It's a huge, stupendous, amazingly big week for American Idol this week. Their second Annual "Idol Gives Back" show blocks out two whole hours of Wednesday night's prime air time to raise money for... well Africa and poor people and stuff. It's kind of a retro 80's era "let's throw our disposable cash into some big kitty in the name of a celebrity infused music festival to heal the world." Bob Geldof must be kicking himself for not getting the patent on that.
Anyway apparently the Idolateers were charged with recording performances for that show as well as preparing for their performances this week. Would the strain show? We'll get to that in a moment.
The theme of the week was "songs that inspire you." That's a category so broad as to almost not be a category at all. So song choice seemed likely to be - and indeed turned out to be - all over the map. That lead to some unexpectedly good, unexpectedly not bad, and surprisingly cheesy performances coming from unexpected places this week. Do you like not knowing in advance who would win the night? You don't? Well then avoid the jump because it was that kind of night.
Michael Johns, after closing the show so memorably last week, opened the show this week with "Dream On," by Aerosmith. In Michael's interpretation the lyrics of this song perfectly encapsulate his experience coming to the U. S. to follow his dream. This having happened in the 1990's, rather than the 1920's, this dream involved becoming a huge singing star rather than finding a responsible job and raising his children in a land of opportunity. Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to. I guess he thinks he needs to push this humble immigrant angle because this is AMERICAN Idol, and he talks a little too much like Crocodile Dundee to wear that label too comfotably yet. Oh, the performance? Meh. It was pretty good. I did NOT enjoy him reaching for that screechy falsetto note at the end, but on the replay I discovered he was actually in tune for it. The biggest problem is that Micheal Johns is not really a "rocker" in the Aerosmith sense (or the David Cook sense for that matter). And nothing about this performance really seemed to fit him comfortably. The judges were mostly back to themselves this week, and Randy and Simon at least seemed to pick the right flaws here to focus on. Not a bad performance. A bit of a let down after last week though.
Syesha Mercado followed up singing "I Believe," by Fantasia. I happen to think singing Idol's own songs back at them - this was the Idol-written "original song" for Fantasia which she performed for her victory in Season Three - has a certain poetic justice. Idol unleashes this saccharine crap, filled with double-entendre lyrics loosely fitting some overarching story the song is about but are really describing how wonderful it is to win American Idol, every year and they're always grating on the nerves. But the judges CAN'T rip the show's own songs, no matter how deserving, so they have to pick on other things. Syesha actually sang this one very well, as she has been doing a number of weeks running. She didn't really sing it like Fantasia as much as Mariah Carey, including a squeeky little ultra-soprano aria near the end. I'm just going to keep hammering at this point until Syesha is gone, which I still think will be soon - being a pretty looking, pretty voiced diva is not enough for her to win. She needs to make some original statement about who she is, and no matter how well she sounds until she does that she's in danger. The judges mostly criticized her for not having a real "connection" with the song, which is kind of true but not the main problem in my opinion.
Jason Castro took the next slot, and when he announced he was singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," you knew this was going to either be great or abysmal. When he mentioned it would not be the original version, but rather the ukulele version by Israel "Iz" Ka'ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole (yes of course I had to look that spelling up), I vaguely recalled hearing it before and got optimistic. That said I didn't realize he meant to accompany himself on an actual ukulele - but he did. And after hearing it, that was totally the right choice. He still brought enough originality and personality to it that it didn't sound like merely an imitation of the "Iz" version. Finally after a number of weeks where he couldn't quite recapture that intimate soulful connection with a song that he showed with "Hallelujah," it was back on display once more. Far and away my favorite performance of the night. The judges were uniformly praising, without a single criticism of any kind.
Kristy Lee Cook, she of the continual near-Idol-death experiences, made a push to stay out of the bottom three this week with "Anyway," by Martina McBride. It was a nice selection for her, with simple, sweet lyrics reinforcing her "All American Girl" image. The song was that kind of pop-country style which well suits her voice also. I didn't know quite what to expect from this one. Sometimes Kristy has just appeared lost and in over her head up there. But after the last few weeks one has to notice that she's been steadily improving and making the most of whatever gifts she's got. And this week? I was really pleasantly surprised. This performance wasn't just "good for Kristy." It was quite legitimately good, period. She had good control of the song; good power; didn't over or under sing it; and seemed to really believe in the words she was singing. This was the best we've ever heard her. So, of course, she could take the ironic "finally did well" exit spot this week, as that seems to happen to someone every year. But on the merits, she doesn't even belong in the bottom three this week. Seriously.
After this the night got a little weird...
David Cook came next telling us he was singing a song called "Innocent," by his favorite band Our Lady Peace. And the explanation for how it inspired him was somewhat overwrought and, perhaps, over thought. For weeks running David has been the one to most automatically have me hitting the replay to see him do it again. This week? Well I hit the replay for a different reason. I didn't know the song at all. And as I learned it, I didn't really like it. So I had to replay this thing to try to separate performance from song. And David will be happy to know, the thing wasn't quite as bad as it seemed to me on first impression. I mean it wasn't "bad" in the "missed notes," or "off key," or "forgotten lyrics" sense anyway. It was just kind of dull and uninteresting, and a tremendous letdown from someone we've grown used to putting out something electrifying each week. Then there was the cheesy message "Give Back" written on his hand which he opened to the camera to close the song, giving the whole thing a telethon feel. This was David's weakest performance in weeks. I don't expect him to get the boot over it or anything, but a little surprise trip to the bottom three to shake him out of doing
that again wouldn't hurt.
Carly Smithson, who has often made poor song choices despite having perhaps the best voice of the season, chose "The Show Must Go On," by Queen. Ahem. I have warned the contestants over and over to avoid Queen songs, haven't I? I mean, Michael Johns kind of succeeded in making that his thing, but while one exception might make the rule, two definitely do not. And so, this week turned into a total reversal of last week for her. Last week she looked frumpy and sounded great. This week she looked much better and sounded... angry. Very angry in places. You could almost picture her grabbing someone by the shirt collar and screaming "THE SHOW MUST GO ON, DAMMIT!!!" into their face while a vein throbbed in her forehead. There were still some nice sounding spots, and she showed some truly explosive vocal power in places. But if there was one thing truly off putting about this performance it was definitely her apparent anger management issues. Carly was apparently telling us she's inspired by a white hot inner rage. I dunno about Carly anymore. As good as she sings - and it's pretty sensational at times - she chooses weird songs that don't quite seem to fit her rather frequently, and seems increasingly lost in who she wants to be as a singer. Simon warned her she could be in trouble this week, and I think he's right.
Then came
David Archuleta with his hordes of screaming teen groupies singing "Angels," by Robbie Williams. Simon called the song one of the best pop songs written. I call it kind of blah with the same old power-notes tossed over it as you'd find most anywhere else. David accompanied himself on piano, and that choice seemed to be good for this one. As the song opened he struggled a bit with the softer, lower notes. But as soon as the arrangement opened up to let him belt out in his ballad-powerstyle he was back at the top of his game. In fact this was one of those songs where he sounded better and better the longer it went, which left a pretty good impression by the time he was done. If David Archuleta can deliver this kind of performance every week, he's going to be awfully hard to beat no matter how well the others do. And that's not to say I thought this was so much better than others can do. The sound is just part of an amazingly likable, popular, star-is-born image that's all coming together to the delight of Idol's producers. And it was back on track this week.
Brooke White closed us out with "You've Got a Friend," by Carole King. I always thought James Taylor wrote that and others like Carole King covered it. Brooke was quick to correct us on that point in her pre-song interview. Anyway it was a great song choice for her in the "safe" sense of the word. There was little doubt she'd sound good singing it - and she did. But Brooke chose to do this one standing solo at the microphone, accompanying herself neither with guitar nor piano. And I think the orchestral arrangement which went along with this choice took away a lot of Brooke's potential to make something special with this one. It came across as sincere, and good, and a bit old fashioned. It also came across pretty much just like Carole King, with little stamp of originality. In baseball terms this one seemed like she might be able to hit a home run, and instead dribbled out a little infield single. Not bad. But a little underwhelming considering the expectations.
In summary, this was a little bit of a letdown week. The judges were not as off in their own little world this time, but some of the contestants unfortunately were. Song choices were definitely off in a lot of cases. A couple of singers who totally needed to stepped it up. A couple who you wouldn't expect managed to stumble. And we won't know the results until Thursday night, because Idol Gives Back needs a whole night to itself and it wouldn't feel quite right to end that feel-good fest with a tearful goodbye.
Tops of the night goes to Jason Castro, hands down. I'm not sure he's got enough in him to win this whole thing, but that was Jason at his best.
Next tier down we'll put the Archuleta Express, and give unexpectedly high praise to Kristy Lee Cook.
After that it gets hard to sort it out.
I think Michael Johns is quite safe, though I didn't find his performance anything special. I think David Cook might get a surprise shake-up and hit the bottom three, but that's more about song choice than talent. Brooke may have played it a little too safe and could see the bottom three again as a result. I think Syesha Mercado sang excellently and yet is in danger. And I think Carly Smithson may finally be getting past the point where her raw vocal talent is enough to carry her.
Predictions: I think the bottom three this week will be Carly, Syesha and... Brooke. I think David Cook might come pretty close in the voting, but I suspect his fan-base at this point is enough to keep him out of the bottom three. I expect Brooke to be sent to safety while Carly and Syesha wait it out to hear who goes home... after the break. And in the end I think it will be the end of the road for... Syesha. We'll have to wait an extra night to find out though.
UPDATE: The Results
Wow. Like most of the rest of America, I didn't see this one coming. Idol has at least one "shock" elimination every season. And the reason they're shocks is no one saw them coming. Tamyra Grey, LaToya London, Chris Daughtry... all of them got the boot suddenly and unexpectedly. But this one has to rank pretty highly up there.
Michael Johns, who hadn't even seen the bottom three before, is headed home after a performance that didn't slay me but hardly seemed elimination material.
As I expected Carly Smithson and Syesha Mercado hit the bottom three as well, and Kristy Lee Cook finally avoided it. But Michael Johns leaving... and so soon after that amazing performance to close last week's show... did not see that coming at all.
But looking at the remaining guys... David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro... barring a surprising stinker of a performance from one of them in the upcoming weeks, prepare to shed a couple of the girls before we see another guy eliminated. Kristy Lee Cook, Syesha Mercado, and Carly Smithson, in that order, could very well leave before another guy gets the boot.
I do find it amazing, how much David A. is being promoted w/o any criticism. It's such an unbalanced level of promotion too. NEVER in the seasons ( since 4 ), has there been a finalist that didn't incur the wrath of the judges almost every other week. It's weird. Admittedly I don't like his voice, but still, if we want to be fair about this, everyone deserves some criticism.
And David A. is just following the Tamyra Grey / Ruben Studdard model as the season's "chosen one." Just a little more blatantly obvious this time. He's not nearly as good as they praise him for being. But he's got ridiculously large potential for his age and they're seeing dollar signs every time they look at him.
Of all of them he is the most talented, I don't think you can compare him to anyone else. Someday he will be a gigantic star.
But though I feel he is the best I don't want him to win, or Jason for that matter.
They are way too young for that kind of pressure.
If I vote at the end it will be for who ever is up against them.
Probably David Cook..
I do enjoy your blog BG *smile*
Oh I don't think you're far off. David A. has got ridiculously large natural talent. He's not nearly as finished a singer as some of the others, but that's mostly a factor of his age. Fame has been known to snuff out talents like his early, so one can only hope it doesn't happen in his case. I fear that's already been thrust upon him whether he wins or not at this point, so good luck to him on that score.
My basic perspective is, I like David Cook's style better. I like Jason Castro's originality better. But since I already expect David A. to win there's a little "rooting for the underdog" perspective as well.
And thanks for the comments about the blog. ;-)