Performance Show
Good Evening, America! After last week’s shocking results, I’m not sure what to expect tonight. Already, I’m not too excited that the theme is Neil Diamond. (Yawn.) But, who knows… this could be as surprising as the Mariah Carey week. With this show, you never can tell. We’re down to the Top 5, so things are getting intense. Soon, we’ll find out whether David or David wins it all. Well, I guess there’s nothing left to do but to get on with it. This… is American Idol!
This week, our Idols will be doing 2 songs each. The only good thing about that is that it means there is less time for useless filler. They’ll each be judged after their second performance.
First up, Jason Castro is singing “Forever in Blue Jeans”. This music is perfect for Jason. It’s easy. It’s mellow. He’s ready for his starring gig at Central Perk. It wasn’t awful. It wasn’t great. Mainly it was just bland. If he were standing outside the subway, I would definitely toss him a few coins.
David Cook is next singing “I’m Alive ”. (Most of the songs we hear tonight, I’m sure I’ve never heard before.) This one is at least better than Jason’s. (Is it me, or do the songs seem extremely short?) I would call this David Cook-lite. It wants to rock, but then it realizes that it’s a Neil Diamond song, and stops just short of being cool.
Brooke White is doing “I’m a Believer”. She’s our third Idol to use the guitar this evening. (This song gives me Shrek flashbacks.) Definitely a step out of Brooke’s comfort zone, but it seemed to work for her. (With this song and that background, I kept waiting for Scooby, Shaggy, and the Gang to come running by during a chase scene.) She had energy and bounce, but I have a feeling she’s going to get slammed for this performance. (I better start dialing now.)
Up next, the other David is singing “Sweet Caroline”. (Is anyone shocked at all with his two song choices. Anyone? Yeah, me neither.) Technically, he’s singing this very well, but he’s taking all the cheesy fun out of it. (And I swear to God, if the mosh pit doesn’t start waving their arms in synch, I’m going to hop up on that stage and chop off all their hands with a chainsaw. I think the sight of them waving bloody stumps out of synch would be much less distracting.)
Syesha is last for our first round. She is singing “Hello Again”. Girlfriend needs to be worried. She was in the Kristy Lee Cook Duo last week, so she needs a big week to ensure her safety. The problem with Syesha is that she always starts out well, showcasing her vocal abilities admirably, but she can’t help going for notes and runs that are beyond her. Overall, she does well, but if she toned down the ‘diva in training’ bit, she would be amazing.
And, I don’t even know what to say about Paula critiquing both of Jason Castro’s songs when he had only sung one. There just aren’t words.
Jason Castro is back with his second song “September Morn”. (Do you hear that Paula? This is his second song.) Actually, I think this one is a big improvement over his last one. It was slow and soft, but this one seemed to have emotion. I’m not saying I loved it or it was great. It was safe, and he doesn’t seem to be trying anymore. (I’m not sure if his big blue eyes are going to be enough to save him this week.)
David Cook’s second song is “All I Really Need is You”. He definitely changed the arrangement, and it worked for him. He made a Neil Diamond song sound contemporary and interesting. I have to give him a lot of credit for this performance. (Still doesn’t mean I like him.)
Brooke White is back with her second song “I Am I Said”. She’s using the piano this time around. She’s off to a good start, and by that I mean she remembered her words and didn’t have to start over. This is the Brooke I know and love. She’s connecting emotionally with the song and the audience, her vocals are on, and I thought it was wonderful. She should definitely be safe this week. (I’m still going to call a lot just to make sure.)
David Archuleta is back to sing the song we all knew he’d choose, “America”. (And if you go to one of my past blogs, I’m sure you’ll see that I totally called it.) This song was made for his brand of over-acting. There is nothing subtle about this song or his performance. It’s meant to be over the top, and David delivers there. (I hate to say it, but I would rather see David Cook win this than him.)
Syesha is here to close the show with “Thank the Lord for the Nighttime”. Definitely a fun song, and it’s good to see more of her personality again. (So tired of her standing and over-singing a ballad.) Of course, she had to go for the big note at the end, but this time she hit it. I would love to see more of this type of Syesha than the other.
Well, that’s our show for this evening. It was just all over the place, wasn’t it? Taking part in our Kristy Lee Cook Duo this week will most likely be Jason Castro and Syesha. Jason for his performances. Syesha for her lack of popularity. Who goes home is anyone’s guess. But you know where to go to find out. Same Steve Time. Same Steve Channel.
Results Show
Good Evening, America! Another week down, and another future star has to go home. It was an… “interesting” show last night. Definitely not my favorite week, and I blame a lot of that on the theme. We’re getting down to the end, so I hope they have some pretty stellar things left to close the season. But, before we get to the rest of the season, we have to get through tonight. Who will stay? Who will go? Let’s find out together. This… is American Idol!
Did everyone spot Kristy Lee Cook in the audience? Is she here because she gets free tickets or because she misses being part of the Kristy Lee Cook Trio… now Duo? So, there were 45 million votes last night… hmmm. I promise that I was only about 1 million of those. Tops.
The Top 5 are here to do a tribute to Neil Diamond. (I almost want to fast forward now.) The choreography is cheese-tastic. That’s pretty much the only thing saving this from being, as Simon would say, a nightmare. It’s still not good. Not by a long shot. No one’s mics are at the same volume level, and it makes the performance seem haphazard and like something right out of a high school talent show.
There’s Gina and Constantine! (I know Mom is happy to see Constantine.) They are doing a show on FOX Reality. (I don’t think I have FOX Reality, but, honestly, I don’t need to watch any more reality TV than I already am.) And just to clear the air about the Paula rumors… she is not being replaced. She is here to stay. According to Simon, the judges sat in on the rehearsals yesterday and took notes on both of their performances then. When the judges were asked after the first round last night, Paula got flustered and read her notes she had made on both performances from earlier during rehearsals. Believe it or don’t, but that’s the gospel according to Simon.
On to our results. First up, Jason Castro. Safety Couch or Kristy Lee Cook Duo? (Unless his big blue eyes have more power than I think, he should be in the Kristy Lee Cook Duo.) Somehow, he is safe. (Here I am guessing again, but I believe that puts Syesha and Brooke in danger now.) Next is David Archuleta, the Tween Dream. (Honestly, they should just let him start the show on the couch and stay there.) Of course, he is safe. (Shock of all shocks.)
Back to results. David Cook is called out to the center of the stage. (Unless something dramatic is happening, he’ll be safe and Brooke and Syesha will have to wait till after the musical performances to learn their fate.) Nothing dramatic, he is safe. Now, it’s down to the two girls. One will be the last woman standing. (Crossed fingers for Brooke, but I’ve come to terms with her not winning.)
I love Natasha Bedingfield, but I’m fast-forwarding. (It’s a fun song though.) Ugh, back to the phone calls. Things we learned: Paula is a giver, Paula and Randy are going to do another music video but this time he’ll be an animated Dawg, and Simon was macking on girls at an early age. Time for the Ford Music Video to “Catch the Wind”. It’s a high-five fest of an episode of Idols Give Back where they use magical powers to “greenify” the world. (I think this is in response to the environmentally unfriendly video they did a few weeks ago where they dumped paint all over the Los Angeles River.) Now to Neil Diamond. (Fast forward.)
Back to our results. Syesha or Brooke. Brooke or Syesha. (This time last week, I thought it was going to be Syesha leaving us, and I was wrong. She’ll probably skate by again.) The person leaving us this evening is… Brooke. Bah! Not at all what I wanted to happen, but I knew it was going to happen soon. As I said, I had already come to terms with it. And thank you America for at least allowing my goal of her making it to the Top 5 to come true. (Now, I’ll just wait patiently for her cd to come out.)
Well, that’s our show for this week. Come back next week for our Rock n Roll Hall of Fame show… and also to see what Paula does next. (Maybe we can bring Paula’s Wheel of Random Emotion out of retirement?) Same Steve Time. Same Steve Channel.