Idol Gives Back

Wednesday night was a special results show for American Idol with their annual “Idol Gives Back” charity event. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Queen Latifa, the telethon-like event showcased various musical artists in an effort to raise money for underprivileged children worldwide.

The top 12 American Idol contestants joined together on the stage one more time to open the show with “Keeping the Dream Alive.” The performance was followed by a video message from actress Jennifer Garner about a poverty ridden town in Kentucky, near where Garner herself grew up.

Comedian George Lopez guest hosted a segment of the show where he judged the judges, while comedian Wanda Sykes performed stand-up comedy. Victoria Beckham, Morgan Freeman, David Cook, Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell all spoke on behalf of underprivileged children in the United States and Africa.

The show also consisted of performances by The Blackeyed Peas, Jeff Beck and Joss Stone, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Mary J. Blige and Elton John.

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced Idol contestants Casey James, Aaron Kelly and Tim Urban as having the lowest amount of votes for the week. At the end of the show Seacrest announced that Tim Urban had been eliminated.
Next week’s guest coach will be country artist Shania Twain and the contestants will be performing a song from her songbook.

Seven Inspiring Idols

This week Grammy award winner Alicia Keys guided the Idol contestants in performing songs of inspiration for the American audience. Casey James was the first to perform. He chose Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop.” Alicia Keys advised to him to show his personality through the song in order to make it memorable for the audience. He did showcase not only his personality, but also his instrumental talent with a guitar. Judge Randy Jackson thought James gave a nice performance but it was redundant. It was the same type of nice performance he usually gives and James needs to now think out of the box in order to advance to the finals. Judge Simon Cowell explained to James how his performance was uninspiring and thus, didn’t match the theme of the week. This amounted to “a lazy song choice,” Cowell said.

Lee Dewyze chose a great song to perform in Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer.” I thought Keys gave him some great advice that could really help him win the competition. She advised him to remember what the song was about and to feel and then portray that character. If he could accomplish that, then he will connect emotionally with the song and thus, connect emotionally with the audience. He did perform the song very well and connected well emotionally. It wasn’t quite a perfect performance, but it was close. Jackson commended him on the performances he had been giving and provided encouragement. Judge Kara DioGuardi believed that performance was his “moment” in the competition, which proved he connected with at least one person in the audience other than me.

Tim Urban chose “Better Days” by one of my favorite bands, the Goo Goo Dolls, for his inspirational performance. Keys asked Urban to reiterate the feeling of the song so it becomes his own. She seemed very happy with his choice and rehearsal. Jackson, however, felt his actual performance was just ok. Judge Ellen DeGeneres didn’t like the performance either. DioGuardi told Urban he had the right idea with his song choice, but he didn’t execute it as well as he could have. I liked it, but didn’t love it. His beginning vocals were weak, but gained strength as the song went on.

Aaron Kelly took a bit of a risk in choosing R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” for his performance. I personally didn’t feel connected with him or the song and I don’t think he felt as connected to it as he should have in order to make it work. Jackson thought his song arrangement was strange, which it was. Cowell liked the end but admitted that he would have changed the radio station if that song had come on.

Siobhan Magnus chose to sing a duet as her inspirational song performance. She chose “When You Believe” by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. I think singing a duet, especially such a big one, when she is only one voice was a mistake and Alicia Keys should have told her so. DioGuardi told Magnus that she felt like her performances were increasing in dramatics each week. Also, she is still unsure of who Magnus is as an artist. Cowell thought her song peaked too early and it didn’t seem like a current performance.

Michael Lynche chose Nickelback’s “Hero” for his performance. This is a song I wish Casey James would have chosen instead. It may have been a big risk for Lynche but it didn’t really work as well as it could have for James. Jackson said to Lynche that “it worked out,” but he didn’t elaborate beyond that statement. Kara DioGuardi made some very good points in her criticism. “You don’t have the tone for that voice…the song became unrecognizable,” DioGuardi said. Cowell had an issue with whether or not the song was actually inspirational because it was the theme from a Spiderman movie. For once I thought Cowell’s point was ridiculous. Who cares if it was featured in Spiderman? The point is how well it was performed by Michael Lynche, not Toby Maguire.

Crystal Bowersox performed “People Get Ready” by Curtis Mayfield and, once again, it was the best of the show and may have been the best performance of hers yet. Randy Jackson gave her a standing ovation. “You keep evolving and growing and getting better and better,” DeGeneres said. DioGuardi was very pleased that she did not use her guitar or any other instrument. Cowell was pleased that she exhibited true emotion by crying during the final moments of the performance.

The top 9 contestants...again.

With the judges’ save gone and guest vocal coach Adam Lambert guiding the way, on Tuesday the top nine Idol contestants performed the songs of one of rock’s biggest legends , “The King” Elvis Presley.

Crystal Bowersox, known affectionately to her fans as “Mama Sox,” chose to perform “Saved.” Lambert’s one piece of advice for her was to use an electric guitar in her performance. She did, and it turned out very well. She gave an upbeat, fluid performance. Judge Randy Jackson loved the performance and told her it could have been on a record. Judge Simon Cowell loved that it was original and she didn’t choose an obvious song.

Andrew Garcia decided to perform “Hound Dog.” Lambert forced him to change it up a lot during the rehearsal because he thought it was boring. Unfortunately, he didn’t keep the changes in the actual performance. The performance started off slow and boring and didn’t get much better as he went on. Judge Ellen DeGeneres thought he pulled it off; he just needed a little more power and attitude. I don’t agree. He didn’t change it up near enough and there was nothing resembling the stage presence of Elvis. Judge Kara DioGuardi felt like he used the microphone as a crutch and should have owned the performance more. Cowell thought it was lazy and didn’t feel any star power.

Tim Urban performed “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Lambert wanted him to sing up an octave at the end of the song, but he chose not to do it during the actual performance and it still worked. DioGuardi called it her favorite of his performances ever and it was mine too. I think if someone were getting married, his version is the kind of song they would think of playing for a dance. Simon Cowell had some uplifting words for him also. “You have managed to go from zero to hero in two weeks,” he said.

Lee Dewyze chose a great song to perform in “A Little Less Conversation.” Jackson said he was “in the zone.” DeGeneres liked how he showed more confidence and made the song sound so current. DioGuardi loved it, but wished he was more playful and less serious. I totally agree. I think the confidence is still missing and until he has more of it, he won’t loosen up and be connecting with the audience as much as he should.

Aaron Kelly performed “Blue Suede Shoes” and I love the power that his small frame can exude when he’s singing. Jackson liked the blues part but not the beginning. DeGeneres thought it was good but could have been a little bit better. Cowell was frustrated because it wasn’t as original as others in the show and it sounded similar to karaoke in his opinion. I don’t agree with Cowell. I thought it was pretty good and liked his attitude and moves.

Siobhan Magnus chose “Suspicious Minds” to perform. She changed it on advice from Lambert because he thought the arrangement was sleepy. Jackson liked hearing the strong, big vocals again from her. DioGuardi thought it sounded as if the first half and the second half of the performance were showcasing two different voices and she didn’t really like it. Cowell also didn’t like the first part of the song and said she missed some of the notes.

Michael Lynche, on advice from Siobhan Magnus, performed “In the Ghetto.” I thought it wasn’t bad, but for the night, it was one of the worst performances. Jackson liked the vocals but thought it was a little slow. DioGuardi thought he sang it well. Cowell agreed, saying it was much better than the previous week.

Katie Stevens performed “Baby, What You Want Me to do?” She sang it like it was an R&B song and I still don’t agree with her singing that genre despite DioGuardi’s insistence that she should go in that direction. The judges liked the vocals except for Cowell, who thought it was a bit annoying.

Casey James chose an old Elvis song, “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” to perform. This was the performance I was waiting to hear because his voice is the one that I thought would fit the Elvis songbook best. I was slightly disappointed as it wasn’t his best performance, but it was still pretty good. Jackson said he was missing something different from James, but he liked that it was another solid performance and DeGeneres agreed. DioGuardi said “That just really fell short for me. There’s so much more to you…” Cowell called his performance “a wasted opportunity,” which is exactly what it was. Apparently the judges were also expecting him to have the best performance of the night but he didn’t deliver that.

Wednesday night’s results show opened up with the Idol contestants performing a medley of Elvis classics.Show host Ryan Seacrest announced that, due to the judges using the save the previous week, they would have to eliminate two contestants in one show. Seacrest reviewed the comments that the judges had made the previous night regarding James, Kelly, and Garcia. He asked Andrew Garcia some questions before telling him that he was the first contestant of the night to be eliminated.

Former American Idol season 7 contestant Brooke White and former Nashville Star contestant Justin Gaston performed “If I Can Dream.” Then, Seacrest reviewed the judges’ comments for each contestant from the previous night and stated that they were safe until he got to Katie Stevens and Michael Lynche. Adam Lambert came on the stage and performed his hit “What Do You Want from Me?” before Seacrest announced that Katie Stevens had been eliminated.
Next week, Idol gives back. Stay tuned America…

The Final 9 Contestants

Tuesday night the top nine American Idol contestants performed the songs of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. To give a new spin to the show, a video package of the contestants discussing one another was put together and clips were played right before each contestant took the stage to perform.

Aaron Kelly performed first and he sang “The Long and Winding Road.” Judge Randy Jackson thought it should have been changed up a little more because it was a bit sleepy. Judge Simon Cowell thought he needed to become more relevant by performing in a younger way. He claimed the performance was too old fashioned. I thought it was very good vocally though it should have been changed up a bit more, but not necessarily in a younger way since it was an old Beattles song.

Katie Stevens then took the stage and performed the classic Beattles hit, “Let it Be.” Randy Jackson thought it was her best performance yet and Judge Ellen DeGeneres thought she had changed it up just enough to make it great. Judge Kara DioGuardi was proud of her for being confident and having a great vocal performance. Judge Simon Cowell thought her performance was leaning a little more along the lines of country music, which is what he had suggested. The other judges continued to disagree with him. I thought it was a little sleepy like Aaron’s and it was a bit flat a couple of times.

Andrew Garcia got on the stage behind the judges, with his guitar, and performed “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Jackson called it a solid performance but thought it was a little corny due to how pop-like he made the performance and arrangement. DioGuardi said “I wanna love it, I do.” However, she thinks he could have done more with his interpretation. Cowell thought the arrangement was overpowered by the band. I think the audience seemed to like the pop-like stylings of it, but it just wasn’t as good as the week before. Just as he started to go forward, he takes a step back.

Michael Lynche, accompanied by string instruments, performed “Eleanor Rigby.” DeGeneres thought he did an incredible job while taking a huge risk. Cowell thought it sounded like something you would hear in a musical and that it didn’t sound current. Jackson disagreed. He thought the musical stylings of it were what made it current. I thought he made it more soulful, which I liked.

Crystal Bowersox performed “Come Together” and it sounded like Aerosmith’s remake in the 70s. DioGuardi said it was one of her favorite performances and compared her to Bonnie Raitt. I thought she hit the nail right on the head with that comparison. Cowell called it quirky and said that staying true to herself will make her work as an artist.

Tim Urban performed “All My Lovin’” with the aid of an acoustic guitar, which I loved. Jackson loved his Beattles-type look and thought it was much better than the previous few weeks. DeGeneres thought it was the perfect song choice for him. Cowell liked that there were no gimmicks involved. He told Urban he was very proud of him for consistently taking their criticisms like a man.

Casey James performed “Jealous Guy” by John Lennon. I like his voice and his version of the song better than John Lennon so take that Beattles! Jackson loved that he was playing the acoustic guitar and not electric. I think that was appropriate for the song. “It was so soulful,” said DeGeneres. She thought it sounded like he had poured his emotions into the song and that he was singing to someone in particular. DioGuardi told him that he showed vulnerability and depth, but he can still do more. Cowell called his performance the best of the night. “I’m very, very impressed with you tonight,” he said.

Siobhan Magnus performed “Across the Universe.” Jackson thought it was another sleepy song but he liked the tender side of it. “Nobody screams artist more than you,” he told her. DioGuardi called her performance “very restrained and polite,” which was a different side of her. Cowell inquired what she had personally connected to the song. She responded by explaining that the chorus reminded her of her baby sisters being her whole world which is something that I can personally relate to.

Lee Dewyze performed “Hey Jude.” If I were picking the songs I don’t think I would have picked this one for him, but he proved me wrong. His confidence has definitely improved in the last few weeks and he’s loosened up. DeGeneres thought his performance was very cool and Cowell told him that he wouldn’t have used the bagpipe player. DioGuardi had some words of encouragement for him. “I can hear you on the radio…It’s hot, it really is,” she told him.

Indeed Dewyze’s performance proved to be hot and likable among the audience, along with those of Casey James and Tim Urban on Wednesday night’s results show. Unfortunately for Michael Lynche, Aaron Kelly, and Andrew Garcia, their performances were not as liked as their amount of votes put them in the bottom three for the week. The ladies went from excitement for being safe to sadness and disappointment as they saw the faces of the bottom three gentlemen.

Seacrest had announced in the being of the results show that the producers had warned him the elimination results were shocking…and they were a bit. “Big Mike” Michael Lynche, after a series of excellent performances, was voted off the show and had to sing for the judges for his safety. He was wise enough to perform “This Woman’s Work,” his best performance to date and the judges unanimously decided to use the save this time and allow him to come back next week.

His ending performance wasn’t the only great one on the show. Jason Derulo gave an excellent performance of a combination of his songs “What You Say” and “In My Head.” American Idol Season 7 finalist David Archuleta returned to the show and performed John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Rihanna, one of my favorite R&B performers, closed out the guest performances with a great rendition of “Rock Star 101.”
Next week’s guest coach will be Idol alum Adam Lambert. Stay tuned…

The Top 10 Contestants

The top 10 American Idol contestants performed R&B songs on Tuesday night after being guided by guest vocal coach, Usher. On Wednesday night’s results show Usher performed his song “OMG” and the audience said goodbye to another contestant. Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard opened the results show with “Don’t Make ‘Em Like You No More” and P Diddy later performed the world premiere of “Hello Good Morning.”

Siobhan Magnus opened Tuesday’s performance show with “Through the Fire” by Chaka Khan. Some of the high notes sounded off-key. Judge Randy Jackson said the pitch was off and it wasn’t her best performance. Judge Kara DioGuardi called it an off day for her. Simon Cowell thought it was her weakest performance and I completely agree. “I’m getting bored at the screaming at the end,” he said.

Next, Casey James performed “Hold on, I’m Coming” by Sam & Dave. I really liked it and I thought it was a really good song choice for him. Randy Jackson thought it was the perfect song choice and he performed it well, along with showing off his vocal range. “The thing about you is you’re consistent. You’re always good,” judge Ellen DeGeneres said. Judge Cowell called it his strongest performance yet.

Michael Lynche performed “I’m Ready for Love” by India Arie. He picked up a guitar for this performance, which the audience is not used to seeing from him. Usher gave him some good advice during the week when he told him to open up to everyone because he’s creating a one-on-one intimate connection. Most of Lynche’s songs have been intimate, and not creating a bond with the whole audience will hurt him in the vote. DeGeneres and DioGuardi called his performance beautiful. Cowell claims he can now finally take him seriously as an artist.

Didi Benami performed “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.” She said she picked a song that moved her and she got emotional when she sang it for Usher. She kept her emotions in check for the performance, but it wasn’t her strongest. Jackson claimed the performance flat-lined and the big note she hit was sharp. DioGuardi said she has changed and has lost her way. Cowell agreed with DioGuardi and called her performance over-the-top and old-fashioned.

Tim Urban performed “Sweet Love” by Anita Baker. Usher didn’t think his practice session was believable and his advice was to literally sing to someone like they were right there and to be in the moment. I thought his bottom notes were flat in the performance and it wasn’t believable to me either. Jackson thought it was in tune but lacked a vibe. DioGuardi said he took the soul out of it and Urban started laughing. “I’ll tell you why he’s laughing,” said Cowell. “Because I don’t think it makes any difference whatsoever what we say.” I agree. For some reason the audience keeps voting for him and I feel he should have been voted off about five times by now.

Andrew Garcia performed an acoustic version of Chris Brown’s “Forever.” Usher said he could see the nervousness and see how much he was over-thinking it so he made him practice it with him more than once. I think that Usher really helped him because he finally hit his stride with this performance. Jackson called the outfit and the performance dope. “…That is one giant leap in the right direction,” DioGuardi said. Even Cowell liked it and called it miles better.

Katie Stevens performed “Chain of Fools” by Aretha Franklin. It was a big song that she performed quite well. DeGeneres thought the vocals were great but, like always, wanted her to perform a younger, more current song. I don’t agree in this case because taking on Aretha is a big risk that she was able to pull off, vocally and energy/attitude wise. Cowell thought it was a bit robotic and didn’t like the overall performance as much as the other judges did.

Lee Dewyze performed “Treat Her Like a Lady” by the Cornelius Brothers, despite having walking pneumonia this week. I thought it was an awesome performance, especially for being ill. Jackson called it unbelievable and said it was the best he’d heard from him in awhile. DeGeneres called it the best performance of the night. DioGuardi called it amazing and it truly was.

Crystal Bowersox finally put down her guitar and sat down to the piano to perform “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight. It was a beautiful performance. She hit a short series of high notes that I didn’t know she could hit. Ellen DeGeneres said “…You are in it to win it and that was a wonderful, wonderful idea.” Cowell called her choice of song sensational but advised her to not stray from who she is.

Aaron Kelly performed “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. Jackson called it alright, but DeGeneres and DioGuardi liked it. Cowell said it wasn’t as good as the previous week. I think he could have performed better and actually has. It wasn’t the best song choice for him, which was mainly why he gave a lackluster performance.

During the results show Didi Benami, Tim Urban, and Katie Stevens were announced as having the lowest votes. Unfortunately, the audience had to say goodbye to one of my favorites, Didi Benami, as she had the lowest amount of votes and the judges voted not to save her.