Megan Corkrey has sneakily become perhaps the most divisive contestant on American Idol 8. Reading her bio, she sounds like one of those overly-cutesy characters in a bad romantic comedy. She's a quirky single mom in her mid-twenties, recently divorced. She has a whole sleeve of tattoos on one of her arms and she makes a living as a Font Designer. And she looks exactly like Reese Witherspoon. Her voice is unique, different from what we're used to from females on American Idol – part Nelly Furtado, part old-timey jazz singer. While, technically, she doesn't have the best or the strongest voice, Corkrey has an aura about her that has inspired both scorn and admiration. Both of her performances in the Top 36 were adored by the judges, who have loved her since her very first audition. A recipient of one of the Wild Card slots, it remains to be seen if America will get on board with her vibe. If they do, she could be a sleeper.
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 - Main Page
American Idol 8: The Official Top 13 Slideshow
Strengths:
The voice is what got her here. It's different, strangely entrancing, and it sets her apart from the pack. Being the best looking girl still in the competition certainly won't hurt, though her looks aren't what you would call classically attractive. Her stage presence, like the rest of her, is the definition of quirky, teetering on the edge Elaine Benes's rhythmically-challenged full-bodied heave, but ultimately an asset because, well, it's pretty adorable.
Weaknesses:
While the voice is what sets her apart, it's technically lacking in some areas. It's not particularly strong (she won't be singing any Whitney or Mariah any time soon), and she has a tendency to sing out of tune, especially on her high notes. That could be chalked up to nerves, and Megan could very well settle into a groove now that she's made the Top 13. Also, Megan might turn out to be too much of a niche-performer, lacking the universal appeal that a American Idol winner needs.
Best-Case Scenario:
Her voice and pitch improves, her stage presence doesn't become too distracting and she rides that voice of hers into the Top 6. That's probably her upside – think Brooke White.
Worst-Case Scenario:
Her pitch remains shaky, and America fails to embrace her uniqueness. The inevitable judges' praise will keep her safe for at least a couple of weeks, but she could end up being the first female eliminated.
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 - Main Page
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Matt Giraud
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Megan Corkrey
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Anoop Desai
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Alexis Grace
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Michael Sarver
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Danny Gokey
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Jasmine Murray
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Allison Iraheta
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Kris Allen
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Adam Lambert
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Lil Rounds
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Scott MacIntyre
American Idol 8: Analyzing the Top 13 – Jorge Nunez
-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of FOX)