…you mean nothing to me. I suppose this goes to show that just because there’s a quantity of something doesn’t mean there’s a quality. But we should back up a wee bit.
Last night (as on most Thursday nights) I was at worship team practice, minding my own business when I got this text from Renee.
Renee: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me: WHO??????
Me: I can take it
Renee: SOMEONE I DIDN’T EXPECT!!!!
ME: I need a name!
Renee: A boy…
Renee: Not Phillip
And this is where I’ll stop because there’s still a show to recap. But suffice it to say, for Renee–an editorial assistant–to make such liberal use of exclamations is kind of a big deal. And this conversation kind of sums up my reaction to tonight’s eliminated contestant.
I spied Taylor Hicks in the audience before our top 7 took the stage for their group number. But I’m just wondering…are there any Taylor Hicks fans still out there? If there are, they must have gone into deep hiding is all I’m sayin’.
Top 7 Perform “Dancin’ in the Street”
This was a pretty solid performance from our remaining Idol contestants, so I don’t have much to say. But it did seem as though Jessica’s mic wasn’t on for her first few little solos. Or maybe it was just too low for her and therefore hard for us to hear.
About halfway through the song I finally noticed the guy in the background spinning on his head and doing other break dance-y kind of moves. And after I noticed that, it was hard to concentrate on anything else. UNTIL I noticed that one of the girl dancers had either lavender or blue lipstick on. And then, all of a sudden, there were balloons all over the place.
So, I guess my experience with this performance can kind of be summed up in one statement. “Ooo! Shiny!”
Results for Joshua and Hollie
Joshua according to Jimmy: He did himself good by staying in his sweet spot. If he keeps doing what he’s doing he could end up in the finale.
Hollie according to Jimmy: She came out of her shell but she has a long road if she wants to make it to the finale.
Verdict: Despite Ry-Ry’s trickiness, Joshua is safe. Hollie in the bottom three.
[Side note: And now we learn that the reason that Taylor Hicks is in the audience is to promote his very ambiguous and not at all appealing-sounding Vegas show. I suppose the producers had to throw him a bone since he did technically win his season. I just wish this Taylor, older and wiser than he was on his season, would learn how to do a proper intro. Yelling “KRIS ALLEN” is not really what we were looking for there. But luckily, Ryan agreed with me and gave my favorite winner of Idol his fair introduction.]
Kris Allen Performs “Vision of Love”
I’m very familiar with the song, having downloaded it back in March so I just enjoyed watching the performance as a whole. That was a super duper cool piano that would go GREAT with my decor…though moving a piano into a basement would probably provide some challenges that I’d rather not deal with.
I did get a little bit dizzy watching Kris Allen spin round and round whilst he played and sang. And if I felt that way, I have some sympathy in my heart for Kris and also the camera men assigned to record this little item for us viewers at home. Maybe Ryan can ask Kieren the light guy to take them out for a cupcake or something.
I do think his stage presence has really grown, as has his person style. I just love his authenticity and mellow vibe.
Results for Skylar and Elise
According to Jimmy:
Both did Marvin Gaye songs, Skylar delivered and Elise fell flat.
For Elise to be in the finale, she has to find a potent rock song that she can deliver authentically and deliver it like she did the Led Zeppelin song. Skylar gets better every week and she’s the best performer we’ve got.
After Jimmy threw in his two cents, Ryan asked Elise if she feels like the judges are harder on her. And she proceeded to go on and on about how mean they are and that she gets so down, etc etc. She needs to filter and get on board the happy train! I have no idea how she’s escaped elimination thus far with how many times she’s been in the bottom three. Save your sob story, Testone!
Verdict: Skylar is safe; Elise is in the bottom three.
LMFAO Performs “Sorry for Party Rocking”
I think I do own one LMFAO song that has taken up permanent residence on my work-out mix. But that’s all their songs are really good for. And this song wasn’t really good for anything. I think that much could pretty much be surmised when the dancing zebra took the stage.
I fast-forwarded the rest of it.
Results for Phillip, Colton, and Jessica
Jessica According to Jimmy: She’s singing songs too old for her and people don’t relate. Jimmy’s going to try to fix that.
Phillip According to Jimmy: He did a great job with Usher song but the second song he could take or leave. Phillip should be in the finale.
Colton According to Jimmy: Gaga was completely wrong for him and his look was too weird, but he can come back. He just needs to regroup and get better songs.
Verdict: Jessica is safe. Phillip is safe. Colton in bottom three.
Final Verdict
All the way through the show, I thought that at the end they were going to eliminate two people since last week the “save” was used. But then I realized that they don’t have to do that…Jermaine’s abrupt departure of the show is now equalized.
Elise is safe.
HOLLIE (??!?!) is safe.
And just like that, Colton was voted off.
Even though Renee had warned me that it was coming, I still felt a measure of disbelief…and then when he responded to his ousting, I was kind of not surprised that “America” sent him home. Honestly, I think it was his whole approach and the way he portrayed himself that made people not want to vote for him, because his music was brilliant. In fact, now that you all know that I am an Idol music downloading fool, I have to say that Colton’s version of “September” hit my top 5 list of downloaded singles from the show. I’d say the list probably goes like this:
Before they rolled the video of his time on Idol, Colton told us that he wasn’t himself last night and apologized. But my real question is, who was he winking at during the exit video? And then with an awkward handhold/shake from Ryan, he was on his way.
To console myself I made myself a little “I’ll Miss Colton” playlist on my iPod.Were you shocked by Colton’s ousting? And who do you want to win it all?
Hey guys! Well, whether you know it or not, today is a very special day in the Idol-verse. Not only is it my good friend Renee’s birthday, but it’s also her very first foray in the recapping of American Idol. That’s the kind of friend I am, folks. I make my other friends work on their birthday. 🙂
And I gotta say, I’m excited. Renee and I often agree on things ranging from music to books to life in general, but usually we’re coming at it from a totally different place. And there are many times that we just don’t agree at all, but it sure does make for some awesome conversations. Anyway, Renee agreed to provide the blog post today. And all I have to give her is lots and lots of chocolate. Thanks, Renee!
[P.S. If you see any blue in this post, it means that I couldn’t help but throw in my two cents.]
Hi! I’m super excited to be doing the recap for Amy today. But I understand that I have some pretty big blogging shoes to fill, so I’ll keep my intro brief and just plow forward.
There are two rounds this week. 1st round is anything from this millennium and the 2nd round is Soul Train. Now, I’m a fairly abstract thinker, but I just don’t see how those two things go together. And I tried really hard.
Cue the judges: I love Steven Tyler. He’s equal parts rock star, sweet dad, weird old man, genuine music lover, and totally awesome. He’s just so rock and roll. Sometimes when he gives the contestants feedback I understand what he means even though the words don’t make sense. And then there are other times that I am pretty sure he isn’t even speaking English. Those are my favorite Steven Tyler moments.
After American Idol wraps in May, Randy will be going on a giant national tour with his one man show, “Peace, pastel, and my giant fricking watch.”
And apparently, J Lo will be signing on for a reboot of Stargate SG1. [I know, right?? I was torn between comparing her to Seven of Nine or some sort of reptile.]
Hollie Cavanagh.
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
Great song. It’s a big one so I was a little bit nervous for her at first, but even hearing her sing for Jimmy made me feel a bit better. That girl’s got chops and she’s so understated about it. Though that was part of her appeal in the beginning, it’s fallen a little flat throughout the competition.
Her styling was so distracting to me that I almost didn’t care what notes came out of her mouth. Were those hot pants? Emcee Hammer pants? And were those glow sticks around her neck? Can’t you just see Tommy Hilfiger saying. “Yes, but what those hot pants need is The Awesome Glow Stick Necklace of Power. That will propel you to number one!” [Stupid Tommy Hilfiger.]
I’ll give her this, she didn’t sound as nervous as usual. But I still think she’s at the bottom of the pack.
50 awesome host points awarded to Seacrest because he sounded so genuine when he told her she did well. Warmed my cynical heart right up.
[Holly really impressed me even though I was LOATHE to see another Adele song performed. I do feel like this was her best performance to date.]
Colton Dixon.
“Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
I just adore his sister. She’s so sweet and unassuming and their relationship feels totally genuine—you can tell that she just adores him. I’m glad that even though she didn’t make it through that she seems super supportive of her brother and in no way trying to steal the spotlight from him.
I love that Jimmy talked about the “female vote that backs him like a stone wall” In looking at the last three winners of American Idol, I have to wonder if Colton is going to win on that alone.
ALL CHICK BAND! I loved that. The verses were good the longer the song went on, the more it felt like a weird Halloween karaoke. Or maybe like he was trying to audition for The Weird Sisters.
Randy said we were at the Colton Dixon Concert, that he was in the zone. Really Randy? From where I sat it was campy, overdone, and faux-goth.
Yep—I just said a Gaga song was overdone.
Best Steven Tylerism so far this season: “Gaga knows that secret. If you want to try to get to the other shore, you have to lose sight of this one.”
……..?
[I LOVED Colton’s performance! I just wish he wasn’t trying to slowly transform into Dracula.]
Elise Testone.
“No One” by Alicia Keys
“I don’t know why I’m in the bottom three.” Elise, baby, it’s because for the most part you pick stupid or unknown songs.
“She can’t afford to slip at all.”—Jimmy Iovine. Unfortunately, I agree with that.
Here’s the truth: I can’t stand Alicia Keys’ music. It’s just not my style. So I wish she had done something else. That said—her performance was good. Maybe it was the restraint that Randy mentioned. Or maybe it was the pervasive power of the Beyonce “wind” that came from that fan. Whatever it was, she did a genuinely great job with the song. That’s one thing I appreciate about her–she knows who she is as an artist.
[Arrrg! This song is my nemesis. Everytime I hear it, it gets stuck in my teeth like a green apple Jolly Rancher.]
All last week instead of the Goyte version of “Someone I Used to Know”, I had the Elise Testone version stuck in my head. (Notice I didn’t say the Elise and Phillip version because she ate him alive on the song.)
And apparently, her dog was sick. All together now—“Aww.”
Phillip Phillips.
“U Got it Bad” by Usher
When the song started I jumped off my couch and shouted “THIS IS WHAT I’VE WANTED FROM HIM!” at my television. What a little stud. He needed a moment like Kris Allen’s Heartless cover. [AMEN! And the more people can learn from Kris Allen, the better!] Honest, intimate, low-key. I liked the set up with the band clumped around him and him with a guitar on a stool.
I need to get this off my chest–He’s a baby Dave Matthews. I don’t understand why the judges don’t push him further in that direction. Not that he would listen. He certainly hasn’t listened to Tommy Hilfiger about the gray shirts. And that’s part of why I love him.
Jessica Sanchez.
“Fallin’” by Alicia Keys
I’m glad the judges saved her. She’s great. I’m just not the hugest fan. Her connection with the audience isn’t as strong as I would like. But I always like when she sings. But I just want to climb through my TV screen and give her a sandwich. Her and Colton both.
Again, the song was fine but like Hollie I was completely distracted by her outfit and this time the set, too. Why did I feel like she in a Traveler’s insurance commercial?
She looked absolutely gorgeous–except for that weird bird creature around her neck posing as a necklace.
Her version of the song was fine. A little looser than she has been in the past, but I’m sure that was just post-save nerves.
Skylar Laine.
“Born This Way” by Country Gaga
When Jimmy told her she came off like a front runner last week (which I completely agree with) she looked so shocked. She’s unassuming—but not in the same way that Hollie is. Skylar has that extra bit of sparkle that will serve her well in the future. She was absolutely born to be a star.
[I don’t really agree that she’s a front runner, but I agree about the sparkle.]
I know that Jennifer raved about the country version of “Born This Way”, but it felt a little forced to me. Not bad. Just forced. But the mobile violin player saved the whole thing for me! He should be her permanent accessory. Travel with her to red carpet events and everything.
[He kind of IS her permanent accessory! He’s played for her performances a gazillion times.]
Joshua Ledet.
“I Believe” by Fantasia
Oh gosh, I love him. And he looks so dapper in that red suit coat. In my mind, he’s everything that Jacob Lusk tried to be last year and failed miserably. He just set about setting people’s teeth on edge. [YES!]
Jacob on the other hand—that boy can wail! He a Sunday-morning-church-on-a-hot-summer day-with-a-sweaty-church-program-clutched- in-your-hand-while-you-dream-of-mama’s-sweet-tea kind of voice. But, the song was so cheeseball. He sang the heck out of it, but it was cheesy.
Seacrest: “So Fantasia sang this song when she won. Is this foreshadowing?”
Joshua Ledet. “……..” “Foreshadowing?” “……..”
“You know, like the literary device by which an author eludes to a future event by…You have no idea what I’m talking about do you?”
“……I love Fantasia.” *tears up and looks soulfully at Jennifer Lopez for help*
And NOW for something completely different: Soul Train.
Ryan says that this segment is meant to “Celebrate the Sprirt of Soul Train”.
Does that mean that Naima is coming back and doing her African tribal dance? Someone, quick! Help me find my remote! I can’t put myself through that again.
Hollie Cavanagh.
“Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield
The soccer players from Liverpool looked like someone was holding a gun to their collective heads to wish this sweet little girl good luck. Could they have been less excited? But she was happy, so that’s what matters. [And who wouldn’t be with that accent wishing you good luck?]
With the opening notes of the song, I knew she was back to her robotic rigidity. She tends to just come out and attack a song, wrestle with it for a few minutes and finally overpower it at last note. I wish she would really focus on the lyrics, and tell a story with her songs. [Yep!]
Colton Dixon.
“September” by Earth Wind and Fire
BLAST, COLTON DIXON! I tried so hard not to like you but you’re going to make my buy your album aren’t you? I’m a sucker for rock covers of classic rock songs. The judges did not like this song at all—which I find odd. It was lyrical, interesting and completely original. So sorry professionals, I’m siding with the 12 year old girls on this–I loved it.
[YES! Give me a Justin Bieber t-shirt and call me 12 years old because I thought his performance of this song was AMAZING. And I even thought he showed some real emotion. The judges were cri-zay-zee.]
Elise Testone.
“Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
At first, this song seemed like the brilliant, obvious choice. Her voice is sultry and gravely and perfectly suited to this type of song. But as she got into the song it felt forced, over the top, and like she wasn’t really having fun with it.
And then she talked back to J Lo. And she was no more.
I understand that she wants to clarify her struggle. She feels like it’s her last week and she wants to make sure she’s been heard…unfortunately, it could be her last week. But I wish she wouldn’t clarify. I think that’s the kiss of death on this show. [Absolutely. A lesson taught to us by the old classic song that said: “Yakety yak, don’t talk back!”]
Phillip Phillips.
“In the Midnight Hour” Wilson Pickett
I always love when he doesn’t have a guitar in his hands. He’s so twitchy and darling. [I feel like it’s kind of like Dave Matthews meets Paul McDonald.] He has no idea what to do with his body and it’s so endearing! And that vein in his forehead–he’s going to have to watch that in the future. Seriously, I’m going to throw something if he doesn’t sing at least ONE Dave Matthews song. “Grave Digger”! “Grace is Gone”! Anything! I appreciate that the judges love him but I wish that they would push him to branch out more.
“Brilliantly Awkward”–Steven Tyler
[I didn’t love this Phil Phil performance that much. It sounded exactly like his other performances have been…with the exception of the Usher song. He just distracted us with his flapping dancing.]
Jessica Sanchez.
“Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding
I couldn’t tell if she was wearing bib or a necklace. Or a weird necklace/bib combo. [Yes, those ARE making a comeback.]
One of the most surprising things about her is that the kid was born during the Clinton Administration yet she owns that stage like a pro. The song was a little brassy for me, but she sang it fine. I think she’ll be safe this week.
Skylar Laine.
“I Heard it Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
I’m the hugest fan of hers. But there was little to love about that frantic version of the song. On the other hand, her flirty pink skirt was wonderful. And Fiddler McGee! [:)]
Joshua Ledet.
“A Change Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
This was absolutely the perfect song for him to sing. This segment of the night made him an obvious front runner for the evening. He’s such a perfect balance of letting go and control vocally.
“Your voice just climbs inside of everybody and changes them for that moment.”– Steven Tyler
And then he said he would sing beautifully if he could look at J Lo’s abs. Though the suggestion was a little weird, I have to admit—her stomach was rather mesmerizing.
But no worries, Seacrest to the rescue bringing us all back to the task at hand—voting. Way to reel it back in, Ryan. That’s why you get the big bucks.
My predictions for the bottom 3 tonight? Hollie Cavanaugh, Elise Testone, and Joshua Ledet. [I concur.]
Going home? I would have said Hollie. But since Elise talked back and made herself generally unlikeable? Elise will get the boot.
So how ’bout it? After two hours of music, who do you think is going home?
Tonight the trailer folks took us back down memory lane and asked us to recall three months ago (!) when all of our idols were just “faces in the crowd” and not the “stars in the making” that they are right now.
1. I cannot even remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, so getting me to remember three months back is a stretch. Luckily, I’ve YouTubed (that’s right, I just made “YouTube” a verb) the auditions of my favorites several times. I guess it was for just this reason.
2. Only crazy people stand out in those massive group shots during the audition rounds. And these people…with the possible exception of James?…aren’t that crazy. Remember “Scooter Girl”? “Transformer Guy”? Now those folks dipped a brush in the crazy paint.
Then we were treated to a reminder that the producers and judges, in all their magnanimous ways, will allow us to have a lot of choices when crowning this year’s Idol. We could have a pop Idol! a country Idol! a jazz Idol! a chocolate Idol! Whoops. Sorry. Not sure how that one snuck in there…Thanks, guys. We appreciate your infinite wisdom in casting the show. Now, can we move on already?!
On my way home from work, I called my parents, as I often do, and they informed me that they were voting this week. Since my Dad’s early favorites (Pia and Paul) went home in quick succession, the news did not come as a total shock. But still. I probably should not have been driving when I received that news…
Well, now. Time is a-wasting and our seven remaining contestants need their time in the spotlight. So let’s get this road on the show!
Wait a second. Wait JUST A SECOND! What the heck is going on? Why are these cast-offs singing right now?? Can’t we watch the people perform that actually GOT THE VOTES TO STAY? It probably wouldn’t have been so bad if the performance itself hadn’t turned out to be a train wreck. Karen, Naima, Thia, Ashton, Pia…and later, Paul, took the stage to perform the song “So What?” originally done by Pink.
Not only did the group have pitch problems to begin with, but Karen had a full-on identity crisis right there in front of us! She was convinced that she was some sort of hip hop gangsta. But then. BUT THEN. Paul entered the picture. And you know how much I love Paul, but he obviously forgot the lyrics AND the melody (just a tip for all you non-musical people…those are both pretty crucial to performing a song) so much so that poor pitch-perfect Pia couldn’t even harmonize with him. Bad news bears.
Let’s not even start on the fact that he was wearing the same suit from last week. Let’s just hope that the stage crew dry-cleaned that puppy. And even in all the mayhem, it was still clear to me that Thia got dissed. Each one of the performers had their little cameo. Everyone but Thia. Either she’s not a stage hog or the powers that be are telling her to lay low. Sheesh.
Note to the American Idol producers and Steven Tyler: No. No. No. NO! This is not how we do it, people! And I can’t speak for “America”, but I slept fine last night, with no second guessing about who I voted for. At least, not based on THAT performance.
The trailer was a pretty standard way of opening the show, but did you feel like me? This show was like watching “alternate universe American Idol”. You know, where:
1. The Idol contestants can sing any song they want!
2. The voted off contestants get almost as much face-time as the NOT voted off contestants!
3. The “back stage interviews” now happen “on the stage”!
But I’m getting ahead of myself again. I tend to do that, don’t I? Before you all stage an intervention, let me distract you with:
Scotty McCreery
“Swinging” by Leigh Ann Rhimes
So. The intro videos to each of the contestant’s performances tonight were their fellow contestants talking about what they’re like. And because they were mostly hilarious, I’ve decided to excerpt the best quote out of each intro video for your reading enjoyment.
You’re welcome.
Haley, James, Casey, Jacob, Stefano, and Lauren treated us to “The Scotty McCreery Guide to Holding a Microphone.” Brilliant! And the quote of the segment goes to: Haley, who said,”Maybe he was a flute player in his past life.” My thoughts exactly, Haley! No, really. I said that already.
Scotty was a breath of fresh air. He didn’t seem stressed out or downtrodden by life. He was easy-going and charming. He was loose as a goose. And perhaps even more important, he showed us his fabulous sense of humor. Now that’s a country star I could get behind! At least partially! 🙂
Jimmy Iovine teased him about having the Pussycat Dolls come in on their swings. And Scotty agreed without really hearing what Jimmy said. Watching him backtrack from that was so funny! Oh, Scotty.
And wow! Far be it from me to say this on any consistent basis, but Jimmy Iovine was right. Scotty brought a different flavor to his country and it was my favorite Scotty solo performance EVER. Have I said that already about another performance? Ah, well. Just call me Randy Jackson.
He added some nice shape to the song and that low register in the second verse? Fugetaboutit. I did think it was kind of hilarious that he dutifully sat down on the stairs leading to the judging table like he was tired or something. But he got right back into it at the end and the personality oozing out of that performance was a thing to behold.
And, I get what the judges are saying about doing a fun, frothy song at this stage of the game instead of sticking to his “lane”, but what is he? A contender in the Kentucky Derby? No. And I think this illustrated that Scotty could really take it: the pace, the schedule, the sickness, the pressure…and still come out grinning and having fun. So there, judges!
James Durbin
“Uprising” by Muse
And I Quote: “What’s up with the scarves, James Durbin? Stop it.” – Casey Abrams
At first, I was a little nervous about James’ studio rehearsal. After all, we left things in a very uncomfortable place last week between these guys. And this week, they didn’t have the luxury of having Will.i.Am as a referee. But like typical guys, all was forgiven and forgotten and they hugged it out, bro-style. If they were girls, they would have smiled a sickenly-sweet smile, shot daggers at each other with their eyes, and then made little barbed comments to the camera about the other. But, they’re not girls. And in Idol-verse, perception is everything.
First of all, James came out on stage dressed as though he were lobbying for a part in “The Prestige” (or is it “The Illusionist”?) And then. Out of the postapocalyptic mist came…a drumline?
Huh?
Since when is a marching band the quintessential mark of a “modern” song? And, guys? I hate to be the one to tell you this, but those puffy plumes on your hats are SO not rock and roll.
The beginning was so-so for me. It was so LOW for him, but it all made sense why he chose to do that at the end with the highest chorus known to mankind. I’ll say this: the song evolved. I’m not sure why he felt the need to wield a cane, but the chorus was great every time, but that last chorus was MAGIC.
SteTy weighed in on James’ fashion choice: “You’d be surprised how expensive it costs to look this cheap.”
In a living room somewhere, Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Cater, and Johnny Depp were watching his performance and hi-fiveing each other.
I’m wondering if the backstage area was taken up with the drumline members? Why else would we be doing these interviews on stage?
Haley Reinhart
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
And I Quote: “If Haley says something and nobody hears her the first time she says something, she’ll say it again. [Mimics Haley] ‘Hey’d y’all see that?’ [pause] ‘Hey’d y’all see that?'” – James Durbin
I’m wondering how James knows that…seems like he might be ignoring poor Hay-Hay (gasp!) on purpose.
This week, I got my hair cut by the most amazing stylist ever. I’m still learning to coax my hair into the look that I want it to have and this could be–brace yourselves–a lifelong learning process that consists of hours with various hair implements (flat-iron, curling iron, blow dryer…), endless streams of product, and more than one tear. BUT. The important thing is that she was playing the new Adele CD in the background while my hairs fell to the floor en masse. And then as soon as I got home, I downloaded it.
So, guess what’s been on repeat on my iPod for the last 3 days? That’s right. The song “Rolling in the Deep”. Ironic, no?
Haley did an amazing job and I have no doubt that she could pull off this style. She’s got the power and the sensibility for it. Now. Let’s not kid ourselves, she definitely had a few intonation problems. But for me, the whole of the performance was a great one. The trill up high was really interesting and so were the other subtle changes she made from the Adele version.
Jacob Lusk
“Dance with My Father” by Luther VanDross
And I Quote: “I think the universal term for Jacob Lusk is ‘diva’.” – Scotty McCreery
So, Jacob played the emotion card this week. His dad passed away when he was twelve and this song by Luther made him think of his father and the pain of losing him. I’m not saying it wasn’t genuine, but I AM saying that I wish he wouldn’t have gone down this path. It’s hard to talk smack about him as an artist when I feel bad for him as a human being!
I gotta give Jacob the same major props as James for singing a song that he felt so deeply and keeping it together on stage. And he was much easier to watch, facial expression-wise. In the first few bars, I thought that he was overtaken by emotion and that’s why he choked up, but his interview with Ry-Ry at the end of the performance informed us that he got off track because of drums in the earpiece monitor.
DRUMLINE! I thought I told you to keep it down!!
I feel that the judges were too harsh on Jacob. He showed great control and phrasing, but all he got was: “Emotionally, it was a great performance.” Which in J.Lo world is, like, totally a slam.
Were any of you taken off-guard with the Mark Ballas interview? Well, apparently Mr. Dancing with the Stars went on a date with Pia, and got her a gig performing on Dancing with the Stars (a doubtful honor, I think). So, when Ryan asked who his favorite of the season was, I’m pretty sure he was expecting a different answer than “Casey”.
Casey Abrams
“Harder to Breathe” by Maroon 5
And I Quote: “With every genius, there’s something that’s a little different. And I’d definitely say that he’s pretty much a genius.” – Jacob Lusk
The intro video also revealed that: Scotty is a germ-a-phobe! He was quick to ask for some sort of sanitizer before playing Casey’s melodica.
I had to pause the show with my nifty DVR remote to laugh about Casey’s “disguised intro” followed by his many cameos where he disapprovingly watched his fellow contestants impersonate him and then slapped them. Or chased them. Oh, Casey. You slay me!
Ooo! Maroon 5! Let it be like this….
OH, how I loved the beginning. The stripped down version of the first verse was pheNOMinal! And, he already sounds better than Adam Levine in “person”. Plus, the scatting was a very-Casey addition. For me, for you, for him, I think it would have been better if he had carried through the feeling of the first verse throughout the song.
[Side note:] I love Maroon 5’s sound, so it’s a tragedy to me that their lyrics are always so trashy. Sigh.
For the end of the song, Casey approached the judge’s table and sang the last line straight at J. Lo. She, in return, turned her face to the side. My theory? She was about to laugh and didn’t want to throw Casey off his game. But, Casey, seizing the moment in typical CaAb style planted a wet one on Jennifer’s cheek before singing his final note.
J. Lo’s initial response after Casey was firmly in place for his critique? “Casey’s got soft lips.” Oh, J. Lo. Stop right there before we head into an uncomfortable Kara/Casey James situation.
SteTy, not to be upstaged by a kiss that he’s apparently been waiting 7 months for himself, let loose with a string of profanity. Oh, dang. Sorry, East coasters! That wasn’t bleeped for you, was it? Or maybe it was…the magic of the taped delay. The producers knew it was coming and prepared for just such an eventuality.
But poor Ry-Ry’s beard joke was completely upstaged by SteTy! Oh, well. Ce la vie!
Stefano Langone
“Closer” by Ne-Yo
And I Quote: “Stefano will flirt with a piece of paper if you give him the opportunity.” – Jacob Lusk
And it was this revelation that finally helped me nail down who Stefano reminds me of. He’s totally the “Joey” of American Idol!
Clad in suspenders, Stefano took the stage to give us a “sexy” performance. Here’s my problem with Stefano’s performance. It sounded too controlled. Too forced. It’s just not natural-feeling. He’s always trying to project something and ends up making me feel like he’s trying too hard.
Plus, he gives me a headache. All that tension in his face, makes MY face, neck, and shoulders scrunch up and by the end of it all, I have to take two Excedrin in order to live to watch another week.
Stefano really should go home tonight. Doncha think?
Lauren Alaina
“Born to Fly” by Sara Evans
And I Quote: “I’ve heard myself on TV now and I do have a little bit of an accent.” – Lauren Alaina
(But according to James’ impression, you’d think it was a British accent.)
Lauren Alaina performed like she was closer to normal. She had fun, got back to her country roots, and vocally, there was a nice spot in the repeat chorus…but for the most part, the point of that whole performance was the spirit of the thing. I think she can (and must) do better in future weeks, but this was a good return to the LoAlaina that we all know and love.
Steven, for a second, forgot where he was and started making his total request live’s known. What were they? Allison Krauss, Faith Hill, and Shania Twain. Okay, SteTy.
J. Lo put her on the spot by asking her why she’s not singing crazy notes like the Jacobs and James’ of the competition.
And then, the entire panel (perhaps channeling the vibe of the drumline?) metamorphosed into a cheerleading squad. Steven, of course, was right at home.
So, there we have it. The seven have sung. My parents have voted. Now, time will tell…
What other event could persuade Randy Jackson to trade in his Cosby sweaters for a proper coat jacket? It must be “Idol Gives Back” night. You might think it feels like an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode because of all the tear-jerker moments. But it’s not. All comments aside, though, the causes that Idol Gives Back supported were amazing and the lives changed with the money raised will be awesome. I think it’s incredible of American Idol to use their influence to change lives in the US and abroad. We can all get behind that. But let’s keep it real about last night…it had alternately funny/awkward/staged/serious moments. And I want to re-hash them all!
President and Michelle Obama opened the night by lending their voice to the purpose of the night. I could insert a lot of political jokes here, but in keeping with the spirit of the evening, I’ll just say that I think the President and First Lady’s contribution to the evening was to raise the level of the show. I mean, there’s a big difference between Selena Gomez and the leader of the free world. If Idol can get the President, I don’t understand why it can’t get better mentors (though Alicia Keys and Shania Twain are, admittedly, a big step up…)
Ry-Ry kicked off the evening and then punted to his “co-host” Queen Latifah in Pasadena, CA (of all places). And let me just say this about Queen – she’s lookin’ good! I liked her outfit and the enthusiasm with which she tackled her job.
Top 12 Perform “Keeping the Dream Alive”
The best thing about the group number was Didi being back on the stage. And the white outfits…I liked them a lot (especially Crystal’s dress).
Jennifer Garner Video
I think Jennifer Garner did a great job on this video…I felt like she was authentic, not reading from a script, interacting with the kids, etc. Being in the publishing biz, the thought of 1 book for 300 kids made me extremely sad. Reading was such a part of my childhood that I have a hard time even thinking that someone might not have that.
After the video ended, the camera man turned his attention to Ryan who was sitting on a couch next to Victoria Beckham and two “friends” whose names were Roy and Brianna. I cannot for the life of me understand why Victoria Beckham took on an angry model pose while Ryan was talking and the way she was sitting looked so uncomfortable. Her face seriously looked super angsty and didn’t convey at ALL the message she was trying to send. After she read from the teleprompter like a robot, we cut to Roy and Brianna who were wearing blank zombie-like expressions and looked like they were taking cues from Victoria. Once Ryan started in, though, they loosened up and I was glad he was there to break the ice. Literally. It was practically Wendy’s how frosty it was in there!!
Jonah Hill and Russell Brand Are Relatively Funny
Ryan, Jonah, and Russell did a little “skit” in which Ryan told us that Jonah and Russell wanted to call all their celebrity friends to take calls in an Idol Gives Back phone bank and because they were so enthusiastic, Ryan went along with the idea. But what we found out was that Jonah and Russell didn’t really have celebrity friends and so they had no one manning the “phone bank” despite emails to the “pale kid who was on Twilight”. I thought the spot was pretty clever and funny, though I didn’t laugh out loud. Maybe I’m just cold-hearted like Mrs. Beckham, idda know.
Ryan Fakes Us Out By Pretending that It’s Results Time
However, instead of results, there was a nice little chat with Lee wherein Ryan called him out and asked him what he does to get in the zone since he was tearing up last night. Lee did kind of a “bro, you totally broke man code by asking me a question about my emotions” gesture and then answered the question by saying that he gets into mood of the song he’s about to sing and that means that he gets emotional or amped up depending on what the performance calls for.
Black Eyed Peas Perform “Rock That Body”
Let me say to all of you out there that while some of their songs are catchy, I mostly find Black Eyed Peas annoying. Why? Because all they do is repeat words/phrases over and over and over to a beat and it really irks me. I like to shake it like a Polaroid picture as much as the next person (or maybe a little less), but I honestly think that somewhere in America their English teachers are weeping. I couldn’t stand watching the whole performance, but here were my thoughts from the 5 seconds that I did happen to watch.
Holy cow, what is Fergie wearing???
Weird dancers but I suppose those cast off the So You Think You Can Dance ship have to go somewhere…
I feel that the number of times they have said the word “rock” should be illegal. And let’s keep in mind that I didn’t watch the whole performance.
Let us just pray that Siobhan doesn’t take any outfit ideas from Fergie…
Africa Malaria Video
It’s kind of amazing to me how much good a net can do and that they’re so cheap. So cool that Idol has provided so many…
Fake-out Results – Take Two
Keeping his poker face (Lady Gaga would be proud), Ryan told us that the producers decided to let the person that bid the highest for Idol Gives Back would have the honor of revealing the results. He had me for a second, he really did. As George Lopez trotted to take the stage, I had a sinking feeling. Lopez did nothing to alleviate my concerns when he stepped on stage and his first item of business was to pull a “Big Mike” and pick Ryan up. He made fun of the “dim the lights” thing that Ryan does every week and in the end requested disco lights. Then he renewed my hope that this might actually be funny when he turned to the judges and told the contestants that the judges should be judged for a change. The concept was super funny! The execution was meh. Mini recap:
Randy – formulate your own thoughts and don’t say “pitchy”. Randy is safe.
Kara – Every night you say “Make it your own” or “I wrote that song”. Kara’s safe.
Ellen – Kourtney Kardashian of the judges? (I didn’t get this at all and I think Ellen was with me) Ellen is safe.
Simon – Wear a large t-shirt. Simon’s back to England but because of the volcanic eruption, Simon is safe.
Ford Music Video
I think this video was pretty cool! The end.
Real Results. Finally.
Ryan put Crystal and Casey into one group (apparently, he didn’t get the memo on the death match-ups), and declared that one is safe and one isn’t. Crystal walks to the bench ‘o safety while the first member of the bottom three is Casey. Since it was between the two of them, no big surprise there…
Aaron and Lee take the stage as the next group and Aaron becomes the second member of the bottom three.
Jeff Beck and Joss Stone Perform “I Put a Spell On You”
No offense to Joss or Jeff, ’cause I thought they did a bang-up job, but I’d like to say that I think there should be an age limit for upper arm cuffs as accessories. Older upper arms should only be cuffed if it’s for blood pressure purposes.
Africa Orphan Video
As an intro to the video, David Duchovony, Chris Rock, Selena Gomez, Jane Lynch, Josh Groban, Joe Jonas, and Justin Bieber all shared the last thing their mom gave them (breakfast, a hug, a smack, etc.). Then the video started saying that for the African orphans, the last thing their mom gave them was life. Very well done video and it was heart-breaking to think of all those children growing up without mothers.
Morgan Freeman and Randy Jackson Save the Children Video
After the break, Morgan Freeman and Randy Jackson took us to Mississippi to show how Save the Children was impacting families. Other than learning about a great cause and possibly tearing up a bit, we also learned that Morgan and Randy are BFFs.
Alicia Keys Performs “Unthinkable (I’m Ready) / Empire State Of Mind”
This song title kind of reminds me of Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper…the drink is a drink for the undecided and the song title clearly couldn’t be decided, either. While I think Alicia is a perfectly nice person, I have to say that she should have shot her wardrobe consultant. That outfit was not flattering AT ALL. And holy shoes, batman!
Jonah and Russell and Ryan Kill the Skit to Death
After the break, I realized that the Jonah/Russell schtick was going to be longer than it should be. Sometimes, producers, you have to leave well enough alone. The return to the same skit made it much less funny in my opinion.
Carrie Underwood Performs “Change”
Say what you will about Carrie Underwood, but she always delivers a stellar performance and looks darn good doing it. I believed what she sang and also believe that along with a golden voice, her heart is also gold.
Feeding America Video with David Arquette and Ellen DeGeneres
So amazing how many pounds of food $10 can buy! And it was also eye-opening to see that even people in America with jobs (like the school teacher in the video) can’t afford to put food on the table.
Global Healthcare with Bill and Melinda Gates
I don’t think I’ve seen Bill Gates in a long time, but it was nice to see one of the wealthiest couples in America speaking passionately about the inequity of a child dying and the change that all of us (even the normal people without enough money to swim in) can make in the world.
Wanda Sykes Attempts To Be Funny
I did laugh when she said (of American Idol’s routine of always having the voted off member sing)- “Oh sure, sing and remind America why they didn’t vote for you.” That was funny. However, here are three comedians I would have much rather seen on the American Idol stage:
Jerry “I’m Telling You for the Last Time” Seinfeld
Jim Gaffigan of “Hot Pocket” fame and the lesser known “I think I’m going to sandwich after I sofa for a while.”
Brian Regan (my favorite is the “UPS” monologue, but there’s lots of funny)
Almost Real Results Revealed
Siobhan and Big Mike are revealed to be safe. Though Ryan’s shot at Matt Girard while simultaneously telling Big Mike that he “defeated the odds” seems to be a little overkill. But the best part of the results? Ryan revealed that young Tim Urban’s magical hair failed him this week and he is in the bottom three.
Ethiopia Video with David Cook
When Cookie joined Ryan on the stage to intro the video of his trip to Ethiopia, I was really excited about his hair – so much better than during his season!
Also, I betcha every little girl in Ethiopia wanted to marry David Cook. I don’t speak the language but some things translate cross culturally. 🙂
Aids Video with Annie Lennox
This video of Annie’s original trip and the return trip and the difference the aids medication made in that young girl’s life made me cry like a wee babe. Don’t even try to deny that you did, too.
Annie Lennox Music Video
Annie wasn’t able to join them because she was stuck in London due to the volcanic eruption, but they played a music video of her. I fast-forwarded it, ’cause it was getting pretty late.
Mary J. Blige performs with Orianthi and Randy Jackson
Sorry, guys. I watched the first second of this and fast-forwarded it, too. I’m sure it was fantastic.
Children’s Health Fund Video with Simon and Dr. Jon
Who loves Dr. Jon more than me? Probably not anyone. This video was extremely touching and I like seeing Simon as a softie with those kids. Who’s with me?
After the video, Simon took the stage to announce that over the course of the show, $15 million was raised during the course of the show. If that doesn’t give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, I don’t know what would.
Elton John Performs “Your Song”
I have to admit that when Queen Latifah said to Elton John “You’re going to perform your song?” I was like, “Isn’t every song that he performs ‘his’?” That shows you how well I know Elton John songs. I know “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and that’s about it. I did admire his red piano and super shiny microphone, though!
Final Final Results (for reals)
Aaron is safe. Of course he is. But I take some comfort that he’s in the bottom three. And just like that, Tim Urban is out. THE HAIR HAS BEEN DEFEATED! TEFLON TIM IS OUT! I’m sure you can tell that I’m real broken up about it. This result has restored my faith in the tweens of America.
One Last Editorial Note
Why is it that American Idol feels free to run over THIRTY MINUTES?? Why doesn’t the network just schedule them for two and a half hours? Seriously. Sheesh.
This recap is already FOREVER long, so Haddock out!
It’s gray and dreary outside today, but the clouds of my heart have lifted a bit in light of the performances last night. I’m going to do my best to be more positive about this season of American Idol. No one likes a sour puss, right? Let’s be honest, I can probably curb the rants a bit. I think by now we all know where I stand. Don’t worry, though. This new-found Pollyanna attitude won’t keep me from pitting American Idol contestants in “death matches” this week. After all, it’s all fun and games until someone gets whacked with a padded stick!
Alicia Keys as mentor. The Idoloonies all gathered together around a big piano to meet her and Big Mike demonstrated again that he can lift a person. (Psst! Big Mike? Sometimes people need their personal space. Picking people up is not a standard greeting. Why don’t you stick to a handshake, mkay?) The producers took this moment to feed Crystal a staged question to ask Ms. Keys (“How happy are you to be a part of Idol Gives Back?”) And off we went.
Casey James – “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac
Alicia’s Advice- “Give it a lot of personality so people don’t dismiss it as a song they like without liking YOU.” Solid advice in my way of thinking. Note that she did NOT say “Plaster a smile on your face as if your life depends on it and if all else fails, play the guitar really well.”
Seriously! Casey is like the energizer bunny of smiling. I find it so hard to believe him as a true rock performer with that perma-smile glued on his noggin. I do have to say (again) that his major skills on the guitar are awesome to watch, but since we’re supposed to focused on a SINGING competition, I think Casey may have been misdirected. Someone put this guy on Guitar Idol! All in all, I found that the performance was well-sung, but needed a little bit of a build to something more dramatic than he delivered. Ellen’s right – “It wasn’t great. And you need to be great.”
The judges/the mentors…both groups have urged these contestants to connect with the song, connect with the audience, be themselves, make the song their own. I think “give it more” might be a a foreign concept to most of these contestants. Especially looking at Casey’s reaction.
Lee Dewyse – “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel
Alicia’s Advice: “People have to feel like you’re that boxer.”
Ryan took his interview time to inquire after Andrew Garcia. I’m sure that the producers wanted that question asked to keep Andrew Garcia fans (if there are any left) enraged and eager for the summer tour. But I’m pretty sure Ryan used the question to feel out the BFF situation. Good ‘ole Ry-Ry, though. As Lee waxed eloquent on why this song, in particular, inspired him, Ryan kept it real by ending the interview with “Let’s hope it inspires some votes.”
Have you ever visited a relative or friend that lived out in the country and walked up the gravel driveway admiring the wide open spaces and beauty of the greater outdoors, only to return home and find some unwanted gravel from your amazing experience stuck in your shoe? (Sorry for the run on sentence. I couldn’t seem to help myself.) Anyway, that’s kind of how I feel about Lee’s voice. Sometimes there’s a little bit of gravel where it’s not needed. And I was a little distracted by the spit/saliva situation. Anyone else?
That said, I loved Lee’s performance and thought it was the second best of the night. I cannot li-li-li-li-li. Kara was right – he connected to the song and was even tearing up a bit at the end which I found very cute. He plays the vulnerable tough guy role well and America loves that crap. Heck, I love that crap!
I cannot for the life of me figure out what Randy meant by this year being “different because it’s about artists”. Maybe he’s like Kara and he thinks that playing the guitar=artist.
Tim Urban – “Better Days” by the Goo Goo Dolls
Alicia’s Advice: “It could very well be [Tim’s] own song.” I’m not exactly sure if that’s a diss toward the Goo Goo Dolls or not.
I will say that the AI vocal coach is really earning his money with Tim Urban. While he is definitely still the weakest performer on the stage each week, he’s a little more believable each and every week and his pitch is not nearly the rollercoaster ride that it was at the beginning. In this performance, his tone is not…how shall we say… perfect. But I have to give him a little credit, ’cause that song is a pretty hard song to sing. I thought his phrasing was better, and that the judges were right – he’s improving each week.
Aaron Kelly – “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly
Alicia: “To some, this song could be overkill…he has a challenge on his hands.” So true – when a song is that well known, if you’re not going to do something really unique with it you might as well resign yourself to the karaoke comments and comparisons.
Ryan set the poor kid up for failure by revealing that A. Kelly’s been singing this song since the tender young age of 5. By my count, Aaron’s had about 11 years to perfect this song and it should be a phenomenal performance. It wasn’t. His voice was great and I liked his performance. And while he got out from beyond the microphone, he didn’t do much of anything on stage, even when he was at the height of the song. I disagree with Simon — I would have probably liked it better on the radio ’cause his stage presence freaks me out.
[Simon/Ryan switch and make us realize why they’re perfect in their specific roles. But still, Simon’s dry personality and less than enthusiastic interjections from Ryan’s teleprompted intro…that was kind of funny.]
Siobhan Magnus- “When You Believe” by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston
Alicia’s Musings- “This song is no easy feat. I’m very impressed with her voice.”
Tonight, Siobhan was wearing one of her better ensembles. I kind of liked the whimsical approach…like Snow White meets Anthropologie.
Oh, Siobhan. Why must you persist in nasally performances? The first part of the song felt a little overproduced or overdone…like when you rework the pie crust again and again and end up having to make a cobbler instead. The second part of the song was much better and showcased her talent (which she has a lot of…it’s just undirected). The judges gave their feedback and Siobhan took it upon herself to tell them that she didn’t want to avoid the song just because of who sang it. My response? Yeah, but you can’t be ignorant of the fact that every time you sing a song you’re being compared to the original. And also? I don’t like that it’s becoming a regular thing that she talks back to the judges. It takes forever and I end up feeling more and more awkward. I think the judges and audience nod and applaud only to stop the madness, because usually what she says doesn’t make a lick of sense.
Michael Lynche – “Hero” by Nickelback from the Spiderman Soundtrack
Alicia’s Advice: “He needs to take people on a ride.” I hear Magic Mountain is close by!
So. Ryan’s interview revealed that Big Mike has a strategy that he’s been honing for years in hope of making American Idol. He has a playbook of about 200 songs that he thinks would be good choices for him to sing on the show. Gag. And get over yourself!
I didn’t hate Big Mike’s performance, but I was a little confused about how they mixed it. His voice (and it’s a big ‘un) almost got drowned out by the accompanying music. I like the song a lot and Big Mike’s version is good, but something fell a little short. I think he didn’t know how to be more “hard core” so he just kind of bounced up and down behind the mike stand. He also did some big sweeping gestures with his arms at times and probably shouldn’t have because doing so revealed some perspiration that I could have gone without seeing.
Crystal Bowersox – “People Get Ready” by Mayfield and the Impressions
Alicia’s Musings: Crystal is her favorite. “People are going to love it.”
I’m stoked that Crystal did the performance without an instrument. The result was that it made me focus on the vocal a lot more, which was stellar. She really commands every performance and puts it under her spell. I do think that the dress seemed like a little too much especially in contrast with the dreads. But the performance? Amazing. It was the right choice to sing the intro a cappella and she captured my heart (and my tear ducts) when she got choked up at the end. She definitely had the best performance of the night. Simon was right on about us needing to see her emotional. And the funny moment when Ryan revealed that his handkerchief square was actually taped into place as he handed it to the weepy Crystal? Priceless.
Now for the Death Match Ups. I’m not good at math, but I can tell you that 7 is not an even number. We’ll give Crystal a place in the safety of the imaginary bleachers since she did such a great job this week.
DING! Round One:
Case-mister vs. Lee-dawg
Both gentlemen have been playing the rocker persona. Sure, Casey can go more blusey, but really he hasn’t done much of anything to prove that he’s improving to his full potential. Instead, he’s convinced me that he’d be a perfect front man for a band instead of a stand alone artist. I think he really could go further, but for some reason it feels as if he’s just kinda stagnant.
I think the fact that Lee has been improving throughout these weeks, showing his personality (which happens to include a touch of humility) and vocally climbing up staircase of stardom makes him the clear winner of this match up. But if it were a battle of guitarists? Casey’d win hands down.
DING! Round Two:
Siobhan-bies vs. Big Mike
Both of these Idoloonies have big voices but haven’t been able to break through with spot-on performances week in and week out. “House of the Rising Sun” was, in my opinion, Siobhan’s best performance and that was clear back before she even made the top 12. “Paint It Black” might have topped it, but, again, that was week 1. She really needs to choose the perfect song, do something quirky and unique to put her stamp on it and really focus her voice without being scream-y or nasally. If she can do that, I do think she has a shot at a top 3 finish.
Big Mike seems to lack a clear identity in the musical world. He seems a little old-fashioned, a little R&B and a little arrogant. I think he needs to take each week to define who he is (besides being a father) and stop picking people up. I mean it. I do think his strongest performance was “I Am Ready For Love”, but Big Mike hasn’t ever really struggled with not pulling off a performance vocally. It’s just all the other stuff that cloud his path to the Idol crown.
Siobhan pulls out this win for the week.
DING! Round Three:
A. Kelly vs. Urban Outfitter
Both of these young dears are staking their claim to the tween vote, but their “aw-shucks” leanings also have granted them a portal into the adult vote as well. If it were a battle of hair, I think Tim might have the edge. But since it’s a singing competition, I think Aaron has the win in this match up. He’s got the stronger voice and seems like more of the “cross-over” candidate. Tim may remain a while longer and knock out some more deserving folks, but in the end he’s not going to win the thing. At least that’s the hope I’m clinging to.
Amy's Colorado Adventures! 