This week is going to seem odd without Michael Johns, I think we all liked having more than one token rocker in the competition and now that is all over.  So sad.  Anyway, the seven remaining singers were mentored by Mariah Carey this week, not only were the mentored by her they were also asked to perform one of her songs.  This could end badly.  I can see many bad high notes in our future.

                                               

David Archuleta

Song: When You Believe

Overview: This song was a great choice for David (the leather pants, I’m not so sure).  He started off solidly and he performed the build into the chorus well. He also added plenty of his runs that Randy so loves. He did a good job with a very famous song and he didn’t over sing his high notes.

Judges:

        R- “You can sing anything”, the bomb  

        P- Made Mariah proud

        S- Knew you were going to chose that song, very very good

 

Carly Smithson

Song: Without You

Overview:  This classic song is a tough one to take on but Carly definitely has the vocal strength for it.  She arranged the song in a way to not only work but compliment her voice.  The song didn’t have its original emotional feeling but it was still very good.

Judges:

        R- The power part was good, but trust you lower range

        P- Showed vocal restraint and then

        S- Didn’t pull it off though capable of it

 

Syesha Mercado

Song:  Vanishing

Overview: The song was written and sung by a young Mariah so it should be a good fit for Syesha’s voice.  The only problem with this song is that it is not one of the really well known Mariah songs, so the audience may not take to it as well as some of the others. She finished strong though there were one or two iffy pitches along the way.

Judges:

R- Toughest song, did a good job

P- Smart to pick a song that won’t cause people compare you to Mariah

S- Shouldn’t have chose an unknown song

 

Brook White

Song: Hero

Overview: This is one of the most famous of all of the Mariah songs and any mistakes will show. Brook, on the piano again, starts a bit pitchy but comes into the song quickly. She sang the song okay enough (but did have many pitch problems) and she did try to make it her own.  But the song seemed to be too big for her voice.  She seemed to be shaking with nervousness throughout the whole performance.

Judges:

        R- Appreciate the singer song writer look/flair

        P- Totally authentic and sounded good, but a few off notes

        S- Like ordering a hamburger and only getting a bun, no meat

 

Kristy Lee Cook

Song: Forever

Overview: This is one of my favorite Mariah songs so I was a little scared seeing that Kristy Lee was performing it.  But I didn’t have anything to worry about.  The song, oddly enough, fit her country sound well.  She put the right feeling and build into the song.  This was one of her better performances.

Judges:

        R- Some pitch problems but good

        P- Picking the right songs, blown away

        S- Managed with what you could, wasn’t great

 

David Cook

Song: Always be My Baby

Overview: This song is another big hit of Mariah’s and it will be a hard sell as a male acoustic song. Risks usually seem to pay off for David and this one did.  The song built from a quiet acoustic number into a true haunting rock ballad. He can make anything memorable. Love, love, love it. Like I said weeks ago: David Cook is a star.

Judges:

        R- Ready to make an album, brilliant

        P- Awesome, You’re it; the whole package

S- A breath of fresh air, original and daring

 

Jason Castro

Song: I Don’t Want to Cry

Overview: I feel bad that Jason has such a memorable act to follow. Jason is going to be himself regardless of what happens before or after him.  The song was a good choice for his style but he did have a few pitch problems.  He put soul and feeling into what otherwise could run the risk of become a dry song. It was not his best but it was good enough to keep him around.

Judges:

        R- Didn’t get it, like distant music at a luau

P- Getting so confident and in the zone

        S- Cool version, the guys won the night (Amen Simon)

 

So there you have it, Mariah Carey on Idol.  It was interesting to say the least some people struggled others where amazing.  I think that David Cook definitely distanced himself from the pack as a true star in the making.  Archuleta is not far behind.  The girl’s talent still pales in comparison to the guys.  Tomorrow’s bottom three are Brook, Carly, and Syesha.  Tune in tomorrow for the results.  (And was it just me or was Paula particularly out of it tonight?)