'American Idol': Top 12 perform
It's finally the finals of this season of American Idol, and boy, are they hyped about the new set and lights. Ooh. Ahh. Can we get to the singing?
Speaking of which, tonight's theme is the Lennon-McCartney songbook. In case we don't know who they are, host Ryan Seacrest gives us a history lesson. Then the judges talk a little about the songs, including such insights as Randy Jackson saying, "Those boys put it down."
Syesha Mercado is the first finalist of the evening. She is going to sing "Got to Get You Into My Life." She and the band give it a little jazzy twist with lots of horns, and she seems comfortable on the NEW! BIGGER! STAGE! Randy says it was a nice arrangement, "kind of the Earth, Wind and Fire version?" She agrees. He says it was rough at first and then improved. Paula Abdul agrees that it started off pitch, but midway through, she sounded "great." Simon Cowell says, "I thought it was better than all right, Randy. I thought it was a great choice of song. I just think you looked really, really nervous. [OK, then.]" Syesha tells Ryan that she likes this stage because you can feed off of everyone's energy.
Chikezie talks to Ryan about moving from working security at LAX to being on this show. He adds that he was totally sure he was going home last week because "Danny's such a lovable guy." His song choice for the evening is "She's a Woman," but, "I'm putting my own funk on it." He starts sitting on the edge of the stage with some of the band, doing a hoe-down version of the song (fiddle included), but then he gets up, and it turns into a rock song. That was unexpected, and it kind of worked better than I would have thought. Randy: "I was thoroughly entertained! ... Chikezie smashed it!" Paula says he took a risk, and "the reward paid off." Simon: "I'm really surprised that I actually agree with these two. What I loved about it, other than the fact that you looked like you were completely drunk halfway through the performance, was that, unlike the first singer, you've actually changed in a week. ... I thought you were terrific." Chikezie is so excited that he runs around in circles, and Ryan goes a little crazy with him.
Ramiele Malubay has chosen "In My Life," and says this song is for "my close friends who have left the show already." I hope she doesn't cry. She sounds pretty good, but the arm-waving from the audience right by the stage doesn't de-cheese-ify it at all. Randy says it was pretty, but also boring. "It just kind of laid there for me," he says. Paula says she looks lovely tonight, so you know criticism is coming. "It was pretty safe," she says. "... You could have gone in a lot of directions." Simon: "I was bored to tears throughout the entire song. ... It was forgettable, boring, and I expect a lot better from you because you're better than that."
Jason Castro sings "If I Fell" on this themed evening. It starts out just him and the acoustic guitar, but the band comes in with strings and drums a little while in. It's a simple take on the song, but it works with his voice. Randy: "I liked it, but I didn't love it. ... The switches in the melody kind of threw me a little." Paula says she disagrees because "what is so special and unique is that I feel your heart. ... You don't do all the riffs and the runs, and you don't have to." Simon says, "It was all a little student in a bedroom at midnight. ... Is he going to make the same impact as last week? No. ... Good enough to stay another week? Definitely, but not as good as last week."
Carly Smithson sings "Come Together," which she says she sings every week at the Irish restaurant where she works. She says she's going to change it up a little, but it doesn't feel like that much of a new take to me. Good voice, though, and the crowd goes bananas. Randy says, "That felt amazing, didn't it? ... Stellar performance." Paula says it was like "already watching a star." Simon: "Week after week, so far, I think you have chosen the wrong song. Until now. ... This reminds me, six years ago, exactly the same week, Kelly Clarkson."
David Cook is going to sing "Eleanor Rigby," and he's going to skip the guitar because he thinks it would be too much. The arrangement is very rock-n-roll, but I don't think it does a ton for him. I seem to be the only one who thinks so. Randy says this proves you can rock on Idol. Paula says this proves there is more than one horse in this race. Simon: "David, I thought it was brilliant. For two weeks now, ... if this show remains a talent competition rather than a popularity competition, you actually could win this entire show."
Full disclosure: At this point, I'm feeling such a diconnect with the audience and the judges that I go back and rewatch Carly and David's performances. I don't quibble with their voices at all; they sounded good. But I didn't feel the brilliance the judges are preaching. Maybe it's that these songs are so well-known? And while I really liked David's voice on the song, the whole thing just felt like a generic rock-band performance of this iconic song (Nickelback does "Eleanor Rigby"?), and it was strange to me. Shrug. Just my take.
Brooke White says her first Beatles album was Sgt. Pepper. Her song choice for the evening is "Let It Be." She opts to also play piano for her performance, which increases the difficulty level quite a bit. She seems pretty nervous but lets it go a little when the band comes in behind her. She looks like she's going to cry when she's done. Randy says this was like a "dream-come-true" moment for her and that he could imagine her learning it as a kid and thinking that one day she would sing this if she made it big. He adds that it was really heartfelt. Paula says her emotional connection "makes people fall in love with you." Simon: "I thought it was, again, one of the best performances of the night." By now, she is crying. He adds that it was believable. Talking to Ryan, she is still totally overwhelmed by the whole experience, and it's very sweet.
David Hernandez talks about his work and his school, but not the job that's been in the news. His song for the evening is "I Saw Her Standing There." His voice, as usual, sounds nice, but he doesn't really do anything new, so it feels kind of karaoke. It's tough not to with these songs, though, since they are so well known. Randy says, "For me, it was a little too overdone, so I was a little lost from the jump." Paula: "I feel like you kind of overdid it." Gosh, where have we heard that before? Simon: "I thought it was corny verging on desperate."
Amanda Overmyer is going to sing "You Can't Do That." She intends to speed it up and rock it out. And she does. Randy: "That is the true mark of great songs." He says she took a Beatles song to a Southern club and that it was a great. Paula is inspired to say that this is the best season of talent and that she is blown away. Simon: "I didn't think it was as good as last week, and I understood about 30 percent of what you said." He and Paula get into it about respect. Finally, he adds that she is a breath of fresh air in the competition.
Michael Johns says the song "Across the Universe" helped him through a hard time in his past and that is his choice for the evening. He does a nice job with it, but I don't really have anything more to say about it. Randy says he was waiting for something big to happen. "It was OK for me; a little sleepy." Paula disagrees, saying that it takes inner strength and confidence to just stand there and "sing brilliantly." Simon agrees with Randy, saying, "What's the Irish girl's name? Carly? Carly did something brilliant with the song, and that's what you should have done. It was a little monotonous. ... I'm still a big, big fan of yours," and he's frustrated that Michael hasn't had his big moment.
Kristy Lee Cook is going to sing "Eight Days a Week," but as a country song. But it's a country song on speed or something -- the arrangement is going so fast that I find it literally disorienting. Randy says he liked parts and liked the idea of the song, but that he feels like she was trying to force it. Paula: "Kristy, I didn't like it, and I'll tell you why. ... I didn't get it." Simon: "I thought it was horrendous. You sounded like Dolly Parton on helium. ... That song just doesn't work in that style." I think I am going to be haunted by the sounds of those manic strings.
David Archuleta says he wasn't that familiar with the songs of Lennon-McCartney (except, of course, for "Imagine," which he sang just a couple of weeks ago). He sings "We Can Work It Out." Well, the people who were questioning whether he was human know he is now since he totally forgets the lyrics twice. Oh, that was hard to watch. Randy: "This week, it was not on point. This is not your vibe. It felt really forced." Paula says this wasn't his best week, and that forgetting the lyrics was a problem, but they still love him. (Cue audience screams.) Simon: "That was a mess. You stumbled over the lyrics in the beginning. ... You shouldn't have done the Stevie version. ... It was your weakest performance so far."
It was an interesting night overall, but I think a lot of people are in danger: Kristy, Syesha, Ramiele, David Hernandez. I actually think David Archuleta's mistake is going to help him since people are going to be worried about him.
What's your take on the Lennon-McCartney evening?
(Photo of the Top 12 at the "Horton Hears a Who" premiere by Stephen Shugerman / Getty Images)
Comments
I do not understand why they keep saying this is best group of singers. That is really a kick in the face for all the previous contestants. I have really liked only one singer in all the years of idol. That is Bo Bice. He has the only voice I have really liked. I think David Cook is the best this year.
I am a huge Janis Joplin fan and do not think Amanda sounds like her at all.
Posted by: Dorien | March 11, 2008 11:08 PM
Loved it! I hadn't discovered the Beatles until tonight. I thought Michael Johns and Carly Simon were the best, though Chikezie was a lot of fun to watch. Tomorrow, I wouldn't be heartbroken over losing David Hernandez (boring) or Amanda Overmeyer (not my style).
Posted by: Jessica | March 11, 2008 11:09 PM
Trying to sing Lennon/McCartney hits for these youngsters is like trying to ask a group of youths to follow Picasso in a painting contest. It's not happening. Lennon and McCartney are timeless legends and there's simply no way that these kids could even land in the ballpark tonight. So far, my opinion is being played out on stage -- it's not a pretty sight..............
Posted by: MJ | March 11, 2008 11:36 PM
Being an original Beatles fan(circa 1964) I thought the whole evening was rather painful. Other than Chekezie's rave-up of "She's a Woman" and Michael's faithful rendition of "Across the Universe", the whole experiment was a failure. Poor David, he should have skipped Stevie Wonder's version and remembered this was Lennon/McCartney night.
Posted by: Hetty Haden | March 11, 2008 11:54 PM
*clutches heart* Yikes. I almost had a heart attack when I read that David Archuleta stumbled over the lyrics a little. Whew. He's my absolute favorite, and I really hope he stays throughout.
But you're right, this little mistake of his will strengthen his fans' devotions for him. Yes. It's only too bad I can't vote for him here in M'sia. Jeez.
Posted by: Natalie Hew | March 12, 2008 12:19 AM
Bring back Taylor Hicks! No one can or will outperform him on American Idol. Chekezie came close but not quite dude! David A. bores the bejezus out of me - and forgetting Beatle lyrics? He lost my vote for the entire season. There's no excuse for that nonsense.
Posted by: onno | March 12, 2008 3:51 AM
I have three comments:
First, they can say that this is the best Final 12 EVER, but I disagree. The best Final 12 ever was in season 2. If you disagree, go back and watch American Idol Rewind, and see what I am talking about.
Second, enough sniping between Ryan/Simon and Paula/Simon. If Ryan and Simon trade barbs once a show, OK. When they do it after every performance, ANNOYING!
Finally, the bottom three from last night were definitely Kristy, Ramiele and David Hernandez. I did not get the whole arrangement that Kristy did to Eight Days A Week. It was (fill in the blank with a Simon adjective - horrible, dreadful, horrendous). Bad choice, bad time. Good bye, Kristy.
Posted by: Scooter | March 12, 2008 6:34 AM
I thought the show was great, and having all the contestants sing Lennon-McCartney put them on a relatively level playing field so you could really see who's for real and who isn't.
Kristie Lee Cook isn't. I think she goes tonight, but I wouldn't be disappointed to say good bye to Syesha, Ramiele, or David Hernandez either.
Carly, Brooke, Chikiezie, and David Cook were fantastic last night.
Posted by: EJXD2 | March 12, 2008 9:14 AM
I thought it had to many slow moments, about a ozzy night lets
pick it up some!!
Posted by: mel | March 12, 2008 9:36 AM
I was very let down by the performances. I think the people who sang the songs beautifully (Michael, Jason, Ramiele) got the worst criticism. I feel Those people put the most thought into their choices.
I also liked Carly's performance although it felt straight out of the movie Across The Universe.
I do think Syesha can sing really well even though this week didnt seem like her best.
I thought everyone else was awful. Talk about forgettable? Brooke White. I also don't really feel many of the other contestants are that great. Quite boring, if you ask me. Thanks for ruining The Beatles for an evening of my life that I will never get back.
Personally, my "Top 5" are Jason, Michael, Carly, Ramiele, and Syesha.
In a perfect world, that is....
Posted by: Leah | March 12, 2008 9:37 AM
This reminds me of a previous season of AI when the contestants performed Queen songs. Queen was my favorite group in the 70's and the song choices of some of the contestants baffled me. That is the same way I felt last night about some of the choices. "Eight Days a Week?" Weak song anyway and it stunk as a country western version. If she wanted to do country, a better choice would have been "Mother Nature's Son". I was also disappointed with David A.'s, David H.'s and Amanda's choices. Amanda could have really rocked on a song like "I'm Down" and I think David A. would have shined on something like "Hey Jude."
Having said all that, I think Kristy Lee Cook is the one to go home.
Posted by: Cyndy | March 12, 2008 9:43 AM
I agree about David Cook and Carly Smithson. For David's number, it felt weird especially since I recently listened to both the McCartney and Ray Charles versions. What made it weird for me, the piano. I felt like he talked during the piano part. As for Carly, I felt the only thing she changed was the instrumental. She added a bit of Jazz funk to it.
I was bored with Jason Castro, Ramiele Malubay, Michael Johns, and David Hernandez performances. David Hernandez tried to hard, possibly to overcome his 'other' problems heh. I missed David Archuleta's performance.
Posted by: Mark | March 12, 2008 9:54 AM
Dorien - - you hadn't discovered the Beatles until yesterday. Were you living under a rock? Wow.
Posted by: Mike | March 12, 2008 9:56 AM
Just another money making venture for an aging catalog of songs. I was hoping for some of the hypnotic and drug induced songs. It was a marginal let down to see what was chosen. My wife and I still enjoyed the show. As usual, the top props went to the unexpected performers like Chikezie (Jacuzzi?)
Posted by: Andy | March 12, 2008 9:57 AM
I think overall 50% of them did good, and 50% should have been gonged. I completely agree with your comments on David Cook's Eleanor Rigby. That was a terrible choice of a song to "rock out." Him screaming "All the lonely people" was just plain absurd, it definitely could have been Puddle of Mudd up there singing. For Ramiele's 'In My Life,' it was not that she sounded particularly bad, but it was just a bad song choice. That song is iconic Lennon and should not have been touched. She sang it pretty true to form, but it being such a personal song to Lennon makes it hard to see it working for her too as she really has no connection to that song. She facetiously says "this is for all my friends that are off the show now." Well add her to the list of those that should be voted off. Brooke's Let It Be was very good for an amateur with the piano and everything, but from a purely singing judgmental standpoint, I was really surprised none of the judges bashed her pitch misses. She didn't hit any of the high notes throughout the entire song, singing it in the same (in my opinion) monotonous octave. It sounded ok and started off really strong, but I'm sure it just felt weird to anyone that is really familiar with that song and has listened to it a thousand times (i.e. me). She should definitely make it to next week on that performance though. Kristy's "Eight Days a Week" was the most atrocious rendering of a Beatles song I've ever heard. Who the hell told her that was a good idea? Her "country song" sounded stereotypically so, like a honky tonk song on crack. As for who sounded the best, I really liked Chikezie's performance. Props to him for picking a lesser known Beatles song that was plucked off the "I Feel Fine" single. It sounded really good, especially the arrangement he did of it. Amanda's "You Can't Do That" was some fine rocking... especially given that she says she first heard that song this week. That is quite a short time to come up with such a nice arrangement, though I guess there are many artists who write entire albums in the span of a week. Lastly Castro's "I Feel Fine" was solidly done... he had a few pitch failures in the beginning, but I liked what he was trying to do. Nice song choice by him. So that was the first time I've ever watched American Idol all the way through, and I most likely will never watch it again unless they do some theme as provocative as the Beatles again. Like how bout the Stones next?
Posted by: Brett | March 12, 2008 10:02 AM
Carly is the front runner, followed by Brooke, david cook, chickezie was good, but dont know if he can sustain it any longer, david archuletta needs to liven up .. looks like kristie will leave tonight
Posted by: Randy | March 12, 2008 10:22 AM
About half of the performers made really bad song choices, mainly because while they grew up hearing Beatles songs from their parents' collections, the Beatles were not "their" band. It would have been like me (a 50-year old) being asked to perform Frank Sinatra. If other contestants had already picked "Moon River, "3 Coins in a Fountain", and "My Way", I would be at a total loss as to which Sinatra tune I might pick that would resonate with the Idol audience.
Posted by: Brent | March 12, 2008 10:24 AM
Jessica, You discovered the Beatles last night?!!??
I think you should take the day off and sit in your room with some headphones.
I agree in David Archuleta being helped in his HUGE disaster of a performance. And I think Brooke is becoming my favorite. She connects unlike any other contestant to her songs. I'm rooting for her
Posted by: Dylan | March 12, 2008 10:29 AM
Sarah is spot on with her assessment of David and Carly. I'd like to add Brooke and Michael Johns to that list. Michael had no emotional connection in a track that is drenched in emotion. Chikezie was the best of the night. The rest sounded like karaoke OR worse, bad lite FM cover versions of Beatle songs designed for 14 year olds. Can we cut to the chase and trim 4 people tonight? Syesha, Kristy, Michael and Amanda
Posted by: Axl Sinatra | March 12, 2008 10:29 AM
This is the first time that I can say I've watched American Idol from the beginning, and I'm a little more philosophical about the process.
I think I can understand the critiques if you compare it to something like architecture where there is a form versus function debate. The promoters are trying to find a performer with the best overall skills...not necessarily the best skills in technical ability nor aesthetics.
As for last night, I was wondering how the Beatles would have fared if there careers had been 3 decades later. Although admitteldy gifted writers and performers, did the Beatles benefit from the timing of their careers as much as from talent? Would their music have seemed timeless, or would it have been obscured by a glut of music that is available on the internet and everywhere else?
Posted by: Doug | March 12, 2008 10:36 AM
Not the best singers for me. I do like David Cook but the best on AI have been Diana DeGarmo who does not do riffs and vibratos and Taylor Hicks who has a remarkably different voice and style. You can hear his songs and immediately recognise the voice. That is what makes a STAR. Waiting desperately for Taylor and Diana´s albums.
Posted by: Megan Taylor | March 12, 2008 11:01 AM
I have liked Michael Johns since his audition. I was a huge fan of INXS in the 80s and he reminds me so much of the late Michael Hutchinson. I like that he is not in the pop-teeny-bop mold that Idol tends to fixate on sometimes. David H. and Kristy Lee C. have got to go! They are too affected by the image of Idol and not the essence of it. Or maybe I am just getting old. LOL And I know some don't like her, but there is something really fun and pure about Amanda O. Keep on rockin' girl!!
Posted by: Leslie C. | March 12, 2008 11:22 AM
David A. is a breathe of fresh. I blame Simon for giving him bad advice the week before "we need to see another side of you and that you can become depressing". How come he didn't tell Brooke to jump around on the stage, as she also is stuck in her comfort zone. But you have to find your niche and stay there. So David's performance was as a result of being out of his niche. But he will get it together next week. He is such a sweetheart. How do one ever get to vote - the phone was busy for a whole hr.
Posted by: joan | March 12, 2008 11:42 AM
David Cook's "Eleanor Rigby" was just a mess. It's a story song. The story is in the verses. The verses lead up to "All the lonely people..." He put everything into wailing "All the lonely people..." -- four times, I counted -- but he barely showed up for the verses. To me, it sounded like the support was weak, he didn't hit the bottom notes at all and the pitch was all over the place. Sheesh!
Posted by: Lizzie | March 12, 2008 11:43 AM
Ryan Seacrest was very annoying. While you were enjoying the show, having a good time, he came up to be bitter for no real reason, making the whole watching experience unpleasant. Simon comments on singers, but he has always been sincere. Ryan, the opposite, he talks to get himself standout not the show.
Posted by: Katie Smith | March 12, 2008 12:16 PM
I so don't get the David A, Brooke thing. I can't stand either one of them. The lip licking is enough right there to turn me off. I'd HATE to have to go see him in concert and watch THAT all night. And so many people are mistaking Brooke's inability to do anything interesting with "connecting" to the music. WHATEVER! Jason connects with the music, and even though he's brinking on boring too lately (I'm sorry Jason, I really AM a dreadhead, promise), at least he shows that his voice has some interesting abilities. If he can show us that he can get up and perform a little bit, maybe to a more upbeat song, he'll do so much better in this competition. I don't ever want to see Brooke perform again. She bores me to tears.
Who do I want to see go? David H, Ramoashsos (whatever her name is), Chicheesy, Syeshia (hate to say it 'cause I think she has potential, she's just has nothing unique about her), and most especially David A. The boy won Star Search for blank's sakes, and we haven't heard of him yet? Why is that? Anyone ever consider this point?
Posted by: Jennifer | March 12, 2008 12:45 PM
This is the worse season I've seen thus far. I think David has the best chance of winning, but even he is boring. Last year I couldnt wait to see the performances, like Melinda Dolittle's "I'm A Woman" or "My Funny Valentine" (by the way, she was totally robbed!). This year Idol barely interests me. I saw many during the audition process who were by far more talented than most of the current top 12 get turned away. I think we need fresh judges! Although I'd be willing to let Simon stay. Im afraid Idol has "jumped the shark" this season!
Posted by: BmoreMan | March 12, 2008 1:06 PM
Thank you, Jennifer, for speaking on behalf of those of us who just don't get why David A. and Brooke are such golden children with the judges. Brooke takes the term "vanilla" to a whole new level --- any 9th grader with a few years of piano could sing "Let it Be" the way she did. There wasn't any 'connection' or anything like that. Please. Carly Smithson did a great job last night and - sorry - I like Amanda in that "Taylor-Hicks-shook-it-up-because-he-wasn't-predictable" way. Simon was right: she's a breath of fresh air (although not too sure how "fresh" that air is.) The others are disposable. I will NEVER forgive David Cook for doing that to "Eleanor Rigby." That was just wrong. Then again, I'd listen to him sing that song a billion times over than having to sit through that horrific "Eight Days A Week" even one more time. That girl and her 80s ripped jeans needs to go home STAT. And that little David kid trying to do Stevie doing Lennon-McCartney was shameful. How can anyone forget the words to "We Can Work it Out"? My god, even TESLA did a better job with that song in the early 90s!!! Overall this is a weak, weak season. I have no idea why the judges are pumping this up as the "best season ever." It's not.
Posted by: Janelle | March 12, 2008 1:18 PM
Do you think David Archuleta Messed up on purpose and too a Dive?
He did great in the dress rehearsal and had the final spot that is reserved for the best from the dress rehearsal.
A Post about it below
http://idol-mania.com/american-idol-fan/2008/03/11/david-arculeta-we-can-work-it-out-conspiracy-took-the-dive/
Posted by: Idol Fan | March 12, 2008 2:10 PM
I loved Carly last night. The worst was the "Eight Days a Week" wreck that had me peeking through my fingers at the carnage.
Meanwhile, I am absolutely DONE with all the sidebar squabbling. The "gay" jabs have a junior high school locker room level of sophistication. Simon acts like a self indulgent, snotty twelve year old when he rolls his eyes and interrupts with yet another oh, so clever put down. The push and pinch fights between Simon and Paula are simply childish. They are being incredibly rude to the contestants whose post performance interviews are getting upstaged and cut short. It's not fair that some contestants get their face time while others don't. And it's all incredibly insulting to us viewers - the show's bickering has reached the Jerry Springer Show level. We deserve better for prime time TV.
Sponsors take notice: If the rude fighting continues at this pace then I'll stop watching the show live. I'll simply tape it and fast forward through all the junk... the squabbles and, while I'm at it, the commercials!
Posted by: bikerval | March 12, 2008 2:49 PM
I absolutelyloved Jason Castro's performance,the song was lovely and he showedthat he canchange his voice up and he sems much more comfortabe too.
Wha can I say...Dreadhead through and through haha=]
I agree about Brooke,she actually bores me,her whole persona is just bland. Her not having ever seen an R rated movie and stuff. I just wish they'd all stop acting like she is some amazing singer. She really isn't.
Posted by: Debbie | March 12, 2008 3:50 PM
Ryan has had enough crap from Simon and he is now paying him back for all the insults thrown his way in previous seasons. But it's not real! It's just a competition of witt and jabs. No big deal. Don't like, don't watch! It's a dynamic of the show in parts. :)
Posted by: Kay | March 12, 2008 8:01 PM
Ryan was pretty unbearable last night--he often seems to be mocking the contestants (or in Chikezie's case, their mothers). And oh my god, please stop with the shoe jokes.
I really enjoyed Carly, Chikezie, and David Cook. I've liked David H.'s performances in the past few weeks, but this one was awful. However, I wish Kristy Lee Cook would be booted off, she is pathetic. And she does that weird sudden eye-widening thing, and what Sarah referred to as the "Carrie Underwood squat".
I am 26 and I love the Beatles--so being young is no excuse for not knowing any of their songs! Especially if you are musically inclined (I, sadly, am not and must live vicariously through American Idol contestants).
Posted by: abby | March 14, 2008 5:13 PM