Hey AI - we're back! Looking forward to the top five tonight after saying a somewhat overdue goodbye to Elise last week. The competition continues to be great, so let's kick it off - here are my reactions to the musical numbers, given, as always, before I hear what the judges have to say about any of it. The 60s and then Brit Pop are the categories for the songs, and Little Steven Van Zandt is the guest mentor. Fuggetaboutit.
Hollie: "River Deep Mountain High" - Thinking about how timid Carrie Underwood was back in the day and wondering if Hollie is capable of the kind of transformation Carrie went through - That dress sure seems like it's headed in the right direction. I thought that this was probably as great as she's going to be able to be with an uptempo song. Not are it will be enough, but it was entertaining and didn't seem forced or self-aware.
Phillip: "The Letter" - Another great arrangement - another great performance from someone whose schtick should be getting old but instead is making me want to buy the whole album.
Skylar: "Fortunate Son" - Okay, this is the perfect song for her to attack - but… will this choice hurt her in the patriotic south? We're talking about a severely anti-war protest song about Vietnam. Even though it's CCR - which should be safe… just kinda makes me wonder. It reminds me of when ppl loved Bruce's Born in the USA without realizing the irony of the lyrics. Overall I liked it but she may get tagged by the judges for not quite having it all there.
Joshua and Phillip: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" - they sound neutered. These are two guys who look at a melody line as a suggestion and probably have never had to bow to anyone's harmony line. as a result, the first verse and chorus were boring and lame, and the bridge was the one section that made the producers think that this would be a good idea.
Jessica: "Proud Mary" - For me this is one of those with Jessica where I know she's nailing it, but the mimic factor is so high that it makes it less credible for me as a performance. It's the kind of performance that could put her in a Tina Turner cover band instead of the top four of American Idol.
Joshua: "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" - Perfect song pick for him, it's like he used my flux capacitor from last week and became a Motown sensation. And this is such a difference to me between the mimic of youth (Jessica) and the emulation of age.
Okay, after round one I would just like to say that before any of these top five get eliminated, that tomorrow night Taylor Hicks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze should surrender their AI winning titles and awards to this top five. Seriously. the four who don't win of these five are miles ahead of all four of those guys. Just sayin'.
Here's round two. Using the 3 word or less strategy for round two, except for the trio coming up. Trust me, it's harder to be held to fewer words.
Hollie: "Bleeding Love" - She has arrived.
Phillip: "Time of the Season" - Drink the Kool-aid.
Jessica, Skylar & Hollie: "Love Keeps Liftin' Me" - I could take or leave this personally. I realize they are obligated to fill a two hour show, but come on. A trio with background singers filling in the chorus is totally unnecessary. Next you'll tell me that Wilson Phillips has reunited and is playing shows again.
Skylar: "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" - Needed NO actors.
Jessica: "You Are So Beautiful" - Solid, honest interpretation.
Joshua: "To Love Somebody" - Bee Jesus Heaven!
RANDOM NOTES:
Funniest sign: Phillip Phillips: He's so talented that his parents named him twice!
Ryan outed Phillip Phillips girlfriend and single-handedly put him into the bottom three this week as the women scorned will not vote for a man taken.
Steven Tyler: "The only thing that gives experience a run for its money is a sixteen year old." Gross.
Ryan: That's a daffodil.
Steven censors himself and chooses to say "hell" instead of "Crap." Whuh?
So who's IN IT TO WIN IT? I can't imagine trying to prognosticate who's in the bottom three. Easy pickings based on previous weeks would be Skylar and Hollie - could it be that Phillip will join them for the first week ever?
Hollie: "River Deep Mountain High" - Thinking about how timid Carrie Underwood was back in the day and wondering if Hollie is capable of the kind of transformation Carrie went through - That dress sure seems like it's headed in the right direction. I thought that this was probably as great as she's going to be able to be with an uptempo song. Not are it will be enough, but it was entertaining and didn't seem forced or self-aware.
Phillip: "The Letter" - Another great arrangement - another great performance from someone whose schtick should be getting old but instead is making me want to buy the whole album.
Skylar: "Fortunate Son" - Okay, this is the perfect song for her to attack - but… will this choice hurt her in the patriotic south? We're talking about a severely anti-war protest song about Vietnam. Even though it's CCR - which should be safe… just kinda makes me wonder. It reminds me of when ppl loved Bruce's Born in the USA without realizing the irony of the lyrics. Overall I liked it but she may get tagged by the judges for not quite having it all there.
Joshua and Phillip: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" - they sound neutered. These are two guys who look at a melody line as a suggestion and probably have never had to bow to anyone's harmony line. as a result, the first verse and chorus were boring and lame, and the bridge was the one section that made the producers think that this would be a good idea.
Jessica: "Proud Mary" - For me this is one of those with Jessica where I know she's nailing it, but the mimic factor is so high that it makes it less credible for me as a performance. It's the kind of performance that could put her in a Tina Turner cover band instead of the top four of American Idol.
Joshua: "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" - Perfect song pick for him, it's like he used my flux capacitor from last week and became a Motown sensation. And this is such a difference to me between the mimic of youth (Jessica) and the emulation of age.
Okay, after round one I would just like to say that before any of these top five get eliminated, that tomorrow night Taylor Hicks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze should surrender their AI winning titles and awards to this top five. Seriously. the four who don't win of these five are miles ahead of all four of those guys. Just sayin'.
Here's round two. Using the 3 word or less strategy for round two, except for the trio coming up. Trust me, it's harder to be held to fewer words.
Hollie: "Bleeding Love" - She has arrived.
Phillip: "Time of the Season" - Drink the Kool-aid.
Jessica, Skylar & Hollie: "Love Keeps Liftin' Me" - I could take or leave this personally. I realize they are obligated to fill a two hour show, but come on. A trio with background singers filling in the chorus is totally unnecessary. Next you'll tell me that Wilson Phillips has reunited and is playing shows again.
Skylar: "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" - Needed NO actors.
Jessica: "You Are So Beautiful" - Solid, honest interpretation.
Joshua: "To Love Somebody" - Bee Jesus Heaven!
RANDOM NOTES:
Funniest sign: Phillip Phillips: He's so talented that his parents named him twice!
Ryan outed Phillip Phillips girlfriend and single-handedly put him into the bottom three this week as the women scorned will not vote for a man taken.
Steven Tyler: "The only thing that gives experience a run for its money is a sixteen year old." Gross.
Ryan: That's a daffodil.
Steven censors himself and chooses to say "hell" instead of "Crap." Whuh?
So who's IN IT TO WIN IT? I can't imagine trying to prognosticate who's in the bottom three. Easy pickings based on previous weeks would be Skylar and Hollie - could it be that Phillip will join them for the first week ever?
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