Wednesday, April 30, 2008
AMERICAN IDOL TOP 5
We're pressed for time. Smooth, go!
Smooth: I didn't like either song by Jason Castro that much. He did OK, better than some of the last few weeks. It was kind of cruise-shippy, partially a product of the theme I think.
E.K.: We're seeing the same performance from him every night. And it was doubly boring, because of the two songs.
Smooth: I thought David Cook was the best of the night, although that might not be saying that much. He really did make his songs sound contemporary, especially the second one, which was no easy feat.
E.K.: The guy is great at arranging his numbers so that they 1) fit his style and 2) sound contemporary, just like you pointed out. Plus, he just sings well pretty much every week. Brooke White, on the other hand, was hit and miss this week...or rather, miss and hit, because the first one, "I'm A Believer", was ridiculous. The emotion on that one was so fake, which bothers me, Brooke Fan that I am. There's no way that song should ever be considered by a Top 5 contestant, ever. However, with her second song, "I Am, I Said", she showed her true colors, and that's all I can ask for. I liked how when Simon said her first song was "a nightmare", she immediately piped up, "No! No, no, no," smiling all the while. She's still just a genuine performer who isn't taking this thing so seriously that she'd cry if she got voted out, and that part of her I like the most.
Smooth: The first song was truly awful. It was a bad fit for her voice and her performance was weird. Second one was standard-issue Brooke. As for David Archuleta, could you pick two more ridiculous and obvious songs? There is absolutely NO WAY that those songs don't sound karaoke. He didn't even sound that great anyway, and we got a lot of stoic Muppet-face as usual.
E.K.: His problem, to my ears, is his youth, because although he sang well, I can't take those versions of those songs ("Sweet Caroline" and "America") and not think they resembled something we'd see on the Mickey Mouse Club. It was Cheese Ball all the way, and he didn't connect with me. Of course, I am not a shrieking 13-year-old girl, which is his target demographic and which he hit a bulls-eye on of course.
Smooth: As for Syesha Mercado, the first song was meh; good, but very forgettable. I liked the second one more. She sounded good again. Good energy, almost a bit over the top at times but fun overall. Simon says he thinks she's in danger -- maybe he's actually trying to help boost her vote count?
E.K.: I too was surprised by his comments. She's been getting more impressive as the weeks go on. I remember what I said weeks ago: "Tune in next week when we find out who will make the Top 11! Not so fast, Syesha!" And am wondering, how did she overcome her blandness so fast and deliciously? And I say "deliciously" because she looked fantastic this week. (Side note: About those extensions, girls? Here's a clue: Just grow your hair out already. That's when you look the best!) Now...can we talk about Paula for a second? What the hell?
Smooth: She is seriously batshit crazy. Here's what happened: Since there were two songs for each singer, they decided to streamline the show a bit and wait until all five contestants were done with their first number before commenting. They brought them all out after Syesha was done with her first song, and then the judges commented on all of them briefly, just like we're doing now. Paula addressed Jason, commenting on his first song, and then talked about his second song, which left her "empty", even though -- this is precious -- it hadn't occurred yet.. I am assuming she was looking at notes from dress rehearsal, but that was embarrassing as hell.
E.K.: But my question is this: She said Jason's second -- and non-existent to that point -- song wasn't good, but then after she had been told he hadn't sung twice yet, she sputtered, "You know what? I'm looking at--it's your notes, David [Cook]. You were fantastic." Which was weird, because if she had been looking at her notes on David Cook, she wouldn't have said the performance left her empty. I guess my question is: Why is she still allowed to be a judge on this show?
Smooth: It was one of those "WTF?" moments you might have with your friends when you say something out of left field, except it was on national TV, and she didn't cover for it very well.
E.K.: No, she's a mess. Drunk? On medication? An idiot? I don't know, but I do know that she is the Joe Morgan of American Idol analyzing.
Smooth: Anyway, my bottom two is Jason and Brooke, and Brooke will be voted out. Last week I was way off on her but I really don't think she'll last another week.
E.K.: Something tells me Brooke and Syesha are the bottom two tonight, and that Syesha is gone. I really do. As good as she is, she just isn't as memorable as Brooke, or any of the others. Maybe Simon was right. But Jason is also a good guess. We shall see in about an hour!
Smooth: I didn't like either song by Jason Castro that much. He did OK, better than some of the last few weeks. It was kind of cruise-shippy, partially a product of the theme I think.
E.K.: We're seeing the same performance from him every night. And it was doubly boring, because of the two songs.
Smooth: I thought David Cook was the best of the night, although that might not be saying that much. He really did make his songs sound contemporary, especially the second one, which was no easy feat.
E.K.: The guy is great at arranging his numbers so that they 1) fit his style and 2) sound contemporary, just like you pointed out. Plus, he just sings well pretty much every week. Brooke White, on the other hand, was hit and miss this week...or rather, miss and hit, because the first one, "I'm A Believer", was ridiculous. The emotion on that one was so fake, which bothers me, Brooke Fan that I am. There's no way that song should ever be considered by a Top 5 contestant, ever. However, with her second song, "I Am, I Said", she showed her true colors, and that's all I can ask for. I liked how when Simon said her first song was "a nightmare", she immediately piped up, "No! No, no, no," smiling all the while. She's still just a genuine performer who isn't taking this thing so seriously that she'd cry if she got voted out, and that part of her I like the most.
Smooth: The first song was truly awful. It was a bad fit for her voice and her performance was weird. Second one was standard-issue Brooke. As for David Archuleta, could you pick two more ridiculous and obvious songs? There is absolutely NO WAY that those songs don't sound karaoke. He didn't even sound that great anyway, and we got a lot of stoic Muppet-face as usual.
E.K.: His problem, to my ears, is his youth, because although he sang well, I can't take those versions of those songs ("Sweet Caroline" and "America") and not think they resembled something we'd see on the Mickey Mouse Club. It was Cheese Ball all the way, and he didn't connect with me. Of course, I am not a shrieking 13-year-old girl, which is his target demographic and which he hit a bulls-eye on of course.
Smooth: As for Syesha Mercado, the first song was meh; good, but very forgettable. I liked the second one more. She sounded good again. Good energy, almost a bit over the top at times but fun overall. Simon says he thinks she's in danger -- maybe he's actually trying to help boost her vote count?
E.K.: I too was surprised by his comments. She's been getting more impressive as the weeks go on. I remember what I said weeks ago: "Tune in next week when we find out who will make the Top 11! Not so fast, Syesha!" And am wondering, how did she overcome her blandness so fast and deliciously? And I say "deliciously" because she looked fantastic this week. (Side note: About those extensions, girls? Here's a clue: Just grow your hair out already. That's when you look the best!) Now...can we talk about Paula for a second? What the hell?
Smooth: She is seriously batshit crazy. Here's what happened: Since there were two songs for each singer, they decided to streamline the show a bit and wait until all five contestants were done with their first number before commenting. They brought them all out after Syesha was done with her first song, and then the judges commented on all of them briefly, just like we're doing now. Paula addressed Jason, commenting on his first song, and then talked about his second song, which left her "empty", even though -- this is precious -- it hadn't occurred yet.. I am assuming she was looking at notes from dress rehearsal, but that was embarrassing as hell.
E.K.: But my question is this: She said Jason's second -- and non-existent to that point -- song wasn't good, but then after she had been told he hadn't sung twice yet, she sputtered, "You know what? I'm looking at--it's your notes, David [Cook]. You were fantastic." Which was weird, because if she had been looking at her notes on David Cook, she wouldn't have said the performance left her empty. I guess my question is: Why is she still allowed to be a judge on this show?
Smooth: It was one of those "WTF?" moments you might have with your friends when you say something out of left field, except it was on national TV, and she didn't cover for it very well.
E.K.: No, she's a mess. Drunk? On medication? An idiot? I don't know, but I do know that she is the Joe Morgan of American Idol analyzing.
Smooth: Anyway, my bottom two is Jason and Brooke, and Brooke will be voted out. Last week I was way off on her but I really don't think she'll last another week.
E.K.: Something tells me Brooke and Syesha are the bottom two tonight, and that Syesha is gone. I really do. As good as she is, she just isn't as memorable as Brooke, or any of the others. Maybe Simon was right. But Jason is also a good guess. We shall see in about an hour!
