First live show of the season, and I still owe people mix CDs. This... is American Idol.
The semifinal weeks have themes this year. I'm skeptical about that, but we'll see how it works out. It's 60s week, and the boys are on the hot seat tonight. Reactions to the performances after the cut!
(The pool starts in three weeks, once we get to the finals. The usual rules, though I'd like to know what they're doing with Idol Gives Back this year. More on that to come.)
David Hernandez: "In the Midnight Hour"
S'okay. Good start, decent performance, but hardly a standout. (Though that may depend on how the rest of 'em do.)
Chikezie: "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday"
Yawn.
David Cook: "Happy Together"
Interesting take, and unlike the judges, I thought it was strongest at the ultra-mellow start. From there he could've explored those mellow possibilities further, or reversed course and really amped it up; instead he ended up somewhere in the middle. Didn't quite work, but I'd like to see what he does next.
Jason Yeager: "Moon River"
Nice smile. Totally bland performance.
Robbie Carrico: "One (Is the Loneliest Number)"
Perfectly decent performance. But still nothing memorable.
David Archuleta: "Shop Around"
"Shop Around"? Really? ...okay, wildly implausible choice, but he actually made it work by the end. I'm confused.
Danny Noriega: "Jailhouse Rock"
A bit rushed, a bit scattered. Pity.
Luke Menard: "Everybody's Talkin'"
Pretty. Which, for better and for worse, is all I can say for it.
Colton Berry: "Suspicious Minds"
Way better than the other Elvis song tonight, anyway.
Garrett Haley: "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"
Yawn.
Jason Castro: "What A Day for a Daydream" [playing an acoustic guitar]
(The finalists include Noriega and Castro? ...umm, never mind.)
The guitar isn't helping at all. Reminds me of Paula and Carole in The Magic Garden. (And I have very fond memories of The Magic Garden, but Idol it ain't.)
Michael Johns: "Light My Fire"
Ah, the year's first use of the firey backdrop.
Not bad. And yet, not superlative. Maybe my expectations for the final spot are higher.
Michael Johns and David Archuleta probably had the night's best performances, but I'm voting for David Cook, on spec. Given my druthers, Chikezie and Garrett would be going home this week.
Posted by Shmuel at February 19, 2008 10:04 PM