AI 8 3/31/09 iTunes Hell

Each week the pressure mounts – this is their moment – THIS IS AMERICAL IDOL!

I am getting monotonous but enough with the big announcement of the judges and Ryan, it wastes time and we could perhaps give the contestants more time to sing. What a novel concept given this is a singing competition.

We have more wasted time with Ryan conversing with the judges. Ryan asks Randy how the Top nine are doing. According to Randy, they brought it last week but it is getting tougher, tonight we will see who can go the distance. Ryan asks Kara what artistry means. Give it a rest; I am sick of “artistry”. Kara indicates artistry is taking a song million of people know and doing it in a unique way, something that gives you goose bumps. Give me a frigging break! Ryan asks Paula if she has any props under the table, her answer all clear. Finally, Ryan asks Simon what he is looking forward tonight. He responds with you being amazing.

Tonight the contestants can pick any song from the popular download list from iTunes. This has to be one of the lamest theme weeks ever. It is also very scary considering what potential song choices there are.

Cue another boring montage. How very cute we get to see Ryan on the radio taping his American Top 40 show. NOT! I miss Casey. This wasted more time when we only have 80 minutes. I want to hear the contestants sing.

Well enough of my raving let us get to dishing the contestants.

Anoop Desai – “Caught Up”

This has to be one of the most ridiculous performances I have witnessed. The whole beginning with the back-up singers in front of him, just plain lame. This was a really bad song choice. I thought the vocals were off; he was either talking or shouting. In addition, Anoop’s enunciation was horrible; it was hard to hear the actual words. He picked a song, which relied on the back-up singers to bare the brunt of the work. This was cheesy and all over the place. I second Simon’s comment about this was an utter mess.

Randy – I like you have picked up your swagger but this was not the right song choice, the vocals were good (excuse me), but I am torn

Kara – if you are going to do Usher this requires lots of riffs and range, you played it safe, it feels like a bunch of frat boys dared you to sing this song.

Paula – I wasn’t sure about this song but I liked you showed your playful side again after just focusing on your vocals the last two weeks, you need to work on your stage presence and arrangement.

Simon – this was a complete and utter mess, you came over as a wannabe rock star, there was no originality, the arrangement was bad, it gave me a headache.

Anoop it does not do any good to talk back to the judges. Your remarks were childish and make you look like a chump.

Megan Joy – “Turn Your Lights down Low”

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, this was just plain freaking bad. Once again, Megan picked a blouse, which matched her tattoo color, just cover it up. What was with all those chains? This was a stupid song choice. I simply cannot stand her voice. She butchered the melody, was sharp and had some really weird phrasing. This was a train wreck and it was another finger down the chalkboard moment. I got Goosebumps but it was not the artistry it was the horrid of it all. I can’t resist and all I can say is I don’t give a rat’s ass about the lights but please turn the sound way down low – like totally off! Megan shaking your money tree is not going to help you.

Kara – I like you but you are in trouble girl, this was not the song choice for you, you used the wrong part of your register, your voice was irritating to me tonight. You should have gone with “Chasing Pavements” by Adele.

Paula – at this stage you need to surprise us, step out of your comfort zone, this is where beauty develops, just sit in a chair and sing

Simon – the problem was the song, it was not you, it was boring, indulgent, and monotonous, I do not think many people will like it.

Randy – it was boring, it was like watching paint dry, just because you like a song doesn’t mean you can sing it.

Megan please take some advice; do not argue with the judges. You did not do yourself any favors. The behavior is unprofessional. I just do not like you. Please go away.

Danny Gokey – “What Hurts the Most”

This was an interesting song choice. I think the arrangement made it more pop then country but overall it was a good performance. Danny was wearing the same glasses as last week. What Danny does best is he can sell a song, the emotions, and the power of a song. This was a beautiful heartfelt powerfully emotional performance. There were some rough patches (i.e. sharp) and there were moments of shouting but compared to the first two performances this was magic.

Paula – this is where you thrive, from the first note to the cadence, you left us wanting more, I would hit the repeat on this song

Simon – your best performance of the competition, so much better than the first two, it is like snails competing with a racehorse, great song and you sang it brilliantly

Randy – this is where the competition starts tonight, you have crazy mad vocals

Kara – you moved everyone emotionally, which is very hard to do, you sang from your heart and soul, those goose bumps I was talking about, I had some.

Allison Iraheta – “Don’t Speak”

As the camera panned Allison all I could say is “what the f*^k are you wearing and what did you do with your hair”. It was like a combination of Minnie Pearl and Phyllis Diller. It was freaking distracting. I say shoot the stylist. I did love the song choice. I loved her playing the guitar but the vocals were not her best. There is “No Doubt” she can sing (pun intended) and I like the way she started but when she gave up the guitar with the transition from verse to chorus her voice was sharp. There were also moments when her voice went flat as well. Allison’s voice is made for rock and she has good performance skills. This was good but not as great as last week.

Randy – you were ahead of the beat for most of the song, I have mad love for you but I didn’t get it. What are you wearing?

Kara – the rock comes out in everything you sing, you don’t need to dress like it, it seemed forced, good performance but not your best

Paula – you brought your “axe” out, your vocals were great, effortless, you are skating to the finish line

Simon – I can’t ignore the outfit, it is like the Addams Family, like a precocious daughter dressed like a rock star also you shouted the song

Scott MacIntyre – “Just the Way you Are”

Interesting look for Scott, I liked it better than last week. I am still having nightmares about the plaid shirt and the stripped sports jacket let alone those pink pants. Scott is a nice guy. My problem is he sings the same song week after week. While I enjoyed this stripped down version with just him and the piano his vocals were not good. I do not know what the judges were smoking or drinking but he was sharp and then flat. There were some nice vocal moments but the bad out weighed the good. There was nothing original about this performance.

Kara – smart decision picking this song, you stripped it down, it came from an honest place, I love the new look

Paula – of all the contestants I am most proud of you, you make us forget about your challenge (way too politically correct for me), it was a big risk but it paid off

Simon – your best performance by a country mile

Randy – one of the best of the night

Matt Giraud – “You Found Me”

Wow very awkward opening, it took awhile for the camera to even find Matt surrounded by those ridiculous arms. I did not like his placement out there in the middle of the crowd. Matt’s vocals at the beginning were very rough but by the second half, he had found his groove. He does have a great falsetto and he hit the high notes. Last week his performance was stellar and he was in the bottom 3. Tonight he was not as great as last week. There was something off about the whole song.

Paula – you aborted what we love about you, we need more riffs/falsetto, you were a sound-alike, it reminded me of the Cold play number, this was not a great performance

Simon – you should be happy we don’t like you given last week. I didn’t get it at all, it seemed all so put on, the growl, you seemed uptight, not a good commercial song, it felt uncomfortable

Randy – wrong song, One Republic would have been better, this was not you, you have more vocal chops, you let all the flavor out

Kara – you swing between rock and R&B, you need to commit, you are a talented guy and you don’t deserve to go home

Lil Rounds – “I Surrender”

Oh, please god not Celine Dion. What is up tonight with the song choices? I did neither like what Lil was wearing nor the hair do. The song started off key and she was way too low. She was able to build and hit the money notes but this was not a very good performance. In my opinion, this was one of her worst performances of the competition.

Randy – not a good song choice, you sang it well and you have vocal skills

Kara – when you go up it is effortless, tonight we had a glimpse of who we saw at the beginning, you can sing but you have to let it out, you need to wow us

Paula – I don’t want to hear adult contemporary, you have joy and can sing

Simon – you were singing to stay, it was safe, it was similar to a wedding singer, your voice sounds great but it was old-fashioned, your personality is being sucked out

Adam Lambert – “Play That Funky Music”

I am surprised a song from 1976 is so very popular on iTunes. I do love this song. I actually play this album quite a bit (yes, I know a real LP). This was a totally freaking great performance. Adam has such incredible range. There is so much joy when he is singing. I loved the entire performance. I loved his killer moves, the insane vocals. I was up and dancing during this number. I have downloaded it from iTunes. My only criticism was there was a bit of shrieking in the middle but oddly it worked for the song but still it was unnecessary given his skill.

Paula – true genius shatters expectations, there have been some unique geniuses – Mick Jagger, Steven Taylor and Adam Lambert.

Simon – this was a very brave choice, it broke the mold of the more karaoke stuff we have heard tonight, it was original, I don’t think it will be as popular as last week but you don’t have anything to worry about

Randy – I was afraid this was going to be corny but you worked it out, you are in the star zone

Kara – I look forward to you every week to see what you are going to do, that is a big compliment, it was like Studio 57 in here tonight. (Kara – please it was Studio 54 – you idiot – I actually got into Studio 54 in August 1979, it was wild – oh enough about me).

Megan and Anoop you need to take lessons from Danny and Adam. Danny was very gracious about what the judges said last week, took it to heart, and accepted what happened and Adam showed great professionalism by acknowledging the assistance he had from Ricky Minor and the band. This is the way too go, not your sour grapes!

Kris Allen - “Ain’t No Sunshine”

Kris continues to surprise me every week. This was a beautiful heartfelt performance. I loved the stripped down version with Kris, the keyboards, and the string quartet. This was an absolute great vocal performance. It was my favorite performance of the evening.

Randy – right now you are slaying this, you are so in the zone, one of the best

Kara – I have three words for you – that is artistry

Paula – you are playing to your strengths, you took a 30 year old song and made it new, this could be the first cut on your album, your best vocal to date

Simon – I am pleased by the confidence you showed, it was a good arrangement, your best performance so far.

I had a read-through last night of the play I am directing so I made it home just as Scott was singing. I then had to rewind my tape to watch the first four performances but at the same time, I was voting. It was a slow night last night because the lines were busier then usual which is good for the contestants I was voting for. I still got in 984 votes. I voted for Kris, Matt, Adam, Danny, and Allison.

It is tough trying to predict a bottom three. Based on the performances it should be Megan, Anoop, Matt and Scott (yes I know this is four so sue me).

My prediction is Megan, Scott, and Lil.

There is only one choice for tonight’s elimination and that is Megan. The girl has to go!

Tonight we are going to have Lady Gaga and David Cook. This should be fun.

Until tomorrow…