Something about “American Idol” is making me a little bored. Thank the Smoky Mountains that little pint-sized powerhouse Dolly Parton was around to keep things interesting this week.
Why am I bored?
I think it’s because every week for the past three weeks, the judges have had more or less the same criticisms of each contestant. And for the past three weeks, the contestants have sung more or less the same kinds of songs.
And for the past three weeks, the miserable and CLEAR bottom three — Syesha Mercado, Ramiele Malubay and Kristy Lee Cook — have just kept hanging and hanging and hanging on, and there’s no indication that Ramiele is going anywhere. Ever.
I think my boredom could possibly go away if those three did.
But since that outcome is iffy, let’s discuss the same-old-same-oldness that Tuesday night brought, with one exception…
Carly Smithson: I’ve been waiting and waiting to see just a small glimmer of the wonderfulness Carly purportedly possesses, and I think tonight I finally did. Maybe it’s just because I love “Here You Come Again,” (one of five Dolly songs on my iPod.) Her arrangement was modern and heartfelt, and her delivery finally didn’t feel all that desperate. There’s still something slightly off-putting about her. (Though, unlike pot-calling-the-kettle-poorly-dressed Simon, I don’t think it’s her fashion sense.) She grew on me this week. That’s all I’m saying.
Brooke White and Jason Castro: My two favorites were still good this week, though both are letting their acts get a little stale. For Brooke, her soulful but safe “Jolene” was a bit too reminiscent of too many past performances. And it took just a few strums of Jason’s “Traveling Through” to hear that he had defiantly ignored the judges’ advice last week to mix it up a little. If he doesn’t try something new soon, I’m going to have to replace him with…
David Cook, who continues to impress with his originality and rock-star believability. Plus, he gets the award for Most Improved Hair. I was starting to wonder if that moppy, moppy top was hiding an atrocity more severe than just a gargantuan forehead. I’m relieved to see that all is well under there.
Michael Johns, meanwhile, managed to deliver a memorable performance for the second consecutive week, bluesin’ up “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right” (another of my Dolly iPod selections.) His voice is finally showing some range, though I hope he didn’t injure his instrument with that tightly wrapped scarfy thing. Slap a Burt Reynolds mustache on that guy, and he could have been a character in one of Dolly’s cheesy ’80s movies.
David Archuleta: The judges seemed to love his delivery of “Smoky Mountain Memories” and commended him on his song selection. But I didn’t buy it. Pretty sure the closest he’s ever been to the Smoky Mountains was that Josh Groban Piano camp he attended last summer. I like little Davey less every week.
Those girls who need to go: I don’t have much more to add about Kristy Lee, Ramiele and Sysesha except to ask them to please leave that mega tub of glitter eye shadow in the dressing room area when they go.
So what did you think? Was Carly much improved? What does Simon have against sparrows? And will one of the outclassed three finally go on Wednesday?
20 Comments
Omg, Dolly Parton was so wonderful! You forget how good Dolly is until you see and then you fall in love all over again. What an amazing lady.
Oh, Carly was so amazing tonight. She’s growing on me too. Threw a few votes her way.
Well first I have to say I told you so that Syesha would attempt And I Will Always Love You. I love the term *faux diva* that one of the commenters used to describe her. I don’t understand why the judges didn’t crucify her for that obvious take on that song. Half faux Dolly, half faux Whitney and all genuinely horrific. Maybe I’m tone deaf but this is the second week in a row that I was sure her big dramatic notes were ear shattering flat. The judges still say she is good. Dolly’s comment that *she certainly isn’t shy* struck me as a way of saying *she is one stuck up little piece of work*. She is beginning to surpass Kristy on my never want to see your face again list.
I just don’t get that Ramielle never is in the bottom three. She had one good performance the first week and since then it has ranged from so so to weak to really really bad like last night. What a mess! I get that the country folks are voting for Kristy but who is voting for Ramielle?
Kristy didn’stink but she didn’t outshine anyone either and this is her *wheelhouse* or whatever Randy said. She’s here for one more week at least though.
I loved Carly’s version of Here You Come Again, but have to agree with Simon that she needs better clothes. Although I agree with Denise that Simon does too.
As for the rest of the performances….what Denise said.
I’m going to cut to the chase….KL didn’t bomb but she still isn’t as good a vocalist as David C or Brooke. Ramielle is short both on height and talent. Her time is up, please America send her home. Syesha is such a Diva. Her notes were no where close to Whitney and if your gonna sing that song in public you had better be bringing your A game. She scored a C.
Brooke didn’t “make it your own” but she still sang it well. There is something about her voice that will bring her fame (not Carrie Underwood fame) but certainly she will do well in the recording field.
David Cook never fails to impress me week after week. Someone smiled favorably on him when he was born and gave him both voice and the brains to use it.
David A. I think you are one talented kid but I don’t know if you will ever get out of the safe niche. Does anyone know what genre of music he will be most successful in? Certainly not mainstream pop. I guess maybe B98 style of music?
Carly S. I almost always agree with Simon and tonight was no exception. Get that woman a decent stylist. OMG, it looked like she had watched way to many Robin Hood movies. Red tights??????? good grief.
Denise you hit the nail right on the head predicting the bottom three - that’s exactly who I chose too. I really hope Ramiele goes - she is soooooo boring. Not an AI package at all.
Yawn…….. I was so bored last night, till Michael Johns.WOW!
David A. is on my last nerve. Anyone but me notice that his facial expression never changes, no matter what the song is?
Ramielle has to go. So do Syesha and Kristy. I didn’t like any of them last night and, to be totally honest, I’ve never liked any of them.
Just saw this on the net…http://www.tmz.com/2008/04/02/idol-contestant-gets-rx-at-hospital-goes-home/. Lets hope its just stress. It would be a shame if his health forced him out of competition as he is, to me, one of if not the best.
I did enjoy American Idol last night. I had mixed thoughts about the performances, but overall I was impressed. Dolly Parton is so lovable and a talented singer/songwriter. I agree about the three girls being in the bottom. Their voices aren’t up to par. I am a huge David Cook fan, and I love Carly Smithson’s voice and accent. I have found myself following this season closer than those in the past, whether it be because of improved talent or my DVR’s recording capabilities. Nonetheless I’ll keep watching.
Was I watching a different show last night than the rest of you?? I LOVED the show and I have never been nor will ever be a Dolly fan. I thought that for the most part everyone embraced her music and made it their own beautiful expression. Well there are exceptions. Ramielle and Syesha. Enough said there. Kristy Lee actually sang well but she should round out the bottom three with Ram & Sy. Who in their right mind is voting for Ram??? Please stop. For the first time ever, I found myself loving Carly’s performance. Not from a visual perspective, but the vocals and wonderful arrangement of her song were simply amazing.
The men are what really amazed me, though. The Davids, both C & A were both phenomenal. I thought Jason gave a much better performance this week. But the one who deserves the most applause for me was Michael Johns. Whoa baby he was simply HOT.
There should only be estrogen occupying the dreaded silver stools Wednesday night. The men ruled.
I thought David A. did a fabulous job last night… goosebumpy good. Syesha was painful — those so-called big notes were excrutiating! Otherwise, I concur with the rest of you. Love Brooke & Jason, then the other guys… Carly, too.
Michael has always had a range. You obviously don’t know how hard it is to sing Queen. Again he and David Cook, and Carly impressed. It is time to get it down to them, and Brooke and Jason as these are the true singers. Get the rest out of there, and then the show will be getting good, and maybe we will have a true American Idol. Any of these five could sell records that I would buy, as well as many others. But I would never buy a record by the others. That is the point of this whole competition. I don’t know why the judges kept these 3 in the finals as it was obvious they could not hold a performance let alone sing on as album.
Okay…maybe it’s just because I can’t help myself…I STILL love David Archuleta and I was nearly in tears…it is the words to the song and how he relates to them. He may never have been in the Smoky mountains but I bet Brooke has never had a woman named Jolene (who is too fleshly beautiful to be true)try to take her man.
I think part of the problem is that the contestants really need to delve deeper and pick songs that they can relate to and then connect to the audience through those words from the “heart”. Brooke and Jason neither one did that (still like them though). But I “felt” David A’s words.
Syesha can’t stop picking the kind of songs she picks…I nearly changed the channel when her turn came but decided it wouldn’t be fair if I did not listen. Ramiele…not good and Kristi…well..talk about same facial expressions for every song!!!!!!!!
Yes, Carly has a good voice and mastery of said voice (which I have said week after week) and she showed it some last night.
BUT……I love them…yeah yeah yeah (David Cook and Michael Johns took the songs and made something of them)…so…kudos to the MEN!!!!!!!!!!!! They are the reason I keep tuning in every week.
Oh…can I just add
LET’s vote off the judges!!!!!!!!!! If I hear Paula say one more time….”you’re just you…you’re a star and OH YOU LOOK FABULOUS!” I do not know what I will do!
Randy’s “I don’t know dawg…it wasn’t your best”
And SIMON…I used to agree with him despite his very bizarre comparisons sometimes…but there is something just plain cruel and ugly about him this season.
THEY NEED TO GO!
Actually, I agree with Simon 99% of the time! I totally agreed last week when he said it was a theme park song. I couldn’t describe it, then when he said that I said YES … that’s it. However, I still don’t like David A. He’s just not “it”. Ugh .. pains me to see him sing. He’s as bad as Kristy to me as far as painful. He sings better than her, but he has this … something .. that I just can’t stand. I think the final two should be David C and Michael. I have loved them from day one. Carly and Brooke should round out the top 4. Jason is so charming that I really don’t want to see him go, but as far as AI talent … he’s not in my top 4.
PS .. I love Paula. I really think her criticism is usually right on. Sometimes she has trouble expressing herself, but she DOES know her music. These 3 are a nice balance and truth be known, they MAKE the show.
“I don’t mean to denigrate Country music. For those of you that like Country music, ‘denigrate’ means to put down.” -Bob Newhart. Okay, that was harsh…
BUT yeah, I agree with everyone today. David Cook continues to impress, along with Michael and Brooke and Jason. I DO NOT understand the criticism of Brooke and Jason by the judges. I play piano (badly) and heaven knows, if I were to sing at the same time and try to hit the correct keys, disaster would ensue. These kids impress me that they can play their chosen instrument and sing WELL at the same time. David C, Brooke, Jason, and Michael are all very good, and I hope this gets to be more watchable after some of those girls go.
David Cook continues to impress me and unless there is a major problem, I see him taking the whole thing. Everyone else is fading into the background.
Just for once, I would like to watch Carly sing without seeing her tatoos. I find them very distracting, maybe that is part of why I’m having a hard time liking her. I’m sure they sell shirts out there that actually have sleeves.
Just tripped across this American Idol post on the FOX Kansas website. Found it interesting:
http://community.foxkansas.com/forums/3228/ShowForum.aspx
Have been enjoying the show and this blog. Thanks, D!
Ok, I’m gonna say it. I don’t think Paula has any business judging a singing competition. Ever heard her sing! It ain’t pretty. She can dance, maybe that’s the show she should be judging. Now as far as contestants go, I like David Cook and Michael. I like Brooke but she’s starting to bore me a little. Carly’s ok, but the other three girls need to go, I can do better than they can. I think we are definitely going to have a male winner this year.
Michael was totally awesome last night! He and David C. makes this competition so worth sitting through the likes of Ramiele (who will hopefully be gone soon). I think being a bit older really helps to add depth and character to their performances. I also really liked what Carly did with “Here You Come Again”.
And as much as I love Dolly… she and Priscilla Presley need to step away from the botox!