to see you on the judging panel. Good video. Thanks so much.

Glad to see this back again this year, always look forward to it

So happy these are back!

McKenna with her smoky rasp & Blake with his ‘Ed Sheeran’ heartfelt vibe, were my favorites of the night. Fun to see the Judges hometowns. All the sob stories are wearing me out tho; Idol relies on it too much.

Happy to see you again! 🇦🇺

Dude! Your set up is much better this year!

I tried out for the voice never idol. Sang I can't make you love me. And honestly I know I did well because the other 12 people in the room felt like they already lost.😂 never got a call back. You break down every aspect and explain the process. It felt great for me cuz I know I would've never won but I thought I should've kept going. Thanks ❤

ahh, I so missed your show, Clark ... thrilled to be back for your new season 🎉

hi Clark, here we go again. Cheers from Indonesia

Thanks!

Love you and missed you! Excited Idol back so I can learn from you :)

I really enjoyed Blake and Jack as well. Very surprised that Jack was originally going to go home. And Ajii is on another level, he could win the show

Awesome first episode of American Idol. Great singers so far this season. I'm excited!

Love these videos so glad there back! These honestly got me through 2020 lol. I appreciate the effort you put into them every week!! Let’s go American idol 2024❗️

hi Clark, here we go again. Cheers from Germany

I am in complete agreement with you on all the auditions.. loved Mckenna & Jack!!

Blake was my favorite. He was just singing without all the vocal gymnastics.

SO much fun to see a fellow coach`s take. I prep singers for The Voice... Aussie, NZ, Japan.

Hi Clark...welcome back...I greatly enjoy your critiques and assessment...😊

I’m so glad to see you thought the same about Jack as I did. I loved him!

I love that you're back, I really like your videoes and learn a lot from them also. I think my favorites after the first episode are Micaela and Mackenzie, especially Micaela because her voice was so comfortable to listen to.

Welcome back Clark!

CLARK!!! Missed ya! So happy it is Idol Season once again! Loved your critique as always! My faves were Mackenzie, Jack & Odell by far! Loved McKenna as well! I was prepared to tell ya that way back in Season 3, Top 12 finalist Matthew Rogers played in the NFL as well (my old brain remembers) however, he appears to have scrubbed that from his wiki & history 🤷🏻‍♀️ Sorry I missed the premiere & watch..I’ve been sick but im looking forward to stirring it up next week! 😊🎉 Great commentary as always and love the new rating system 👍🏻

I loved Micaela! She was my favorite of the night.

I'm subscribed and have always joined the live watch/ chat on my phone

Yea Clark!

I really like Jack, I hope he goes far & gets a huge following.

Overall like the older contestants much better. You can hear the life experience in their interpretations.

Great critique and review!!!! Odell is my favorite then the 1st guy with the blond hair....Micaela didnt really do anything for me...I was really glad Jack made it thru....Mckennna also fantastic

So happy you're back ! btw I don't think every platinum ticket is gonna be given like this, coz same case was with HunterGirl in season 20 meanwhile Kennedi and Jay got their platinum immediately after audition ;)

So far I have agreed with everything you have said

Clark i have been a member for 10 mnths and love the Idol breakdown... Kaeyra was the best talent Last seasonS.. IKaeyra is living the Dream.. Can you do an interview with her live on the Show?????

nice stuff . . .

Hi from Montana

I think they are now giving the Platinum tickets after all are done with their auditions for fairness. Everyone has a shot on the Platinum ticket and I think the judges still picked them, maybe the producers helped them collect their thoughts but it's still the judges choice.

Jack blocker seems like an excellent song writer.

Welcome back Clark!!! Missed your idol reviews! I thought Mckenna, Ajii, Mackenzie and Michaela were my personal standouts but I gotta give an HM to Odell as well

I liked Jack a lot (both his singing and songwriting) but I agree with Katie that his faces with the extreme jutting of the jaw to the side were distracting. It didn’t feel authentic, it felt like he was exaggerating to convey a feeling. I’m glad he went through and look forward to seeing him in Hollywood.

McKenna my fav so far

Katie, I think, had some "Facial PTSD" after being with John Mayer. Might of hit a nerve lol

Great upgrades for this season of the idol breakdown! Looking, and sounding great. Appreciate the technical explanations as always.

I was hoping Clark started it back up!

I agree 💯 about Jack

Yes, I think Micaela has something special. ❤

I loved Micaela McCall. She was my favorite of the girls. I love Odell for the guys.

Jack was my favorite Ep 1

Andrew García was an Ídol example that never could replicate his amazing Hollywood week audition

Micaela McCall is the best thing that's come to AI in a long time. That arrangement and her delivery were outstanding. Period. Nobody changes up Stevie. It was not only bold, it worked. 10/10. Blake P. is good looking. And he may go far, but it won't be on his talent alone.

I agree with u 100% about ajii he was deff ahead of the pianist, It sounds off and I was like "why does it sound off?" & the more I kept hearing him sing the chorus I picked up on that, he's got a good voice and a great aura to him but he deff needs more but such a nice guy.

I totally agree with you about Ajii. He does have a really good voice but my first thought was he was imitating Teddy, even his head and mouth movements looked like Teddy’s.

I agree about AJll

Welcome back man! My favorites were McKenna, Odell, Ajii, and Mackenzie. I would give an HM to Micaela as she was great too. I thought Jack was not good and his facial expressions were too distracting for me. I would have said no to him as he was not ready yet. And for Blake, he was pretty basic and kinda boring honestly. He was too mellow and soft for me and not my thing so I don't really care for him. Triston was good, strong voice but not my cup of tea. He isn't someone I root for at all. Meggie has a pretty voice but I needed more emotions and there wasn't enough. And yikes at Kendall. She was all over the place for me but her range is really good but I felt her high notes and low notes was too pageanty and old fashioned. She won't last long as she isn't ready.

Jake was my absolute favorite I was so shocked with their first vote

Last nights show seemed to be a bit different than usual-calling a contestant back and changing their vote to send him to Hollywood-and then calling another to award her the platinum card!! I have some favorites already!!

McKenzie, Blake, McKenna

When I heard Triston, I could think of no one but Dylan.

I have loved watching AI for MANY years, but we turned it off last night because of all the silliness of the judges! PLEASE tone that down and let the contestants shine with their audition!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼😫

Loved Micaela, honest beautiful voice 🌸 Odell slayed 🙌 Jack is my pick, so unique and real 🔱 Katy, leave his face alone ✨McKenna has Star 🌟 dusted all over her 💫

Micaela was my favorite, besides maybe odell.

At the end of the day it’s about the singing not the life story. The entertainment is in the story but that doesn’t sell records.

1000% agree on your AJII take… didn’t love him. There’s potential with some training/coaching though

I was shocked that Micaela got a ticket. I just didn't get it.

My mom and I were watching and I immediately said “is he trying to sound like Smokie Norful?”

Clark you forgot madesa who was a powerhouse soul gospel singer and won and made a gospel album she was awesome

Micaela has a great voice.

What??!? I liiiiked Micaela; she had a great great voice. Souuuul, power. Good grief boy, what's going on with you?!! 😂

Micaela was my favorite.

What did you rank Odell?

Love Jack! Phillip Phillip vibes all the way loved him!

I don’t understand the music industry. Why is Clark not one of the biggest names in music?

Not me catching up on idol so I can watch the breakdown.

Megan Danielle did great as a gospel singer in the previous idols.

This is no longer a singing competition. It is matrix of what brings the most to the bottom line financially to the net work and to the ratings. If this is truly not the case, the total number of followers, either on Instagram or TikTok would never be a consideration.

Are they using pitch correction in the auditions or is it later on they start using that and auto-tune?

Micaela and Odell

Doesn’t it start Feb 22nd? Can someone tell me what he’s reviewing ?!

I hate the big flowery runs. You either have the ability to express the emotion called for or you don't. It's a less is more pet peeve for me. Just nail it and keep the momentum. Also what works on a sound bite tick tock isn't what works for building a following for albums that people pay for.

Yes Clark - the Teddy Swims audition missed when it came to placing notes in the pocket - that's what separates the men from the boys. I felt his one long run was rushed - consistently so. As you say, very fixable - but our expectation has evolved to expect those problems to be fixed by the time a singer shows up to the audition. Nailed the Bonnie Raitt critique as well. Missed the believability sizzle factor, sounded too rehearsed. She's got the tone and look tho.

Katy has some kind of ick with people who make faces while singing lol. She said the same to Arthur Gunn 3-4 years ago. She didn’t like how he would close his eyes when he sang.

What's Mekenna's rating Clark? I think she's top 10 without a doubt great personal story or not. Rooting big time for her.