Dear Tina,
I am all out of sorts. I’ve been postponing writing a post on American Idol until the 17 episodes they schedule in one week were through. Well, now we have the results, our top 12, the moment we’ve been waiting for, and we are up two 16 year olds, down two talented contestants: Alex Lambert and Lily Scott. I was all ready to crow about my new favorite Alex Lambert and off he goes tonight, never to be heard from again. Meanwhile I have to sit and listen to Aaron Kelly sing another country song he is completely out of touch with next week. Can you tell I’m bitter? I’m even typing bitterly. Like Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air. I hate that 16 year olds are even eligible for this competition. I want the age bumped up to 18. A tolerable 16 year old singer is as rare as a pregnant panda bear. This year we had Justin Bieber so we won’t be needing another one for another 10 years, when Justin Bieber’s voice will change. It was truly a heartbreaking scene tonight. But let’s rewind and take a look at some of this week’s most memorable performances.
First the ladies.
Worst Song Choice: That would have to go to Paige Miles who sang “Smile” by Nat King Cole Tony Bennett Michael Jackson Jermaine Jackson Charlie Chaplin. As the judges told her, this was her last chance at winning over the hearts of America in order to amass enough votes to put her in the top 12. And as we who have watched this show since season one know, if you don’t make it to the top 12, well it’s kind of like you were never on the show to begin with. Paige was good and boring. Like my recitals with the Musettes sophomore year of high school.
Best Song Choice: Crystal Bowersox sang “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman. I don’t know how this girl does it but she manages to find the perfect song for her voice and style yet popular enough to please the audience. I think it is coming as a surprise to most that someone who looks nothing like our idea of a pop idol, is participating in this mainstream, commercial contest. Not to mention the success she is having. Crystal is a clear favorite and has been for awhile. What’s nice about this favorite is that she has the goods to back it up. If she keeps making smart choices like the Tracy Chapman number, Crystal could potentially win the whole thing. And wouldn’t that be refreshing?
Worst Performance Overall: Can I get an oy? Katelyn Epperly. She sang “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King and accompanied herself with an electric piano that she may have found in the basement of a children’s museum. She looked like Ross on Friends when he brings his electric piano to the coffee shop to play his “music.” Or like Kelly Packard’s character on TNBC’s hit California Dreams. It couldn’t have been more awkward. I felt like I was at an audition for a high school talent show.
Best Performance Overall: Didi Benami. There you go. Recovering from last week when she was ripped to shreds and then was so upset she couldn’t even respond to Ryan who kept badgering her with inane questions like “It’s hard to talk right now…isn’t it?” Didi performed “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac, a song I had never heard before Tuesday night and I’m glad I hadn’t because it made me appreciate the quality of Didi’s voice even more. Her decision to stay on the acoustic track for her final performance before the top 12 was announced, despite last week’s criticisms, shows a great sense of awareness of what her strengths are. Didi isn’t someone that is going to shine with a showstopper. Her appeal comes from the sweetness of her voice and the way she travels through her range with such ease. We don’t need to see her take a swing at “And I Am Telling You” because that kind of music is irrelevant to the type of musician this woman is going to be. “Rhiannon” was a brilliant selection and she executed it with confidence and a sense of ownership of the lyrics. A video of the performance has been included below.
And now the men…
Worst Song Choice: It hurts me a little to say this but I have to say Andrew Garcia. Yes I know. Compton Danny Gokey. While we’re on the subject, in response to his glasses, I’m considering changing his nickname to Compton Harry Caray. Andrew Garcia selected “Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera. This poor guy is reminded every week that his acoustic rendition of “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul during Hollywood week was the best thing he could have ever done. So apparently he now has nowhere to go but down. Simon called last night’s performance “desperate” or a synonym that sounds equally acidic coming from a British accent. Andrew is clearly trying to chase the surprise delight of a pop song revamped acoustically but this is now the third week in a row he’s been told it’s not working. He did make it through to the top 12 so maybe it will help him to have fewer options than any single that has ever been on the Billboard charts when we move into theme weeks. My advice would be to try something completely different than he’s done since he entered the competition. Like, maybe lose the acoustic guitar (God forbid). My guess is that next week during the Rolling Stones themed episode, we’re going to hear an acoustic version of “Paint it Black.”
Best Song Choice: Alex Lambert. I still can’t believe he’s gone. Alex sang “Trouble” by Ray LaMontagne. Ok, sure, he could use more confidence especially if he has the intention of pursuing a popular music career. But this guy had–easily–the most unique sounding voice left in the competition. With that, he knew exactly what songs would showcase it in the most successful and pleasing way. A skill that many of his counterparts have yet to achieve. There is a sentiment to his tone, something very emotional, and all of his song choices, particularly “Trouble,” enhanced that. When I watched his performance from Wednesday, I was already anticipating buying all of his Idol performances on iTunes for as long as he lasted; that’s how much I enjoyed his voice. It’s such a shame. I was even starting to like his mullet.
Worst Performance Overall: “Somebody to Love” by Queen performed by Todrick Hall. I agree with the judges that it was his best performance of the last three weeks. Not hard to do when your performance the first week was basically a scat rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.” I know this is a terribly biased opinion, but you’re dealing with a passionate Glee fan. If “Somebody to Love” isn’t going to be performed by Finn and Rachel with a killer high note at the end from Amber, I don’t want to hear you even try. That goes for Queen as well.
Best Performance Overall: The best performance came from Michael Lynch who sang “This Woman’s Work” by Maxwell. I refuse to call him Big Mike the way Ryan does because ever since seeing The Blind Side I imagine that no one really likes that kind of nickname. He challenged himself, he moved around the stage with confidence, and he pulled off a song that I’m sure no one would ever expect him to sing. He even made Kara cry (oh brother). People are still really drawn to the fact that he and his wife had a baby a few weeks or months ago so that added to the emotion of a performance dedicated to how hard…women…work. That may always help him, but the fact of the matter is Michael has been consistently good and last night he elevated himself onto a whole new level of competition. Suddenly the guy who my sister asked last week “is that the bodyguard?” has been singled out as the contestant to beat.
To close, I just want to say that Randy Jackson must have a lady friend or something around this season because I have never seen him so animated and enthusiastic. Maybe it’s just the robin’s egg blue watch that keeps his spirits up. Either way I welcome the adjustment, I just wish he would put the kibosh on booing every time Ryan introduces Simon during a live episode. Every. Single. Time.
30 Rock Quote of the Day:
Liz: Oh! No! Thanks. I don’t want anything to do with MILFIsland. That show is kind of the lowest common denominator.
Jack: The critics said the same thing about Shakespeare.
Liz: Yeah buy Shakespeare never had a Confessional Shower sponsored by Dove Pro-age.
Dear Tina 