AI7: Tonight's Theme? I'm Old!

Ah, what is increasingly becoming one of my least favorite theme nights on American Idol... sing a song from the year you were born!

The problem here is that, for the most part, the Idol contestants stay the same age... but I just keep getting older.   This year even the oldest contestant sang a song from my high school years... and David Archuleta's birth year pretty much made me consider signing up for AARP... pronto!  Not only had I graduated college, but had already moved to Arizona... yikes!

Now that we are down to the Top 10, figured I should pare down my top grouping by one:

David C ("Billie Jean")
Michael ("We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions")
Kristy ("God Bless the USA")

My default top spot seems to be going to David Cook quite a bit this season... learning the Chris Daughtry/Live Walk the Line tizzy, David fessed up that this particular sinister/rocker version was previously done by Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden)... but like Chris' borrowed take on the Johnny Cash classic, I am guessing this was the first time most of us heard the Michael Jackson song sung in this fashion... and while he does lose some originality points, it was still pretty darn good.

I am not sure Michael was all that great last night (it got a bit shouty), but he certainly chose a crowd pleaser (well technically two of 'em) and it gave the Aussie his long-awaited "moment."  I have started liking him of late, but if the post-performance high-pitched female screams are any indication, Johns is sticking around for a bit.

And who is that last person pictured above... by gosh, it's Kristy Lee Cook!   In a "dare to vote me off" move, Kristy went for the contemporary patriotic country anthem... as Simon said, perhaps the smartest song choice of any season... I whole-heartedly agree... not voting for Kristy would kinda be tantamount to not "supporting the troops" (I was waiting for a shout-out to them, but wisely it did not come).  That said, I did think it was her best vocal of the season (which I realize isn't saying  much, but it really was quite good... or maybe I am just trying some reverse psychology this week!).

Middle Group
Syesha ("If I Were Your Woman")
David A ("You're The Voice")
Carly ("Total Eclipse of the Heart")
Brooke ("Every Breath You Take")

I thought this was Syesha's best vocal in a long time (you may remember I was no fan of her over-angsty "Yesterday" last week)... but something about her personality-wise still rubs me the wrong way... think it is just crossing that confident vs. cocky line (granted so does David C)... granted she tries to keep in under wraps, but it still slips out (or else I am just looking for it). 

David A had a pretty decent vocal, but I am dropping him down merely because I did not like the song choice... part of hit was not being familiar with it... it kind of smacked of Christian pop, which I don't think it is... but tiring a bit of the positive message stuff from him.

While Ramiele pulled the "I'm sick" card this week, I thought it was Carly's voice which seemed the roughest last night... and she definitely seems to have the kind of voice that is going to "go" the longer she stays on the show.  I agree with Randy and Simon that something didn't connect here... which is surprising since it seemed like a perfect fit.  As Simon suggested (and I have mentioned), I think she is singing scared way too much. 

Finally, there's Brooke and I am not knocking her for her bad start ... though it did throw me off.  While I would love to play the piano and particularly "by ear" as Brooke professes, I am not sure she is the greatest musician... and I think she has trouble doing two things at once... while that has been the case before with her and musical instruments (and walking/twirling) it seemed more in evidence tonight.

Bottom Group
Chikezie ("If Only For One Night")
Jason ("Fragile")
Ramiele ("Alone")

While I thought it was a pretty good vocal, I am pretty sure it was not a smart move by Chikezie to go back to the ballad well.  His energy is what makes him memorable and this failed to make an impression. 

I am officially off the Jason bandwagon ... well, singing-wise... I am still diggin' the whole... dude!/stoned act, for now.  I would enjoy listening to Jason in a coffee shop (or, more appropriately in an Amsterdam coffee [wink, wink] "house")... but he's not seeming fit for a big-time singing competition. 

And Ramiele is just daring us to keep her going... how she's managed to stay out of the bottom 3 thus far, I really don't know... and by singing a song done much better by previous Idol contestants... let alone recently covered by all-mighty Celine Dion... well, brave girl. 

Comments

[jen maiser]

David Cook's song last night is the only one thus far, this season, that I have been tempted to buy off of iTunes. I loved it. Wow. In the middle of it, I even forgot who had originally sung it.

Christy made a very smart move -- if this were a political campaign, she would be sweeping the middle America state primaries with that choice.

I actually would swap Brooke for Michael in my top choices, but I have a soft spot for her. Did not like David A's song at. all. Thought that Simon's comment about not choosing the song was a criticism of his overbearing father (that I've been reading about in the gossip mags).

I agree with your bottom three - I'm so ready for all three of them to be out of there.