Tonight's theme: The Year They Were Born.
Rambling reactions follow!
Ramiele (1987): "Hearts Alone"
Thank God we're done with the Beatles.
Anyway. Not bad. Not great.
(Apparently she's sick. Awww.)
Jason (1987 -- go, Jason! It's your birthday!): "Fragile" [playing the acoustic guitar]
Suffers terribly by comparison to the original. Possibly the time constraints are an issue; it's supposed to be laid-back (which possibly wouldn't do him any favors on Idol, though soulful could work for his demographic), but this is closer to frenetic.
Syesha (1987): "If I Were Your Woman"
Yawn.
Chikezie (1985): "If Only for One Night"
Following his heart and going with a ballad... the lyrics of which include "I must be crazy." So sad, so true. Chikezie may actually get booted this time. That was weak, borderline painful.
(Is it just me, or does his jacket look like it was the target of a flock of seagulls? By which I mean actual birds, not the group.)
Brooke (1983): "Every Breath You Take" [playing the piano]
Ooh. False start! ...okay, maybe she won't come in first. Decent performance, but ehh.
Brooke can't stop replying, can she. [sigh]
Michael (1978): "We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions" (I think?)
My landlady called just as this was starting (side note: I just found out my house is being sold this Thursday). I had to turn the volume way down and pretty much missed the performance. It looked good, though... I'll have to YouTube it later.
Carly (1983): "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
S'okay.
L'il Davy (1990): "You're the Voice"
No. Just... no.
Kristy (1984): "God Bless the U.S.A."
(Interesting choice; the season 2 performance stands as one of the greatest moments in Idol history.)
Good selection. The performance itself is just okay, but the song itself carries-- oh dear. What was that key change? Bad, bad key change! This is not a song that needs to be messed with! (Quite the contrary.)
Oof. Destroyed by the arrangement.
David (1982): "Billie Jean"
Oh, I love it. I love it. If I had a lighter on me, I'd totally be waving it in the air. He's got my vote.
(I will await the usual outraged posts explaining who did this arrangement first. [There's a passing resemblance to Neil Finn's take, offhand.] These are all supposed to be covers, people. The point isn't to compose or arrange the song yourself; it's to pick the song, pick the arrangement, and sing it well.)
Posted by Shmuel at March 25, 2008 9:31 PMI am so glad I didn't see Archuelta (sp/whatever)'s full performance because that scared me. Ewww.
Neil Finn for Billie Jean? I don't know who he is, I don't think, but Ryan said he was doing Chris Cornell's version. I didn't know it was year born and covers... Chris Cornell...1982..whaa?
Anywhoozle I'll be back.
By "covers" I just meant that these are all songs that other people did before, not originals.
The Neal Finn cover I alluded to is from the Andrew Denton Morning Show; they have (or perhaps had) a segment called "Musical Challenge" in which performers were challenged to perform songs totally different from their usual styles. This particular one is the leadoff track on the first CD collection of those.
Posted by: Shmuel at March 25, 2008 9:48 PMOkay, I am still shooting blindly here, somewhat... That Archuleta guy seemed terrible tonight, but it seems that he's got a heck of a following, so I don't think he'll go. Kristy wasn't all that strong, but I dunno, that Chickezie dude was kind of weak... David Cook's song I really liked.
1. David Cook
2. Brooke
3. Carly
4. Ramiele
5. Jason
6. Michael
7. David Archuleta
8. Syesha
9. Kristy
11. Chikezie
So I may be way the heck off, but I didn't borrow from anyone ths week! Hahaha!
Posted by: Jesse at March 25, 2008 10:32 PMHere is my problem with David Cook - (I really just want to punch him in the neck) and it's not all his fault, but he feeds off of it - if he is so self-satisfied about "being brave" and "taking chances," then why doesn't he choose a song that hasn't been covered in a rock way before and make his own original? If he's going to cover someone's cool idea of a change to a song, that is fine, like Shmuel said, you sing covers - BUT - don't act like a douchebag and like you're the second coming about it and act like you came up with it all on your own. Be humble - say you think Chris Cornell or Neil Finn's version is cool, you know? That's what Daughtry did with the Live thing, that's what Bighead Cook should be doing. And f*cking Randy Jackson should NOT be saying that he is the most original contestant they have ever had on the show, because did he not listen to the fact that he was covering someone's cover? Does Randy not remember Blake? Sure, Blake faltered every now and then, but at least he did his own original take on things.
Okay, down from soapbox.
This is called Shmuel's soapbox, right?
Anyhoodle, this night was not the greatest at ALL and Kristy Lee Cook is systematically trying to kill me by singing that DAMN song. That song and I are sworn enemies. But on the bright side, my baby Michael Johns moved himself up a few slots with his awesomeness tonight. (Shmuel, YouTube it RIGHT AWAY!)
Oh dear, I don't even know what the hell to put for the rankings. Who is going to win??? Archuleta is losing steam, and fast. Why does he keep picking those RIDICULOUS songs? And sorry, Shmuel, but Brooke comes off as too old and is not relatable to the tween girls. Carly as well. This is a weird season, y'all. I swear Castro is high all the time, but that boy can come and be molested by me ANY time.
Ahem.
So, the list, right?
1. David Archuleta
2. Jason Castro
3. David Cook
4. Brooke
5. Michael Johns
6. Syesha
7. Ramiele
8. Carly
9. Kristy
10. Chikezie
wow. how horrible.
1. David Archuleta
2. Jason Castro
3. David Cook
4. Brooke white
5. Carly Smithson
6. Michael Johns
7. Syesha
8. Ramiele
9. Kristy Lee Cook
10. Chikeze
IF JASON CASTRO IS BOOTED... i already have no interest in watching this season except for him..
Posted by: tekay at March 26, 2008 11:56 AMFirst: Pam, please, by all means, rant away. I'm enjoying it hugely. (I'm also mentally composing my reply, because you are wrong, wrong, wrong.) :-)
Anyway, my picks. Here goes nothin':
1. David Cook
2. Carly
3. Li'l Davy
4. Michael
5. Brooke
6. Jason
7. Ramiele
8. Chikezie
9. Kristy
10. Syesha
Okay, since it hasn't been posted or anything yet, I am holding my tongue.
This is the first time I have seen the show in it's entirety ALL SEASON... so I have no idea about the Cook/Daughtry comparison (I never liked Daughtry) but I just wanted to say I love you Pam.
That rant was just made of awesome, no matter what.