My prayers were answered…the American Idol contestants can live up to their potential, or at least, most of them. After a slow and lousy start last week, the final 10 male contestants stepped up their game Tuesday night and showed a marked improvement. This is despite a last minute change in the line-up for Tuesday’s show. The women were scheduled to perform but, according to contestant Michael Lynche, the men got a call at 10:00 a.m. that morning and were told to be ready at 10:30 to prepare to take the stage that evening. Contestant Crystal Bowersox had been taken to the hospital and was told by doctors that she could not return to the stage until Wednesday. The viewers were not given a reason for the hospital visit, but rumors have circulated that it is due to complications with her diabetes.
When host Ryan Seacrest opened the show by explaining the change in line-up my first thought was that there would again be lousy male performances due to nerves and un-preparedness. However, that was not the case. Though, several performances were not stellar, almost all were better than last week.
Michael Lynche opened the show with James Brown’s “This is a man’s world.” When he was done, judge Randy Jackson stood up, clapped, and called him a real R&B star. Simon Cowell praised him for performing an old song without making it sound dated. Surprisingly, judge Ellen DeGeneres summed up his performance best by saying “Seriously, that was the one to beat. That is the way to start out the night and everybody has now got to top that.” By the end of the night though, despite the improvements, no one had.
John Park, Tim Urban, Todrick Hall, and Jermaine Sellers all showed improvement from their performances last week, but they are again at the bottom of the great performance list. Hall performed Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With it?” Like last week, he changed the arrangement so much that it ruined the song and all the judges let him know it. Sellers performed “What’s Goin’ On” by Marvin Gaye. Kara DioGuardi accused him of trying to use all his tricks in one performance and I agree. Cowell called his performance Cabaret-like. Park performed John Mayer’s “Gravity” and it was a better song choice, but he’s still not connecting with the audience. He was also off pitch several times, which was explained to him by Jackson. Tim Urban also performed better, showing less nerves and chose a much better song for his voice and style. His rendition of Matt Nathanson’s “Come On Get Higher” was youthful, but lacked good execution of the high notes. Both Cowell and I are impressed with his dedication and work ethic, as are probably a lot of viewers. However, as DeGeneres pointed out he lacks stage presence and charisma. All four of these men are in danger of being eliminated Thursday. Urban, due to his look and the fact that he seems to ooze innocence and sweetness, has the best chance of staying.
Casey James and Aaron Kelly both had decent performances again this week, but didn’t really improve. James performed Gavin DeGraw’s “I Don’t Wanna Be” with the aid of an electric guitar. His vocals were good, but not great, though the guitar playing was great. Unfortunately for him, American Idol is a singing competition and the vocals have to measure up. DioGuardi sort of ripped him apart, saying his notes were off on the bottom, which I agree with, and that he wasn’t staying true to himself. Jackson, DeGeneres, Cowell, and I all thought she was over the top with her criticisms. Kelly performed “My Girl” by the temptations and I was disappointed. Kelly’s one of my favorites in this competition and he has the voice to make it to the top five or six, if not win. I thought he started off great, as Randy Jackson said, but the second half fell flat with some slightly screechy vocals. Cowell claimed the arrangement was too old fashioned. Compared to some of the others these two were good and should stay until next week.
Andrew Garcia and Lee Dewyze didn’t improve as much either, if even at all. Dewyze, who had the best performance last week, only had a decent one Tuesday night. Jackson pointed out that he took a risk by performing Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel,” but he had more pitch problems than the previous week. Cowell wants him to connect more because he believes he’s the best vocally. Garcia had a good, but not great performance last week and the same was true again Tuesday night. He performed James Morrison’s “You Give Me Something.” Jackson called “…it pitchy all over the place,” but I think he’s wrong. Three or so pitchy notes do not make a performance pitchy all over the place. Cowell was frustrated because he loves Garcia’s voice, but he hasn’t chosen the right song in two weeks. I totally agree. I think he can wind up near the end of the competition if he can choose better songs.
Alex Lambert showed the most improvement on Tuesday with his performance of John Legend’s “Everybody Knows.” He exhibited less stage freight, vocally sounded clearer, and had fewer pitch mistakes. Cowell said he was “a million times better than last week.” He still has some improvements to make though, and needs to feel more comfortable and confident on stage.
Anyone can be eliminated, but I vote for Sellers to be eliminated this time and, again, I vote for Park because I think he is the worst vocally. I’m choosing to give Urban one last stay of execution.
No comments:
Post a Comment