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April 24, 2007: Idol Gives Back... Take One
Tonight we learned about giving until it hurts. It started out all well and good and then ventured into some “aren’t we fabulous” territory and into a puddle of... I am getting ahead of myself. Ryan looked dapper in another skinny tie from the '80s and, what is that? Is that facial hair? I do believe it is. Well, Ryan, who knew you had it in you? Before announcing what show it was we were watching, Ryan was nice enough to mention that as we vote tonight, not only are we “saving our favorite contestants, we are also saving lives!” And there you have it. Watching American Idol will make you a lifesaver. Me, I’m butter rum.
For the first of several sections devoted to showing off the great team in the disastrous world in which we live, Coldplay made caring about extreme poverty, malaria, malnutrition and hunger seem hip and cool. I noticed while watching most of the segments that they never really said anything about what was going on so much as showed the judges and Ryan walking around a lot or kneeling in the dirt, though Simon was genuinely affected by the devastation in Africa. They “hope that tomorrow will be a better day.”
Only six singers left this week, and I feel blessed. There’s only so much a person can take. We started off with Chris, who chose to sing Eric Clapton’s “Change the World.” Dressed sharply in what Randy referred to as a “fly jacket” and one of Ryan’s ties, Chris sounded pretty good and looked even better. After hearing about the starving kids in Africa I wondered whether the judges would really be able to say anything negative about these well fed kids in Hollywood. A shot of Brandon Davies in the audience made me hope that tonight these kids would really strive for greatness, since making people want to vote for them also meant Idol would be giving a little something back. There was much love passed between the judges and Chris, even Simon saying he showed “soul” and was “sexy.”
On the way back from commercial, Ryan plugged MySpace, another one of Mr. Murdoch’s castles in his grand kingdom that is News Corp. We also heard that his megalithic kingdom would donate 10 cents for each vote up to 50 million votes, in other words $5 million. With two lines open for each contestant, I prayed people would go that extra mile to dial, knowing it meant there’d be more money for the cause.
Ryan also led us through several cities in America, each with their own tale of need and neglect. Randy visited New Orleans to see the damage from the hurricane. They also went to Kentucky, where illiteracy is a growing problem; Arizona, where kids are going hungry; and Atlanta, where homelessness is a never-ending concern. So your votes are helping kids in Africa as well as people right here at home.
Melinda came out looking and sounding fantastic. She sang “There Will Come a Day” by Faith Hill and interspersed it with her own amazing interpretation. You know when this woman wins her first, second and third Grammys she will be thanking the good Lord. Her devotion to each song is inspirational and the judges agreed, “You have arrived” and “you’re magical,” which made her sound a little like Tinkerbell. Simon said Melinda’s rendition of the song made him “believe you had recorded it originally — a vocal Master Class." Could there be any more love in the room for this gal? I don’t think so.
Electricity was "in the air" when Blake took the stage to sing John Lennon’s “Imagine” (a song few should ever attempt). But he managed to hit the off switch. It was boring except for a few notes that sounded OK. Blake pronounced the word “people” as “bee bowl.” Simon said it best when he said, “It didn’t go anywhere.” The judges swooned over him, and I just do not understand why. They found him sensitive and sincere, but I found him lacking.
LaKisha foolishly took on Fantasia, though she dressed better than Fantasia. She looked elegant in the long, black gown. She sang “I Believe” and, though it was an emotional performance, it was a bit screechy. Simon agreed with me and was booed. “Will you shut up?" he begged the audience, and then the music started and drowned him out.
Phil looked particularly creepy; I think it was the extra pencil in the brow. He told Ryan he misses his babies when he is stuck in Hollywood becoming a household name. Sticking with the country theme, he sang Garth Brooks’ “The Change” (which sounds like an anthem for menopausal women). Interestingly, the piano player had a ponytail in his beard. Once again, Phil gave a half-decent performance, and though I liked last week's better, he sounded pretty good. The judges all liked him, too. Have they taken happy pills?
We closed out the show with probably the next American Idol, Jordin. Not only did she look fabulous, but she sounded rather fantastic, too. She chose an old standard, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and really sang it. It was an emotional performance. Randy gushed that it may have been the best performance on an Idol show ever. (Hi, can you say “over the top”?) Trying to be funny, Simon said, “Unlike Randy, I thought you were fantastic.” Then Ryan gave her his tie. Is that like giving a girl your pin? Or your varsity sweater?
If I have to send only one person home it would be Blake, but I think America may choose LaKisha. She is skating on thin ice and the judges love Blake, for whatever reason. Jordin will probably take the whole thing, but we’ve got a few weeks to go to find out. Anyway, we have two more star-studded hours to get through this week, so see you back here tomorrow so we can get our “Bono” on.
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Apr 25, 2007 3:00 AM
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LOL! Paula, thank you for pointing out the piano player's ponytail-in-the-beard thing. I was disgusted and creeped-out, yet fascinated by it. Now that Sanj....uh, sorry, I can't say his name. But, uh, now that you-know-who is gone, it was actually fun watching tonight. It felt like a real competition.
Chris and Blake: As good looking as they might be, they bore the heck out of me. They aren't bad, just dull. Kind of like window dressing.
LaKisha: She has been one of my favorites, but has consistently disappointed me. I don't know why she can't seem to find a suitable song for her voice. She hasn't blown me away since she sang "Diamonds Are Forever" and that was practically forever ago. And the judges were right tonight - I kept comparing her performance to Fantasia and there was just no comparison.
Phil: As creepy as he might be, and as much as I have hated him all these weeks, I have to say that he is really starting to find himself. Last week's performance was great, as was tonight's. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I kinda like him now.
Melinda: She can do no wrong. She should win the whole thing. She probably won't, but she should. She amazes me week after week.
Jordin: She's going to win. No doubt about that. And the girl can sing. She was so good tonight in fact, that I have re-watched her performance a few times. She's got it all - looks, personality and a huge voice.
Unfortunately, I think we will be saying farewell to LaKisha this week. She has an amazing voice, but she just can't seem to pull it together for some reason. I don't know if it's nerves or if she just can't select the right song, but she's had enough chances.
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Apr 25, 2007 4:36 AM
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I am so glad that I was the only one who thought Chris sounded awuful last night. When Paula, Randy and Simon was telling him that he did a good job, I wasnt quite sure if I was watching the same performance. I happen to love that song, its one of my favorite songs, but he was really off key in so many parts of that song. While he was singing it made want Sanjaya back.
Blake was also boring. However I didnt hear how Blake pronounced people. I wish I did.
Melinda, and Jordin were fantastic as usual. And so was Phill.
And as for Kiki it wasnt all that great. If she wanted to Fantasia's song she should of tried to make it her own.
The bottom 3: Kiki, Blake, and Chris. with Chris going home.
And one more thing, Im glad that Simon was wearing something else besides those tight body shirts. But I didnt like the shirt he was wearing anyway.
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Apr 25, 2007 4:56 AM
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I think Blake should have sung Man in the Mirror. He could have put his spin on it.
I still like Lakisha but guess I'm in the minority. And I liked the way she sang the song. Never was much of a Fantasia fan. I voted for Diana.
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Apr 25, 2007 6:38 AM
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Chris: Ok, so the theme for last night was "Inspirational Songs"...I'm sorry Mr. Fake Justin Timberlake...but "Change the World" is NOT an inspirational song. It's a love song! He should be booted out not just for his nasally singing, boring renditions and overall wannabe-ness...but for the simple fact that he has no clue what he is singing about.
Melinda: Wonderful as always. I hear Disney is introducing their first ever black princess...please oh please let Melinda be the singing voice!
Blake: BO-RING...Since when does opening your eyes really big and looking like Paula after 12 Xanax make you "sincere"? He could've made "Imagine" his own without being disrespectful to the song. He just sat there in a sad attempt to be pretty and deep...and it came off as incredibly one dimensional.
Phil: First of all...More hats please. I love his voice but his overall stage presence is very lacking. If he had a little more charisma I would say he had this thing in the bag.
LaKeesha: An incredible voice but nothing we haven't seen before. I usually forget she is still in the competition...talented but missing the "it" factor.
Jordin: It is such a treat to watch her perform every week and see the growth she is making as a young artist. She may not win the competition but I think she is one to watch out for. (Jennifer Hudson anyone?)
Bottom Two: Lakeesha & Chris
Going Home: Chris (I hope)
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Apr 25, 2007 6:48 AM
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As far as voices go, I though Blake was the worst. I just DO NOT undertstand what people see in him. He has one look for the camera, which gets boring. Chris sang only mariginally better than Blake. Phil's voice is actually the best of the men, but his look is rather harsh.
Lakisha was OK, Melinda was of course fabulous, but honestly I didn't think that Jordin's performance was the "best ever" or whatever Randy called it. She seemed like she was screaming at the end, she was off key at the end, and I hated the song choice - maybe because I do remember it from SO long ago and never liked it.
I think Blake and Lakisha will be in the bottom two. I have to admit, though, that I am concerned that so many people think that Melinda is a shoe-in that she won't get the needed votes. I also hope that all the grade schoolers that voted for Sanjaya don't throw their votes to people like Blake and Chris, who don't deserve to be there.
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Apr 25, 2007 7:17 AM
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Maybe it's because I'm from the Beatle generation that hearing "Imagine" sung with so much sincere emotion moved me. My favorite is still Melinda, so I didn't vote for him. But I still think he did a nice job. "...you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..."
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Apr 25, 2007 7:23 AM
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I thought that the judges were too kind to [b]Blake and too hard on [LaKisha, I understand that Jordin is the most marketable singer left in the competition, but Melinda should win. She is so far above everyone left on this show. I also agree that Melinda will will numerous Grammy Awards in the future.
I see LaKisha, Chris and Blake in the Bottom 3 and I hope Chris goes home, too.
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Apr 25, 2007 7:26 AM
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I actually liked Lakisha last night better than I have the past few weeks, but what is up with singing past Idol songs? It's almost like she's trying to sabotage herself. Weird.
Blake messed up picking "Imagine" because it's so iconic, and there's no way to put a new spin on it.
Phil wowed me tonight, and I voted for him. I don't think he'll be the next idol, but he deserves to stick around.
It ticks me off when TPTB predetermine who will win the night: Ryan saying "Jordin gives a showstopper!"; Randy to Jordin "best performance evah!" Gimme a break. Jordin is my girl, she sang okay, but it wasn't even her own personal best.
I think KiKi goes home.
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Apr 25, 2007 7:41 AM
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Are me and my fiancee the only ones that feel a little duped by this whole Bono thing? I thought Bono was the mentor this week, so I expected to see him mentoring last night. I thought, at the beginning of the show Ryan even said he was this week's mentor.
Both of us were looking forward to seeing Bono with the contestants, all week and at the start of the show. So AI had to give the impression at some point, that he was going to be on last night. Both of us can't be that crazy, right?
Or were they just talking about James Bono, the emergency harmonica player in the house band? If that was the case, then boy do I have egg on my face! 
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Apr 25, 2007 7:43 AM
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I actually really liked Blake. I always do. The Beatles are my favorite band, so even though the song was by John Lennon, not The Beatles,I was still happy that Blake took it on. I am glad he showed the song the respect it deserved by not playing around with it.
There is just something about Blake's tone in his voice that I really like. But, I love bands like Keane, Breaking Benjamin, Fallout Boy, Bowling for Soup and others that I feel have kind of the same tone. I just get so sick of the "divas". I mean, they all do have good voices, and I think Jordin will win, but every year it's the same type of girls who are in this competition, so I love to see some different styles.
I don't get the Chris appeal at all. Not at all. He is boring, not very cute and his voice is very weak, IMO. Phil has a good voice, but he creeps me out and isn't consistent- so that leaves Blake. I would really like to see a guy in the final 3. I think the final 3 should be Melinda, Jordin & Blake with Jordin winning the whole thing.
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Apr 25, 2007 7:44 AM
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I don't understand why the judges thought Chris did so well last night. He sounded awfully off key to me. And when will the contestants learn not to sing signature songs like Fantasia's "I believe" (which I believe was introduced on this show)? What was Lakisha thinking?
I see those two in the bottom two and either one can go home IMO.
Loved Jordin and Melinda again last night and I thought Blake did a good job with "Imagine" but I wish he would have picked something else that he could have made his own. I think it was damned if you do damned if you don't with that song. If he put his own spin on it, he would have been criticized but because didn't, he got criticized.
I'm not familiar with the song Phil did so I don't know how well he did with it, but he creeps me out with his bald head and goofy camera look.
I'm worried that this is the week we could see Melinda or Jordin go home because people think they are safe and don't vote for them. I really hope that doesn't happen. I did vote for Jordin several times last night and found it too easy to get through. I hope it's just because they had extra phone lines.
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Apr 25, 2007 7:45 AM
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Sorry, Paula, I disagree. Blake did a great job with "Imagine." Simple melody, powerful words. If he'd spiced it up any more than it did it would have lost all meaning. It was a beautiful rendition.
Melinda knocks my socks off.
Jordin made me cry. It was perfect.
Bottom 2: LaKisha and Phil.
Going Home: Tossup at this point.
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Apr 25, 2007 7:51 AM
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Thank goodness for you, David Steed. I, too, thought I heard Ryan say that Bono would be the mentor last night, and then, no Bono, no mentor at all in fact. I'd like to know what happened there. I would have really liked to hear what bono had to say about each of the kids' performances.
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Apr 25, 2007 7:54 AM
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I love Jordin and hope she wins. She made me cry last night with her song. My favorite of the guys is Blake and do hope he gets to stick around. I voted for Chris as well last night, but I am afraid he or Blake will be the one to go home unless some of the Sanjaya fan's voted for them.
Looking forward to show tonight.
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Apr 25, 2007 7:56 AM
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