AI7: There Will Be An Answer

... Let It Be.

Question:  Hmm, should we do another Lennon/McCartney/Beatles night?

Despite Ryan trying to blame this all on us (Viewers demanded more?!?  To borrow Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers on SNL's Weekend Update schtick... Really?!?), we got more John & Paul... and I agree with Simon that it proved to be a more than a tad much.  I have my doubts how "extensive" this songbook is and after tonight if they are truly the "greatest songs of all-time."  Ok, some of them are great... but ousted David Hernandez said the Top 12 had only 24 songs to pick from last week and he lost a "draw out of the hat" with Brooke for "Let It Be"...

No iTunes downloads this week... but here's my top group (which is already starting to get predictable):

Carly ("Blackbird")
David A ("The Long and Winding Road")
David C ("Daytripper")
Michael ("A Day in the Life")

The only change in this group from last week is David A's comeback and Brooke's self-admitted tumble, it was close call for the top spot, but I give the edge to Carly for giving us a different sound with Archuleta wisely returning to his comfort zone.   David C pulled in with another solid if predictable performance, but once again, I have to agree with Simon who suggested that while confidence is good, cockiness is bad... and Mr. Cook is walking the tightrope.  My apparently controversial pick of the night is Michael... the judges didn't like it, Todd didn't like it... and while I agree it isn't a song that can successfully be whittled down to under 2 minutes, I thought Michael still did a good job on it... and this is coming from someone who was wondering what all the fuss was about with this guy a few weeks back (so no "love is blind" mentality going on).

Middle Third
Chikezie ("I've Just Seen A Face")
Brooke ("Here Comes The Sun")
Amanda ("Back in the USSR")

Let's see... Chikezie employed the "kitchen sink" strategy this week... overall pretty messy, but I still liked parts of it... if Brooke would have just shut up about this not being a good performance for her maybe I probably would have not minded it so much... Amanda gave us more of the same and squeaks into the middle group almost by default... unlike Brooke, her post-song interaction with the judges and Ryan boosted her up as well.

Bottom Third
Syesha ("Yesterday")
Jason ("Michelle")
Ramiele ("I Should Have Known Better")
Kristy ("You've Got To Hide Your Love Away")

While I thought Syesha had a decent vocal... after last week's bottom 3 showing it reaked terribly of desperation ... only aided by an overly angst-ridden arrangement that I was no fan of... Paula applauded her vulnerability, to me it came over as highly calculated.   As with last week, I do not think Jason is in any danger of leaving (or even getting into the bottom 3)... but it was another clunker for me.  While quite charming and the whole "My belle is French?" bumper was pretty hilarious -- but I am not sure what to think about that goofy smile that crosses is face when he hits a wrong note or, last night, managed to get that line out in French.  Ramiele continues to disappoint... just another karaoke-ish that I can not imagine will keep her out of the bottom 3 this week... where perennial bottom dweller Kristy should remain... despite some big notes at the end, it was a bland performance drowned out by the band.

Comments

[Jeff]

I'm continuing to root for Carly. Another great performance from her this week. David A did all right, but I thought not as great as the judges seemed to think. He seemed to sparkle so much in the more intimate, earlier rounds, but I just feel like he's a little lost on that big stage. He needs to connect and emote more and turn it up a notch. Work it!

Brooke and Ramiele were pretty disappointing, given that we know how great they can be with the right songs and arrangements. Yikes, there was practically NO emotion from Kristy.

Not having watched AI before this season, I can't believe how into this I am... :)