McPhee told an interesting anecdote about Judge Simon. She said that when Simon's girlfriend was interviewing him about this year's American Idol that Simon completely forgot her name. Katharine's annoyance was very evident. After her performance, Simon declared Katharine had "turned into a star". Perhaps he wanted to make up to Katharine for forgetting her name.
Ah, little Miss Paris Bennett. A singer I've mentally dismissed many times as being too young, as being too cute, as being anything but a singing icon of American Idoldom. Yet each and every week, this small bundle of talent takes the stage and wows the world with the most magnificent of voices and the most joyous of performances. Paris sang "Fever" by Peggy Lee and even Manilow remarked he was shocked at the power of her voice.
This is not to mention the glorious fashion attire this miniature queen of song wore, a gold halter gown with a matching flower adorning carefully coiffed locks. The attempt, one assumes, was to give Paris an air of maturity. The attire and the song did just that. Randy said Paris "blew out the box".
Paris makes my list of the top three performances of the evening handily.
One must tread softly around any critique of Taylor Hicks. For while the singer looks for all the world like a serious accountant released for a wild weekend on the town, his fans are many and fiercely loyal.
I simply don't see this guy as winning this thing and his jerky robotic movements only reinforce that notion. "He's only doing his happy interpretation of the music," his legions of loyalists argue. Well sure, if dancing around with no rhyme, reason, or rhythm could be considered an interpretation perhaps Hicks should take it to the Museum of Modern Art.
As for Taylor's performance on Manilow night, I thought the man sounded like he had a bad cold. That odd sharkskin suit only added to his accountant image. Judge Paula declared that watching Hicks was like watching an "exercise video." Paula meant this in the best possible manner as is her wont. I agree with Paula but it's not meant as a compliment on this end.
Article comments
1 - John
If Katharine McPhee doesn't ring your bells, you better check for a pulse...LOL! And as for Simon forgetting her name, please. Simon knows exaclty what he's doing. She's gonna be a gold mine for him and will be the next American Idol.
2 - Ruthie
I watch American Idol..I love this show...except this season I don't like how some of the kids are singing adult sexual songs...its just gross.
I predicted Ace would win from the start...I still think he'll either win or be in the top three...he's adorable.
3 - Arch Conservative
First of all ACE is just a pretty face. The guy can't sing. Period. He should be the next to go.
Second, I've had just about all I can take from Kellie Pickler and her "vote for me because I'm so stupid in a cute sort of way," act. Last night when she said what's a ballsy I wanted Seacrest to whip out his unit and slap her across the face with it and say "that's a balsy bitch now get off the friggin show before I kill you."
4 - guerillabob
ELLIOT!!! man...
5 - Steve
My mother used to be a fan of Manilow's, I guess that's why I can like a few of his songs, unlike most guys. Judging from AI last night, he sure does know his musical jargon to be sure.
6 - NR Davis
Admittedly, I find a couple of Barry Manilow songs to be quite terrific. He's of course a talented, prolific songwriter and a legend and a knowledgeable music guy, blah, blah, blah. But he never heard of "Walking After Midnight." He's an icon for a certain segment of the mainstream, to be sure, but one would think his knowledge base would be wide enough to include more than Patsy Cline's "Crazy." I find that whole thing disconcerting.
"Simon knows exaclty what he's doing."
Sometimes I believe that to be true, but Simon's knowledge of anything beyond what the kids are buying in the UK and the US as shown by the pop-music charts can't amount to much. He doesn't know Live or the Red Hot Chili Peppers? Does he listen to anything beyond A-sides? And does he really think Chris' lack of originality and versatility is a positive thing? Ohhhhh-kay, he's entitled to his opinion. My thought now however is that the one judge with even a modicum of sense (if not sensitivity) is just as flawed as loopy Paula and the namedropping "hiphop" dawg who played with Journey.
7 - Mark Saleski
i found it very hard to believe that Barry Manilow had never heard of "Walking After Midnight".
8 - Steve
I believe the song Barry didn't know had a woman as the central character of the song, so Barry, being a guy, would have no need to know it, as he would never sing it himself anyway. I must confess, I have 12,000 songs in my collection and I don't know that tune either.
Re. Simon, well, he is a pop and 'popera' fan, not a rocker, so his ignorance of rockers is not surprising. He is a record executive who is looking for talented pop artists/singers that will sell. Why wouldn't his focus be what's popular in the Top 40 with the younger crowd???
9 - Joe Blow
Just for the record, Walking After Midnight was recording by Garth Brooks on the CD where the cover is black and white. Nice little version of it. I haven't heard half the songs on the 50's CD by Manilow, but I have heard Patsy Cline's Walkin After Midnight a million times.
10 - Steve
I guess if you're not a Garth Brooks or Patsy Cline fan, or not into country generally, then I guess one would not be likely to have heard it. I guess Barry and I fit all three categories above.
11 - Nancy
I have watched all the seasons of idol but this is the first time I have rewatched someone's performance over and over. ACE!! He's got something and I would buy his CD in a heartbeat. I hope he wins it all!!
12 - Ruth
I think that all the contestants can really sing well. But, my favorites are Katherine Mcphee, Ace, and Kelly Pickler. I sure hope that one of them wins--especially Katherine Mcphee.
13 - A Doctor
"A guest from TV Guide was on Fox and Friends this morning and said that Elliott wrestles daily with diabetes and wears a permanent insulin pump"
That guest was obviously not very well informed. Elliot probably does wrestle with diabetes daily and wears an insulin pump, but it is certainly not a permanent device. It can be removed whenever the user so desires. Using an insulin pump for better control and a more flexible lifestyle is a choice made by many thousands of diabetics (including entertainers and sports figures). For further information you can check out www.minimed.com which is the site for just one of the pump manufacturers.
Please stop publishing false information.