Jamie Foxx offered the Idols his advice this week in his strange, eye to eye way. The theme was “Songs of the Movies” which left a pretty big playground to play in. Jamie brought two sets of t-shirts to hand out to the contestants depending on how they did. The shirts said either “Contestant” or “Artist”.
Lee Dewyze
Lee started the evening with “Kiss From A Rose” by Seal. Jamie had given him an “Artist” t-shirt but I don’t think he lived up to it. The song choice was a huge mistake for Lee. It was totally the wrong song for his voice. “Kiss From A Rose” wasn’t meant to be sung in a gravelly, gritty voice. Randy said he’d done nothing with the song and that it was pitchy but okay. He suggested that Lee should have gone with “Blaze of Glory” by Bon Jovi. Ellen complimented him gracefully. Kara said he had a great week last week (here comes the Kiss of Death from the Rose.) She thought Lee got a little lost, that he had out of tune issues, but said he was still great and she could hear him on the radio. Simon disagreed with the song choice as well, noting that there were so many brilliant opportunities to find a song and that Lee was verging on karaoke. He said Lee should be wearing a “Contestant” t-shirt.
Michael Lynche
Michael Lynche took on the Michael Jackson song “Will You Be There.” I didn’t think even Big Mike would be big enough to fill those iconic shoes and sequinned gloves. You’ve really got to have something big to take on a Michael Jackson song, like Season 7 winner David Cook when he took on Billie Jean. That was a memorable performance. Big Mike wasn’t quite so memorable. He didn’t do half bad with it but it just wasn’t something you’d remember a week later. Jamie was flip flopping with the t-shirts and in the end, I don’t think Mike actually got one. Randy didn’t love it and wished he’d chosen an R&B song. Ellen said, “You can’t go wrong with the sound of a choir behind you.” She said Mike was consistently good but too predictable. Kara reminisced about songs Mike had done previously that left her with goosebumps and said this performance didn’t leave her with goosebumps. Kara thought Mike was playing it too safe. Apparently the song was from the movie Free Willy which came up in conversation and totally confused Simon who asked, “What’s a Willy?” He couldn’t connect a whale called Willy with the song Mike did. Simon did note that Mike obviously gave it 100%.
So far none of the contestants offered up the wow factor. It was the perfect opportunity for both Casey and Crystal to shine brighter than they had been. Before moving to Casey’s solo performance, Lee and Crystal sang a duet from the movie Once. They sang “Falling Slowly”. Lee sounded totally karaoke, it was really rough. Crystal in contrast rang clear as a bell. Randy called it a great song by two great singers. Ellen called them the new Captain and Tennille. Kara called it one of her favorite moments of the entire season and Simon called it a fantastic song. It was odd that he used the word “song” rather than “performance”.
Casey James
Casey took on the classic “Mrs. Robinson” from the movie The Graduate. It was reminiscent of Jason Castro of Season 7 with a ukulele sound (I don’t think that’s what Casey was playing but it sure sounded similar). It made me smile. Great job, Casey, except for one thing. It’s time to get back to where you started with the jam band type songs. I can’t help but wonder if the judges overblowing the softer songs he did caused him to stay with that genre. I think it’s a mistake and that sometimes you have to be really careful about following the judges too closely. It can get you voted off.
Jamie gave Casey an “Artist” shirt. Randy wanted to know why Casey had chosen that song. Casey answered, “A lot of things…” and Randy took the opening and ran with it, giving a big guffaw of rowdy laughter at the unsaid explanation. They keep insinuating that there’s something going on between Casey and Kara which we know obviously there isn’t but no doubt it boosts the ratings to fuel that rumor. Randy called the performance cool and laid back. Ellen wished they’d given him a big boy guitar and that he’d gone further with the song. She then turned the commentary over to Mrs. Robinson, aka Kara, who said, “For me, this is you fighting to stay in the competition.” I don’t know if she meant that in a good way or a bad way but somehow I don’t think it was good. Simon didn’t think the song or the performance had the substance needed for such an important night. Simon commented that all the song choices so far had been very strange.
Crystal Bowersox
Crystal Bowersox finally broke the strange songs spell singing “I’m Alright” by Kenny Loggins from the movie Caddyshack. Jamie gave her an “Artist” t-shirt which Crystal totally earned. She changed the song so much that it was unrecognizable. Radical changes normally end up with a bad review but she basically created a brand new song which was by and far better than the original. Great comeback, Crystal! This is where she needs to be. As far as I’m concerned, she took the night, she owned it and put the other three to shame.
It wasn’t Randy’s favorite performance but he said it was a nice job and called her an “artist”. Ellen said, “That performance just got Crystallized.” Excellent phrase! Ellen said Crystal took the song and made it better. Yup. Just what I said! Kara agreed with Ellen and Randy, calling Crystal an artist. Simon said she was back in the game. We were treated to a shot of Crystal’s boyfriend dancing in American flag pants. He looked really sweet.
Casey and Big Mike closed the show with a duet, singing the Brian Adams song “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?” They both sang with feeling but of the two, if you put both side by side on the radio, I think Casey would have taken it. He’s more distinctive. Mike is good but he’s so generic. I prefer distinctive. Someone in the audience flashed a “Casey, You Move Me!” sign.
Randy said Casey’s guitar playing was excellent. Ellen said, “As a matter of fact, yes, I have loved a woman!” Kara said that the duets were both incredible. I hate when they combine their comments with other performances as it dilutes the one being commented on. Simon and Kara both thought the duets were better than the solo performances and Simon wanted to give “Artist” shirts to the duets.
Jamie Foxx closed the show with some advice to the final four American Idols. He said next week, to let go. He said he’s looking for that person who will turn from a caterpillar into a butterfly. Ryan announced that the results show would feature Bon Jovi, Daughtry and Fantasia. Fantasia was the winner of Season 3 and Daughtry, who’d been the favorite in Season 5, was voted off much to everyone’s surprise but went on to become one of the most successful Idols ever.
Fantasia could be scary. She returned once and performed a song straight out of a voodoo ceremony. I don’t know any other way to put it. She’d dyed her hair bright red and had it piled up liked a rooster comb. She jerked around the stage like a rooster and her demeanor was something you’d expect from a voodoo witch doctor trying to scare a curse out of someone. That performance was quite memorable, even after all these years.
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!
