Have you heard of Ricky Braddy? Chances are high you haven’t, because he’s one of two Top 36 singers on American Idol this season that have NEVER been featured on the show the entire season thus far (the other is a female vocalist whose name I can’t remember right now – Joanna Vailes?).
Remember Colton Berry? No, I know you don’t. But he made the Top 12 last season and was promptly booted because no one had any idea who he was. He seemed like a very good singer and probably would have done really well, but America didn’t have a relationship with him, and didn’t vote for him.
What’s tragic in Ricky Braddy’s case, however, is that I already know he’s VERY talented. No, I don’t know him personally, but I have heard him sing an amazing song and I think he could have won the whole thing. (click on the song “Love Me Like LA” – that’s Ricky Braddy singing even though it’s on the Seth Jones Facebook page).
But the way the editors of AI8 have treated him on all episodes leading up the first performance show (of which he’ll be a part), I don’t know if he has had the chance he deserves. He deserved to be on the screen more than 10 seconds in last night’s show. He deserved the opportunity to have America HEAR HIM SING while he was in Hollywood. Because 99% of AI-watching America has no idea who he is and what he can do.
He’s ideal for this show – he needs minimal makeover magic (a la Clay Aiken, Taylor Hicks and David Cook), he seems like a REALLY nice guy (based on the brief snippets up at the official AI8 website) and is genuinely talented (hear the clip I linked above). But I fear that even if he does a GREAT job, unless he shakes it up like David Cook did his first week out (singing his awesome version of “Hello” by Lionel Richie), he’ll be out the door quicker than we can say, “What was his name again?”
I had hoped he would be featured more last night. And unless he pulls out an UH-MAZING performance next week, I don’t think he has much hope. Anoop and Danny are shoe-ins for next week and there are a few others that have gotten a lot of face time. Rickey.org IS pimping Ricky though and Paula has come out saying he’s one of the best so maybe devoted fans paying attention to this will make a call for him.
Ricky Braddy is truly amazing. I went to college with him. I was hoping they would show him sing last night. He is a great performer so I do think he can come in and shake things up. I think the producers know he can do that. Cross your fingers he’ll make a good song choice!
I agree. That’s why a few friends and I are starting our grass roots campaign to get him through this first week of voting. Check out:
http://www.thebraddybunch.com/
Wow, he has a beautiful voice! Depending on how he does this week, I may actually call in for him. I rarely call in.
Well, I’m calling in for him because he’s awesome.
I sure hope you are wrong. The more we get the word out about Ricky, he’s sure to do well. Especially if he let’s the world knows he has NC roots!!! NC seems to vote a lot!!!!
Great article. And I 100% agree. It is NOT FAIR.
I just went and heard that song and he is super talented. I am just praying he will be good enough that he can come back as a Wild Card. But there hasn’t been enough buzz about him on the show that the judges won’t pick someone they haven’t featured.
And he is in that first strong group, no less.
I am sure Anoop and Danny are shoe ins for the guys.
Pititul.
He has God in his life and if it is meant to be it will happen.
How Ricky failed to get any t.v. time prior to the first vote is unfortunate and he is at a disadvantage. But I have confidence he will be that breakout star on Tuesday. He is the spoiler, the dark horse, the upset of the night..I hope he makes it. He’s got my vote!
Well television is television and the best way to market the show and suck in the viewers is to begin the drama with maximum air time. Thankfully after tuesday drama time will recind and people can focus on everyones voices and not their lifestyles. Any way Ricky is a good boy and he has a dedicated fanbase that supports him with a marketable idea for the show so I really think as long as he gets to sing which he will people will be blown away and call in their votes. Am dying to see what song he’s chosen. He totally understands the situation he has to contend with right now and with his wits he’ll throw and ambush out there. Good luck guy and rootin for here on the OBX.
I’m looking forward to tonight’s episode as well, and can’t wait to hear him sing!
I will tell you why Ricky didn’t get any air time. He doesn’t have a dead wife and he doesn’t have a baby at 21. He sang so amazing last night and he gets comments that his voice is good but he doesn’t have enough stage presence. It’s his first time on national TV with millions of viewers, maybe he will loosen up a bit later on. When you compare his voice with the crackling warbles of the rest, a little shyness can be overlooked. It just pisses me off that they hail Danny Gokey as a messiah when he was just ok. He has shades of Elliot Yamin but with better teeth. I am not saying that what happened in his life is not tragic, but everyone deserves an equal shot to live out their dream, not just those with interesting back stories.
Tom, I agree with most of your assessment! But knowing that Ricky is one of Paula’s top 3 singers this year gives me hope that he’ll be back for Wildcard night.
I agree, he was given NO airtime on AI and he has been cheated out of a great opportunity. He can really sing and he is cute. The stylist on the show could help with any makeover that is necessary. I hope that if for some reason he is not selected tonight the judges will do the right thing and send him through as a wild card into the top 12.
We get American Idol a day later in the UK, but I’m stunned that Danny Gokey got through and Ricky – as you say – got the shaft. Ricky was at least as good as Danny, if not better. I think his song choice was a bit obscure though – I certainly didn’t recognize it.
But you make a very good point about him being totally excluded from the ‘stories’ of the other contestants, meaning that he was never in the frame to win.