It’s a really big week. Big Mike got the only Judge’s Save last week so this week, two go home, no saves. The theme: Elvis Presley. The mentor: Adam Lambert. Adam is the first contestant ever to be called in as a mentor. His overall advice was for the Idols to put more energy into their performances. When Ryan asked what Elvis song Adam would have sung, the conversation went totally off beat with Ryan’s comment: “My tongue is not nearly as talented as yours.”
It was so totally appropriate for Adam to be the mentor of Elvis week. At home we’ve been comparing Adam to Elvis in that there is a facial resemblance. I mean look at him. The eyes, the nose, the lips, some of his expressions, there are a lot of similarities. The big difference is that Adam is far more talented than Elvis and we often say that if Adam had picked a more popular genre of music, he could easily be as big as Elvis. Since Adam was born after Elvis died, do you think there’s any chance he’s Elvis reincarnated?
Crystal blazed the way with the Elvis song “Saved”. Adam’s suggestion was that she needed to let her dreads down and swing them around a little. She totally got into the song but it just didn’t do it for me. Randy thought it was dope and thought it was the second coming of Bonnie Raitt. Kara loved the uptempo. Simon loved that she didn’t choose an obvious song or fall into the karaoke trap which he predicted so many other contestants would do.
I was fixated on Andrew’s ice cream cone. He had a hanky in his pocket and a necklace or chain hanging below the pocket in a V-shape and it looked like an ice cream cone with the hanky as the ice cream. It was distracting. Andrew sang “Hound Dog”. Adam said that Andrew left him wanting more and that he was bored. His advice for Andrew was to change it and make it his own. He did do that. He slowed it down and jazzed it up and it was a good Andrew performance but it didn’t do it for me. Randy said, “That was not good karaoke.” Ellen said she “personally really did like it” and that he pulled it off. Kara told him he needed more swagger, that Elvis owned the stage. Simon called it lazy and compared it to the one part of a musical that nobody wants to see or hear. Simon said that all the coolness had been sucked out of him.
Teflon Tim, who was called “Turban” this week by Ryan, sang “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.” Adam thought Tim did some really pretty guitar music. Yes, he used the word “pretty” and encouraged Tim to end the song in falsetto. I usually enjoy Tim but this week didn’t do it for me. I was looking forward to the falsetto ending but he did not oblige. It might have saved the song. Randy said, “This may surprise you but I actually liked it.” Ellen compared him to a shot of tequila. You drink it and don’t know if you like it so you drink another. And another and another and finally decide you like it. She really enjoyed Tim’s performance. Kara called it her favorite Tim performance ever. Simon said he managed to go from zero to hero in two weeks. I did agree with Adam that it was very pretty guitar playing.
Lee decided to go with “A Little Less Conversation (a little more action)”. Adam’s suggestion was that he smile and be more playful. Lee picked a great song and he put a little more action into it as Adam suggested. It worked. He beat the first three hands down. The song was lively and I could see it filling a dance floor. Randy said he was definitely in the zone and added, “I love where your voice is.” Ellen thought he made it sound like a brand new song. Kara had never seen him go for it so vocally and said that the vocals were fire, but she wanted to see him get looser and more playful. Simon said, “It’s all about nailing the song. That was on the money full stop.”
Up next was Aaron with “Blue Suede Shoes”. Adam said he had underestimated Aaron and that his voice was really great. Aaron totally owned the stage and played the audience. I guarantee he hooked a few chicks with that performance. I thought he did an excellent job. The judges didn’t all agree. Randy preferred the second half to the first half but overall wasn’t enthused. Ellen said it was a big song to take on and gave him an “A” for effort. Kara thought he was out of his comfort zone and she actually liked it. Simon compared it to a high school concert and actually ranked Tim’s performance higher than Aaron’s. I felt so bad for him, Aaron looked totally crushed. I don’t think he was expecting a bad review this week.
Siobhan sang “Suspicious Minds”. She’s a true Elvis fan and did a report on him in the 6th grade. It didn’t help her. She changed the song, making it almost a gospel song. You could tell she was really feeling it but I didn’t enjoy it. So far still, Lee takes the night. Adam said she’s got the pipes but that she needs to add a little more energy and speed it up. She didn’t do that. Randy said, “That girl can sing!” Ellen liked the second half and said she had a beautiful voice. Kara said Siobhan has two voices and that it was confusing. Simon thought she came off 20 years older. He called it erratic and screechy. Simon said she lost who she was 2-3 weeks ago. The subject of defining her as an artist came up and she defended herself with, “If I can’t label myself, I don’t think it’s necessary to be labeled.” She sees herself as an artist who can fit multiple genres but the trouble is, when you try to do that starting out, you lose a lot of fans.
Mike, who got the Judge’s Save last week, sang “In The Ghetto”. This type of song is right up his alley, the story song, but it was too slow for me and I didn’t feel the connection. Adam thinks he deserves to get right down to the end of the competition and called him “an amazing singer”. Randy thought it was a little sleepy but called the vocals “hot”. Ellen was glad they’d saved him. Kara called it a beautiful song. Simon said it was a million billion times better than last week and one of his favorite Michael performances.
Katie was up next with “Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do?” A totally appropriate song that she sang to the judges in response to their frustrating reviews. Adam wanted her to use that frustration and throw it into the song choice and the song. He said she’s got the pipes, she’s got the look, now she has to make us believe it. Well I did believe it. I loved the outfit and I thought she did an excellent job with the song. Randy laughed and said, “Katie’s getting sassy” and said he was entertained. Ellen said it was a very horny song, further explaining that it had a lot of horns in it. Kara said, “I think you showed us judges! You showed us, girl! Good job!” Simon called it “loud”. He didn’t like the song. He said, “They (the audience) liked it so it doesn’t matter what I think.”
Casey finished it out with the Elvis song “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”. Adam hoped he’d build an arch and give the song a climax. I don’t know if he did that but I love his voice. I heard a few rough patches but I totally enjoyed the performance. Randy didn’t see anything different but called it another solid performance. Ellen wasn’t as excited as she’d like to be. Kara said Casey was capable of brilliance but that wasn’t it. Simon called it a wasted opportunity but added that the vocals were good.
I predict Andrew, Tim and Mike in the bottom three. Remember, TWO will be sent home and there are no more Judge’s Saves.
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Category:
American Idol 2010
You've entered the inner realm of author Sharon Delarose, the strange girl who lives down the street. Frolic with the dogs, encounter strange and bizarre bugs, hop a ride on a UFO, get your good feelie oats on, and laugh a little. Welcome all y'all!
