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In the world's ultimate talent search, where the eyes of a nation are upon the best undiscovered singers in the country, where the audience has the power to make or break you, and where a million-dollar recording contract is on the line, there is only one rule: If you can sing it, bring it. Recaps by Chico Alexander, Jason Block, Don Harpwood & Gordon Pepper, GSNN
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Round
of 10: American Idols Remixed Ten singers chasing one dream. Four (or is it three?) judges waiting to pass their criticism. One judge stuck on the 405. Add it up, and it is the greatest spectacle of talent until "The Voice" premieres in two weeks. From Studio 46, CBS Television City, Hollywood, America... a phrase that will be oft-repeated... "The countdown to the finale is ON." LOS ANGELES After 11 years, it's finally come to this... TODAY'S THEME INGREDIENT IS.... (musical flourish).... THE SONGS OF THE AMERICAN IDOLS. Any song from the show or the winners' post-show portfolio is fair game. First up to sing for your votes is Curtis Finch, who wants to be the next Luther. There can only be one, but the closest thing American Idol produced was ... Fantasia? He'll deliver "I Believe", season 3's coronation single. THEY SAY: Keith says he knows who he is, but he oversang it. Randy echoes Keith, but warns him to try something a little different. Mariah wants to hear more of the gospel tinge. WE SAY: If you're going to be a cat, be a tiger, but you need to match or BEAT the winner. And that was a fierce song to begin with. That said... He nailed the tone. I wouldn't have chosen the Will Smith jacket, though. I'm not a big fan of the arrangement or the sharp notes, but Curtis sang the hell out of it. I would've chosen Ruben, but he'll be around for a long time yet. But Randy is correct, you need to diversify yourself if you want to get votes. Nicki is finally here, and so is the pride of Oliver Springs, TN, Janelle Arthur. She needs to stand out in the sea of young, female, blonde, country artists. She needs to find a balance of being a country artist and being commercial. She'll sing Montgomery Gentry's "Gone", which broke Scotty McCreery out of those doors that were locked with the lights turned low. Will it do the same for her? THEY SAY: Keith liked the female turn on it with the Leeann Womack runs. Nicki thinks she needs to sing more "pretty" songs, but she's not 1000 percent on her song choice. Randy said that the song didn't go anywhere. Mariah said Janelle gave us a star performance. WE SAY: Scotty attacked this song when he did it. Janelle... not big on attacking. It's simply verse-chorus-verse, walk, sing with the band, walk... Very safe performance and not stand-outish at all. Devin Velez says that ballads are his sweet-spot. He can do a lot of contemporary stuff, but will he try it tonight with "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood, a song he connects with emotionally. THEY SAY: Keith thought it was the wrong song. Nicki disagrees 100 percent, saying that it was "him". Randy thought it was safe. Mariah thought he could do so much. WE SAY: Scared. Deer. In headlights. Bad song. Bland singing. OWNED. Angie Miller has owned every stage she's been on, but she tends to go into beauty pageant mode. She'll try to break out of that with Kelly Clarkson's round of 4 song from WAY BACK in season 1. Will we surrender to Celine's "I Surrender"? THEY SAY: Keith is pleased by Angie's amazing range. Nicki says she personifies "perfection". Randy: "The competition starts now!" Mariah had only one word: "Stellar". WE SAY: ... no, still pageanty. She performs the song with her whole body. It's a good show, it really is. But we're waiting for the breakout, something that's going to come forward, slap you in the head, and say "Here I am". This wasn't it. But it was good. Going into the half with Paul Jolley, a perpetual oversinger. He needs a simple song, and he needs to sing it simply. He's going to sing a simple song, "Amazed" by Lonestar. We all remember two years ago when Scotty did it. THEY SAY: Keith thought it was one of his better performances. Nicki's "sexual appetite" is stimulated. Randy thought it was a good song choice, but cautions not to go for it unless he feels it. Mariah echoes that. WE SAY: You know the old saying "Don't think, feel"? Paul would do well to heed that advice, because it seems to me that he was thinking way too much about the performance. He tries to avoid oversinging... and ends up oversinging. Or compensating beforehand. Just sing it. On the other side of halftime comes Candice Glover. Her parents have flown for the first time to see her compete on this stage. First thing she sings is "I (Who Have Nothing)" from Ben E. King, as sung by Jordin Sparks in season 6. With a drum beat behind it. THEY SAY: I think the standing O speaks for itself. But the line of the night: "It would be in everyone's best interest to never perform that song again... because you just annihilated that song." WE SAY: An interesting take. A good arrangement. Candice emoting. Simply put... a brilliant move from start to finish. Next up, Lazaro Arbos, hoping that his stammer will take a break for 90 seconds, long enough to take on "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson off her sophomore album. THEY SAY: Keith could feel an emotional connection, but that song was not in his wheelhouse. Nicki: "Que paso hoy, yo no me gusto..." Randy agrees with the other two. Mariah says some rubbish about courage. WE SAY: Pick. Another. Song. Kree Harrison takes down the 8 spot with her tone, her range, and her confidence. She needs to undersing "Crying" by Roy Orbison (as done by Carrie during season 4). Ray Chew's advice: any time you get a moment, take it. THEY SAY: Keith delivers the "phone book" axiom, saying that if she made a record tomorrow, he'd buy it. Nicki thought it was smooth, delicious, fun, and enjoyable with waffles. Mmmm... waffles. Randy loves her. Mariah is happy that America gets a chance to see her sing. WE SAY: I hope Janelle was taking notes. That was nice and subdued, underplayed, but at the same time, she took her moments. It was pitch perfect, and the tone was flawless. Next up, Burnell Taylor. Don't worry if you don't know who he is. Nobody does. He hopes to change that with season 2's coronation single. Westlife did it. Ruben Studdard did it. Now it's Burnell's turn with "Flying Without Wings". THEY SAY: Keith says that his timbre is unique and eccentric. Nicki says that he's "well on (his) way". Randy likes that he twists songs to fit him and that he believes. Mariah likes where he went melodically. WE SAY: Hate to say this, Burnell, but you're up against three R&B singers, and of the two that sung before you, you were outsung by BOTH of them. Very nasal. Very strained. White smoke on stage. Does this mean another new judge? And taking the closer spot tonight... it's another as-of-yet-unknown Amber Holcomb. Closer's an important position. She's got to leave us with something. Will she do it with "A Moment Like This", the ORIGINAL coronation song from the original American Idol. THEY SAY: Keith is a fan of that song for her, Nicki says the best of the night, comparing her to Whitney. Randy says she blew it out of the park. Mariah: "#pow". WE SAY: This is one song that you just don't want to half-ass. And it isn't until the bridge when Amber finally gets into it. But a good close. Time for our results show... THE ONE IDOL TO RULE THEM
ALL (this week): Candice ... and the reigning Idol gets to take the stage tomorrow. One will take off. To see extras from this episode, go to www.americanidol.com. |
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