Luke Menard sang "Wake Me Up Before You Go" and it was such a lame rendition. And he didn't hit the high notes. I think that could be the worst opener ever. I completely agree with Simon that it sucked. Flat-out. And Paula is in rare form tonight.
(Random thought: I wonder if stripper-boy David Hernandez will get kicked off.)
I'm going to put all my thoughts in one entry tonight. Hope that's OK ... keep reading...
David Archuletta really is a born performer. His voice is so much bigger than he is. Very sultry for his age. He'll have a backup job as a 900-number operator. I agree with Simon, though, that David's gotta shed the gloom and doom. And his little afterspeech was the icing on the cake for Simon, I'm sure. Too bad they didn't show his reaction.
(Random thought: I predict Paula and Simon might get into a fight.)
(Random thought again: Did anyone else see Denise Richards in the audience?)
Danny Noriega: The. Elephant. Is. In. The. Room. The kid has a lot of confidence. Randy tried to point out Danny's shyness coming out of the gates, to which Simon replied "WHAT?" He is definitely not shy. Paula is awful. Can't she be absent once?
Stripper boy David pours his heart out. Interesting choice of songs. Now that I know he's a stripper, it's hard for me to take his rendition of Meat Loaf's "It's All Coming Back to Me" seriously. Just hearing him sing, "There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light...and nights of endless pleasure." I'm sure there were, David. I'm sure there were. (Didn't Celine sing that, too?)
Anyone who sings the "Breakfast Club" theme song gets my vote! (Can you tell I was an 80s kid?) I really like Michael's style. He makes good song choices. Apparently Randy doesn't know the difference between INXS and Simple Minds, seeing as he compared Michael to Michael Hutchins.
(Random thought: Paula is totally making statements tonight that should be followed by blackness and the empty sound of crickets.)
David Cook might be one of my favorites. I spent a chunk of my weekend listening to the ballads of old hair bands like Bon Jovi and Poison and Guns N Roses. I love that stuff (again, child of the 80s), and the fact that David Cook turned Lionel Richie's "Hello" into a rock ballad was genius. Total genius. I always thought that song needed something. Randy is spot-on with calling the rendition "brilliant." This guy is good. And finally Paula delivered a cohesive observance, intimating that David's a shining star. Hands down, best of the night at this point.
Is it me, or does Jason Castro have beautiful eyes? OK, on to the song. I don't know this song, but it seems like the right fit for Jason. I hate that I don't know this song. I like knowing songs that are a "tall order," as Randy said. Well, Hallelujah! He's staying, I can feel it. Simon calling anything "brilliant" is a feat in and of itself.
(Random thought: I might have a crush on Jason Castro.)
I hate, hate, hate the song Chikeze sang. I've always hated it. Hate is a strong word, I know. It's elevatorish and boring. It's what the piano dude would play on a Holland America cruise to a half-empty room of gray hairs. I wanted Chikeze to sing a Michael Jackson song. Maybe something from the "Off the Wall" album. He's got the voice. For sure.
My prediction? Bye, bye Luke. Pack your bags, Danny. (Or maybe David, or Chikeze. I don't know.)
I wonder what songs the girls will sing. Will someone try to pull off Madonna? I bet we'll hear another Heart song. Either rocker chick or Carly.
Comment away. What songs do you like? The 80s get me fired up.
Comments
[March 4, 2008 10:54 PM]
Jen (too)Luke - boring, ho hum please!
David A. - boring, please sing something upbeat soon
Danny - he just irks me - too many ways to describe - hope he gets voted off
David H. - stipper boy - ok performance
David C. - maybe the best of the night - love the song
Jason C - the dreads distract me - he looks like a girl
Michael - looks too old for the show, sang ok
Chikezie - go away now please.
[March 4, 2008 10:55 PM]
Jen (too) again...RE: Paula - I found myself saying what is she trying to say over and over again. If the show comes back for another season, maybe they could replace her.
[March 5, 2008 8:19 AM]
DiI have never read this blog before, but you are hilarious and a terrific writer. I rarely compliment bloggers on their writing because they are usually awful.
I agree with most of what you said, but I loved Chikizie.
[March 5, 2008 9:20 AM]
lindaI agree that david a. has star power and a great voice. David cook is multi-talented and should already be fronting a band as lead singer. Jason will be famous soon enough he is great. I love and can't take my eyes off michael johns when he gets on that stage. He has something special already and doesn't have to try to be a star he is a star. He may not have the best voice of the group but he has "IT" Yes he reminds me of michael hutchence but also has a lot of jim morrison in him and all of that is a good thing because its in him when he is being himself and not imitating them.
[March 5, 2008 9:40 AM]
MHmmm ... apparently you don't know much about INXS considering Michael's last name was Hutchence.
[March 6, 2008 3:28 PM]
wendyHey M,
Thanks for noticing my misspelling. Sometimes I'm writing so fast at night that I don't double check. And, actually you're right. I wasn't that big of a fan of INXS. :-)
[March 6, 2008 4:44 PM]
Amy Hanek : →http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.comAs I keep saying, Danny needs to go. He thinks he's cool, but lets face it folks - he's not.
David A. has proved himself a great singer, but without the right song he may lose his chance to become THE American Idol.
I love, Love, LOVED the "Breakfast Club" theme song. I wish there had more 80's songs to rock out to. It was what I, and most of America tuned in for - a blast from the past!