Before launching into tonight’s show review, let me set the stage for you so you will know what to expect as the final three Idol wannabes vie for your votes and place in next week’s finals.
Each of the remaining contestants (David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado, and David Cook) will have the opportunity to sing three songs. The first song will be selected by one of the Idol judges (Paula, Randy, or Simon), the performers themselves will pick the second song, and the final selection will be made by the Idol producers.
Now that you know what the process is going to be, let’s check in to see how each of the Idols did on their three performances.
Round 1: Judge’s Choice
Paula selected “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel as her judge’s pick for David Archuleta—and David closed his eyes, licked his lips, and sang yet another ballad for what seems like the umpteenth time this season. I said it before that David has a fine voice (Randy says he could sing the phone book), but he’s just a bit boring always singing songs that seem more appropriate for a funeral parlor than the Idol stage—I mean this guy is 17! But it doesn’t matter what I say because the judges love this guy. Randy claimed David was “dope” and “in it to win it” during performance number one and Paula called the performance a “pure and stunning performance”. Simon was the voice of reason on the panel saying it was “a bit predictable…it was good, not outstanding.”
Randy was in charge of picking Syesha’s first song and he went with the Alicia Keys tune, “If I Ain’t Got You”. Syesha was excited to sing a song by one of her favorite artists—and I have to give Randy props for picking a song that at least had a bit of a pulse. Syesha looked beautiful in a floor length, sparkly cocktail dress and sang like she needed to (sing) in order to breath. Randy noted that Syesha sang her heart out and was “peaking at the right time”—I couldn’t agree more. Paula babbled on and complimented her look—been there done that, Paula! Simon thought it was a nice performance but wished out loud that Randy would have picked something that would have forced her to change it up a bit and not just sing it like the original. Randy defended his decision and said that she changed up a number of notes…yeah, yeah, whatever Mr. Producer Man!
David Cook’s fate was in the hands of Simon who picked the Roberta Flack classic, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” which on the surface seemed a bit odd. But it was obvious Simon wanted to challenge David to make the song his own—to try to add some originality like he has done so many times before. I was a bit surprised to see David hit the stage without his guitar or any other prop other than the microphone and his voice. But with the orchestra supporting him he made the song sound very current. It was a bit stiff in the beginning, but when he hit the bridge, you could tell it was a David Cook song. The audience loved it, but what did the judges think? Randy tried to out Simon Simon by saying he should have picked a song that wasn’t so old—like that even makes sense, Dawg! Hasn’t Randy said throughout Season 7 that it doesn’t matter when the song was written as long as it sounds current?—no need to answer because we all know Randy was just being a tool. But Paula added some reason to the mix by saying that it isn’t about Randy and Simon, it’s about David Cook and she now had a second favorite singer of that song—and for once, Paula actually made sense. Simon, predictably, liked the performance going so far as to say it was one of his best performances to date. Simon claimed that Round 1 went to the team of “Cook and Cowell”.
I couldn’t agree more with Simon. David C. was the best of the first round followed by Syesha with David A., but there are two more rounds to go so anything can happen. Next the Idols sing a song of their choosing.
Second Round: Dealer’s Choice
Young David picked “With You” by Chris Brown. He wanted to try something a little new and up tempo, but before he could start the song, there was some awkward moments getting David ready to perform. David wasn’t sure what to do once Ryan introduced David’s song and then directed him to take his place on center stage. And when he finally made his way there, he looked even more uncomfortable singing a song that was clearly not in his comfort zone—plus his dance moves looked a bit off-putting. But at least he kept his eyes open for most of the song—until the final few bars when he closed them for the big finish. Perhaps we should get him some toothpicks for the finals—provided he makes it to next week (like that won’t happen). Randy wasn’t sure it was the right song for our 17-year-old crooner. Paula thought it was a good choice and then gave him a quick pointer about how to sing up tempo songs—like you don’t hold the notes as long….DUH! Simon compared the performance to a “Chihuahua trying to be a tiger”—calling it “awkward” which was kind considering what I’m sure he was really thinking. I don’t think David did himself any favors trying something so radically new, but I’m sure he is going to make it to the finals because America loves him regardless of what and how he performs.
Syesha chose “Fever” by Peggy Lee and to help create the right atmosphere, she had a chair set up on stage for her to do her thing—and did she do it. She strutted around the chair, sat on it with her back to the audience, meandered over to Ricky Minor who joined her on stage playing the double bass, and vamped across the stage essentially auditioning for a role on Broadway—because it is unlikely that she will win Idol, but she certainly has a future on the stage putting her acting and singing skills to good use. Randy thought the song selection was “interesting” and saying she sang it “amazingly well”. Paula was equally perplexed because the song didn’t show who Syesha is—uh, Paula, if you read the sentence I wrote leading up to Randy’s comments, you’ll learn what the rest of the world already knows: winning Idol isn’t really in Syesha’s plans—especially after that PG-13 (at best) performance. Simon said that she will “probably regret your choice of song tomorrow morning” because she had a chance to do something contemporary and instead did a “lame cabaret version of the song”. Oops! I guess the producers of Chicago are going to be auditioning Syesha earlier than they expected.
So what would David Cook pick for himself? That’s the burning question after the previous contestants did such a poor job. David went with “Dare You to Move” by a group called Switchfoot. I am not familiar with the song, but the audience seemed to know it and I trust David will make me like it by putting his special touch on it. After listening to the song, I can honestly say that I wasn’t a big fan of it, but I know that it represents the type of song that David will record when he becomes a big rock star—if not the Idol winner. Randy actually is familiar with the song and the group, but didn’t think David did very well. Paula was bummed that the song didn’t really get going until the end (again, I have to agree with Paula—that was the problem with this song). Simon didn’t say much except that no one stood out in Round 2.
With no clear winner of this round, we moved on to the Idol’s third performance of the evening.
Final Round: The Producers Choose the Song
For David A.’s final song of the night, he performed Dan Fogelberg’s “Longer”—another in a long line of ballads that appear to be the only type of song that young David can perform. He did a nice enough job, but my hair wasn’t set on fire. He tried to switch up the melody a bit, but not enough to really make the song sound anymore contemporary than a trip to the dentist’s office. Randy found the song choice interesting and then said he was “in the zone”—WHAT?! There was nothing special about it, Randy, are you sure you aren’t pulling a Paula and judging David on a song he has yet to perform? Paula liked it, but Simon thought the song and lyrics were “absolutely horrible” saying they were all gooey and more appropriate for a 90-year-old…but he put young David at ease by saying he definitely did enough to make the finals—my second DUH! of the night.
Would the song chosen for Syesha be better? I’ll let you be the judge. She sang “Hit Me Up” by Gia Farrell which is an up tempo number that again allowed Syesha the opportunity to move around the stage and show a little personality—unfortunately I don’t think she is going to do enough to overcome the David’s to make the finals, not even by channeling a little Beyonce in her stage moves. Randy thought it was a decent song choice, but it was just “awright for me”. Paula noted that the song was on the “Happy Feet” soundtrack which will certainly make my little boy happy, but it didn’t really make it for Paula—who said it may not have been enough to get her into the finals. Simon said it was better than the previous song, but that she probably peaked last week with the Sam Cooke song.
David Cook had the final performance of the evening and the producers went with the Aerosmith power ballad, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. David was standing center stage surrounded by the string section from the Idol orchestra. David delivered a fine performance, but had some pitch problems in the early part of the song. But like almost every other David Cook number, once he hits the bridge, he really brings it home—he’s like a good closer in baseball, he knows how to shut the door on the competition. Randy called it a “very predictable” song selection—which is irrelevant because David had nothing to do with which song he was going to sing; Paula welcomed him to the finals; and Simon called it “one of the great songs of all time” and then declared David C. the winner of the night.
Next Steps: Where do we go from here?
With all of the performances in the books, it’s up to America to decide who sings next week—but I’ll do the honorable thing and give you my bottom three, so you know that you are voting for the right people! Just kidding, of course, because there are only three, so they are all in the bottom three…which, by the way, will be the first time for both the Davids this season whereas Syesha practically OWNS the bottom three having been there so many times over these many weeks.
Check in tomorrow to get the official word on who the two finalists for Season 7 will be. As always, I will continue watching TV so you don’t have to…
Charlie
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