QUICKIE IDOL RECAP: Help!
"Ladies and gentleman...the Beatles!" (Ahem, as performed by the Top 12 contestants on American Idol Tuesday night.)
SYESHA MERCADO, "Got to Get You Into My Life" -- Earth, Wind & Fire, baby! Excellent version. She was nervous, but not too shabby. I grew up with that song. Of course, I also grew up with Helen Reddy. Things are starting to make sense about me, aren't they?
CHIKEZIE, "She's a Woman" -- "I'm putting my own funk on it," Chikezie says. Funk? FUNK?? Am I in a parallel universe? I was waiting for Jon Voight to drill the banjo picker with an arrow to the chest. (Kids, go rent "Deliverance.")
RAMIELE MALUBAY, "In My Life" -- Who else spit out their ice cream when they saw the crowd doing the "swaying arms" bit? Hi-larious. In related news: Unless you starred in "Gone With the Wind," it's tough to look cool walking down a staircase. She's finished.
JASON CASTRO, "If I Fell" -- Dude, you have bugs buzzing around your crappy-ass dreadlocks. You also make dumb faces. HOWEVER, there isn't another Idolist with better self-awareness than you, Kmart Jack Johnson. You're gonna do just fine.
CARLY SMITHSON, "Come Together" -- Did her voice sound different? And did her voice sound better? I'd still like to see Carly bite the head off a bat, or something edgy, but she's getting a LOT better.
DAVID COOK, "Eleanor Rigby" -- There's a good-bad scenario going on here. First of all, Skeezy Guy's Nickelback-does-"Eleanor Rigby" schtick gave me the creeps. Sorry, but it's true. However, I hear he can get you really good Cheap Trick tickets, if you'll just follow him down that dark alley over there...
BROOKE WHITE, "Let It Be" -- Bare feet! Bare feet! I predicted that!!! Not you, me. I totally have this sister-mary-margaret hippie chick pegged. [Big breath] I dunno. I guess it was fine. But let's be honest: Steve Spears could squat behind a Steinway and grunt out a good rendition of "Let It Be." It's foolproof.
DAVID HERNANDEZ, "I Saw Her Standing There" -- Wow, that really sucked. It's weird how he didn't sound convincing singing about a hot chick. Really, um, weird.
AMANDA OVERMYER, "You Can't Do That" -- Screw Simon. That was her best performance yet. And I should know. 'Cause I'm, like, a music critic with credentials and, uh, stuff.
MICHAEL JOHNS, "Across the Universe" -- One of my favorite Beatles songs. Not a bad take, but he should have gone smaller, not bigger. Because it's a quiet, contemplative tune. (See? I can be serious sometimes, baby. I can be sincere. Of course this isn't a one-night stand.)
KRISTY LEE COOK, "Eight Days a Week" -- Turning it into a country song wasn't a terrible idea. However, why did she make it so fast, like wacky hillbilly chase music? Jeez, I hope the Clampetts get away okay. If there was a bright spot for Ramiele Malubay tonight, it's that Kristy and Hernandez were even worse.
DAVID ARCHULETA, "We Can Work It Out" -- Whoa, the Chosen One forgot the lyrics! That's a death sentence! Ha! Let's see 'em sell that on iTunes! I love it. I love this show. And I love you, ladies and gentlemen. See you tomorrow night!
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
Sean, you are my i-dol. I said that with a total Beach Blanket Bingo manner. Did you catch it? Can you dig it? I'm so tipsy.
Love the Spearsy squating behind a Steinway shtick. Man, did I mention that I had 3 margaritas and I don't own a shot glass so I 'eye-balled' it? wow
Posted by: Marissa | March 11, 2008 at 10:05 PM
There may not be a lot of suspense tomorrow night (don't buy any green bananas, Kristy!), but we should have some fun with the mentor list.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | March 11, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Oh, and Sean? I still dislike the skanky Amanda Overmyer, but I'm not holding that against you. I am, however, holding it against Steven Q. Spears.
Posted by: Marissa | March 11, 2008 at 10:12 PM
It's easy. It was Chikezie.
Good choice. Liked the down home start. I coulda done without the She'zzzz-zzz-zzz.
But I think the song fit his voice.
Second, Come Together. Jaysis.
About a six-way tie, then If I Fell, Eight Days a Week, In My Life, We Can Work It Out. In any order you want.
Those last four? Ringo would have done much better.
Posted by: kmcg | March 11, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Those last four were brutal, weren't they? As a fan of the Chaos Theory (at least as it applies to Idol), it gives me great joy that Archuleta laid an egg. That's gonna give the show's producers absolute fits. They need a front-runner, a Clay Aiken if you will. Now all hell is breaking loose.
Posted by: Sean Daly | March 11, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Sean, you're a total judger on David Cook. Why do you hate him so much. He's good. He's no Daughtry though. I totally think your prediction is right too, Carly is going to win the whole shebang. Michael Johns is too boring. See ya Sharon!
Posted by: Josh | March 11, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Oops. Correction.
You Can't Do That was a clear No. 3.
Then a five-way tie for mediocre, then the four bottom feeders.
Still surprised that nobody chose Oh Darling.
Posted by: kmcg | March 11, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Chikeze was the best performance tonight, followed by Carly. Archuletta stunk, but will be safe because Kristy Lee Cook was worse. She's going home tomorrow.
Posted by: Bassnote | March 11, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Chikezie's performance reminded me of Cuba Gooding Jr. winning the Oscar. But hey, at least he showed some character.
Posted by: Sean Daly | March 11, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Sean, Sean, Sean.... embrace that which is second hand talent and go with it. surf the waves of .. something. I lost train of thought.
::note to self:: don't drink a 3rd tequila ... er, margarita
Posted by: Marissa | March 11, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Absolutely brilliant.
Posted by: Your boss' boss | March 11, 2008 at 11:20 PM
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!! ::hopping up and down:: SHOW ME THE MONEYYYYY!!!!!!!
ouch. ::note to self: buy a sports bra:::
Posted by: Marissa | March 11, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Still can't believe all the hate for KLC - 8 Days a Week does nothing for me, so her country-fried take on this song was a welcome surprise.
As much as the judges are pulling for Carly, am starting to think that the other Carly -- Carly Brooke Simon -- could crash the party.
Gotta believe that the legion of forehead-haters will rise up and take down David Cook, although his electrified version of Hello remains the competition's best performance to-date.
Posted by: Guy | March 11, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Sean,
I could not care less about Idol - but I laughed out loud at this. Keep trying to draw me in, I'll keep reading.
Posted by: Brad | March 12, 2008 at 01:13 AM
Yeah, I'm luke warm on Idol too, but the decades (yes especially the 80's - and then the butchered it!) approach and the Beatles week were more than I could pass up - particularly in combination with the on-going banter on this blog. I think I could blog along to almost anything with this crowd at the key board.
Posted by: David-b | March 12, 2008 at 06:42 AM
Let's hear it for the Idol KAOS Theory! Anything that throws the producers into a swivet and shakes things up is fine by me.
And I have a funny feeling that Country Kristy, as deserving of the boot as she is, isn't going home tonight -- as the only contestant in that genre, so to speak, she (unfortunately) may have staying power. My other guess is that Ramiele may have picked up the votes of Danny's fan base, as they are BFFs 4 EVA. Leaving Syesha and Hernandez as our bottom two this evening.
Posted by: jane | March 12, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Sorry I missed the live snarking, but we had visitors (friends of my son) over until 940p and the Wii was tying up the TV. Thank you Mr TiVo.
So, SYESHA was technically good and utterly forgettable. That's not good for her and I think she is bottom 3 this week.
CHIKEZIE - I loved it. Can't say enough. Great arrangement, energy, stage presence etc. Oh and the FUNK was pure LA*
RAMIELE - ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. This year's winner of the "I Cannot Pick the Right Song Award." Too afraid to take a chance.
JASON - Oh Boy. His videos really help him, I think. My wife voted for him throughout his song once she realized it was after 10pm when we were watching. It is a chick thing. He must have to have them take a number.
CARLY - Best one she's had. Liked the edge to her voice this week. Loved the little talk. What did Amanda contribute to the groceries, "Oh, she just needed unfiltered Camels and cheap bourbon."
DAVID - Really liked this as well. About here I was getting pretty excited about the show if the worst 2 were merely boring or forgettable but didn't suck.
BROOKE - I think she's the real dark horse here. Her likeability is higher than I believe most people realize. She has genuinity - that's a W word.
DAVID - Ahhhhhh. Make it stop. FF. Bottom (probably familiar territory for him) 3
AMANDA - Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
MICHAEL - Color me unimpressed. I think he is slipping as weeks go by.
KLC - Oh My Gosh! Trainwreck. Bottom 3 and gone. I cannot believe she survives this travesty. I was waiting for the giant shepherd's crook to yank her off stage; praying for Jaye P. Morgan to show up and hit the gong to mercifully end the torture.
DAVID - Someone call Chandler Jarrell, the Golden Child has been kidnapped and replaced with some fake imposter.
"Every thousand generations, a perfect child is born, a Golden Child. He has come to rescue us.
He is the bringer of compassion. If he dies, compassion will die with him."
*LA= Lower Alabama
Posted by: DoctorDrew | March 12, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Jane, I agree with you. Kristy pigeon holed herself into a comfortable spot Pickler-style with her twangy take on "Faithfully."
She butchered "Eight Days a Week," but when it comes to pickin' and grinnin' with a banjo, the country music lovers need their Daisy Duke.
Posted by: Marissa | March 12, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Well, look at you, Dr. Drew. Beetlejuice! LOVE THAT! You made my morning.
Posted by: Marissa | March 12, 2008 at 08:29 AM
I suggest you play this video every morning to start your day off right (until the song is released)
Ladies a
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK7P3fEnDZs
I was on iTunes and there is a bluegrass instrumental version of this song by Charles River Valley Boys.
Posted by: Marissa | March 12, 2008 at 08:51 AM
DoctorDrew! Fab review! Loved the LA reference and the Jaye P. Morgan shout-out. Where's Jamie Farr when you need him...
And your wife is cordially invited to come join me in the Mrs. Robinson car of the Jason Castro love train.
Posted by: jane | March 12, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Last night during David Cook's performance someone asked, amongst the snark, what he had on his wrist. It's an orange wrist band he wore in honor of someone special.
Take a look at this video from My Fox Tampa Bay and you'll understand why.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6008032&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1
Posted by: Marissa | March 12, 2008 at 10:09 AM
I might have to cut David (Skullet) Cook some slack now.
Posted by: Bassnote | March 12, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Best story of the night. *sniff*
Posted by: jane | March 12, 2008 at 10:40 AM
David Cook is no longer mildew in a frat house shower after seeing that vid. And damn it! I so did not want to like that guy. Alas, my music appreciation and heartstrings are saying otherwise.
Posted by: Marissa | March 12, 2008 at 10:45 AM
OK, Cook gets even more props from me - wearing the bracelet and NOT using it as a cheap ploy to get votes while talking to Ryan.
Posted by: DoctorDrew | March 12, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Yep, David definitely gets props in my book for that.
Posted by: Melissa | March 12, 2008 at 12:05 PM
KMart Jack Johnson. Too funny. Thanks for the entertaining synopses.
Posted by: Kerry | March 12, 2008 at 03:02 PM