Going to have to be a quick and dirty rundown this week, as I have a plane to catch. And no... despite rumors to the contrary I'm not going to Hollywood to revive the "Dunkleman" role, co-hosting alongside Ryan Seacrest. Maybe next season.
The official themes for the week were "Songs from the 70's," and "Tell Us Something People Don't Know About You." Unofficial themes included, "Was the audio the judges heard the same as the one broadcast?", and "Should we just declare this the dawn of the David Archuleta Era already and be done with it?"
Michael Johns lead us off with "Go Your Own Way," by Fleetwood Mac. It was a weird song choice, which at times meshed with Johns' vocal stylings into something almost fresh and modern sounding, at other times reminded us he ain't no Lindsay Buckingham, and at other times - especially early in the song - left us wincing as he failed to find the right key. It was a really uneven performance which, for some reason, the judges mostly loved. Simon did criticize the song choice minorly.
Jason Castro followed with another guitar accompanied performance with Andy Gibb's "I Just Want to Be Your Everything." In yet another moment when I had to wonder what the judges were hearing, I thought this one came across really well. This one truly was updated from the soprano-like, disco era original recording into something more modern and acoustic. To borrow one of the Idol cliches he "made it his own." And then the judges proceeded to rake him over the coals. It was a bad song. His vocals only sounded good because he had the guitar. He's relying on the guitar as a crutch. No one on earth enjoyed that performance. The wife and I looked over at one another with classic WTF expressions and I started fiddling with the television sound. Had they ripped the previous guy this would maybe make some sense. But they loved that.
Luke Menard went next, somewhat bizarrely choosing "Killer Queen," by Queen. Luke needed to stand out more this week after being so forgettable last week. And that, he did. Just perhaps not for the right reasons. Killer Queen is one of those heavily stylized songs that simply can't be separated from the original. And while it was impressive that Luke could sing a song with that range at all, he didn't sing it as well as the original and, as Simon somewhat bluntly told him, it just showcased his lack of personality. Better than last week? Yeah, I'll give him that.
Robbie Carrico came on with "Hot Blooded," by Foreigner. And you know what? If being a "rocker" to him means sounding kind of like those big 70's super-groups like Foreigner or the like I'm ready to buy it because this was a sound and style that truly seemed to suit him. When I first heard the song I was expecting disaster. But Robbie really put this thing in his back pocket in a hurry and delivered a really authentic power-rock-like vocal. I was diggin' it. And more or less so were the judges; though if we could get off the epistemology regarding how one can know one is a "rocker," ever week after Robbie sings, that would be great. Mm-kay? He was semi-dinged for not having a "wow" moment.
Danny Noriega next sang "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)," by Stevie Wonder. Dangit, Danny! We were doing so well in avoiding Stevie Wonder songs this year. That has been a frequent rut we can fall into weeks at a time the past few seasons. Anyway, if anyone else was wondering why last week's gay Elvis suddenly looked like Jessica Alba's little sister, we gained no special insights. We did learn that, despite being a much better singer than last week displayed, a flamboyant and fabulous performer like Danny can, in fact, be boring. Which was my chief problem with this. It was a yawner. The judges warbled some syllables around saying roughly the same.
David Hernandez, who was last week's chief of the talented but forgettable, sang "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," which Wikipedia tells me was originally by The Undisputed Truth, but everyone else remembers as a Temptations classic. Message from David to the Idol Viewers - see if you can forget THAT, suckas! This was a grade-A killer of a performance. He blew me away on this one. I think he still may have some personality problems compared to some of the others this year in the long run, but not tonight. And dayum! That dude can blow! He officially won Simon Cowell over with this one. My personal favorite of the night.
Jason Yeager got to follow with "Long Train Running," by The Doobie Brothers. I liked it at first. Then it started grating on me. I couldn't quite put my finger on why. I know I didn't like the way he kept flashing that bright toothy smile in defiance of the lyrics. "She lost her home and her family and she won't be comin' back *Smile - wink*" The guy has some talent, but I'm still struggling to see him as long for this competition. The judges basically panned him.
Chikezie (I guess we don't use the last name anymore - annoying) sang "I Believe to My Soul," by Donny Hathaway. And in doing so he basically validated what I was trying to say last week, after he turned in a cheesy love-boat lounge act. I knew this guy had talent, and he absolutely showed it in force here. This was close to David Hernandez in how much he owned the song start to finish. This was another real killer performance and among the very best of a pretty strong night. The judges all sang his praises in one way or another.
David Cook then sang "All Right Now," by Free. And in doing so cast himself as far more of the "rocker" than Robbie, so can we just leave it at that and call the issue settled? They is what they is. Idol producers will screw up the winner's marketing anyway, turning them into another studio-driven cash-cow. Anyway back to David... really solid. I'm tempted to say great, but in light of some of the really stunning vocals by others, I'll stick with "solid. I don't know that I agree with the judges that he lacks charisma. But that's apparently the line they've developed for him. Simon decided to criticize his toss-away "what don't you know about me" interview leading in. Which made no sense, but the judges were kind of in their own little world a good deal of the night.
And finally... the lights went down... a hush fell over America... and
David Archuleta came out to soulfully reinterpret "Imagine," by John Lennon. And yes, yes, it was a weird and awful song choice. And yes, the lyrics remain a nauseating synthesis of sentimentalism and Marxism. But come on.. this is David freakin' Archuleta! Of course he pulled it off, and of course he left Paula in tears of ... I dunno, perhaps withdrawal from some medication or other. Anyway the praise from the judges was effusive. The audience all but stormed the stage and made him their boy-king. This kid is starting to scare me. Are we really
that hungry for a teen sensation who can actually
sing this year after last year's Sanjaya experience? All signs point to yes.
Best of the week: David Hernandez, Chikezie, and, of course, David Archuleta.
Worst of the Week: Jason Yeager, Danny Noriega, and maybe Luke Menard again. I know, I know, I picked two of those guys in the bottom last week and neither one left. But due to Danny Noriega's superior personality, I'm picking Jason and Luke to go.
I loved David H, ( Simon put him in the underdog category, so he's my Bucky of the season :) ) By far, one of the most original performances of any season.
I'm right there with you on the Jason --> "You are my everything"...He get's slammed for putting his personal touch on it ????' you can't win for losing i guess. I will say, that he'd have done better if he had kept it to himself and his guitar. Beginning and End were great.
I also wasn't 'Blown' away by Imagine, as it falls into really, one of those 'Don't even try it' categories, as In if there ever has been One Singers Signature song, this is it; but as he is this years "Princess", he can do it.
And NOTE To Simon, the "Word NERD" bit, was Charming.
I'm guessing we lose Jason Y ( he's got smarmy written all over him ) and Luke. I think Danny will be safe for one more week, as for some reason the Judges( producers ), seem to be promoting him. Which leaves me at a sadness for Week 3...With Chikeze ( oh, i'm going to guess his Nigerian Last Name, may be too hard to pronounce ???? ), showing his chops and Hernandes, who is to go week 3...If C &D perform as well as this week, I'm going to guess it'll be Robbie
Lastly NOTE to Michael Johns; Please, Please, Please If you have the opportunity, Please cover Dylan's 'Masters of War' as sung by Eddie Vedder....
And maybe for 80's week( i'm only guessing ) Chikezie will do Robert Cray.
That's all for now.