We'll move onto my first predicted ouster as a result of the Manilow evening of performances. Lisa Tucker finished ominously in the bottom three last week. She looked cute as a ladybug in a colorful ménage of cropped pants topped with a red shirt covered with a blue jacket, a cool hip look that captured the retro look with a current day ambience. Tucker sang "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", made famous by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. I thought Lisa's voice faded at times. Simon declared she looked as if participating in a "high school musical" and for once, I think Simon nailed it.
I predict Lisa will be booted on elimination night.
Elliott Yamin was the male performer who reinforced my contention that males of the species do not like Barry Manilow. Indeed, Elliott told the host that before actually meeting songster Barry that he didn't like Manilow music and inferred that he had a bit of derision for the man. Of course, a young singer like Elliott would likely not consider Manilow a singer to emulate. And of course, Yamin declared lustily that after meeting Barry he adored the man with a newfound respect. Well we'll just assume this is the truth for now.
Yamin sang a song from the '50s I've never heard of: "Teach Me Tonight" by Al Jarreau. Dressed in casual jeans topped by an unusual combination of a dress shirt and tie, Yamin performed very well for a song outside of his genre.
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. She also said that Yamin does not practice before his performances.
On to Kevin Covais, the young crooner with a marvelous voice accompanied by a "Fearless Fly" appearance. I think this fellow surely is waiting for the hammer to drop on him any day. Perhaps in this week's elimination rounds if Lisa Tucker doesn't beat him to it.
It was evident that Covais was appealing directly to his audience of nine and ten year-olds when he sat down for his song performance, dressed in a child-like T-shirt and casual jeans. In his pre-performance vignette, Covais appealed to his base of female youngster fans when he mentioned that he chose Nat King Cole's "When I Fall In Love" as his song for the evening because he too has yet to experience true love and this song is his benchmark mood-maker for when that gleeful day will finally arrive.
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.