AI 8 4-28-09 The Top Five set the standard for future seasons

For the people who remain on this stage the intensity of the competition is a constant evolution, tonight they take on some of America’s most famous classics of all time but who will set the “standard” – these are your top five and this is AMERICAN IDOL!

Very exciting news because we get two numbers to vote for each contestant and my fingers were itching.

Oh, crap we are having another mentor, cue the video montage so we can learn whom this mystery mentor is. I laughed out loud when Kris said the Rat Pack is dead so who could it be. The big dramatic reveal has Jamie Foxx entering as Matt is singing “Georgia on My Mind”. Exactly how will Jamie Foxx help them with these standards and why is he here? I know he has an album and movie to promote. This should be an interesting night.

I guess that is enough of my ranting about the useless mentors and on with the dish.

Kris Allen – “The Way You Look Tonight”

Kris was styling tonight in the suit and tie. As Rosie O’Donnell would say, he definitely is a “cutie pootie” and those screaming women and tweens explain it all. Personally, I say his moustache needs to go. Kris took the right approach with this song by focusing on the vocals. You could really hear the raw purity of his voice especially at the beginning of the number. It was beautiful. The transition in to the up-tempo beat was very rough. Once Kris was there this was an extremely great vocal. The nice pause before the last note was brilliant and it redeemed the horrible transition in the middle. My other problem was the use of the mike. In my opinion he should have just stood there and sang as if he was on an old time radio show, walking around with the mike stand is too rock and roll, it was distracting.

Randy – I am looking to see who is in it to win it and who can take it all the way. Dude your best performance ever, you took your time, you told a story, you gave it some R&B styling, mad nice vocals.

Kara – songs of this era give singers a chance to show their technical ability and tonight you have set the technical standard really high, you had impeccable phrasing, diction and timing; you are truly the dark horse in this competition

Paula – you have made the transition from adorable boy next door into a handsome sophisticated man, your quiet confidence makes you a contemporary crooner, impeccable

Simon – It was good but I am not falling over like the others because it was a bit wet (excuse me!), you are like taking a well-trained dog for a walk it will be safe and nice but not incredible. I don’t think you can win. (This was just a stupid whacked evaluation.)

Allison Iraheta – “Someone to Watch over Me”
I thought Allison chose a perfect song for her and this was one of her best performances. I am still of the opinion her stylist is a jerk and she needs to fire them. What is up with these outfits every week? The girl just turned 17 and the big bustier and that feathery skirt was a disaster. What was not a disaster was Allison’s vocal talent. Given the genre, we actually got to hear what a great voice Allison had with little distraction. Allison showed great control and her diction was spot on this week. This is the first of Allison’s performances where I really got those chills Kara is blabbering on about. This was a truly fantastic vocal performance.

Randy – I thought this genre would be tough for you but dope this was good, you look like Brittany Murphy but sing like Pink only with more octave, dude that was da bomb, loved it, you were vocally on point

Kara – I was worried for you because you have been in the bottom three when you shouldn’t have been but I am not worried any more, you converted some new fans and showed you are not a one-trick pony, this was a gut-wrenching deeply emotional way beyond your years rendition, if that doesn’t land you in the finals I don’t know what will.

Paula – I have been waiting for you to do a ballad and you delivered, your vocals brought an innocence and tenderness to the song

Simon – Allison do you think you can win? Allison says yes everyone has a chance. I don’t believe you Simon replies. I would give the performance 7 out of 10, you didn’t show confidence. I have a horrible feeling you are in trouble tonight, I really do.

Matt Giraud – “My Funny Valentine”

I will give credit to Matt for tackling a very difficult song but the best rendition on this show has been Melinda Doolittle. She had a home run and Matt did not even come close. There was no wow moment and the performance was boring over all. I did enjoy the jazz flavor and he had some good phrasing but he spent his time trying to show vocal prowess but not selling the song itself. Matt once again had difficulties with his falsetto it was pretty rough.

Randy – this is one of the hardest songs to sing and while you were up to the task, it was a little bit pitchy and not all the runs landed, I would give it 6 out of 10, it didn’t all come together like it should

Kara – you need to be the leader of the pack, while I appreciate what you tried to do with the runs you weren’t emotionally connected to this song

Paula – I loved what you did with the song and the advice you took from Jamie, it was simple, pure and impressive.

Simon – I disagree with Randy because this was the only authentic believable song I have heard so far tonight, I could hear how you loved this music, you had some Nat King Cole type phrasing, this was brilliant (I am not sure what Simon is on but he heard something I certainly did not)

Danny Gokey – “Come Rain or Come Shine”

Danny is definitely back. Tonight’s performance got me excited again about Danny whereas many of the last few performances had not. Danny looked good and luckily chose not to move around too much. The first half of the number was rather safe but vocally good but when he hit the second half of the number and the up-tempo portion began, he had his WOW moment. Danny was hot tonight. I also loved the bluesy feeling of the arrangement. This was an inspired choice of song.

Randy – you can sing, you are the only singer tonight who could release an album of standards and then he was rambling on forever without every really finishing a thought, the bottom line was Danny can sing

Kara – I was missing the Rat Pack swagger and tonight you had it, the ending of this performance was the most creative you have ever been with the melody, unbelievable

Paula – stellar

Simon – I agree with Kara about the swagger and confidence, you proved my point about the first two contestants, you gave a great vocal performance, your best in weeks. A shout out to Ricky Minor for the outstanding arrangement and to Jamie Foxx for what he did for the contestants (oh please how much did the producers get paid for that comment)

Adam Lambert – “Feeling Good”

Adam delivers week after week and does not seem to be slowing down or taking anything for granted. I cannot even put into words how truly spectacular the opening of this number was. The stair case lighted red, Adam in the white suit and his walking down the stairs after first staring in the middle. If you want to talk about swagger, Adam frigging had it in spades. This was just one totally awesome, fantastic vocal performance. What was up with that incredible insane note at the end? I was up on my feet for this performance and I love this song. Michael Buble does a fantastic rendition of this song as well.

Randy – it was kind of theatrical but you are consistently in the zone, another great performance.

Kara – my mouth drops every time you perform because you never know what you will do, it is shocking but in a good way, over the top, love you, it is just crazy

Paula – you make me feel better than good, this is like the Olympics and you are Michael Phelps.

Simon – Randy saying you are theatrical is like complaining that a cow moos (this was very funny!), every year people say winning isn’t important but I feel like you want both to win and entertain, that was the best entrance of any one all year and Ryan you are barred from using the staircase for the rest of the season


I have some more ranting and bitching to do before I sum up my feelings about the show. I had rehearsal again last night so I was under the gun to watch my tape and be able to vote. I initially fast-forwarded to the performances so I could hear the contestants and vote. How much time do you think that took me? There was barely ten minutes of singing during the entire episode, yes ten minutes. I was friggin pissed. Normally when we get to the top five they do two songs, what is up with only doing one. As Randy kept blabbering on and on about, this is a singing contest so let us hear them sing. I also found nothing Jamie Foxx had to say as very illuminating or helpful to the contestants, as with every other mentor, they are going to blow everyone away. Come on it was simply a waste of time.

In my opinion if they were, going to have a mentor it should have been Michael Buble. Good heavens, he actually sings these types of songs.

On the other hand this has to be one of the best top five ever. This genre could have been a train wreck but it was not. These contestants have talent and they can sing. While not everyone pulled, it off no one totally sucked which is very unusual. These contestants are on their A game and I have found this season to be one of the most exciting.

Given I had two numbers to be dialing with three phones I managed 1,003 votes. I voted for everyone but Adam, Kris and Allison received the bulk of my votes.

There is no doubt in my mind that Allison and Matt will be visiting the bottom two again and Matt’s journey will end tonight.

I am very excited about Natalie Cole singing tonight. I love her and have all her albums. One of my favorite live concerts was Natalie Cole and Lou Rawls.

On the other hand I could care less about Taylor Hicks and Jamie Foxx singing but oh well, I must take the good with the bad.

Until tomorrow…