We’ll do it again tomorrow night in Miami…

Come one, come all! The Live Blogging experiment continues tomorrow night at 8pm EST/7pm CST/5pm PST. Just click here and join the fun! I make lots of irreverent comments, take polls, show videos, and everyone can add their own POV to the proceedings. What better way to watch IDOL than with others!

See you there — carry on!

J

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This looks about right…

This looks about right, gang, but I’m not surprised our sweet Melissa placed at 5th overall and that an under-rated Diana De Garmo ended up last. The top four were dead on IMHO but I would have thought that Daughtry’s numbers would have been a little closer to Clay, given his ability for radio airplay. Then, again, those Clayfans know how to “stand by their man” on any given day!

You can read all of the article and the hilarious comments here.

What say you all? On the money or all washed up? Let the discussion begin!

Carry on!

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Top 3 – “Three Way Song Affair”

After six seasons of American Idol one would think I would know better than to get all upset over the predictable and inevitable “stacking of the deck” against one of the contestants.  It seems we’ve all “heard that song before” and this Top 3 night was simply more of the same old script.  Could Simon have BEEN more obvious in his quest to manipulate a Melinda/Blake finale and send Jordin packing?  We all know that he HATES teenagers in the finals and if I recall correctly gave Diana DeGarmo a similar hard time in Season 3 (not like she could have really beat Fantasia anyway).  I just can’t abide trying to make America vote in a way that validates the judges’ wishes and not the will of the viewers.  We are NOT that dumb.  We know what we like and who we like. 

 

Ok, I’ll get down of the soapbox…for now…

 

I was also VERY disappointed tonight by the absence of the one and only Mr. Clive Davis.  While I personally think his is as swarmy as they come for music executives, he is the definitive Idol-maker and still wields major clout in the biz.  His master touch was sorely missed and the ensuing bad choices testified to his absence.  BTW, since when do the producers of this show have the music creds to choose songs for the contestants???  Are you kidding me?  The songs chosen for Melinda and Jordin were deplorable while Blake was given a song that was handpicked to make him look as good as possible. 

 

More obvious manipulation.

 

Can you tell I’m really HOT tonight over what transpired?  Of course, having this show scheduled one hour before finding our who made the finals of Dancing with the Stars didn’t help my mood much, either (Yeah, Apolo!).  Note to TV programmers: Don’t let these two shows go up against each other next year — I can’t take the stress of TWO competitions at one time! 

 

All of that being spewed, here’s how I heard tonight’s vocal cornucopia from my red leather couch:  

 

Jordin Sparks

Wishing on a Star – (Simon’s Choice)

This is not one of my favorite songs but she sure sang the heck out of it.  I was waiting, however, for the “K” word but Simon slammed the arrangement (and thus her vocal of it) where I thought the jazz vibe couldn’t help but improve an otherwise insipid song.  Randy rightly acknowledged that she came to secure a place in the finale and she did make something out of very little with her performance. 

 

She Works Hard for the Money – (Producers’ Choice)

You have GOT to be kidding me!!!   Ok, she sang it the best she could  but WHY choose a song like that for her?  It did NOTHING to showcase her talent and EVERYTHING to bring her down a notch or two with the voters.  Way to go, PTB!  You showed your hand with that one!

 

I, Who Have Nothing – (Personal Choice)

I was glad to see her pull out ALL the stops and sing her heart out (even besting her first outing with this song) but I believe TPTB have stacked the deck against her making the finals.  That would be a tragedy because of the last three standing, she would have the most to gain by being in the finale.  I’ve like this child from the get go and while I go back and forth as to whether she should win or not, she needs to place at number 2 in order to get a decent recording contract.  That may not happen now and we have the producers and Simon to thank for that.

Definitely on the bubble but I’m voting as much as I can for her to survive.

 

 

Blake Lewis

Roxanne – (Paula’s Choice)

Now THAT was Karaoke with a big K.  He didn’t seem to be comfortable with the song from where I was sitting but as you saw, the judging troika did not see it the same way I did (hubby was the one who pinpointed the uneasiness with the song).  Don’t get me wrong — his vocal was decent but it sounded almost like a Sting copy most of the time.  I also thought he dropped a few lyrics.  Didn’t matter, I suppose.

 

This Love – (Producers’ Choice)

Ok, now he gets a GOOD song from them, especially so he can beatbox? We knew that would come out tonight only he needed to be careful not to overdo.  He was truly in his element and with his edgy, current vibe will make a great recording artist no matter where he places. 

 

When I Get You Alone – (Personal Choice)

I have never heard this song before tonight but I have only one comment it — what a way to butcher Beethoven!   UGH!  Hooked on Beethoven was better in its day.  Having said that, I have to say that Blake brought his “A” game tonight and went at it with everything he had.  He deserves a place in the finale given his performances but only if everything was equal.  In my view, it was not.

Could be on the bubble but only if other voters feel like I do.  If not, he’s safe. 

 

 

Melinda Doolittle

I Believe in You and Me – (Randy’s choice)

Subtle and soulful — I loved it!  She came through Randy’s little test with flying colors and at least for one night we didn’t have to hear the “never do a Whitney song” mantra.  Way to go, girl!

 

Nutbush City Limits – (Producers’ Choice)

WHAT????   YIKES!  They had to be searching pretty to try and come up with something that she might bomb on but as usual that was NOT to be the case!  She was able to show her “inner Tina” again and it worked.  We’ll probably never hear that song again for 20 years but at least it was given a proper rendering at the hands of a master singer.

 

I’m a Woman – (Personal Choice)

I absolutely LOVED it!!!  And bringing out the backup singers has to be a little homage to her humble beginnings.  How fitting.  I agree with Simon for the first time tonight — she does deserve a place in the finals, hands down.  We all know that no matter where she ends up she will be a winner but for consistency and sheer vocal brilliance, she does deserve to win it all.

She WILL be safe — Simon has made sure of that.

 

 

Where does that leave us?  Well, my prediction for the “odd person out” has to be, and I HATE saying this in print, Jordin  but I hope and pray that won’t be so.  Honestly, folks, any two from these three will make for a great finale in a season of so-so performances all overshadowed by the “Sanjaya factor.”  My advice for next season?  Return to some of what has made this show a great success:  better selections for the Top 24 (less backstage drama, more obvious vocal ability), more focus on the contestants themselves (what ever happened to the “Halfway Home” show?) and bring back the WILDCARD show!!!!!   That might help if the shark hasn’t already been jumped…

 

Carry on as we wait for the results and kudos to the Top 3 for leaving us with some of the best performances of the season!

J

 

PS — looking forward to hearing Elliott tomorrow night! And if you can guess what song I got my title from this evening (and who sang it), well, you obviously spend waaaay too much time on Google (just like I do!).

 

 

 

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