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« American Idol
Episode Recap: The Top Eight Revealed!
Hey guys, sorry I didn't announce myself as Idol blogger last night! It's me, Erin Fox, at your blogging service once again for the results show. Ryan promises an action-packed hour, and the Idols start right off with their group number, "9 to 5." Not to sound completely ancient, but this is such a toe-tapper, how could they mess it up? Oh wait, they're making them line dance in the background! That's how to ruin a great song. Boo. Am I just cranky tonight, or did they butcher this song? Now they are surrounding and pouncing on the judges.... It's kinda cute actually. Is Simon actually smiling? He must have taken some happy pills after his PMS attack last night (I can say that because I'm a chick. No hate mail, please).
(Side note: Did you see creepy Dr. Phil's wife in the audience? How about Chikezie?)
We get to see some highlights from last night, and then it's straight to the results! First up is Michael Johns, who is safe. David Archuleta and Carly Smithson are also safe (after Ryan tortures Carly a little first, the bastard). Oh no, now we're "going to the phones." Why won't they get rid of this segment? It's just awkward and hasn't ever worked out well.
The Clark Brothers (help me out here, Country fans) perform "This Little Light of Mine." If I was into Country music, I think I would really like them. They really rocked out on their cool guitars. The second verse is kinda weird though. What do you think, guys?
Time for the music video: We see the Idols playing basketball "downtown" with some tough looking dudes, and of course, their Ford cars. It's short and sweet. Nice shot at the end, Brooke!
Back to the results! David Cook, after telling Ryan and the audience that his high blood pressure is under control, is safe! Ramiele and Kristy Lee (who lamely had a note to reserve her seat in the bottom three... I think she was trying to be funny, but it was just too self-deprecating to be cool) go to the bottom three stools. Ramiele pouts like a five-year old, and Paula says that even though they both had good nights, they didn't connect enough with the audience.
Now we get a piece about past Idols who now live in Nashville. We got to see Bucky Covington who has two singles out, Phil Stacey just released a country album, and Bo Bice (after serious intestinal surgery) started his own label and released a Southern rock album. They all seem to be thriving there!
Wow! Syesha is safe! I thought for sure she'd be in the bottom three. That leaves Jason and Brooke. Ha! Brooke makes Simon apologize to the violin player he dissed from last night. He obliges her... sort of. Holy crap! Brooke is in the bottom three, and Simon says all three girls belong there. I disagree. Syesha should definitely be there instead of Brooke. I think something happened during the commercial, because Simon starts apologizing to Carly and telling her his criticism of her outfit was for her own good
he wants her to do well because she's cute. Oh brother!
Dolly performs a song about gravity and Jesus. She sounds a little off, but she's Dolly, so who cares? She gushes that she "loves" Simon, Randy and Paula.
Now to the results! Brooke is crying and talks about how emotional the show is in general, not to mention the video about Africa and Dolly singing about Jesus and gravity. Luckily for her, she's safe. It's Ramiele's turn to go home, which gives Kristy Lee another week to sing another Patriotic song. Aww, Ramiele's goodbye video is sad. She's adorable and has quite a voice, but I think she needs a few years of maturation before she can be a great performer.
What's your take? Do you think it was Ramiele's time to leave?
POLL: Vote for your current pick to win Idol.
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Apr 2, 2008 11:10 PM
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I am a country music fan and I have never heard of The Clark Brothers...but then I was looking on iTunes and realized that The Clark Brothers used to be called The Clark Family Experience, who I do know! Except there were 6 of them, not 3. I actually saw them in concert about 6 years ago. But tonight I actually thought they sounded HORRIBLE!! Sorry, but I didn't like it at all. The music was cool but I didn't like the singing. Check out the song "To Quote Shakespeare" from their first album--I really love that song! I think it sounds so much different and better than what they did tonight. Perhaps it was a different lead singer?
Now onto the results...
I was SHOCKED that Brooke was in the bottom 3!! She's my second fav (David C my first). It should've been Jason or Syesha there. Not sad to see Ramiele go. I think she is better than what she showed though.
Did they say what next weeks theme is? Is there a mentor?
Luckily I turned on the TV a couple minutes late, so I missed the group song!
which gives Kristy Lee another week to sing another Patriotic song
If KLC is around on Neil Diamond night, she can sing "Coming to America".
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Apr 2, 2008 11:33 PM
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So glad to see Ramiele leave. She was really good in the auditions, but just never lived up to her potential. The voters got it right.
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Apr 2, 2008 11:34 PM
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Good recap, Erin. And by the way, I'm
54 years old (of course I don't look it)and I sang "This Little Light of Mine" in Church when I was a kid. The
2nd verse, "Don't let Satan blow it out" refers to the fact that as Christians the light of Christ should shine through us and no matter what we ever face in this life, we should never allow evil to put that light out in our lives. End of sermon.
Ok, I was so happy to see Bo Bice tonight and some of the other contestants from past seasons. I'm glad to see that they are having some success even though they didn't win.
I had no problem with the bottom 3 although I'm not sure that Kristy helped her cause any by having her "little sign". That was strange.
Goodbye Ramiele, you were fortunate to make it this far.
Anyone know what they're singing next week? I wish they announced it at the end of the show.
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Apr 2, 2008 11:35 PM
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I definitely think that it was Ramiele's time to go. I was pretty shocked that Brooke was in the bottom three, but she was the first of the night and wasn't as strong as she's been in the past, so go figure. I still thought Syesha belonged there instead of her. Just as Kristy Lee's performances are getting better, her personality starts to get on my nerves.
On another note, did anyone else notice David Cook shaking his booty in Ramiele's face during the group song? It totally cracked me up. I love him and I sort of want to have his babies. Is that wrong? He's only about six years older than I am...
And did the show start a couple minutes early? By the time I switched it over to Fox, they were already to the first chorus of "9 to 5".
Did they say what the theme was for next week?
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Apr 2, 2008 11:35 PM
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The Clark Brothers won the Next Great American Band (failed Idol spin-off attempt) this past summer. They were better then, but not my cup of tea. And it was definitely time for Ramiele to go... does anyone know her actual height?
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Apr 2, 2008 11:37 PM
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I saw the Clark Brothers on The Next Great American Band they are much better than they were tonight. The lead singer looked terrified to be up there.
I'm glad Ramiele left, never really liked her. I'm just wondering how long KLC can hold on.
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Apr 2, 2008 11:51 PM
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Random thoughts:
Ryan's teasing Carly was on the cruel side, I thought.
Ramiele's Execution Walk with Pout in Place was Pathetic. I'm glad she's gone, but she did a good job of pulling herself together for her singout.
I thought the Ford commercial was cute.
Loving David Cook more every day. He's a slob? We are so meant to be together.
Brooke needs to learn how not to talk.
The Clark Brothers were scary bad. The lead singer was just scary.
Why do the mentors never seem to sing very well on the Idol stage? I still love Dolly and all, but she wasn't in top form.
David ArchAngel told Ryan he chose his song because "liked the message". Just sayin'.
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Apr 3, 2008 12:25 AM
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While we're still on the subject of country music, I should mention that my all-time favorite idol, Josh Gracin has a new album that just came out on Tuesday. The current single is the title-track "We Weren't Crazy" which Josh co-wrote. I encourage everyone to check it out--it's such an AWESOME song!!!
I was disappointed not to see Josh on the people now in Nashville segment. Glad to see Phil Stacey though. I can't wait for his album!
And I have to say that I didn't like Bucky Covington at all on AI, but now I think he's really good! I love his songs "A Different World" and "It's Good To Be Us".
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Apr 3, 2008 12:42 AM
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This is my 1st season of watching AI. Desperate for something to watch during the writers' strike, I tuned into the first episode and found myself hooked.
I have to say I really like these finalists. I enjoy their performances, and they seem like decent folks who find a way to pull for each other even as they compete hard to win.
Of the remaining contestants, Ramielle was among the sweetest -- a really good kid -- with some real talent, but I never felt she gave herself that moment to shine with a great performance.
I was very surprised to see Brooke in the bottom three. She's consistently good, and I'm sure there's an album of songs out there waiting for her to record. And while she may talk a little too much when she's in front of the judges, she may be the most emotionally mature and connected person among the entire group.
That said, I think it's boiling down to three of the guys, David A., Michael, and David C. for this year's Idol.
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Apr 3, 2008 12:58 AM
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The Clark Brothers weren't as good on AI as they were on Next Great American Band. Before they came out I thought, "I hope they don't do This Little Light," and they did! The lead singer seemed nervous as he usually is much better than he was last night.
Dolly's song annoyed me. I like Dolly and some of her songs, but I dunno dawg, I just wasn't feeling it.
I'm glad they're going to be doing "where are they now" type features. There are a number of past contestants who are doing pretty well singing on tour or in theatre, so it'll be nice to see how those are doing. There's a billboard still up for when Bucky was in town recently opening for Dierks Bentley.
I was surprised that I liked the Ford commercial and their take on the Run DMC song. Who knew?
Bottom 3 wasn't shocking, but Syesha probably should have been there instead of KLC or Brooke. Ramekins just never made the best use of her voice, and always just seemed to be going through the motions, hoping to not get noticed enough to get cut.
I wonder if nobody will get cut next week like last year due to the charity show. They carried the totals over to the following week and then cut 2 that week. Last year, Sanjaya FINALLY got the axe just before the charity show, leading some to cry foul, but this year they've been right on so far.
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Apr 3, 2008 1:34 AM
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I thought Dolly sounded fine. Great for a 60 year old woman!! But more importantly:
Dolly = 100% Class Act
She was spot on in her comments about Simon. Love her.
Hated the Cacophony Brothers. Ugh.
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Apr 3, 2008 2:46 AM
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Ramiele was definitely the right choice to go. She sounded good at her audition, but she never sounded anywhere beyond average after them.
I agree with whoever said her pouty walk onto the stage was pathetic - if you're so embarrassed about it, try kicking it into another gear so you don't get voted off? She had to know it was coming.
Kristy Lee certainly has an attitude toward Simon, doesn't she? Maybe she's trying to tease him like Carly did last night, but Carly comes across as joking while Kristy comes across like she's actually appalled that Simon doesn't think she's the second coming.
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Apr 3, 2008 5:39 AM
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Erin,
Just to clarify, are you calling Dr. Phil creepy or his wife?
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Apr 3, 2008 6:48 AM
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I want to also chime in about the Clark Brothers. I started watching the Next American Band out of curiosity and stayed because of the Clark Brothers and was jumping up and down when they won. I don't even like that kind of music normally, but they are great musicians. They performed the same song on that show and sounded way, way, WAY better.
They did start out as a big family group and the brothers decided to go out on their own. So, that is why they sound different. Maybe it was nerves, not really sure, but the lead singer (Ashley, I think) did sound pretty bad last night.
I FF through most of the results- but I did agree that Ramiele needed to go. I also think Kristy is trying so hard to connect with the audience, but she just is doing it all wrong. I actually feel kind of bad for her. I feel bad because I can totally see myself up there- trying to be funny and it just falling flat (not the singing part- I can't sing at all. I mean, not at all. My kids cover their ears and run away every time I try.)
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Apr 3, 2008 7:17 AM
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