This week's American Idol was better than last week, but still not totally excellent. There were some good and bad performances. Again, the mix of the sound was interesting in some spots as vocals got lost in the bombast of the house band; but this was a night of Queen music, so at least I knew going in that I was going to recognize the majority of the tunes.
One thing that might be improving are some of the contestants' song choices. There were two great song changes by Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. Taylor originally wanted to do "We Are the Champions" but ended up doing a great preacher-in-front-of-the-congregation-feeling-the-vibrations-of-God type performance where he strutted around and bounced his way through "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" with good energy and vocals.
Similarly, Katharine switched songs to "Who Wants to Live Forever" and while the performance wasn't good, it was better than what I thought I was hearing in her taped rehearsal with Queen. After listening to "Forever," it was the perfect venue for Katharine to show off just how good (or bad) she is. Unfortunately for her, what came out was how sharp and thin she can sound when she is really going to the top of her range.
And I am not sure if all of America heard it, but when she said something about "it's nothing that they can't fix in the studio," my head wanted to explode. If we want to hear a machine sing, then what the hell do we need you for Katharine? It isn't about how awesome you are at using ProTools that makes an artist popular. Occasionally it works for an artist like Cher on a pop song, but Katharine is going for the Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand-type of singer and trust me when I tell you that each one of them can sing without a pitch adjustment. Well maybe Whitney needs it now, but she didn't when she sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl all those years ago.
As for the other performers last night. . .
Chris Daughtry is another one who confounds me. He had the best vocal performance of the night by far. The way he commanded his song and hit those ridiculous high notes was truly amazing. Except, who would really know on a song that isn't really all that well known? I don't mean to parrot Simon, but if you want to create a moment with American Idol audiences, you really need to wow them in their own backyard on a song that they can relate to. I loved the song last night and like I said, I thought it was the performance of the night, but it was tainted by the obscurity of the song choice. Chris is going to choose his way right off the show with these continual song choice mistakes.
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Article comments
1 - Grandpa Idol
Jethro's (Bucky) karaoke performance week after week is a big zero and he must go now.
Ace, your lack of talent has surpassed your looks and needs to go.
Taylor, "the drunk Dad at the wedding" is fading and must go.
Although I think Katherine has the best overall package (voice and looks), she continues to exhibit a persona that comes off as smug. I could see her as very succesful on Broadway but not winning AI.
Paris is a definite star but I'm not sure she is finding the correct formula each week and may be wearing thin with the fans.
Ellie May (Kellie), Chris, and Elliott will be the top 3.
2 - Jim
I totally agree with your comments, although Chris sounded goatlike to me.
I was really impressed by Elliott's vocals, how strong they were, and the way he made the song his own without butchering the original version. Great performance. I hope he's not in the bottom 3.
3 - sal m
ace and paris were the worst...and need to go for on other reason than they still don't seem to know who they are. bucky for all of his lack of ability at least is smart enough to play to his audience, which is the key to staying on the show.
chris is annoying with all the anger and as a result will leave sooner than he should...
elliot did the best job...that song was the toughest song of the night and he sounded great.
4 - Mark Saleski
gotta agree on sal's bit about elliot. "somebody to love" is a tough, tough song. that was the song that made me realize that George Michael actually knew how to sing (way the heck back during that Freddy Mercury tribute concert).
5 - Ty
Last week I correctly predicted 2/3's of the bottom 3, and I will do it again.
Defintely in the bottom 3 you will see Ace and Paris. The third spot is a crapshoot but it doesn't matter because that person isn't going home. Maybe it's Bucky, or even Elliott because he has no fanbase.
But this is the Ace/Paris showdown. Finally, tonight, the girl whose GRANDMA RANDY JACKSON WAS IN AWE OF AND THUS GRANNY CAN GET HER A RECORD DEAL, Paris, will go home.
She wasn't great, and looked so god-damned pathetic hopping around.
Why is white people on AI can do R&B, but black people on AI always stink at rock?
I'm not racist by any means. Give me a black person on American Idol a la Lajon Witherspoon (do any of you know who he is??? Lead singer of SEVENDUST), and I will be all over him!
Or to a lesser extent, Howard Jones, lead singer (black) of the metal band Killswitch Engage.
Or better yet, lead singer of Sepultura, Derrick Green.
Rock has black singers, but AI never has any black rockers (by that I mean the black equivalent of Chris Daughtry).
Give me a black rocker and I will support them 100% as long as they bring it, especially someone a la Lajon Witherspoon, I love that guys voice.
6 - Arnold Ziffle
Taylor sucked, Ace sucked BIG TIME, (he rocked, yeah right), Katherine's attitude sucked
Kellie was ok, Bucky was ok
Elliott was the best, Chris was great
Paris looks like a little kid playing dress up, on the plus side, she has a great voice, she won't win though, maybe Randy can "hook her up"
Was it just me or is Simon smitten with Kellie? He can't seem to look her in the eye. She is certainly playing the dumb blond bit like a real smart fox....
7 - MerlinsElbow
It amazes me how a contestant can totally butcher their song choice one week and then knock your socks off the next week. I thought Kellie performed exceptionally well lastnight which was a complete surprise because she's definately not one of the top singers. Call me crazy but I think any time Taylor dances around Simon has issues with his performance - I don't think it's even about his vocals. He did well lastnight and thank God he changed his song! Tonight I'm thinking it will be bye bye Ace, Paris or Bucky. Hopefully Paris but all three have numbered days.
8 - Duane
So none of them wanted to try "Stone Cold Crazy?"
I might have tried "Ogre Battle." But maybe that's why I'm not in the Top 8.
9 - Ty
This is ridiculous. Paris is SAFE yet another week?? SHE NEEDS TO GO ASAP!
She can't survive any longer.
10 - FilteringCraig
Bucky was on borrowed time.
11 - Sam Jack
I was hoping for Mandisa or Paris to win, but I think it's because I don't really like popular music, and am just looking for someone who reminds me of Mama Whitney or Billie Holiday.
12 - Idolboomer
I was hoping Ace would go home, but Bucky was a close second. I think Elliot has wonderful vocals, I really wish someone would work with him as far as movement....that's the only place he's lacking. When I think of an idol, I think of the whole package. Elliot has character. He's a real person with heart. Seemed like Ace just used the emotional scene tonight as a potential vote getter for next week. His family didn't say anything that should evoke tears. It was all in fun, nothing sappy. Elliot on the other hand is a survivor. He loves and respects his mother. He has my respect, too. I wish the cameras would work a little more with him like they did with Kelly and Katherine, and even Ace. Even his microphone wasn't loud enough in the beginning. It's as if they're trying to make him look bad. I thought the top 5 did good. Ace, Bucky, and Paris deserved to be the bottom 3. Taylor, Elliot, Katherine, and Chris should do well next week. Chris has a nice voice even when he's not doing the rock thing.
13 - Sizzlin
Arnold got it right, I know Bucky had to go. But Ace with the weepy, wiping his eyes thing, what the...
I will vote for Elliot next week till my finger falls off. Idolboomer is right on about him being a survivor and that he loves and respects his mother is so evident. I hope he wins.
Chris is good too though.
All the rest can go, starting with Ace the Boob and ending with Miss Snug Katherine, hell, I would vote for Calamari Kelly before I vote for Katherine.
No one else does it for me.