Last night, the songbooks of Lennon & McCartney were open to the Idols, which was great... BUT they also just did this for 2 weeks straight weeks in season 7. It seems like yesterday Archie was singing Imagine or David Cook rocked out to Eleanor Rigby. So why go back already? Are we running out of ideas? How about an 80's week? How about a love songs week? I mean, I like Beatles songs but I don't want to hear an hour's worth of bad versions. They really need to start youthing it up for the rest of the season because apparently we have a bunch of old souls competing this year. Can someone please sing something current? PLEASE. This week the Idols were really on their own to pick their song and their arrangment. Yes, Sir Paul gave some encouragement via satellite, but everyone was really flying solo this week. I mean, no pressure to sing a Beatles song, make it original & unique, all why maintaining the purity and classic sound of the song.
Here's what I thought of the Idol efforts:
Aaron Kelly (Song Choice: A Long and Winding Road)
I love Aaron, but this is the kind of performance that when a new Idol viewer tunes it they think, "what the #$%? Why are these people famous?". And I get that. It was too old-fashioned and clearly not his best. He's so good when he hits the high notes, but not so much in the lower register. I get nervous for him. He neeeds to start shaking things up a bit. He needs to break away from the Flatts for a week. We know he wants to be the fourth Rascal Flatt, but until that happens, he needs to surprise us on Idol. By the way, have you noticed that the strategy for all of these contestants when given some critique, their answer now is "I'm working on something BIG next, if they let me stay." Smart. Very smart. Being the gullible viewer that I am, I really do want to see what this big thing is next week is. FINE. You have my vote. It's worked for Casey and Crystal already. And not that Crystal needs any help, but I'm digging the new Idol contestant strategy for 2010.
Katie Stevens (Song Choice: Let It Be)
Katie.... She was in the pocket. Perfect perfect song for her. She looked like she had been singing this song for years and I think she had with her dad. This was by far her best performance by a mile. Finally, the tone of her voice that we saw in Hollywood week has come back. She made it current, her voice was strong - she was in the zone. For me, this was a winning performance. And she looked fantastic, like she matured about 4 years. She finally dropped the New York & Company jewelry and Macy's junior section drab and upped her game in the apparel department. She was an R&B pop singer, someone we may want to hear on the radio (Sorry, Simon - that was NOT country. Not really sure what he was listening to). Nice work Kate. The "Kate Mates" in CT are dialing it up for you right now!
Andrew Garcia (Song Choice: Can't Buy Me Love)
Oh geez. What to say. This was such a bad song choice. This is a song you never sing on Idol. It will never sound cool or commercial, it will always sound like an old campy song from the 60's. It will always remind me of Ronald Miller paying Cindi Mancini $1,000 to be his girlfriend in the hit 80's movie. But Andrew didn't go "totally geek to totally chic" like Ronnie, but it was the opposit after last week's strong performance ("Forever"). This song is just a little hokey. Way too big band and way too "Hairspray". He sounded good, but I just couldn't get passed the cheese. Thought it was totally corny and he's better than that. He needed a mentor.. to tell him not to sing that song. It could have been his moment this week. He could of sang "Imagine" or "Yesterday".. something classic. Ya know he says "singing Lennon and McCartney songs is an honor." Then if you have once chance to sing one of their songs, then why ohwhy would you sing that song?? out of all songs? I don't get it. And Andrew is in trouble.
Michael Lynche (Song Choice: Eleanor Rigby)
I was into this version of this song. It was a perfect song for him and this was one tall order considering David Cook sang it two seasons ago and had "a moment" with it. However, he sang the rock version and Michael sang a cool R&B version of it. I think I'm finally seeing an artist in Michael Lynche and it goes to show the difference between what he did and what Andrew did. That song is sellable. You would download it. It could be on an album. Simon gave him a hard time saying he was confused as to what kind of artist he wants to be and what music he wants to make. Can't singers rock, rap, or pop songs then have a ballad on their album? Usher sings "Yeah" (one of the best songs ever and my brother's personal fave) and then he sings the song "Burn". What stops a rocker like a Bret Michaels singing "Nuthin' But a Good Time" and then singing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"?! Kind of a stupid thing to say Simon.
Crystal Bowersox (Song Choice: Come Together)
You may not believe this, but I stated from my couch... "Crystal should sing Come Together". And she did. And she rocked it. And I was nervous for this one as Carly Smithson (season 7) had a moment with this song. Yet they were both very different versions. Both fantastic. This is a pretty timeless song. It's always going to be cool. I can't write it any differently this week... Crystal is great and clearly should be in the finals. Sign her. and I was loving the boots. She's getting prettier and more fashionable every week, yet still saying true to herself. Plus I love how conversational she is when she's getting judged. It's easy to like her.
Tim Urban (Song Choice: All My Loving)
I'm skipping this blog. He just needs to go home. The best thing the judges said was that they admired him for taking their criticism"like a man". Now I agree, but Proud of him, Schmoud of him....This is American Idol and he's not going to win. He doesn't need the positive feedback to make the 12 year old girls pick up their phones to call and text to keep him around another week. Did he sound okay? Sure. But I also went to the kitchen to get a snack, started painting my nails and looked through US magazine while he was singing. So...ya know. It's just not Idol worthy. It's the nicest way I can say it.
The best part is that every week, 3 times an episode my friend calls Tim Urban "Lambert". Every week. She's obviously talking about Alex Lambert who got eliminated in the top 14, just missing the Top 12. He was the one who sounded liked James Morrison, but his nerves got the best of him. So every week she goes, "I'm sorry, but Lambert has to go!". I just nod and agree and then sneak in a "Tim Urban" under my breath. She gives me the "oh yeah!" and we laugh. And then it happens 20 minutes later. Then the next night during elimination night, she tells me again, "Lambert will be in the bottom 3". Again... "Tim" under my breath. She corrects herself. We laugh. And so on and so on. So the only bad thing about Tim leaving the competition is, I won't get to hear her get this wrong again. I might miss that.
Casey James (Song Choice: Jealous Guy)
I really liked this peformance, one of his best. SO much better than his "Power of Love" performance. He finally showed his artistry. Did he always have that quiver in his voice? I'm not so sure that he did. But I'm into it. Keep up the quiver. What I liked about this performance is that I really didn't know the song and I didn't have any high expectations of it. So for me, it was something new and refreshing by Casey and I loved that he showed his vulnerable side. The blonde locks were flowing too. Casey is in for another week for sure.
Siobhan Magnus (Song Choice: Across the Universe)
I liked this version of this song, but I didn't love it. Love HER though. I had to agree with some of the judges about it being a little sleepy, but it was also tender and sweet. I wish she kicked it into high gear quicker. This performance just showed her versality. She is unpredictable and cool. And regardless of the sleepiness of the song, Siohban knows how to put on a performance with every little detail.. the stool, the lights, the look, the music. She's sticking around. The competition needs her.
Lee Dewyze (Song Choice: Hey Jude)
I love Lee. I thought this performance was wicked cool, and I don't even really love this song. I loved that he took 100% credit for the bagpiper, which let's face it, was a tad random. But Lee's voice can be heard on the radio tomorrow and his confidence grows a little bit each week. And he's even getting cuter to me. Lee is just cool.
In Trouble: Tim Urban, Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens (but just based on the fact that she's hit the bottom 3 for a few weeks now). Think it's Tim's time to go.....
No comments:
Post a Comment