I think I need to take back what I said about Kristy Lee Cook in my previous entry. Last night's performance was indeed her best. She finally got to sing that song she's been practicing in front of the mirror for years (in this case Martina McBride's "Anyway") and it showed. I think she saved herself this week. She may not need her "Kristy's seat" card afterall.
My prediction for the bottom three after last night? Syesha Mercado, Brooke White and either Carly Smithson or Michael Johns. (Hopefully not Carly!!)
Keep dreamin', Michael
Michael sang big ol' Aerosmith's big ol' "Dream On" and tried to sing it just as big. It didn't quite work for me. He did hit the high notes (not nearly as screechy-smooth as Steven Tyler), but the effort seemed a little extensive. You can always tell when Michael doesn't feel 100 percent comfortable with a song. Think about his performance last week compared to this one. He commanded the stage last week; this week he held on for dear life.
sYESha, uh, no
Syesha was back to her old boring self last night. I didn't watch "American Idol" the season Fantasia won, but apparently Syesha tried to pull off "Believe," and the judges quickly let her know she didn't stack up. It's kind of like when contestants sing "You're Going to Love Me" the way Jennifer Hudson did. (Although last season LaKisha Jones did a mighty fine job.)
Jason turns on the charm
Dreamy Jason Castro picked the perfect song. At first I feared the cheese that might ooze from his potentially trippy version of Iz Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over the Rainbow," but Jason's eyes and his ukelele (OK, and his voice) won me over yet again. I kind of want to skip through a meadow with him, hand-in-hand.
David Cook not so innocent
David Cook's song choice - "Innocent" by Our Lady Peace -- didn't really work for him last night. When David doesn't have his guitar to hide behind, his performances usually suffer. No different last night. His voice isn't as strong. And his attire was a little too Euro Elton Johnish. The whole thing was conflicted from the get-go.
Queen Carly lets me down
Oh, Carly. What did you do? (Don't worry, I voted for you!) I wasn't a fan of "The Show Must Go On." I'm not even a fan of the Queen version. I wish she would've picked Pat Benatar's "We Belong." I don't know what my obsession is with Pat Benatar lately. Brooke White started it. Seriously, I had to agree with Randy on this one that Carly's performance was just OK. And I hate that because it'll likely land her smack in the bottom three. Carly isn't America's favorite, it seems. I fear I have to pull the weight on this one because it is true that her voice is better than all the other lady contestants. Fingers crossed.
The drool continues over David Archuleta
How did I know that David Archuleta would sing the slowest song ever and bore me to tears? All night I kept saying, "David's got a fabulous voice. I understand why the judges drool all over him." But, at the end of the day, he's boring. Boring. BORING. And his CDs will be littered with ballads and nothing else. Remember when he tried to sing a fast song during Beatles week? Yeah, exactly. Boring ol' ballads.
'You've got a friend' in me, Brooke White
Brooke White, also one of my faves, sang Carole King's "You've Got a Friend." Seemed like the perfect Brooke White inspirational song, but it ended up more like a second-round audition performance. Nothing to it. I just kept thinking "Jason and Brooke, sittin' in a tree .... "
So, that leaves me with my prediction. Syesha, Carly (no, no!) or Michael Johns, and Brooke White (no, no! ... but eventually).
Have at it...
Comments
[April 9, 2008 9:28 AM]
Guess againI think David Cook might be in some trouble tonight. I hope he doesn't get voted off, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was near the bottom.
[April 9, 2008 9:56 AM]
MaryDon't forget that David A. wowed the judges when he sang the up-tempo "Shop Around" during the top 24 week!
[April 9, 2008 10:04 AM]
Flo SielaffIf I hadn't seen the show before I'd be picking David Cook as one of the bottom 3. But, I think his past performance will hold him in for another week. He was terrible last night. Your comments get dittos from me.
I think the 3 bottom ones this week will be Jason, Syesha, and Brooke.
Jason has a great fan base, but cutsie just doesn't cut if for me. He doesn't have what it takes to be 'the' idol.
Brooke's personality & stage presence are great, but I haven't thought much of her singing. However, I thought the song she picked last night was a great choice for her but she needed to be singing it a key or 2 higher. It was flat.
David Archuleta was amazing, as he is most weeks.
Carly? She's one of my favorites, but last night she started out great and ended up on lousy notes. She blamed the look on Simon's face, but that's not a good enough excuse.
[April 9, 2008 10:40 AM]
soco63I have to disagree with you about David A. He actually did a great job with Shop Around and We Can Work It Out. (studio version) I think you'd be surprised how well he can sing upbeat songs. I will absolutely be first in line to buy his CD when it comes out- can't wait!
[April 9, 2008 11:06 AM]
LuluYeah, the night was a little dull. But it was the first time I voted for Jason twice! I love that song, and it was perfect for him. And I'm a Michael Johns fan, so even tho he was off, I want to keep him on. But you're right. Kristy Lee was in her element last night, and is probably safe. Worst performance for me? David Cook. The whole thing just didn't make any sense and he sounded TERRIBLE in the beginning, when he was singing low.
[April 9, 2008 5:10 PM]
KennedyDavid Cook has been awesome all season - until last night. The song was indulgent and just bad. He might be in the bottom three this week – we’ll know how fervent his fan base is after this pitiful mess of a performance.
Syesha continues her plastic imitation of another singer routine, and will be in the bottom three.
Kristie Lee looked great, sang great, had a great intro video, and will likely avoid being in the bottom three this week. This girl is savvy and a survivor. Soon, she will be performing at rodeos all over these United States.
Carly, who badly needs to cover up those tats to advance in this show, is probably on the way out if someone goes home this week. No one booed Simon’s snarky comments about “what’s the name of that Irish girl” this week. She also should have told her husband to stay home--America just doesn’t vote for circus freaks or their spouses. I’m not convinced they will send anyone home on Idol Gives Back week, though.
David A is the most boring tweener-bait, most-likely-to-be-asked-to-the-Sadie-Hawkins-dance, Up With People wannabe in the history of AI. Clay Aiken without the personality. He'll sail through to the finals based on the texting fingers of the tweeners.
Jason Castro, whose weak, breathy voice is shockingly still in the competition, picked a great song for his base voters, and should sail through this week. Too Bad.
Brooke, Brooke, Brooke. My lord, why did you wear that dress? I think her trip to the bottom three last week really knocked the wind out of her. She needs to stop crying. Tell your family to stay at home if they make you cry. We all know you want to stay on the show – earn it. Just knock out the song. This should have been in her wheelhouse, but came off sounding desperate.
Michael Johns. My wife loves you, but won’t get up and dial the phone for you. Michael is the odd man out of the boys, I fear. He cannot find a niche and fill it, and comes up short when compared to the other three boys’ niches. Besides, tweeners think he is as old as their dads - yuck! A likely bottom three contestant this week.
[April 9, 2008 5:19 PM]
WendyHey Kennedy,
I laughed out loud (yes, LOL'd!) at the rodeo remark. I will say I don't quite agree with your theory on Carly's tattoos. Or the "circus freak" comment. But hey, I think we're eye to eye on everyone else for the most part.
[April 9, 2008 7:13 PM]
patriciaAfter the stunning performance by Kristi Lee Cook she has earned herself a lucrative country western recording contract.To go thru the pressure the past few weeks of being in the bottom 3 and to bounce back with a great performance shows she is a super person. Go Kristy!!
[April 10, 2008 6:43 AM]
Jen (too)like i said on the other blog, that was the most boring and depressing inpspirational music i've heard. david cook was arrogant, carly does need to wear some long sleeves, jason needs to go home. sorry i know you like him, but he irks me with that bambi-deer in the headlights look. kristy lee - i just don't care for her - sound like most other country music stars at this point - good imitation singer - i still say carolina opry is her destiny.
michael johns - uh no, what's w/ his and d.cook's hair? anyone got a brush? syesha - ugh, david a. - whiney, nasally singer... maybe it's time to turn the channel...
[April 11, 2008 10:38 AM]
KennedyI confess that I was surprised that both Carly and Syesha outlasted Michael on the show, but, upon reflection, I believe last night’s results reflect the niche voting that is occurring this season.
As I previously opined, Michael was the odd man out among the boys, trying to compete with David Cook for the male rocker mantle, and consistently coming up short in comparison. Eventual winner David A owns tweeners, crooner lover, and the grandma voting blocs, and Jason owns the stoners.
Each of the girls had their own niche going into this week: Kristy was country, Syesha was Whitney, Carly was the female rocker (Amanda was her only challenge for that mantle), and Brooke is Adult Contemporary.
With the last of the clearly-defined niches now out of the way, it will be interesting to see which contestant can get their disparate voting blocs to call in on a weekly basis, and which contestant can poach votes from the others to try to stay in the game.
David Cook and Carly are both trying for the rocker vote, and I think this will spell continuing trouble for Carly, in addition to her other shortcomings. I doubt David Cook will have two pitiful performances in a row.
Brooke and Syesha are, in essence, vying for the same type of voter, and I do not believe either will remain over the next four weeks. In fact, if I were a bettor, I’d say each of the next five week will see a girl leaving (including the testosterone-challenged Jason).
From here on out, the only thing that would really surprise me is if David Archuletta is not in the finals. I suppose the puberty fairy could finally find David A and his voice might start changing over the next few of weeks, and he has struggled at times with his lyrics. And he might also be caught in another whopper of a lie in his video segments.
Naaaah. He’s going to win this thing, nothing will stop him.