Tonight the three finalists perform songs picked by the judges, by themselves, and Jimmy Iovine. First up are the judges picks. But before we go into that, I'd like to do a plug for some independent artist friends of mine. If you've liked my mutterings on American Idol this season, do me a solid and buy the new CD by my friend Andrea Dawn called "Theories of How We Can Be Friends." I just got to listen to it yesterday, and it's fantastic. A great local artist making great local music. Buy on iTunes here, or on her website. If you can't do that, at least like her on Facebook! Do it! Okay, now back to my reactions to tonight's show, which as always, I write before I hear what the judges have to say...
Joshua - "I'd Rather Be Blind" - Gotta love that key change. I thought this was fantastic. But… I would like to see 15% more energy and specificity from his eyes. There are times where his eyes just kind of drift away, and even though the voice maintains it's amazing-ness, it could be even better. Only drawback of this song is its lack of familiarity.
Jessica: "My All" - In the second verse, it almost seemed like she was running out of breath. Not a fan of this in general, though she executed the choruses well. It was a good off speed pitch for her, but again, a song that is not terribly familiar.
Phillips: "Beggin'" - So this tune is actually a Four Seasons song that was remade. Again, not the most familiar Four Seasons' tune, but in Phillip's case, it works to his advantage because as a singer-songwriter type, his attack with an unfamiliar song makes it seem like he might have written it. My only negative on that one was that his eyes were closed more often this performance than in the past.
Round One goes to Phillip, in my humble opinion…
Joshua: "Imagine" - Hey, it's a recognizable song! I want to steal that drummer's stick and throw it. I would have liked this song, but what is up with this arrangement? The background vocals sound like a holdover from the Donny and Marie Variety Show. The only thing this arrangement had going for it was the last four bars. That ending was great. The rest of it? Just okay for me.
Jessica: "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing" - Sure, it's an Aerosmith song, but it was written by Diane Warren, so it's not exactly away from her type. This is a lot better than her first song - it's too old for her for sure, but the lyrics are trite enough that it doesn't take too much away. Big finish. Strong pick.
Phillip: "Disease" - Well, I have to say that it's a good thing that Phillips' video montage of his hometown trip was the best and most interesting and emotionally touching (his parents are so sweet) - because that performance was utterly forgettable. I feel like I should hear Simon Cowell saying "This is a singing competition!"
Round Two goes to Jessica.
Joshua: "No More Drama" - This was a great pick for him - but what is going on with all that bouncing? He turned into Tigger all of a sudden. That's okay, because Tiggers are wonderful things, and the climax of that song and the end of it with the quiet scream was awesome.
Jessica: "I'll Be There" - Gotta agree with Jimmy's picks so far - this one is fantastic for her - it fits her age and is of enough musical caliber to match her abilities. When she started that second verse with that signature "Let Me Feel…" it was gold. Best performance of hers in the whole competition in my opinion.
Phillip: "We've Got Tonight" - This is one of my favorite songs. And I will likely be buying this version on iTunes soon. He did great. He sang the melody, he told a story, he was vulnerable. That was a genius pick.
Round Three goes to Jimmy Iovine.
RANDOM NOTES:
Randy: If It Broke Ain't, Fix Don't it?
So far Steven has predicted that both Joshua and Jessica will win AI this year. He knows that's not possible, right?
Jimmy Iovine talking about the "magic" of the church. Priceless.
Randy just said and I quote "You have laid everything on this stage that there is to lay."
I hope that for the finale next week they string together every time Steven Tyler says "Over the Top". Gotta be sixty times this season.
Steven (after swearing on live television): "Let 'Em Bleep it at home." - Ummmm that's not how this works. I don't have a bleep remote that I can press at home.
So - who are the finalists? Kristi said to me she thinks it's going to be the boys. I tend to agree. Plus, I really want to see Phillip and Joshua sing "Say, Say, Say." Would that not be fantastic? Who can make that happen for me?
Joshua - "I'd Rather Be Blind" - Gotta love that key change. I thought this was fantastic. But… I would like to see 15% more energy and specificity from his eyes. There are times where his eyes just kind of drift away, and even though the voice maintains it's amazing-ness, it could be even better. Only drawback of this song is its lack of familiarity.
Jessica: "My All" - In the second verse, it almost seemed like she was running out of breath. Not a fan of this in general, though she executed the choruses well. It was a good off speed pitch for her, but again, a song that is not terribly familiar.
Phillips: "Beggin'" - So this tune is actually a Four Seasons song that was remade. Again, not the most familiar Four Seasons' tune, but in Phillip's case, it works to his advantage because as a singer-songwriter type, his attack with an unfamiliar song makes it seem like he might have written it. My only negative on that one was that his eyes were closed more often this performance than in the past.
Round One goes to Phillip, in my humble opinion…
Joshua: "Imagine" - Hey, it's a recognizable song! I want to steal that drummer's stick and throw it. I would have liked this song, but what is up with this arrangement? The background vocals sound like a holdover from the Donny and Marie Variety Show. The only thing this arrangement had going for it was the last four bars. That ending was great. The rest of it? Just okay for me.
Jessica: "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing" - Sure, it's an Aerosmith song, but it was written by Diane Warren, so it's not exactly away from her type. This is a lot better than her first song - it's too old for her for sure, but the lyrics are trite enough that it doesn't take too much away. Big finish. Strong pick.
Phillip: "Disease" - Well, I have to say that it's a good thing that Phillips' video montage of his hometown trip was the best and most interesting and emotionally touching (his parents are so sweet) - because that performance was utterly forgettable. I feel like I should hear Simon Cowell saying "This is a singing competition!"
Round Two goes to Jessica.
Joshua: "No More Drama" - This was a great pick for him - but what is going on with all that bouncing? He turned into Tigger all of a sudden. That's okay, because Tiggers are wonderful things, and the climax of that song and the end of it with the quiet scream was awesome.
Jessica: "I'll Be There" - Gotta agree with Jimmy's picks so far - this one is fantastic for her - it fits her age and is of enough musical caliber to match her abilities. When she started that second verse with that signature "Let Me Feel…" it was gold. Best performance of hers in the whole competition in my opinion.
Phillip: "We've Got Tonight" - This is one of my favorite songs. And I will likely be buying this version on iTunes soon. He did great. He sang the melody, he told a story, he was vulnerable. That was a genius pick.
Round Three goes to Jimmy Iovine.
RANDOM NOTES:
Randy: If It Broke Ain't, Fix Don't it?
So far Steven has predicted that both Joshua and Jessica will win AI this year. He knows that's not possible, right?
Jimmy Iovine talking about the "magic" of the church. Priceless.
Randy just said and I quote "You have laid everything on this stage that there is to lay."
I hope that for the finale next week they string together every time Steven Tyler says "Over the Top". Gotta be sixty times this season.
Steven (after swearing on live television): "Let 'Em Bleep it at home." - Ummmm that's not how this works. I don't have a bleep remote that I can press at home.
So - who are the finalists? Kristi said to me she thinks it's going to be the boys. I tend to agree. Plus, I really want to see Phillip and Joshua sing "Say, Say, Say." Would that not be fantastic? Who can make that happen for me?
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