At the risk of coming across as a hard-to-please music snob, I have another admission to make. I’ve never met a Mariah Carey song I couldn’t hate.
My feelings about Mariah have really never wavered. Where I’m indifferent toward The Beatles, I go out of my way to avoid Mimi. She’s always annoyed me. Too bouncy. Too frizzy. Too many notes that only my dog can hear.
But after tonight, I’m ready to reconsider. Not only did Mariah come across as genuine, warm and talented, but her songs interpreted through some of my favorite “Idols” were actually sort of… rockin!
I don’t need to tell you whose performance most swayed me. David Cook was a little off last week, but he was truly amazing tonight. His version of “Always Be My Baby” was, as Paula put it in a rare moment of lucidity, movie soundtrack-ready. Who besides David could take song whose DIPPY original is laced not only with “do do doops” but ALSO with “do do doop do doop da dums” and transform it into a rock hit? Honestly, I’d be fine if they just gave him the title tomorrow night and called it a season.
If they did, I’d be a little sad for Jason Castro, who is the only other singer who didn’t put me to sleep on Mariah night. I enjoyed his bongo stylized take on “I Don’t Want To Cry,” even though I loved Randy’s description of it as music you’d hear in the distance at a beach luau. So mean, but so true, and yet so what? And by the way, no one stares down a retreating “Idol” cam with more intensity than crystal-eyed Jason Castro. That look gives me more shivers than a beach luau with a dying bonfire.
The rest of them didn’t do a lot for me.
More and more each week, I have to believe that the judges are being either ordered or bribed to pile the praise on David Archuleta. What are they seeing that I’m not? He’s kind of a cheesy little kid with nice pipes, but it’s almost painful to watch him. He’s awkward, and the leather pants were NOT a wise choice. Furthermore, anyone care to place a wager on how many more uplifting songs he can find whose titles are variations on “When You Believe”?
And although I still love that raspy, smoky quality in Brooke White’s voice — and think she’s eons more talented than many of her competitors — I’ve been watching her crumble the last few weeks. She missed a key on the piano tonight and rushed through the ending of her otherwise cleverly unplugged version of “Hero.” Girl needs to get it TOGETHER.
I actually thought both Syesha with “Vanishing” and Carly with “Without You” sang nicely, but both performances were what Simon likes to call “forgettable.” How do I know? I’ve already forgotten them.
And as for KLC, well, that poor thang. As I watched her on stage in her little Stepford Wives getup, I realized that she’s not a bad singer, she’s just not good enough to stand up there with her competitors. I know everyone loves an underdog, but can we put her out of her misery this week PLEASE????
So what did you think? Was Brook’s song missing the beef, the bun or the condiments? How convenient is it that Mariah’s new album “drops” today? And who will join Michael Johns in the long, painful limbo better known as waiting for the “Idol” tour?
25 Comments
“And by the way, no one stares down a retreating “Idol” cam with more intensity than crystal-eyed David Castro” ??
You mean Jason Castro …:) yeah baby , he was great! very unique and I enjoyed his version more than Mariah’s original
Hey, Ja, noticed that right before I read your comment. TOO MANY DAVIDS ON THIS SHOW!!
Wow… I love rock, but I thought that Cook song was a wreck. I think the judges tried to brainwash the public with all that praise. And the brother thing in the audience; he should wait to play that card at finale.
No one was really great tonight in my opinion.
yawn…david archuleta, carly, and syesha
throw up on your shoes….cristy lee cook
make you have some emotion…brooke and jason
make you buy a record..david cook
I am not a Mariah fan..perhaps its my age and her rise to stardom occurring during in a time when i was too busy working my butt off to think about music but when i hear her latest number one it is touch my bod I want to puke. I have no idea what Syesah was up to…and I have no idea why the judges are just letting her get away with ok performances but certainly not great. My husband (who is tone deaf for you Carly fans) was walking through and asked who was in pain when she sang. Kristy Lee isn’t a country singer she is Tammy Fay Baker reincarnated. I think Mariah mistook the chills for the quivers that go through your body when you hear nails on a chalkboard.
Bottom 3 should be Syesha, Christy and Carly. I threw one vote Carly’s way because at least I’m interested to see what she is doing next week.
And by the way..Ryan is really a jerk isn’t he? Can we find another host who isn’t so self-involved?
Oh.. forgot the positive. David Cook is either going to win this and have a great career or lose it and have a great career. Brooke and Jason need to write their own songs or find sympatico writers. I agree with the blogger who said David Archuleta will be on Broadway if he is lucky. My guess, he will do the chicken circuit and blow his vocal chords out before he is 25. This is sad…he is a sweet young man. If his dad had just let him grow up a bit he could have knocked our socks off. As it is, even if he wins, he will be a one hit wonder.
And for those who think that those who are not impressed by David Archuleta have no musical taste, have you ever heard of Wayne Newton? Same deal.
mrk….you seem a little heartless there. His brother looked as if he may not even live to see David in the finale. The very fact that David Cook was emotionally able to stand on a stage and perform is amazing. The excellence of his performance was even more amazing. He should win this competition. He will be a star whether he wins or not.
On to the rest… I think Brooke was missing the beef and the condiments. Did you see her shaking toward the middle to end of the song? Even her hair was shaking. I felt really sorry for her and couldn’t wait for her to make it to the final note. She and Carly and Syesha should be in the bottom three. Kristy, IMHO, was a little better than any of those three and should escape extinction again this week. The country music contingency should keep her viable.
But what do I know? Last week shocked my socks off when the Aussie left the building. I’ll tell you what I DO know…. David Cook is a hurting individual who is watching his brother die while he’s trying to hold it together enough to continue this competition. But he doesn’t need sympathy votes. His talent is head and shoulders above the rest. “wait to play that card at finale..” mrk that’s just cruel and unusual. You should be ashamed of yourself.
David Cook is the real deal in my books. I have watched this show for years, and really have never had an artist that I was as excited about as I am about him. Maybe I was close with Daughtry, but I don’t think I was even this excited about him and yet … look how well he’s done. As for the “brother thing” comment … I think that comment was crass. I thank God his brother was able to make it to see him. I can only imagine the emotions that raised in him. I loved his performance, and I, like Denise, don’t really like Mariah, but I WOULD by that song.
I would also buy Jason Castro’s. I liked the beach bum, reggae sound he put on it! In my opinion, those two were by far the best tonight.
David Archelleta wasn’t BAD, but I still say he needs to stick to Broadway or classical singing. And though it pains me to say it … there was an aspect of KLC that I liked tonight. I actually thought she reminded me a little of Patsy Cline, who died before I was born, but yet I love Crazy, Walking after Midnight, etc.
Syesha needs to go. I love Brooke, but she has slacked off. Carly was better this week than last, and I thought she looked beautiful tonight. However, she should join Syesha, and Brooke in the bottom 3 (although personally, I would rather David A be there than Brooke).
I also agree, David Cook will have a career whether or not he wins AI. In fact, the KC Star (where as you can imagine his following is HUGE) says it would be better for his career if he did NOT win. I don’t know, but I DO know I will be waiting for his CD to come out!
hawkmama i agree with you 100% .. first…the news that his brother had cancer came out only last week when david cook was hospitalized for high blood pressure. second, it does sort of make his song of last week make some sense. third, but for the blood pressure incident last week of David Cook i don’t think we would ever have known his brother has cancer. Hell David Archuleta sings like one of his kin is dyingof cancer every week!
I really tried to find someone that I wanted to vote for this week, but without Michael Johns, there’s no one for me. Maybe David Cook or Carly, but I really wasn’t crazy about them tonight either. Brooke was so nervous, but she made a gutsy move playing the piano without any help from the band.
mrk. Have you ever watched a sibling die of brain cancer? No?? Well I have. It is the most painful of all cancers to pass from. My sister died and during her last month she was in so much pain as was the young family she left behind. If you want to be a jerk please go find another forum to be a jerk on.
David C was brilliant last night, I have never been a fan of Mariah Carey, like Denise stated earlier, my dogs howl when Mariah sings, but David really put it out there last night. Jason was good as always. Again, I loved Brooke but the pressure does seem to be getting to her more and more each week. Syesha, I didn’t get that performance nor do I care to “get” the performance of her. Is she better than KLC, of course, but that doesn’t make me believe she will make it to the top 2. David A. I can see him on broadway!! I think if he would win the title he will go the way of Taylor Hicks. Carly, I use to love your voice girl, but now….not so much.
This week the bottom 3 will be KLC, Syesha & David A. Lets hope Syesha gets to “celebrate me home”.
Someone was watching a different show than I did. It was a night of the David’s, and what a night it was. Archuleta led it off and set the bar high enough that only one other person could reach it, and that was David Cook. Responding, as usual, with a different take on a well-known song, Cook should have been the show closer instead of the “Travolta” wanna-be Jason Castro. I don’t judge people by their looks, the kind of car they drive, the church they go to, or anything like that, but he needs to step into the 21st Century and lose those ‘locks’. They will hurt him more than they will help him in this search for the next Idol. The girls were way off track with Syesha coming the closest to being good, and Brooke and Carly Smithson missing the mark by a country mile. Speaking of country, Kristy Lee Cook is showing the stuff that country stars are made of, unfortunately it might be too late. If she skates through this week, then she will go on to at the least the final five. My pick for the bottom three this week would be Jason Castro, Brooke White, and Carly Smithson, with America and Idol saying goodbye to — Carly Smithson. Just my opinion folks.
I was a David Archuleta fan in the beginning, but he sounds exactly the same every week, no matter what song he is singing. I’m now pulling for David Cook, and I still really like Carly. Syesha creeps me out. Did you see her follow the camera around, as it was panning out. Yuk
I thought last nights’ show was boring, boring, boring. Really missed MJ this week. I can’t stand Mariah Carey so didn’t really know any of the songs performed except Carly’s which was originally done by Richard Marx. I thought she screamed through most of it. Bottom three IMO should be Syesha, Carly and Kristy Lee. I would be happy to see ANY of them go home. David A. used to be one of my favs but he’s too much the same week after week, as is Brooke but I still like both of them and hopefully both will outlast Syesha, Carly and Kristy Lee. Jason Castro is growing on me, especially since last weeks’ version of Over the Rainbow. Not much of a David Cook fan but he’ll probably win.
I was stunned to learn Mariah Carey’s songbook was big enough to allow each contestant a different title. Who’s next, Vanilla Ice? Only one of her songs I’m familiar with is “Hero,” and watching Brooke struggle through that sappy ballad was truly cringe-inducing.
Poor Brooke. She’s so radiant on stage she might last another week or two, but I see her in the bottom three tonight. Too bad. That’s what a series of crappy song choices can do to you.
I’m not crazy about David Cook, but the man is a performer and I now expect him to win it all. I do not want to see that Archuleta kid standing up there on finale night. Somebody mentioned Wayne Newton. That’s an apt comparison. Put him in a glittery dinner jacket and ship him to Vegas, but get him out of here.
Well Hooked on Idol, you are wrong about “Without You” by Richard Marx. I have looked through his category of lps and can’t find it anywhere. Doesn’t mean he didn’t do it, but there were so many people who have done this song, and he wasn’t the original one. It was written by Harry Nillson, who had a release of it, but just about every other star has sung this song at one time or another, and Carly just ruined it Tuesday night. Look out for David Cook, he is a bright star in the making, and people are comparing him a lot to Chris Daughtry, as far as making songs his own. And also remember, Daughtry was the cut at number five, and David Cook could go then also. At least he would be free to make his “own” album instead of one that is picked by the Idol producers. I honestly think that our Top Two finalists will be the Two David’s, but we will see. I had last year’s Top Two picked at the end of elimination show for the Top Six, so I do have a pretty good record.
OK dvdjunkie, you,re right. I knew I had heard the song before by someone much better than Mariah Carey and for some reason was thinking it was Richard Marx. Richard Marx has done some wonderful songs and for some reason that’s who I thought of when I heard her sing it last night. My bad! I stand corrected.
zzzz….zzzz….zzz….. last night was a snooze. Only ones I liked at all were David Cook and Jason. I’ve been a Brooke fan for a long time, but she just seemed really nervous last night. Not good….
I only got to watch “spots” during the show last night. And what I heard of what David C. did I did not care for but perhaps it was the song…it’s odd comparing him to Chris Daughtry. I loved him from the beginning was absolutely did not like David C. for the first few weeks. I now do believe he has the talent and the originality that some of the others lack. He should win I think. I enjoy him now even if he does a not particularly good song.
If Brooke and Jason would do some “original” material…it would certainly “boost” their popularity. Brooke seems to be “falling apart” a little. I think the stress of AI and needing to do well is getting to her. It may be her undoing.
Everyone seems so hard on David A. but with a little understanding and some maturity…he has what it takes to do well. I just think he needs some better guidance than he has.
The rest of the “idols” are washed up as far as I can tell.
How the hell can you compare Mariah Carey to Vanilla Ice? Your ignorance amazes me.
I think Monica is simply Denise on a different computer, or personality. David A. sings with great technical precision, and has a good tone, and yet you dog on the judges if they praise him for it. Monica, if your husband is tone deaf, why do you put any stock into his opinion of music? I’m not tone deaf, and I thought Syesha and Christy did fine. Maybe their talent has only taken them as far as it’s going to, but I bet they are better than all the bloggers on here. 2 things to remember: 1. It would sound different in person. 2. singing in a large venue like that with inner ear monitors is very difficult. I know, I’ve done it. Don’t knock’em til you’ve tried it.
In my opinion – Ryan makes the show. Any other host and AI would not be the same. It would be awesome if David Cook won the tile with his brother cheering him on – that would be so heartwarming. My daughter has fibromyalgia which is nothing compared to cancer, but she does suffer alot of excruciating pain at times, so I can’t even begin to imagine what one must go thru but can sure sympathize with them.
good call on Ryan, Boobookitty. Love him or hate him, get use to him, because he is the next Dick Clark, and a very good one at that.
“Where I’m indifferent toward The Beatles, I go out of my way to avoid Mimi.” This is the single-most stupid sentence I have EVER read. No wonder people make fun of us Kansans.
You know what’s fun about American Idol, kdub?
We, as simple little bloggers who may have never sung in a large venue with inner ear monitors like you – get to pick the winner!!
Why? Because even though we can’t sing. We do buy records. And let’s face it – every one of these kids wants a career selling records to us.
We’re all entitled to our opinions, even if we’re knocking on one (or more) of the contestants.
My opinion is that I would never buy a David A record. It would be the most boring thing ever made.
That said – I see why the judges praise him. Here’s the deal: Jason Castro or David Cook – they can go out tomorrow and sell records. They can make music their own, they are different, they’ll be successful. David A won’t. Without the “push” that winning AI can give him, he won’t have a good career.
Denise, my husband says you’re my long-lost sister. I usually just laugh. But you HATE MARIAH? I didn’t even like Mariah when I was 12 and every other 12 year-old on the entire planet loooooved Mariah. Even though she sounds like she’s using a dog whistle half the time. So. Go ask your mom if you were adopted.
I enjoy your blog so much!
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