Tuesday, April 08, 2008
American Idol: The I Don’t Feel Tardy Edition
Okay, I just showed up, Syesha is singing “I Believe,” and I’m already bored. Beware, Paula, I own the cranky tonight.
Randy: no. Paula: here’s the stupid. Simon: Whatever.
So, what did I miss?
“Over the Rainbow” by Jason “The Ukulele Master” Castro. Sorry, buddy, that had nothing on Brudda Iz’s version. Your voice just can’t pull off that level of pretty and the little attempt at a falsetto was a bad idea.
Randy owns the stupid. Paula fights back for the title. Simon wants a piece, too.
G phrase says it was horrible and I agree. If Syesha can be compared (unfavorably) to Whitney Houston and Fantasia, why does Castro get a pass on a phenomenally lesser version of this song?
Kristy Lee Cook is destined to go home this week. Probably. Her only hope is to dress really slutty--and she doesn’t quite reach the heights or slutdom required for a sex-appeal save at this late stage of the contest. The song--which I don’t know--is bland and her performance is pretty strong. As many times as she’s visited the bottom, I can’t imagine that this will save her, though.
Which, oddly, isn’t to say that I think she was the worst of the bunch (and I’ve only seen three), but I don’t think she has much of a following to save her.
Randy gives her love. Paula follows suit. Simon agrees. WIll their Kristy love save her for another week? Or will I make it two weeks in a row calling the departing wannabe?
“Innocent” by Our Lady Peace might have been a big mistake by David Cook. Vocally, he doesn’t shine. The song isn’t particularly well known. Frankly, it’s a little messy. Oops. I imagine good will will save him, because I don’t think the song, the performance, and the “give back” written on his hand at the end were very good.
Randy didn’t dig it. Paula loves him unconditionally and brainlessly. Simon calls it pompous and doesn’t like it much.
I think the real question that we’re all asking, though, is whether Paula’s boobs will break free of that bustier? I mean, that looks like a wardrobe malfunction coming down the road.
I like the idea of Carly singing Queen’s “The Show Must Go On,” but the reality of it left me a little cold. It wasn’t a good performance--although the wardrobe looked better this week.
Randy had issues with it, too. Paula liked the voice, didn’t like the performance. Simon liked the new wardrobe choice, too, but didn’t like the song choice or the performance--he thinks she’ll be near the bottom. Which, I agree--and I’m starting to wonder if I wasn’t too quick to mark Kristy Lee off the show this week.
Not a good week. At all. None of which changes the fact that this is funny. Bwahahahah.
I hate David Archuleta, but you knew that already. I have to admit that it was best of the night, though. I hate that--and I still don’t like his voice.
Randy loves him. Paula looks ready to molest him. Simon liked the song choice and, by his own admission, nitpicks a bit to find things to complain about.
Check out Andy “The Godless One” and his thoughts. He’s mean and funny.
James Taylor. Carole King. “You’ve Got a Friend.” This isn’t looking good for me since I hate this song almost as much as I hate the existence of David Archuleta. Not only that, but Brooke--wonderful Brooke--that wasn’t good. It was forced, it went off pitch a few times, and the performance was a little off. Not my speed.
Randy tries to be nice, but he didn’t like it. Paula is all sunlight and stupid. It’s what she does. Simon thought it was a “pleasant walk in the park.” Which is very faint praise, indeed.
This was the worst night of the year. Which makes me happy that Hell’s Kitchen is on next. Embrace the evil of Chef Ramsey and his incredible profanities. How do they pick the wannabe cooks, anyway? It can’t be based on talent.
Comments & Trackbacks
You might feel tardy, but did you bring your pencil? Do you need me to bring you something to write on?
You get major points for recognizing that reference.
I applaud you, sir.
Yeah, but it was only about a 2 on the difficulty scale. Heh.
Hey, I recognized it too, I just couldn’t come up with a clever response!
But I’ve got it made ,got it made, got it made.
I missed it, and I am missing Ramsey right now. DAMN IT.
Kristy Lee Cook is destined to go home this week. Probably. Her only hope is to dress really slutty
Sluttiness is high art by the standards of this show. At least I can watch with the TV on mute.
Hey, I applaud Castro for bringing that Iz version of Over the Rainbow to AI. See, Braddah Iz’s “Facing Future” album was the soundtrack to which my wife and I drove a Jeep around Maui and Kauai on our honeymoon. Wifey has been having a tough couple weeks between work, some nasty colds, and our 1.75 year old having various minor maladies ... but hearing that song, even it its Castro-ated version, actually cheered her up quite a bit.
It’s funny how one’s preferences swing around as the show progresses. Before, I liked Carly, wanted to see her succeed this time. Now, I’d cheerfully drop her in the ocean with a steak tied around her neck.
And that boy, the boy who sings these songs about other people’s feelings...because he is too bloody young to have experienced any of them himself, dammit, and that’s ALL I can think when I see him up there emoting. He looks like he’s standing in front of his bedroom mirror singing along with the radio. Come back in 20 years, son, get some actual pain under your belt.
I still heart David Cook but that was a CRAP song choice.
Kristy, I despised when the show started, as uninteresting, unoriginal, etc. etc. She’s one that seems to be rising to the occasion though, and good for her. Also, GREAT sparkly tank top last night. Very good style choice.
And finally, Brooke...my dear Brooke. You begin to annoy. You have a gorgeous smoky voice, and are definitely the heir-apparent to Carly Simon and that ilk, but you’re kinda mouthy. And you should NEVER dance.
Hey, I should get my own damned blog or something.
Bob, I’ll give Castro a little slack then, but just for your sake. The best I could say about it was that it made me listen to the real thing again--and Iz had such a sweet voice.
Hazel, I thought you were still away--apparently I have some catch up reading to do.
I agree with most of what you said (I’m growing tired of Carly, though I wouldn’t tie the steak around her neck, Brooke shouldn’t dance, David Cook chose a horrible song--although I’m still iffy about Kristy and don’t think she has anything near the best voice remaining on the show). You hit it right out of the park, though with “Come back in 20 years, son, get some actual pain under your belt.”
He tries to sing all these deep songs, but whenever you see him off stage he’s stammering, giddy, giggling, and bouncing around like a little kid. His personality has the weight of a feather--and I really can’t deal with that from someone who is supposed to be singing songs with great feeling. That kid bugs me.
No matter how good his voice, Dave Archuleta has about a zero chance of ever recording something I would 1)buy or 2) leave on the radio. That affects my opinion of him.
Of course, seeing as though I’ve never actually bought ANYTHING by any of the American Idols ... perhaps my opinion doesn’t count for much. But, we’re talking theoretically here.
>>and Iz had such a sweet voice.
That he did .... had to look up his wiki entry—wow, it’s been nearly 11 years since he passed. Totally agree that Castro’s version doesn’t hold a candle to the Iz source material, but I found it refreshing nonetheless. Probably blinded (deafened?) by the great memories the song carries for my wife and I.
Carin, you know I agree with you totally. I think I might have bought one of the singles from iTunes at one point, but that would be the extent of my Idol-related purchases. Which is precisely why I wonder why I watch the show--I’m obviously not their target audience, I’m mean more often than I’m nice, and I can’t imagine buying stuff from the competitors.
Yet year after year I watch it. And weep for America’s musical future. Weep, I tell you.
Bob, deafened or not, emotional attachment is why I still listen to quite a few CDs in my collection. Nothing wrong with that--and it’s nice that it’s such a good connection for you.
As someone who’s bought several Idol albums (both Underwoods, a Clarkson, and a Yamin… all of which are quite good) I’d never buy (or even steal) an Archuleta song.