tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76365616572339331252024-03-13T11:51:00.296-04:00American Idol - I'm the One That You WantUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger306125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-25801064243132120352009-05-20T19:31:00.046-04:002009-05-21T08:56:57.465-04:00American Idol Season 8The Finale Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVNZwPcxrI/AAAAAAAAMls/918Oim1WoSE/s1600-h/P2+Kris+Allen+new+American+Idol+01+1000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVNZwPcxrI/AAAAAAAAMls/918Oim1WoSE/s400/P2+Kris+Allen+new+American+Idol+01+1000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338258038159361714" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">THE WINNER OF AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 8:<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">KRIS ALLEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span><br /><br />(<span style="font-weight: bold;">Note:</span> Click on photos to enlarge)<br /><br />We have to admit, we're surprised to be saying that this was one of the most entertaining "American Idol" finale shows ever. And, perhaps, the only performance show in recent memory that came in on time. After <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> warned us on Tuesday to set extra time on our DVR's because the show was going to run over, it actually ran just the 2 hrs. and 7 min. it was supposed to. It speaks to the entire season. Whereas in past seasons the show rarely ran past its allotted time <span style="font-style: italic;">except</span> for the finale, Season 8 turned out to be the anomaly right down to the very last episode.<br /><br />There were very few unwanted or slow moments in the finale, and most of the musical performances were as electric and enjoyable as we had hoped. Segments we could have lived -- happily -- without, included the always stupid Golden Awards Awards (well, perhaps except for the Katrina "Bikini Girl" Derrell one) and Rod Stewart, who has no voice left but doesn't know when to say "no" to an invitation to <del>be a train wreck</del> perform.<br /><br />Ryan tells us there were just under 100 million votes -- the most ever -- though the David-David 2008 duel garnered 97.5 million votes, so the difference this year doesn't seem overwhelming. More interesting: Billy Bush tweeted that a source high up told him that the voting, in spite of what DialIdol.com showed, <span style="font-style: italic;">was not</span> close, while AT&T reports that about 38 million votes came from Arkansas, Kris Allen's home state. Unreal. Those people know how to back their hometown hero.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUoeqy1toI/AAAAAAAAMjk/8dX44Wg2y1o/s1600-h/P2+Ryan+Seacrest,+Adam+Lambert,+Kris+Allen+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUoeqy1toI/AAAAAAAAMjk/8dX44Wg2y1o/s400/P2+Ryan+Seacrest,+Adam+Lambert,+Kris+Allen+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338217440666302082" border="0" /></a>Before the opening number, Ryan brings out <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> dressed in white suits. We see shots of their hometown parties, with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Mikalah Gordon</span> hosting in Conway, Ark., and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carly Smithson</span> in San Diego. Carly says she couldn't bring it home for San Diego last year, but hopes Adam will this year. The city will be disappointed for the second year in a row. The opening number has the Top 13 all dressed in white as well to sing Pink's anthemic "So What." It is in the best cheesy "Idol" Group Song tradition, though poor <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span> still looks like he's out of sync and lip-syncing. Gah, what's the tour going to be like with things like that?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUgN0GVVQI/AAAAAAAAMjE/002-jlPUyD8/s1600-h/P2+Top+13+So+What+04+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUgN0GVVQI/AAAAAAAAMjE/002-jlPUyD8/s400/P2+Top+13+So+What+04+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338208355013186818" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5123046/13578659" target="0">Watch video of the Top 13 singing "So What"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUiTcp_heI/AAAAAAAAMjM/x3QMnwztJ5Y/s1600-h/P2+David+Cook+Permanent+04+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUiTcp_heI/AAAAAAAAMjM/x3QMnwztJ5Y/s400/P2+David+Cook+Permanent+04+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338210650822772194" border="0" /></a>Season 7 winner <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Cook</span> takes the stage to sing "Permanent" in tribute to his late brother Adam. He looks and sounds good. After he finishes, he tells Ryan, who looks slightly uncomfortable with the discussion, that the performance will go up on iTunes with all money being donated to research to end cancer. Cook tells Ryan that he's met broth Kris and Adam and that not only as both great singers, they are great guys, ending with, "I don’t know that America can get this wrong." During the past year, Cook has proved himself to be an Idol in every sense of the word and we applaud him.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5122715/13578132" target="0">Watch video of David Cook singing "Permanent"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUlDqKOVPI/AAAAAAAAMjU/Kf16s0mS7Rc/s1600-h/P2+Nick+Mitchell+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUlDqKOVPI/AAAAAAAAMjU/Kf16s0mS7Rc/s400/P2+Nick+Mitchell+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338213678104597746" border="0" /></a>The first moment we could have lived without arrives: the return of the Golden Idol Awards. The first award goes to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Nick Mitchell/Normund Gentle</span> who performs again. Sorry, it's not funny the fifth time. It's wasn't even funny the fourth time. Hit the fast forward button for the first time Wednesday night.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> joins <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Queen Latifah</span> for the night's first duet, "Cue the Rain." It's not really our cup of tea, and in spite of who she's singing with, Lil still isn't being what the judges hoped all season she would turn out to be. Plus her vocals leave much to be desired. How could this woman have started the season as Idol's great female hope?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUmwESR3MI/AAAAAAAAMjc/N8theMlysRQ/s1600-h/P2+Lil+Rounds,+Queen+Latifah+Cue+the+Rain+02+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUmwESR3MI/AAAAAAAAMjc/N8theMlysRQ/s400/P2+Lil+Rounds,+Queen+Latifah+Cue+the+Rain+02+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338215540543577282" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5123225/13579079" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds and Queen Latifah singing "Cue the Rain"</a><br /><br />Back from commercial with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span> joining <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jason Mraz</span> to sing his hit "I'm Yours." We love this song, even if it was played about a thousand times on "Idol" this season, between the auditions and Hollywood Week. Unfortunately, Alexis, no longer dirrrty looking now that she's not competing on the show or even going on the tour, isn't sounding too good either, and Anoop certainly doesn't sound like he's at the top of his game. Are they overtired from too many rehearsals or is this just confirming that this season's crop of finalists were less than stellar with a few exceptions?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUryADKfRI/AAAAAAAAMj0/y2Hq1L2MM-g/s1600-h/jason+mraz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUryADKfRI/AAAAAAAAMj0/y2Hq1L2MM-g/s400/jason+mraz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338221071324314898" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL5SpYvEKlI" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai, Alexis Grace and Jason Mraz singing "I'm Yours"</a><br /><br />When we first heard that Jason Mraz was going to be on the finale, we'd figured that he would be a natural matchup with Kris on a duet, since Kris is so often compared with him in style. So we were somewhat surprised to hear that Kris' duet would be with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Keith Urban</span>. But they fit -- and sang -- together perfectly. Their rendition of "Kiss the Girl" was one of our favorite segments of the evening. Kris seems a natural as a country star. More! More!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUqLzJ-H7I/AAAAAAAAMjs/3e5MxGPDKYw/s1600-h/P2+Kris+Allen,+Keith+Urban+Kiss+A+Girl+02+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUqLzJ-H7I/AAAAAAAAMjs/3e5MxGPDKYw/s400/P2+Kris+Allen,+Keith+Urban+Kiss+A+Girl+02+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338219315516546994" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5122530/13577823" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen and Keith Urban singing "Kiss the Girl"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUuxABRxwI/AAAAAAAAMj8/p3lvbVPD7-o/s1600-h/P2+Black+Eyed+Peas+intro+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUuxABRxwI/AAAAAAAAMj8/p3lvbVPD7-o/s400/P2+Black+Eyed+Peas+intro+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338224352671418114" border="0" /></a>The Top 13 girls sing "Glamorous," with painful solos by (especially) Megan Joy and Jasmine Murray. C'mon, why thehell were these two Wild Card choices? They s-u-c-k. This is all to introduce Black Eyed Peas with hot-looking Fergie to sing a censored version of "Boom Boom Pow."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUvWdm6W-I/AAAAAAAAMkE/7Xc5yRCRFfY/s1600-h/P2+Black+Eyed+Peas+medley+with+Fergie+03+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUvWdm6W-I/AAAAAAAAMkE/7Xc5yRCRFfY/s400/P2+Black+Eyed+Peas+medley+with+Fergie+03+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338224996269054946" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5123381/13579449" target="0">Watch video of Black Eyed Peas with Fergie singing "Boom Boom Pow"</a><br /><br />Yes, yes, we know we said we hated the Golden Idol Awards, and we particularly hated <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">"Bikini Girl" Katrina Darrell</span> from her first smug appearance on Season 8. But having her back for the finale was worth it, if just to see <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> humiliate her. Sure, she was in on the joke, but it was still worth it. After they show Kara critiquing Katrina's audition and "Bikini Girl" tells Kara that *snap* "your demonstration wasn't any better," Ryan announces that Derrell has won the Best Attitude award. She bounces onstage in her bikini and new pair of knockers, courtesy of the Kellie Pickler School of Makeovers. She kisses Ryan and tells us, "And he kissed back this time." Seacrest then says to Derrell, "I was going to ask you what's new, but I think I know." Ryan asks her to take another shot at singing "Vision of Love." We hope she was intentionally singing that badly, but as she does, the curtain behind her opens and Kara begins to belt out the song. At the end, DioGuardi rips open her dress (for charity we find out later) to reveal a black bikini. Props to DioGuardi for the sketch and for the killer vocals. It's the most enjoyment she's provided all season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUzQ3GT-JI/AAAAAAAAMkM/EVpLEihdGL8/s1600-h/P2+Katrina+%27%27Bikini+Girl%27%27+Darrell,+Kara+DioGuardi+sing+Vision+of+Love+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUzQ3GT-JI/AAAAAAAAMkM/EVpLEihdGL8/s400/P2+Katrina+%27%27Bikini+Girl%27%27+Darrell,+Kara+DioGuardi+sing+Vision+of+Love+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338229298078939282" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvsdn_iVCjU" target="0">Watch video of Bikini Girl Katrina Darrell face off with Kara DioGuardi</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Cyndi Lauper</span> team up for "Time After Time," with Allison once again proving why she was the last female left standing. Lauper mostly plays the autoharp while Iraheta handles the majority of the vocals. It was a terrific and memorable pairing. How about bringing Lauper back as a mentor?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU0zuXTkKI/AAAAAAAAMkU/n9q61tSXkxA/s1600-h/P2+Allison+Ireheta+and+Cyndi+Lauper+02+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU0zuXTkKI/AAAAAAAAMkU/n9q61tSXkxA/s400/P2+Allison+Ireheta+and+Cyndi+Lauper+02+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338230996541345954" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5122616/13577998" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta and Cyndi Lauper singing "Time after Time"</a><br /><br />Another pairing that works really well is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lionel Richie</span>. Danny opens by singing "Hello." It's OK, but it ain't gonna make anyone forget David Cook's amazing Season 7 rendition, and why even remind them. It's isn't doing Gokey any favors. Richie comes out to join Gokey for more of Lionel's hits, ending with a fun and rousing version "All Night Long." Richie looks and sounds excellent and would also make a great mentor. It's another More! More! moment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU2gz2qM0I/AAAAAAAAMkc/tPoaMNJUe-U/s1600-h/P2+Danny+Gokey+and+Lionel+Ritchie+02+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU2gz2qM0I/AAAAAAAAMkc/tPoaMNJUe-U/s400/P2+Danny+Gokey+and+Lionel+Ritchie+02+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338232870620771138" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5122783/13578256" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey and Lionel Richie singing a medley of Richie songs</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU7rfz3h1I/AAAAAAAAMkk/qErZgBlJjqE/s1600-h/P2+Adam+Lambert+01+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU7rfz3h1I/AAAAAAAAMkk/qErZgBlJjqE/s400/P2+Adam+Lambert+01+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338238551777052498" border="0" /></a>Next came THE singing moment of the night. Adam takes the stage to sing in a jacket with metal angel-like wings and HUGE platform shoes. Forget guyliner, he's got the whole guy makeup box on his face, complete with glittery guy shadow. Frankly, he looks fabulous. He begins to sing "Beth," but this is just a lead-in for his medley with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">KISS</span>. They're decorative background as Adam breaks free and soars, almost literally bringing down the house on his last note of "Rock and Roll All Night." It leaves us breathless. The audience goes ber-serk. We wonder if Kris wins, are they gonna boo him? Yikes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU70kG8diI/AAAAAAAAMks/-sxuPsQGFK8/s1600-h/P2+Adam+Lambert,+KISS+02+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU70kG8diI/AAAAAAAAMks/-sxuPsQGFK8/s400/P2+Adam+Lambert,+KISS+02+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338238707549632034" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5122419/13577618" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing with KISS</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carlos Santana</span> takes the stage for "Black Magic Woman." When the song hits the verse, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> does the honors, later joined by the rest of the Top 13 for "Smooth." It is their best moment as a group for the night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU9elqZnRI/AAAAAAAAMk0/Sbkfvhm9IU8/s1600-h/P2+Top+13+Santana+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShU9elqZnRI/AAAAAAAAMk0/Sbkfvhm9IU8/s400/P2+Top+13+Santana+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338240529032912146" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5124028/13580736" target="0">Watch video of the Top 13 and Santana performing "Black Magic Woman"</a><br /><br />It's time for the last Ford commercial of the year, featuring highlights of ads from this season with Adam and Kris singing "I Will Remember You." They sound good together and hopefully will duet on tour. There's then a video of David Cook surprising Adam and Kris with the keys to their new Ford Fusions. Can we have one, too?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVAu_gspvI/AAAAAAAAMk8/SVdIV2aGTms/s1600-h/ford.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 243px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVAu_gspvI/AAAAAAAAMk8/SVdIV2aGTms/s400/ford.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338244109384328946" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5122752/13578193" target="0">Watch video of Ford Commercial "I Will Remember You" and Kris Allen and Adam Lambert receiving Ford Fusions from David Cook</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Sarver</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span> sing "Pretty Flowers" accompanied by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Steve Martin</span> on the banjo. The music is much better than the singing. He sounds OK but unimpressive, her voice is not only off key, but harsh sounding, as well. Just don't understand these two as Top 10 contestants when there were so many better than them in the Top 36.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVDGDHi19I/AAAAAAAAMlE/EZbCmPp2uig/s1600-h/P2+Megan+Joy,+Michael+Sarver,+Steve+Martin+03+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVDGDHi19I/AAAAAAAAMlE/EZbCmPp2uig/s400/P2+Megan+Joy,+Michael+Sarver,+Steve+Martin+03+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338246704512817106" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5123086/13578774" target="0">Watch video of Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Steve Martin singing "Pretty Flowers"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVJT_dVskI/AAAAAAAAMlU/HDJLktioSyQ/s1600-h/P2+Top+13+males+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVJT_dVskI/AAAAAAAAMlU/HDJLktioSyQ/s400/P2+Top+13+males+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338253541118423618" border="0" /></a>And then, the moment we coulda and shoulda lived without. The Top 13 guys sing "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" Answer (with a few exceptions): "No." This is a lead-in to guest performer <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Rod Stewart</span>, who should be resting on his laurels rather than proving that his has no voice left. But, of course, if you've heard any of his standards CDs, you already knew that. He barely makes it down the stairs without falling (this is sad), then croaks his way through "Maggie May." And, oh, god, please stop trying to do dance moves. Between that and his horrid plaid tux jacket, he looks like a caricature of your drunk uncle from the worst family wedding video. He gets to the line: "You made a first-class fool out of me," and we're thinking, "Er, no, Rod, you did that to yourself," as Carrie Underwood, sitting prettily in the audience, graciously claps along to the beat. Man, Stewart actually made the Top 13 sound good. Scary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVJK_zQA0I/AAAAAAAAMlM/pBDq1I7d5p0/s1600-h/Rod+Stewart+06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVJK_zQA0I/AAAAAAAAMlM/pBDq1I7d5p0/s400/Rod+Stewart+06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338253386591503170" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5123352/13579339" target="0">Watch video of the Top 13 boys singing "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" and Rod Stewart singing "Maggie May"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVLG9uXaxI/AAAAAAAAMlc/WBNH1Iid9gM/s1600-h/P2+Adam+Lambert+and+Kris+Allen+perform+01+1000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVLG9uXaxI/AAAAAAAAMlc/WBNH1Iid9gM/s400/P2+Adam+Lambert+and+Kris+Allen+perform+01+1000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338255516337924882" /></a>Enough of the lowlights, it's time for another highlight, as Kris and Adam begin to sing "We Are the Champions" together, then are joined by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Queen</span>. Cool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVLwGXHF4I/AAAAAAAAMlk/5sJY1vMS-RE/s1600-h/P2+Queen+01+1000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVLwGXHF4I/AAAAAAAAMlk/5sJY1vMS-RE/s400/P2+Queen+01+1000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338256223030941570" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5122473/13577755" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert and Kris Allen singing "We Are the Champions" with Queen</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVOS9p2bUI/AAAAAAAAMl0/dQQz2iEFOSE/s1600-h/Adam,+Kris.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVOS9p2bUI/AAAAAAAAMl0/dQQz2iEFOSE/s400/Adam,+Kris.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338259021012299074" /></a>Finally, it's the moment of truth. For the last time this season, Ryan calls for the lights to be dimmed. We're sure the majority of people watching thought that Adam had it in the bag, so we can't even imagine their shock when Ryan said "Kris Allen." Kris was so stunned, he started laughing, then told Ryan, "It feels good man, but Adam deserves this." Ha! No Idol ever said that before.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVPUSLi8UI/AAAAAAAAMl8/dK0lSdXAOmY/s1600-h/judges.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 343px; height: 244px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShVPUSLi8UI/AAAAAAAAMl8/dK0lSdXAOmY/s400/judges.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338260143213834562" /></a>Must've <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> pissed off Simon, who was seen in one shot looking like he was really stewing over the call. He was rudely petulant, not even standing with the other three judges to applaud the newest Idol. Oh, well, Simon. There's always next year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUeDTjdApI/AAAAAAAAMi8/WUCpdVULdZM/s1600-h/P2+Kris+Allen+new+American+Idol+10+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShUeDTjdApI/AAAAAAAAMi8/WUCpdVULdZM/s400/P2+Kris+Allen+new+American+Idol+10+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338205975455007378" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5122361/13577530" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen winning American Idol</a><br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-53403268516118739522009-05-19T19:53:00.050-04:002009-05-20T12:37:51.621-04:00American Idol Season 8The Finale Performances<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPSlCq7GCI/AAAAAAAAMg8/FTBNwGf7GZE/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert,+Kris+Allen+and+Ryan+Seacrest+02+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337841517178066978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPSlCq7GCI/AAAAAAAAMg8/FTBNwGf7GZE/s400/Adam+Lambert,+Kris+Allen+and+Ryan+Seacrest+02+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">BREAKING NEWS:</span> <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2009/05/20/simon-cowells-ex-attacked/" target="0">According to TMZ</a>, "Extra" correspondent <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Terri Seymour</span>, who is also Simon Cowell's former girlfriend, was choked after attending the "American Idol" finale last night. It happened at L.A. Live, a complex that includes the Nokia Theatre where "A.I." was broadcast. A 33-year-old woman walked up to Seymour and asked if she was Cowell's girlfriend. The suspect allegedly attacked her and attempted to choke her. The suspect was booked on felony battery. Seymour apparently refused medical treatment.<br /><br />Wow! An "Idol"-related felony and it wasn't committed by one of the contestants? LOL<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Kris won the coin toss after last week's show and chose to sing last.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">SONG ORDER FOR EACH CONTESTANT</span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Adam Lambert</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">:</span><br />"Mad World"<br />"A Change Is Gonna Come"<br />"No Boundaries" (coronation song)<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Kris Allen:</span><br />"Ain't No Sunshine"<br />"What's Goin' On"<br />"No Boundaries" (coronation song)<br /><br />Simon gives Round 1 to Kris<br />Simon gives Round 2 to Adam<br />Kara's "coronation song" sucks. Adam does better with it than Kris.<br />The night is somehow anticlimactic by the end.<br /><br />Kris is currently 1.47 percentage points ahead on DialIdol (11:37 p.m. Tuesday Eastern Time). We'll update later.<br /><br />It is now Wednesday morning. Everyone has finished voting except in Hawaii, where they still have 2 hours and 40 minutes to go. Although with the margin of error the contest could go either way, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Kris Allen</span> is leading <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Adam Lambert</span> on DialIidol by 1.1 percent. If there were at least 100 million votes last night (and we're sure there were) that means that Kris could be leading Adam by a million votes. Not a lot in a contest like this. This could be the closest vote tally and biggest upset in "American Idol" history.<br /><br />The performance show was very straightforward, very pedestrian and, frankly, a bit underwhelming. The electric charge that fills the Nokia Theater on such occasions may have been felt in Hollywood, but was largely absent on the other side of the TV screen, in spite of the 7,000 screaming fans in attendance, including <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Katie Holmes</span> and daughter <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Suri</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)"> Cruise</span>, and actor <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Anthony Hopkins</span>. The show's ending was a bit dull and anticlimactic. Presumably that will all change tonight, when anything can -- and probably will -- happen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPcHtVcamI/AAAAAAAAMhE/vbdqwC9u0NY/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+song+1+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337852008350902882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPcHtVcamI/AAAAAAAAMhE/vbdqwC9u0NY/s400/Adam+Lambert+song+1+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a>In a video preceding the first performance, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Adam Lambert</span>'s parents talk about how their son was a screamer from birth. Adam adds: "I was very talkative, very hyperactive. I was bouncing off the walls all the time." He pauses and smiles, "Not much different than I am now, really." <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Ryan Seacrest</span> introduces Adam's favorite song from the season, Tears for Fears' (actually it was the Gary Jules version of) "Mad World." The setting is very dramatic and theatrical. Adam, wearing slouchy boots, a full-length overcoat and little makeup, descends Idol's Stairway to Heaven in a blue-lit dry-ice fog-mist. He is a shadow figure enshrouded in blue mist for the first 32 seconds of the song. Finally, we see his face. He once again sings the song beautifully and perfectly, yet it isn't quite as stunning as the first time around, perhaps because we've seen it before.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Randy Jackson</span></span> loves the long coat and the fog and tells Adam, "I'm going to give you an A+ on that one, dude. An 'A' for Adam. " 'A.' "<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Kara DioGuardi</span> says, "From the first time you did that song, I knew not only that you were an extraordinary singer, but you are a creditable artist. And you changed the game up for every other contestant; made them think about what they were going to sing, and how they were going to sing it in a way that could compete with you. You rocked it again tonight."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Paula Abdul</span> says "Hi Adam." He tells her, "You look beautiful." She: "Thank you. You look astonishingly handsome. I just want to tell you how unbelievably proud I am that you are standing on that stage right now. It's unbelievabe. Long journey. ... This is a great song for you. I loved when you performed it first and you gave a more subdued, introverted performance of it, still haunting. But right now, you gave a theatrical taste of what we're going to be able to see. I thought you did a brilliant job. Way to start the show.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Simon Cowell</span> tells Adam, "I always thought this was your best performance throughout the shows. For some reason, maybe it was the coat, it was a little over-theatrical (the other judges and audience boo him, Adam smiles), it just reminded me a little bit of "Phantom of the Opera" (the judges start again, Randy screaming, "No, 'Twilight,' 'Twilight,'"). Adam says, "They told me they had dry ice and a thing to get me out of the stairs ..." Simon: "Dry ice, the long coat (pointing and laughing) Ryan in the sides ..." Yes, Simon is right, it was like "Phantom." Heh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPcOItv7fI/AAAAAAAAMhM/03fCkM3nH2w/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+song+1+closeup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337852118779817458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPcOItv7fI/AAAAAAAAMhM/03fCkM3nH2w/s400/Adam+Lambert+song+1+closeup.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5111501/13554087" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Mad World" by Tears for Fears</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPjIvC2FuI/AAAAAAAAMhU/qepi3es0S8Q/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+song+1+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337859722571028194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPjIvC2FuI/AAAAAAAAMhU/qepi3es0S8Q/s400/Kris+Allen+song+1+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a>In his preperformance video, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Kris Allen</span> tells us he was a shy singer as a child and that his family had to pay him a quarter to sing to them. His mom says Kris then started charging more. But a few years ago, Kris started giving her song coupons for her birthday that she could redeem when she wanted to hear him sing. "That was the best gift e-vah," mom says. We are happy to hear that Kris' favorite song choice is Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine." Allen accompanies himself on the piano, dressed very casually in a white T-shirt, vest and jeans. Although we hate the circling camera angles as he performs, this rendition is even better than the first time he sang the song. It is intense and soulful and arranged incredibly. Super impact. He just beat Adam in Round 1! A shock! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPjYv_d5_I/AAAAAAAAMhk/dJRziiagJxk/s1600-h/simon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337859997703202802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 251px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPjYv_d5_I/AAAAAAAAMhk/dJRziiagJxk/s400/simon.jpg" border="0" /></a>His wife smiles broadly and nods approvingly in the audience. The camera pans to Simon. He is applauding, with a somewhat surprised look of his face, as if to say, "Kris just beat my boy."<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Randy</span>: "What I love so much about you is that I can tell exactly what kind of an artist you are, what kind of a record you're gonna make, and I think, me personally, I haven't heard the rest of the night, but, dude, you saved some of the best for last. That was one of your best performances EVER on the stage!" He then has a Kara-like orgasm: "Yes! Yes! Yes!"<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Kara:</span> "I gotta agree with Randy. If you can't feel a Kris Allen performance, if he doesn't move you, there's something wrong with you. You have a way of creating an intimate bond with everybody in the audience. You make it feel like you're singing it to us. And that is so hard to do, and an incredible skill that you will kill on your album." Randy in the background saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Paula:</span> "Kris, you awaken the spirit in all of us and with your unique way of "Allenizing" your trademark all over -- not just this inspirational song, but every song you sing. And that's the true marking of a great artist." And, no, we're not going to clean up Kara and Paula's babbling. We're just typing it verbatim.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Simon:</span> "Kris, look, I just think we've got to remember right now that this is a competition, right? And I like the fact. I'm going to be honest with you. When your name was announced last week, I wasn't sure whether America had made the right choice. But, but, (boos) I'm being honest. I absolutely take all that back now after that performance." Kris holds his head down and clenches his mouth. Is he trying not to cry?<br /><br />Ryan asks: "Simon, Round 1 who wins? Simon: "I'm going to call that one for Kris."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPjRPGWxXI/AAAAAAAAMhc/-A-vs-0hlq0/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+song+1+closeup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337859868614641010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 393px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPjRPGWxXI/AAAAAAAAMhc/-A-vs-0hlq0/s400/Kris+Allen+song+1+closeup.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5111622/13554355" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPweMvcZHI/AAAAAAAAMhs/FTwzXOCO0kg/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+song+2+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337874384971129970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 194px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPweMvcZHI/AAAAAAAAMhs/FTwzXOCO0kg/s400/Adam+Lambert+song+2+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a>For Round 2, "Idol" creator <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Simon Fuller</span> selected the songs for Adam and Kris. For Adam, he chose the wonderful Sam Cooke classic, "A Change Is Gonna Come." Dressed is a light gray suit and blue tie, Adam grabbed and held us from the beginning -- until the shrieking began. It killed the emotion and impact of the song -- you couldn't even understand the words in the latter half. It was the same mistake Adam made with U2's "One" last week. He's gotta learn to temper and finesse his use of that scream, because the rest of the song was just awesome. The judges, however, disagreed with our opinion.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Randy:</span> "What you did right there, is you showed that the real reason that you're here, and I've been saying it from Day 1 that you walked in, is that you can sing your face off, and that was unbelievable."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Kara:</span> "Adam, that may have been your best performance and interpretation of the song from the beginning of this competition. The combination of the high notes and how you pulled it back and showed the emotion in the song, that's your winning combination: using both sides of yourself. Great."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Paula:</span> "Adam, that was the best I've ever (standing, circling her arm in the air) heard you sing, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever. Unbelievable! Not only that, you look like a superstar up there, and whatever happens -- I'm in awe of your talent -- whatever happens with this "Idol" journey, I know with every fiber of my being that you are going to be iconic. Yes you are."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Simon:</span> "Paula's been sitting on the fence a bit with that one, I think. Adam, all I would say after that is: You are 100% back in the game. Congratulations."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPwlntD-II/AAAAAAAAMh0/6Rr1qVwnf_M/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+song+2+closeup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337874512467982466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 395px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShPwlntD-II/AAAAAAAAMh0/6Rr1qVwnf_M/s400/Adam+Lambert+song+2+closeup.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5111653/13554459" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShP3JD4u67I/AAAAAAAAMh8/SVaFkCKbpe4/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+song+2+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337881718398315442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShP3JD4u67I/AAAAAAAAMh8/SVaFkCKbpe4/s400/Kris+Allen+song+2+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a>Fuller also selected a consciousness-raising song for Allen, Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." On one hand, we loved the understated acoustic performance. Again very casually dressed, Kris, on guitar, was joined onstage by another guitarist and a couple of guys tapping drums, which were silenced during certain segments of the song. On the other hand, as Randy and Simon correctly pointed out in their critiques, the whole thing was a bit lightweight -- and too happy at times -- for the relevance of the song. Vocally, though, the performance was very good, but not as good as Kris' first song.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Randy:</span> "Listen, it's a great song choice for this time that we're living in (er, yeah, but Kris didn't make the song choice), with what's going on in the world and stuff, but my only thing is, it's a little bit light for this big 'ol room and this point in the competition. I mean you sang it great, it's just a little light for me. I don't know, man. You know what I'm saying?" (How can we know when you say, "I don't know"?)<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Kara: </span>"You know, Kris, what I love about you is that you've been true to yourself from Day 1, and you have not wavered, you have not tried to play to the competition. And I like that Simon Fuller chose a socially conscious song for you (what did she think "A Change Is Gonna Come" is?), because you're the kind of artist that can deliver that message and uplift people, make them think, make them feel and make them change."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Paula:</span> "Kris, I know what's going on: You tore that song up and made Marvin Gaye proud." Well, as proud as a dead man can be, anyway.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Simon:</span> "No, I love the song, but if I'm being honest with you (no, lie Simon), it was like three friends in their bedroom strumming along to Marvin Gaye. You did not, in my opinion, grab hold of the song, make it your version. And I thought it was too laid back for a night like this. Sorry."<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Ryan:</span> "Simon, at the end of Round 2 -- last round you called it Kris -- at the end of Round 2, who does it go to?"<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Simon:</span> " Oh, million percent Adam, Round 2."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShP3PhddTYI/AAAAAAAAMiE/7ZRl7KxOa5Y/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+song+2+closeup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337881829416193410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShP3PhddTYI/AAAAAAAAMiE/7ZRl7KxOa5Y/s400/Kris+Allen+song+2+closeup.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5111688/13554564" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye</a><br /><br />All seasonlong, we've been told that Kara is a top songwriter. Tuesday was her chance to prove it. She co-wrote the so-called "coronation song" with Cathy Dennis (you might recall her as the singer of "C'mon and Get My Love," "Touch Me" and other hits) and Mitch Allan. Well, this "coronation song" sucked as badly as any we've heard and, like most, suited one singer -- in this case Adam -- much better than the other. Last season, because there was a songwriting competition, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">David Cook</span> and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">David Archuleta</span> each chose the song that suited them best. This year, we were back to both singers having the same bad song forced down their throats. Since Adam has the higher voice and wider range, he was able to "elevate" the mountains and hurricanes in the lyrics (thank god we were spared the rainbows). Trouble was, it was hard to understand the lyrics that Adam sang.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShP-apNj6qI/AAAAAAAAMiM/MG_p9B7o7Og/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+song+3+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337889717056957090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 211px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShP-apNj6qI/AAAAAAAAMiM/MG_p9B7o7Og/s400/Adam+Lambert+song+3+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Randy:</span> "Listen, I said it before, I'll say it again: Dude, you can sing anything, you can sing the phone book. But that was not one of my favorite Adam performances, it was was all right for me, to be honest with you. It was a little bit pitchy in spots, for me."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Kara:</span> "Adam, I think I speak on behalf of my co-writers, Cathy Dennis and Mitch Allen, it is amazing when someone with your level of talents [sic] sings a song that we've written. And I'm moved and I'm proud and I thank you for giving me that moment here at the end." Adam <del>lies</del> tells Kara, "Thanks for giving me that song. It was beautiful."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Paula:</span> Adam, adjectives can't express what you've brought to this show, Season 8. It's been truly remarkable. I'm in awe. You can sing whatever you want to sing, and I will be a fan forever, front in line."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Simon:</span> (laughing) "It's the mountains and the hurricanes ..." Kara: "I know, I know." Simon: "I'm not going to judge that song, I'm going to judge you. Over the entire season, you have been one of the best, most original contestants we've ever had on the show. You are. And, you know, the whole idea about doing a show like this is you hope that you can find a worldwide star. I genuinely believe with all my heart we have found that with you. Congratulations." Hmmm, wonder who Simon's rooting for?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShP-logzFeI/AAAAAAAAMiU/7ZmAD0_pKE0/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+song+3+closeup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337889905847768546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 395px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShP-logzFeI/AAAAAAAAMiU/7ZmAD0_pKE0/s400/Adam+Lambert+song+3+closeup.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5111762/13554757" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "No Boundaries"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShQDxpFVuaI/AAAAAAAAMic/eWgqlcu7Ifc/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+song+3+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337895609717602722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShQDxpFVuaI/AAAAAAAAMic/eWgqlcu7Ifc/s400/Kris+Allen+song+3+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a>With Kris, on the other hand, you could understand almost all of the lyrics, but with this piece of dreck we're not sure that that was an advantage. Unfortunately, Kris lacked the vocal range to make the treacly song soar the way the producers love these horrible created-for-finale songs to. He seemed to struggle through most of it. But even Kara realized that the song was foisted on him and that Allen shouldn't be judged by her piece of crap but rather by his body of work throughout the season. Kris looked a bit exasperated as he stood before the judges waiting to be judged. He knew it wasn't even close to his finest moment.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Randy:</span> "You should be very proud of what you've done in this competition. I know that key was a little high and you probably couldn't hear yourself or whatever, a little bit at the start of that, but let me tell you something: You are an amazing competitor, you've done amazing in this competition, and I actually think, I was just saying this to Kara, and I actually think that that song even fits your voice a little better for me than even Adam. So good looking out and good luck, baby."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Kara:</span> Kris, I don't want you to be judged on that song. I do think it was too high. I want you to be judged on the fact that you are a compelling artist and you have been an incredible person to watch week-after-week. You've come into your own and I congratulate you for an incredible season. And I hope people vote on the season."<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Paula:</span> Yeah, I think you standing up there, you should take it in, you've done an amazing job to end up where you are right now. And I think that this has been one of the most compelling finales and finals showdowns. I wish you the best of luck. You deserve where you are in that spotlight." Well, we already know how Simon feels and Kris gets consolation critiques from the other three judges. Can he still pull it off?<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Simon:</span> "Er, Kris, look, again, I think your highlight tonight was the first song you sang. Really. But I think watching you tonight on that stage has been incredible. Because I can remember your first audition where you came in: no confidence, weren't sure how good you were. Your mum and dad's face tells me everything. They're very very proud of you, and so they should be. And you have thoroughly, thoroughly deserved to be standing on this stage tonight. Congratulations." But what was left unsaid by Simon spoke volumes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShQD4cFGWMI/AAAAAAAAMik/z_klJFbvUPA/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+song+3+closeup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337895726486018242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 396px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShQD4cFGWMI/AAAAAAAAMik/z_klJFbvUPA/s400/Kris+Allen+song+3+closeup.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5111808/13554837" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "No Boundaries"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShQGBJaiWII/AAAAAAAAMis/XQzz0vxxfvY/s1600-h/Carrie+Underwod+performs+02+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337898075117738114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ShQGBJaiWII/AAAAAAAAMis/XQzz0vxxfvY/s400/Carrie+Underwod+performs+02+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a>The show closes with <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Carrie Underwood</span> taking the stage for the second time this season to reprise "Home Sweet Home," the music the show has used as background for each departing contestant's journey video. For all they showed of Carrie, they might as well have played a recording. There were brief flashes of her, but the camera mainly stayed on the clip show of contestant auditions and moments from throughout Season 8.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5111836/13554869" target="0">Watch video of Carrie Underwood singing "Home Sweet Home"</a><br /><br />Ryan Seacrest has already announced that tonight's finale will run over its allotted two hours and to set your DVR accordingly. Some of the guests appearing include <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Steve Martin</span>, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Jason Mraz</span> via his Web site, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Cyndi Lauper</span>, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Queen Latifah</span>, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Black Eyed Peas</span>, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Lionel Richie</span>, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Carlos Santana</span>, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">David Cook</span> and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Keith Urban</span>.<br /><br />Kris will duet with Keith Urban, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Allison Iraheta</span> with Cyndi Lauper and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Danny Gokey</span> with Lionel Richie. No word yet on who Adam will do a duet with, though earlier rumors were of <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">David Bowie</span>. However, Bowie's appearance has not even been confirmed. Santana will perform with the Top 13.<br /><br />And according to the Our Lady Peace Web site, David Cook will perform "Permanent" in honor of his late brother Adam, with proceeds of the iTunes performance going to charity.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-21937516966243671622009-05-15T19:36:00.014-04:002009-05-20T05:48:40.840-04:00American Idol Season 8Breaking News on Finale Guests<strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);"></span></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sg4A5_y7Z4I/AAAAAAAAMg0/MhgZcVqJPLI/s1600-h/American+Idol+Top+2+1000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336203604858201986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 281px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sg4A5_y7Z4I/AAAAAAAAMg0/MhgZcVqJPLI/s400/American+Idol+Top+2+1000.jpg" border="0" /></a>Let us be the first to give you the scoop on some of the big names appearing on the Season 8 finale.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">New:</span></strong> <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jason Mraz</span></strong> announced on his official Web site that he'll be performing Wednesday night.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Confirmed:</span></strong> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lionel Richie</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carlos Santana</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Cyndi Lauper</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Queen Latifah</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Black Eyed Peas</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Keith Urban</span> and <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Cook</span></strong> are among the artists scheduled to perform on Wednesday’s finale. <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carrie Underwood</span></strong> will perform Tuesday night.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Rumors:</span></strong> <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Bowie</span></strong> will duet with <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span></strong>, Keith Urban (not Jason Mraz???) with <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span></strong>, Cyndi Lauper with <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span></strong>; <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">KISS</span></strong> will perform; and, typically, the producers are attempting to get as many former Idol winners on the finale as possible. How about <strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Fantasia</span></strong>? She was the only former winner not to appear all season.<br /><br />And on her weekly appearance on Phoenix's KISS John Jay and Rich radio show, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> revealed that Allen and Lambert will sing three songs each on Tuesday. One will be <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Fuller</span>'s pick (instead of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Clive Davis</span>, who chose last year); another will be a contestant's choice song, which can be either new or something they've previously sung this season; and the third will be the coronation song, possibly written by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span>. One thing Abdul wouldn't confirm was whether she'd return to the series next season.<br /><br />Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=661d994b-e3cd-4d3d-9627-0ead40bf9c4e" target="0"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Chris Daughtry</span> told TMZ</a> that he's rooting for Team Kris Allen. Go figure.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-69243762744523296022009-05-15T05:23:00.011-04:002009-05-15T19:47:00.050-04:00American Idol Season 8: The Winner?Oops, It's Kris Allen Not Adam Lambert<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sg1DFFBo76I/AAAAAAAAMgs/qIoZ62yw-Sk/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+winner+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sg1DFFBo76I/AAAAAAAAMgs/qIoZ62yw-Sk/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+winner+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335994888031367074" border="0" /></a>With all of the changes in the show's format this year, this might simultaneously be the worst season ever of "America Idol," but with the most compelling finale. From the beginning, it appeared that the contest would end with Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert going toe-to-toe or, more accurately, Oxford shoe-to-lizard-skin boot. That is, until Kris Allen, the Little Engine That Could -- and did -- quietly started chugging up the championship track. We didn't pay much attention to the Kid From Conway until he knocked our socks off with his downscaled arrangement of "She Works Hard for the Money." Suddenly he became relevant and a contender. We watched, sometimes in shock, as he survived while Matt Giraud and, especially, Allison Iraheta fell to the wayside. We even wrote him off this week after his sometimes pitchy performance of "Apologize." But then minutes later he blew us away with his interpretive rendition of Kanye West's "Heartless." Though his win would be the biggest dark horse upset in "American Idol" history, and not necessarily our preference, Kris Allen's season-long growth as an artist is the kind of victory America loves to see and support. Only a million votes separated Allen and Lambert in the Top 3 results, and with Gokey's fans most likely falling into Allen's camp, we predict that Kris Allen will be the next American Idol.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-66382584758279810012009-05-13T21:34:00.032-04:002009-05-14T11:58:38.746-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 3 Results Show<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgv-_B99gbI/AAAAAAAAMfc/0Hy9DnsYIfY/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+advances+to+finale+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgv-_B99gbI/AAAAAAAAMfc/0Hy9DnsYIfY/s400/Adam+Lambert+advances+to+finale+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335638542364017074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Going to the Finale:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Eliminated:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span><br /><br />There you have it folks. Who would have predicted this just a week ago? We'd wager not even Kris Allen, who seems the person most surprised in the universe by his ascension to the finale. Regrets? We have a few. Though we disliked what appeared to be a veneer of arrogance on Danny Gokey, his amazing blue-eyed soul voice can't be denied. We teared up listening to him repeat his great rendition of "You Are So Beautiful." And, in truth, he was the most consistent of all three finalists Tuesday night. Many we spoke to felt his rendition of the Joe Cocker classic was the highlight of the evening, and he did a good job on Terence Trent D'Arby's "Dance Little Sister," as well.<br /><br />Who'll ever be able to figure out why Kris Allen and Adam Lambert are singing next week instead of Danny? Adam's been a juggernaut all season, but failed to have a moment on Tuesday. Though the judges praised him lavishly, we didn't speak with one person who liked his screechy version of U2's "One." All said if he had continued singing the song in his low range, he might have been amazing. And Aerosmith's "Cryin'" was just same-old same-old Adam.<br /><br />As for Kris, his performance of OneRepublic's "Apologize" was at times pitchy and at best mediocre. It paled next to David Archuleta's finale version in '08. What shined though was his "Heartless" (Kayne West). Like us, most people we spoke with thought "Oh, no!" when they heard what he was planning to sing. But from great risk comes great reward. Kris turned those "Oh, nos" into votes of affirmation and a ticket to tomorrow. Let's not underestimate his impact next week either. He could keep this upset going all the way to the win.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwBgFPfXxI/AAAAAAAAMfk/yQaONQmJTfI/s1600-h/ford.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 238px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwBgFPfXxI/AAAAAAAAMfk/yQaONQmJTfI/s400/ford.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641309201784594" border="0" /></a>The show opens with a shameless and long "comedy" sketch promotion with Ben Stiller and other cast members from 20th-Century Fox's "Night at the Museum" sequel, which opens Friday. It has nothing to do with "Idol" and everything to do with making money. When the show <em>really</em> begins, Ryan Seacret tells us there were more than 88 million votes, but the Top 2 contestants were only about 1 million votes apart. Yikes! The show is going to be filler, filler, filler until the final five minutes. The wait will be long and tedious. There is no "group" song, but, of course, the sponsors have to be represented. Set to Matthew Wilder's "Break My Stride," the Ford commercial, whose quality has degenerated during the season, features Danny, Adam and Kris briefly becoming animated superheroes. The song is OK, the animation looks quickly and cheesily done.<br /><br />(<span style="font-weight: bold;">Note:</span> some of the videos are not loading the first time, but they are there. If they don't come on, reload the screen)<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5066463/13460493" target="0">Watch video of Ford commercial to "Break My Stride"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwHCMjFiGI/AAAAAAAAMfs/4yp-IbRUphk/s1600-h/Alicia+Keys+%28L%29,+Rwandan+singer+Noah+Mushimiyimana,+Ryan+Seacrest+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwHCMjFiGI/AAAAAAAAMfs/4yp-IbRUphk/s400/Alicia+Keys+%28L%29,+Rwandan+singer+Noah+Mushimiyimana,+Ryan+Seacrest+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335647392836716642" border="0" /></a>And because the producers suddenly want to appear charitable -- but not enough to stage "Idol Gives Back" -- we have another mini give-us-money appeal. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alicia Keys</span> appears to rep "Keep a Child Alive." To emphasize its importance, she brings on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Noah Mushimiyimana</span>, a Rwandan kid who wants to be singer. Keys tells us he has learned his song in English in just one week. Though Noah is filled with joy onstage, the song is barely tolerable. About one in four words can be understood and Noah's voice is drowned out by the chorus singing behind him. At least he dances better than <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span> did. It's nice that Noah got to come to the United States, but a video explaining the charity's work would have had more impact raising money.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5066501/13460677" target="0">Watch video of Alicia Keys charity appeal</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwKHK4kl4I/AAAAAAAAMf0/Sl13cg021Qk/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+hometown+01+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwKHK4kl4I/AAAAAAAAMf0/Sl13cg021Qk/s400/Danny+Gokey+hometown+01+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650776824190850" border="0" /></a>It's time for footage from the three finalists homecomings this past Friday. First up is Danny Gokey's return to Milwaukee, which he says is bittersweet homecoming after what has transpired over the past 10 months, going from tragedy to triumph. Little girls scream, big girls scream. They make the heart sign with their hands. They're gaga for Gokey. Danny reunites with his buddy Jamar, who made it to Hollywood, but not to the semis. Danny tears up during his parade.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5066371/13460376" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey's homecoming</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwMqTC18zI/AAAAAAAAMf8/PHx7C7K_2uQ/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+hometown+03+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwMqTC18zI/AAAAAAAAMf8/PHx7C7K_2uQ/s400/Kris+Allen+hometown+03+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653579333432114" border="0" /></a>Next, it's Kris Allen's turn to return to Conway, Ark. Though he says he's a little nervous he is met by huge crowds everywhere, but a lot more kids for Kris than Danny. Must be that puppy-dog smile, which gets almost goofy looking he's so happy. He goes to visit his parents at their home. His family is almost as huge as the crowds. There's a tearjerker moment as he and his dad hug forevah and his dad tells him how much he loves him and how proud he is of Kris. We dare you not to cry watching it. The video segues beautifully from this to Kris singing "Falling Slowly." Scenes of Kris and his wife in the parade car, more family crying, Kris thanking the crowd for changing his life. Sweet.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5066338/13460315" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen homecoming</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwOStmd5yI/AAAAAAAAMgE/acuS-OKyZ9I/s1600-h/Jordin+Sparks+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwOStmd5yI/AAAAAAAAMgE/acuS-OKyZ9I/s400/Jordin+Sparks+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335655373168568098" border="0" /></a>OK, it's time to take a breather and cool down the emotions. Season 6 winner <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jordin Sparks</span> is here to sing her latest single, "Battlefield," accompanied on piano by the song's co-writer, OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder. The song is good, not great. It gets better as it goes along. Jordin looks sensational and so much older since her victory. She's a real woman now. Love the dress, love the highlights in her hair.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5066395/13460408" target="0">Watch video of Jordin Sparks singing "Battlefield" accompanied by Ryan Tedder</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwRdn6dg0I/AAAAAAAAMgM/RnNkRMTlidQ/s1600-h/adam+lambert+hometown+02+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwRdn6dg0I/AAAAAAAAMgM/RnNkRMTlidQ/s400/adam+lambert+hometown+02+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335658859155260226" border="0" /></a>Adam Lambert returns to his hometown, San Diego. He looks so much better without all that pancake stage makeup he's always wearing. He normal skin tone is actually not ruddy like it shows up on TV. He goes to the local morning news show, where the correspondent meeting him is more hysterical than the girls/women in the crowd. Than lame weathergirl is equally groupie-ish and asks Adam to put eyeliner on her the way he does it. Do they really think they can convince him to switch teams? Heh. Adam is a natural with the newspeople. He was born for this. He visits the Met theater group at the Power Performing Arts Center where he first started acting as a child and chats with the kids, some very young. More crowds and a female streaker takes off her blouse and tries to jump on the stage. She, also, apparently hasn't gotten the Adam memo. Adam cracks up and tells her, "You rock."<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5066261/13460116" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert's homecoming</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwTJVfeSWI/AAAAAAAAMgU/nSvftgfgvIY/s1600-h/Katy+Perry+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwTJVfeSWI/AAAAAAAAMgU/nSvftgfgvIY/s400/Katy+Perry+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335660709636098402" border="0" /></a>There's still time for another musical number before the results. It's <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Katy Perry</span> singing "Waiting in Vegas," with a very Vegas-y troupe with her. On the back of Katy's white cape it says "Adam Lambert." Hmmm, wonder who she's rooting for? It's a good number. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span>'s really into it, but then she's into everything. Nuff said. We like you Katy, but get off the stage, we're dying to hear the results.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5066436/13460472" target="0">Watch video of Katy Perry singing "Waiting in Vegas"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwXQgoDsFI/AAAAAAAAMgc/3t-HXFjIF0M/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+is+eliminated+1000.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwXQgoDsFI/AAAAAAAAMgc/3t-HXFjIF0M/s400/Danny+Gokey+is+eliminated+1000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335665230930489426" /></a>FINALLY! It's 3 minutes to 10 and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> tells us it's time for the results. Ryan reveals the first person competing in the finale is ... Kris! There is shocked delight on his face, but not as shocked as last week. Simon looks a bit surprised but not necessarily upset. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwZETC9OaI/AAAAAAAAMgk/_VyLvP4AQM8/s1600-h/paula.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 159px; height: 182px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgwZETC9OaI/AAAAAAAAMgk/_VyLvP4AQM8/s400/paula.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335667220150040994" /></a>Paula looks stunned, her mouth hanging open. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> says "Oh my god," <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> gives "we are not worthy bows" to Kris from the judges' table. Kris' wife is ecstatic in the audience. His parents cry. Kris hugs Danny, then Adam (much longer). Danny and Adam hug each other. Ryan then announces the person appearing with Kris in the finale is (long pause) ... Adam! Danny has never been in the Bottom 3, but didn't make it to the finale. Has that ever happened before? Does anyone out there know?<br /><br />We get teary watching Danny's journey. He then sings "You Are So Beautiful." It's even better than Tuesday. It's damn near perfect. We feel sorry for him. Even though Kris was good Tuesday and had gotten better week-by-week, we're not sure it should be him instead of Danny. But America has spoken.<br /><br />On Tuesday Kris and Adam face off for the championship. <br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5066198/13460030" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey's elimination</a><br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-76889187558831820102009-05-13T05:34:00.029-04:002009-05-13T09:30:46.536-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgqVYAiTucI/AAAAAAAAMdk/9MJslfgMlTc/s1600-h/Top+3+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgqVYAiTucI/AAAAAAAAMdk/9MJslfgMlTc/s400/Top+3+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335240948267071938" border="0" /></a>OMIGOD, this may be simultaneously the worst season of Idol and the most exciting finale ever. Though in many ways we think the group of semifinalists selected this year was substandard when compared with previous seasons, and we hated most of the changes made by the producers –- from fourth judge <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> descending the Stairway to <del>Disaster</del> Heaven –- the closeness of the race between the Top 3 has become breathtaking.<br /><br />Unfortunately, it wasn’t because all the performances were spectacular. But what looked like an <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span>-<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> fait accompli since the beginning of the season is now a big question mark. And who would have imagined back then that the dark horse in all of this would be <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span>?<br /><br />DialIdol is calling Tuesday night’s Top 3 sing-off too close to call, saying any of the guys could land in first, second or third position. So although Adam is leading Kris by about 1.5% and Kris is leading Danny by less than 1%, Kris could, in actuality, be in first place and Adam in last. There is no saying until tonight who will be in the finale and that is the enviable position that Fox and “American Idol” pray for. The ratings tonight should be awesome with the race so close. Stunning!<br /><br />Perhaps not surprisingly, the contestants seem to know themselves much better musically than the judges do, as all three contestants' choice performances trumped their judges' choice renditions, especially in Kris' case. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> wasn't the only one predicting it was the end for Allen after his first song. But he redeemed himself almost magically with his second song.<br /><br />We also had to wonder how the producers determined the order of the performances. The first spot is generally considered the "death spot," because it is forgotten most easily, while the last position, or pimp spot, is the most coveted one. It couldn't have helped Danny that he went first, nor hurt Adam that he closed both the top and bottom of the show. Kris, the little train that could -- and did -- sat neutrally in the middle. While next week's positions will be (or has in the past been) determined by a coin toss, how were this week's chosen?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgqmRqKogfI/AAAAAAAAMd0/8_1i1ztuHKs/s1600-h/danny02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 243px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgqmRqKogfI/AAAAAAAAMd0/8_1i1ztuHKs/s400/danny02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335259530880647666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> opened the evening with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span>'s selection for him, Terence Trent D'Arby "Dance Little Sister." When he read her text on the radio during his hometown visit, he told the DJ he didn't even know the song. Though we know D'Arby's more famous hits, we hadn't heard it before either, but when we sampled it online, we thought it fit Danny's vocal comfort zone perfectly. He did a good job and had good energy, though we were perhaps hoping the performance would have more electricity or magnetism. But it was good. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> said, "Dude, I'm telling you, the way to jump it off tonight. Danny, a lot of energy, you performing like crazy, sounding good ... Dude, that was dope for me, dude." Kara told Paula she was glad she picked that song for Danny because "it keeps him in his money spot in his tone ... but I gotta say, the dancing was a little too gyrating for me. You're a great singer, but am I going to remember that performance tomorrow? I just don't know." Paula said, "Well, I'm a choreographer and I think you did (pause) REALLY GOOD! ... and you let that magic part of your voice carry out throughout the rest of the song. I thought you did a fantastic job. Way to go, Danny." Simon first reminds us (as he does whenever it's convenient for him, but forgetting it when it's not), that this is "a singing show, not a dancing show, like that funny little show next door (hmmm, what's in the studio next to them? We think "Dancing With the Stars," because in previous seasons stars have appeared live on both shows the same day). He then, heh, talks about the dancing, calling it a bit desperate. He offhandedly calls it, "Vocally, very, very good," adding, "My biggest problem was the toy saxophone solo in the middle ... so I wouldn't have put the saxophone solo (which Danny scatted to) in." He also says Paula was on the right track with Terence Trent D'Arby, but that he would have picked a different, more famous D'Arby song, such as "Sign Your Name." Interestingly, there's a bit of a reveal here, because Paula tells him, "But he's doing a ballad, so I wanted him to do something different." So this means that the judges knew what the contestants' picks were before they made their picks and, at least in Paula's case, tried to balance the choices.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5058784/13440959" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "Dance Little Sister Dance" by Terence Trent D'Arby</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrGsxCiecI/AAAAAAAAMfM/N9AUZXl7e0I/s1600-h/kris03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 242px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrGsxCiecI/AAAAAAAAMfM/N9AUZXl7e0I/s400/kris03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335295180954302914" border="0" /></a>When we first learned that Randy and Kara (have they merged into one person now named Rara or Kandy?) selected OneRepublic's "Apology" for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span>, we knew that it would be perfect for his voice, as well. But we had this niggling thought in the back of our mind: <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Archuleta</span> sang this on last season's finale, and no way is Kris going to sound better than David. And we were right. Accompanying himself on piano, Kris struggled with pitchiness in a few places. It was not a great performance on a night that should have been filled with great performances. Danny might not have been great, but his first number was certainly better. We shouldn't have, but at that point we figured Kris was roadkill. Randy tells Kris the performance showed people who he could be as an artist, saying, "Nice, baby. Very nice." Kara calls it a really competent performance, but says "At this stage, you've got to be swinging it out of the park ... I wanted you to make it more your own." She hopes he will take more chances on his next song. Paula says, "There was a bum note there that was loud, but I am so proud of you, because at this stage of the game, all three of you are worthy to be in the Top 2 spot." Simon immediately takes issue with Paula, saying, "How can you say there's a bum note, I'm so proud of you"? He then attacks Kara, saying what she said was a cop-out. "You can't choose a song for him and them blame him for doing the song." This infuriates Kara, who lashes back with, "Wait a minute! You're going to tell <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span> about interpreting songs? Have you ever interpreted a song in your life? No, I don't think so." Simon then says, motioning toward Rara-Kandy, "What these two should have done, what I did, is work out the arrangement -- if she wants you to play of the geetar, you should have played the geetar. You can't blame him, you didn't hold up your responsibilities," ending with a smug smile on his face. Randy chimes in with, "We should be able to work out the arrangements?" Simon: "Yeah, you should." Huh? How does this show how creative the artist is?<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5058801/13441030" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "Apologize" by OneRepublic "One" by U2</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgqx3hixXbI/AAAAAAAAMeM/MwrrKMvoNYg/s1600-h/adam01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 244px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgqx3hixXbI/AAAAAAAAMeM/MwrrKMvoNYg/s400/adam01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335272276028906930" border="0" /></a>We had read that Simon had sent <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> two texts, one saying he would be singing "One" by U2, the other saying he would be singing Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game." Man, we've wanted to hear Adam do Chris Isaak all season. But it was the U2 song, which Simon says he had to get permission from Bono for Adam to do, that won out. We wish it hadn't. We like what what he did with the song, but others we know despised what they felt was his sped up shrieky version of it. Really despised it. Heh, see, he should have done "Wicked Game." The judges, however, were awed by Adam. Randy tells Adam, "You are definitely still in the zone, man. You are one of the hottest three in this competition." Gee that's narrowing it down. "Unbelievable vocals, a little bit for me going off the melody, I don't know if I love that so much." At this point, Simon boos at Randy. Yes, it has become all about the judges and their song choices and arrangements. The contestants are just their props. As Simon continues to boo, Randy continues, "I lost the song a little bit that way," ending with, "It is a great song and you are a really, really talented guy." Kara says, "Adam, you're a strategist, an amazing strategist, and you just proved that you can take a song and do it in a completely different way, change up the melodies, change up the instruments and make it un-be-liev-able. Un-be-liev-able. You didn't just sing it the way that U2 or Bono did it. You did your own version." Then coyly turning to Simon, says, "See what I mean, Simon?" Oh, give it up, you babies. It's <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> all about you. Paula tells Adam, "You don't know how miserable my life is right now. Sitting next to him [Simon] gloating. ... It was one brilliant song, one superb performance and an American Idol that I'm staring at right now." Simon says, "Well, it may sound a little bit biased, but I thought that was a brilliant song choice. ... You find a great artist, you find a great song. You worked out what you wanted to do with it. It was a brilliant, brilliant performance and I have to say here and now, if you're not in the final next week, it will be one of the biggest upsets."<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5058863/13441211" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "One" by U2</a><br /><br />OK, it's time for a consciousness-raising breather, so a film is shown of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carrie Underwood</span> in Luanda, Angola, handing out anti-malaria mosquito nets and acting like a twinkie. She says to a resident, "Have you or your daughter ever had malaria?" The interpreter says, "They said they have not had malaria." Carrie, turning back to the camera with a lame, I wish I didn't have to do this smile: "Good. Then the mosquito nets are working." Duh. The producers air this film so they can pretend they still care. But fund-raising was really <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Nigel Lythgoe</span>'s thing, not theirs. And Nigel has danced away from "Idol." Of course, raising money is still the current producers' objective, only for themselves, not for the needy. BTW, Carrie's trip was paid for by sponsor Exxon, not the producers. Well, anyway, sorry, chap. Dark negative thoughts and all that. Ta ta and back to the show.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgq4ZL2_8DI/AAAAAAAAMeU/P3Uvsbti-FU/s1600-h/Carrie+Underwood+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgq4ZL2_8DI/AAAAAAAAMeU/P3Uvsbti-FU/s400/Carrie+Underwood+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335279451393486898" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5058990/13441607" target="0">Watch video of Carrie Underwood in Africa</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgq8Q0Lzq-I/AAAAAAAAMec/ZSiaw7Ryxr0/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgq8Q0Lzq-I/AAAAAAAAMec/ZSiaw7Ryxr0/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335283705645870050" border="0" /></a>It's time for Round 2. Danny has picked Joe Cocker's "You Are so Beautiful" and slowed it down, softened it up and threw in a bit of gospel. It's nice. It sits well. We like it better than his first number. But why is Danny dressed like a Sunday school teacher? Oh, yes, he kinda is one. Randy says, "Dude, you showed you were here because you can really, really, really sing. Mad vocals, dude, mad vocals." Kara says, "Danny, everything that you didn't do in the first performance for me, you just did. That was s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g. S-t-u-n-n-i-n-g. There's nothing else to say. Amazing." Paula tells Danny, "You left all of us breathless. ... You nailed it. It was a beautiful, beautiful (voice going up) per-for-mance!" Simon says, "I loved the song, I wouldn't have done the same arrangement -- because it didn't need rearranging, it would have worked with you and a piano. Having said that ... I would call that a vocal master class." Wow, high praise, indeed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgq8X6jx9yI/AAAAAAAAMek/NEbVmzUPAIc/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sgq8X6jx9yI/AAAAAAAAMek/NEbVmzUPAIc/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335283827616118562" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5058902/13441377" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrAr89RWtI/AAAAAAAAMes/m72UonrRBHs/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrAr89RWtI/AAAAAAAAMes/m72UonrRBHs/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335288569903798994" border="0" /></a>Kris Allen's second number was the biggest surprise of the night, and might have won him a spot in the finale. We were a bit apprehensive when we heard he had chosen Kanye West's "Heartless," but he, too, took a song and made it his own, putting a soft jazz Jason Mraz-like spin on it. We were totally into it. Really, really good stuff. Though we would still argue that there is nothing recognizably distinctive about Kris' voice -- other than it being good -- we are beginning to that this kid might have a recording future. And we would love for him to put this on his record. Randy told Kris, "I like that version better than The Frays version, better than Kanye West's version. Dude! That, for me, was better than the original! Dude! You are in it to win it! I love it baby, I love it!" Kara says, "Why didn't you do that with "Apologize"? ... You know what? It was bold, it was brave and it was fearless. To stand on that stage with an acoustic guitar. ... Kudos. Kudos to you for that. Perfect -- the tone, the pitch, the phrasing. 100% Amazing." But did you like it, Kara? Paula, reaching for a laugh, says, "You know, you are the bravest artist, because you sang a song that's about Simon Cowell." Simon makes a "ha, ha, ha" face and motion. "Having said that, this is what makes you relevant, to be able to do something completely different. And I commend you. Bravo." Simon tells Kris, "Look, I'm going to honest with you. After what I thought was a rather lame song choice (referring to Randy's and Kara's pick for Kris) ... I had literally written you out for this competition. That, however, has all changed after than performance." Sure has.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrAxyizevI/AAAAAAAAMe0/-QXYWHVA4DA/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrAxyizevI/AAAAAAAAMe0/-QXYWHVA4DA/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335288670187649778" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5058940/13441495" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "Heartless" by Kanye West</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrEcpF3_VI/AAAAAAAAMe8/yMR6kpxWdIA/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+performs+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrEcpF3_VI/AAAAAAAAMe8/yMR6kpxWdIA/s400/Adam+Lambert+performs+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335292704919649618" border="0" /></a>We weren't thrilled when we heard that Adam's personal song choice was Aerosmith's "Cryin,'" which would inevitably take him back to his shrieky place. And it did. The performance was fine, only it's nothing we hadn't seen Lambert do all season. We would have preferred a number that would awe us, the way "Mad World" did. This was just another good Adam Lambert performance. Randy tells Adam, "You are one of the best that we've ever had on this stage. One of the most charismatic. One of the biggest, brightest stars, and you should make a rock album. I love this even more than "One" for you, because you should be a rock star. This is who you are, baby." Kara says, "How do you hit those notes and till talk the next day? ... That was amazing, and what can we say but, 'We'll see you in the finals.'" Paula tells Adam, "If Steven Tyler was a mentor, I don't think he'd have anything to say. You've set the bar so high in the sky ... we'll be seeing you next week (pausing) and many years after that." Simons says, "Look, Adam, I'm not going to suck up quite as much as the other three, and I'll tell you why I say that. It's very easy to assume that you're going to sail through to the final next week. Right? So, let me just take this back to tonight. The show is about finding a star who has earned the right to be in the final, and I want everyone not to assume that you're going to be there, but to vote for you because you deserve it based on talent." The other three judges start chanting, "Vote, vote, vote." And you know, Simon was right. It's going to be very close. If Adam doesn't make it to next week, it'll speak more to confident complacency on the part of his fans than anything else. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrEmc027MI/AAAAAAAAMfE/_oET6gjOihk/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+performs+closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgrEmc027MI/AAAAAAAAMfE/_oET6gjOihk/s400/Adam+Lambert+performs+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335292873425743042" border="0" /></a><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5058963/13441558" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Cryin'" by Aerosmith</a><br /><br />Whereas we think Adam won Round 1, we would give Round 2 to Kris. But that doesn't mean Danny's out. He held his own in both rounds. It's impossible for us to call the Top 2. What do you think?<br /><br />Tonight, Jordin Sparks and Katy Perry perform. We'll gnaw at our fingernails till the end of the show. Sigh!<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-71832498687362500352009-05-06T20:34:00.038-04:002009-05-15T10:45:19.303-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 4 Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgKsuQqXNMI/AAAAAAAAMb8/ZHdc0RM96uI/s1600-h/The+Top+4+performs+with+Slash+1000x.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333014819506697410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 314px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgKsuQqXNMI/AAAAAAAAMb8/ZHdc0RM96uI/s400/The+Top+4+performs+with+Slash+1000x.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Safe: Kris Allen</span><br /><br />Crap, that must mean Allison Iraheta is doomed. Damn!<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Safe: Adam Lambert<br />Safe: Danny Gokey</span><br /><br />Yes, Allison is gone.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Eliminated: Allison Iraheta</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgKyvN78DZI/AAAAAAAAMcE/5hvv-fG1zhc/s1600-h/allison_iraheta.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333021433024744850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgKyvN78DZI/AAAAAAAAMcE/5hvv-fG1zhc/s400/allison_iraheta.jpg" border="0" /></a>For women, this season on "Idol" sucked more than any other. To begin with, only 5 finalists of the Top 13 were women, even though we saw many, many talented ladies in the auditions and semifinals. Next, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Alexis Grace</span>, who should have made it to the Top 5, was eliminated in eleventh place, summarily dismissed without a thought to saving her. Instead, the "sage" judges saved <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Matt Giraud</span> twice, first selecting him as a Wild Card choice, then saving his ass from elimination in the Top 7. There wasn't much quality in the other female finalists -- <strong><span style="color:#99ff99;">Jasmine Murray</span></strong> and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Megan Joy</span> were viewer rejects thrown back in as Wild Cards by the judges, and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Lil Rounds</span>, who showed great promise early on, was picked on and pummeled by the judges -- especially <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Simon Cowell</span> -- until she disintegrated into a ball of nothing. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Allison Iraheta</span>, the last lady standing, was perhaps the season's biggest surprise. Only 16 when the process started for her, she made it to the Top 4 in spite of the fact that her full audition video never aired (she was seen for literally 5 seconds during the audition stage in a clip), a feat not seen since <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Bo Bice</span> became Season 4's runner-up. She carried on with bravura performances week after week, though she perplexingly never developed a strong fan base, and tied <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Anoop Desai</span> for the dubious distinction of placing in the Bottom 3 three times prior to elimination. That she was eliminated before receiving her hometown parade after giving the second best set of performances in the Top 4 seems so unfair. Surely she deserved to live another week more than <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Kris Allen</span>, but then, "American Idol" has always been as much a popularity contest as a singing contest, no matter how much the judges deny it. So let's hear it for petite powerhouse Allison Iraheta. We tip our hat and bid her a bittersweet adieu. Ultimately, we think her star will shine longer and much brighter than either Kris Allen's or Danny Gokey's. Adam Lambert? Well, no other contestant this season is likely to outshine him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgK4hA8PygI/AAAAAAAAMcc/HWGZR7DUm1U/s1600-h/ford2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333027786087975426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 232px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgK4hA8PygI/AAAAAAAAMcc/HWGZR7DUm1U/s400/ford2.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Ryan Seacrest</span> opens the show saying that there were over 64 million votes this week, an almost 20 million vote boost over last week and the highest total outside of a finale. Set to "Move Along" by All American Rejects, the Ford commercial has the Top 4 as cutouts. It is lame. They really don't seem to be even trying to make these commercials creative any longer. Has Ford cut the budget?<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=56992516" target="0">Watch video of Ford Commercial to "Move Along"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgK988wRPyI/AAAAAAAAMcs/o-iwTfSMF4A/s1600-h/Ryan+Seacrest+with+Slash+600.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333033763558473506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgK988wRPyI/AAAAAAAAMcs/o-iwTfSMF4A/s400/Ryan+Seacrest+with+Slash+600.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Slash</span> rocks out on lead guitar, accompanying the Top 4 for the Group Number, Alice Cooper's "School's Out." The band overpowers the vocals and Kris and Danny look ridiculous trying to be rockers, especially next to the band and authentic rockers Adam and Allison. It's like <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Kara DioGuardi</span> said when they sang "Renegade." It just doesn't compute. These guys aren't outlaws; they're the guys who help little old ladies cross the street. After the song Slash talks to Ryan about his upcoming first solo release, saying it will feature a lot of guest artists, but he's not saying who.<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=56993157" target="0">Watch video of Group Song "School's Out"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLDE5vi2QI/AAAAAAAAMc0/thJ2YmHLkmg/s1600-h/adam.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333039397747218690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLDE5vi2QI/AAAAAAAAMc0/thJ2YmHLkmg/s400/adam.jpg" border="0" /></a>Next Seacrest chats up the Top 4, who are sitting on stools -- too few to pull out the couches. Kris tells Seacrest he didn't expect to make it this far and feels blessed, but Simon tells him, "We don't want humble any more." Adam again tells everyone how great it was to be able to do Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and, laughing, that he liked his outfit. Danny talks about his final note from hell on "<del>Scream</del>Dream On," saying that when he watched it back on TV, he laughed all night. It was so bad, his aunt even muted her TV. He calls it his funniest moment on "American Idol" and says that his horror scream will probably be in movies pretty soon. Ryan talks to Allison about her feistiness with Simon Tuesday night. She says, "I'm not that kind of person who talks back, but it's just that she(?) was asking for it, so it was fine, I'll give it to you!"<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=56998286" target="0">Watch video of Ryan chatting with Top 4</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgK8eJHT9lI/AAAAAAAAMck/Up69AmPlpb4/s1600-h/Paula+Abdul+performs+01+600.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333032134788773458" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgK8eJHT9lI/AAAAAAAAMck/Up69AmPlpb4/s400/Paula+Abdul+performs+01+600.jpg" border="0" /></a>There's a lot of time to fill tonight to ensure that the show runs into OT (and it does), so there are three musical numbers, two of them (Paula Abdul and No Doubt) prerecorded. The first features <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Paula Abdul</span> performing, according to Ryan, for the first time on the "Idol" stage. She sings her new release, "I'm Just Here for the Music." If you like Abdul's music, you'll like this piece of pop confetti. It's in the same league as last year's "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow." Although she's wearing a headset to look cool, Abdul unquestionably was lip-syncing, but for her age she looks -- with the exception of her plastic-surgery destroyed breasts -- like hot stuff.<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=56994343" target="0">Watch video of Paula Abdul singing "I'm Just Here for the Music"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLGh5xMBzI/AAAAAAAAMc8/gbtPDmYW_Cg/s1600-h/No+Doubt+03+600.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333043194505201458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLGh5xMBzI/AAAAAAAAMc8/gbtPDmYW_Cg/s400/No+Doubt+03+600.jpg" border="0" /></a>Too few contestants to start the eliminations (or, in tonight's case, safetys) just yet. It's time for the second prerecorded number, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Gwen Stefani</span> and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">No Doubt</span> singing "I'm Just a Girl." After the performance, Ryan asks Stefani why they're launching this "massive tour" without a new album, and she blames it on the kids she's been pushing out and staying at home, but promises that the point of the tour is a new No Doubt CD.<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=56995208" target="0">Watch video of No Doubt singing "I'm Just a Girl"</a><br /><br />Ryan says that the Top 3 will get to return home for hometown parades and a clip reel of previous finalists' visits is shown. When they get to Elliott Yamin's mom in the parade car, we choke up a bit. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLMm8bLMDI/AAAAAAAAMdE/g-xECPNTSMU/s1600-h/kris02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333049878187290674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 289px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 270px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLMm8bLMDI/AAAAAAAAMdE/g-xECPNTSMU/s400/kris02.jpg" border="0" /></a>Time to -- briefly -- get down to business. Ryan goes over the Top 4's critiques from the night before and says he's going to release one of them to safety, in no particular order. We figure it's gotta be Danny or Adam. But, no! It's Kris! Kris looks as surprised as we are. We're thunderstruck, angry, disappointed. This means Allison is roadkill. No way they're going into the finale without cash cows Danny and Adam.<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=56998776" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen being declared safe</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLP3wPZMhI/AAAAAAAAMdM/2B7R8bj9cRA/s1600-h/Daughtry+performs+800.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333053465509310994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 398px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLP3wPZMhI/AAAAAAAAMdM/2B7R8bj9cRA/s400/Daughtry+performs+800.jpg" border="0" /></a>It's time for a breather and to let the shock set in -- for us and poor Allison. Ryan introduces <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Daughtry</span>, who sing the first release, "No Surprise," from their upcoming CD. We love the song, but it sounds tinny on TV. It's much better online. Go to <a href="http://www.daughtryofficial.com/" target="0">Daughtry's official site</a> to get a good listen. You'll love it. Ryan chats up <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Chris Daughtry</span> after the performance and they relive his inauspicious fourth-place elimination. Seacrest asks Daughtry how vivid the memory of his elimination is. Chris says very vivid. At the time he thought his world was coming to an end ... but he got over it about 30 seconds later. Heh, yeah. And then made bitter remarks for weeks in interviews. Is Seacrest trying to plant the seed that maybe Allison is going to knock off one of this season's sure things?<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=56996527" target="0">Watch video of Daughtry singing "No Surprise"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLRWXc9EII/AAAAAAAAMdU/z3TKjmld7mc/s1600-h/allison,+danny.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333055090942873730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 258px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLRWXc9EII/AAAAAAAAMdU/z3TKjmld7mc/s400/allison,+danny.jpg" border="0" /></a>And so, the moment of "truth" arrives. Ryan is going to release someone else to safety. It's Adam. Dare we think it? Could Allison outlive Danny? Nah! Maybe? Please? No. Danny is safe. We cry with Allison during her journey video, then she rocks the house even better than Tuesday with "Cry Baby." Ah, those prophetic song titles. Perhaps she should have sung "Somebody to Love." Sigh.<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=57002402" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta being eliminated</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLUHLPVcDI/AAAAAAAAMdc/JBcE8lrMcvY/s1600-h/simon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333058128501370930" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 168px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgLUHLPVcDI/AAAAAAAAMdc/JBcE8lrMcvY/s400/simon.jpg" border="0" /></a>As Ryan tells us that next week the Top 3 will sing (only) two songs (ugh!) -- one the judges' choice, the other the contestants' personal pick -- the camera pans to Simon, who has a particularly sour, pissed-off look on his face. Why?<br /><br />On Wednesday night, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Katy Perry</span> will perform her latest release, "Waking Up in Vegas,” and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,255,153)">Jordin Sparks</span> will sing her new single, "Battlefield."<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-84326665136914280732009-05-06T04:41:00.019-04:002009-05-06T09:45:52.326-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 4 Rock Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFZhOLTgEI/AAAAAAAAMac/wi39YWh0EoA/s1600-h/Slash+mentors+the+Top+4+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFZhOLTgEI/AAAAAAAAMac/wi39YWh0EoA/s400/Slash+mentors+the+Top+4+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332641861059444802" border="0" /></a>Yea, rock night on "Idol," mentored by Slash. And just as we expected, Adam and Allison ruled, though perhaps in Allison's case not with the voters, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.<br /><br />Before the live show began, a horror show occurred on the "Idol" set just prior to the dress rehearsal, which had to be cancelled. First, stage manager <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Debbie Williams</span>, following <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> down that ridiculous 20-foot-long "stairway to heaven" -- which is supposed to retract behind Seacrest as he walks down -- tumbled down it when it retracted too soon. TMZ and blog reports say that Williams suffered a "nasty gash" on her leg and was taken to the hospital in a neck brace on a stretcher, but was waving and smiling as she left. Earlier in the day on "Ellen," in an ironic coincidental twist, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> had called it the staircase that "almost killed Ryan's career this year ..."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFdE8YjYAI/AAAAAAAAMak/cvJUoqoET_U/s1600-h/Globe+topple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFdE8YjYAI/AAAAAAAAMak/cvJUoqoET_U/s400/Globe+topple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332645773293346818" border="0" /></a>Then, as Seacrest apologized to the dress rehearsal audience for the delay, one of the giant "American Idol" globes that are on towers near the ceiling, began to crackle and hiss. It reportedly exploded and crashed to the ground, sending glass and debris everywhere. Ryan attempted to calm the panicing audience, as they cleared the studio.<br /><br />Seacrest talked about the globe mishap at the beginning of the show without going into too much detail and said the contestants had missed their live run through, ending with "but the show must go on."<br /><br />And go on it did -- into overtime as usual. Allegedly trying to avoid that, the producers had decided to have the Top 4 perform only one solo each and a duet each, pairing Danny with Kris and Allison with Adam. Although the first pairing turned out to be rather lame, especially for Kris, Adam and Allison were awesome together. Still, the duets would have been better saved for the finale, not on shows where the contestants are still trying to prove themselves as solo artists. It's annoying that in all previous seasons, the Top 5 and Top 4 have sung two songs each, while the Top 3 sings three. If they can't get six songs in on time, we guess there's absolutely no hope for nine next week. Following this year's pattern, the Top 3 will only have to do two each, proving themselves far less than former finalists. In past Top 3 weeks, one song was the judges' choice, one the contestants' choice and the final choice belonged either to Clive Davis or the producers. Hopefully, one song will still be the judges' choice. The other? Who knows?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFnHdBnSUI/AAAAAAAAMas/q7DEAlvACCE/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+performs+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFnHdBnSUI/AAAAAAAAMas/q7DEAlvACCE/s400/Adam+Lambert+performs+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332656811531520322" border="0" /></a>Totally in his element, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> opening the evening with Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." Even his guyliner was edgier than usual, adding to the mad rock vibe. Except for some of his over-indulgent high-pitched shrieking the performance was nearly flawless, outdistancing the rest of the pack. The audience went WILD. When <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> was finally able to shout over them, he said, "You're a rock star tonight! ... That was hot!" <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kari DioGuardi</span>, trying to look tough in a studded leather jacket and rocking a ridiculously ugly pulled back, bang-less hairstyle, screamingly gushed, "Adam, you're not a rock star, you're a rock god! That's what you are, OK? The record you should be making is classic rock from the '70s, glam rock from the '80s with Nine Inch Nails. No one's doing it, you've got the vocals for it, nobody else has it, it's your lane. Kill it! YES! YES! YES!" Geez, it was like the deli scene in "When Harry Met Sally." Kara sounded as if she was having an orgasm by the end. We'll have what she's having, OK? <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> called Adam "a whole lotta perfect." It was just so anti-climactic after Kara, heh. Simon said, "Well, I have one criticism. I thought the performance was a little understated. Teeeasing. ... This could have been an absolute disaster, taking on one of the greatest rock songs of all time, but it was actually one of my favorite performances you've ever done. The only problem is, nobody can top that now." And he was right.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5009052/13325538" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Whole Lotta Lot"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFt0x_uo_I/AAAAAAAAMa0/2ufw5F6iVU0/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+performs+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFt0x_uo_I/AAAAAAAAMa0/2ufw5F6iVU0/s400/Allison+Iraheta+performs+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332664187324638194" border="0" /></a>Yes, Adam did outdistance the rest of the pack, but 17-year-old <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> still held her own beautifully with a terrifuc rendition of Janis Joplin's "Cry Baby." As Randy would say, this kid has mad skillz. In her Coke pre-performance interview she says she went to Adam's hair girl, who has been doing his locks for two years. Her hair looks better than it's every looked. Book us an appointment. Better yet, get us one of those thick manes. Allison tells Slash that she was trying to decide between "Cry Baby" and Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love." He tells her she's a natural for Joplin. We loved it, Randy and Kara, not so much. Boo! Hiss! Randy says, "You can sing your face off, you can sing anything. I did not love the song choice for you. I thought there were a lot of better vehicles that had a little bit more melody ... I don't know, I didn't love this, it wasn't that great for me." Yeah, well, it killed what Kris and Danny are going to do, but you will give them the props for trying -- even if they didn't succeed. Kara starts out with, "You know Janis is the right choice for you, bluesy rock, it is, BUT 'Piece of My Heart,' could have seen that ..." Randy: "More melody." Kara then asks Allison if she was nervous. Allison says she's always nervous (you'd never know). Kara, somewhat gratuitously, tells Allison she transforms onstage and becomes larger than life and that she can see her personality onstage and wants to "give her that prop." Um, thanks. Paula calls Allison downright fearless and says it they ever do a biopic of Janis Joplin, Allison's got the role, ending with "You did a great job." Simon says, "I thought you had complete confidence up there, I thought it was a terrific vocal. My only criticism is is that you're trying too hard to sound like the original, so I didn't see much originality ... it was -- compliment -- soundalike, but I wouldn't have chosen that song." He then tells her he would have chosen the Queen song. She tells him her other song was Jefferson Airplane. He gives her a look like she's nuts, when it was him who wasn't listening. She tells him he always says she doesn't talk enough so now she's talking. He ultimately tells her, "Allison, I like the fact that you're arguing for yourself. Good for you."<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5009074/13325635" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing "Cry Baby"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFyPlDCfiI/AAAAAAAAMa8/yQDBtTrNqFo/s1600-h/Kris+Allen,+Danny+Gokey+perform+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgFyPlDCfiI/AAAAAAAAMa8/yQDBtTrNqFo/s400/Kris+Allen,+Danny+Gokey+perform+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332669045751840290" border="0" /></a>Next up, the first duet, Kris Allen and Danny Gokey singing "Renegade" by Styx. They harmonize well, but Kris proves he is more "I Am a Rock" than "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." He shouldn't sing rock -- ever. Danny fares better, but the entire performance, especially for a rock show, is a big "so what." Randy says he really liked the harmonies and that two complement each other. "The individual vocals were OK, but the harmonies were on blast." Kara: "Them singing 'Renegade'? I mean, 'Renegade'? That doesn't compute for me. Cause they're like the guys that help the little women cross the street, you know? They're not, like, wanted." She then says than the "sum of the parts was better. You definitely had some moments," but she's not sure they could always hear themselves, because there were pitchy moments, ending, without any conviction, with, "but together, it was united and strong." Paula says, "It was powerful and it was compelling. Good job." Simon, rightly, seems to think the whole idea is a joke. Laughing, he says, "I don't know what to say." Randy: "Say whatever you like." Simon: "OK. Who was better? Danny, you were better than Kris. How's that?" Well, not too good for Kris, who makes a face and has to do his solo next.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5009115/13325761" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen and Danny Gokey singing "Renegade"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgF4RYuwkyI/AAAAAAAAMbM/fPNqCssKaC0/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgF4RYuwkyI/AAAAAAAAMbM/fPNqCssKaC0/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332675673875059490" border="0" /></a>Things didn't get any better for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> when he decides to take on The Beatles "Come Together." He's no John Lennon. And, even though we hated the rendition of "Imagine" that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Archuleta</span> did last year, Kris isn't creative enough to change "Come Together" into something everyone will swoon over, as David did. Kris even screwed up some lyrics. So if Allen makes it to the Top 3 instead of Allison, it'll be a real injustice. He was 0 for 2 this week, while she batted 2 for 2. She'll never make it to the finale, but she deserves the hometown parade. Randy tells Kris that he knows he's not really a rock guy, he's "a little bit hybrid," but that he appreciates that he picked a song where he can still be himself. Exactly, Randy. It didn't rock AT ALL. And though Randy wasn't blown away by the vocals, he loved what Kris was playing on the guitar. Randy, Randy, Randy. How may times have you <span style="font-style: italic;">personally</span> reminded us this season that this is a SINGING competition? Sheesh. Kara tells Kris he'd definitely the softer side of rock, "but for me, this was not a great performance. I just thought it was trying too hard, it wasn't the best song and I just think there's more than what you delivered tonight. Sorry." Best critique she's given all season. Paula tells Kris it's kind of risky to do a Beatles song (the contestants had to do two last season!) then babbles on about his signature and imprint being all over it. She tells him he needs to have a little more energy, but is "deserving of being on that stage." Simon says, "I actually didn't like it that much. It was rather like eating ice for lunch." What are these weird water analogies Simon's been making for Kris lately? Last week he called Kris' performance "wet." Simon: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgGDLGQcqaI/AAAAAAAAMbk/5PGy0yHAUPs/s1600-h/kris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 238px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgGDLGQcqaI/AAAAAAAAMbk/5PGy0yHAUPs/s320/kris.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332687660464777634" border="0" /></a>"It will leave you with nothing to remember afterward. It was actually quite a boring song (er, we think you mean performance, not song), quite a safe one. It was a bit of a jam, you know?" Kris' eyes are wide open, like, "no, I don't."<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5009163/13325910" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "Come Together"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgF9tkpejSI/AAAAAAAAMbU/dJ4Is4uUB44/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgF9tkpejSI/AAAAAAAAMbU/dJ4Is4uUB44/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332681655668608290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> takes on Aerosmith's "Dream On," which is exactly what we said when we heard he was performing it. C'mon, Danny doing "Dream On"? Or as Vote for the Worst dubbed his performance, "Scream On." And he didn't disappoint us. As Slash said, it's all going to come down to that scream at the end. And if anything every truly sounded like three cats tied in a bag and dropped off the Empire State Building, it was that final note. Yikes! and Ouch! Scarily, Danny is so pleased with himself after the performance he applauds himself with the audience. After hearing the judges, he's confused, saying he'll have to watch it back on TV, 'cause he thought it was pretty good. Not! Randy says, "It was alright for me. It wasn't perfect (ha!) or that great, but I'll give you one thing. I'll give you an A+ for valiant effort. Cause to hit that high note, (laughing) you had like three notes jumping off all at once." Kara tells Danny that he took last week's swagger and adding more edge to his performance comments too far. "I don't see you on this type of song. I see you more early Aerosmith, but I will say, that I like to see growth and I like to see risks and I like to see more edge and I saw that tonight. Was it perfect? No. But I commend you for taking chances. Because rock 'n' roll is about being bold and going for it." Paula says, "I don't know if this was the right song for you, but I am a huge fan of yours. ... It wasn't my favorite choice of song, but I give you an A++ for going for it." To Randy and Paula: shouldn't you give him a D- for picking a song that was beyond his capabilities? In an audition, you would have laughed him out of the room for that final note. Simon tells Danny, "The last note was like watching a horror movie. It's like the scene in 'Friday the 13th.' It's just like this scream. It was actually a little bit over the top." A little bit? How about massively? Then, the camera pans to a kid in the audience holding a sign that says: "Simon Cowell: The King of Common Sense." Simon stops his critique flicks his finger back to the audience and says, "I agree, by the way," cracking Paula up. He ends by telling Danny, "I still think you're going to be safe." Of course he is.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5009206/13326037" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "Dream On"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgGBFXyKR5I/AAAAAAAAMbc/CV_vfWBr23U/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert,+Allison+Iraheta+perform+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SgGBFXyKR5I/AAAAAAAAMbc/CV_vfWBr23U/s400/Adam+Lambert,+Allison+Iraheta+perform+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332685363067111314" border="0" /></a>Surprisingly, though we would have preferred to see the contestants stretch themselves with two solos, Adam's and Allison's duet on Foghat's "Slow Ride" was our favorite performance of the night. It had tremendous energy and flair and the two blended beautifully and effortlessly. They even looked good together. A natural pairing. We were stoked and so were the judges and audience. The cheers were deafening. Randy tells them, "You guys should do a duet on your albums. That was da bomb, baby." Kara says, "Rock god, rock goddess, this is when a duet is right. When you're pushing each other to be better. That's what you just did on that stage." Paula tells them, "The two of you are a perfect blend, a perfect marriage ... You guys should do a duet together because you totally are in sync with each other. It's a beautiful thing." Simon says, "In the battle of the duets, you win the show tonight ... And actually, Adam, you may have given this one (pointing at Allison, whose name he probably forgot) a chance at staying in the competition because of that." Adam says, "I hope so," later saying to Ryan that Allison is like his little sister. The closeness better the two is endearing.<br /><br /><a href="http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5009230/13326126" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta singing "Slow Ride"</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top Two:</span><br />Adam Lambert<br />Allison Iraheta<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom Two:</span><br />Kris Allen<br />Danny Gokey<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Should Be Eliminated:</span> Kris Allen<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Will Be Eliminated:</span> Kris Allen<br /><br />On tonight's show <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Daughtry</span> performs "No Surprise" from its upcoming CD, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> sings her new release, "Here for the Music" and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">No Doubt</span> will also perform in a segment taped on Tuesday.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-90996601084884572902009-05-03T19:09:00.013-04:002009-05-03T19:34:23.196-04:00David Cook's Brother Succumbs to Cancer. R.I.P. Adam CookDavid Cook, after completing a 5K in the Race for Hope in Washington D.C., announced today that his brother Adam succumbed to cancer. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Cook family. We hope that time will help to ease their pain.<br /><br />A video of his announcement follows:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PMAy3dJbEGQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PMAy3dJbEGQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />You can still donate to the Race for Hope in David's name <a href="http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/RFH-DC2009?px=1754121&pg=personal&fr_id=1340" target=0>here.</a> Let's eradicate this horrible disease in our lifetime.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-59855655318669567502009-04-29T20:13:00.036-04:002009-04-30T09:22:03.671-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 5 Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfl8luY0yOI/AAAAAAAAMYc/OXGZE8Kkt4o/s1600-h/Bottom+three+Matt+Giraud,+Kris+Allen+and+Adam+Lambert+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfl8luY0yOI/AAAAAAAAMYc/OXGZE8Kkt4o/s400/Bottom+three+Matt+Giraud,+Kris+Allen+and+Adam+Lambert+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330428621518850274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Bottom 3:<br />Matt Giraud<br />Kris Allen<br />Adam Lambert<br /><br />Kris is safe!<br /><br />Eliminated: Matt Giraud</span><br /><br />We're down to the Top 5, and aside from <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span> being the first finalist eliminated, we've had no shocks. So it's time to get America scared. And how do the producers do that? By making everyone think that Adam is actually in jeopardy of leaving. C'mon, ratings are down. Do you really think the producers are going to let their lightning in a bottle escape before the finale? No way! But they want to make sure you're not too bored to tune in for the next three weeks, thinking you already know who has won.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmDRsZRmII/AAAAAAAAMY0/Ni8sf-bTQEA/s1600-h/ford.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 223px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmDRsZRmII/AAAAAAAAMY0/Ni8sf-bTQEA/s400/ford.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330435973967878274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> tells us there were 47 million votes this week, the most they've had all season. He introduces the Ford commercial which features the Ford Fusion and is set to "Energy" by The Apples in Stereo. In actuality, the video has the least energy of any all season. It really looked like a commercial -- any commercial. Boring!<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=ford-top5r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Ford commercial set to "Energy"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmF2KxjFaI/AAAAAAAAMY8/Ds-T39AYwE0/s1600-h/group.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 226px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmF2KxjFaI/AAAAAAAAMY8/Ds-T39AYwE0/s400/group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330438799621297570" border="0" /></a>Next was the Group Number. It was a medley of "It Don't Mean a Thing" (or, as Ryan called it, "I Don't Mean a Thing," which, perhaps, was what Matt was singing) and "I Got Rhythm." There wasn't much in the way of choreography, but the Top 5 sounded pretty good together.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=group-top5r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the Group Number, "It Don't Mean a Thing/I Got Rhythm"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmOJHxW8SI/AAAAAAAAMZE/16EB3ORwbFM/s1600-h/food+fight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 222px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmOJHxW8SI/AAAAAAAAMZE/16EB3ORwbFM/s400/food+fight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330447921325732130" border="0" /></a>Yet more video filler, which will push the show over by 6 minutes. It features the Top 5 making cakes for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span>, who both celebrated their birthdays during the past week. Their gift from <del>the producers</del> voters this week will be that they are declared safe and not in the Bottom 3. Of course, a food fight erupts in the mansion, no doubt encouraged by the film crew. (Is it just us? We hate it when reality shows feature destruction in the mansions they rent. Why is frat house behavior considered acceptable behavior?) Ryan asks who started the food fight and all hands point toward Danny. Ryan hands Danny an envelope which, he says, contains "a gift for you, from all of us here." It is a $6,000 bill from the company that cleaned up the mansion after the food fight. Danny asks Ryan, "You mean 'American Idol' doesn't pay for this?" Ryan says, "Maybe we'll take care of it ... if you win." Is this a clue of what's to come?<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=cake-top5r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Idol mansion food fight</a><br /><br />Speaking about Tuesday night's show, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> says that when he watched it back he decided everybody was good and that it was the best show yet. Later, when the Bottom 3 is revealed, he will be chided by Ryan on how wrong his critiques were on Matt and Adam -- he loved both, whereas <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> had some issues with their performances.<br /><br />It's time to get down to the results. We're playing the Top 7 game, but with five contestants. Ryan asks Matt to step to stage left, then Danny to stage right. Allison goes right, Kris left. Ryan asks Adam to pick which group he thinks he belongs in. Adam says, "I love everybody. Why'd you do that to me?" then "Based on last night?" Ryan says, "Sure." Adam turns right, and pointing to Allison and Danny, says, "Probably that group." Ryan sends Adam over to them, then joins him and says, "Adam, Allison and Danny, not your Bottom 3." Taking Adam by the arm, Ryan leads him over to Matt and Kris and says, "This is your Bottom 3." Shock! Dismay! Producers' fix! Actually, for our money, we think Matt, Kris and Adam deserved to be the Bottom 3. Allison and Danny look stunned as they are declared safe.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmTMgw39NI/AAAAAAAAMZU/CJEjjhaOVhE/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+and+Danny+Gokey+are+safe+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmTMgw39NI/AAAAAAAAMZU/CJEjjhaOVhE/s400/Allison+Iraheta+and+Danny+Gokey+are+safe+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330453477132334290" border="0" /></a>Ryan asks the judges for their reactions. Paula says it's crazy, but someone has to go. Simon says it's not crazy, America has decided who they like and let's not take anything away from Allison and Danny, Randy says no matter what happens all five are unbelievably talented. Ryan says, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmX-jlZLhI/AAAAAAAAMZk/z8LJw5zwWD0/s1600-h/Kara.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 223px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmX-jlZLhI/AAAAAAAAMZk/z8LJw5zwWD0/s400/Kara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330458734929456658" border="0" /></a>"Kara, when I said that Adam was in the Bottom 3, I saw your jaw drop," something Kara says she always does when Adam performs. Uh-huh. Kara: "Yeah, my mouth went open again. That's what happens with Adam." Randy "coughs." Kara: "Yeah, I know. (laughs) You know what I mean, Randy." Yeah, Kara, only too well.<br /><br />Later, for dramatic effect, Ryan will release Kris back to safety first.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=kris-top5r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt, Kris and Adam becoming theBottom 3 and Kris being released back to safety</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfmbfi1gVhI/AAAAAAAAMZs/JuzHEyINnNY/s1600-h/Natalie+Cole+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfmbfi1gVhI/AAAAAAAAMZs/JuzHEyINnNY/s400/Natalie+Cole+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330462600199165458" border="0" /></a>Performances, we've got (too many) performances. First, to evoke the week's theme, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Natalie Cole</span> sings "Something's Gotta Give," from her 2008 CD "Still Unforgettable." Lean, long and fit in a gold tunic dress, she looks fantastic, but is (sorry) occasional pitchy. In spite of her enthusiasm, the band is better than she is. So it goes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=natalie-top5r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Natalie Cole singing "Something's Gotta Give"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfmd8lhmahI/AAAAAAAAMZ0/CiH90h0wuZQ/s1600-h/Taylor+Hicks+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfmd8lhmahI/AAAAAAAAMZ0/CiH90h0wuZQ/s400/Taylor+Hicks+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330465298160445970" border="0" /></a>Next up is returning Season 5 champion <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Taylor Hicks</span>, singing "7 Mile Breakdown," the second release from his new CD, "The Distance." As with Cole, Taylor is looking long, lean and fabulous. His hair is short (a good idea), but he is trying to sneak in those Taylor bangs again (not a good idea). Although we loved the first release off "The Distance," we're not crazy about this one. But he sounds good and throws in a little harmonica. We can only imagine how Simon must be cringing. When he finishes, he gets a standing O from the audience and judges, including Simon, who, we're sure, did it out of courtesy only. Taylor can't get over the standing O <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmeDPd2IbI/AAAAAAAAMZ8/FOHBNicTXTU/s1600-h/simon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 173px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfmeDPd2IbI/AAAAAAAAMZ8/FOHBNicTXTU/s400/simon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330465412498203058" border="0" /></a>from the judges, especially Simon. Their lack of love for one another is epic. Ryan asks Taylor to give advice to the finalists, and as he does, the camera pans back to Simon. The look of disgust on his face is priceless.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=taylor-top5r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Taylor Hicks singing "7 Mile Breakdown"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfmf7HZW3qI/AAAAAAAAMaE/cJIzw1jWEvM/s1600-h/Jamie+Foxx+performs+01+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfmf7HZW3qI/AAAAAAAAMaE/cJIzw1jWEvM/s400/Jamie+Foxx+performs+01+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330467471916195490" border="0" /></a>Finally, in what seems to be a tit-for-tat arrangement for his agreeing to "mentor" at the last minute, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jamie Foxx</span> gets to perform "Blame It," his current No. 1 hip-hop release from his latest CD. Simon also calls him "my best friend" as Ryan introduces him. Hmmm, now that's an interesting friendship.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=jamie-top5r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Jamie Foxx singing "Blame It"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfmiuqduq0I/AAAAAAAAMaU/gZ7WeabfPDo/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud,+Adam+Lambert,+Ryan+Seacrest+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfmiuqduq0I/AAAAAAAAMaU/gZ7WeabfPDo/s400/Matt+Giraud,+Adam+Lambert,+Ryan+Seacrest+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330470556526357314" border="0" /></a>It's time for the moment of, ahem, "truth." Matt or Adam, Adam or Matt? Seriously. OMG, it's Matt! Who would have guessed? Er, everybody. For one teeny, tiny second Adam does a real good job of trying to convince us he thinks it's him when Ryan says his name first. Heh, nice acting skills, Lambert. We watch Matt's journey video, he sings "My Funny Valentine" again. It starts out a thousand times better than Tuesday night and with great phrasing, then plunges into horrible pitchiness as he tries to riff. But Matt pulls it back in time for a killer ending. Then Ryan inexplicably and intentionally stretches the show an extra two minutes talking with the judges and discussing next week's theme and guest mentor. Running out of things to say, he even plugs the local news, all this when the program is <span style="font-style: italic;">already</span> 5 minutes into OT. If that wasn't intentional, what is?<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=elim-top5r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud being eliminated</a><br /><br />Next week, the theme is rock 'n' roll, with guest mentor <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Slash</span> from Guns N’ Roses. On Wednesday, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Daughtry</span> performs a song from their new album. Gwen Stefani returns to the Idol stage with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">No Doubt</span> to perform as well.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-49111098363791596292009-04-29T05:20:00.013-04:002009-04-29T20:12:29.956-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 5 Jazz Standards Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfgfYgosVwI/AAAAAAAAMXU/acVj2_antbk/s1600-h/Top+5+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfgfYgosVwI/AAAAAAAAMXU/acVj2_antbk/s400/Top+5+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330044664930916098" border="0" /></a>We were so looking forward to this week's theme, originally announced as, to quote the Fox press prelease, "standards made famous by members of the original Rat Pack, a group of legendary performers that included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr." By the time the show aired on Tuesday, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> announced that the finalists would be singing "songs from the Rat Pack era." Hmmm, not quite the same theme. In fact, the music really even fit the second set of parameters. The Rat Pack era is generally recognized as the mid 1960s, while this week's music was popularized from the '20s to the '50s. In fact, only "Feeling Good," sung by Adam Lambert actually came from the correct era. Fittingly for Adam, the song was introduced in the 1965 Broadway musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint — the Smell of the Crowd."<br /><br />Which is not to say we don't like the genre. In fact, we would have liked to have heard more of it -- as in twice as much -- like in previous years, when the Top 5 sang two songs each. Because the producers added a fourth judge this season, and because those judges' comments can't be reined in effectively by the show's director, what has been sacrificed is performance time. We don't know about you, but we'd much rather hear two songs by each finalist than watch useless videos and listen to inane comments by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span>.<br /><br />Finally, it needs to be asked: With the huge catalog of jazz standards that exists, can't the producers take a teeny tiny piece of their gazillions of dollars to buy the rights to more of them? Five contestants, five songs and every single one of them is a retread from seasons past:<br /><br />David Radford and Jasmine Trias sang "The Way You Look Tonight"<br />Katharine McPhee and Diana DeGarmo sang "Someone to Watch Over Me"<br />Melinda Doolittle and Constantine Maroulis sang "My Funny Valentine"<br />Katharine McPhee sang "Come Rain or Come Shine"<br />A.J. Tabaldo and Leslie Hunt sang "Feeling Good"<p>C'mon, give us a break.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfg09MHmCAI/AAAAAAAAMXc/cC5v-s5cC68/s1600-h/Jamie+Foxx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfg09MHmCAI/AAAAAAAAMXc/cC5v-s5cC68/s400/Jamie+Foxx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330068384822724610" border="0" /></a>This week's guest mentor is <del>Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé, Rod Stewart</del> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jamie Foxx</span>. Color us confused, 'cause we're not quite sure what Foxx has to do with standards, other than he won as Oscar for playing Ray Charles, who occasionally sang them. To his credit, since playing Charles, Foxx has recorded two albums, but they're R&B/hip-hop albums, not standards. To be generous, even when his music spills over into R&B, Foxx's voice is similar to and no better than Anoop Desai's.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=jamie-top5.flv" target="0">Watch video of Jamie Foxx arriving at the Idol mansion</a><br /><br />The mentor choice seemed rather last minute, first because it wasn't announced in advance by the network, and second because it would seem that the contestants only met with Foxx on the same day the show aired. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> in his intro video, says, "I'm going to be singing 'The Way You Look Tonight,' tonight," suggesting the video segment was shot Tuesday. He is then seen wearing the same exact clothes when he meets and sings for Foxx. We're guessing Kris has more than one outfit. If the finalists only met with Foxx yesterday, wouldn't that kind of be after-the-fact mentoring?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfjs2WaqhEI/AAAAAAAAMYU/er3siD47P84/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sfjs2WaqhEI/AAAAAAAAMYU/er3siD47P84/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330270577467491394" /></a>Foxx loved Kris' rendition, saying that Allen wasn't trying to sing "the throat Olympics" and that he'd do a record with him. Jamie tells Kris, "You're my No. 1" and "if this whole thing doesn't work out, we can do something, my man." Kris' vocals were tender and good, though not great or especially memorable. With little or no segue, he suddenly and disconcertingly went uptempo midway through the song, then resumed the slow tempo near the end. Frankly, the whole performance would have benefited from being more uptempo. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> calls this Kris' best performance to date (not), saying "You took your time, you told a story, you had some R&B stylings. Mad, nice vocals, baby." Kara tells him, "You have set the technical standard so incredibly high" with his impeccable phrasing, his diction, his rhythms, his timing and his unique approach to the song, ending with, "You are truly a dark horse in this competition." <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> calls the performance "near impeccable." <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> is, thankfully, not quite as enthusiastic. "I thought it was good, I'm not quite as enthusiastic as these three, only because I thought it was a little bit wet." Huh? He continues: "You're like taking a very well-training spaniel for a walk. It's going to safe, it's going to be quite nice, but I didn't think it was incredible. I don't get the feeling from you tonight that you can win this competition." Asked by Ryan what he means by "wet," Simon says, "not dry." Ryan: "Thanks for clearing it up." It won't be the only bizarre appraisal by Simon tonight, who will sound as if he's begun drinking from Paula's Coke cup.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=kris-top5.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "The Way You Look Tonight"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfhEIARzUPI/AAAAAAAAMXs/Uad-7d5ZDCk/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfhEIARzUPI/AAAAAAAAMXs/Uad-7d5ZDCk/s400/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330085063297290482" border="0" /></a>For us, the most pleasant surprise of the evening comes from <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span>. Who thought the raspy-voiced, magenta-haired little rocker girl (who turned 17 on Monday) could do such a lovely job on "Someone to Watch Over Me"? It was she, not Kris, who had impeccable phrasing with her heartfelt rendition. She connected to her song and we connected to her. It was one of her best performances and she looks sensational with extensions in her hair, wearing a beautiful black-and-white cocktail-length dress. Randy tells her "You come out looking like Brittany Murphy, looking dope. You sing like Pink, but like with 9,000 more octaves ... Dude, I don't care what nobody tells you, that was da bomb, and you did it in your own kind of rough, kind of gruff kind of style and I loved it." Kara: "You converted some new fans tonight. You are not a one-trick pony. You are not just some rock chick. That was a gut-wrenching deep emotional way-beyond-your years rendition. And if that doesn't land you in the finals, I don't know what will." Paula says she's been waiting so long to hear how Allison would approach a ballad. "What you delivered tonight had an innocent sensibility that was both alluring and very tender. I'm really proud of you." Simon, who seems determined to bring the mood down for Allison, as he did with Kris, begins with, "Allison do you think you can win this competition at this stage?" She probably doesn't, but she probably thinks she shouldn't be eliminated yet, either. After a pause, she stands up to him and says (unconvincingly), "You know I can. I think all of us have that chance right now." Simon says, "I don't feel that belief in you, still." He tells her it was a great performance and it was great hearing her sing a song like that but that maybe she's just been overshadowed by some of the personalities, ending with, "I have a horrible feeling you could be in trouble tonight." The whole critique seems to have the agenda of bursting Allison's bubble. What is Simon up to?<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=allison-top5.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing "Someone to Watch Over Me"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfhITmgCeQI/AAAAAAAAMX0/-TPbInr9VZk/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfhITmgCeQI/AAAAAAAAMX0/-TPbInr9VZk/s400/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330089660582623490" border="0" /></a>Although this genre should belong to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span>, we knew that if he didn't shine most brightly with his performance, his light would probably flicker and die. Sadly, it's time to blow out Matt's candle of hope. His version of "My Funny Valentine," has some nice riffs, but it is pitchy from the start. Vocally and emotionally it doesn't even measure up to <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Constantine Maroulis</span></span><span>'</span> rendition, much less <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Melinda Doolittle</span>'s iconic one. It is the night's weakest number. Randy says it's one of the hardest songs to sing ever, but that it was a little bit pitchy and that some of the runs landed right, but others didn't. "It didn't all quite come together for me. I'd give it like a 6 out of 10." Kara says that she doesn't feel that Matt was emotionally connected to the song (Matt protests "I was") and that's what she was missing most of all. Paula says, "I love what you did with the song ... I felt the emotional connection ... it was pure, simple and really impressive. I think you did an excellent job tonight." Simon agrees with ... Paula! "For me, it was the only believable, authentic song I've heard tonight (has he been asleep?). I can tell that you love the music and I heard almost Nat 'King' Cole type of phrasing (whaaaaaaaaaaaaa?) there. I thought you were absolutely brilliant." We're not buying this at all. Cowell is definitely up to something. He's definitely trying to have an effect on the voting. But what?<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=matt-top5.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud singing "My Funny Valentine"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfhNpSN4S1I/AAAAAAAAMYE/NMLCXbMuu3w/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+600a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfhNpSN4S1I/AAAAAAAAMYE/NMLCXbMuu3w/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+600a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330095530653010770" border="0" /></a>We actually weren't expecting too much from <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> this week, but for our money, he slightly edged out Allison with the most effective performance of the night with "Come Rain or Come Shine." His bluesy version of the number has a slow build but is an emotional wowza by the end. But though he looks very hot and Robert Downey-ish in rehearsal with Foxx, we hate the way he has shaved off the bristle into a largish soul patch for the live performance. Yuck. Randy says, "You are the only one who I've heard so far tonight who can actually have an album of songs like that and win. ... This is a singing competition and YOU CAN SING!!!" Kara says, "Danny, what I've been missing from you all season is that Rat Pack swaaaagger. And you had swag tonight. I mean, the end of that performance -- that was the most creative you've ever been with a melody. It was un-be-liev-able." Paula calls it a stellar, stellar performance. "And the best thing about you, Danny, is that I can tell that you can see the finish line right in front of you. Way to go." Simon: "What Kara said is 100% right. What you had tonight was a swagger and a confidence. ... I felt tonight you came out to prove a point. ... That was outstanding." Cowell also complimented Rickey Minor on the arrangement, which he called superb.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=danny-top5.flv" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "Come Rain or Come Shine"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfhVRS4z1RI/AAAAAAAAMYM/PEQys_11Y7c/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+performs+600a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfhVRS4z1RI/AAAAAAAAMYM/PEQys_11Y7c/s400/Adam+Lambert+performs+600a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330103914609235218" border="0" /></a>Wearing his "Saturday Night Fever" suit, which would have been a much better fit for Disco Week, Adam Lambert predictably goes over the top with a very theatrical version of "Feeling Good," that is largely borrowed from Muse's 2001 rendition. The best part involves Lambert's model-ish amble down Ryan's Stairway to Heaven, in what Simon calls the "best entrance we've had of the year so far." We knew Adam would try to rock out standards night, just as he tried to slow down disco night. When the rest of the Idol ship is tacking to starboard, Adam's sails are shifting to port and vice versa. The vocals are standard Adam: They range from sweet tenderness to near caterwauling. The drama queen's performance was good, but not the best of the night. We're beginning to think he peaked too early and is starting to lose steam. As they say on "Dancing With the Stars," it's not where you started, but where you end. Randy says "It was a little theatrical, a little too drama-filled, a little too Broadway for me, but you are in the zone consistently, dude. Another good performance." Kara calls him shocking in a good way. "Confusing and shocking and sleazy. Superb and way over the top. I don't know. I like you. Craziness!" Paula says, "You make me feel better than good. With every performance I see, it's like watching the Olympics and you're our Michael Phelps." Simon, laughing, says, "I love Randy talking about you being theatrical. It's like complaining that a cow moos. Well, that's what he is. I'll tell you what I love about this competition this year, is that normally every year we have people bleating on about how winning isn't important, etc., etc. Well, winning is important. And what I get from you, and from Adam (um, think he means Danny) and from some of the other competitors, in fact all of them actually, no, three of them actually (Adam, Danny and Matt?) is the feeling that you want to win. And you want to prove a point every week. And you want to entertain. And that's why I like the show this year." Which is amazing, since Cowell has looked bored out of his mind most of this season.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%205/?action=view&current=adam-top5.flv" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Feeling Good"</a></p>This week, the voters had some trouble deciding who they like the most. According to DialIdol.com, only a tic over a percentage point separates the Top 3: Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta. Kris trails Allison by about two points and Matt trails Kris by about the same amount. But none of the finalists seem to have a definitive edge, so it's anyone's guess who <del>the producers decide</del> gets eliminated tonight. DialIdol says any of the five could finish first or fifth. The season could be heading for a very unpredictable finish.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top 2:</span><br />Danny Gokey<br />Allison Iraheta/Adam Lambert (tie)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom 2:</span><br />Matt Giraud<br />Kris Allen<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Should be eliminated:</span> Matt Giraud<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Will be eliminated:</span> Matt Giraud<br /><br />Tonight, Season 5 Idol champion <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Taylor Hicks</span> performs "Seven Mile Breakdown" from his new CD, "The Distance." We've also read that Paula said <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Natalie Cole</span> will be performing tonight.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-80646936908894494862009-04-22T21:18:00.041-04:002009-04-23T09:36:39.374-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 7 Disco Week Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfA6R6GmfkI/AAAAAAAAMVU/NVPBe8IEQ_o/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+and+Lil+Rounds+are+eliminated+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfA6R6GmfkI/AAAAAAAAMVU/NVPBe8IEQ_o/s400/Anoop+Desai+and+Lil+Rounds+are+eliminated+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327822438508428866" border="0" /></a>Because of the Judges Save being used last week, two contestants are eliminated tonight.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Eliminated:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); font-weight: bold;">Lil Rounds</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Bottom Two:<br />Anoop Desai<br />Allison Iraheta<br /><br />Eliminated:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span><br /><br />Tonight no time is wasted. No extraneous filler, unless you consider the regularly scheduled features filler, as we do. Everyone we know would prefer a 30-minute results show. Everyone. We once again have the opening collage sequence of snippets of judges opinions and comments from the contestants.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=coldopen-top7r-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Opening Sequence</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBFwbrPhEI/AAAAAAAAMVk/FMneU2v1vhc/s1600-h/group+dance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 206px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBFwbrPhEI/AAAAAAAAMVk/FMneU2v1vhc/s400/group+dance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327835057544463426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> choreographed the group number, set to Michael Jackson's "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)." We first view a video of La Abdul putting her students through their paces. During the live number, the kids totally lip-sync as they try to reproduce the most difficult choreography to date in a group number. They make the "Dancing With the Stars" celebs look like masterful pros. For a bunch of kids, very few of them have any dancing chops.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span></span> has La Abdul take the stage. She's wearing a ridiculously <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBF9Wb_UMI/AAAAAAAAMVs/2yEXG1ljTec/s1600-h/paula01a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 204px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBF9Wb_UMI/AAAAAAAAMVs/2yEXG1ljTec/s400/paula01a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327835279476609218" border="0" /></a>short and shiny mini dress that barely -- just barely -- covers her genitalia. Plus, the scoop neck is cut down to there. Nearly 47, she's still got the hot body for this number, but is about 20 years past her prime for wearing it. Ryan and the kids present her with a big bouquet of flowers. The kids all say, "Love you Paula," as they kiss her. Sounds totally insincere and rehearsed, heh. Anoop doesn't come down to kiss her quickly enough, so she summons him with her finger. Paula gives the audience the royal wave holding her bouquet. She is totally smiling. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBGatK9CFI/AAAAAAAAMV0/VMu96iattvg/s1600-h/paula02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 223px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBGatK9CFI/AAAAAAAAMV0/VMu96iattvg/s400/paula02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327835783795378258" border="0" /></a>Nothing makes Paula happier than moments that are all about her. She tells Ryan she had so little time to work with the kids, they must be mad at her for working them so hard. She asks "Were you mad at me?" Oh course, there's a chorus of "no's." Maybe Lil and Anoop would have yelled "yes" if they knew what was coming.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=dance-top7r-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Group Number "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBJK5WPEEI/AAAAAAAAMV8/_bbT7D2tALQ/s1600-h/ford+commercial.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 228px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBJK5WPEEI/AAAAAAAAMV8/_bbT7D2tALQ/s400/ford+commercial.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327838810720899138" border="0" /></a>The Ford commercial is set to Lykke Li's ironically titled "I'm Good, I'm Gone," a little inside producers' joke perhaps?<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=ford-top7r-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Ford commercial "I'm Good, I'm Gone"</a><br /><br />And the eliminations begin. Ryan asks Lil to stand, then tells her he can see it in her eyes how badly she wants this. At this point, does she really? She knows she can't win and she gets hammered each week with how she hasn't shown them what kind of artist she wants to be. Isn't it just easier to go home to your family and wait out the tour? Ryan then says, "We need someone like you in this competition," followed by telling her to walk to the far side of the stage. Guess they don't need her that badly if she's in the Bottom 3. Ryan says Lil has three kids and is one of the most courageous contestants, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBTFWQs11I/AAAAAAAAMWE/orwkhWw8MKY/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds+is+eliminated+02+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBTFWQs11I/AAAAAAAAMWE/orwkhWw8MKY/s400/Lil+Rounds+is+eliminated+02+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327849710519375698" border="0" /></a>never afraid to speak her mind, and then, in the blink of an eye, Ryan tells her that her journey is over. No Bottom 3. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. It was so brutally quick, it was almost worse than the torture games, which leave you a smidgen of hope that you're safe. Ryan: "Ladies and gentlemen, that is it for her." Lil sings, then Ryan asks <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> what advice he would give her. It's the standard "It's just the beginning, baby" blather. Next Ryan goes to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span>, who has a revealing slip of the tongue: "Well, you know, I was a huge, I still am actually, a massive fan of you." Uh-huh.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=lil-top7r-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds being eliminated</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBc_IZu0gI/AAAAAAAAMWM/Dv1a5ogwo_0/s1600-h/freda+payne.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 223px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBc_IZu0gI/AAAAAAAAMWM/Dv1a5ogwo_0/s400/freda+payne.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327860598836220418" border="0" /></a>After that punch to the gut, it's time for some happy disco music! First up is guest performer <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Freda Payne</span>, who takes the stage to sing "Band of Gold" (1970), a song that technically preceded the disco era, which most people agree started in 1973. It is a painful performance to watch. Payne looks OK in her slightly too tight gold glittery gown, but her 66-year-old voice is shot and she has trouble with breath control while singing. She even looks like she's going to fall a couple of times. We loved this song in its day, but, please <del>don't</del> stop the music. She has trouble finding enough breath to introduce <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Thelma Houston</span>, who, at nearly 63, still has it going on, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBdE9XhwVI/AAAAAAAAMWU/e5yUS2uJZtI/s1600-h/thelma+houston.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBdE9XhwVI/AAAAAAAAMWU/e5yUS2uJZtI/s400/thelma+houston.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327860698953400658" border="0" /></a>though her long dress has a weird too short front, as if two different versions were sewn together. Regardless, considering her age, she does herself proud with "Don't Leave Me This Way," sung to Simon. Next up is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">KC</span> (Harry Wayne Casey) from KC and the Sunshine Band, who, at 58, is a mere baby compared with the ladies who preceded him. He proves his voice is pretty much shot with "Get Down Tonight." Looking like a paunchy, balding grandpa down at his local bar doing karaoke, he barely moves while four skanky backup singer-dancers (including one <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBdZIqGynI/AAAAAAAAMWk/4L14KkyD2xc/s1600-h/kc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 222px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBdZIqGynI/AAAAAAAAMWk/4L14KkyD2xc/s400/kc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327861045581498994" border="0" /></a>older overweight one with the fakest looking globular tits we've ever seen -- they're even worse than Paula's) prance around him. But you know what? We still enjoyed it. What can we say? We're a child of the era and have fond memories.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=disco-top7r-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Freda Payne singing "Band of Gold"; Thelma Houston singing "Don't Leave Me This Way"; KC singing "Get Down Tonight"</a><br /><br />Whew! It's time for more bloodletting. Ryan goes back to the couches. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> stands and is safe, likewise <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span>, and, of course, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span>, though Ryan lets Danny sweat a little before letting him off the hook. Remember, Lil came in No. 1 on DialIdol.com, yet was eliminated, so no one is feeling absolutely safe. Ryan goes to the back row and asks Anoop to stand. Ryan gets right to the point -- Anoop is taking the now-familiar death walk to the stools yet again. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBhnP2lfjI/AAAAAAAAMWs/uvgFt3wNrUg/s1600-h/matt+allison.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBhnP2lfjI/AAAAAAAAMWs/uvgFt3wNrUg/s400/matt+allison.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327865686077570610" border="0" /></a>Only Allison and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> are left. One is in the Bottom 2/3, the other safe. Most everyone we know thinks Matt should be eliminated, but how would that look after the judges wasted the save on him last week? So, it really comes as no surprise -- except to Matt -- when he is told he is safe. Allison joins Anoop onstage. As she the approaches the stools and Anoop, she sings, "Here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again." At least she has a sense of humor about it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=bottom2-top7r-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai and Allison Iraheta in the Bottom 2/3</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBkWhe99lI/AAAAAAAAMW8/-aVFEhnKhXs/s1600-h/david+archuleta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 222px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBkWhe99lI/AAAAAAAAMW8/-aVFEhnKhXs/s400/david+archuleta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327868697287456338" border="0" /></a>It's time for another breather, so last season's runner-up, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Archuleta</span>, takes the stage to perform -- still with his eyes closed -- "Touch My Hand." It's not his best song and is it just us? Or does he not sound too terrific? We seem to remember him having a much richer voice last year. Maybe it's just exhaustion. Afterwards, he chats with Ryan and gives encouragement to Anoop and Allison.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=archie-top7r-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of David Archuleta singing "Touch My Hand"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBlx5s1snI/AAAAAAAAMXE/2JRL_acJMMc/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+is+eliminated+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBlx5s1snI/AAAAAAAAMXE/2JRL_acJMMc/s400/Anoop+Desai+is+eliminated+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327870267156181618" border="0" /></a>Finally, it's what the "Idol" producers like to (loosely) call "The Moment of Truth." Anyone who still believes that Anoop is safe at this point is totally deluding themselves. No way the producers are going to dump both remaining girls and have an all-male Top 5. Jeez, even Anoop knows that. So, of course, Allison is safe and Anoop sings his swan song. The producers don't even give Lil and Anoop separate journey videos -- they have to share one. So much for their personal archives. Anoop thanks the vocal coaches and Lil, graciously, thanks the judges. It's a wrap.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=anoopelim-top7r-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai being eliminated</a><br /><br />On Tuesday, the Top 5 perform standards made famous by members of the original Rat Pack, which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Wow, that's our kind of music. We're going to loving on that theme. It seems tailor made for Matt (and his Sinatra hat), even though he would seem to be the most likely to be eliminated next.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBoZwtdf7I/AAAAAAAAMXM/QlLQjEwzLwg/s1600-h/taylor+hicks.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SfBoZwtdf7I/AAAAAAAAMXM/QlLQjEwzLwg/s400/taylor+hicks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327873150960893874" /></a>And speaking of tailor, er, Taylor made, on Wednesday, Season 5 winner (and a personal favorite of ours) <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Taylor Hicks</span> returns to "Idol" to sing his latest release, "Seven Mile Breakdown" from his new CD The Distance.<br /><br />One final thought: Next week, will each contestant, as has been done in previous seasons, sing one song or two? Can they fit 10 songs into the scheduled 1 hr. 1 min. show? It's going to be interesting.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-47834564537479292822009-04-22T04:42:00.034-04:002009-04-22T12:40:21.593-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 7 (Again) Disco Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se7YwyiOqsI/AAAAAAAAMUU/EbApu6ZNDQU/s1600-h/Top+7+%28again%29+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se7YwyiOqsI/AAAAAAAAMUU/EbApu6ZNDQU/s400/Top+7+%28again%29+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327433741936536258" border="0" /></a>It's Disco Week on "American Idol," and though we expected train wrecks, what we mostly got was boredom. More than half of the contestants seemed so afraid of doing a disco beat that they dramatically rearranged their music. Except for the lyrics, some of the songs were so melodically different from the originals, they could have been given new titles (yes, we're talking about you, Adam). So while the producers might call this disco because the songs all came from the '70s, there was very little performance-wise that evoked the excitement of that era's music or the vibe of mirror balls, fringe, spangles and Studio 54 (or, in Kara's case, Studio 57). When did the "Born to Be Alive" genre turn into emo, slit-your-wrist music?<br /><br />This week, the pre-performance videos were eliminated and all four judges got to critique the contestants. And except in one case (for Kris Allen), Randy starts all the critiques and the judges go straight down the table as they've done in seasons past.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se7lg46kU_I/AAAAAAAAMUc/vRy8p6h973Y/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se7lg46kU_I/AAAAAAAAMUc/vRy8p6h973Y/s400/Lil+Rounds+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327447762422486002" border="0" /></a>It's become obvious that the producers are so over <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> and want to make quick work of eliminating her. But the joke is on them. The harder they try, and the worse she performs, the more votes she gets, at least according to DialIdol.com. We laughed when we saw she wound up in <span style="font-weight: bold;">1st Place</span>(!) in spite of getting the death position (going first) and giving a barely acceptable vocal. In our opinion, she deserves to be one of the two getting the boot tonight. Though DialIdol is declaring no one clearly safe this week (which means the producers will have free rein to eliminate the two of their own choosing and still look legit) and though they've wrong in the past, no one has ever come in first on DialIdol.com and been eliminated. Some online commenters are suggesting that the show's producers have found a way to successfully tamper with DialIdol's busy signal rate, the way in which they calculate the number of votes each contestant is receiving. We don't know who dialed and texted for Lil (though we suspect Vote for the Worst came out en masse), but we couldn't wait for her frequently painful rendition of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" to end. Yet, if Allison, who finished dead last on DialIdol, does get eliminated tonight, Lil's song title could become a ghastly reality. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> says that Lil still didn't show them what kind of artist she is and what she can do in the competition. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> says that all of America has been waiting for her to sing Chaka Khan but she's not sure if it was worth the wait, telling Lil she's been every woman on that stage -- every other woman except herself. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> defends Lil and says the day before she had no voice and was on complete vocal rest, but adds that though Lil was hot, she didn't hit the boiling point. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> says, "Oh, Lil, you look so sad." She tries to answer him, telling him she had fun performing, but he cuts her off with, "Sweetheart, I'm glad you had fun, because I think this is going to be the last week that we see you. I do. I do. I'll tell you why, because there was no originality, it was very copycat, the arrangement, your vocals were a mess and I absolutely believe this is your final shot. Sorry." Well, Simon, it might be you (and us) who is sorry instead.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=lil-top7-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds singing "I'm Every Woman"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se7r4yode9I/AAAAAAAAMUk/twzqZpwLS9I/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se7r4yode9I/AAAAAAAAMUk/twzqZpwLS9I/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327454770122554322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> has one of those useless Coke chats with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span>, explaining that he chose Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money," because it's a story song about a, er, woman, who, er, works hard for her money. Ryan sarcastically thanks Kris for clearing that up for us. Kris is the first contestant to really change up a song, playing acoustic guitar with a couple of other acoustic instrumentalists. He gives the song, as Paula correctly points out, a Santana feel. We like the arrangement, though it feels nothing like, or even near, disco. Kara tells Kris that he took a risk with the arrangement, but that it paid off big time, saying it sounded like it could go on his record and she has to give him props. Paula tries to use the analogy that a lot of women are known to shop in the men's department but there aren't many men who are willing to shop in the woman's department (ahem, Danny has shopped the woman's department all season, Paula)."I must tell you, you shopped and found a perfect fit. It not only showed your originality, but it showed us why you're a contender in this competition." Simon, who can't stop laughing at Paula's remarks, says, "You know what? I actually need a translator on this show. I don't understand it." Paula starts breaking in with, "He's known to shop in the women's department -- La Perla." Simon: "Are you saying he buys ladies underwear?" Paula: "No, I'm saying you do." Simon: "Sorry, Kris, I have no idea what that meant." Paula starts butting in again, and Simon actually pushes and sssshs her. Simon to Kris: "Kris, that was a complete polar opposite to the first performance. Insomuch as it was original, it was well thought out. That was not karaoke ... it was a fantastic performance." Randy says "You are ready for the Big Time, dawg, because you know who you are. You perform great. You pick great arrangements. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing."<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=kris-top7-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "She Works Hard for the Money"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se7xXCIt3pI/AAAAAAAAMUs/aG73M0-C7Hs/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se7xXCIt3pI/AAAAAAAAMUs/aG73M0-C7Hs/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327460787238592146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span>, thankfully back in glasses, works the crowd and the stage with Earth, Wind and Fire's "September," changing it up a bit, but at least maintaining a disco vibe. For that alone we thank him. It's a nice if forgettable performance, but, once again, he has the audience and, except for Simon, the judges in the palm of his hand. For us, Danny has a great white soul voice and gives a solid performance every time out, but we've seen no growth in him since the beginning of the season. He started out good -- and stayed there. There haven't been any bad performances, but, unlike Adam, there haven't been any meteoric ones, either. Randy says that Danny turned the song into something that really worked for him, adding "good job, good job." Kara says she was worried about Danny on disco night, that "it was sort of like asking Simon to wear a plaid shirt or something." But, she says, he is an incredible vocalist and his pitch is right on -- always. She calls it another solid performance but says she is concerned that the audience will remember it by the end of the night. Honestly, we didn't. Paula says that instead of changing the song, Danny showed his vocal agility and brilliance, and that she thinks he has one of the sexiest voices ever, adding "And I think women of all ages will agree." Simon says he pretty much agrees with what the other judges said. "You can't fault the vocals, the arrangement was interesting. As a performance, though, I didn't really get any star power from that," says Simon. "Because at this stage, that's when you've got to start doing something special, and I thought the performance, overall, was a bit awkward and a bit clumsy." Paula yells out, "I'll still see you in the finals!"<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=danny-top7-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "September"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se73pFKQ1CI/AAAAAAAAMU0/CHkXxO_vS7k/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se73pFKQ1CI/AAAAAAAAMU0/CHkXxO_vS7k/s400/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327467694357795874" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> is a tried and true rocker. She gives everything a rock vibe, even disco. She starts off Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff," from a sitting position, giving it a slow, growly edge. We wait patiently for the beat to pick up, especially when Allison stands up after the line, "almost rang the phone off the wall." But to our disappointment, even though the music picks up a beat, the vocal never does. And that is the performance's biggest flaw -- it just kind of lays there, dead. It also must be said that Allison has a big enunciation problem. Though her phrasing is always dead on, many of the words are inarticulate. But we like the tousled look of her hair this week, so much better than when it looks like a helmet head. Randy calls the arrangement over-indulgent (this season's favorite judge criticism), but emphasizes that Allison is one of the best singers in the competition, so even though he didn't love the arrangement, he loves her. Kara says making the arrangment slower hurt the performance, but that Allison picked the right song and she deems the vocal portion a 9-10. Paula doesn't mind the arrangment, says compromise does not exist in Allison's vocabulary and that speaks to her authenticity. She adds that the last note of the song was off the charts. Simon says that Allison was always going to come into this week as an underdog, but that taking everything into account, it was a brilliant performance. It's so obvious that <del>the producers</del> he wants Allison to stay and Lil to go, overpraising one and ultra-slamming the other. Will <del>their</del> his wish be granted? It's doubtful, if the results are reported honestly.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=allison-top7-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing "Hot Stuff"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se8AZ44IHEI/AAAAAAAAMU8/MaIl4PLFsko/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se8AZ44IHEI/AAAAAAAAMU8/MaIl4PLFsko/s400/Adam+Lambert+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327477328967113794" border="0" /></a>It's <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span>'s turn and, like the rest of America, we're waiting to see what he's going to sing and how he's going to sing it. We figure it's going to be slow and plaintive, both because of the suit (more than any other contestant, this musical-theater vet understands the importance of dressing for the role he's playing) and slicked back hair (which is so high and Eddie Munster-ish this week it looks ridiculous) and because he sang a fast, frenetic song last week. The one consistent thing about Adam is he seems to alternate fast and slow performances. In his Coke interview, he tells Ryan he's singing Yvonne Elliman's (or the Bee Gees) "If I Can't Have You," because he wants to sing something he can relate to emotionally. OK, we would have thought maybe Kris would sing that, but Adam can sing pretty much anything. Although we can't fault the quality of the vocals, the song melodically is unrecognizable. Talk about self-indulgent! We're not loving it, but we're obviously in the minority. Whatever happened to the judges saying when you have a simple, beautiful melody line, you don't need to change it up? The audience and Paula give Adam a standing O. Randy says, "Dude, you are ready right now. You have it, major league, going on. He's the hot one tonight, America!" "Adam, you're brilliant. I don't know what else to say," says Kara, and then goes on to talk more than any other judge. She calls this his most memorable performance, says he looks like "the guy from 'Saturday Night Live' (OMG, did Miss Studio 57 mean "Saturday Night Fever"???) meets Clark Kent' " and swooningly tells him that the way he connects with his emotions is inspiring. While Simon makes amusing faces as she critiques, Paula tells Adam she felt his pain and vulnerability, "as if you tore your heart out and left it on the stage." She also calls him fascinating, awesome and brilliant and says "you will be in the finals." Simon says, "I would have put $10,000 that you would have done Donna Summer, but that's what so good about you. You did something that we weren't expecting. But once again, what I loved about this performance was, it was original -- never ever heard that song sung like that before. Most importantly, you're going to remember it. And even more important, the vocals were immaculate. Congratulations." After the tongue bath by the judges, Adam, always the gentleman, thanks Michael Orland, the show's arranger and associate musical director, for helping him come up with the arrangement, calling Orland a genius.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=adam-top7-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "If I Can't Have You"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se8IU1YyiHI/AAAAAAAAMVE/4CEvcArLZCA/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se8IU1YyiHI/AAAAAAAAMVE/4CEvcArLZCA/s400/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327486038224046194" border="0" /></a>As if they're trying to doom him no matter how good he is (and he isn't), the producers once again curse <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> by positioning him right after Adam, as they did last week. This unenviable spot is not helped by his uninspired and boringly karaoke version of the Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive" -- something Giraud won't be doing after that performance. Especially after the judges inexplicably wasted their one save of the season on him last week. Randy "didn't love the song choice, didn't love the arrangement," but tells Matt he can really sing. Jackson then goes on to say that this group of seven kids is one of the most talented they've ever had on the show. Is he kidding? Add the word "least" before talented and he would have nailed it. This group competes with -- and maybe beating -- Season 6 in that esteem-less category. Kara says Matt brought disco back. Too bad he didn't do it in a good way, Kara. She then less enthusiastically adds that his vocals were good and it was a solid performance. Paula tells Matt that he picks songs like she bowls: "sometimes you throw gutter balls and sometimes you get strikes. And this was a strike." Er, no. Analogy correct, choice wrong. Gutter ball from the release. Continuing with her incorrect appraisal, she says, "Last week the judges saved your life. Tonight, after this performance, you saved your own life. You are staying." Simon tells Matt he didn't like the performance because it came over as a bit desperate, the vocals weren't great and there was no originality.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=matt-top7-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud singing "Stayin' Alive"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se8ND4LWx8I/AAAAAAAAMVM/6TYlcjqVb1M/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Se8ND4LWx8I/AAAAAAAAMVM/6TYlcjqVb1M/s400/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327491244473370562" border="0" /></a>In the pimp spot, though not deserving it (actually, no one did this week), is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span>, who looked killer this week with his pretty-in-pink sweater, a new haircut and some facial hair. Actually, it was around this time last season when David Cook started sprouting facial hair and we also noticed Danny had some extra growth. We're guessing this is a routine "Idol" stylist suggestion -- but hey, it works. Anoop chose another Donna Summer classic, "Dim All the Lights," and put his R&B spin on it. It wasn't bad, in fact the vocals were among Anoop's best, but the song ended before it ever had a chance to take off. Randy says it was a little bit of a rough last note and he didn't love the arrangement, but that Anoop, like the Matt, can sing. Gee, isn't that why he's there? Randy ends with, "Anoop. Nice, baby. Nice." Kara says it is a great song choice and really liked the beat, saying that she thought it could be on the radio. She tells Anoop that the past two weeks were his best performances and that he's really hitting his stride. Paula tells him he looks fantastic and "real men know how to wear pink." She also tells him he has beautiful teeth and to smile more. And, yes, she liked his vocals, too. Simon says he completely disagrees with the other judges. "That was mediocre at best. Sorry. I prayed that the tempo wasn't going to come in. It did. It was a horrible version of that song. And in my opinion, genuinely, that was your worst performance by a mile. It really was." Nope, we couldn't disagree more.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207%20Week%202/?action=view&current=anoop-top7-2.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai singing "Dim All the Lights"</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top Three (we didn't love anyone this week):</span><br />Danny Gokey<br />Adam Lambert<br />Kris Allen<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom Three:</span></span><br />Matt Giraud<br />Lil Rounds<br />Allison Iraheta<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Should Be Eliminated:</span></span><br />Matt Giraud<br />Lil Rounds<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Will Be Eliminated:</span><br />Lil Rounds<br />Anoop Desai<br /><br />Tonight, the group number is choreographed by Paula. Musical guests include <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Archuleta</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Harry Wayne "KC" Casey</span> (of KC and the Sunshine Band), <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Thelma Houston</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Freda Payne</span> will sing a medley of their hits, "Get Down Tonight," "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Band of Gold."<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-53605738223837492062009-04-15T20:27:00.039-04:002009-04-16T11:34:53.270-04:00American Idol Season 8 Top 7 Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Seb_rtDcQaI/AAAAAAAAMSo/E_06Zu2W4k0/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+stays+alive+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Seb_rtDcQaI/AAAAAAAAMSo/E_06Zu2W4k0/s400/Matt+Giraud+stays+alive+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325224735705678242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Bottom 3:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span><br /><br />Anoop is safe<br />Lil is safe<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);"><br />Eliminated:</span> NO ONE! The judges use their save to keep Matt in the competition. Next week, two contestants go home.<br /><br />OK, no real surprise this week. Sure the Judges Save was employed, but even though <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> said there were two more weeks to use it, that was <del>a lie</del> Idolspeak. There was no way the producers were going to allow the save to be used next week. If they did, on the show when there are supposed to be five finalists left, there would be six (with two being eliminated that week). But that is the first week when each contestant has to sing two songs instead of one. If the director can't bring a one-hour show in on time with 7 songs, do you think they really want to go for 12? It'll be funny enough to see how they'll squeeze 10 songs into an hour. And they can't extend "Idol" to 90 minutes that week, since Fox is committed to six weeks of one-hour "Fringe" episodes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SecPwcbp4PI/AAAAAAAAMTU/qX4BLSDBBX0/s1600-h/fringexx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 356px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SecPwcbp4PI/AAAAAAAAMTU/qX4BLSDBBX0/s400/fringexx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325242409329221874" border="0" /></a>A very savvy friend with music- and TV-industry ties told us that these overruns are not accidental. They are, in fact, planned in order to boost the ratings numbers for "Fringe." As soon as "Idol" overruns into "Fringe's" time slot, we've all become viewers of "Fringe" for that week. I believe this to be true because "Idol's" <span style="font-style: italic;">show content</span> is not really overrunning its time slot. Consider: This week, the combined critique times for both judges was less than 2 minutes for each contestant. The videos, performances and interviews all stayed within their normally allotted times. Then how could the show go over? We suspect that Fox is invisibly extending the show by lengthening each commercial break. A one-hour show is allowed 18 minutes of advertising time. But if a show is scheduled for 1:01, as "Idol" was this week, can the producers now cut into the 18 minutes of advertising allotted to the next hour? To get around it legally, all they need do is shorten the commercial breaks during "Fringe" so that the advertising minutes equal 36 for the combined two hours. Clever, no? Perhaps not, if Fox starts losing both the viewers who record "Idol" and miss those important last minutes, or those who decide that watching the beginning of "The Mentalist" is more important than seeing the end of "Idol." Only time will tell.<br /><br />Seacrest said there were 36 million votes this week. That's two million more than last week, when the show had its ridiculously long overrun. Still, it the same total they had for the two weeks prior to last week. Which means that "Idol" has not increased its voter total in the past month. That can't be a good sign as the competition rolls into its final month.<br /><br />This week's opening melange of clips of Tuesday's show was way too artsy-fartsy. Either the producers got carried away or they let <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Quentin Tarantino</span> make a video mess. If this is what they're going to start doing, let's roll back to the boring highlights reel instead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SecNX22nTqI/AAAAAAAAMSw/u7O_hlkyRco/s1600-h/ford.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 218px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SecNX22nTqI/AAAAAAAAMSw/u7O_hlkyRco/s400/ford.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325239787901636258" border="0" /></a>The Ford video, set to the J. Geils Band's "Freeze Frame" featured Matt at a newsstand where all the magazine covers featured the finalists' singing. Haven't they used this idea before? In fact, wasn't it just last season? Oh. Wait. That was CD covers in a music store. Ooooo, big difference.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=ford-top7r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the Ford commercial set to "Freeze Frame"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SecRag_nfsI/AAAAAAAAMTc/ur_AaTSe72Q/s1600-h/group.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SecRag_nfsI/AAAAAAAAMTc/ur_AaTSe72Q/s400/group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325244231619935938" border="0" /></a>Next came the group number, "Maniac," from the film "Flashdance." This has to be a new "Idol" record: Finding the only song where every single finalist sounded lousy during their solo, heh. Singing together as a group wasn't nearly as awful, but even <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> sounded bad during the solos. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> said during a radi broadcast this week that she is choreographing next week's group disco number. Let's hope it's better than this.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=maniac-top7r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Group Number "Maniac"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SecWNVjLwSI/AAAAAAAAMTk/pHep36MEHOw/s1600-h/17+again.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SecWNVjLwSI/AAAAAAAAMTk/pHep36MEHOw/s400/17+again.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325249502767726882" border="0" /></a>It's time for Ryan's <del>rehearsed</del> impromptu chat with the finalists. They talk about working with mentor Tarantino and then about how exciting it was to go to the red-carpet premiere of "17 Again," starring <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Zac Efron</span> and Matthew Perry. After the clip, Ryan introduces Efron, who is sitting in the audience. He thanks the contestants for attending the premiere. As if ...<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=17again-top7r.flv" target="0">Watch video of finalists attending "17 Again" premiere</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Secfp7wZOXI/AAAAAAAAMT0/FdV0FkTgpOo/s1600-h/allison.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 228px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Secfp7wZOXI/AAAAAAAAMT0/FdV0FkTgpOo/s400/allison.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325259889664670066" border="0" /></a>Finally, it's time for the results. And, surprise! They're not playing the accustomed seven finalists left game -- dividing the contestants into two groups of three of making someone who is safe pick the group of three who is also safe. Instead, it's the traditional approach. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> is safe (yea!), as is Adam. But poor Anoop, who did so well this week, is told that he is the Bottom 3 for the third time. Sigh.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=boot-top7r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai in the Bottom 3</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sece26GMTEI/AAAAAAAAMTs/yivILiV7gAU/s1600-h/Jennifer+Hudson+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sece26GMTEI/AAAAAAAAMTs/yivILiV7gAU/s400/Jennifer+Hudson+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325259013045898306" border="0" /></a>Before the eliminations continue, Oscar and Grammy Award-winner <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jennifer Hudson</span> graces the "Idol" stage (in a precorded segment) for the first time since she got the boot during Season 3. After a video tribute, she sings her current single, "If This Isn’t Love." She looks fab-u-lous. Truth be told, we don't love the song, but we love, love, love her voice. Her vocals put most -- if not all -- of the Season 8 finalists to shame. And she didn't even come close to winning Season 3 -- though she should have. We still remember the night she got the axe: Hudson, Fantasia and La Toya London in the Bottom 3, while John Stevens, George Huff, Diana DeGarmo and Jasmine Trias sat safely on the bleachers. It caused Elton John to declare the United States racist and perpetrated death threats against John Stevens.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=jennifer-top7r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Jennifer Hudson singing "If This Isn’t Love"</a><br /><br />Ryan asks Anoop if he's surprised to be in the Bottom 3. Of course he is, after the judges told him how good he was the night before. And in the next few minutes, we'll begin to wonder whether he really did place there, or whether the producers are playing their Bottom 3 games again. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> and Lil are asked to stand and Ryan says one of them is safe, the other in the Bottom 3. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> interjects to say that they didn't get to critique Kris last night, but he wants to let Kris know that he was brilliant. Logic dictates that the loser in this duo is Kris, but Lil is told she's in the Bottom 3. Now we're sure the fix is in, since Kris placed dead last on DialIdol.com for two straight weeks, yet didn't even land in the Bottom 3, much less get eliminated. Meanwhile, Lil placed second from the top, right after Danny on DialIdol on Tuesday, more than likely due to her nasty little exchange with Simon. Again, notice that Ryan never says that either Anoop or Lil received the lowest vote totals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeclDBa-opI/AAAAAAAAMT8/-ygcVbvOKSg/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai,+Lil+Rounds,+Matt+Giraud+Bottom+3+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeclDBa-opI/AAAAAAAAMT8/-ygcVbvOKSg/s400/Anoop+Desai,+Lil+Rounds,+Matt+Giraud+Bottom+3+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325265818240328338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> and Matt are left and told to stand. Ryan tries to do a head trip on Danny and make him think he's in the Bottom 3. Not even our dogs believed that. Matt has the look of a hanged man and he's right, especially after Kris was given a pass. Ryan assembles the Bottom 3 and tells them that one is going to be released to safety. We mutter "Anoop, Anoop, Anoop" are breathe a sigh of relief when he is told to go to the couches. Of course, he's not going to win, but of the three onstage, he most deserves to not be there.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=anoop-top7r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds and Matt Giraud in the Bottom 3</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Seco1LY0WII/AAAAAAAAMUE/PQbxPke7HC4/s1600-h/Miley+Cyrus+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Seco1LY0WII/AAAAAAAAMUE/PQbxPke7HC4/s400/Miley+Cyrus+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325269978443962498" border="0" /></a>And it's time for a <del>headache</del> musical interlude. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Miley Cyrus</span> is live in the studio to sing "The Climb," from "Hannah Montana: The Movie." Good thing she never tried out for "Idol." Between her lack of enunciation and nasally whiny voice she probably wouldn't have made it past the audition stage. It must be good to have a daddy in the biz to keep you from having an achy breaky heart (and supply you with boyfriends). And BTW, how much does that crystal mic stand cost?<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=miley-top7r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Miley Cyrus singing "The Climb"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SectxJi_zyI/AAAAAAAAMUM/arjqXSFV1z0/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds,+Matt+Giraud+Bottom+2+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SectxJi_zyI/AAAAAAAAMUM/arjqXSFV1z0/s400/Lil+Rounds,+Matt+Giraud+Bottom+2+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325275406788448034" border="0" /></a>Simon says the judges might consider saving one person and that person would probably be surprised. Ryan asks, "So it would be Lil?" and Simon tells him let's wait and see. And it's time for the moment of "truth," a word thrown around very loosely on "Idol." Lil is safe. Matt has to sing for his life. The performance is not great. Vocally, it might be a tad better than Tuesday, but without the piano, it resonates less, if at all. Paula and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> (who never want to eliminate anyone) dance through the performance. Ryan chats up Matt while the judges <del>talk about dinner</del> deliberate. The audience begins to loudly chant "Save Matt! Save Matt!" Is this staged? When did Matt become so popular? Oh, this seems sooooooo staged. Finally, Simon asks Matt how many times he's been in the Bottom 3. He says twice. Simon tells him, "Could I be honest with you? OK. I didn't think you were as good as you were last night. I don't see that you have really any chance of winning the competition." The other three judges start <del>acting</del> protesting. (Oh c'mon, we have a better chance of winning the competition.) Simon continues, "I'm being honest with you. (trying to talk over the noise) Matt. Matt. Matt. Matt. We've made a decision." Kara shouts, "No!" Simon holds us his hand to quiet her. Simon: "Matt, it's good news." The theater goes wild. Oh, really. We're saving Matt here, not Adam or Danny.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=save-top7r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt being eliminated and saved</a><br /><br />And amazingly, the show ends exactly on time -- without the 2-3 minute journey video. How can that be? The producers couldn't have known that Matt would be saved. HA! What suckers we "Idol" viewers are to think any of this is real.<br /><br />Next week, the theme is disco, which ought to produce numerous train-wreck performances. Eliminating two finalists could be way easier than it sounds. On Wednesday night, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Archuleta</span> performs.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-68244634841820299622009-04-15T05:09:00.019-04:002009-04-15T10:50:17.357-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 7 Songs From the Cinema<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeWk3iU_shI/AAAAAAAAMRo/OFfF0fGur4o/s1600-h/Top+7+Quentin+Tarantino+1100.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeWk3iU_shI/AAAAAAAAMRo/OFfF0fGur4o/s400/Top+7+Quentin+Tarantino+1100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324843408450105874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Question:</span> How do you have one less contestant than the week before, only two judges critiquing instead of four and still run out of time?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Answer:</span> You don't ... unless you're an idiot. Someone PLEASE fire the director of "American Idol!"<br /><br />You can feel the stink of desperation wafting off the show. Every week something is changing as the viewers and the voting talleys descend. Last week, the producers smartly eliminated the ridiculous judges' stair entrance and this week <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Rickey Minor</span> and the band were rightfully returned to the stage instead of being hidden behind curtains or in the rafters. Adam's interaction with them alone was worth the change. Maybe next week <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> will no longer have to descend the Stairway to Heaven (it's such a pompous entrance, we almost want him to fall each week, just so they'll end it).<br /><br />But this week they introduced the worst change of all: Because their inept director can't hold the reins on running overtime, they've decided to punish the viewers by only allowing two judges to critique each performance. C'mon, does anyone really care what anyone says other than <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span>? (Though we did note that Simon (and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span>) reviewed the most likely to end up in the finale contestants: Allison, Adam, Danny and Lil.) Why don't they cut their losses and eliminate <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span>, who has added nothing but time overruns to the series? This tag team judging not only sucked, the show <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span> ran overtime, even though, on average, the two judges spoke for less than two minutes! What's more amazing, is that for seven seasons three judges (and occasionally four if there was a guest judge) critiqued every week and the only times they ever ran seriously over were during the star-packed finale shows. And even those didn't run as much over as last week's show. This week, the show ran about 3 minutes over, so VCR, TiVo and DVR users again were screwed, this time missing Lil cut Simon a new one after his caustic review of her performance. Producers, here are things we don't need to see: The contestant's intro videos, the ridiculously useless Coke interviews and the seriously long commercial breaks. Oh, better go with the contestant's videos. The latter two generate money, so you're never going to get rid of those.<br /><br />Certainly, we could have lived without the inexorably long video tribute to this week's mentor, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Quentin Tarantino</span>, a legend in his own mind. What does he know about music other than he listens to it? He sucked as a guest judge during Season 3 (being unnecessarily cruel to Diana DeGarmo) and insinuated himself into Tuesday's show from the onset, including having to announce "This IS 'American Idol.'" Does he not know that this <span style="font-style: italic;">isn't</span> "Saturday Night Live" and that he should have stayed in his friggin' seat in the audience? His great advice including telling Anoop to "rough it up" and growl during his song, telling us he really didn't know what Adam was going to do during his performance and fawning over Lil, as if she was the celebrity and he was a groupie. Yuck! And after all that, whatever was good on the show -- and that wasn't much -- had nothing to do with his advice.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=quentin-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video tribute to Quentin Tarantino</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeW7EuUm_9I/AAAAAAAAMRw/Y7BMy619NSs/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeW7EuUm_9I/AAAAAAAAMRw/Y7BMy619NSs/s400/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324867824263823314" border="0" /></a>The evening got off to an OK start with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> singing Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" from "Armageddon," which suited her husky voice well. She was a bit shaky with the low range of song's opening but gradually improved as the song built to a rousing end. Paula tells Allison that she possesses the same "special sauce" as Adam, "and that's being authentic. You don't compromise that authenticity." Simon begins with, "Allison, yes, I think it was barbecue sauce Paula was referring to: hot, spicy," turning to Paula, "Yeh?" She agrees, he says, "Whatever." He then takes his first jab at Lil, telling Allison, "I think you are the girls only hope left in this competition right now. I really genuinely do." Unfortunately, the public disagrees, as Allison will more than likely be in the Bottom 3, while, according to DialIdol.com, Lil placed second, a spot she didn't come near deserving. Talk about the power of a fan base! Simon continues, "I don't think I've heard a girl -- let alone someone your age -- sing that song so well ... we could see you all the way through to the end now."<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=allison-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" from "Armageddon"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeW93i-cl_I/AAAAAAAAMR4/KHeEUusCg-4/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeW93i-cl_I/AAAAAAAAMR4/KHeEUusCg-4/s400/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324870896414660594" border="0" /></a>Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the evening was <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span>, in possibly his best performance to date, and now with two weeks of solid deliveries. Instead of doing Tarantino's growl, he put a really pleasing R&B spin on Bryan Adam's (Everything I Do) I Do It for You," from "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves," a song that has been overdone on "Idol." Anoop, however, found a way to make it fresh and really romantic, with every single note on key. He could probably have a hit with his creative adaptation. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> tells him that in the last couple of weeks, Anoop has really found his zone and that he's rockin' the house. "It was in tune, you had some emotion jumpin' off of it, dude. I thought you did a really good job, man." Kara says Anoop's really found his place: doing pop songs and adding soul to them. She adds that it was probably one of his best vocals and that she felt really connected to it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=anoop-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai singing Bryan Adam's "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" from "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXDy1gcwJI/AAAAAAAAMSA/8sJbyVLm-Fk/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXDy1gcwJI/AAAAAAAAMSA/8sJbyVLm-Fk/s400/Adam+Lambert+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324877412559536274" border="0" /></a>Without doubt, our favorite performance of the night belongs lock, stock and 10 blazing barrels to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span>. Talk about trapping lightning (which was his backdrop theme) in a bottle! Adam epitomizes what "Idol" should be about. Being so amazing and creative each week that you can't wait to see what he is going to do next. How good was he doing Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" from "Easy Rider"? So good that all we could think is: Why is anyone else even bothering to perform? Indeed, the lightening was most appropriate for his electrifying performance, so full of energy we were jumping out of our skin watching it. His musical theater background serves him so well, it's almost frightening. This guy isn't an amateur. He was obviously ready for the pros without "Idol." But "Idol" is giving him the opportunity to easily step right into the pros. The booming ovation from the audience was stunning ... and endless. When Paula finally gets a chance to speak, she says, "The reason, Adam, that you're shaking up this whole competition is that you dare to dance in the path of greatness ... fortune rewards the brave, and you're one of the bravest contestants I've ever witnessed. Ever. I think you're fantastic." Simon says, "Adam, I think you've got to learn how to express yourself a bit more," and rolls his eyes to the audience's laughter. He continues, "Vocally, incredible. Downside for that performance to me, it was a little like watching 'The Rocky Horror' musical in parts." Adam answers, "I love the 'Rocky Horror' musical." Simon then says, "It was one of the biggest rock songs on all time, so there is going a be a huge proportion of the audience who would have loved that. There's also going to be another side that will absolutely despise it. I don't think that performance will be as popular as your one last week." Paula shouts out, "Apples and oranges." And, of course, she's right. But then, so is Simon. Though Adam clearly should have finished first this week, DialIdol has him in the No. 3 slot. As Randy would say, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?" And omigod, we just watched the video for about the fifth time and are as mesmerized as the first time we saw the performance. Bravo!<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=adam-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" from "Easy Rider"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXMaXK4w6I/AAAAAAAAMSI/0k8ieIvFZLU/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXMaXK4w6I/AAAAAAAAMSI/0k8ieIvFZLU/s400/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324886887703823266" border="0" /></a>Bad enough to have to follow Adam. Even worse to follow him with the night's poorest performance. We have given up on trying to like <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span>. He just can't bring it on the level he needs to every week. He can't even get through en entire song without hitting some real clunker notes. He chose another Bryan Adams song, "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" from "Don Juan DeMarco." Quentin Tarantino tells us that if Matt does the song the same way he did it for him, it will be one of Matt's top three performances. Is that even a compliment? Turns out, it was in his Bottom 3, where is where Matt will find himself firmly entrenched tonight. The only thing that might save him is the elimination of Kris, instead. We hated the arrangement of the song -- it was all over the place. And there were too many bad notes to count. The ending was delicious, but way too little, way too late. If Matt goes tonight, well, he deserves to. Randy says, "It started out kind of cool. When you hit the bridge, man, it hit a rough patch ... a little melody going off, a little pitchy thing going on ... when you take a song like this that's got a beautiful simple melody, you can't do all of that stuff with it. Because you're going to fall down somewhere, and you fell down more places tonight than you won ... so it wasn't one of your best performances." Kara says that Matt keeps going back and forth between rock and soul songs and when you're going to flip a song like he did it has to be a masterpiece. While she's talking, Simon is doing some weird thing, apparently showing Paula something. He opens his mouth all the way and thrusts his head and neck forward. What was up with that? Later he's just sitting there with his mouth agape. Strange. Check him out in the video.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=matt-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud singing Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" from "Don Juan DeMarco"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXTPKKoXVI/AAAAAAAAMSQ/8kKis5_Bwjo/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXTPKKoXVI/AAAAAAAAMSQ/8kKis5_Bwjo/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324894391815920978" border="0" /></a>Ah, it must be <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span>'s turn. Why? Didn't you see the dead wife card being pulled out? Tonight with props. What do we mean? Oh, look, there's a big harp to accompany him. Don't they play those in heaven? On his last note of Diana Ross' "Endless Love," from the movie of the same name," Danny (wearing contacts, not glasses, so we're sure to notice) turns his misty eyes heavenward on the lyric "my endless love" as a crescendo of harp strings ends the song. We're surprised we don't see a portrait of his late wife projected on the ceiling of the theater, gazing down and waving lovingly to him. Give it a rest, Danny. Yes, it's a tragedy you lost you're wife. But be a man and stop milking it in a feeble attempt to try to win the competition. But, smart marketer that you are, it worked. Though your performance was average bordering on corny -- you didn't even come close to Adam's level this week -- the viewers have put you in first place. There must be a lot of horny cougars out there hungry for a widower with no kids. Paula starts by telling Danny that from the opening of the performance she wasn't sure that the key shouldn't have been lowered, then, while Simon fidgets, goes on about the magical timbre of his voice and says he pulled it together by the end -- "you grab us in the beginning, you wow us in the middle and you slay us at the end" -- eventually calling it "a beautiful, beautiful rendition." Simon says he can't really fault the way Danny sang the song, calling him a brilliant singer, but says that he's disappointed "that we had the harp and that we had a very traditional version of the song. Whereas last year, when David [Cook] did the Lionel Richie song ["Hello"] he made it into his unique version. I was kind of a bit bored [with yours]. That's all you did with it. So I'm slightly disappointed to be honest with you." But then, in an out-of-character mush moment, Simon adds, "Having said that, I think this song obviously means a lot to you personally, and I can see that you're emotional, and it's a hard thing to do. So (pause) I congratulate you for that." Oh, Simon, since when can't you see when you're being manipulated?<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=danny-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing Diana Ross' "Endless Love" from "Endless Love"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXZykwS4gI/AAAAAAAAMSY/j2KD3hf2Kho/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXZykwS4gI/AAAAAAAAMSY/j2KD3hf2Kho/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324901597318406658" border="0" /></a>Tarantino tells us that he thinks <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> lived up to the spirit of the competition the most by picking a movie ("Once") that meant something to him and picking the song that was perfect for him (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's "Falling Slowly"). Tarantino also encourages Kris to play an instrument for the performance. Fortunately, Kris ignores the suggestion. Unfortunately, not only is the song obscure, the 4-minute original doesn't sustain when chopped to 1:49. The instrumentality that is so vital to it gets lost as well as what little (very little) drama it possesses. Though beautifully sung by Kris -- perhaps even better than Hansard did it -- the abridgement is, well, boring. At this point, the show is seriously looking like it's going to run over, and Randy and Kara are given less than a minute to speak. He says, "It never quite caught on for me, and I love that song. But for me, it was pitchy from note 1." She says, "Difficult to pick an obscure song like that maybe not everybody knows (er, isn't that the definition of obscure, genius?), but for me, it was (spacing her words with pauses) one ... of ... your ... best ... moments (long pause) Evah!<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=kris-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's "Falling Slowly" from "Once"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXk2Jwi2tI/AAAAAAAAMSg/nrqq3cpvrnY/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SeXk2Jwi2tI/AAAAAAAAMSg/nrqq3cpvrnY/s400/Lil+Rounds+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324913753419078354" border="0" /></a>When we heard that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> was going to be doing the title song from Bette Midler's "The Rose," we thought here comes another train wreck. And, to be honest, when we listened live, we hated it. Yet, we liked it a bit on playback. It took us a while to figure out what threw us off. The opening is so well-known you can't just throw some parts of it away. Lil discarded the lyric<p>"some say love it is a razor/<br />that leaves the soul to bleed."</p><p>The melody does not jump comfortably from<br /></p><p>Some say love, it is a river<br />That drowns the tender reed</p><p>to</p><p>Some say love, it is a hunger<br />An endless aching need</p><p>especially when you're changing it up with R&B styling. Plus, the entire second stanza was dropped, whose words, to us, are more meaningful than the first's:</p><p>It's the heart, afraid of breaking<br />That never learns to dance<br />It's the dream, afraid of waking<br />That never takes the chance<br />It's the one who won't be taken<br />Who cannot seem to give<br />And the soul, afraid of dying<br />That never learns to live</p><p>Had Lil left the opening traditional and then jumped into her gospel-tinged R&B version it could have been great. As it was, for us at least, it was one of the night's worst. Paula talks to Lil about the beautiful lyrics (what about the missing ones?) but never addresses her performance at all. Thankfully, Simon says to Paula, "I have absolutely no idea what you just said there." To Lil, he says, "I think that you're getting this completely wrong. The song was too soft for you. It was too middle of the road. You had some nice moments in there, but, you know, there are no excuses anymore, Lil. You know, you are not the artist I believe we met seven or eight weeks ago. I'm getting frustrated ..." During this, the camera pans back and forth from his face to hers, and you could tell Lil was getting angry. While Simon is talking, she turns and says something to Ryan. Simon stops and says, "No, what do you want to say?"<br />Lil: "OK, I really want to say something real quick, Simon. You know, you guys told me to be an artist. And when I heard this song, I thought it was a beautiful song. And I put my own bit to it. Because I'm into the R&B and the soul and the gospel. And I put it in there and I told ..."<br />Simon: "But, but, but ..."<br />Lil: "And I thought it was really good. I really do."<br />Simon: "But, Lil ..."<br />Ryan: "We've got to leave it at that."<br />Simon: "OK, but it was a Bette Midler song."<br />Lil: "I know it was Bette Midler. And I know that she's not an artist that you'd necessarily see me doing ..."<br />Simon: "No"<br />Lil (getting strident): "But I honestly put an R&B feel to it and I ..."<br />Paula: "Don't ever be afraid to say what you feel Lil. Those who matter, don't mind" (Shut up Paula!)<br />Ryan cuts it off her. Simon looks seriously pissed. Lil better hope that DialIdol is right and that she doesn't need to get saved tonight.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%207/?action=view&current=lil-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds singing Bette Midler's "The Rose" from "The Rose"</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top 3:</span><br />Adam Lambert<br />Anoop Desai<br />Danny Gokey/Allison Iraheta (tie)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom 3:</span></span><br />Matt Giraud<br />Lil Rounds<br />Kris Allen<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Should be eliminated:</span></span> Matt Giraud<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Will be eliminated:</span> Kris or Matt or Allison (we think if it's Allison, they'll save her)<br /><br />Tonight <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jennifer Hudson</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Miley Cyrus</span> perform.<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-6089504417680972222009-04-08T20:00:00.036-04:002009-04-09T08:52:40.543-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 8 Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd2621G7j1I/AAAAAAAAMQA/DuXfgElWSAc/s1600-h/Scott+MacIntyre+is+eliminated+01+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd2621G7j1I/AAAAAAAAMQA/DuXfgElWSAc/s400/Scott+MacIntyre+is+eliminated+01+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322615785753644882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Bottom 3:<br />Scott MacIntyre<br />Lil Rounds<br />Anoop Desai<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd1Z0tRkgBI/AAAAAAAAMPo/nkpszg7vppc/s1600-h/Top+8+Bottom+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd1Z0tRkgBI/AAAAAAAAMPo/nkpszg7vppc/s400/Top+8+Bottom+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322509096663154706" border="0" /></a>Eliminated: Scott MacIntyre</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3AyPZkJVI/AAAAAAAAMQI/naobrO2BJho/s1600-h/Frankie+Avalon+performs+02+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3AyPZkJVI/AAAAAAAAMQI/naobrO2BJho/s400/Frankie+Avalon+performs+02+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322622303981544786" border="0" /></a>As it did last week, the show opens with a film montage of performance snippets intercut with judge critiques. Somehow, it's lost the pow it had last week. Maybe it's the clips they used this week. It's just not as effective. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> chats up the judges. He tells <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> they have a clip of a song from the year he was born (1959! He hits the BIG 5-0 on Oct. 7). On the screen a video of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Frankie Avalon</span> singing "Venus," that looks like it might have been from "American Bandstand," is played. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3A6DipwUI/AAAAAAAAMQQ/gt3YbJpfWlM/s1600-h/Frankie+Avalon+performs+01+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3A6DipwUI/AAAAAAAAMQQ/gt3YbJpfWlM/s400/Frankie+Avalon+performs+01+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322622438237389122" border="0" /></a>Suddenly, the screen slides apart and Avalon walks through. He looks and sounds amazing, especially considering he turned 70 in February. He can't hit all the big notes anymore, but the mellow tone has remained solid through the years. The judges, especially Simon, actually look surprised. What a fun treat, the best surprise of the season. This is what "Idol" should do more often if it wants to win back its audience. Little surprise treats like this one, instead of just pimping artists who have come out with new releases. BTW, check out the photo above. What's with the evening gloves on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span>? Where did she think she was going tonight? But even her gloves won't prevent her from wearing one of her QVC bracelets. Heh.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=frankie-top8r-1.flv">What video of Frankie Avalon singing "Venus" to Simon Cowell</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3E4lAiADI/AAAAAAAAMQY/K0IWHwi_ZV8/s1600-h/group+number.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 157px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3E4lAiADI/AAAAAAAAMQY/K0IWHwi_ZV8/s400/group+number.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322626810907852850" border="0" /></a>Next is the group number, Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head," from 2002, the year, Ryan tells us, that "American Idol" was "born." The group sounds so bad, our ears begin to bleed. Please <del>don't</del> stop the music. Ugh. It's hard for a group of two girls and six guys to pull off a song sung by a woman. The only (barely) tolerable part is when the girls, including <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span>, sing.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=group-top8r.flv">Watch video of the group number "Can't Get You Out of My Head"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3G33ljfaI/AAAAAAAAMQg/DovzRREgHko/s1600-h/ford+commercial.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 157px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3G33ljfaI/AAAAAAAAMQg/DovzRREgHko/s400/ford+commercial.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322628997738364322" border="0" /></a>Before the actual Ford commercial, set to Britney Spears' "Circus," we view a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of it. It looks like it could be good, until we actually see the video, which is far less interesting and entertaining than the behind-the-scenes look. Yawn.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=ford-top8r.flv">Watch video of the Ford commercial "Circus"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3KQMP8SFI/AAAAAAAAMQo/LpDTWMhj4Kg/s1600-h/Adam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 227px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3KQMP8SFI/AAAAAAAAMQo/LpDTWMhj4Kg/s400/Adam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322632714136602706" border="0" /></a>Time for the results, but first Ryan asks Adam how he felt about Simon giving him a standing O. Would we even have to watch them make Adam suck up to Cowell if it hadn't made national news -- Simon Cowell gives contestant a standing ovation? Of course, they coyly didn't address the other "Idol" story that made national news on Wednesday -- America misses seeing the best performance of the night because show unnecessarily runs over by 7 minutes. Bah! The only funny thing about it was when Ryan asked Adam: "How did you feel when he [Cowell] got up on his heels there and lifts and stood up and praised you." At least some of the audience tittered and got it.<br /><br />Ryan tells us the judges' save is still alive for three more weeks. Will it be used tonight? Adam, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> and Anoop are asked to stand. Ryan asks <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> and Paula to give Adam a further tongue bath by telling him what they thought of his performance on Tuesday. Lambert is then, of course, told he is safe. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3NvfZADWI/AAAAAAAAMQw/EEJG5tVeKAA/s1600-h/Kris,+Anoop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 201px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3NvfZADWI/AAAAAAAAMQw/EEJG5tVeKAA/s400/Kris,+Anoop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322636550385700194" border="0" /></a>Seacrest says that either Kris or Anoop is in the Bottom 3. Hmmm, it's got to be Kris. No! It's Anoop. Wait. Even Kris' wife looks surprised. Kris got the lowest DialIdol.com score. Even if he wasn't eliminated, he's got to be in the Bottom 3. Uh-oh, the producers are playing games with the definition of "Bottom 3" again. (We especially believe this after we learn that Lil, who deserved to be in the Bottom 3 but came in fourth out of eight according to DialIdol, is in it. It's as if the judges want to put a scare in her for underachieving the past three weeks.)<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=b31-top8r.flv">Watch video ofAnoop Desai in the Bottom 3</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3S5xZpsYI/AAAAAAAAMRA/-L8lVWKxeto/s1600-h/FLO+RIDA+performs+02+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3S5xZpsYI/AAAAAAAAMRA/-L8lVWKxeto/s400/FLO+RIDA+performs+02+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322642224577098114" border="0" /></a>Musical guest <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Flo Rida</span> sings his current No. hit, "Right Round" (but without Katy Perry). Sorry, not our taste in music. Fortunately, you can't make out most of the lyrics. We can't help but wonder if family values-loving America would take kindly to this performance if they knew Flo was singing about paying for fellatio. Is this another little joke the producers are playing on the public or are they hoping to draw a younger audience by bringing in an edgy rapper?<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=florida-top8r.flv">Watch video of Flo Rida singing "Right Round"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3VUmllJmI/AAAAAAAAMRI/O-GERbL__uI/s1600-h/Matt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 220px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3VUmllJmI/AAAAAAAAMRI/O-GERbL__uI/s400/Matt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322644884554065506" border="0" /></a>Time for more results. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> is safe, as is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span>, but not before Ryan screws with his head a bit, making him think he's not. Scott is told that the risk he took leaving the piano didn't work. He's in the Bottom 3. Actually it had nothing to do with the piano and everything to do with his lousy singing. Lil and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> stand. One of them is also in the Bottom 3. After Tuesday, if it's Allison, we'll know it's a fix. Wait, if it's Lil we'll also know that, heh. It's Lil, who in spite of her strong fan support, deserves to be there. Ryan says that's all we'll know until after Kellie Pickler's performance. Ryan asks Simon if the judges would consider saving anyone this week. Cowell says there are a couple of people they'd consider, one in particular (Lil?).<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=b32a-top8r.flv">Watch video of Scott MacIntyre and Lil Rounds in the Bottom 3</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3YlXQaM0I/AAAAAAAAMRQ/thC4i865FXI/s1600-h/Kellie+Pickler+performs+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3YlXQaM0I/AAAAAAAAMRQ/thC4i865FXI/s400/Kellie+Pickler+performs+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322648471031395138" border="0" /></a>We love <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kellie Pickler</span> and she looks great, but her live performance reminds us why, other than her personality, she didn't have a snowball's chance during Season 5. She sounds no better now than she did then. She soars on the money notes, but has no lower register whatsoever, and most of her new single, "Best Days of Your Life," which she wrote with Taylor Swift, is in the low range. If Auto-Tuning hadn't been invented she might still be serving burgers on roller skates in Albemarle, N.C. During the number she fake flirts at the judges' table, first with Simon and then with Randy. She's out of breath after her performance. How does she make it through a concert?<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=kellie-top8r.flv">Watch video of Kellie Pickler singing "Best Days of Your life"</a><br /><br />Time for the elimination. Ryan says he's sending someone back to safety. "Anoop," he says pausing, "stay where you are (pause) Lil you are safe." Whaaaaaat? What Ryan did to Anoop really puts the suck in sucker punch. So it's down to Scott and Anoop. Ryan says of the 34 million votes this week (which is 2 million votes less than either of the previous two weeks), only 30,000 votes separated the two. This time, Anoop really is safe and Scott will sing for his survival, fortunately without his electric <del>geetar</del> guitar. For the first 20 seconds, he's a bit better than Tuesday ... and then the screeching starts. Paula and Kara are dancing like <del>deaf</del> fools. Then the judges <del>fake</del> deliberate. Ryan asks Simon why last week he would't even consider using the judges' save with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span>. Simon says, "Because I didn't care. I genuinely didn't care, I don't think she cared. And this is a whole different ballgame. And <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3nM64cKpI/AAAAAAAAMRY/CmPCh_BNyFs/s1600-h/Scott+MacIntyre+is+eliminated+02+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3nM64cKpI/AAAAAAAAMRY/CmPCh_BNyFs/s400/Scott+MacIntyre+is+eliminated+02+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322664543772224146" border="0" /></a>I'm going to be honest with you, two people think you should stay and two people think you should go." Ryan tells them to take a minute, but Simon just looks at the other three frustrated about what to do. No one seems to want to give on this. Paula doesn't look happy. Ryan goes back to Simon, who gives more deference to Scott than anyone else they've shoved out the door, saying "Scott, this is really tough. I really like you Scott. I'm looking over there and think there's a bunch of talented singers, so this decision isn't just based on you. It's whether I think somebody, or we think someone, is more talented over there. And this is the problem." Scott, pathetically trying to fill the silence, says "I know I can please you another week, Simon." Kara and Paula seem to be arguing for Scott, saying that he had been getting it right in previous weeks (oh, c'mon, no he hadn't), and although what he sang this week wasn't the right song for him, it doesn't diminish what he had done earlier. But isn't that true about everyone who has been eliminated? What about poor <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span>? Surely she deserved to be saved more than anyone else based on previous merit. Why are they patronizing and groveling to Scott? We always hear that challenged people want to be treated the same as everyone else, not differently. Why are they making an exception with him, instead of treating him like the rest? If Anoop had been eliminated would they be bending over backwards like this? We'd put money on "no." Ryan says, "They're pushing for a verdict." Simon asks the other cowards, "You want me to make a decision?" They apparently say "yes." Simon turns and says, "Scott, someone's got to make a decision here, and I'm going to say it's the end of the competition. Sorry." Scott seems a little stunned and takes a second to digest this. They run Scott's journey video.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3n3L55qXI/AAAAAAAAMRg/q5ZLrXbWCe8/s1600-h/paula.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sd3n3L55qXI/AAAAAAAAMRg/q5ZLrXbWCe8/s400/paula.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322665269896259954" border="0" /></a>But before the show ends, Paula, being patronizing to the bitter end, has to have the last word. Looking like she's going to cry, she says, "On behalf of the judges, I just want to say that you've been an inspiration to the entire world for your commitment, through your talent. And we all watch 'American Idol' so that we, as an audience, get to witness unique and gifted artists as you, Scott, realize a dream that nearly seems impossible. You know what? You are one classy gentleman. God bless you. We love you." Damn! If they had kept Scott one more week, and he had sung one more ballad, he might have been able to solve the problem of world peace.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=elim-top8r.flv">Watch video of Scott MacIntyre being eliminated</a><br /><br />Next week, the theme is "Idols at the Movies," with the seven remaining finalists performing songs of the cinema under the guidance of director <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Quentin Tarantino</span> (huh?). Yes, we know he was a guest judge once, but what does he know about music, other than he likes it? On Wednesday, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jennifer Hudson</span> performs her new single, "If This Isn't Love" and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Miley Cyrus</span> sings "The Climb" from "Hannah Montana: The Movie."<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-62480350633002665572009-04-07T19:29:00.038-04:002009-04-08T08:44:30.931-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 8 Songs From Year They Were Born<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdwDVq3fWMI/AAAAAAAAMOo/Wq55Ccv_-Fo/s1600-h/AMERICAN+IDOL+Top+8+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdwDVq3fWMI/AAAAAAAAMOo/Wq55Ccv_-Fo/s400/AMERICAN+IDOL+Top+8+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322132530464250050" border="0" /></a>Time for The Rant. How could the show run over by 6 minutes? If you had the misfortune of DVRing, TiVoing or VCRing "Idol" tonight, you missed the pimp spot -- the best performance of the night -- by Adam Lambert. Things ran so ridiculously late, the only judge to comment was <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span>, who gave Adam a standing ovation. Didn't see it? It's like the finale all over again. Is there not a show runner for "American Idol"? Does no one see when they're beginning to run over every week? Can't they shorten the intro videos (they're not going to eliminate the Coke interview spots for which they are paid) to ensure there's enough time for the performances and the judges' opinions? Can't they play the "Idol" theme music when a judge talks too much? In seasons past, they subjected Simon, who seemingly has the most relevant opinion to both contestants and voters, to this all the time. This year, they let <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> go on forevah without shutting them up. We've begun to hear noises that Kara is missing, missing, missing working in the studio with stars, so hopefully that's a ploy to not have her come back next season. We won't miss her. She also told <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> on his radio show that she's working on this year's possible coronation song. If it sucks as much as she usually does, it'll surely be used.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdvn8oeERpI/AAAAAAAAMNo/3Fz4CBgzGNk/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdvn8oeERpI/AAAAAAAAMNo/3Fz4CBgzGNk/s200/Danny+Gokey+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322102413510067858" border="0" /></a>This week's "theme" was songs from the year the contestant was born, meaning, once again, the genre was pretty much anything. In spite of the judges' comments, for us the show didn't start until the fourth performance. That means we once again weren't a fan of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> this week. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdxsvi4r_BI/AAAAAAAAMOw/MBVC0WfcvFo/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdxsvi4r_BI/AAAAAAAAMOw/MBVC0WfcvFo/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322248423719304210" border="0" /></a>We hated the arrangement he used for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcMAMCTR74k" target="0">Mickey Gilley's 1980 version of "Stand by Me,"</a> which Gilley did much better than Danny. Danny hit a lot of flat notes, especially at the top of the number. Overall, we weren't impressed, though the judges were. That must be why Gokey ranked No. 2 on Dialidol.com, though he deserves to be no higher than fourth, tied with Anoop, who inexplicably is hanging near the bottom and is in serious danger of being cut. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> says Danny is an amazing singer and made Jackson love the performance even though he did not love the arrangement. Kara also isn't crazy about the arrangement but says at the end Danny just killed it, turning it on its head and making it his own. Paula says Danny opened the show setting the bar so high that everyone who follows him is going to have to run as fast as they can to catch up. Not. She then goes on to say he is unique and talks about his chord substitutions. Simon starts laughing, and says to her when she's done: "Why do you talk to him like that?" Paula: "Because that's what it is." Simon: "I can't stand you." Paula shrugs. Simon tells Danny, the beginning was good, the middle was lazy, and the end was terrific, so, overall, great.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=danny-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "Stand by Me," by Mickey Gilley</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdvoRPodsFI/AAAAAAAAMNw/svDCOSMtakk/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdvoRPodsFI/AAAAAAAAMNw/svDCOSMtakk/s200/Kris+Allen+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322102767620042834" border="0" /></a>We suppose the best thing that can be said of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span>'s version of Don Henley's "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" is that it was different -- unfortunately not in a good way, at least for "Idol." The musical arrangement was far more interesting than the bland vocal that Kris delivered from the mosh pit while playing guitar (which he still looks like he strums out of beat with the music). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdx3GwvxM2I/AAAAAAAAMO4/GrCvfsbW7gQ/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdx3GwvxM2I/AAAAAAAAMO4/GrCvfsbW7gQ/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322259817693262690" border="0" /></a>Kris doesn't have a unique voice, so it's important that he nuance his performance to make it memorable. His vocals failed miserably at that this week. And though Henley's 1985 original still makes us want to dance, this rendition reminded us of something you would hear sitting at a table in a smoky jazz club. Kara says she was very excited that Kris picked an up-tempo song, but that his performance sounded more like jazz-funk homework and that it lost a lot of its youth. Paula says Kris took one of the most melodically one-note songs and did change it up and make it uniquely his own, adding he has to be one of the most likable contestants they've ever had. That's not going to be enough to keep him out of the Bottom 3 this week. Simon calls it indulgent, boring and forgettable, saying Kris came over as a geetarist (that's the way he pronounced it, folks) who wanted to sing, rather than a singer, adding "and it was a stupid, stupid song choice." Randy agrees that it was self-indulgent and says he lost Kris, because he was so busy listening to the arrangement. "You're the singer, you're in the competition, not the song," probably the most thoughtful thing Jackson will say all evening.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=kris-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "All She Wants to Do Is Dance," by Don Henley</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdvoecoewCI/AAAAAAAAMN4/Pu_0BksWDjw/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdvoecoewCI/AAAAAAAAMN4/Pu_0BksWDjw/s200/Lil+Rounds+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322102994448072738" border="0" /></a>Sadly, things didn't improve much when <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> took the stage. On the first few notes of Tina Turner's 1984 hit "What's Love Got to Do With It," we thought this was going to be good, but the song just didn't suit Lil's voice and the performance never gelled, only pointing out how great Tina is and how karaoke Lil is. Lil did, however, rock her outfit, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdx89YtyNzI/AAAAAAAAMPA/a9m-MExvhPU/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdx89YtyNzI/AAAAAAAAMPA/a9m-MExvhPU/s400/Lil+Rounds+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322266253693433650" border="0" /></a>looking sensational (and a bit Jennifer Hudson-ish). And, according to DialIdol, even if the judges didn't love her, the public is still behind her, placing her solidly in the middle of the pack when the performance deserved Bottom 3 status. Paula tells her she looks very, very hot and that she's a brilliant vocalist, but that gets you only so far and that she didn't create her own niche in a song that is so classic. Simon says they are not looking for a second- or third-rate Tina Turner and that's what Lil's performance was, "one of those ghastly copycat performances." He emphasizes she has to start becoming original. Randy says it's like Lil isn't listening to the judges' advice and although she can do a lot of stuff, "Tina is not you." Kara, using that word she loves, says it's about making that leap from a singer to an <span style="font-style: italic;">artist</span>, adding that Lil's lower range really suffers and she needs to find her power down there. And as Lil stands there looking like she might start crying any second, Simon, nastily end the comments with, "So overall, it's quite good news." :b<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=lil-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds singing "What's Love Got to Do With It," by Tina Turner</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdvoo5GfA0I/AAAAAAAAMOA/1LafhAoIMO8/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdvoo5GfA0I/AAAAAAAAMOA/1LafhAoIMO8/s200/Anoop+Desai+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322103173888803650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span> earned a Coke interview spot before his performance, where he first gave a shoutout to the North Carolina Tarheels and then, according to Ryan, had some 'splaining to do about his alleged dis to Kara's critique last week (a slight so slight we didn't even notice it). That done, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdyErSqJlqI/AAAAAAAAMPI/EekySrtdkk4/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdyErSqJlqI/AAAAAAAAMPI/EekySrtdkk4/s400/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322274738922952354" border="0" /></a>we didn't know what to expect after last week's Usher disaster, but Anoop surprised us when he delivered a very pleasing version of Cyndi's Lauper 1985 classic "True Colors," adding his own sweet R&B vibe to it. In spite of the music he might prefer to listen to and the type of artist he formerly aspired to be, Anoop, like Matt Giraud, needs to focus on where his talent and appeal lies. For Anoop, it is in this mellow area, though his DialIdol results seems to belie it. Maybe the rest of the country are <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> Tarheel fans ;) Randy calls it a very nice, very controlled vocal and gives Anoop props. Kara says, "Tonight, you controlled the song, you did not let it control you. And that's what it's all about. You showed you could take a pop song and interpret it with soul." Paula says his choice of song is flawless, his phrasing beautiful and where it sat in his voice was truly magical, showing his true colors -- just like a rainbow. All together now: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Simon chimes in: "Or like a waterfall." Heh. We agree when Simon tells Anoop he's "like a singing yo-yo: one minute you're down, and then you're up. Last week was abysmal, this week it was very good." Simon then says Anoop doesn't have to apologize for reacting to what the judges say. "It is kind of two-way, this. We can be horrible to you, and you can be horrible back."<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=anoop-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai singing "True Colors," by Cyndi Lauper</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdvo61wuvXI/AAAAAAAAMOI/j9wZ4CYfEfE/s1600-h/Scott+MacIntyre+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdvo61wuvXI/AAAAAAAAMOI/j9wZ4CYfEfE/s200/Scott+MacIntyre+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322103482229898610" border="0" /></a>The evening's train-wreck award goes to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span>, who decides to accompany himself on electric geetar (heh) for Survivor's "The Search Is Over" (1985). The screechy vocals are all over the place, sometimes on key, ofttimes off. And the twanging of the guitar over the ballad is annoying, distracting <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdyMFJ6WY8I/AAAAAAAAMPQ/2h5hRTZ72U0/s1600-h/Scott+MacIntyre+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdyMFJ6WY8I/AAAAAAAAMPQ/2h5hRTZ72U0/s400/Scott+MacIntyre+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322282879832974274" border="0" /></a> and enough to give one a headache. Ugh! Indeed, the search is over: We have found the week's worst contestant. Let's eliminate him. Kara's not sure it is the right song for Scott, telling him he had some good moments, but also off moments, with parts she likes and parts that were over-ambitious. Paula says she was surprised Scott picked electric guitar instead of acoustic. He answers: "It's my punk side coming out." Er, yeah, right. Paula works really hard to not say anything too negative, giving Scott kudos for leaving the comfort zone of the piano, telling him he's got a charming, infectious sense of humor (innoculate us against <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> infection) and very gently chiding him about some of the notes being screechy. Overall, she says, "bravo." Uh-huh. Simon says the song was horrible (Scott: "It wasn't that bad." Oh yes it was, snap), adding "I'm not criticizing you (oh yes you are), the song was atrocious and the geetar playing wasn't much better. The two, actually, didn't go together." Randy says the problem was that it was just all OK. It didn't show Scott as a star or one of the best undiscovered talents in America."Dude, I want you to leap off the stage vocally." Scott: "At least I'm versatile, though." Dude, you're not listening: OH, NO YOU'RE NOT. Snap, snap, snap! Tonight it's your true colors that are <del>shining</del> coming through, and they're not beautiful like a rainbow. Even with that grin on your face, your attitude is bordering on obnoxious. Mommy might have told you your s**t don't smell, but we won't. However, you do have the cutest baby picture.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=scott-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Scott MacIntrye singing "The Search Is Over," by Survivor</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdvpGUzqzrI/AAAAAAAAMOQ/hftmbeIzDng/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdvpGUzqzrI/AAAAAAAAMOQ/hftmbeIzDng/s200/Allison+Iraheta+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322103679542283954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> may not have the fan base but she certainly has the musical chops to make it to the Top 3. She never fails to disappoint. She does a bravura rendition of Bonnie Raitt's 1992 hit, "I Can't Make You Love Me." Oh yes you can, snap! It shows a gentler, emotional side to her normally rocked-out voice and we likee. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdySWEfbPlI/AAAAAAAAMPY/4PSIfehXWgg/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdySWEfbPlI/AAAAAAAAMPY/4PSIfehXWgg/s400/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322289767505411666" border="0" /></a>Her control was amazing. The judges, who fortunately resist from commenting on her outfit this week, seem to agree. Paula says, "You just hear one note, and it's undeniably Allison. That's a gift that you can't put a price tag on." Abdul also loves that Allison added some tenderness to the gut-wrenching song. Simon thinks it was very good, but that she's got to be a bit more likable, saying that her personality isn't coming over. Unfortunately, he's right. Randy compares her to Kelly Clarkson, saying, "She could sing her face off, and so can you!" Yea! Kara says, "Let's go make a record man." We'll be first on line to buy it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=allison-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing "I Can't Make You Love Me," by Bonnie Raitt</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdvpS1DPGFI/AAAAAAAAMOY/tqFaxKLM-RQ/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdvpS1DPGFI/AAAAAAAAMOY/tqFaxKLM-RQ/s200/Matt+Giraud+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322103894355941458" border="0" /></a>Taking on Stevie Wonder is always a risk. Fortunately, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> was up to it with his version of 1985's "Part Time Lover." Once again looking the part of the jazzman in his cool hat, Matt caressed the song with his fantastic falsetto adding some riffs and changing the arrangement a little here <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdyVW1y-GXI/AAAAAAAAMPg/PdhqIpP-xPc/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdyVW1y-GXI/AAAAAAAAMPg/PdhqIpP-xPc/s400/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322293079275608434" border="0" /></a>and there. The vocals weren't perfect, but overall it was a very good performance. Randy calls it vocally one of the best of the night (yep, he said it to others as well, heh). Kara says with expansive arm motions, "Incredible on every level. Unbelievable." Paula says (getting up), "Two words: Standing O," as Kara shrieks. Simon finishes with, "A million times better than last week. Well done." Why the quick, abrupt comments? At this point, the show had reached the end of its allotted 1 hour, 1 minute time slot. That's all those of you who were recording at home saw. Talk about sucking!<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=matt-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud singing "Part Time Lover," by Stevie Wonder</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdvpfkq3KKI/AAAAAAAAMOg/4iMllE9wDzc/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sdvpfkq3KKI/AAAAAAAAMOg/4iMllE9wDzc/s200/Adam+Lambert+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322104113297041570" border="0" /></a>Fortunately, for those who didn't see it, we have the video of Adam Lambert's latest amazing performance. It was one of his more subtle ones -- if you loved "Tracks of My Tears," you should love this as well. Lambert chose Tears for Fears' "Mad World" (1982,), but smartly chose <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4" target="0">the amazing arrangement done by Gary Jules</a>. Drenched in blue light, the performance was poignant and haunting. The final falsetto note began a bit off, but Adam rescued it by the end. Amazing. How can anyone else conceivably win this competition? As the show was already 6 minutes over its slot, Simon was the only one to speak: "Adam, the bad news is we're running (running?) out of time, the good news is, I'm the only one who's going to be talking. And I think that words are unnecessary, but I want to (standing) give you a standing ovation." As the camera pulls back, the other judges are giving him a well-deserved standing O, as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt309/uvid002/Top%208/?action=view&current=adam-top8.flv" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Mad World," by Tears for Fears</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top 3:</span><br />Adam Lambert<br />Allison Iraheta<br />Matt Giraud<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom 3:</span></span><br />Scott MacIntyre<br />Kris Allen<br />Lil Rounds<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Should be eliminated:</span> Scott MacIntyre<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Will be eliminated:</span> Anoop Desai (who will be saved by the judges)<br /><br />Final note: Who the hell was the bald-headed guy the camera kept going to at the top of the show? Does anybody know?<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-345551535042366792009-04-01T20:39:00.034-04:002009-04-02T13:22:43.728-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 9 Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSIVtsMeOI/AAAAAAAAMLQ/ZbQgb4CUJkY/s1600-h/Megan+Joy+is+eliminated+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSIVtsMeOI/AAAAAAAAMLQ/ZbQgb4CUJkY/s400/Megan+Joy+is+eliminated+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320026966454991074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Bottom 3<br />Megan Joy<br />Anoop Desai<br />Allison Iraheta</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSIjcn4UcI/AAAAAAAAMLY/k4YOhq0hido/s1600-h/Bottom+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 133px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSIjcn4UcI/AAAAAAAAMLY/k4YOhq0hido/s400/Bottom+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320027202391658946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Eliminated<br />Megan Joy</span><br /><br />A new phenomenon seems to be developing on "Idol" this season: Contestants who are secure in the Top 10 -- and therefore the summer tour -- who know they don't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning seem to want to get voted off right away. Last week there was <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Sarver</span> who smiled his way through his elimination. This week <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy's </span>antics -- such as cawing like as bird as she "flew" over to the Bottom 3 stools; smiling and waving like it was a prize to be in the Bottom 3; and telling Ryan that she loves Simon but really doesn't care what he thinks of her singing -- seemed to be her begging for a ticket out the door. In both cases the contestants have small children. If their journey was going to end short of triumph perhaps they just preferred to spend more time with their families and remove themselves from the cyclone of day-to-day activity required by the contestants. Is it even possible that they chose songs and gave substandard performances that would help ensure their getting low vote totals? Nah, they <del>probably</del> really are that bad, anyway.<br /><br />The producers shook things up a bit tonight with the order and format of the show. Instead of the traditional Results Night opening with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> onstage with the remaining finalists saying one will go home tonight, the show begins with a montage reel of judges' remarks and clips of the contestants they refer to from Tuesday night's performances. It was more interesting than the traditional highlights reel which it seems to have replaced and certainly a more dynamic show opener.<br /><br />Ryan tells us 36 million votes were cast on Tuesday, no loss over last week's total, but no gain either. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> tells Ryan that perhaps the contestants were given too wide a genre this week (you mean there was one?) and that's why they picked songs that "weren't them." <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> says she feels like part of the gang now that she's been heckled, but that she appreciates the audience (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> says, "No you don't") and that it's a great thing that they love their Idols and want to fight for them. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> tells Ryan the contestants need to know who they are and deliver that confidence with conviction week after week. And when Ryan asks Simon who he thinks should leave this week, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSSzIxhtxI/AAAAAAAAMLo/zjIuRRO2HOk/s1600-h/Megan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSSzIxhtxI/AAAAAAAAMLo/zjIuRRO2HOk/s400/Megan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320038467057596178" border="0" /></a>Cowell's list of who should be worried includes Anoop, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> and Megan, who gives the camera a goofy and wide-eyed smile as she enthusiastically waves, showing everyone this whole thing is all a joke to her at this point.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=cold_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the montage opening and judges' remarks</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSb0tuPR-I/AAAAAAAAMLw/Pp8YYIzHg1A/s1600-h/Ford.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 223px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSb0tuPR-I/AAAAAAAAMLw/Pp8YYIzHg1A/s400/Ford.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320048389760436194" border="0" /></a>Another change, they switch up the order of the Ford commercial and the group number. The Ford commercial is up first. It concentrates a bit more on the contestants than the car. Set to Corbin Bleu's "Mixed Up," it shows their faces and bodies intermixed with one another (and the car) as they sing the song. Downside: The editing is really cheap and cheesy. Most film students could have done a better job.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=ford_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the Ford commercial set to "Mixed Up"</a><br /><br />Ryan says since we're celebrating popular music this week (er, isn't that what we celebrate every week?), the group number is set to one of the "biggest downloads ever," Journey's "Don’t Stop Believing." Hmmm, does Randy get royalties on this performance? Scott is safely tucked behind the keyboards, even though there is more walking than dancing going on. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdScNRrIISI/AAAAAAAAML4/07UR0yW6f-o/s1600-h/Group.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 219px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdScNRrIISI/AAAAAAAAML4/07UR0yW6f-o/s400/Group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320048811727921442" border="0" /></a>It appears to be a live, not lip-synced performance, except for Megan who keeps the mike under her chin rather than at her mouth and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span>, who doesn't realize he's a good foot away from his mike. The song ends with raised clenched fists. Man, doesn't Adam get tired of taking off and putting on the black nail polish?<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=group_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the group number set to "Don't Stop Believing"</a><br /><br />Back from commercial and Ryan mysteriously says, "Back with you live on "American Idol" and we have your results. Tonight, someone <span style="font-style: italic;">might</span> have to sing for their life." Might? MIGHT? You mean, they know already that Megan isn't going to be asked to? How could that be when the judges don't even know who the Bottom 3 is yet? Reality? Yeah, right.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdShEOnkotI/AAAAAAAAMMA/D_crC99h4TU/s1600-h/allison.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdShEOnkotI/AAAAAAAAMMA/D_crC99h4TU/s400/allison.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320054153847022290" border="0" /></a>Next we have a behind-the-scenes look at the kids having "fun" at the mansion, with Matt impersonating <span style="font-weight: bold;">Danny Gokey</span>. Back to the couches and Ryan says that there are other contestant impersonations. He asks Danny to do Matt, then Anoop to do <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kris Allen</span> (this is all <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> rehearsed). Finally Allison, who Ryan calls Iraheta, does Danny.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=video_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the Idols impersonating one another</a><br /><br />At last it's time for what we all actually tuned in for -- the results. Ryan divides the contestants into groups of three: Megan, Matt and Kris are in the first, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> and Allison are in the next group, and the last group includes Scott, Danny and Anoop. Ryan asks, "Who is safe? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSoxDZH9FI/AAAAAAAAMMI/ceuGvXFKKD0/s1600-h/Groups.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 194px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSoxDZH9FI/AAAAAAAAMMI/ceuGvXFKKD0/s400/Groups.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320062620509140050" border="0" /></a>And which one of these groups could be in the bottom 3?" Well, none. There is no way that Danny, Kris or Adam are in the Bottom 3 and they're in three different groups. Obviously the Bottom 3 will be made up of one person in each of these groups. Let's see, probably Megan from Group 1, Allison from Group 2 and either Scott or Anoop from Group 3. If you go by DialIdol's results, it's Anoop. But we won't find out until after a prerecorded performance by reigning champ <span style="font-weight: bold;">David Cook</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=3groups_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the Ryan dividing the contestants into three groups</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSsb8ObNWI/AAAAAAAAMMQ/5tZxe7ujNPs/s1600-h/David+Cook+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdSsb8ObNWI/AAAAAAAAMMQ/5tZxe7ujNPs/s400/David+Cook+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320066655854474594" border="0" /></a>David Cook returns to the site of his 2008 victory to perform the second single release, "Come Back to Me." It's good, but Cook doesn't sound as good on the live version as he does on the CD. Cook's mom, so familiar a sight from last season, is shown in the audience. After the performance, while Ryan is speaking with David, some girls in the audience shout out, "We love you, David." He responds, quite robotically, "Not as much <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdStecjowuI/AAAAAAAAMM4/WFD6gOpxJeU/s1600-h/David%27s+Momx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 125px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdStecjowuI/AAAAAAAAMM4/WFD6gOpxJeU/s400/David%27s+Momx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320067798404743906" border="0" /></a>as I love you." He seems weary and the sentiment doesn't ring quite true, especially in light of his recent blog posting requesting that his fans back off and give him some privacy. Cook is then presented with a plaque from 19 Entertainment representing that his CD has gone <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdStPF-c6-I/AAAAAAAAMMw/6PyKtkMGMdc/s1600-h/Platinum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 125px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdStPF-c6-I/AAAAAAAAMMw/6PyKtkMGMdc/s400/Platinum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320067534645160930" border="0" /></a>platinum for sales of over 1 million copies. He says, "I'll tell you what. I put out a solo record in '06 before all this, and I sold 1,000 copies in one year. And to go platinum in three months , is, er, yeah." The video for the new single is actually very good. You can <a href="http://music.att.net/s/s.dll?spage=hb/playerindex.htm&artist=MU_Artist_DavidCook&articleid=6484458" target="0">watch the entire video "Come Back to Me" here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=cook_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of David Cook singing "Come Back to Me" and being presented with platinum record plaque</a><br /><br />And back to the results. As we expected, Ryan starts pronouncing the fates on each individual in each group, not the groups as a whole. First Kris is told he's safe. Next, Ryan says to Matt, "Last week you were in the bottom 3 (pause) And this week, you're also going to have to take a seat." Matt, thinking he's again in the Bottom 3 starts heading for the stools. Ryan, pointing to the couches, stops him with "Matt, over there." Nasty little head games. Ryan asks Megan Joy how she felt about Simon comments about her performance this week. She rather flippantly says, "I love you Simon, but I didn’t really care." Simon, who is the only judge who always seems to have a hearing problem, has to asks Paula what Megan said. When she tells him, he says to Megan, "That's not true." Ryan tells Megan, "You can also take a seat." She looks stunned. But then he turns her the other way toward the stools and says, "But over there." As she heads for the stools, she flaps her arms and caws. It's either ridiculously funny or insane or a shout out to Vote for the Worst, which was supporting her. Oy. Adam, Lil and Allison, standing in the next group can't control their laughing. Lil is safe, but Allison again is in the Bottom 3. She does baby arm flapping (no caws) as she heads over to join Megan. Adam, of course is safe as is Danny. Scott and Anoop. This week, Scott is safe. Anoop tells Ryan he had a feeling he'd be in the Bottom 3 after watching back his performance. Ryan doesn't release anybody immediately. We'll have to wait.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=B31_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the Bottom 3</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdS4NAmZfKI/AAAAAAAAMNI/MQWIauvyqb0/s1600-h/Lady+Gaga+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdS4NAmZfKI/AAAAAAAAMNI/MQWIauvyqb0/s400/Lady+Gaga+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320079593470262434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lady Gaga</span></span> is here to sing her No. 1 hit "Poker Face." We hate the dragged out beginning of it. It gets better but, sorry, we're not running out to buy it. It doesn't come close to being as good as "Just Dance." Though the outfit and weird eye makeup is more interesting than her previous oversized sunglasses look.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=gaga_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lady Gaga singing "Poker Face"</a><br /><br />Ryan asks Simon if anyone is worth saving. Cowell answers, "Just one." Ryan is going to send someone to safety. Whew, it's Allison. Seacrest then says that the two remaining contestants, Megan and Anoop, got the lowest vote totals this week. Heh, interesting they're now making a point of mentioning that after our rant last week about the supposed "Bottom 3." Standing next to Anoop, Megan does a mock -- and mocking -- fear face (woulda thunk she'd start acting loonier than Tatiana Del Toro?) She obviously thinks all of this drama is a big joke and intends to outdrama the producers' drama.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdS6Ujz32nI/AAAAAAAAMNQ/9t46XRFPPro/s1600-h/megan-elim%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdS6Ujz32nI/AAAAAAAAMNQ/9t46XRFPPro/s400/megan-elim%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320081922204359282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdS-ZG38oMI/AAAAAAAAMNg/G1aq8Vr-Q9A/s1600-h/Megan+Joy+is+eliminated+02+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdS-ZG38oMI/AAAAAAAAMNg/G1aq8Vr-Q9A/s400/Megan+Joy+is+eliminated+02+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320086398382678210" border="0" /></a>Anoop is safe. Cawing comes from the couches and Megan cracks up. Ryan asks Simon if the judges will using the save tonight? Simon, not even looking up at Megan, says (to the table), "Megan with the greatest (dis)respect, when you said (looking up at her) you didn't care, nor do we. So I'm not going to pretend (like we do every week) that we're going to contemplate saving you." Megan, smiling says, "OK." Cowell: "So this is your swan (crow) song, enjoy it. That's it." Megan shrugs as if she could give a crap, then, walking right up to the judges' table, does a very "in-your-face" performance of "Turn Your Lights Down Low," accompanied by her loopy dancing and swaying. Paula and Kara dance, even Randy is swaying. Simon sits there stone-faced. He is p-i-s-s-e-d at her. For a while, Megan actually sounds better than Tuesday (that's not saying much), then the performance really starts to fall apart. Before her journey video she thanks the Idol staff, the other contestants, the judges and America, then, breaking up, she says to her child, "And baby, I'm coming home baby." For all her smiling, flapping and bravado, Megan alternates between tears and laughs during her journey video. Finally, she is gone, done, over, cooked.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=elim_top9r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Megan Joy being eliminated</a><br /><br />Next week, the Top 8 will sing songs from the year they were born:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">1980</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">:</span> Danny Gokey<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">1982</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">:</span> Adam Lambert<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">1984:</span> Lil Rounds<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">1985:</span> Scott MacIntyre, Matt Giraud, Kris Allen<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">1986:</span> Anoop Desai<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">1992:</span> Allison Iraheta<br /><br />On Wednesday, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kellie Pickler</span> performs her new single, “Best Days of Your Life.”<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-27411392133139439742009-03-31T19:47:00.021-04:002009-04-05T21:02:22.850-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 9 Digital Download Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdKsWPQkBAI/AAAAAAAAMJY/jG6V0OxRo5U/s1600-h/Top+9+1000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdKsWPQkBAI/AAAAAAAAMJY/jG6V0OxRo5U/s400/Top+9+1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319503607931077634" border="0" /></a>Groan! It's another one of those "Idol" performance nights where what the audience and the judges hear is totally at odds with what home viewers hear. This week's "theme," if you can call it that, is popular digital downloads, otherwise known as sing any damn thing you want. While the contestants think this is a great opportunity to finally sing the songs they love the most, what many don't realize is that there's a difference between loving a song and being able to perform it well. Sometimes the songs you're best at singing are not necessarily the ones you'd choose to listen to.<br /><br />It's become really obvious that the producers need to get a handle on time management this season. First they s-t-r-e-t-c-h the opening of the show with a useless clip of the contestants visiting <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> at the studio where he does his America's Top 40 countdown radio show, but by the end of the night they're rushing the judges on the last two contestants who receive one-sentence appraisals. Of course, time management this week became a bit tougher when the scheduled one-hour time slot increased by 25 minutes after the network cut the premiere of "Osbournes: Reloaded" nearly in half. Still, someone needs to budget the time better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdLxAZNGZQI/AAAAAAAAMJo/28k8R-Q6vdw/s1600-h/Paula.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdLxAZNGZQI/AAAAAAAAMJo/28k8R-Q6vdw/s400/Paula.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319579098946102530" border="0" /></a>And a final note: What was up with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span>'s eyes? They haven't looked this glassy for at least two seasons. Although she wasn't slurring her words, she definitely looked like she was stoned.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMlAJiu1hI/AAAAAAAAMJw/BwZBoXW3zVc/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMlAJiu1hI/AAAAAAAAMJw/BwZBoXW3zVc/s400/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319636269346510354" border="0" /></a>The evening started out on an uneven note (and rarely left it) with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span>'s rendition of Usher's "Caught Up." Like many other artists Tuesday night, Anoop tells us he chose a song that he would want to hear as a viewer. He also said he wanted to up his energy level from the past two weeks as <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> had suggested. Instead of adding energy, he nearly sucked the air out of the room. Boring? That would be generous. Though his look this week had swagger, with restyled hair and a Michael Jackson-ish jacket, we just don't think he has a distinctive enough voice to be a successful recording artist. But then we feel that way about most of the Top 10 this year. Randy thought the vocals were good but it wasn't the right song choice for Anoop. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> thought he played it too safe and says it felt like a bunch of frat guys dared him to get up and sing Usher. Paula loved that Anoop returned to the playful side, thought the vocals were good, but advised him to work on his stage presence. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdLfbcdFLLI/AAAAAAAAMJg/Xfakus8h-Po/s1600-h/Anoop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 170px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdLfbcdFLLI/AAAAAAAAMJg/Xfakus8h-Po/s400/Anoop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319559772465605810" border="0" /></a>called it "a complete and utter mess," saying he came over as a wannabe, there was no originality, the arrangement was a mess and that it actually gave him a headache. Anoop's expression at that last comment was priceless. But he handled the criticism politely. Charm is one thing he doesn't lack.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=anoop-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai singing "Caught Up" by Usher</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMlIFzL8oI/AAAAAAAAMJ4/HpOxcvB4MKM/s1600-h/Meghan+Joy+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMlIFzL8oI/AAAAAAAAMJ4/HpOxcvB4MKM/s400/Meghan+Joy+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319636405780738690" border="0" /></a>But as bad as Anoop is, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span> makes him look like a master after she sings Bob Marley's "Turn Your Lights Down Low." We want to turn the lights -- and the TV -- off after listening to that. OMG, she is so off-key that the dogs in the next house start to howl. Even her beauty can't distract from it anymore. It's really time for her to leave. Kara tells her "I really like you, but I think you're in trouble," then goes into her "it's not the right song choice for you." An audience member yells out, "Broken record." It was pretty funny. Kara then tells Megan that part of her register was getting irritating. She gets booed and sasses back to the audience, "Allllll right. You get up here and do it, then." Simon tells her, "Don't fall out with our audience." Paula goes into some blather about Megan needing to sing a sensitive ballad while just sitting on a stool with a spotlight on her and no distractions. When she's done, Simon says to Paula, "So she needs a chair." LOL. Paula says, "It would be nice to see her on a stool." Simon: "OK, a big chair." He then tells Megan, "The song was boring, it was indulgent, it was monotonous and all the things we liked about you are disappearing." Randy tells her "It was like watching paint dry. ... it took forever, and I like the song." Then Randy says the most profound thing of the night, "The thing is, you can love a song, but it doesn't mean you're going to sing it great." After all this, Megan tells Ryan, "I think that the audience was feeling it and that my fans were feeling it." What fans?<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=megan-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Megan Joy singing "Turn Your lights Down Low" by Bob Marley</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMlOJt1SjI/AAAAAAAAMKA/DaoQaLcbMFc/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMlOJt1SjI/AAAAAAAAMKA/DaoQaLcbMFc/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319636509911239218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> says he wants to switch up what he's been doing with a song that would emotionally connect with the audience. He sings "What Hurts the Most," by Rascal Flatts. We didn't like the arrangement and thought Danny was pitchy in places. And even though we could tell he was feeling it (his eyes were watery at times), we felt no emotional connection to the performance. It actually left us cold. We think that Danny was connecting more to his own emotions -- since he lost his grandfather this week -- rather than to the emotions of the audience. But that's not the way the audience or judges heard it. The audience went wild. Paula tells him, "You leave me wanting more. This is a performance [where] I definitely hit 'repeat' in my car." Simon tells him it was his best performance of the series so far. "Just brilliant. ... That's what it's about: Get a great song, sing it brilliantly and do your version." Randy says, "Dude, you definitely brought it crazy with the vocals, right here." Kara says "You moved everyone in this room emotionally (but not everyone at home, heh). ... You gave so much of your heart and soul. And that's when you really connect with the audience."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=danny-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMrO5pAHII/AAAAAAAAMKI/7vKALC_frTo/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMrO5pAHII/AAAAAAAAMKI/7vKALC_frTo/s400/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319643119845645442" border="0" /></a>Each week, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> delivers a solid performance, yet, with the exception of last week, she is always in danger of being eliminated. This week, DialIdol.com places her second from last. She surprised everyone by playing guitar and her vocals on No Doubt's "Don't Speak" were, as usual, spot on. Yet the judges, beginning with Randy, decided to focus -- negatively -- on her outfit, instead of her singing. Er, Randy, wasn't it you who only last week uttered those immortal "Idol" words, "This is a singing competition"? Did Allison look a bit quirky in the getup? Perhaps. But Gwen Stefani's outfits have always been quirky, too. Randy says, "Vocally, you can sing, you've got the voice, the whole thing, I like the vocals, but you were a little ahead of the beat, you were rushing the band a little bit ... and I like that you came out and played the guitar ... but dude! What are you wearing? What is with this outfit?" Someone in the audience screams out, "I like it." Randy says, "You like it?" then continues to Allison, "Baby, I've got mad love for you, but I did not get the ensemble tonight." Kara continues the theme with, "The rock in you comes out no matter what you're wearing, so you don't need to dress the part. You are that. ... So it was a little distracting, it felt forced. Like you were trying to be something. And you don't have to try. You just are. ... It was a good performance. For me, not your best, but good." Paula, normally the queen of fashion critiques, focuses on Allison's musicianship instead: "I'm glad to see you brought your 'axe' out with you, it added a certain edge. ... I think that your vocal prowess rivals singers that are twice your age ... And I think you are skating by and going right to the finish line." Na-uh. Not with the judges focusing on her clothes, she's not. Simon, laughing, says, "Allison, look, we can't ignore the outfit. It was like something out of 'The Addams Family' or something." Actually, she looked more like Pebbles from "The Flintstones," but who cares? He also says, "It was something like a little precocious daughter trying to dress like a rock star and sound like one ... plus, you shouted the song." Not.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=allison-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing "Don't Speak" by No Doubt</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMx5mVlVjI/AAAAAAAAMKQ/fZzlWGA3i90/s1600-h/Scott+MacIntyre+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdMx5mVlVjI/AAAAAAAAMKQ/fZzlWGA3i90/s400/Scott+MacIntyre+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319650450468066866" border="0" /></a>Next, it was time for <del>a nap</del> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span> to perform. He decides to forgo the band and just accompany himself on piano. Perhaps regretting the nasty pink pants trick they played on him last week, the stylists decide to dude him up this week with a new coif. But it looks more like a "do" from the '70s. They also cooled him out with a leather jacket. But Scott is still Scott, just in a new costume. Although this performance is his best so far in the competition, it is still a hotel lounge lizard version of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are." All that was missing was the brandy snifter sitting on top of the piano with some dollar bills in it. And we're shocked when Simon doesn't call him out on it. Kara tells him he made some very smart decisions by picking that song and stripping it down and just singing to the audience in a moving performance, ending with, "And I love the new look." Of course, Scott can't even see the new look. Paula goes into her "Of all the contestants that have graced the stage, I'm most proud of you," saying it has nothing to do "about your challenge and everything to do that makes me forget about that challenge." Damn! Then why don't you let everyone else forget about "that challenge" and <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> bring it up every single time you critique him? She also says he took a risk by not using the orchestra, making it more of a legato kind of performance, but that it paid off for him. Simon, who looks impatient waiting for Paula to finish every single one of her critiques this week, says, "Your best performance by a country mile so far." He then cracks snidely about Scott's "Ryan Seacrest hair" ("of yesteryear," Randy notes) and how lucky Scott is to not to have followed (pointing at Paula) "madame's advice about not playing the piano." This leads to a time-wasting debate between the Abdul and Cowell, with both saying, "rewind the tape." Randy calls the performance, "one of the best of the night," but he says it so frequently tonight, he might as well have said, "one of the best nine of the night," heh.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=scott-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Scott MacIntyre singing "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdM50rzSm7I/AAAAAAAAMKY/K3EXPfNfsok/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdM50rzSm7I/AAAAAAAAMKY/K3EXPfNfsok/s400/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319659162128522162" border="0" /></a>Last week, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> listened to the judges and stuck to their preferred R&B vibe for him. They loved it, but he still placed in the "Bottom 3." (Well not really, but reread the results night blog from last week.) This week Giraud decides to tempt fate by singing to please himself, going very current with The Frays "You Found Me." He plays keyboard right in the middle of the mosh pit. At first, we weren't sure if he could pull it off. He sounded and looked nervous and there was a lot of vibrato in his voice, but he picked up steam -- and confidence -- along the way and by the time he finished he made a convert of us. We thought it was a job well done. But the judges weren't haven't any of it. Paula says he aborted the things that they love most about him -- his riffing and his falsetto, calls him a sound-alike, then gives him the kiss of death, comparing tonight with his Coldplay song performance, ending with it wasn't a great performance. The audience loudly boos her. Simon says he didn't get it at all and that it was somebody trying to be somebody else and felt very put on and uptight. He then calls it not a good commercial song. Huh? It's a current hit. In fact, last month when Billboard reviewed "The Fray," the album on which it appears, they wrote: "It's testament to the band's appeal that "You Found Me" became a Top 10 single before The Fray was even released." Does Simon know anything about the music market in this country? Cowell tells Matt he should be like Danny or Scott (???) and just pick a great song and do what he does best and he'd have a better shot. Oh shut up! If Scott wasn't challenged, you'd have wiped the floor with him. He ends with "This was just uncomfortable. I didn't get it." Obviously! Randy goes into "it's the wrong song for you" refrain, and suggests that Matt should have instead picked something like Justin Timberlake or OneRepublic. Simon interrupts with, "That would have been a great song, 'Apologize.' " Yeah, why? So you could have said that Matt didn't do it as well as David Archuleta did it on last season's finale? Jackson tells Scott, "You've got more chops than that. You're not a rock singer. You've got all that soul in your voice. You've got to let all that flavor out, baby." They are actually giving Matt a worse ass-kicking than they gave Megan. This is unreal! Kara tells him he keeps going between the rock side of pop and the R&B side of pop and that he has to pick one or the other. Why? She ends with, "But I believe you're a talented guy and don't deserve to go home." Well, if he does, all you "knowledgable" judges can take credit for it. You killed off <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span> by trashing her the same way. And she didn't suck either.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=matt-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud singing "You Found Me" by The Fray</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdNAOzaFIKI/AAAAAAAAMKg/woQt7uOKzYw/s1600-h/Lil+rounds+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdNAOzaFIKI/AAAAAAAAMKg/woQt7uOKzYw/s400/Lil+rounds+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319666207916630178" border="0" /></a>We winced a bit when we heard that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> was taking on Celine Dion's "I Surrender." Like many of the other contestants, she is grasping at straws after getting trashed by the judges (but not the public) for last week's performance. Her version of "Heatwave" during Motown Week was was no better -- or worse -- than tonight's mediocre rendering. Yes, Lil has great vocal chops, but she just can't compare to Celine Dion. This was not a song where she could really shine and, for us at least, there was a lot more shouting than singing going on. We did, however, love the wig she was wearing this week. A great look for her. Randy calls her out on song choice, because he wants her to have a little bit more swagger, but says she sang it really, really well (actually she sang it really, really OK). He also wants her to young it up a little bit: Mary whaaaat? Keyshia Cole whaaaat? At which point Kara jumps in with her first (but not only) stupid pronouncement of the night: "Mariah, Eric Carmen." Eric Carmen? Eric "freaking 'Hungry Eyes' " Carmen who is going to be 60 in August? Huh? Kara then says we got a glimpse of a singer who can let it out and wow us, but we need to see more of that. Paula says, "I don't want to see an Adult Contemporary Lil Rounds, I want to see the joy that you brought to us when we first saw you." OK, whatever that means. Simon says this was just Lil singing to stay in the competition with a safe sound and that it was quite similar to a wedding performance (can't disagree there) and old-fashioned, adding that all her personality is being sucked out of her. Of course, it's the judges doing the sucking with their sucky suggestions. He ends with, "You've got to stop this. Because you're too good." We hated, HATED, what comes next. Ryan plays the kiddie card. He goes to Lil's family in the audience and actually carries one of her kids over to <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdNCFYWCn1I/AAAAAAAAMKw/p6JOwDPfI3k/s1600-h/Randy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 190px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdNCFYWCn1I/AAAAAAAAMKw/p6JOwDPfI3k/s400/Randy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319668245056364370" border="0" /></a>Randy to punch him for his negative review of mommy. Of course, Jackson snuggles the young 'un in his arms, Ryan says he looks ready to be a grandpa, Lil sheds some tears and it was all worth at least four million unearned votes. Bah!<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=lil-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds singing "I Surrender" by Celine Dion</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdNBySUXOkI/AAAAAAAAMKo/vDXYx076nBQ/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdNBySUXOkI/AAAAAAAAMKo/vDXYx076nBQ/s400/Adam+Lambert+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319667917021198914" border="0" /></a>You've got a give <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> credit. He digs into his <del>little</del> big bag of tricks each week and pulls out something that you might not love, but that you'll certainly remember. That was the case again this week with Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music." His look was more Eddie Munster than Elvis -- the hair was slicked back again, but this week there was a widow's peak. The black nail polish, which returned on Results Night last week, was again removed for his funked out contemporized version of the tune. Truth be told, we really didn't love it. It was way too theatrical and screechy for our taste. On the other hand, we might want to, but won't, forget it. An enthralled Paula pronounced, "True genius does not fulfill expectations, true genius shatters it. There are artists who have longevity in this business because of their unique and riveting performances. I'll name a few: Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler and Adam Lambert." Pretty large prediction, given Lambert hasn't even produced a single recording, much less a hit. In spite of her lofty appraisal, Adam was not even listening to her. He's waiting to hear what Simon has to say (why do they even bother having more than one judge?). "That was very brave Adam," says Cowell. "I've got to hand it to you. At least we get rid of some of this karaoke nonsense tonight. It was original. I don't think it's going to make you as popular as last week, but I don't think it matters with you now." Randy says when he heard the song choice he thought it was going to be corny, but that Adam worked it out and is in "the star zone." Kara, ramping up for her next verbal gaffe, says, "Every week I cannot wait to get to the show to see what you are going to do next. And that's a big compliment. It was like Studio 57 up in here, tonight." Er, Studio 57? Is that the club down the street that you went to Kara, when you couldn't get into Studio 54?<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=adam-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdNKvoEhxQI/AAAAAAAAMK4/gCoFwAO_WyM/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SdNKvoEhxQI/AAAAAAAAMK4/gCoFwAO_WyM/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319677766925403394" border="0" /></a>In a show of, at best, mediocre performances, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> was well chosen for the pimp spot. It may not have been the best pimp-spot performance of the season, but it was certainly Kris' best performance of the season and the best performance of the night. Proving his musicianship by accompanying himself this week on keyboard instead of guitar, his arrangement of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine," was different and current. Except for a faltering falsetto note at the very end, the vocal was excellent as well. We kept thinking that Kris' version could have easily been subbed into the seasonally changing walking scene featuring Hugh Grant in the film "Notting Hill." He has certainly become the dark horse in this competition. Randy tells him for the last couple of weeks, Kris has been slaying it and that he is in the zone right now. He calls it "definitely one of the best (nine) performances of the night. So creative. So cool. I'm loving you, loving you." Kara, carefully counting this week on her fingers, says, "I've got three words for you (uh-oh): That is artistry! Wooooo!" Does the wooooo count? (Later, Ryan tells her, "I always get nervous when you start with the numbers, Kara. Artistry, two words. No, kidding." Heh.) Paula says Kris is pacing the competition to play to his strengths and that he took a 30-year-old song and made it so it's like she's hearing it for the first time. "That could be the first cut from your album," she says. "It was your best performance to date." Simon tells him he's brought confidence to the performance and that it is a "very, very good arrangement of the song. It was very clever, very cool. I like seeing you behind the keyboards. And I agree with the guys: It's your best performance so far. Well done."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%209/?action=view&current=kris-top9.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top 3:</span><br />Kris Allen<br />Allison Iraheta<br />Matt Giraud<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom 3:</span><br />Megan Joy<br />Scott MacIntyre<br />Anoop Desai<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Should be eliminated:</span> Megan Joy<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Will be eliminated:</span> Megan Joy<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-31238799474207143702009-03-26T20:33:00.057-04:002009-03-27T10:31:58.927-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 10 Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScygKBH8gdI/AAAAAAAAMHI/gxB_vhCqpJ4/s1600-h/Michael+Sarver+and+Matt+Giraud+800x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScygKBH8gdI/AAAAAAAAMHI/gxB_vhCqpJ4/s400/Michael+Sarver+and+Matt+Giraud+800x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317801353978610130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Bottom Three:<br />Matt Giraud (!!!)<br />Michael Sarver<br />Scott MacIntyre</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScygqpF2brI/AAAAAAAAMHQ/nlT-hzeA2q0/s1600-h/The+bottom+three+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 172px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScygqpF2brI/AAAAAAAAMHQ/nlT-hzeA2q0/s400/The+bottom+three+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317801914463055538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScwjN7tSR9I/AAAAAAAAMHA/bufLhsUyiCM/s1600-h/raised+hand+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 74px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScwjN7tSR9I/AAAAAAAAMHA/bufLhsUyiCM/s400/raised+hand+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317663982290618322" border="0" /></a>Raise your hand if you think this list is total B.S.<br /><br /><br />Where the hell is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span>? Dialidol.com had Matt placing 4-7, with no possibility of being the Bottom 3. On the other hand, Megan placed between 7-10 They have rarely, if ever, been that wrong. Does anyone on Earth really believe that Megan's not in the Bottom 3???<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Eliminated: Michael Sarver</span><br /><br />Last week, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span> sang "Jolene" on the Results Show and the song's poignant pleas changed from trying to save her man to trying to save her "Idol" existence. This week, Michael Sarver's "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," held more meaning, yet rang hollow. He was one of the happiest looking people we've ever seen voted off "Idol." We still hold to our analysis that because he knew he couldn't win, Michael would rather do the Regis-Ellen circuit now, then kick back at home and be a local hero for the next seven weeks until rehearsals for the finale and tour begin. What's the fun of living in a mansion when you have to work so hard and can't even win? He probably learned that working as an "Idol" contestant was cleaner but no less grueling than working as an oil rigger. Besides, Sarver's real payday was making the tour, not working for scale until he was eliminated.<br /><br />As for Matt and Scott, if you listen very carefully throughout the show, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> never says that the Bottom 3 are the contestants with the least amount of votes, he only says they are in the Bottom 3. The only time vote totals are mentioned is when Michael is eliminated, and Seacrest intones: "After the nationwide vote, that record-setting vote from over 36 million, the person with the lowest number of votes tonight is Michael. Matt you're safe." But Matt was probably always safe. Never does Ryan say that either he or Scott were among the three lowest vote getters (though Scott probably was). The producers are very cagey about this.<br /><br />But why would the producers place people in the Bottom 3 who don't actually have the lowest vote totals? It's hard to say. To create drama? To manipulate how the public will vote the following week? Perhaps both. All we know is that they do it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScyzuZxGKDI/AAAAAAAAMHg/THJIk6QBZlA/s1600-h/Syesha+Mercado.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScyzuZxGKDI/AAAAAAAAMHg/THJIk6QBZlA/s400/Syesha+Mercado.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317822869789878322" border="0" /></a>For example, last season <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Syesha Mercado</span> didn't appear in the Bottom 3 on weeks when she should have clearly been there, yet on the week when five contestants remained, and when according to DialIdol Mercado scored the highest amount of votes -- even more than <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Cook</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Archuleta</span> -- she was placed in the Bottom 2 with Brooke White, who was eliminated. Ryan actually confirmed this two weeks later when he said that the remaining three finalists (Cook, Archuleta and Mercado) had all come in first at some time during the season. There was no other week that Syesha even came close to being the top vote getter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Scy1mxNvipI/AAAAAAAAMHo/kwiFsgFH2Qo/s1600-h/Megan+Joy+Corkrey+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 250px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Scy1mxNvipI/AAAAAAAAMHo/kwiFsgFH2Qo/s400/Megan+Joy+Corkrey+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317824937668348562" border="0" /></a>This leads us to believe that the producers are hanging Megan Joy -- who, according to DialIdol, had the second lowest vote total this week -- out to dry next week, while trying to keep Matt -- who the judges now consider a front-runner, but who placed fifth according to DialIdol -- in the competition. As for Scott, his number will probably be up a week or two after Megan departs. And we bet that the <del>producers</del> judges will make no attempt to save either one. It's all part of the "Idol" circus, folks. We're just saying ...<br /><br />The show began with Ryan telling us that 36 million votes were received this week, the highest vote total ever for 10 remaining contestants. It's interesting that the vote total was 6 million higher this week (after being down 3 million last week)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Scy2pqDHdVI/AAAAAAAAMIA/gju1gaDnMy4/s1600-h/mentalist+300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 301px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Scy2pqDHdVI/AAAAAAAAMIA/gju1gaDnMy4/s400/mentalist+300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317826086795965778" border="0" /></a>when "Idol" didn't have to compete directly against CBS' "The Mentalist," which tends to attract the same 40ish female audience as "Idol" does. ("The Mentalist" aired out of its normal time slot, at 10 p.m. instead of 9 p.m., on Tuesday night, while "Idol" aired on Wednesday and Thursday instead of Tuesday and Wednesday because of President Obama's Tuesday press conference).<br /><br />This was followed by the now obviously lip-synched group number, which was a Motown medley. We are hearing complaints from friends and fans as the show increasingly becomes prerecorded and less live. First, it was the Ford commercials, but that's OK, after all it's a commercial. However, this week the contestants weren't even singing during parts of the commercial's song. Then, some of the Results Night performances were prerecorded either during the rehearsal, or even weeks earlier. Now, it appears it is spreading to the group dance, which was at least good for laughs when it was live. Last week, it was lip-synched. This week it was prerecorded and spliced together really poorly. It's like the Ford commercial without the car. What's next? Prerecorded "live" performances?<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view&current=group-top10r.flv" target="0">Watch video of the Motown medley group number</a><br /><br />The Ford commercial, set to Nastasha Bedingfield's "Pocketful of Sunshine," is up immediately after. The Top 10 barely sing, as they lay down floor tile puzzle pieces illustrating a road that the cars eventually drive away on.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view&current=ford-top10r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Ford commercial set to Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocketful of Sunshine"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Scy_5t9xCgI/AAAAAAAAMII/4y0YXcesmE0/s1600-h/Ruben.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Scy_5t9xCgI/AAAAAAAAMII/4y0YXcesmE0/s400/Ruben.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317836258329823746" border="0" /></a>The first of three guest performances features <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ruben Studdard</span> in the ugliest navy suit -- the jacket is ridiculously long, has big white buttons and seriously wide white piping around the collar and down both sides of the front -- we've ever seen. It looks like something you'd put on a 2-year-old. It's hard to take him seriously in that getup. He's here to sing his new single, "Together." Studdard's still got great pipes, but the song is boring. He's sweating profusely by the end.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view&current=ruben-top10r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Ruben Studdard singing "Together"</a><br /><br />Ryan chats up the contestants about their trip to Hitsville in Detroit before starting the eliminations. He first asks <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> a question, then zeroes in on Matt, who comes from Michigan. As we learned last week, Ryan talking to you before the eliminations can prove to be a bad sign. We'll have to keep an eye on whether the producers continue this "give" every week. Ryan begins with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span>, who is safe, next is Matt, who is told, "You sang 'Let's Get It On.' The judges all thought you had a solid performance and called you a front runner in the competition. America voted, and they did not agree with the judges. Matt, you are in the Bottom 3 tonight." Note, Matt placed fifth according to DialIdol.com, which put him squarely in the middle of the pack. So technically, Ryan didn't lie. From the public's point of view, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczRYpvL7iI/AAAAAAAAMI4/4GT1H09mnS8/s1600-h/kris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 223px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczRYpvL7iI/AAAAAAAAMI4/4GT1H09mnS8/s400/kris.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317855481468546594" border="0" /></a>Matt wasn't a front runner. But Ryan also never says that Matt got one of the three lowest vote totals. He just says, "You are in the Bottom Three tonight." Matt takes a stool onstage. Ryan then plays a cruel trick on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span>. He reads the judges critiques, then tells him, "America voted, Kris, and, wow, you, too (pause) (as Kris starts walking to the stage) are safe." What a nasty fake out. Lil and Michael are asked to stand. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczQsV_fyJI/AAAAAAAAMIw/DWQ3xYWGJPM/s1600-h/lil.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 181px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczQsV_fyJI/AAAAAAAAMIw/DWQ3xYWGJPM/s400/lil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317854720254003346" border="0" /></a>It's time for more producer cruelty. Ryan tells Lil, "You sang 'Heatwave' ... Now in past seasons, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jennifer Hudson</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kimberley Locke</span> sang that exact song and they ended up in the Bottom 3. Tonight, after that vote, believe or not, you, also, (pause) sang 'Heatwave" (pause) and are safe." Michael, who knew Lil was being played, kept saying to her through all of this, "Sit down, sit down." He is then sent to the stage.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view&current=b3pt1-top10r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud and Michael Sarver going to the Bottom 3</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczH8pkEisI/AAAAAAAAMIQ/AwwZQoy3qgE/s1600-h/Joss+Stone+and+Smokey+Robinson+perform+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczH8pkEisI/AAAAAAAAMIQ/AwwZQoy3qgE/s400/Joss+Stone+and+Smokey+Robinson+perform+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317845104780937922" border="0" /></a>We cut away from the sadism for some "entertainment." <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Joss Stone</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Smokey Robinson</span> duet on "You're the One for Me." Frankly, we've never understood the appeal of Joss Stone. Her vocals are little better than <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span>'s as far as we're concerned, and the coupling of her voice with Smokey's just doesn't work. Besides, it was downright creepy having a 21-year-old sing that song to a 69-year-old. Smokey still has it, however, and listening to his high voice, we realize why "Tracks of My Tears" was a perfect choice for Adam.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view&current=smokey-top10r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Joss Stone and Smokey Robinson singing "You're the One for Me"</a><br /><br />Let the torture continue! <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span>, thankfully, is safe, as are <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span>. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczMeVMKRJI/AAAAAAAAMIg/cyqfaCJ9n0Q/s1600-h/megan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 223px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczMeVMKRJI/AAAAAAAAMIg/cyqfaCJ9n0Q/s400/megan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850081474004114" border="0" /></a>That leaves Scott and Megan. Megan seems shocked when Ryan tells her the judges called her performance a "horrible trainwreck" (was she not listening Wednesday night?). Who is safe, who isn't? It's a toss-up, but we guess wrong, and Scott is assisted to the stage. Ryan is going to release someone back to safety. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> says it should be Matt, while Michael, who no doubt peeked at DialIdol and seems to know he's a goner, keeps pointing at Matt. But it is Scott who is returned to the bleachers.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view&current=b3pt2-top10r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Scott MacIntyre joining the Bottom 3 then being returned to safety</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczPUw236jI/AAAAAAAAMIo/QVGuWMT-oaU/s1600-h/Stevie+Wonder+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczPUw236jI/AAAAAAAAMIo/QVGuWMT-oaU/s400/Stevie+Wonder+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317853215637105202" border="0" /></a>Before the ax is dropped, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Stevie Wonder</span> gives the only musical performance of the night worth listening to, doing a medley of his Motown hits, including "My Cherie Amour," "Superstition" and "Overjoyed." He even slips in an "I love you, Barack Obama." Stevie was incredible then, he still is now. Why couldn't he have been given the time spent on Ruben and Joss Stone/Smokey Robinson? We could have listened to him all night.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view&current=stevie-top10r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Stevie Wonder Motown hits medley</a><br /><br />Finally it's time for the obvious. Matt is told he is safe, and Michael is told to sing for survival, the same song that he told the judges the day before he knew wouldn't be good. We perceive little change in the reprise, but <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara</span> (I don't know how many words 6 is) <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">DioGuardi </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> make a play at grooving and dancing to it, while <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> and Randy make <del>dinner plans</del> believe they're discussing it. When Sarver finishes, Alexis Grace is dealt another indignity. Whereas Simon immediately told her she wasn't good enough last week, he lyingly tells Ryan that they judges haven't yet reached a decision on Sarver. This after they made it clear last week that they wouldn't even consider saving Sarver, only Grace. So why the false dramatics? Ryan indicates they are running out of time, so <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczWeYd_h7I/AAAAAAAAMJI/Wws_KOZYLtc/s1600-h/judges.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 196px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SczWeYd_h7I/AAAAAAAAMJI/Wws_KOZYLtc/s400/judges.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317861077470382002" /></a>Simon tells Paula to make the decision. She says, "You're not doing that to me." Simon then "valiantly" steps up to the plate and says, "I'm going to make a decision. Michael, you're going home. Sorry." Cut to journey video. Who cares?<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view&current=elim-top10r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Michael Sarver elimination</a><br /><br />Next week's theme has yet to be announced, but rumors are that it is the iTunes Top 100 (talk about patronizing to get their music sold). On Results Night, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Cook</span> performs his new single "Come Back to Me" and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lady Gaga</span> sings "Poker Face."<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-31935528361792222282009-03-26T05:19:00.025-04:002009-03-27T05:30:15.602-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 10 Motown Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SctSLkNVodI/AAAAAAAAMFI/JemIzLcWCfU/s1600-h/Smokey+Robinson+and+Idols+800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SctSLkNVodI/AAAAAAAAMFI/JemIzLcWCfU/s400/Smokey+Robinson+and+Idols+800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317434143692661202" border="0" /></a>We grew on classic Motown music, so we weren't particularly excited about this week's theme. Why? Because we feared this year's crop of singers wouldn't do justice to the music. And for the most part, we were right. In spite of mentor <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Smokey Robinson</span> thinking this year's group is more special (well, they are, but in bad ways), than previous seasons, there were only two performances that shined and held their own. That the first belonged to Adam Lambert doesn't surprise us at this point. Though still over-theatrical, he is turning into this season's <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">David Cook</span>, crafting each performance very carefully and finding -- or inventing -- nontraditional versions of classic songs that become identifiable solely with him. Does anyone even doubt at this point that he is winning this competition, fer sure?<br /><br />The night's other very pleasant surprise was Allison Iraheta. Not that we were surprised she could be burning hot -- we've been feeling her power for weeks. But because she earned and owned the week's pimp spot, plus sung a much-more recognizable song, we're hoping that the rest of the country is finally catching up on her incredible talent. That <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> had to steal some of her limelight by acting as children during her critique (more on that later) is inexcusable. But according to DialIdol.com, which places Allison second this week, the judges' escapades didn't seem to impact her phone calls as we feared they might.<br /><br />Aside from a bunch of other mediocre-to-outright horrible performances, our biggest disappointment was the Motown artists on display. This was a group that encompassed Mary Wells, The Marvelettes, Jimmy Ruffin, The Four Tops, Tammi Terrell, The Spinners, The Isley Brothers and Gladys Knight, among so many others greats. Yet we heard three songs by The Temptations, two by Marvin Gaye, two by Smokey Robinson, and one each from The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Martha and The Vandellas. Yes, they are all superstars, but we were hoping for more variation and, in some cases, a far better song selection.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=motorcity-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Motown restrospective and the Idols visiting Hitsville in Detroit</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sctb_rHlaKI/AAAAAAAAMFY/CmlAnFR1Tno/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sctb_rHlaKI/AAAAAAAAMFY/CmlAnFR1Tno/s400/Matt+Giraud+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317444934505425058" border="0" /></a>As with a number of this week's contestants, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> sounded better in rehearsal with Smokey Robinson than he did during the actual live performance. We were hopeful about his choice of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." We agree with the judges that his shift from beginning at the piano and then doing the rest of the song standing is a nice change. But as the song progresses, we find it pitchy in parts and the falsettos not nearly as pure as they are at the beginning. The worst part is that it lacks the pure sensuality of the Gaye version, which gives us chills. We're not sure what ruins it for us, whether it is Matt's appearance (when singing and smiling he shows too much gum and his teeth are yellowish -- a smoker?) or that he just doesn't exude sexuality. We think it is just OK, and by the recap we realize we have forgotten the performance completely. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> likes the run at the end and the strength of the falsetto, enough that he says that Matt is challenging the other boy front-runners for the top spot. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span>, who has to convert everything to sex, says, "I think there are a lot of girls out there saying, 'Yeeeeah, let's get it on. Let's do it.' " If they are, they're aren't saying it to Matt, heh. Kara also likes that Matt's losing his shyness and coming out of his shell, but would like him to push the envelope more. Paula, twisting her thoughts (what else is new?) says, "I'm glad that you're as comfortable behind the piano as you are coming out here," when she obviously means the obverse (after all, professionally Matt is a dueling piano player). She also says Matt has a sexy-cool vibe and that his riffing is tasteful, classy, spot-on and fits the melody. Simon calls it a brilliant choice of song, says it is a cool performance and that Matt's voice exactly suits that kind of song. He also reiterates what he said last week, that Matt is now one of the front-runners in the competition.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=matt-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud singing "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScthIJcswyI/AAAAAAAAMFg/MoW4q5r7GWs/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScthIJcswyI/AAAAAAAAMFg/MoW4q5r7GWs/s400/Kris+Allen+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317450577644143394" border="0" /></a>Simon had it right the week he called <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> a puppy. He is sweet and pleasing, but lacks the soul to really give Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is" the oomph it needs. It tends toward the James Taylor version but isn't even that soulful. And sue us, but when Kris plays the guitar, he looks as if he is strumming way too fast and out of tempo with the song. It's becoming a distraction and as much of a crutch as the piano is for Scott. What's weird about Kris is that he has a good voice, but there is absolutely nothing distinctive about it. It sounds like a million other good voices. The performance has some moments, but overall we found it lackluster. And what was up with that shirt? It looked like something a military prisoner would wear. The judges, however, jump aboard the Kris Allen train. Kara thinks Kris put his mark on the song with different phrasing, different rhythms and riffs and did everything right. Paula thinks he picked a great song and that his personality is infectious. Simon says it was smart that Kris did his own version of the song but that he needs to believe in himself. Randy says Kris is now very consistent, has hit his zone and that he should keep his stride 'cause it's all good, baby. Yawn.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=kris-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "How Sweet It Is" by Marvin Gaye</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SctoCGCSMKI/AAAAAAAAMFw/cwF1ieiJDSk/s1600-h/Scott+MacIntyre+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SctoCGCSMKI/AAAAAAAAMFw/cwF1ieiJDSk/s400/Scott+MacIntyre+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317458170230223010" border="0" /></a>Things go from bad to worse. The only soul that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span> possesses -- he is so refined that he makes Wonder Bread seem like a whole-grain product -- is in his fingers. He can really rattle those keys. But what comes out of his mouth still reminds us of dentist-office music. With the exception of his excellent piano skills, his version of The Supremes "You Can't Hurry Love" could be heard at any karaoke bar. And that he tried to make it inspirational by saying that he's a single guy and relates to the sentiments of the song was laughable. Fortunately, the judges for the most part are no longer looking at him and Megan through rose-colored glasses. Paula says Scott brings a whole new light to his performance by having the backup singers stand the piano. Apparently we're still in the dark. Simon makes us LOL when he begins with, "Oh dear. There was a line in song when you sang, 'How much more can you take.' " He continues with it wasn't a great version of the song, plus he hated the honky-tonk piano (we kinda liked it) and the backing singers, thinks it was the completely wrong song for Scott and that it was a bit "cheap." Randy calls it a very hotel kind of performance and says that Scott needs to start taking some risks ending with, "It was just average for me." Kara likes that Scott brought tempo to the song but doesn't like that he took liberties with the melody but didn't nail it, saying he had good ideas but bad execution.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=scott-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Scott MacIntyre singing "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SctuUBamRuI/AAAAAAAAMF4/Alqv-Dj9-cc/s1600-h/Megan+Joy+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/SctuUBamRuI/AAAAAAAAMF4/Alqv-Dj9-cc/s400/Megan+Joy+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317465075297437410" border="0" /></a>And just when we think we've heard the worst, the light at the end of the tunnel is the freight train. Barreling down that tracks is the train wreck named <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span> (Corkrey) singing Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life." For once in our life we wish we didn't have to listen. Our only question: How have the judges not heard how bad she is before this week? Her horrible phrasing because she has no understanding of the lyrics, her pitchiness. These are not new phenomenons. Yes, she's got an interesting tone to her voice (this, however, does not make her a great singer) and, yes, she's one of the most beautiful women we've ever laid eyes on (though we think it's a bit weird that she matches her dress to her arm tattoo every week). But we've suffered enough with her and Michael Sarver. Can't they both go home this week? Randy comes right out and declares it a train wreck. He says it was rushed and hectic and mad-crazy. Kara tells Megan she should have sung "My Guy." Why? So she could ruin Mary Wells for us, too? She also tells her she hit bad notes all over the place (as she does every week, Kara), the phrasing and rhythms were weird (and this is different from last week how?) and that the song dominated her instead of Megan dominating the song. Whatever. Paula starts with the kiss of death: "Your stunning beauty just takes my breath away. And the camera loves you." Pause. "But I'm gonna have to agree, this wasn't the right song for you." She tells Megan that she just didn't find the pocket and wasn't as comfortable as she normally is. Simon again resorts to, "Oh dear. Oh dear, dear, dear. Megan look, the good news is you look good, the bad news is it was horrible. And whoever is advising you, I would fire. Seriously. Because you're getting some really, really terrible advice. It was an atrocious song, it was a horrible arrangement and the vocals were just all over the place. And you know what? I think you could be in serious trouble after tonight's performance. I really hate to say that [WHY!!!!], but you really could be. Sorry." The only part of Simon's critique we didn't get was his regrets. Give her the hook!<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=megan-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Megan Joy (Corkrey) singing "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sctz-GTOv8I/AAAAAAAAMGA/P-cz4C17nAk/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sctz-GTOv8I/AAAAAAAAMGA/P-cz4C17nAk/s400/Anoop+Desai+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317471295721357250" border="0" /></a>We take a break from the terrible for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span>, who brings sweet poignancy to Smokey's "Ooh Baby Baby," but also s-l-o-o-o-o-w-s it down so much, we can't wait for it to end. Yes, we'll take it over "My Perogative," any day, but Anoop really knocked it out of the park with last week's "Always on My Mind," and this didn't play quite as strong. Still, it was a good performance and reinforces his length of stay on the show. Kara says overall it was a hard song to sing and that Anoop did a pretty good job. But she wants him to be more creative with how he changes up the melodies. Paula says Anoop's phrasing, delivery and falsetto are not only spot-on but sweet and tender. Simon calls it a great vocal, but says Anoop looked like he was half-asleep throughout the song. He adds that Anoop has had two good weeks in a row. Randy wants Anoop to turn it back up next week and get the party on (sounds like the recipe for disaster Desai was previously adhering to). Jackson wants more energy with the great vocals, but says it was nice to hear him "croon and swoon."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=anoop-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai singing "Ooh Baby Baby" by Smokey Robinson</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sct6cGQn06I/AAAAAAAAMGI/C39UgU3q_oE/s1600-h/Michael+Sarver+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sct6cGQn06I/AAAAAAAAMGI/C39UgU3q_oE/s400/Michael+Sarver+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317478408176260002" border="0" /></a>We've officially had enough of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Sarver</span>. We had a moment when we felt bad for him last week when his critiques were going badly, until he decided to sass back at the judges. And this week, during his post-performance interview, he pretty much tells <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> that as long as he's made the Top 10, it doesn't kill him that he might not have what it takes to go all the way. It doesn't matter whether the judges get him or not, as long as he stays true to himself. Then let him sing to himself. Though Simon still seems to have this man love for Sarver and his All-American virtues, on "Idol" his work ethic sucks. He's lazy and mouthy. He knows he can't win so he'd rather take the next eight weeks off and then join the tour where his payday is. The one small comfort we have is that he'll probably never get a recording deal. And if all that isn't bad enough, his version of The Temptations "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is Las Vegas cheeeeezy. And what's with all the glad-handing with the mosh pit? You're hardly a star Sarver. Paula calls his performance Las Vegas loungy. Simon tells him that he couldn't wait for it to end because Michael was screaming and shouting the song. He adds that Michael has no chance of winning the competition with that type of vocal. Michael, of course, has to answer back, telling Simon he knew it wasn't going to be good, but he gave it 150 percent and wasn't playing games. Simon says he knows that Michael is a sincere guy (he is???), but he's just got to take the criticism for how it's meant. That it's supposed to help him. Randy thinks the song was too big for Sarver and that he made it a little bit corny because he was trying to do too much with it. Kara went off on her artistry rant again, which we've already heard at least three times this night.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=michael-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Michael Sarver singing "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sct_bVh5amI/AAAAAAAAMGQ/jIC-nj68P4Q/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sct_bVh5amI/AAAAAAAAMGQ/jIC-nj68P4Q/s400/Lil+Rounds+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317483892653517410" border="0" /></a>We know that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> is making a sincere effort to pay tribute to the ladies of Motown with her wig and flapper-fringe dress, but it somehow comes off as old-fashioned, costumy and almost patronizing. In that getup, the performance feels more like musical theater, as if Lil is treading into Adam Lambert territory. Though her voice is a breath of fresh air based on most of the acts that precede her, Rounds version of Martha and The Vandella's "Heatwave," -- an "Idol" kiss of death song -- sounds shouted and is way too fast and frenetic. It falls well short of being great. Randy calls the front of the song torture for him and says, "It just wasn't the right kind of song for me for you" and that she was rushing through the song. Kara tells her it wasn't the right song for her and that she was screaming in certain parts. Paula disagrees completely with Kara, saying that Lil made a classic song fresh without really changing anything. Simon says it was an authentic Motown tribute, but the song was the wrong choice because it didn't give her a "moment."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=lil-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds singing "Heatwave" by Martha and The Vandellas</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScuFKKCwp2I/AAAAAAAAMGY/IkuM9eAuVxE/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScuFKKCwp2I/AAAAAAAAMGY/IkuM9eAuVxE/s400/Adam+Lambert+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317490194582120290" border="0" /></a>Though we hated how <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> slicked back his hair with oily looking gel, looking like a Vegas Elvis for Smokey's "Tracks of My Tears," we absolutely loved what he did with the vocals. Smokey said he's heard many versions of the song, but none the way Adam sings it. Its irrelevant whether Lambert borrowed this unplugged version from someone else or arranged it himself, it is amazing either way. He has the "moment" that Simon was speaking about. It is like how we all held our breath as we listened to David Cook sing "Hello." It is standing O time all the way, With Smokey the first one up on his feet. Kara says, "I don't stand up a lot, but I've got to stand up for that." She then pulls a Paula (who is actually beginning to sound smart next to Kara), by saying, "I have just six words for you: 'One of the best performances of the night.'" Er, dear, that's eight words. But then, you think that an amazing singer can, ahem, sing the alphabet (instead of the phone book). Paula loves his handsome and classy look (no, it's oily), then says that Adam's exciting and "it." Simon says he's going to disagree with Kara, "because it was: the best performance of the night." Well, at least that's six words, ha! He ended with, "And you tonight really have emerged to me as a star. Congratulations." Randy calls it "Unbelievably hot. Da bomb tonight."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=adam-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScuJiGlBTJI/AAAAAAAAMGg/5xql_3mdi-U/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScuJiGlBTJI/AAAAAAAAMGg/5xql_3mdi-U/s400/Danny+Gokey+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317495004015447186" border="0" /></a>There's a veneer of arrogance about <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> that we just can't get past. Tonight it exhibited itself in the video segment preceding Gokey's performance of The Temptations' "Get Ready." In rehearsal with Smokey, Danny didn't sing the ends of the verses, leaving it for the background singers. Robinson advises Danny that in order to strengthen his interpretation of the song, he needs to sing them, too. Danny says in the video, "At first I was like, 'Oh man, is that gonna work?' It is going to work, because he [Smokey Robinson] knows what he's talking about. And he's been in the industry way longer than I have. So I really trust him." Guess Danny lost that thought onstage, 'cause guess who decided not to sing the ends of the verses? Er, that would be Danny, who apparently reconsidered and decided he knew better than the man who's been in the business way longer than he has. It isn't the best of Danny's performances, but, as always, is solid and very energetic. Running short on time, Paula tells Danny he's undeniable, identifiable and always reliable on giving a first-class performance every week. Simon calls it "clumsy and amateurish." Randy says Danny's got a dope voice, that it isn't his best performance, but he loves the energy and feeling of it. Kara thinks it is good but not great, adding "but I'm still a huge Danny fan."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=danny-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "Get Ready" by The Temptations</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScuOKDWNzXI/AAAAAAAAMGo/FmuwSdKKI-U/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScuOKDWNzXI/AAAAAAAAMGo/FmuwSdKKI-U/s400/Allison+Iraheta+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317500088389324146" border="0" /></a>Last up is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Allison Iraheta</span>. Though Adam earned the pimp spot, Allison definitely held her own with a dynamic version of The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." Please, we no longer need to hear "she's only 16," but the fact is she brought raw emotion and wisdom way beyond her years to the song. It was her best performance to date and showcased her growling vocals beautifully. The last note was amaaaazing. Randy calls her one of the dopest singers this season, saying "That was blazing hot." Kara says, "Oh ... My ... God! 16 years old and you were in the Bottom 3 last week? Whaaaaa? America, you've got to vote for her! Are you kidding? Amaaaazing. You sing like you've been singing for 400 years. That is from God, You can't teach that. Wooooo!" At this point the camera pulls back and we see that Simon is doing something to Paula's face. But what? Well, at the beginning of the show, Paula said if Simon was going to act like a child, she had something for him. She reached under the judges' table and came up with a coloring book and a box of Crayola crayons. Simon is now drawing a black mustache on Paula's face with a crayon. What a pair of idiots! Did either of them listen to Allison knock the house's socks off? As she tries to rub the crayon off and hits Simon, Paula says, "You look fantastic, you kept your rocker edge and I just want to say [covering her upper lip and mouth] you are awesome, you belong in the competition, you are amazing. Beautiful. Simon can't stop laughing at his prank, and spits out between guffaws, "Allison you are a survivor. You had a terrible week last week (not!), a very difficult song to do and that was really one of your best performances that you've ever done. Very good." Gee, thanks for your time, Simon. Sorry we interrupted your coloring.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2010/?action=view¤t=allison-top10.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing "Papa Was a Rollling Stone" by The Temptations</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top 3:</span><br />Adam Lambert<br />Allison Iraheta<br />Danny Gokey/Anoop Desai (Tie)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom 3:</span><br />Michael Sarver/Megan Joy (Corkrey) (Tie)<br />Scott MacIntyre<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Should be eliminated</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">:</span> Michael Sarver and Megan Joy (Corkrey)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Will be eliminated:</span> Michael Sarver<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-68373628493204424022009-03-18T21:32:00.042-04:002009-03-19T17:13:28.495-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 11 Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScIanr0KWnI/AAAAAAAAMCw/8Qujl3x5jaU/s1600-h/Alexis+Grace+is+eliminated+01+800x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScIanr0KWnI/AAAAAAAAMCw/8Qujl3x5jaU/s400/Alexis+Grace+is+eliminated+01+800x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314839779329333874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">The Bottom Three:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Sarver</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScGloHgM9NI/AAAAAAAAMCg/4TqpS7Vbsow/s1600-h/Top+11+Bottom+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 133px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScGloHgM9NI/AAAAAAAAMCg/4TqpS7Vbsow/s400/Top+11+Bottom+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314711143901361362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Eliminated:</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); font-weight: bold;">Alexis Grace</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span></span> opens the show by telling us there were 31 million votes this week. Hmmm, that's 2 million less than last week. Normally, the vote totals go up as the season progresses, not down. Is the public's enthusiasm for Season 8 on the wane because of the contestants or because of all the rule changes? Will more fans defect after seeing the results of tonight's show? Probably.<br /><br />Seacrest also says tonight's results might shock us. Well, no. We've seen DialIdol.com and the results are actually right in line with what they predicted. What will shock -- and dismay -- us is the cruel way that Alexis Grace is forced to "sing for her life" and then told by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> she is good, but not good enough. You gotta be kidding. They'd rather kick Alexis to the curb this week than let her stay and hopefully eliminate <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Sarver</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span> or <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span> from the tour next week? One thing's for certain: They've saved us the ticket price of this year's tour. Bleh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI8gWZqrUI/AAAAAAAAMDw/0izf9LDJ_tM/s1600-h/group+song.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 280px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI8gWZqrUI/AAAAAAAAMDw/0izf9LDJ_tM/s400/group+song.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314877036717321538" /></a>The group number, Travis Tritt's "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," once again focuses on Scott's limitations, as he plays piano while the guys first gather round him and then take to the dance floor with the girls. There are no solo vocals and the entire thing comes off as lip-synced. In fact, we're pretty sure we notice Scott not singing in a couple of shots.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=trouble_top11r.flv" target="0">Watch video of group number "T-R-O-U-B-L-E"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI9zwMabLI/AAAAAAAAMD4/qc9cari2kzo/s1600-h/ford+commercial.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI9zwMabLI/AAAAAAAAMD4/qc9cari2kzo/s400/ford+commercial.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314878469570194610" /></a>We waste no time getting to the Ford video this week, sung to OK GO's "Here It Goes Again" and involving water balloons. While introducing it, Ryan tosses a water balloon at Simon. After the video Ryan tells us it went over Simon's head and hit a studio audience member. Cool. Does she get free tix to the finale for getting drenched tonight? On second thought, would she even want tix after tonight?<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=ford_top11r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Ford commercial "Here It Goes Again"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI-cBEKpZI/AAAAAAAAMEA/JigxvIU8Vvs/s1600-h/farewell+dinner.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 331px; height: 224px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI-cBEKpZI/AAAAAAAAMEA/JigxvIU8Vvs/s400/farewell+dinner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314879161293776274" /></a>Before the night's cruel- ness begins, it's time for a heart- warm- ing spot and a few hints to who is going to land in the Bottom 3. Ryan presents a clip of the farewell dinner held for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jasmine Murray</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jorge Nuñez</span>. It opens with *surprise* Alexis Grace talking about how she hates Result Night because in the back of your mind you always think it is going to be you. Ha! After the clip, Ryan goes directly to Alexis and asks her, "Did you ever think it would be this emotional?" Why is he toying with her? He couldn't ask someone who was obviously safe? His next victim is Michael. Do you see a trend here? Those are the two who with face the chopping block at the end of the show. Everyone chokes up and gets teary when Ryan asks, "Michael, how is it being away from the family and the kids," and Sarver says his 3½ daughter, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI_lNDf3qI/AAAAAAAAMEI/wkudC2Xh6fM/s1600-h/sarver.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 231px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI_lNDf3qI/AAAAAAAAMEI/wkudC2Xh6fM/s400/sarver.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314880418642648738" /></a>who doesn't understand why he is away, asked him last week, "Why don't you want to be with me anymore?" Of course, Michael then has to follow that with, "So being away from your family is really tough. It's worth it in the end and I still want to go on real bad." Ryan then encourages Michael to say hello to his daughter McKenna, on camera. It's a Hallmark moment, as he says, "McKenna I love you ... with all my heart." The audience audibly "aaaaahs." Ryan then goes to Megan to ask how she's feeling and shows a clip of her from that day with her head enshrouded and other contestants wearing face masks to protect them from her germs.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=dinner_top11r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Jasmine Murray and Jorge Nuñez's farewell dinner and Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver and Megan Joy chatting with Ryan</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJAJi9mSeI/AAAAAAAAMEQ/E4ku-N2rQ1c/s1600-h/allison+michael.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 226px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJAJi9mSeI/AAAAAAAAMEQ/E4ku-N2rQ1c/s400/allison+michael.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314881042998774242" /></a>Now it is time to start the torture. Ryan begins with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span>, who, of course, is safe, as are <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span>. Allison and Michael are asked to stand. Allison is told she's in the Bottom 3 and to take a stool onstage. Michael, thinking he has escaped danger, sits. Ryan has him stand again and tells him that he, too, is in the Bottom 3. So now, before we're told, we know who is taking the third stool. Alexis had the lowest vote total on DialIdol.com. But Ryan won't reveal Alexis' fate just yet.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=bottom3_top11r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta and Michael Sarver put in the Bottom 3</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScIsFJ-habI/AAAAAAAAMDQ/9dPLGWqR5M0/s1600-h/Brad+Paisley+performs+02+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScIsFJ-habI/AAAAAAAAMDQ/9dPLGWqR5M0/s400/Brad+Paisley+performs+02+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314858977339730354" border="0" /></a>The first guest performance of the night is by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Brad Paisley</span> who performs his new single "Then." We like Paisley, but restlessly wait for the results to continue. It feels like a long night already.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=paisley.flv" target="0">Watch video of Brad Paisley performing "Then."</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJA8awv-GI/AAAAAAAAMEY/_jD3AzCmqbw/s1600-h/alexis+adam.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJA8awv-GI/AAAAAAAAMEY/_jD3AzCmqbw/s400/alexis+adam.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314881916970727522" /></a>Back to the nail-biting. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy</span> are safe and we're wishing they were in the Bottom 3 along with Michael. But, after all, this is "Idol." Also safe are <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> (yea!) and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span>. Alexis and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> are asked to stand. Ryan asks after watching back on TV, whether Simon still thinks Adam's performance was "horrific, indulgent rubbish." Simon says after watching it back, he thought it was even worse. Ha! Randy says he loved Adam's "Jeff Buckley take" on "Ring of Fire," a version that only seems to exist in Randy's head, not on video or MP3 anywhere on the Internet. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJBlNZKs1I/AAAAAAAAMEg/F5qQqO_SBXA/s1600-h/allison+safe.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 227px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJBlNZKs1I/AAAAAAAAMEg/F5qQqO_SBXA/s400/allison+safe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314882617756791634" /></a>Do we even need to type that Adam is safe and Alexis is heading to her doom? Alexis joins Allison and Michael onstage and Ryan immediately decides to send one back to safety on the couches. It's Allison. We're relieved.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=bottom3pt2_top11r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Alexis Grace joining the Bottom 3 and Allison Iraheta being sent back to safety</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJCSRsR1DI/AAAAAAAAMEo/GfOItokONoU/s1600-h/carrie+underwood.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJCSRsR1DI/AAAAAAAAMEo/GfOItokONoU/s400/carrie+underwood.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314883392004805682" /></a>Back from the break and it's time for the second guest performance of the evening, by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carrie Underwood</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Travis</span>. But before that, Ryan presents a video tribute to Carrie's career to date, from Oklahoma farmgirl to country superstar.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=carrievid_top11r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Carrie Underwood career tribute</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScIzK5IlKmI/AAAAAAAAMDY/O66ptpiQ9W0/s1600-h/Carrie+Underwood,+Randy+Travis+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScIzK5IlKmI/AAAAAAAAMDY/O66ptpiQ9W0/s400/Carrie+Underwood,+Randy+Travis+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314866772479126114" border="0" /></a>Before their performance, Underwood and Travis chat with Ryan. Carrie, who looks awful in a modern-day Minnie Pearl getup, says she is flattered that the contestants sang her songs (and happy for the royalties, heh). The red dress is bad enough, but we can't stop staring at the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJDYhx0dII/AAAAAAAAMEw/Y3RHRY8w2Js/s1600-h/carrie+02.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 221px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScJDYhx0dII/AAAAAAAAMEw/Y3RHRY8w2Js/s400/carrie+02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314884598913856642" /></a>bouffant hair and what looks like a black lacy wrapping- paper decoration sitting on her head. The duo perform "I Told You So." Carrie's vocals soar and we are reminded why she won Season 4. Her voice never fails to impress. That's why Lil should never have attempted "Independence Day," and Danny sounded lame on "Jesus Take the Wheel." They can't touch Carrie's vocals. Travis even looks over in amazement a time or two at the notes Underwood hits. She's an "Idol" treasure. Right before the break, Ryan asks the judges if they'd consider saving either of the Bottom 2. They say, yes, there's one they'd consider saving. Any question who it is folks?<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=carrieduet_top11r.flv" target="0">Watch video of Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis singing "I Told You So."</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI6nuo1VWI/AAAAAAAAMDg/jcouxSzxgJU/s1600-h/Alexis+Grace+is+eliminated+03+600.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI6nuo1VWI/AAAAAAAAMDg/jcouxSzxgJU/s400/Alexis+Grace+is+eliminated+03+600.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314874964459214178" /></a>It's the time of reckoning. And, sadly, Michael is safe. He really needs to be back home with his daughter. Simon tells Alexis that, yes, she was the one they were thinking of saving, but first she has to sing for her life. And she does, turning yesterday's softer version of "Jolene" into one of desperation, pitchy power notes and cracking vocals. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI6uD1UwLI/AAAAAAAAMDo/mydc5WcisEM/s1600-h/Alexis+Grace+is+eliminated+02+800x600.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScI6uD1UwLI/AAAAAAAAMDo/mydc5WcisEM/s400/Alexis+Grace+is+eliminated+02+800x600.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314875073227964594" /></a>The words take on a new meaning as they echo Alexis' own situation, begging the judges not to take her out of the competition. It's so sad, especially as we get the feeling that this was all predetermined and the show the judges make of deliberating are probably, in reality, just them making dinner plans. In the end, Simon, with a seriously contrite look on his face, tells Alexis that "We're kind of unanimous on this. It was good, but it was not good enough. Sorry. It's the end of the line, I'm afraid." Emulating her last name to the end, Grace tells the judges "I wish I could have done better. But things happen for a reason, so, you know ..." We watch her journey video. We cry. The end.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=save.flv" target="0">Watch video of Alexis Grace elimination</a><br /><br />Next week, "Idol" will air on Wednesday and Thursday, as the show is pre-empted on Tuesday for a presidential press conference. The theme will be "50 Years of Motown," with the contestants performing classic Motown songs (sigh, Alexis would have done great with that). <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;" ><strong><b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;" ></span></span></b></strong></span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Berry Gordy</span>, the man behind the Motown sound, appears on Wednesday. On the results show, Motown legend <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Smokey Robinson</span> performs and Season 2 winner <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ruben Studdard</span> sings his new single, "Together."<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-14464589321909073992009-03-18T04:55:00.026-04:002009-03-18T12:37:18.621-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 11 Grand Ole Opry Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScC7tmMsnJI/AAAAAAAAMA4/eZoqDdR1J0Q/s1600-h/Randy+Travis+with+Top+11+800x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScC7tmMsnJI/AAAAAAAAMA4/eZoqDdR1J0Q/s400/Randy+Travis+with+Top+11+800x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314453952319495314" border="0" /></a>Watching Season 8's Grand Ole Opry Week, mentored by country great <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Travis</span>, was an exercise in futility and mediocrity. Frankly, we saw better performances on the just concluded Season 3 of CMT's "Gone Country," wherein such unlikely contestants as 62-year-old former Monkee Mickey Dolenz, master of funk George Clinton, former Miss USA Tara Conner and actor-turned-singer Richard Grieco attempted to "go country." Even Season 1 Idol Justin Guarini shined in comparison to the current crop of Idols. We hope "Idol's" producers aren't relying too heavily on that iTunes income, 'cause there wasn't a single performance we'd consider shelling out 99 cents for.<br /><br />No doubt, the most talked about performances will be those of Anoop Desai, who rose like a phoenix from the ashes with one of the best numbers of the night, and Adam Lambert, whose bizarre Middle Eastern take on a Johnny Cash classic was simultaneously mesmerizing and repellent.<br /><br />Also worth discussing: <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span>'s inability to complete a coherent sentence all evening. Yet, she wouldn't shut up and babbled on incessantly. Almost as unbearable was the bickering among the judges. But worst of all is this trend of the contestants to talk back when they are being judged. Last season Brooke White turned her critiques into discussions and, much to our distaste, the idea seems to have taken wing. On Tuesday, nearly every singer felt the need to explain themselves or make a wisecrack. Lil Rounds might have spoken even more than the judges during her critiquing period. As Judge Judy would say, "This is not a give and take." So contestants, shut up and listen. You're there to sing, the judges are there to evaluate. And speaking of the judges, can we lose their la-de-dah entrance from behind a curtain at the top of the show? That, as well as <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> descending the grand staircase as if he was a god descending from the heavens, is way too precious and pretentious.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDQ3xwX4JI/AAAAAAAAMBI/D3fLD7ATQMg/s1600-h/Michael+Sarver+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDQ3xwX4JI/AAAAAAAAMBI/D3fLD7ATQMg/s400/Michael+Sarver+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314477216964796562" border="0" /></a>Opening the show was Texas oil-rig worker <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Sarver</span>. We were betting that he would do great with this genre, but his song choice -- Garth Brooks' "Ain't Goin' Down Til the Sun Comes Up" -- baffled us. Instead of showcasing Sarver's voice or range, it demonstrated that he has a great ability to memorize lyrics, as the song contains perhaps a thousand words sung at rapid speed. There was very very little melody involved. Bleh. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> thinks it is a fun song but doesn't bring out Michael's vocal capabilities. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> likes that we got to see Michael's personality but misses his big notes. At that point, Michael's smile goes flat. He decides to jump in and answer back, saying, among other things, that "country music is about fun." Well, Michael we didn't have much, and your remarks make it even less so. Paula combines about 42 half-thoughts into one sentence, concluding with "this is the genre that suits you well." <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> says he couldn't understand a single word Michael was singing (Michael interjects again here) and that he could have been singing in Norwegian. Another interjection. Simon continues, "I thought it was a bit clumsy ... and this could have been karaoke night at a country-western club." Michael retorts, "If we were all perfect, we wouldn't need this show." The audience goes wild and Randy says, "Good one," while we're thinking, SHUT UP Michael. Ryan asks Simon, "Did you like it or not?" Simon answers, "On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it 1.2." Michael feels compelled to open his mouth one final time. He turns to Ryan and says laughing, "It wasn't zero." Whoa, way harsh, Simon. We'd give it at least a 2.2. Though, considering Sarver's back talk, perhaps Cowell was being generous.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=michael_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Michael Sarver singing "Ain't Goin' Down Til the Sun Comes Up"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDVdIjD8gI/AAAAAAAAMBQ/8SZKaGlbbXA/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDVdIjD8gI/AAAAAAAAMBQ/8SZKaGlbbXA/s400/Allison+Iraheta+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314482256784650754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> is like an uncut, unpolished gem. She has great vocals, but the voters can't see through to them because her song selections tend to be obscure and her appearance needs refining. For example, we loved her version of Patty Loveless' "Blame It on Your Heart," but her DialIdol.com score is second to last and she stands a strong chance of being eliminated tonight. It's a shame, as there are few females left and her distinctive, rock-tinged voice alone makes a compelling argument for her to remain in the competition. Kara says she is beginning to think that Allison could sing the alphabet and sing it well. It's a stupid twist on the phone book analogy when you think about it, Kara, 'cause every child sings the alphabet. She adds, "You bring your own spin to everything and you really made that song your own." Paula, in a lucid moment, calls it "Another rock solid performance by Allison," but encourages her to experiment with other sides of her vocals that make her more vulnerable. Simon calls it good but a little tuneless in parts, and thinks it looked as if Allison was struggling to remember the words. He asks, "Were you?" Allison tells him, no, that she's known the song since she was 8 years old. He concludes by calling her "rock solid verging on precocious," whatever that means. Randy says, "I didn't think it was precocious at all. I thought it was dope!"<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=allison_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing "Blame It on Your Heart"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDcx0iH4gI/AAAAAAAAMBY/b2kIxGmZGvs/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDcx0iH4gI/AAAAAAAAMBY/b2kIxGmZGvs/s400/Kris+Allen+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314490308770652674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> left his guitar behind to sing Garth Brooks "To Make You Feel My Love," a ballad which made good use of his sweet tender vocals. Yet, it left us wanting something more. Truth be told, we were a bit bored by the end of his performance. The judges however were more enthusiastic. Paula calls it an honest, pure and vulnerable performance. Simon says it was terrific, that it was a great choice of song and that Kris was completely in control of the song. But Cowell saves his highest praise for last: That for the first time he thinks Kris has a really good shot at doing well in the competition. Randy likes that Kris showcased his vocals, calling it "tender moments from my dawg Kris." Simon seems amused by this, changing it to "tender dawg" and later to "tender puppy." Kara says, "I didn't even know it was Opryland when I was hearing that. It wasn't even country, it was just beautiful." What is wrong with Kara? Does she not know that country is comprised of many sounds, not just twangin' geetars? Ugh!<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=kris_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "To Make You Feel My Love"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDlzn5c51I/AAAAAAAAMBg/JwUzLelIwlk/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDlzn5c51I/AAAAAAAAMBg/JwUzLelIwlk/s400/Lil+Rounds+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314500235343226706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> wants to show everyone that she's more than just an R&B artist, she wants to prove she can go country. We just wish she hadn't chosen to do it with Martina McBride's "Independence Day." It's one of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carrie Underwood</span>'s great performances that is etched into our head. So though Lil soared on the second half of the song with its power notes, the first half left a lot to be desired. Randy felt the same way, saying he found himself struggling with the front part but that it got a little bit better when she hit the power zone, concluding with, "It didn't feel comfortable for me on you." Lil interjects to explain her choice of song. Randy answers her, and Lil turns it into a discussion. Kara says, "You did what you felt and that's part about being an artist -- standing your ground." Well maybe it is, but it didn't work too well for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kelly Clarkson</span> with "My December," and she's well-established and a far better singer than Lil. Kara ends with, "So I give you props for that. Is it the best performance? Not your best. But good for standing your ground." Tell Lil that when she stands her ground and her first LP sells 10,000 copies. Paula says everything's going right for Lil tonight, that her vocals are spot-on (not even close) and that the hair, makeup and clothing are beautiful (agreed). She then contradicts herself by saying that Lil should have sung only one verse instead of two (which is so wrong, 'cause this is a story song), so that she could have hit the soaring vocals earlier. So, then, perhaps everything wasn't going right for Lil tonight, Paula? Then Simon totally stuns us by calling Lil "Little." Paula stops him and says, "Little?" He answers, "Lil, Little, it's the same thing." Er, no it's not, Simon. He then starts with Little again, Kara says "Lil," he says "Little, Lil, which is short for Little." No, it's not. Her name isn't Lil', or Li'l it's Lil, which is most likely short for Lillian, if it's short for anything. She's not Li'l Abner, or Lil' Kim or Lil Wayne. Ugh! What is wrong with Simon? He then compares her to a wedding singer who has to sing a song request she's not comfortable with, saying what they originally liked about her was her Mary J. Blige rawness. Kara starts to respond to this and then Lil jumps in again, too. Enough! Can each judge not state an opinion without being argued with by the other judges and the contestant? We had to smirk, though, when Simon raised his hand during Lil's unending remarks (and his critique time) with, "May I talk, Little?" He went on to say "I thought that just wasn't you."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=lil_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds singing "Independence Day"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDr3tDy4GI/AAAAAAAAMBo/t86-iVjIe_4/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScDr3tDy4GI/AAAAAAAAMBo/t86-iVjIe_4/s400/Adam+Lambert+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314506902518030434" border="0" /></a>The night's most bizarre performance award goes to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span>, who, as we noted above, did a Middle Eastern sitar-driven turn on Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire." Randy Travis had good reason to have trepidations about this. When Adam told Travis he had found a different take (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whtQZJ7R3EU" target="0">Dilana's from "Rock Star Supernova"</a>) on the song he wanted to do, we immediately thought of Chris Daughtry's wonderful transformation of Cash's "I Walk the Line." But, no. Even something like Dilana's version (and we love everything Dilana does) was way too pedestrian for showman Lambert. Way before Simon got the chance to say "self-indulgent" we were thinking it, along with over-the-top theatrical and WTF. The high notes were ridiculous. Yet as we sat there mesmerized, we couldn't decide whether we liked it or hated it. It certainly held our attention. Kara *shock* finds it all a little strange and got so flustered trying to critique it she finally just gave up, saying it left her confused but kind of happy. Paula calls Adam true to himself as an artist, and says she loves the Middle Eastern sitar sounds. Simon brings things back down to earth with "I think there are a lot of people throwing their television sets out their windows at this point," then calls it "absolute indulgent rubbish" and "really really horrific." But Randy jumps in to defend Adams and says if Nine Inch Nails did a country song this is what it would sound like. He deems it current, young, fresh and hot. Well, alrighty, then.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=adam_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Ring of Fire"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScD4YDQcdYI/AAAAAAAAMBw/Vjy8HenROi0/s1600-h/Scott+MacIntyre+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScD4YDQcdYI/AAAAAAAAMBw/Vjy8HenROi0/s400/Scott+MacIntyre+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314520652372014466" border="0" /></a>What are the chances that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">MacIntyre</span> can go just one week without singing about faith or angels? Our guess? Zero. Every week, it feels like the same saccharine-sweet inspirational song and we weren't loving it the first time we heard it. It makes us hope that they'll have a Satan theme week, just to put an end to it. This time round it was Martina McBride's "Wild Angels" (whoa, is Scott getting reckless, LOL). Even Randy Travis seems to think it's an ill-advised choice. We tuned out through it, but Paula calls it a lovely performance and tells Scott that he's one of the hardest-working performers on that stage (patronizing). However, she's concerned that the piano is becoming a bit of a crutch now, and that it separates Scott from the audience. Scott retorts, "We can move it closer." Paula's remark was not meant to be insensitive to Scott's sight problems with working the stage, but Simon seems to take it that way, telling Paula, "What do you expect him to do?" and then "It was a stupid thing to say." They then call each other disrespectful and get into an annoyingly protracted argument. Simon tells Scott that his song last week and this week are very similar and that he's not choosing good-enough songs. Scott interjects(!) "I've also lost a lot of hat picks" (hmmm, so the performances are based on song choices picked from a hat? That kinda sucks, doesn't it?). Simon continues saying that Scott is picking songs "that just do a little bit of that [making a hand motion over his head], going over my head and I forget them afterwards." Paula jumps in with "That's disrespectful," apparently referring to the hand gesture Simon made and that Scott couldn't see. Simon misunderstands and says, "That's not disrespectful" and their argument begins anew. But what has truly gone over Simon's head is the fact that Scott is saying he doesn't have a lot of freedom in choosing his songs. Randy says it's not the song choices that bother him, he's missing the hot crazy vocals that he hasn't seen from Scott the past two weeks because "this is a singing competition," to which Simon chimes in, "thank you." Well bust my buttons and call me shorty. When did it become a singing competition again for Simon? Two weeks ago, during the Wild Card round, he told us it wasn't just a singing competition. Kara tells Scott, "What everyone is saying is that we want you to up your game a little bit" but that "you bring class and poise to that stage" (patronizing) as Paula yells out, "Yes, you do!" (patronizing). Oy!<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=scott_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Scott MacIntyre singing "Wild Angels"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScEJZr9y8TI/AAAAAAAAMB4/gdhAkUZVaIs/s1600-h/Alexis+Grace+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScEJZr9y8TI/AAAAAAAAMB4/gdhAkUZVaIs/s400/Alexis+Grace+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314539372177191218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span> says she wants to show her softer side with Dolly Parton's "Jolene," and we think she did a pretty nice job of it, though we did miss some of those knock-it-out-of-the-park notes. The rest of America apparently missed them a lot more than we did. Alexis surprisingly sits at the bottom of the DialIdol.com pile. We can't believe the producers will let her escape the summer tour, so our thinking is if she is the one to be eliminated tonight, the judges' save will be employed and they'll gloatingly ask us, "Now aren't you happy we have a judges' save?" To which we'll reply, "No." If America thinks Alexis isn't worthy of moving on, then she shouldn't, regardless of her talent. Certainly nobody held back from voting last night because they were confident she was safe. If she's in last place it's because America thought she should be. Randy says he wasn't sure if she "hit the notes quick well," noting there were pitch problems and that Alexis tried to bend the song too much in a bluesy way that didn't work. He also says it was a good song choice but not a great performance. Of course, Alexis has to interject an explanation here (shut up, shut up, shut up). Kara says, "I think you lost your edge a bit" and then makes some of her stupid song suggestions that she thinks would have been better. "Before You Cheat"? Give us a break. Kara says she wants something edgy that brings out the angst in Alexis. We repeat: "Before You Cheat"? She ends with, "It was just a little flat for me." Paula thinks it was a good song choice and enjoyed the vulnerable soft side of Alexis. Simon rolls his eyes during her critique. Another interjection by Alexis. Simon says, "I thought it was OK. I thought it was a little bit sound-alike." Alexis asks "What does sound-alike mean?" Duh! What does low IQ mean? What does she think it means? Simon explains, "It means you sound like the person you're trying to sing." She says "Oh, OK." She should have asked for the English translation: It sounds like the same version of the song as the artist who originally performed it. Simon also tells her he thinks it's one of those performances that's going to be forgotten in about 10 minutes. She pleads, "No, please don't. Please don't forget about it." But America did.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=alexis1_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Alexis Grace singing "Jolene"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScEO9SZOgvI/AAAAAAAAMCA/nz1SCeqKYOg/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScEO9SZOgvI/AAAAAAAAMCA/nz1SCeqKYOg/s400/Danny+Gokey+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314545481346351858" border="0" /></a>We wonder why <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> tends to select songs popularized by female artists -- Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance" during Hollywood Week, Mariah Carey's "Hero" during the Top 36 Round 1 and this week's "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood? Is it so the ladies will love him? Or so he can't easily be compared to the original? Whatever the reason, it seems to work for him. (And yes, we know, Scott sang a Martina McBride song.) We thought he had moments during his rendition, but much prefer the original. For us, it was probably Danny's weakest performance. Yet, the audience went wild and there he is once again on the top of DialIdol.com's results. He remains America's No. 1 widower. Kara says, "The front half of that performance for me was not spectacular, but halfway through it was 'Here comes Danny' ... and went straight up. And I wish I had 10 minutes of that and not the first half." Paula disagreed, saying "I love when artists build a story," adding that he was brilliant (not) and that Carrie Underwood would not only approve, she'd go out and buy that record. Paula, reality check. We wouldn't even go out and buy that record. Simon, surprisingly after their earlier tiffs, agrees with Paula, saying, "You can't start a song full on, you've got to have a little bit of light and shade." Simon's only problem is with what Danny is wearing. Danny, as usual with Simon, is self-deprecating, making fun of his own outfit, much as he made fun of his own dancing last week after Simon bashed him for it. Randy splits the panel by agreeing with Kara, saying that the verses were pitchy and that Danny didn't support them enough (we need our Randy-English dictionary for the last), but that he was blazing through the rest of the song.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=danny_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "Jesus Take the Wheel"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScESgHpKqXI/AAAAAAAAMCI/q7LnCvSJz6Y/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScESgHpKqXI/AAAAAAAAMCI/q7LnCvSJz6Y/s400/Anoop+Desai+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314549378290723186" border="0" /></a>Next came the biggest surprise of the evening. Just as we were about to write off <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span> as the mostly likely contestant to be voted off the show, he comes back like gangbusters with a compelling and different interpretation of Willie Nelson's iconic "You Were Always on My Mind." It was the best we've ever heard him sing and he finally convinced us that he was more than just a really likable guy. He actually possesses as good a voice as the rest of the contestants, and better than some. He doesn't need to rely on posturing and gimmicks to survive. He can use his voice. Paula announces, "Anoop is back!" She tells him she is proud of him for picking a song that allowed him to have his own interpretation of it and that it fit him like a glove, adding that his "tender, amazing, sweet vocals" touched her heart. Simon says, "Anoop, you just managed to go from zero to hero. That was a good choice of song. Actually, in a way, that was one of my favorite performances of the whole night. You know what, Anoop? Good for you that you can take a bit of a kicking last week -- which was thoroughly deserved -- By the way I take back what I said, you definitely deserve to be in this show. But you didn't kind of whine about it. You just took the good advice [pointing to his own chest], did something about it, chose a great song, delivered a great vocal. Glad to have you back, Anoop." Randy says Anoop really showed his vocals skills and that he liked the arrangement. Kara calls it the best performance of the night, because it was the biggest surprise.<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=anoop_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai singing "You Were Always on My Mind" </a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScEYvi8n8GI/AAAAAAAAMCQ/raVOjd86EPk/s1600-h/Megan+Joy+Corkrey+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScEYvi8n8GI/AAAAAAAAMCQ/raVOjd86EPk/s400/Megan+Joy+Corkrey+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314556240387895394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy Corkrey</span> had the flu this week, did, in fact, go to the hospital, and even missed the dress rehearsal. So we must be forgiving in that respect. But she knew what to do to support a flagging voice -- she brought the girls out, big time. Were they really that big every other week, or was it that the halter dress with side embroidery that gave the appearance of hands holding up those boobs made them look so big? Either way, sorry, we still didn't like her rendition of another iconic song, Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight." Talk about quirky. For us it was flat, sharp and everything in between. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t4PQCL4tMc" target="0">Kellie Pickler's version of the song</a> ran rings around Megan's and Kellie's not that great a singer. The judges, however, thought Megan sounded even better than usual! Maybe it's that sensation where things sound different in the studio than they do on TV. In any event, most of America agreed with us. Megan placed third from last on DialIdol.com. Randy tells her he thought it would be a trainwreck (it was), but it was actually quite good (it wasn't), that it all really worked (it didn't) and was the perfect choice for her (it wasn't). Kara says, "perfect song, perfect look," then praises her inordinately for performing with the flu. Apparently Kara didn't watch last season when half the contestants performed with the flu. Paula continues with Kara's praise, calling Megan a fighter and a consummate professional. Simon tells her, "You should have flu every week, because you were better this week than you were last week. And you look gorgeous."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=megan_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Megan Joy Corkrey singing "Walking After Midnight"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScEdvX5DWwI/AAAAAAAAMCY/OG3_EIed2D8/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/ScEdvX5DWwI/AAAAAAAAMCY/OG3_EIed2D8/s400/Matt+Giraud+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314561734978263810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> captured the pimp spot, and other than Anoop, probably deserved it. His was our second favorite performance of the night. Again, a guy chose to sing a song popularized by a woman, in this case Carrie Underwood's "So Small." Even Randy Travis was a bit disconcerted by the choice, but got with the program after listening to Matt's bluesy version of the song. It wasn't a perfect performance -- Matt doesn't have a perfect voice and there were pitchy parts. Yet, there was something so appealing about the arrangement, the piano playing and, yes, his falsetto, that we really enjoyed it. Kara said, "Matt, there ain't nothing small about you." (Why does everything she says sound so suggestive?) "You're an artist, you're a true talent, your heart pours on that piano, you work the dynamics of that song. Amazing. I love you. I just do." Paula then had trouble trying to spit out the word authenticity. Nevertheless, she applauds the authenticity and honesty Matt brings to his delivery and tells him he has pierced her heart (hope it's not fatal). Simon says, "I don't think you've had enough credit, actually, for your vocals in this competition so far because everyone's been talking about Danny and Adam. I think you're quite similar to Danny. Tonight, I think you outsang him. I genuinely do. It was a great performance. You remind me of Michael Bublé. So I thought that was a terrific performance. One of the best tonight. Well done." Randy calls it his favorite performance of the night because he loves Matt's vocals and says he has mad skillz, ending with, "You got it goin' on, baby."<br /><br /><a href="http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt286/uvid0001/Top%2011/?action=view&current=matt_top11.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud singing "So Small"</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top 3:</span><br />Anoop Desai<br />Matt Giraud<br />Danny Gokey<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom 3:</span><br />Megan Joy Corkrey<br />Michael Sarver<br />Scott MacIntyre<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Who should be eliminated:</span> Megan Joy Corkrey<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Who will be eliminated:</span> Allison Iraheta<br /><br />Tonight, Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood sing "I Told You So" (previously a hit for Travis and now a hit single for Underwood), and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Brad Paisley</span> performs his new single, "Then."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">DANNY GOKEY'S GLASSES</span><br /><br />Want to know where Danny Gokey gets his glasses? Watch this video:<br /><br /><object id="WNVideoCanvasDEFAULTdivWNVideoCanvas" width="400" height="275"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="wmode" value="windowless"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"> <param name="movie" value="http://witi-video.trb.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf"> <embed src="http://witi-video.trb.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="windowless" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="isShowIcon=true&affiliate=WITI&affiliateNumber=854&backgroundAlphas=100,100,100,100&backgroundColors=eeeeee,eeeeee,eeeeee,eeeeee&backgroundRatios=0,25,130,255&backgroundRotation=270&borderAlpha=100&borderColor=aaaaaa&borderWidth=1&clipId=3558287&playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDobject&closecaptionPaneLabelText=&closePaneLabelText=&commercialHeadlinePrefix=Commercial&controlsBackgroundAlphas=100,100&controlsBackgroundColors=eeeeee,eeeeee&controlsBackgroundRatios=0,255&controlsBackgroundRotation=270&controlsBorderColor=212121&controlsBottomPadding=8&controlsButtonLeftBorderColor=c7c7c7&controlsButtonRightBorderColor=656464&controlsHeight=40&controlsOffFaceColor=828282&controlsOverFaceColor=454444&controlsSidePadding=8&defaultStyle=flatlight&disableTransport=false&domId=WNVideoCanvaswn790divWNVideoCanvas790&emailErrorBorderColor=ae1a01&emailErrorMessageFaceColor=ae1a01&emailFormFieldAlphas=80&emailFormFieldColors=dddee0&emailFormFieldRatios=0&emailFormFieldRotation=90&emailInputFaceColor=454444&emailMessageLabelText=&emailPaneLabelText=&emailSentConfirmationMessage=&errorMessage=&fullScreenControlType=none&hasBevel=false&hasBorder=true&hasBottomBorder=true&hasFullScreen=true&hasLeftBorder=true&hasRightBorder=true&hasTopBorder=true&helpPage=http://www.fox6now.com/video-flashhelp&hostDomain=witi-video.trb.com&idKey=wn790&imgPath=http://WITI.images.worldnow.com/images/static/video/flash/&invalidRecipientFieldMessage=&invalidSenderFieldMessage=&isAutoStart=false&isMute=&landingPage=http://www.fox6now.com/video/&loadingMessage=&offFaceColor=828282&overFaceColor=454444&overlayBackgroundAlphas=92&overlayBackgroundColors=b6b6b5&overlayBackgroundRatios=0&overlayBackgroundRotation=90&overlayOffFaceColor=454444&overlayOverFaceColor=ffffff&pauseButtonText=&playAtActualSize=0&playButtonText=&playerHeight=275&playerWidth=400&recipientEmailLabelText=&sendEmailButtonText=&senderEmailLabelText=&senderNameLabelText=&shareListItemHighlightBorderColor=ffffff&shareListItemOffFaceColor=828282&shareListItemShadowBorderColor=b1b0b0&shareListListItemOverFaceColor=828282&sidePadding=3&smoothingMode=auto&staticImgPath=http://WITI.images.worldnow.com&summaryGraphicMessage=&summaryGraphicScaleStyle=stretchToFit&summaryPaneLabelText=&tabBackgroundAlphas=100,100&tabBackgroundColors=e6e6e6,e6e6e6&tabBackgroundOverAlphas=100,100&tabBackgroundOverColors=eeeeee,eeeeee&tabBackgroundOverRatios=0,100&tabBackgroundRatios=75,255&tabBackgroundRotation=90&tabBackgroundSelectedAlphas=100&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderAlpha=100&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderColor=aaaaaa&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderWidth=1&tabBackgroundSelectedColors=eeeeee&tabBackgroundSelectedHasBevel=false&tabBackgroundSelectedHasBorder=true&tabBackgroundSelectedHasDropShadow=false&tabBackgroundSelectedRatios=0&tabBorderAlpha=100&tabBorderColor=aaaaaa&tabBorderWidth=1&tabFontSize=10&tabHasBevel=false&tabHasBorder=true&tabHasDropShadow=false&tabHeight=26&tabLeftBorderColor=e5e5e5&tabOffFaceColor=828282&tabOverBorderAlpha=100&tabOverBorderWidth=1&tabOverFaceColor=454444&tabOverHasBevel=false&tabOverHasBorder=true&tabRightBorderColor=868686&tabShadowColor=333333&topPadding=3&videoSliderBackgroundColor=cccccc&videoSliderKnobBackgroundAlphas=100,100&videoSliderKnobBackgroundColors=cccccc,cccccc&videoSliderKnobBackgroundRatios=0,255&videoSliderKnobBackgroundRotation=90&videoSliderKnobBorderColor=959495&videoSliderKnobOffFaceColor=444444&videoSliderKnobOverFaceColor=212121&videoSliderKnobShadowColor=5a5a5a&videoSliderLoadIndicatorColor=828282&videoSliderProgressIndicatorColor=454444&volumeSliderOffColor=cccccc&volumeSliderOverColor=828282&" width="400" height="275"></embed></object><br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-55651275324762233302009-03-17T07:31:00.043-04:002009-03-17T14:22:01.099-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 13 Results Show<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-RkvZxKvI/AAAAAAAAL-w/p8kyhVWTixw/s1600-h/Jasmine+Murray+is+eliminated+800x600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-RkvZxKvI/AAAAAAAAL-w/p8kyhVWTixw/s400/Jasmine+Murray+is+eliminated+800x600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314126145706339058" border="0" /></a>To my readers: I was in the hospital last week and unable to blog. Although I'm still recovering, I'll try to play catch-up and provide you with videos and photos and as much critiquing as possible, even though it is a week old.<br /><br />Thanks for your continued support.<br /><br />Idol Addict<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-3lH-xOuI/AAAAAAAAL_Q/5_zUAMB_IG0/s1600-h/Jorge+Nunez+Jasmine+Murray.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 201px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-3lH-xOuI/AAAAAAAAL_Q/5_zUAMB_IG0/s400/Jorge+Nunez+Jasmine+Murray.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314167933745838818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Eliminated: Jorge Nuñez, Jasmine Murray,</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> opens the show by telling us that there were nearly 33 million votes this week, the highest vote total ever at this stage of the show, whatever that mean (for 13 finalists, or for 12 or for what?). Next he explains "The Judges' Save" rule, and we know immediately we're going to hate it. After flashing pictures of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Tamyra Gray</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Johns</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jennifer Hudson</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Chris Daughtry</span>, Ryan asks what they all had in common? Er, they were contestants that didn't win? No! He tells us many of you believe they were booted too early, so the producers decided to create a new rule (it's really not new, they use it on the French version of "Idol"), wherein the four <del>geniuses</del> judges who selected the mess we now call finalists can elect to override the decision of the American public one time during the season before the final 5 are chosen, by saving a contestant who has the received the lowest vote total. The following week, two contestants will be eliminated.<br /><br />So what is wrong with this rule? Well, to begin with, the theory as presented by the producers. When Ryan asks <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> if that rule had existed when Chris Daughtry was a contestant might he not have won? Well, no, Ryan. Chris Daughtry came in fourth -- as did Tamyra Gray -- <span style="font-style: italic;">which means the judges could not have used the rule to save either of them.</span> Ha! And Michael Johns? No way he was beating out the Davids. Sure, had he been saved, he might have placed third, fourth or fifth, but who cares? What did that matter. Same goes for Jennifer Hudson. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Fantasia</span> or <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Diana DeGarmo</span> weren't placing after her.<br /><br />Secondly, how is the selection of the American Idol a mandate of the American people, when the <del>producers</del> judges keep insinuating their choices instead of ours? The Wild Card round was bad enough. This is worse. Can't we decide who we want? Losing "Idol" probably helped Daughtry's career, not hurt it. Obviously, we'll buy artists' CDs if we like them regardless of whether they win or not.<br /><br />Finally, after seeing the rule exercised for the first two times Wednesday night, it seems even crueler to dangle this carrot in front of a person who really has no chance of receiving a reprieve. In fact, Simon was downright cruel and cold when rebuffing Jorge for the second time in the same evening. Nice going moron producers.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=save_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video of Ryan Seacrest explaining the new Judges' Save rule</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-1iJzO3eI/AAAAAAAAL_A/lXVh5lZszE8/s1600-h/mansion.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 224px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-1iJzO3eI/AAAAAAAAL_A/lXVh5lZszE8/s400/mansion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314165683671457250" border="0" /></a>We are then "treated" to a view of the mansion that the con- testants are living in. Yes, it is gorgeous. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> remarks that his studio apartment doesn't come with a gate. We're guessing it doesn't have an indoor pool, bowling alley, steam room, basketball court or movie theater, either, heh.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=mansion_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video tour of the finalists' mansion accommodations</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-2q8YocnI/AAAAAAAAL_I/X1aNuEa_ykw/s1600-h/group+dance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 223px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-2q8YocnI/AAAAAAAAL_I/X1aNuEa_ykw/s400/group+dance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314166934200676978" border="0" /></a>Next was the group number to a medley of Jack- son 5 songs. While <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> got a little bit of a breakout dance solo (despite Simon's negative remarks about his dancing the night before), we're betting that after blog comments the choreographers decided they needed to get <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span> on his feet. He was up to the challenge, with one contestant or another gently guiding him by the elbow to the next mark he needed to hit. The camerawork was crafty enough to keep him out of most shots so you couldn't focus on him constantly. The group sounded OK. We've certainly heard worse.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=medley_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video of group number of Jackson 5 songs</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-6Ir4ELAI/AAAAAAAAL_Y/sjM0w-_LO4k/s1600-h/ford+commercial.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 250px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-6Ir4ELAI/AAAAAAAAL_Y/sjM0w-_LO4k/s400/ford+commercial.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314170743700073474" border="0" /></a>After a recap of the previous night's per- for- mances, Ryan chats up the con- testants. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Sarver</span> tells Seacrest he liked working on the Ford commercial, which, of course, is a segue into it. As a Ford Fusion drives through the city, the contestants faces are featured on skyscrapers as they sing Queen's "We Will Rock You."<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=ford_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video of Ford commercial to Queen's "We Will Rock You"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_FD11QDSI/AAAAAAAAL_g/ibN-Mi6-MwQ/s1600-h/Jasmine+eliminated.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 223px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_FD11QDSI/AAAAAAAAL_g/ibN-Mi6-MwQ/s400/Jasmine+eliminated.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314182755101183266" border="0" /></a>It's time for the results. Michael and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> are safe, but Jasmine is told to step down to the stage. Matt and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span> are also safe, but Ryan tells <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy Corkrey</span> to join Jasmine. Jasmine is eliminated and is asked to sing once more while the judges "deliberate" whether to save her (as if! Are they serious with this?) After her performance, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> tells Jasmine it's the end of the road. She breaks down. Now, was this double torment and humiliation really necessary? Jasmine's journey is played out against <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carrie Underwood</span>'s remake of Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home."<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=jasmine_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video of Jasmine Murray's elimination</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_HokmDJAI/AAAAAAAAL_o/gDYGHiuyFmw/s1600-h/Kanye+West+performs+01+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_HokmDJAI/AAAAAAAAL_o/gDYGHiuyFmw/s400/Kanye+West+performs+01+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314185585152435202" border="0" /></a>We take a break from the eliminations for a guest number by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kanye West</span>, who sings his No. 1 hit "Heartless." It was obviously taped during the dress rehearsal, as the judges were not in their seats during the performance.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=kanye_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kanye West singing "Heartless"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_MV7CwjjI/AAAAAAAAMAI/eIg89nnOLiE/s1600-h/anoopjorge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_MV7CwjjI/AAAAAAAAMAI/eIg89nnOLiE/s400/anoopjorge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314190762319056434" border="0" /></a>Time for some more contestant torture. Not surprisingly, Ryan tells Scott, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span> and Danny they are safe. However, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span> is told to go to the stage. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> join the safe contestants, leaving Jorge to join Anoop. One is safe and one will be eliminated. But not yet. First, there will be a commercial and another guest performance.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=anoopjorge_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai and Jorge Nuñez facing elimination</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_MJ02BUuI/AAAAAAAAMAA/aonmFb-Dvbo/s1600-h/Kelly+Clarkson+performs+02+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_MJ02BUuI/AAAAAAAAMAA/aonmFb-Dvbo/s400/Kelly+Clarkson+performs+02+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314190554496586466" border="0" /></a>Ryan tells us that starting with this results show, every week a former Idol will appear to perform, beginning with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kelly Clarkson</span>, whose CD dropped on Tuesday. She sings her current hit, "My Life Would Suck Without You." She sounds goods and the audience is very responsive. The judges stand to applaud her at the end, but rather rudely talked to each other throughout her performance. We realize as we listen to her that Allison Iraheta's voice is the heir apparent to Kelly's.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=kelly_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kelly Clarkson singing "My Life Would Suck Without You"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_QOXrKesI/AAAAAAAAMAY/uuE6JyqrdX0/s1600-h/Jorge+Nunez+is+eliminated+400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 352px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb_QOXrKesI/AAAAAAAAMAY/uuE6JyqrdX0/s400/Jorge+Nunez+is+eliminated+400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314195030612277954" border="0" /></a>It's finally time to end the torture. Ryan makes short work of it, telling Anoop he is safe. Jorge gets another chance to sing, during which the judges will again "deliberate." This time it's a bigger farce than the first. Paula immediately stands up and dances the second Jorge starts, Kara grooves in her seat, while Randy and Simon chat behind Paula's back. When Jorge's done, Ryan asks Simon if the judges have chosen to save Jorge. Arms crossed in front of him, Cowell brusquely and dismissively gives a one-word answer: "No." It is followed a tic later by "sorry." We'll bet you are. <img src="http://img4.glowfoto.com/images/2009/03/17-1144101162T.gif" Align=top><br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=jorge_top13R.flv" target="0">Watch video of Jorge Nuñez being eliminated</a><br /><br />Tonight, the remaining 11 finalists perform songs popularized by members of The Grand Ole Opry. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Travis</span> joins the Idols as Season 8's first mentor.<br /><br />Tomorrow night, Randy Travis and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Carrie Underwood</span> sing "I Told You So" (previously a hit for Travis and now a hit single for Underwood), and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Brad Paisley</span> performs his new single, "Then."<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636561657233933125.post-5294238898140073762009-03-16T12:36:00.022-04:002009-03-17T08:12:52.713-04:00American Idol Season 8Top 13<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6M4kpk4EI/AAAAAAAAL84/xo83d1mYYzc/s1600-h/Top+13b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6M4kpk4EI/AAAAAAAAL84/xo83d1mYYzc/s400/Top+13b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313839513882386498" border="0" /></a>To my readers: I was in the hospital last week and unable to blog. Although I'm still recovering, I'll try to play catch-up and provide you with videos, photos and as much critiquing as possible, even though it is a week old.<br /><br />Thanks for your continued support.<br /><br />Idol Addict<br /><br />So the producers decide to make the theme for Week 1 of the Season 8 finals "The Songs of Michael Jackson," one of the artists that the judges always tell the contestants they shouldn't touch unless they can perform the songs better than The King of Pop. No one does Jackson better than Jackson, but much to our surprise, Adam Lambert gives a performance nearly as good. Woulda thunk it? It's just one week into the finals and we've already doing a complete 180 on Adam. His performance was so strong, he is the clear front-runner, despite solid jobs by Danny Gokey and Matt Giraud. Trailing just slightly were the girls: Allison Iraheta, Lil Rounds and Alexis Grace. As for the rest, they can go home now, 'cause they're not making the Top 5.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6bj58V4gI/AAAAAAAAL9I/rQxqBgXJh8o/s1600-h/Lil+Rounds+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6bj58V4gI/AAAAAAAAL9I/rQxqBgXJh8o/s400/Lil+Rounds+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313855651495404034" border="0" /></a>The evening looked promising when <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lil Rounds</span> led it off with "The Way You Make Me Feel." Her outfit seemed attractive, but on closer examination was a bit bizarre. The "blouse" looked as if it was the top part of a dress that the wardrobe people had cut down, paired with white slacks. It didn't work perfectly, but was not as horrible as <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Simon Cowell</span> would have you believe. As for the performance, the vocal was strong but had some pitch problems. Though not karaoke, we would have liked if it had been a bit more interesting. And, yes, the last note was great. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Randy Jackson</span> thought Lil made the song new again with the bluesy, R&B, old soul vibe she gave it. "I loved it!" he proclaimed. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kara DioGuardi</span> said, "I hope we get to hear you on the radio, because you are great." <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Paula Abdul</span> called her "a force to be reckoned with." Simon thought it was good, but a bit of a lazy song choice and that the second half was better than the first half. He ended with, "and I hate what you're wearing."<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=lil_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Lil Rounds singing "The Way You Make Me Feel"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6hovCJwZI/AAAAAAAAL9Q/x4YJb9Xf0K0/s1600-h/Scott+MacIntyre+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6hovCJwZI/AAAAAAAAL9Q/x4YJb9Xf0K0/s400/Scott+MacIntyre+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313862331536097682" border="0" /></a>What can we say about <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Scott MacIntyre</span> that we haven't said before? Well, nothing. Is he horrible? No. Is he great? No. Is he mediocre? Absolutely. He brings to mind bland dentist's office music and sedatives. And must all his music always be so inspirational? From his audition song, "And So It Goes," to tonight's "Keep the Faith." In the past, Kara said he moves mountains when he sings and tonight Scott is singing about climbing the highest mountain. Enough, already. We get it. It's all about you, Scott. The judges had promised that another side of Scott would be revealed when we got to see him singing and playing piano. In fact, Kara says it again tonight. Yet, the only thing revealed was him playing piano. The singing was as boring as ever. Kara, however, loves the hopeful message of his song. She also says, "Was it the most dynamic performance? No. But what I love about you is that you're always true to yourself." (Would that be boring?). We can't help but smirk along with Simon when Paula says, "Scott, it's magical seeing your instrument at your fingertips." She also calls it "a lovely performance." Simon says, "I hated the song ... because nobody knows it." Scott answers, "I wanted to be a little artistic." Simon retorts, "Scott, it's fine being artistic, just not on this show." Heh! Randy says the performance was good but too safe, adding, "I want to see more sparks from you, 'cause I know you got 'em, Scotty." He does?<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=scott_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Scott MacIntyre singing "Keep the Faith"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6mtD6_3mI/AAAAAAAAL9Y/UxfuBJncgVc/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6mtD6_3mI/AAAAAAAAL9Y/UxfuBJncgVc/s400/Danny+Gokey+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313867903420849762" border="0" /></a>What people should admire about <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Danny Gokey</span> more than his singing is that he is a master at marketing himself for "Idol," starting with his playing the dead wife card (which he has admitted he threw out there to help him get on the show). Add to the mix that he can work a stage almost as well as Adam Lambert and his "white soul" Michael McDonald voice, and he is one of those packages that Kara is always talking about. He will own the evening with his rendition of "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" until Lambert takes the stage later on. Having Adam nipping at his heels must be a thorn in Danny's side. We get the impression that he doesn't take to be one-upped all that well. Paula tells him, "I'm going to go out on a limb and says 'I think you're on you're way to the finals.' " Simon can't help but laughingly remark, "We're only three contestants in on the first show, and you've already won." He then adds, "I thought the vocals were brilliant. You are one heck of a singer ... However, the dancing was hideous." No Simon, it wasn't. The question is, since Taylor Hicks was also compared to Michael McDonald and Simon thought his dancing was hideous as well, will Simon's love for Danny turn to same hate that Cowell carries for Taylor to this day? Randy said, "The dancing for me and the singing, I loved it all. You know why? Because the dancing wasn't choreographed, it was passionate. It was just the way you felt (shades of Taylor!). I liked it baby, I liked it!" Kara said, "You have joy when you step on that stage. You're just joyous."<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=dannyl_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Danny Gokey singing "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6qv_ynYPI/AAAAAAAAL9g/jsCeEy7VI9k/s1600-h/Michael+Sarver+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb6qv_ynYPI/AAAAAAAAL9g/jsCeEy7VI9k/s400/Michael+Sarver+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313872351898067186" border="0" /></a>There's something solid and comfortable about <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Michael Sarver</span>, if not terribly exciting. And everything about the blue-collar oil-rig worker with the Siberian husky eyes screams U.S.A. all the way. His vocal of "You Are Not Alone," is fine but nothing more. To use a Simon Cowell line, you can hear a similar version on any cruise ship or hotel lounge in the country. Which is not to say that Michael is a bad singer, he just isn't a standout. Simon, who has always seemed particularly enamored with Sarver, says, "You're not the best singer in the competition ... but you made up for it with passion, heart and you gave it 110 percent." Randy says, "Tonight, so far, you're definitely one of the best in this (out of four? Randy also loved Lil and Danny, so that leaves Scott holding the cheese)." Kara says, "Tonight showed me that you really can sing." Hey, Kara, you mean he got to the finals and you weren't sure? She continued, "I thought you did a great job. ... You are serious. You bring your game every time you step out on that stage and I really like that about you." Paula says he picked a simple song that he colored up and sounded really lovely.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=michael_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Michael Sarver singing "You Are Not Alone"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7MSczl-5I/AAAAAAAAL9o/rAAJe02ci6M/s1600-h/Jasmine+Murray+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7MSczl-5I/AAAAAAAAL9o/rAAJe02ci6M/s400/Jasmine+Murray+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313909227686067090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jasmine Murray</span> shows potential, but much like Season 5 finalist <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Lisa Tucker</span>, at this point she is way out of her league. Her rendition of "I'll Be There" lacked any punch or originality. Plus, there were moments of pitchiness. And we have to agree with the judges when they say she comes off as a young girl trying to appear older. There was nothing youthful about her song choice and her dress looked more like a dreadful nightgown. Randy says she did a pretty good job on it and he was actually impressed. Kara says she sold it and has great stage presence. Paula says she had some bright moments, but at other times she was under. Simon tells her she made a good attempt, but it was a little bit robotic and that she has a lighten up a little bit and start acting her age. He's right.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=jasmine_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Jasmine Murray singing "I'll Be There"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7QMGJkWsI/AAAAAAAAL9w/VH7mghUNWpI/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7QMGJkWsI/AAAAAAAAL9w/VH7mghUNWpI/s400/Kris+Allen+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313913516571515586" border="0" /></a>We go back and forth on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Kris Allen</span>. Every time we think there's nothing much to him, he shows some creativity which makes us change our mind. His performance of "Remember the Time" was better than his previous attempt at Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror." He accompanied himself on guitar, though his strumming looked almost phony. But the guitar made him look better than just standing there singing. His vocals were pleasing, yet not very memorable. What will help him in the competition is his cuteness factor, though Simon told him he wasn't sure he would have brought the wife out so early [in his video] -- he would have waited another couple of weeks. Kris' wife, sitting in the audience, didn't look too pleased at that suggestion. Kara says when Kris plays his guitar it's a whole other side of him that really helps him performance-wise. Paula calls him engaging and adorable-sexy and tells him he did a great, great job. Simon said he didn't know whether it was a song that fit the guitar which made the performance a bit clumsy but the vocal was OK and that he's very likable. Randy says it was very Jason Mraz-y, ending with, "very well job done [sic], baby."<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=kris_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Kris Allen singing "Remember the Time"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7UZ3x2n6I/AAAAAAAAL94/5VfvuP7hs8Y/s1600-h/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7UZ3x2n6I/AAAAAAAAL94/5VfvuP7hs8Y/s400/Allison+Iraheta+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313918151278632866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Allison Iraheta</span> is the only true rocker in the competition this year and she has an amazing voice. However, she needs to work with a stylist on her massive head of hair and think more about her song choices. Though her performance of "Give in to Me" was spot on, it is a song that few people know and that hurt her badly in the voting. That she wasn't eliminated was a near miracle according to dialidol.com, which placed her next to last between Jasmine Murray and Jorge Nuñez, the two contestants who were booted the next night. It would be a pity to see this very talented 16-year-old eliminated early, as she is one of the bright lights in the contest. Paula tells her to stay authentic to who she is and that she knows they'll be seeing a lot more of her. Simon tells her it was a good performance and the good thing about her is that at least they know who she is. Randy tells her he thinks she can sing anything. Kara encourages her to keep being a rocker girl, that she distinguishes herself being the rocked-out girl with those vocals and that she did a great job.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=allison_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Allison Iraheta singing "Give in to Me"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7YBF43bWI/AAAAAAAAL-A/craJjRehQlA/s1600-h/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7YBF43bWI/AAAAAAAAL-A/craJjRehQlA/s400/Anoop+Desai+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313922123615923554" border="0" /></a>On the opposite end of the spectrum is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Anoop Desai</span>, who is so likable that he will stay way past the point when he should have been eliminated, which was this week. To date, he has not proven that he has the vocal chops to be in this competition and his choice as a Wild Card, along with fellow unworthys Megan Joy Corkrey and Jasmine Murray is a travesty when much better singers were not given their shot. His vocals on "Beat It" were awful as compared with the original. And speaking of original, Anoop didn't even attempt to try to make the song his own, something that is necessary when singing such an iconic tune. It was karaoke at its worst. Paula tells him she thinks the song is untouchable and that anything other than the original artist sounds karaoke. Simon terms it horrible, saying there was no aggression, it was all very lightweight, karaoke and that it actually looked a bit stupid because it was like a really bad impersonation. Randy calls it the wrong choice, karaoke and adds that it didn't work for him. Kara says the biggest problem was that we didn't get to see Anoop do any variation on the song and that for the first time she felt disconnected from him as a performer. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Ryan Seacrest</span> asks Simon whether he regrets now making it a Top 13 by adding Anoop to the mix. Simon replies, "On the back of that, yes. I do actually. I didn't like that performance at all."<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=anoop_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Anoop Desai singing "Beat It"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7g1RCXDrI/AAAAAAAAL-I/p14wHcijxRI/s1600-h/Jorge+Nunez+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb7g1RCXDrI/AAAAAAAAL-I/p14wHcijxRI/s400/Jorge+Nunez+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313931816054754994" border="0" /></a>We liked <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Jorge Nuñez</span> 's voice the first time we heard it during his audition and were glad when he made the finals. And although it wasn't sparkling with creativity, we thought his version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" was pretty decent. He was on key and the tone of his voice was great. So we were surprised and disappointed when he was eliminated the next night, especially when there were others who sang far more poorly. The judges had no mercy for him. Randy tells him he has vocal chops, but calls the song choice old-fashioned and says their were pitchy points. Kara didn't feel that Jorge had an emotional connection to the song. She would have preferred a song like "She's Out of My Life." When Paula asks him why he picked the song, Jorge says it wasn't his usual style of song, but it fit his voice and he wasn't going to sing "Bad" by Michael Jackson. Simon jumps in with, "Well, you sort of did." Paula hopes American will remember that he is a brilliant vocalist because this wasn't the right song for him. Simon tells him it was corny, that he was out of his depth and that the arrangement was absolutely awful. It was so old-fashioned that Simon said he couldn't wait for it to end. Sadly for Jorge, it was the end.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=jorge_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Jorge Nuñez singing "Never Can Say Goodbye"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb95OStLUeI/AAAAAAAAL-Q/VF38j_zKkAs/s1600-h/Megan+Joy+Corkrey+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb95OStLUeI/AAAAAAAAL-Q/VF38j_zKkAs/s400/Megan+Joy+Corkrey+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314099371766927842" border="0" /></a>OK, we'll be the first to admit that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Megan Joy Corkrey</span> is one of the most beautiful women we've ever laid eyes on. Her looks rival those of Charlize Theron. However, that is no more reason for her to be a finalist that Scott's blindness is. Her rendition of "Rockin' Robin" was literally laughable, especially the "caw! caw!" at the end. (And, yes, we know that robins don't caw, but there is a brief mention of a crow at the top of the song: Every little swallow, every chickadee/Every little bird in the tall oak tree/The wise old owl, the big black crow/Flapping them wings sayin' go bird go). Though it was more toned down this week, perhaps Megan related strongest to this lyric because her dancing resembles a bird flapping its wings. In any event, despite her "quirkiness" and the interesting tone of her voice, her phrasing and timing are the pits and she doesn't belong on the stage. Kara tells her she has a way of putting her signature ("lousy singer"?) on everything she touches. (Kara needs to go, big time.) Paula loves the quirky and unique tone of her voice, but felt disconnected and didn't hear the sound she loves until the end. Simon says "We like you, we've established that, but what a stupid song choice. The vocals weren't very good, the dancing was verging on ridiculous; the whole performance was just clumsy and awkward." And this would differ from last week -- the week you picked her as a Wild Card -- how? Randy says the song choice didn't really allow her to be Megan. Uh-huh.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=megan_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Megan Joy Corkrey singing "Rockin' Robin"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb9_Mi93JCI/AAAAAAAAL-Y/_997_Xljl2M/s1600-h/Adam+Lambert+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb9_Mi93JCI/AAAAAAAAL-Y/_997_Xljl2M/s400/Adam+Lambert+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314105938841904162" border="0" /></a>Megan's lack of skills only made the next performance that much more impressive. Yes, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Adam Lambert</span> is the king of musical theater on the "Idol" stage, but he used it to great advantage in his Axl Rose-ish shrieking rendition of "Black and White." Though to this point we've neither been a fan of his theatricality nor his high-range voice, it just all worked in this number, making it the most interesting and memorable performance of the night. It was hard to sit in your seat and not want to get up and dance (even in a hospital bed). The arrangement, the swagger, it all flowed beautifully together. The standing O was HUGE. Our only question: what's going to happen to his popularity with all those little girls shrieking "Adam, we love you!" when they finally find all those pictures of him Frenching guys on votefortheworst.com? Paula says, "Never in the history of 'American Idol,' all seven seasons leading up to now, have we ever -- and I believe this truthfully -- seen someone so comfortable, seasoned on that stage -- I don't even notice that 'cause my eyes are transfixed on you. Your innate ability to know who you are as an artist, and marry fashion with music ... You've got the whole package going on, and I believe with all my heart we'll be seeing you running all the way to the end, in the final." After that oral orgasm, we thanked Simon for asking her, "But did you like him?" Simon tells him that he was in a totally different league compared to everything else that night, adding that to make Michael Jackson work, you've got to be over the top. Cowell cited that it was an original version, the vocals were terrific and that it was something that people were going to talk about. Randy tells him that he could make a record right now that would go straight to the top of the charts. Kara says "You hit notes that I didn't even know they existed." (Kara says this a lot) and that she hopes Michael Jackson is watching this tonight. Adams seems to like that comment better than any other. His eyes light up and he mouths, "Oh! I love him." Hmmm, bet he would love you, too.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=adam_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Adam Lambert singing "Black and White"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-B6QSgdEI/AAAAAAAAL-g/4SINfV6DwO4/s1600-h/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-B6QSgdEI/AAAAAAAAL-g/4SINfV6DwO4/s400/Matt+Giraud+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314108923125462082" border="0" /></a>As Simon would point out, following Adam was no small feat, but <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Matt Giraud</span> held his ground, accompanying himself on piano to "Human Nature." It might not have generated as much excitement as Adam, bringing the pulse of the room back down to normal, but the playing and sweet vocals meshed beautifully with the high notes soaring out of the auditorium. It was the best performance we've seen Matt give. Randy calls it a really good performance with a couple of pitch spots and says Matt has that Robin Thicke/Justin Timberlake thing coming off. Kara says, "You are a talented guy and I hope I see you for many many weeks." Paula babbles, "You are talented, sexy, amazing, authentic. I'm blown away." Simon calls it a meat and potatoes solid good performance.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=matt_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Matt Giraud singing "Human Nature"</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-HHfSgn_I/AAAAAAAAL-o/SDNGkndktY0/s1600-h/Alexis+Grace+performs+600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ufWi3f8Y6ZA/Sb-HHfSgn_I/AAAAAAAAL-o/SDNGkndktY0/s400/Alexis+Grace+performs+600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314114648048443378" border="0" /></a>Closing the show is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Alexis Grace</span>, dirtying herself up for the judges one more time with her sultry, sassy R&B version of "Dirty Diana." The vocals are, as usual, almost on point (we heard a couple of pitch problems), but for us it was somehow missing some of the sparkle we would have liked, especially in the pimp spot. We know she owns one of better voices in the competition, yet we never get quite as excited about Alexis as everyone else seems too. Also, we wonder if her voice is distinctive enough to pick out on the radio. Listening to the audio without watching the video, we're doubting it. Kara tells her, "You're a naughty girl, and I liked it." Paula tells her to watch her oversinging. Simon calls it "Very over-the-top and probably not as good as you thought it was." Randy says, "I thought it good, it wasn't great, but it was good. Like the attitude." But, boy, can that girl wear a pair of hot pants.<br /><br />Alexis got stuck with the oddball phone number ending in 36, as "Idol" only owns 12 consecutive lines, but it won't hurt her in the end.<br /><br /><a href="http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww154/uvid/Top%2013/?action=view&current=alexis_13.flv" target="0">Watch video of Alexis Grace singing "Dirty Diana"</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Top 3</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">:</span> Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, Matt Giraud<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Our Bottom 3:</span> Megan Joy Corkrey, Anoop Desai, Jasmine Murray<br /><br />Ryan announces at the end of the show that on Wednesday they will announce a new rule that will change the way "Idol" operates. Uh-oh! Haven't we had enough ill-thought-out changes -- going back to Wild Card selections, sing-offs in the choosing the Top 36 -- already this year?<br /><br />e-mail <a href="mailto:rgamericanidol@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Idol Addict</span></a><br />© 2009<strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0