American Idol Results: 6 Become 5
The contestants begin the show singing a painful rendition of All I Ask of You from The Phantom of the Opera. Some of the boys were off key and the girls sounded strained and squeaky. Andrew Lloyd Webber takes the stage with Ryan to talk with the judges about the differences between singing in the theater and pop singing. He also pointed out Jason’s odd song choice once again. Time for the first of the eliminations and a word from the president and first lady, the first to the stage is or I should say are the Davids: Cook and Archuleta. Both Davids are safe, of course, and head to the safety couch.
Idol has been taking time to catch up with Idol alumni. Tamyra Gray is currently starring in Rent on Broadway. Clay Aiken is starring in Spamalot. Simon and Clive Davis worked together to produce tonight’s performer Leona Lewis. Her song has been blowing up on the radio lately and I can see why, it’s so catchy. Time for more eliminations and Syesha and Brook take the stage and I don’t know how, maybe pity. Brook is safe tonight and Syesha is in the bottom two. Carly and Jason take the stage to find out their results. Jason is safe and Carly is in the bottom two. The bottom two definitely shows that this is NOT just a singing competition, it is a popularity contest. Girls love Jason so he is safe and probably shouldn’t be. Brook got a huge pity vote and I think Carly is just too tattoed and real for the American Idol audience. I’m not sure what the heck Syesha did wrong though… There is always one surprise week.
Both bottom two contestants are asked to perform their songs again before the results are revealed. In the end Carly has to go home and Syesha is barely safe to sing at least one more week.
American Idol: 6 Finalists Take on Andrew Lloyd Webber
This week the idols are going to take on songs written by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber who is known for his award winning musical compositions. So why are pop idols even going to attempt not only musical theater, but some of the most difficult musical theater creations to sing. Perhaps you have heard of Evita, Sunset Boulevard, Cats, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat, and The Phantom of the Opera. This should be interesting; the top six will be pushed to their limits tonight.
Syesha Mercado
Song: One Rock and Roll Too Many –from Starlight Express
Overview: The song was a great choice for her because it has a jazzy edge. She did a have few small pitch problems but she played to the crowd and brought the personality. She had a big finish and that should help her in the memories of the viewers.
Judges:
R– Best performance to date so far
P– Brought the house down
S– Very sexy, showed masses of personality
Jason Castro
Song: Memory – from Cats
Overview: Crazy song choice here; Jason has a lot to work against being that the song is sung by an old dying cat. I think that it was a good thing that he had never seen the musical before because he didn’t have any preconceived ideas about what the song was. The performance was breathy and uniquely Jason. It was not great but it was okay.
Judges:
R– Vocal train wreck, too big of a song
P– Good choice and you put your influence on it
S– Like you were a young guy singing at a wedding that his parents forced him to sing
Brook White
Song: You Must Love Me – from Evita
Overview: This is a big song and has been performed by some big artists in the past so Brook has some large shoes to fill. She messed it all up when she stopped during the second line of the song and restarted. She sang the song on pitch and had the feeling behind the song but she didn’t sustain any of the big notes; something that is a must in musical theater. She did a decent enough job but restarting is really going to hurt her; she said that she “lost the lyric”.
Judges:
R– Wasn’t great but you did believe what you were singing
P– You must never start and stop, pick up the pieces
S– Restarting caused vocal tension and was uncomfortable
David Archuleta
Song: Think of Me – The Phantom of the Opera
Overview: I was so convinced that David was going to sing Any Dream Will Do, but thank goodness I was wrong. He chose to completely change a song that is usually sung by a very female, very soprano women. But I think he made a great choice. He made me an Archie believer this week. I love this song and I love Phantom and I still enjoyed his performance. He delivered all the pop vocal strength, well placed runs, and sincerity that he always does.
Judges:
R– Dude it was the bomb, the one to beat
P– Absolutely perfect on a risk
S– Pleasant, one of your weaker performances
Carly Smithson
Song: Jesus Christ Super Star – from Jesus Christ Super Star
Overview: A big song for a big voice, the only issue with this one is that Carly has to truly let it all hang out. I’m not sure the key of the song was in the best range for her but the song defiantly fit her. She rocked it and really went for it.
Judges:
R– Definitely Good
P– So unexpected, loved the chorus
S– One of my favorite performances of the night
David Cook
Song: Music of the Night – The Phantom of the Opera
Overview: This is my favorite song from Phantom so the idea of David Cook singing was exciting to me. I was so not expecting him to say that he grew up singing musical theater; he seems so far removed from that style now. He had a few issues with the lower pitches but when the song moved up in pitch he performance took flight. He connects so well with the audience and the camera. He is the only one who sang a Webber song true to how it would be performed on stage (at least up until his big ending). Not switching it up was the difference; that was the risk, and again I can’t say it enough: He is a star.
Judges:
R– Molten hot lava hot
P– So well rounded and have a beautiful instrument
S– Made the most of the song, prefer the grittier side
So I guess I am just a pessimist by nature; I was expecting the worst on “Webber Night” but I really didn’t have all that much to worry about. There were weak spots, pitch problems, and forgotten lyrics, but there were some good moments as well. Tomorrow’s bottom two is most certainly going to be comprised of one Ms. Brook White and one Mr. Jason Castro. If they have a third bottom player in the mix expect Syesha to join them. The only certainty after this week is that the Davids are very much safe and will battle to the end. It’s starting to get serious! Tune in tomorrow for the results.
American Idol Results: 7 Become 6
So will we have another hugely surprising elimination this week as well? Will we lose one of the super David’s or perhaps a crooning Castro? Let’s hope not. The show starts off with Idols singing the Mariah Carey/Boys II Men hit One Sweet Day; parts of the song were really a struggle for many. (Except for Archuleta and Cook of course, Syesha wasn’t too bad either). Good thing they weren’t being judges on this performance. After a recap of last night the eliminations begin. First to the stage is Jason Castro (and the girls scream) who is asked to stand to Ryan’s left. Crap! Another safe group not safe group night, I hate these. David Cook takes the stage to another standing o and is put on the right side of the stage… uh oh for Jason I think. Carly is next and joins Jason. Kristy Lee is added to the David Cook side.
The last three are left to worry about their fate while Elliott Yamin performs (and it was a really good one) followed by more grouping. Syesha is asked to join Jason and Carly. Brook joins David and Kristy Lee. Poor Archuleta is left backstage alone throughout not only a commercial break but phone calls as well, so mean. After many phone calls Mariah takes the stage to sing into a bedazzled microphone. She did a terrible job as she always does live nowadays. It’s a shame; she used to be such a vocal diva but now she’s just kinda sad. I saw her years ago at the Concert for America and she was crumbling then.
Finally Archuleta will find out which group he will end up in. He finally comes to the stage and is given safety… he has not group, lol. Hmmm this is odd now, David Cook is asked to switch with Syesha. Then Archuleta is asked to join the group that thinks that he thinks is safe. The safe group is Jason Carly and David Cook. The bottom three is made up of Brook, Syesha, and Kristy Lee.
I wasn’t too far off with my prediction last night, just substitute my Carly pick with Kristy Lee. I definitely agree that Brook belonged in the bottom three after the debacle she called a song last night. The singing was weak and there where many mistakes on her piano accompaniment. I had thought Carly would be there because she didn’t have the fan base but I was, thankfully, wrong. I think that she deserves to stay. Syesha is just boring and will stay in the bottom until she goes home sooner than later. Of the bottom three, the first sent to the safety couch is Syesha so that means one of the blondes is on her way home, but which one: country or singer/songwriter? Going home tonight is Kristy Lee Cook. She had one of her better performance last night and Brook had her worst but overall I think the weaker singer was sent packing.
American Idol: 7 Finalists Sing Mariah; David Cook is STILL a Star
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?)
American Idol Results: 8 Become 7
A day late, yes, but for a good cause; it is once again time to kick off one of the American Idol finalists. The show starts off with a recap of last night’s charity driven event. For anyone who didn’t watch did miss some good musical performances and some pretty funny moments as well. The night raised (so far) more than 60 million dollars and countless pledges volunteer hours. We got to here the contestants rendition of Shout to the Lord one last time and then it’s back to business as usual. First to learn their destiny was Brook who is safe and heads to that ugly blue couch. David Cook is second to the stage (to many shouts and screams) and after an uncharacteristically mediocre performance remains safe this week, I’m sure he’ll be ready to impress next week. David Archuleta is next up before the break and he is also safe. I wonder if this is going to be like last year when they didn’t eliminate anyone during Idol Gives Back week. I bet they will just add this week’s voting to next week’s tallies.
Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown perform their smash hit No Air. Ryan also brought out plaques and announced that Jordan’s album has gone gold and she has towo platinum singles. Congrats to Jordan. Time for more results (fake results?) Jason takes the stage and is also safe. Okay I have to be right … four for four safe is more than fishy when there are only eight people competing. Kristy Lee is also safe. There is no way that Syesha, Carly, and Michael are this weeks bottom three I just will not believe that Michael dropped so low. But man was I wrong, Michael is going home. I have no idea why, there are multiple people that were worse than him. It seems kinda mean to get rid of him after what they did at this time last year. Oh well, I guess Idol can’t give back to everyone. I was really wrong in this week’s predictions. Tune in next week.
AG Reality TV: Daily Recaps and Opinions 