Ok, folks, this is going to be a “drive-by” review of tonight’s performances because I am in the throes of preparing for the holiest three days of the Catholic Church year (that’s the day job, y’all!). Good thing Idol airs before things get cranked up. So, without further ado, here was the view from my red leather comfy couch for this evening:
Amanda Overmyer – Back in the USSR
I had considered this for her but wasn’t sure she’d do the melody proud, which she didn’t. It was a bit of a rhythmic mess, a little screechy around the edges and a bit of the same ol’ stuff we’ve seen her do since Day 1. I agree with the judges – she needs to show us another side… if there is one…
She’s safe because I few others need to go before her.
Kristy Lee Cook – You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away
She didn’t even know this song…am I old or what? Vocally, she was bottoming out on the low notes and, if I can be a purist, I didn’t like her tinkering with the well-known melody. Performance-wise, she is a bit wooden on stage and has trouble connecting with the emotions of the songs she sings. She WAS better than last week but ANYTHING would have been. She’ll be a bottom feeder again this week.
David Archuleta – The Long and Winding Road
I wanted him to do an up-tempo but after last week I just wanted him to nail the song and performance and he did so with room to spare! Talk about redemption! Great vocal, nice nuances, emotionally connected to the lyrics – THAT’S what he does best and he showed he is mature enough to come back and do it up right. If the screaming mosh-pit is any indication, he continues to be safely in the lead.
Michael Johns – A Day in the Life
I didn’t choose this one for any of the contestants because I wasn’t sure they could cut it down to a minute thirty successfully – and I was right! He sang it well and gave a safe, yet respectable performance but the song was so disjointed I did nothing for me. Just another time the Brit and I see eye to eye, I’m afraid. He needs to knock one a song of the park and soon or he won’t even make the Top 5.
Brooke White – Here Comes the Sun
I’ll say right up front that I’ve never liked this George Harrison number however this is the second week in a row I haven’t liked her performance and this week I believe it was due to the dreaded wrong song choice. She didn’t do much with an extremely simple melody, it sat too low for her and it was just a boring performance overall. I guess getting her out from behind instruments isn’t a good idea after all? I don’t think she’ll bottom feed unless the rest of the lineup sings like there’s no tomorrow… 
David Cook - Day Tripper
I GOT ONE RIGHT!!!! HUZZAH!!! And it was MAGNIFICANT!!! I knew he could blow them away with this one and that he did! Throwing in the voice box was an interesting twist and while that was the least favorite part of the performance for me, the rest was outstanding. He is the true dark horse of this season and is no danger of becoming a bottom feeder any time soon. Rock on, dude!
Carly Smithson – Blackbird
A ballad from the Irish Lassie and she nailed it BIG TIME! It’s an odd little song but she found all the nuances and her vocal command of the highs and lows was spot on. Absolutely beautiful. I knew the Brit would hate it because anything with strong, true emotions gets the “over indulgent” criticism from him – definitely not a sensitive guy that Mr. Cowell. No matter – she continues to fight the Davids for the top position and I predict that they will be the Top 3 when all is said and done.
Jason Castro – Michelle
I understand getting in as much in as one can in one minute thirty but the tempo of the song was a bit too fast and that altered the true meaning of the song. Then to top it off, he grinned way too much as he was singing and that tells me he didn’t get what the song was all about – a shy boy trying to get out his feelings for this girl. If he would have used his shyness to help sell the song, we would have heard hearts melting all over the land. I will say the best thing about the performance was his vocals – his tone color was perfect and he sang it with ease – but that was lost in translation. He’ll be safe but maybe he shouldn’t be.
Syesha Mercado – Yesterday
What a vulnerable and heartfelt performance! Vocals were almost spot on (I’ll be she was a bit nervous after her trip to the bottom last week) and the melodic liberties were subtle and effective. A better song choice for her than Brooke
Chikezie – I’ve Just Seen a Face
OK, we went back to the same well again this week and it didn’t “shock and awe” this week as it did last week because the song itself just didn’t lend itself to it. JMHO but he should have stayed in the slow lane time around – I did NOT like the bluegrass bend tonight. And what was with the harmonica? He’s no Taylor Hicks, that’s for sure. He needs to establish himself vocally and then take risks. Right now, he could end up bottom feeding if others feel the same way I do about it.
Ramiele Malubay – I Should Have Known Better
Nice job! I wouldn’t have picked this for her but she was connect vocally and emotionally with the piece and he looked like she had fun with the it. I was having a problem with the arrangement because it didn’t help her with the delivery AT ALL but despite that, I think it saved her for another week.
So, this week’s bottom feeders are:
Chikezie
Kristy Lee Cook
Michael Johns
with “das boot” (hopefully and finally) going to Kristy Lee Cook.
One last thing — the contestants are now allowed to wear ear monitors???? I wonder how contestants from other seasons would have faired with such a technological helper…
Carry on!
J
I so agree that Kristy must go! In fact, I agree with everything you wrote!!
NB