Idolites - Two seasons ago, the Idols got two swings at The Beatles. There were some memorable performances and some awful ones. Last night proved to be much more on the good side, as we saw Lee and Casey take huge strides in the competition.
AARON - "The Long & Winding Road" How many times must I ask if these contestants have ever watched the show before. Just because you're getting occasional comparisons to David Archuleta doesn't mean you need to keep singing songs he did. If you do decide to rehash a song from just two seasons ago, keep two things in mind: 1) sing it different and better, 2) don't perform in a navy straight jacket with your sleeves rolled up. Is David Letterman giving him fashion advice? That was not a good performance. He has yet to see the bottom 3, but I think: First to perform + Sleepy, rehashed performance = Trouble for Aaron.
KATIE - "Let It Be" I wasn't quite as taken by that performance as the judges, however it was a marked improvement from last week and WAY more passionate than Aaron. Very strategic of her to base her prom date on the one who votes the most for her. That, coupled with the fact that there are just three girls left should keep her out of the bottom 3 this week. Oh, and though I agree with Simon on the fact that she should go with a country edge, that was not a country performance.
ANDREW - "Can't Buy Me Love" As we go to commercial break, I see Andrew sitting on the stairs without his guitar...NO!!! OK, it's back...whew! Even if I hadn't been so stupid as to pick Andrew to win, I would be interested in seeing him go as far as possible just to see how high he can get that hair to grow. I wasn't thrilled at the song selection, but it started out quite good. Then the cheesy horn arrangement kicked in and it felt like a completely different (cruise shippy) vibe. There are less and less contestants, performances like this can't slide through any more. I think my Idol is in serious trouble tonight.
MICHAEL - "Elanor Rigby" Yet another song that's been done on the show before...much better. Have these contestants EVER watched the show before. It's not like this was done by Sanjaya or David Hernandez. It was David Cook and he killed it. That being said, it was actually done fairly well, but in typical Michael fashion, he felt like he needed to add a bunch of cheese on the end. His fans love it though and he'll, once again, sail through to next week.
CRYSTAL - "Come Together" Despite having a cold, Crystal knocks it out of the park. That was actually a good song to sing with a slightly raspy voice. She is really starting to separate herself from the pack these days. The huge difference now is that she has finally loosened up and no longer looks embarrassed to be there. She actually seems to be having fun and is smiling. The only thing I noticed is that she seems to close her eyes quite a bit while she is singing. It didn't hurt David Archuleta, though, and it won't hurt her. Will she be the first odds on favorite to win it all? Looking good right now.
TIM - "All My Lovin" Wow, the judges have given up. They are now complimenting him on taking criticism well and judging him on a "Tim" scale (Randy.."That was a good Tim performance."). I liked the fact that he used the guitar again. It kept him from doing anything weird. It would be nice if he could actually play. He spent most of the song watching his fingers on the fret. Although, that did reign in his nuttiness.
CASEY - "Jealous Guy" WOW! I hadn't really taken Casey too seriously until now. I knew he was a lock for the top 5 and that he could play a mean guitar, but never felt like he was a contender, as he always felt like a guitar player that sings. I still think that his vocal style isn't exactly what garners votes, but Taylor Hicks won this thing, so who knows. That performance was one of the best I've seen this season. He finally ditched the cheesy smile and showed a more serious and tender side. Keeping it completely acoustic was brilliant (please take note Andrew). Being from Texas helps too. Can he ride this momentum to a win? I now say maybe.
SIOBHAN - "Across The Universe" This one killed off Michael Johns, let's hope it doesn't have the same effect on Siobhan. I totally understand why she sang the song the way she did, but it was a bit too much on the sleepy side. She is obviously quite overwhelmed by the whole Idol experience as well. She has been on the brink of tears two weeks in a row. Is Siobhan imploding? Let's hope not, but tonight she could find herself in the bottom 3. She's not going home though.
LEE - "Hey Jude" Not the most favorable back story by his competitors...He's neurotic and has a crush on Andrew. Leah & I were debating on whether or not Hey Jude would be a good song to sing on the show. I thought it was just too long and relied too much on the chorus. Lee obviously disagreed and went for it anyway. He is definitely looking more confident and relaxed, as the Dave Mathews and hunch were much more subdued...he's making progress. I find it hard to believe he was the one that said "Hey, you know what would take my performance to the next level? A bagpipe player!" That was completely distracting and random. Simon nailed it...it was like he was supposed to be on a different show and ended up on the Idol set. Lee is definitely a contender.
RECAPS
Best Look - Lee HM - Siobhan (I'm a sucker for her nutty garb), Michael (Hey! A jacket that actually fits!!)
Worst Look - Aaron HM - Andrew (suit was OK, shirt was not)
Best Performance - Casey HM - Crystal
Worst Performance - Aaron HM - Tim
PREDICTIONS
Bottom 3 (should be) - Tim, Aaron, Andrew
Bottom 3 (will be) - Tim, Aaron, Andrew
Out (should be) - Tim
Out (will be) - Andrew (not sure the judges would save him at this point either...sigh)
Enjoy the show tonight and be sure to vote for who you think will be gone.
- Pool Boy out
