If you haven't already experienced her, check out Leona Lewis, winner of Simon's British X Factor singing competition:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=leona+lewis
Ellen Degeneres had her on today, singing 'Bleeding Love'.
Brooke is safe. Surprise.
David C. is safe. There goes my bottom two, so tonight will really be a surprise (unless they dump Syesha).
David A. is safe - no surprise.
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I loved Jordin Sparks' duet with Chris Brown, 'No Air'.
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Jason is safe.
Kristy is safe. Now I'm worried for Carly.
So the bottom three are Carly, Michael, and Syesha.
Personal preferences aside, I think Michael is the least likely to get the boot, but I would rather it was Carly. If Carly and Syesha are the bottom two, I can only hope it's Syesha that is leaving.
Wow! It seems the audience is as surprised as I am, but Michael is the one going home.
Maybe the song choice, 'Dream On' was prophetic. Or maybe America just wishes he'd wash his hair? I dunno...
His departure performance just doesn't seem to warrant the bottom spot. I still think it was a good choice.
Anyway, see you next week.
Too many big names, great performances, and touching moments to comment on, so I'm just going to kick back and enjoy the show.
I don't think there will be any eliminations tonight. Does that mean two will be departing next week?
Wow! Annie Lennox is forcing me to negate my decision. Her segment and performance were truly powerful, standing out above the rest of the show so far.
And Jimmy Kimmel's roast of Simon Cowell is just hilarious!
And the song Carrie Underwood sang had wonderful lyrics!
Gloria Estafen was outstanding, as always.
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Sorry, I got lost in donation land. Did you know you can buy sheets of photo stamps with Kelly Clarkson photos on them, and all proceeds still go to the Idol Gives Back Foundation? $20 for a sheet of 20 stamps. They're also limited edition, and so collectible:
http://photo.stamps.com/Store/brand/americanidol/
Have a good night!
All week I was wondering what the theme might be and I totally forgot Idol Gives Back was inspirational songs week last year. Appropriate.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Still not loving that set. This is their 5th week on The Big Stage II and the contestants still don't know how to come out in a coordinated fashion. Randy was on one tonight, but he gets like that occasionally toward the middle of the show. Paula had nothing but good to say tonight, eh? I saw very little crowd touching tonight during the performances. I guess Chikezie and Ramiele leaving taught everyone a lesson: just sing! It's getting pretty tough to pick a bottom three now with some great contestants left. Although, one of my picks for the bottom is easy still. Guess who? If you read Boquinha's post (which I haven't yet) I understand she has similar feelings about one of the contestants. Did they put the Cooks back-to-back this week to get more publicity for Celebrity Chefs With Knives, A.K.A. Hell's Kitchen?
Michael Johns: I really liked his performance and thought he sang it fairly well, but I agree with the judges. This is not his natural element. He really needs to start listening to the judges and not just doing his own thing. They know what they are talking about when it comes to his song selections.
Syesha Mercado: Ooooooh. She picked a Fantasia song. I'm so shocked, as Fantasia may as well be the A.I. version of a true diva. I was quite worried the judges might over-praise (is that a word?) her again, but they gave her her due to an extent. She has talent but isn't nearly as good as everyone says she is. She picked a song that draws direct comparision, which apparently Syesha keeps missing each week, or she's so full of herself that she actually thinks she is as good as Whitney, Fantasia, Mariah, and any other one-name diva out there. Can you tell who I'm sick of at this point? If not, you can be in my bottom three, too.
Jason Castro: What an awesome selection. He is not the most vocally talented performer, but he has one of the keenest senses of who he is as a performer and nailed this one. I'm glad the judges gave him his due. I'm looking forward to the Castro album.
Kristy Lee Cook: Is it me or is this girl getting more and more confident as the weeks go on. It doesn't hurt that the past few weeks have lent themselves to perfect song choices for her. She does very well with country type songs and had another very nice performance. She should be around for a bit longer if fans pick the truly deserving contestants.
David Cook: This was a stinker for him and he knew it as soon as it was over. The song was a decent choice but he didn't nail it like he usually does. I was a bit let down by David this week.
Carly Smithson: I'm going to tell you right now, the judges don't have as much influence as they would like to think, but at this point their comments to help or hurt a contestant's chances. Carly deserves a bit more praise and a little less harsh criticism than she's been getting. I think the judges want more from her because they think she's one of the best, but they are going to put wannabes like Syesha through and send Carly home with their antics lately. Granted, Carly's song selection was off this week, but she still sounded pretty good and deserves more pseudopraise.
David Archuleta: When David A. found out about the theme this week here's what he probably thought:
"Inspirational songs. Calm down. Get centered. Don't get too excited, but this is your week. Finally you can pick a song you love and not have it sound out of place. You love these songs and this week that's OK."
On this special occasion when Idol gives back, I hope they start by giving Syesha back to the world of "working actresses" ASAP. Garg, she gets on my nerves.
I think Ryan Seacrest is gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But seriously, those of you with Tivo, hit rewind and watch him closely as he exits the big magic stage doors.
Michael Johns (“Dream On” by Aerosmith)
I thought this was a really good performance on him! What is wrong with Randy tonight? He's so critical! I liked it and when he turns on the Australian Tennis Player Charm, I forget about any off notes anyway. Dream on indeed.
Syesha Mercado (“I Believe” by Fantasia)
I. Can't. Stand. Her. In case you couldn't tell from the title or my opening sentence, I dislike her. A lot. Only Ramiele "gets" her. That's code for "Nobody likes me." Well, guess what? Ramiele seems to have the social intelligence of a 12-year-old so she likes everybody. The point isn't that Ramiele likes you. It's that nobody else does! How is this girl getting voted through? She gets WAY too much credit week after week while they tear down other, perfectly good performances.
And are you freaking kidding me?! Doing a Fantasia song?? You're less stupid if you do Whitney or Celine. In my opinion (and I said this before she sang and before Randy uttered a word), Fantasia is the BEST idol to ever grace that stage and no one (do you hear me, Syesha?), NO ONE can do what she did on that song.
She wasn't good. She doesn't connect. She was pitchy and weak and it was just very, very bad. She is totally full of herself and *thinks* she sounds better than she does. Ick. Ick ick ick. I agree with Magistra who says, "She constantly performs as if she is singing to herself in a mirror and worrying about how pretty she’s looking."
Oh, please let it be her who exits this week. Please!
Jason Castro (“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole)
Omigosh! Omigosh! I love this guy! LOVE this guy! This was, bar none, the best performance of the evening, as Simon says, "By. A. Mile." I love Jason!! This was a fantastic song choice. I was worried when he started out with the ukulele but when the strings kicked in, oh wow! Guess what, America? Jason's voice "melts like lemon drops." So soothing. So unique. So real. I love it. LOVE it. However he places in this competition, we're so buying his album. Love him.
Kristy Lee Cook (“Anyway” by Martina McBride)
I've got to hand it to her and give credit where it's due. She seems more confident. She's doing great with country (which seems to be a genre in the music industry that can make anyone a star). She's beautiful. And she's working hard. I'm impressed. I mean country isn't my thing, but I'm simply being honest . . . she deserves to be in the competition more than Syesha, in my opinion.
David Cook (“Innocent” by Our Lady Peace)
Yikes. I love David Cook, but this was not good. And I've got to hand it to the guy, he knew it, too. Something was up. And I love that he didn't excuse it or argue it. His face said it all. And I give him mad props for that. He does not do well with low notes and most of the song was down there. What was he thinking? And then that weird thing at the end where he's singing (in not a good way) to Paula and then showing his hand to the camera? I'm surprised that Simon actually liked that! I think he's great and that he'll stick around, but this was not his best week. Still, Syesha should go.
Carly Smithson (“The Show Must Go On” by Queen)
I like the song and I like Queen. How do we not have a Queen CD? (Honey, put "Queen's Greatest Hits" on the "Thing We Splurge On with Our Refund" list--thanks). And Carly is likable and she has such beautiful eyes (I think I said that like 10 times during her performance. I know, some of you would've hit me.) Sigh. I don't so much mind that they criticize her as I do that they criticize her and not grrrrrrrrrrr Syesha.
David Archuleta (“Angels” by Robbie Williams)
Great song. Great performance. I expected something a big more in-your-face inspirational. This was a pleasant surprise. Not sure what more to say. It was very good. A million times better than Syesha's. (Now, I'm simply trying to mention her in every comment, yes.)
Brooke White (“You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King)
That's the performance on which they decided to wrap up the evening? It was okay, but not show stopping. And I have to say that I love when Simon (or anyone with a British accent) says something and then follows it up with a rhetorical question phrased like a statement--"Well that was like a pleasant walk in the park, wasn't it." I like Brooke and it was good, but I really can not STAND that weird, fake, pained Utah Mormon facial expression she makes. The one that says, "Awwwww, did you find a piece of lint in your belly button? I'm so sorry!" (Omigosh, I'm having bad flashbacks to one of my college roommates who used to do the same thing!) Just look NORMAL. She's awkward on stage, but in a fairly endearing way (when she's singing, not when she's making that weird, fake, pained Utah Mormon face). Could it be that she'll take Kristy's seat in the bottom three when she joins Syesha there this week??
Michael Johns - Starts out with a good song. It wasn't quite up to the original, but he fairly owned it. Randy didn't love it. Paula was more supportive. Simon called it a little "wanna be-ish" and Randy agreed.
It looks like there's a lot of energy tonight, so it should be an interesting show.
Syesaha - Sings a Fantasia joint, and does fairly well, ending with an amazing high note that was a little freaky, actually. Randy compared her with Fantasia and, of course, she fell short. Paula is more supportive. Even Simon acknowledges her technical handling of the song, but says it didn't give him the "emotional" connection that Fantasia brought to it. Simon has emotions?!?
Jason - Over the Rainbow - Kind of a weak arrangement, centering around his banjo ukelele. Just okay, for me. Randy goes crazy over it. Paula loved it too. Simon loved it too. I guess I'm outvoted here.
Kristy - Finally found a song she could really connect with. The judges all liked it, too. She may be around a bit more.
David C. - Started a little weak but developed well. Nevertheless, one of the weaker performances tonight. Randy didn't love it (I see a pattern). Paula loved it. Simon thought it "pompous."
Carly - Another good performance from her. None of the judges liked it. Simon thought it was oversung to the point of feeling "angry," and said she might be in trouble.
David A. - A great song choice, which follows well on his performance of Imagine, and seems to build on it. He does it very well, and the judges love it unanimously.
Brooke - 'You've Got A Friend' - not the most powerful of inspirational songs, but one of my favorites. Her phrasing is a bit stiff and unmelodic. As much as I like her, it was pretty unimpressive. Just okay for Randy. Paula is supportive. Simon gives it "pleasant."
Tops and Props - David A., the rest, with Props to Michael Johns, and, yes, Syesha.
Bottoms - Brooke, and David C.
Leaving - Sadly, I think it's Brooke.
