Performance Show
Good Evening, America! We’re down to the Final 6, and the competition is tougher than ever. Kristy Lee Cook was sent packing last week, and in her honor, we’ll still continue the tradition of having the Kristy Lee Cook Trio. (It seems only appropriate to do so.) Tonight, our Idols will be singing the songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber. For those of you who don’t know, he is the man behind such Broadway hits as Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats (ugh), Phantom of the Opera, and Evita. This should be an interesting night for song choices. (I’m looking at you David Cook.) So sit back, grab your Playbill, and enjoy the show. This… is American Idol!
Syesha is our first Idol of the evening. She’ll be singing “One Rock and Roll Too Many”. (Definitely not what I thought she would choose.) The song starts out very Fosse-esque with her on top of the piano. It quickly turns into a jazzy kind of thing, and her vocals were spot on. One word… Personality. (My only question is where has this personality been the last 3 months? Did she sign a contract with the Idol producers agreeing not to be likeable till tonight?) She showed more real emotion than she ever has, and this could be the performance that keeps her around for another week or so.
Jason Castro is second, and he’s singing “Memories” from ‘Cats’. (I thought that would be a song David Archuleta would do.) I don’t really have a good feeling about this. The first part started out well, but then he went flat, and it continued downhill from there. The original of this song is waaaaaaaaaaay out of his vocal range. This version didn’t hit the right emotional notes for me, and it all felt kinda blah and very weak. (Oh, look! There’s Courtney Cox!)
Brooke White is third with “You Must Love Me” from Evita. (Oh, look! There’s Betty Buckley from the Original Broadway Cast of Cats.) This is one of my favorite songs from Evita. She started off well, and then flubbed the words, and decided to start over. (Don’t know if they’ll be as forgiving since she’s done this before.) That might have done the trick, because she’s connecting with the song more this time around. (Or that could be fear.) Her vulnerability showed. Unfortunately, I think her nerves got the best of her vocals. Overall, I still thought it was wonderful. Having said that, Brooke needed a big performance this week to stick around, and I have a feeling this might have been her swan song.
David Archuleta is next with “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera. (Wow, I’m not good at picking out their song choices this evening.) He’s taken this Diva’s Lament and turned it into a Boy Band Diddy. Vocally, it works for him, of course. This kid could sing the phone book, and people would clap. (I don’t mean me… just people.) As I said last week, I’ve gotten bored with him. No matter what I say or do, this season is going to come down to a finale between the Davids. Blah.
Carly Smithson is our next-to-last performer singing “Jesus Christ Superstar” from… oh, never mind, I’m sure you can guess. This is a big song, and she’s got a big ol’ voice to go with it. She rocked out, and it was phenomenal! This was her strongest performance in a several weeks. (Love the t-shirt!)
David Cook is here to close the show. (I’m not sure how he gets to close the show more than any other artist.) He’s singing “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera. (Crap! I was so close with this song choice… right show, wrong song.) As usual, it was a good vocal performance. I have to give him credit for stepping out of his comfort zone, but I would have preferred that he do the rock version of “The Phantom of the Opera”. If I have to listen to him, I’d rather her his gritty rock thing.
Well, that’s our show for this evening. I think the members of the Honorary Kristy Lee Cook Trio will be Syesha, Jason, and Brooke, and I have a bad feeling that Brooke will be the one to go home. (I voted again, and again, and again, and again… to try to prevent that from happening.) I guess all we can do is wait till tomorrow. Same Steve Time. Same Steve Channel.
Results Show
Good Evening, America! Here we are… in just 60 long minutes we’ll find out who will be our Final 5. For one person, this will be their final curtain call. Take a bow. The show is over. It’s time for you to go. This… is American Idol!
Before one of our Idols’ dreams of stardom is shattered, they are here to perform “All I Ask of You” with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. (Hmmm, I guess I never realized that our Final 6 was composed of 3 guys and 3 girls. Nothing of significance there. Just something I noticed.) The girls definitely have better harmony than the guys. This song was never meant to be done by an ensemble. As a result, it was nice, overall, but kinda bland. Sir Andy (as he asked me to call him) really felt for Brooke last night. As did I.
Our Ford Music Video comes early in the show this evening. It’s to “Tainted Love”, and was a kind of fusion of comic books and Grand Theft Auto. Have to admit, I did love our Idols dressed as Pop Star Gangsters. Oh so glam!
Tonight, instead of the Kristy Lee Cook Trio, we will be having the Kristy Lee Cook Duo. (Is this because we are getting down in numbers or because no one besides Jason and Brooke are actually in danger? You decide.) First up, the Davids. (I dubbed them that last night. I think Seacrest reads my blog.) Obviously, they are safe. (For a few days anyway… until they have to work with Neil Diamond. Hmmm, maybe it would be better to get kicked off tonight.)
Since it’s all about Broadway this week, we get a peek at what shows some of our Idols have done. Diana DeGarmo (from Season 3) was in Hairspray. Fantasia (the winner of Season 3) starred in The Color Purple. As did last season’s LaKisha Jones. Tamyra Gray (one of my favorite Idols of all time) is on her 2nd Broadway show… this time as Mimi in Rent. (Note to self… plan trip to NYC to see Tamyra.) Clay Aiken (runner up in Season 2) is in Monty Python’s Spamalot. (Take a look David Archuleta… this is you in 5 years. Seriously.)
I’m so excited for this next performance!!! The winner of Britain’s X-Factor, Leona Lewis, is here to sing Bleeding Love. (Currently my favorite song from my current favorite album) I don’t know what there is to say about this. All of our Idols could take a lesson from her. Especially on what to do if you plan to just stand there and sing. She’s spectacular. She’s flawless. (Loved the columns of fire!) If you haven’t downloaded this cd from iTunes, go do it now. (I’ll wait till you get back.)
Back to the results. Syesha and Brooke White. (I have a feeling as to how this will go, but I’ll wait for Ryan to verify it for me.) After the vote, Brooke is… safe!! What?! Can you say that again? I think I just hallucinated. (I knew voting 50 times would be worth it!) Syesha is our first member of the Kristy Lee Cook Duo, and she doesn’t seem too pleased when Paula tells her she should be used to it by now. Hey, the truth hurts. (Still doing the Happy Dance about Brooke!) Next up, Carly and Jason. (If there is any justice, Jason will join Syesha, because Carly knocked it out of the park.) After the vote, Jason is… safe. What? This is like bizarro night. (I had come to terms with Brooke and Jason being in the Bottom 2, and neither one is.) All I can say is that Syesha better be the one to go home.
Now we’re down to it. Syesha or Carly. Carly or Syesha. One stays and one goes. (I really hope Syesha goes.) After the nationwide vote (that would be 38 million of them)… Carly… is leaving us this evening. Seriously? Seriously! You’ve got to be kidding me. This is just as shocking as Michael Johns leaving a few weeks ago. (I am not pleased.) Okay, now all I can say is that she better get a record deal. (Do you think she was voted off because she’s not American?)
Well, that’s our show for this evening. I’m not sure what to say. I’m still stunned. Yay that my Brooke stayed (I know a lot of people are not as happy as I am.), and my dream of her making it to the Final 5 was realized, but boo that Carly had to go home. And now we all have to deal with Neil Diamond Week next Tuesday. (Ugh) Oh well, this show is full of surprises. Tune in next week for a few more. Same Steve Time. Same Steve Channel.