AI 8 4/7/09 The Year They Were Born

There are eight people on the stage who were born dreaming of being a star and the life of their dream is in your hands – THIS IS AMERICAN IDOL!

I guess the producers finally took heed of my complaints and threw out the separate announcer of the judges and Ryan because there is Ryan walking down the stairs without an announcement of who he is. Yeah!

Since the theme tonight is the year, they were born cue the montage of cute kid pictures of the contestants but wait we also get kid pictures of the judges and Ryan. How cute? NOT!

There are eight singers and one hour or so Fox thought to get through the fray. Let us get to dishing the contestants because after all this is what this blog is all about.

Danny Gokey “Stand by Me”

Danny is the oldest of all the final eight so he unfortunately gets to go first. We must respect our elders. Danny is stretching the year of his birth given this song is from 1961 but was covered by Mickey Gilley in 1980. Frankly, I do not remember ever hearing his version and I did not really like the arrangement of this song. Danny on the other hand can sing and he did a great job. I thought he looked great and he has seemed to settle down on one pair of glasses. I really liked the shirt, loved the color. Danny was on tempo, had clear enunciation, and he took the simple melody and added some brilliant vocal runs. It was a very simple and lovely performance.

Randy – When you started, I wasn’t sure because the arrangement was unusual. You are an amazing singer. You made me love it even though I didn’t love the arrangement. Your vocal talent shows through, you have it.

Kara – You just killed it. It just kept going and going. You turned it on its head. You did your own thing and you did it well.

Paula – All I can say is, Wow! You have set the bar high and you will have everyone else running to catch up. What you did with the chord substitutions, brilliant, very amazing.

Simon – The beginning was good, the middle was lazy and the end of it was terrific. Overall good.

Kris Allen – “All She Wants To Do Is Dance”

Good heavens what are those producers thinking sticking Kris in the middle of all those girls and those damn waving hands? Do not try to recreate the mosh pit I hate it. Kris was looking very good last night. I do not think this was a good song choice but Kris can sing and he put on an interesting performance. I am not sure the guitar was helping him and I really could not hear the guitar over all that very loud band and the synthesizers and big brass. Overall, Kris can sing but this was not the song for him.
Kara – I am a huge, huge fan but I liked you went with an up-tempo song but this jazz/funk arrangement sounded like something from a music class. You lost some of your youth.

Paula – This was heartfelt and genuine. You took a melody and you made it your own. You have to be one of the most likeable contestants we have ever had.

Simon – You are likeable but this was indulgent, boring and forgettable. The song choice was stupid. You are a singer but you came off as a guitarist who wants to sing.

Randy – You didn’t need to change the arrangement. It was self-indulgent. I lost you. You are the singer; you are in the competition, not the song.

Lil Rounds – “What’s Love Got To Do With It”

Lil looked hot but from the clothes to the performance, there is nothing, which screamed karaoke more then this performance. I thought it before Paula said it. Lil gave a stellar vocal performance but when you chose a Tina song, you will be compared to an original artist like Tina Turner. Lil even used her same movements from the video of this song. I think choosing a song by Tina was a mistake. There is no question of Lil’s vocal abilities but this was just a very copycat performance. There was no wow moment.

Paula – You look very hot tonight, this was an important week, we need everyone to take liberties, to show us who you are. You are a brilliant vocalist, you need to take the reins, show us your niche, I am worried because this was a beautiful karaoke version.

Simon – We are not looking for a second or third-rate version of Tina Turner. It became a ghastly copycat performance. I am not sure if you are getting bad advice or you are making stupid choices but it’s literally, as if we’ve lost you.

Randy – I love you, you have mad, mad talent. Tina is not you, you’re not listening to us, it is not clicking.

Kara – You are a singer/artist but your lower register suffers, it isn’t all about the power notes.

Anoop Desai – “True Colors”

Oh good heavens, what is going on tonight. What is up with some of these song choices? Anoop singing Cyndi Lauper. I love this song but I totally hated this arrangement and while Anoop was in tune and his enunciation was good, I did not like this performance at all. Anoop is getting boring because in order to sound good he has to sit and just sing. I realize this is a singing competition and the vocals were good he did not move me and he was not selling the emotion of the song. I was really looking forward to the song ending.

Randy – when you pull it back, you can sing, it was a very nice vocal, you displayed nice control.

Kara – you controlled the song, you didn’t let it control you. You took a pop song and re-interpreted with a little soul (I do not think so) congratulations.

Paula – the song choice was flawless and the performance overall truly magical and fantastic. Your best performance so far.

Simon – you are like a singing yo-yo, one minute you’re down and the next you’re up. I didn’t think it was fantastic but good.

Scott MacIntyre – “The Search Is Over”

This week Scott tried to change it up by moving away from the piano and just standing to sing while playing the guitar. This was not the right song for Scott and I did not like this performance at all. Scott was sharp, flat and he could not reach those high power notes. This was just a totally awful performance.

Kara – I have to commend you for stepping away from the piano and using the guitar, who knew you could play but it was a very difficult song, there were good moments, off moments and the power ballad was overambitious.

Paula – I give you credit for moving away from your comfort zone of the piano but I was confused about an electric guitar vs. an acoustic guitar, you have a wonderful sense of humor, when you were reaching the high notes it sounded screeching. Overall – bravo.

Simon – I suggest next week you go back to the piano, the song was horrible and atrocious and the guitar playing wasn’t much better, it didn’t go together, you were trying to be someone other then you.

Randy – it was okay, the vocals were okay, it just didn’t show you as a star.

Allison Iraheta – “I Can’t Make You Love Me”

What is up with the stylist? She looked ridiculous in that Spanish flamingo dress and the whole leather jacket and chains. On the other hand, Allison gave a true ridiculous beautiful vocal performance. The raw talent Allison has is unbelievable for her age. This was one of the richest and beautiful vocal performances she has given this season. She sounded great and provided a bit of edge to the vocals. This was the best performance so far tonight.

Paula – it doesn’t matter what you sing, all we have to hear is one note and we know it is Allison. There is no price tag on that. There was such tenderness, you put your entire heart into the song, you made it your own.

Simon – It was very good but you need to work on showing more of your personality.

Randy – you remind me of Kelly Clarkson, she could sing her face off and so can you. You can engage, you really can sing.

Kara – you took a very adult song and made it very believable and young, that is talent you can’t just find, let’s go make a record.

Matt Giraud – “Part Time Lover”

Wow, Matt is back. I noticed the hat was back but I will give it to him this week, it worked. Matt was looking good and sounded awesome. Stevie Wonder is usually a train wreck for most contestants but Matt showed us how it could be done. The arrangement was great, the vocals stellar, and he had his mojo back because he commanded the stage and provided energy and fun to the performance. The second half of the show is providing some great moments.

Randy – vocally the best of the night

Kara – incredible on every level

Paula – I have two words for you – Standing O

Simon – this was a million times better than last week, well done

Adam Lambert – “Mad World”

Jesus, Mary and Joseph this performance has to be the best performance ever by a contestant of this show during its entire run. Everything about this performance worked including the very interesting lighting. I totally loved this arrangement and Adam gave one of the most haunting and beautifully vocal performance. Adam deserved the final pimp spot and he delivered big time. All those goose bumps Kara is talking about all the time I had them myself last night. I was moved by the performance, it was utterly a killer star making moment. It happens every season and this is the performance where I am now predicting that Adam is going to be the next American Idol.

Simon – the bad news is we are running out of time and I am the only one who will comment, the good news is you are getting a standing ovation. This is something Simon rarely does. It was a beautiful end to the show.

Last night’s show was very uneven which is usually the case with songs from the year you are born. Naturally, I always feel old during this show given the years these contestants were born. The last half of the show made up for most of the first part and it ended on a very good note.

I got in 4 hours of solid voting and managed to get in 2,005 votes. All my votes went to Kris, Matt, Allison and Adam.

I am predicting a bottom three of Lil, Scott, and I am torn between Kris and Anoop. I am going to go with Kris (I am worried but I hope the judges will use their save).

My prediction for elimination is Scott.

Until tomorrow…