The Elite Eight

So, I am happy to learn that a few people enjoy reading my weekly posts on American Idol, so back by popular demand, I am continuing to write my review of the performances. Tonight was Idol Gives Back Night and just like every multi-million dollar enterprise that is forced by conscience and a chance for really good PR to "give back" they spent a good portion of the night congratulating themselves on a job well done. I thought there were a few performances worthy of note and others I could stand to live without.

#1: Michael Johns: He did an alright job with his song and he is definitely someone I like to watch, but I wasn't blown away by his performance. I think he deserves to be around another week.

#2: Syesha Mercado: Does the vocal coach hate her, or is she really that self-confident? Week after week she chooses huge songs that have been done by big-voiced performers and then is shocked when the judges compare her amateur version to the professional. I was never really enamored by Fantasia mostly because she cannot construct an intelligible sentence if her life depended on it, but I did think she was talented. Even though she hasn't translated well to a broad audience, she has found some success with her book and subsequent made-for-TV movie Life is Not a Fairy Tale which warns African-American young women of the hardships of poverty, lack of education and teenage pregnancy (because that topic has never been covered before). In any case, if you are going to cover a song that has made someone famous, you better "saaang it" as Randy says. I look at her with her Afro-tastic hair and keep waiting for Jennifer Hudson or Melinda Doolittle's voice to come out but instead it is a restrained, covered kitten sound when she means to be a tigress. She also provided us with the first Mariah Carey moment of season 7 with the up-in-the-rafters falsetto near the end of the song. Way to make it your own and call dogs from three blocks away. I really don't care for her attitude when the judges criticize her performance. Clearly she thought she did better. I wouldn't mind seeing her go so I wouldn't need to see that audacious self regard again.

#3: Jason Castro: How I love you so. Even though Mike and I both hate the song he did (we both think it is "the" slideshow song) he did it up well. I really appreciate how committed he is to his hippie persona (dreds, skinny jeans, awkwardly low cut v-neck shirts with vintagey looking cardigans). He really gets what his strength is and I love that he seem genuinely happy to perform each week. As a side note, each time he smiles he reminds me of Mike's cousin Sarah and so it is another pleasant memory to see him each week. I hope he makes it through.

#4: Kristy Lee Cook: I have not been shy in expressing my dislike for Kristy this entire season and tonight was no different. Once again, she partied like it was 1999. Every time I see her a flood of high school memories comes back and I wonder how she has stayed in her time capsule for so long. Glittery gold tank and bootcut white jeans with a glittery gold belt. It reminds me of some one you would see entering Inferno night club on a Thursday night. Her singing was "pitchy" although the judges didn't seem too bothered by it. Each week when she sings I find myself raising my eyebrows and tilting my head forward hoping it will somehow help her to slide up to the right note.

#5: David Cook: Even though I don't like Kristy, David's song choice for tonight was way off. I am not the biggest fan of Our Lady Peace (again reminds me of high school and not in the good way) and I couldn't understand a majority of the lyrics of his song. The whole thing just sounded muddled and growly. I have to agree with Simon that the Sgt. Pepper white peacoat was a bad wardrobe choice. And I have to disagree with Paula that the "give back" written on his sweaty palm with a ball point pen was deep important message to get out. The show is called Idol Gives Back. We get it.

#6: Carly Smithson: I have to think the vocal coach on the show hates her too. The theme for the night was inspirational music not angry/sad reflections on a world gone wrong. Don't get me wrong, I love, love, love Queen. They are one of my favorite groups and I think Freddie Mercury was one of the most brilliant rock vocalists of all time. But if you are going to pick a Queen song, a. Make sure it fits with the theme of the show and b. "Saaang" it well. The way Carly sang it made it sound angry and shouty. She is also on my could-go-home list.

#7: Sweet Sweet David Archuleta: Even as reports surface of his overbearing stage dad David continues to impress with his earnest delivery of well chosen pop standards. Who cares if his Dad-ager yells at him and shames him in front of the other contestants? The proof is in the pudding. Look how well the Simpson girls have done with Daddy Joe at the helm. Parents know how to manipulate in a way that others can't. Whatever his "home" situation, David is sailing through to the next round.

#8: Brooke "the nanny" White: Speaking of time machines, I'd like to see where Brooke found her look for the night. Completely authentic female singer-songwriter garb from the 70s with her brown daisy print dress and her long wavy fanned back hair. Not surprisingly she sang Carole King's You Got a Friend. She didn't really do anything original with the song and did not wow me with her performance skills. She seems like someone who is desperately awaiting the return of Lilith Fair when her music will once again be appreciated. I just wish she would be more creative and imaginative in preparing to sing classic songs we all know. Right now she sounds like coffee house karaoke and I don't think that will win her the competition.

Last year on Idol Gives Back night, they didn't vote anyone off but voted two people off the following week with the combined scores of both performance nights. I wonder if they will do that again this year, or if they will ax someone tomorrow on the star-studded, ad-filled "results" show. Each week it seems less and less about the contestants and results and more and more about product placement and performance opportunities for professionals. I am sure tomorrow will be no different.