It's not very surprising that Lee DeWyze was selected as the favorite Top 3 Idol contestant among IDOL LIVE readers as shown in the latest edition of the poll of the week.
Lee nabbed 33 votes, good for 39% of the 83 votes cast, which was just two votes ahead of Casey James's 31 votes. Casey's total came to 37%. And Crystal Bowersox brought up the rear with 19 votes (22%).
These numbers did not reflect the actual coting results as presented on tonight's results show, obviously, as Casey was sent packing.
In the latest edition of the poll of the week series, readers are asked who their favorite Top 2 contestant is. Voting will be open for exactly one week. Oh boy, this result is going to be very exciting, isn't it?
Casey James 31 (37%)
Crystal Bowersox 19 (22%)
Lee DeWyze 33 (39%)
Total votes: 83
Running total for Season 9:
24th - Haeley Vaughn (0 votes)*
21st (tie) - Janell Wheeler (2 votes)*
21st (tie) - Todrick Hall (2 votes)*
21st (tie) - Paige Miles (2 votes)*
19th (tie) - Joe Munoz (3 votes)*
19th (tie) - Jermaine Sellers (3 vote)*
17th (tie) - Tyler Grady (4 votes)*
17th (tie) - Michelle Delamor (4 votes)*
15th (tie) - John Park (6 votes)*
15th (tie) - Ashley Rodriguez (6 votes)*
14th - Lacey Brown (9 votes)*
13th - Katelyn Epperly (10 votes)*
12th - Lilly Scott (14 votes)*
11th - Alex Lambert (22 votes)*
10th - Michael Lynche (27 votes)*
09th - Didi Benami (56 votes)*
08th - Andrew Garcia (58 votes)*
07th - Tim Urban (60 votes)*
06th - Katie Stevens (93 votes)*
05th - Aaron Kelly (111 votes)*
04th - Casey James (208 votes)*
03rd - Siobhan Magnus (218 votes)*
02nd - Crystal Bowersox (275 votes)
01st - Lee DeWyze (289 votes)
*indicates contestant has been eliminated
Showing posts with label top 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top 3. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Poll of the week: Lee DeWyze favorite Top 3 contestant
IDOL LIVE Blog - Top 3 Results (5/19/10)
Tonight's results show proves to be one of the most anticlimactic in recent memory (like on the same level of Season 7). Thus, it's only fitting that we all join tonight's blogcast to point and yawn at its events together. If all else fails, at least we have Justin Bieber to perform not one, but TWO songs! Everywhere cheer with me now...
To see who I everyone predicts will be leaving tonight, see here. And as usual, please feel free to add your two cents throughout the one-hour blogcast. Coverage starts just prior to 9 p.m. ET.
Tonight's blogcast features the music of Amy Krebs, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Elliott Yamin and Haley Scarnato.
IDOL LIVE predix: Top 3 Results
As pimped as Lee was with all the bells and whistles (spotlights and backup singers) during his take on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," his vocals were primarily on the mark, and so the judges can't be completely called out for their over the top praise. To add to this, his only other performance was helped by a great song choice (Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man"), and if this was even up to debate, Simon's surefire declaration that Lee "crushed" his peers in the first round should be evidence that the judges felt he decisively outshone everyone else.
Crystal Bowersox did the best she could given the circumstances, and her two showings were a mixed bag. While she fumbled on a generic rendition of Melissa Etheridge's "Come to My Window," she thrilled audiences with a gender-incorrect (or gender-correct, depending on how you look at it) version of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" (much to the pleasure of Ellen, who gave her a standing ovation as Crystal finished the song), and as Simon said, this was probably enough to drag her across the Top 2 marker in the race for the title.
And so it comes as no surprise that I'm pegging Casey James to leave in third place tonight. Nothing out of the ordinary, and I think virtually everyone else is calling for the same result. Casey had a good thing going for a while but he tripped up last night with an obsure song choice, stiff stage presence and shaky vocals, and the fact that he was thrown under the bus by every judge and their mother just cemented his fate.
Oh well, maybe Justin Bieber's performance tonight will lighten the mood and provide some excitement. On second thought...
In my original predictions I had Crystal finishing 3rd, so although it's possible this scenario could come to fruition, I just don't see it happening. At all.
Since the Top 24 I have correctly predicted 6-21 eliminations and since the Top 12 I have correctly predicted 2-9 eliminations. Go me!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
IDOL LIVE Blog - Top 3 Perform (5/18/10)
Tonight marks the most important point of Idol's ninth season so far, as the Top 3 finalists aim to earn a spot in the coveted Top 2. Although everyone and their mother seems to be pegging Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze as the pair to beat, don't count Casey James out! If you really care about the show, vote goat!
We already know the judges' picks for each contestant, as one third of their performance sets were revealed to them when they returned to their hometowns over the weekend. Will Lee be able to top Tim Urban's version of "Hallelujah"? Will Casey be karaoke on "Daughters"? Will Crystal resonate with anyone for her rendition of "Maybe I'm Amazed"? Well, you can only find out by tuning in (or following along here!)
As usual, please feel free to add your two cents throughout the one-hour blogcast. Coverage starts just prior to 8 p.m. ET.
Tonight's blogcast features the music of Chikezie, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Jordin Sparks and We Are the Fallen.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Flashback: Elliott Yamin's "I Believe to My Soul"
Season 5 of Idol still stands as the crown jewel among all of the series' seasons, and Elliott Yamin is still one of the strongest Top 3 finishers. The "funky white boy" R&B machine pleased the audience with his soulful take on both contemporary and classic hits while on the show, and his performance of "I Believe to My Soul" during Top 3 night
Although the judges weren't the biggest fans of Elliott's take on the song, he demonstrated his ability to churn out a convincing R&B showing. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to propel him into the Top 2.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Flashback: Bo Bice's "In a Dream"
Bo Bice is often overlooked when it comes to Idol runners-up nowadays, but it's important to remember his many outstanding performances while on the show. One of his strongest offerings came in the form of his a capella rendition of "In a Dream," which he performed during Top 3 week. Relive the moment below:
This performance single-handedly rewarded Bo with a spot in the finale, and even though he was no match for Carrie Underwood that season, his valiant effort should not be ignored.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Flashback: David Archuleta's "Longer"
David Archuleta had some pristine vocal performances during his time on Idol during Season 7. One of the more overlooked ones was his rendition of Dan Fogelberg's "Longer," which was selected by producers during Top 3 week. Refresh your memory on the performance below:
Although Arch's vocal abilities were showcased extremely well on "Longer," Simon was right to criticize the song selection for it's "gooey" lyrics and for the fact that it was too old of a song for a 17-year-old. Still, it should be recognized that "Longer" was in part responsible for catapulting Arch into the finale the following week.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Poll of the week: Syesha's fans put the "yes" in her name
In what can only be considered a last-minute "Hail Mary" of a play in IDOL LIVE's poll of the week champion series, Syesha Mercado was crowned the victor in the Top 3 edition of the poll.
The seventh season's third-place finisher was able to reel in 52 votes (41%), enough to shut down Jasmine Trias' 31 votes (24%), who had been leading for the majority of the week.
The three other finalists that were able to nab similar amounts of votes include Elliott Yamin (15 votes, 11%)m Melinda Doolittle (12 votes, 9%) and Danny Gokey (12 votes, 9%). Season 7 has seen its candidates win each round of the champion series poll with the exception of Top 6 and Top 4.
With just two weeks before the final round of the champion series poll begins, the next installment asks readers which runner-up is their favorite of all eight seasons. Voting will be open for exactly one week.
Nikki McKibbin 0 (0%)
Kimberley Locke 4 (3%)
Jasmine Trias 31 (24%)
Vonzell Solomon 0 (0%)
Elliott Yamin 15 (11%)
Melinda Doolittle 12 (9%)
Syesha Mercado 52 (41%)
Danny Gokey 12 (9%)
Total votes: 126
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Poll of the week: Ding dong, it's Adam again
It was business as usual on IDOL LIVE's poll of the week, with Adam garnering the majority of the votes by a large margin. It seems that this is (and has been for a while) a one-man show.
Adam took in 156 of the 293 votes cast this past week, which was equivalent to 53% of the total. His total is now at 695 votes since the series began back with the Top 13 finalists. Kris was up next with 104 votes, which was good for 35% of the total. And Danny brought up the rear as usual, with his 33 votes (11%) paling in comparison to his competitors. If this poll really was representative of how voting has gone, this week would be the one to paint the image the best.
In this week's poll of the week, readers are once again asked to vote for their Top 2 favorite finalist. You will have exactly one week to vote.
Adam 156 (53%)
Danny 33 (11%)
Kris 104 (35%)
Total votes: 293
Running total for Season 8:
13th - Jorge Nunez (1 vote)
12th - Jasmine Murray (4 votes)
11th - Lil Rounds (5 votes)
10th - Alexis Grace (6 votes)
09th - Michael Sarver (8 votes)
08th - Scott MacIntyre (17 votes)
07th - Megan Joy Corkrey (48 votes)
06th - Matt Giraud (51 votes)
05th - Anoop Desai (99 votes)
04th - Allison Iraheta (102 votes)
03rd - Danny Gokey (248 votes)
02nd - Kris Allen (520 votes)
01st - Adam Lambert (695 votes)
Analysis: And so goes the Gokey
Well, that was hardly unexpected.
So Kris and Adam will square off in the finale next Tuesday. Not many would have predicted that back in February. It surely will be a fight, as Ryan stated only just over one million votes separated the top two vote-getters, which means there are a whole lot more Kris fans than anyone would have guessed.
Regarding Danny, he really went out with class. Not only did he sing the reprise of "You Are So Beautiful" with conviction and tenderness, but one could picture him singing to his wife, and he looked up to the ceiling as if he were looking up to heaven. No matter what you think of Danny (whom I think has got a really bad wrap this season from some), you have to admit he really wanted to be there and gave it his all each and every time.
The rest of the results show means little compared to the results, but we might as well take a look at what transpired tonight.
The show kicked off with a lame attempt at humor and shameless self promotion, as Ben Stiller and friends from the cast of Night At the Museum: Battle For the Smithsonian opened the show with a pre-taped video joking about the judges' table being honored at the Smithsonian. Hah, very funny guys.
After that speed bump we were treated to a performance by a little boy named Noah who came all the way from Rwanda to sing as part of a presentation done by Alicia Keys for the "Keep a Child Alive" foundation, which she is the ambassador of. It was an extension of last night's "Idol Gives Back" segment featuring Carrie Underwood. Noah sang well considering he learned the lyrics in English in only one week.
The other two performers were more experienced (well, one of them, anyway), and sang more recognizable tunes (well, one of them, anyway). Jordin Sparks was first with the debut of her new single "Battlefield," complete with an accompaniment by Ryan Tedder on the piano and a herd of shrieking backup singers. They literally ruined the stunning vocals Jordin was able to belt out. She looked a good 5 years older than she did when she one, and even lost a few pounds. Don't take that the wrong way, though, as she looked very beautiful and took command of the stage with the upbeat track.
Katy Perry, the night's other featured performer, was not as fortunate. She may not have had to deal with the atrocious backup singers, but she had her own share of showgirls and stuff helping her distract the audience from her awful singing (including Adam's name on on her cape...wooohoo...). As bad as she and her bug eyes were, though, I give her credit for singing live. That's more than what Paula can say...
As for the hometown visits, nothing really stuck out. Kris' emotional hug with his father was sort of an indicator that he was going to make the finale. When Ryan mentioned it as a "prideful moment," it became pretty obvious that he was going to advance. Danny's trip back to Milwaukee was sweet, but it seemed like him reuniting with friend and fellow Hollywood contestant Jamar Rodgers was not as sentimental as Kris' return home. Adam's hometown visit was probably the least eventful, aside from the whole girl-in-bra-rushing-the-stage incident, which sounded a lot more exciting than it looked on camera.
And that Ford video looked like it was done in Windows Moviemaker in about a half an hour. I understand the budget has shrunk compared to years past, and people aren't really concerned with the videos at this point, but c'mon, at least make it look like some effort was put into it.
As for my predictions, I was wrong once again with my pick for Kris to go in my pre-show predictions, and I was also wrong with my original prediction of Adam finishing in third. Oh well.
At the end of the day, tonight's events were pretty much inevitable following Kris' performance of "Heartless" last night and adding in Simon's nonstop pimpage of Adam, and the stage is set for a competitive finale. Or is it? The producers would like to make you think so, but I really think the whole "less than a million votes separated Adam and Kris" thing is them stretching reality in order to create a false sense of competitiveness. But we shall see.
In the words of Simon, it looks like we're gonna have a big ding dong next week.
IDOL LIVE Blog: Top 3 Results (5/13/09)
With the stakes higher than ever, be sure to join us tonight as we blog during the Top 3 finalists' results show. Not only will we find out which two fan bases will have to work their fingers to the bone next Tuesday, but we will get to hear the premiere of Jordin Sparks' new single "Battlefield" and Katy Perry will let us laugh at her while she does "Waking Up in Vegas." The blogcast will begin at 9 p.m. ET and will last one hour.
Tonight's blogcast will feature music from Kelly Clarkson, David Cook, Daughtry, Allison Iraheta and Jordin Sparks.
IDOL LIVE predix: Top 3 Results
Last night was a bloodbath. Not literally, of course, but voting-wise it is fair to say the three fan bases were up until the wee hours of the morning voting their fingers off, then turning their focus to DialIdol to see how their counterparts in timezones behind them were picking up the slack. The result of this crazy amount of activity will be revealed tonight, but until then, we will have to settle for calculated predictions of how the night will play out.
Before I continue with any analysis, here is how I think tonight's results will go:
Eliminated
>Kris
Despite the late gains Kris made in this competition, I do believe that he will come up just shy of making the finals when all is said and done. The judges have been pushing an Adam/Danny finale this whole season, and it just would not make sense for that scenario to fall apart when it is so close to happening.
Other than that, Kris will go home because he does not bring an exciting match up. If he were to make the finale, the result would be a landslide unlike anything this show has ever witnessed.
Now, theoretically anyone could be singing their swan song tonight because if we are to take anything from DialIdol's findings, it's the fact that the last time the Top 3 finalists were this close (Season 6), the one with the highest DI score (Melinda Doolittle) went home. So, if taken with its usual grain of salt, these predictions don't mean much and cannot be used as concrete evidence that someone in particular is leaving for certain.
My original predictions have Adam finishing third, and at this point, although possible, it is highly unlikely that such a bold prediction will come true.
About last night: vote [for Adam] or die?
Well it would be an understatement to say that the Top 3 finalists did a great job last night with each of their two songs. Yes, some were better than others, but they all deserve to be there out of the assortment of finalists we began the season with in the Top 13. That said, the stakes were so extreme last night that tensions boiled over between the judges, specifically Kara and Simon. Plus, the judges (and Ryan) took an extra step of cautioning viewers to not assume their favorites are safe (*hint*hint* vote for Adam!), so all in all things played out the way they were supposed to according to the playbook.
Kicking the night off was Danny, who was stuck with Paula's pick of "Dance Little Sister" by Terence Trent D'Arby. "Who?" you may ask? Well, Danny apparently had not even heard of the man, as he said he did not know what to think when he received the text while he was being interviewed on a Milwaukee radio station during his hometown visit. That said, Danny did his best trying to keep up with the fast-paced song and really had fun with it. The vocals were not top-notch but they were solid all the same.
The judges were positive about the performance on the whole, with Kara and Paula more interested in discussing the choreography but Simon did say the vocals were very good despite taking a jab at the "desperate" dancing, to which Randy and Ryan had a laugh about Simon criticizing dancing. Who would have thought Randy and Ryan would jump on that comment?
Danny took on "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker later on in the show, and the performance was really beautiful. The vocals were controlled and tender, and the stringed accompaniment was exactly the correct way to go about the instrumentation for the performance. Randy said Danny has "mad vocals," Kara lathered on the praise when she said it was "stunning" and that she had "nothing else to say," Paula said Danny left them "breathless" and Simon called it a "vocal masterclass." All of them were on target with their critiques, and this was probably Danny's best performance on the show.
The second performer of the night was Kris, who has been considered the dark horse for most of the season and he was under immense pressure to deliver last night. What seemed like a perfect fit for his style of singing in OneRepublic's "Apologize," however, did not go over as well as its selectors Randy and Kara had hoped it would.
Kris did hit a few bum notes and he cracked going into his falsetto at one point, but his piano playing sounded great with the song, which is one full of emotion and allowed Kris to show off his softer side (because he doesn't do that often enough, right?). Paula picked up on one of the bum notes but said he did his own artistic take on the song. Kara and Randy were not exactly happy, though, as Randy focused on Kris' after-Idol prospects and Kara called it a "competent" performance but he had to hit it out of the park and she didn't think he did. The reason: it was not original-sounding enough. This allowed Simon to swoop in for the kill, as he told Kara she had no business criticizing the arrangement since she and Randy picked the song, and then said Kara did not live up to her responsibilities in selecting the song.
Well, Kara would not have any of this, and she went into a shouting match with Simon trying to defend herself, but on this show Simon always gets the last word and this critique session was no different. Simon sort of had a point but Kara and Randy did not choose the arrangement for Kris part, so it is hard to blame that part on them. Still, Kris' first song was sort of a mess when the dust settled.
His second song, however, was leagues better and the fact that he was able to switch up Kanye West's "Heartless" to make it sound original and acoustic with just a guitar showed that he could be more than a singer, he could be an artist. This was more to Kara's liking, and she let it be known when she asked why Kris did not sing the first song the same way. Simon was more blunt in saying he had written off Kris' chances of winning weeks ago but after that performance, everything had changed. Whether or not that stands true will come in time, but for Simon to say that, he either must have been genuinely impressed or he was just trying to keep Kris' fans satisfied enough to go easy on the voting. Probably more of the latter, but still after eight seasons, the only person that can figure out Simon is Simon.
One weird thing I picked up on was how odd Ryan's behavior was all night. Following Kris' second performance, he started congratulating him on how far he had made it and how everyone enjoyed having him on the show, plus all the reminders that everyone needed to vote more than ever before to ensure the safety of their favorites. It seemed like he was really trying to wake Kris' fans up.
And then Adam was batting third in the pimp spot (where else would he be?), but it's important to realize that going last does not always guarantee safety this late in the game. Simon gloated about having to personally call U2's Bono up and ask if "One" could be cleared for Adam to sing, and it definitely was a good choice. Adam changed up the arrangement a ton and made it out to be extremely theatrical, which worked for him even though Randy was spot on in catching him drift off the melody a bit near the end. Overall, though, Adam did what he usually does and it was more than enough to impress Kara and Paula, and Simon continued to pound the rallying drums when he said if Adam did not make the finals, it would be one of the biggest upsets ever.
Adam said the lyrics were what really made him think the song was a great choice, and while it's true the song is an amazing piece of lyric writing, that doesn't mean it is ideal for every singer's vocal style.
But on Aerosmith's "Cryin'" Adam really brought the house down. He had fun being over-the-top because, well, the song is an over-the-top song to begin with. If it says one thing about himself, it says Adam knows exactly the kinds of songs that are perfect for his range. He hit all the high notes effortlessly, though some came out better than others, and showed why the producers keep letting him perform last. He also was able to sing over the pesky backup singer that tried to get in the spotlight by shouting the song.
As for the judges, it was unanimous. Randy called him one of the best performers they've ever had on the show. Kara said we'd see him in the finals. Paula said we'd be seeing him next week (and managed to work in a pre-written comment about frequent flier miles). And that brings me to Simon.
Simon basically pleaded with viewers to vote for Adam. He didn't even try to hide his favoritism, and told everyone not to assume he was safe. This is the first time I can recall Simon blatantly directing the audience how to vote, and this is outright wrong. By doing this, Simon is suggesting that Adam's fans cannot vote him into the finale on their own merit, so he decides to scare them into working their fingers to the bone. Based on the theory that the contestant that receives the fewest votes is eliminated, which the producers and the show itself has everyone accept as fact, Adam's fans would obviously spend the full two hours voting for him if they really wanted him in there. For Simon to sit them down like babies and instruct them how to vote because many will assume Adam's safety is just unnecessary. I understand the show wants Adam to win extremely badly but that doesn't mean they need to stretch the manipulation to lengths we have never seen before.
Anyway, it was nice of Adam to praise Danny and Kris for being tough competition following his final performance.
One last thing of note: the "Idol Gives Back" segment featuring Carrie Underwood's trip to Angola was the most obvious form of filler possible, but it was nice to see her out in Africa helping with the mosquito nets and just putting a smile on peoples' faces in general. It might have disrupted the flow of the show, but it also served as a reminder for the $140 million the cause has raised for aid to Africa and this country over the past three years.
Now its up to the voting public. Although many had pegged Kris as a third-place finisher since before last nights performances even took place, it seems that he stands a fighting chance of making the finale. We will see tonight.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
IDOL LIVE Blog: Top 3 Perform (5/12/09)
Tonight, the competition ratchets up higher than ever before when Adam, Danny and Kris vie for the two spots in the eighth season's finale next week. Following the song choice drama this weekend, it will be interesting to see which songs work and, more importantly, which ones do not. The blogcast will begin at 8 p.m. ET and will last one hour.
Tonight's blogcast will feature music from Michael Johns, Kady Malloy, Cardin McKinney, Kellie Pickler and Chris Richardson.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
What they should sing: Personal & judges' choices week
Departing from the usual three songs for three finalists format that has been used in each one of the Top 3 performance episodes for the past seven seasons, this year's crop will have to settle for two songs only: one picked by a judge (or in one case, two judges) and one personal choice (thanks again Kara!).
The judges' picks for the Top 3 are already common knowledge because each finalist received his respective song choice (or in one case, two choices) from the judges at their homecomings yesterday. Paula picked "Dance Little Sister" by Terence Trent D'Arby for Danny, Randy and Kara chose "Apologize" by OneRepublic for Kris and Simon apparently couldn't decide between "One" by U2 or Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" for Adam since there is video of him receiving a text with both songs. Right, that's fair...
Anyway, Danny and Kris are really going to have to step it up come Tuesday if they want to advance to the finale, and that key to doing that is picking a good song in the first place. Although this is not a magic solution to the problem, it definitely sets the stage for a solid performance assuming the singer finds his comfort zone in the choice. Therefore, my song suggestions for the Top 3 can be found below:
Adam Lambert: "Rock and Roll All Nite" (Kiss)
Yeah yeah, Rock 'n Roll was last week's theme, but Adam has made a name for himself singing songs from this genre over the course of the season, so why not keep a good thing going? Adam would blew the lid off the studio with Kiss' "Rock and Roll All Nite," a '70s classic that would allow him to be as theatrical as possible all the while belting out notes at the top of his lungs, and it would not be perceived as a mess. A bit over the top perhaps, but Adam's no stranger to being accused of that.
The judges could possibly criticize Adam for picking a predictable song, but the performance would drown out any negativity they might direct toward him. And there are plenty of other songs that Adam could choose since it really doesn't matter at this point because he will be in the finale regardless.
Danny Gokey: "One Sweet Day" (Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men)
Danny has not taken on an emotional, R&B-tinged ballad in a long time, and this is his chance to return to a place that fits his vocal style to a T. Danny has already performed a Mariah Carey track in "Hero" back in the semifinals, so it would not be awkward for him to play that card once more so late in the game with "One Sweet Day." Plus, Boyz II Men help Carey out on the track, which is a group whose material would be totally believable for Danny to attempt.
The lyrics in "Day" are very relevant to Danny on a personal level, and could create just the right effect on the audience to connect with them emotionally, which just might be the edge he needs at this stage. Assuming he doesn't attempt one of Carey's high notes following last week's travesty, things could look very bright for Danny this week.
Kris Allen: "Fire and Rain" (James Taylor)
Kris is in the toughest position this week because he is an underdog. What would not be right for him to do at this point, however, is to take a risk. When risks are taken so late in the game, that don't always work out the way they were intended, so it would be best for him to stick to what he's good at and let his fan base vote its fingers off. Therefore, James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" would be the perfect choice for him.
The performance would work best with Kris sitting on a stool playing along on his guitar, with no other instrumentation and nothing onstage to distract the audience from his singing. If he can excel in this way, Kris should feel pretty confident with himself.
And there we have it. If I had to guess, I'd say Danny's choice is the most likely to be correct of the three, but it would be a big surprise for any of them to end up being picked.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Analysis: Allison is the little train that (almost) could
Most Idol fanatics are still reeling from tonight's somewhat shocking results, but it's never too early to examine the reasons for what actually transpired just now.
First of all, it is really sad to see Allison leave, especially on such a high note with her duet on "Slow Ride" with Adam. She really seemed like a star and was extremely comfortable on stage. In fact, she is probably the one contestant that has improved the most during her time on the Idol stage.
But like last season, this is a guy's season to win, and Allison would have been dead in the water had she gone up against Adam (or even Danny) in the finale. She might have stood a chance against Kris, but even that would have been a stretch. The reasons for why she departed in fourth place are pretty plain to see, even though it's hard to acknowledge them. Allison's vocals were one-dimensional, as she was more of a rocker than she was a versatile performer. She was a star in her element, but she sort of had a rough time when she stepped out. That said, this should have been Allison's week to own along with Adam, but when it comes down to the bottom line, she simply did not have a fan base that could compete with the other three, and it finally caught up to her tonight.
Allison definitely knows how to go out in style, though. She really tore up the stage with her encore of "Cry Baby" and was nothing but gracious for making it this far. Paula was kind to give her a hug mid-performance, while Randy and Kara showed their soft sides by consoling her at the end of the performance. Simon did not show much of a reaction, but you could tell on the inside that he was proud of her despite their little back-and-forth eye-rolling and "begging" session last night.
Danny was shown smiling while Allison did her swan song, and you could tell it was one of those "older brother proud of his little sister" kind of moments, nothing sinister.
Speaking of Danny, how did you like his minute or so laugh-fest at his "scream"? It was a real relief to see him poke fun of himself, talking about his aunt having to mute the note and how people were making it into ringtones. This is a side of Danny that does not get shown often, and people sometimes see him in only the most negative light, so it probably was worth the self-deprecating humor.
And then the Top 4's group performance of "School's Out" with Slash was not a letdown like it could have been, which kicked off the show on the right note. The other guest performances, however, were a mixed bag.
First, Paula's "performance" of her new single "(I'm Just) Here For the Music" was one of the funniest moments in Idol history. She lip-synched her whole way through the song like it was her job, all the while pulling off A-list choreographic moves with the help of dancing guys that were probably half her age. She looked great and proved that she can still do the moves, but the whole not singing part sends the wrong message to the contestants, since the goal of the show is all about finding the best "undiscovered" singer, right? Oh, nevermind...
Anyway, No Doubt took the stage looking to eclipse Paula's performance (even though the former was taped last night) but Gwen Stefani and the guys were "just a'ight" in Randyspeak. Gwen looked like a new mother and even though she tried to prove she's in tip-top shape by doing pushups behind the judges' table, she seemed really out of breath near the end of their trip down memory lane with "Just a Girl" (don't they have a new single out there to promote called "Stand and Deliver"?) Stefani was her usual zany self and is a whole lot of fun, but the performance really did not cut it.
And then there was Daughtry's return to the stage that ended frontman Chris' dreams of becoming the next American Idol exactly three years ago this week. The new single, "No Surprise," is mid-tempo fare that fits in with the band's usual sound and the live performance was pretty good overall, despite an overall sense of boredom as seen in the audience's languishing applause. The presentation of a quintuple platinum plaque from one Kris to another Chris was a nice touch, but the album has only sold 4.2+ million to date, so isn't that a little premature?
Other things of note about tonight's episode include Ryan sending Kris to safety first, which was obviously deliberate to make everyone suspect Danny was tonight's target. It was a huge relief to both Kris and his wife, though, and they were visibly excited. And the Ford music video was ridiculous as usual, but it was cool of them to use The All-American Rejects' "Move Along" as the song of focus.
As for my predictions, I originally had Anoop going home, which obviously was not going to happen, but my pre-show predictions were also pretty off. I had Kris going home (as did most others) but he was the first one sent back to safety. We do not know who landed in the Bottom 2 with Allison, though, so it may or may not have been Danny. I guess we'll never really know.
Next week the Top 3 finalists will each perform one song picked by the judges and one song of their own choosing. So there's only enough room for six performances in an hour once again when they used to do nine at this point in the competition? Alrighty then...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Syesha exits on a classy note
The night was very anticlimactic, since the results were a mystery to no one. Ryan seemed less engaged as usual, the audience was kind of out of it, and the Top 3 all had tired, worried faces the entire night, beginning with the opening shot of the three of them standing center stage. The 56 million votes cast were basically just a formality in sending Syesha on her way.
But one thing the producers did very well was showcase the finalists' hometown visits. The montages gave a very personal look into how the three contenders are received by their fans. They all went to their past (and current in David Archuleta's case) schools, rode atop car rooftops in parades and performed for hundreds of fans that turned out for the celebration. Syesha was able to take a ride in her local FOX affiliate's chopper, while David Cook surprised his elementary school music teacher with a bouquet of flowers and a kiss and David A. sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Utah Jazz's playoff game.
One thing they all had in common was they all cried upon seeing the outpouring of support they had. David A. even apologized for his crying, followed by a nervous laugh. The Top 3 all appeared on their local FOX affiliate morning shows and select radio shows as well. And finally, all three of them received honors awarded to them by their hometowns, whether May 9, 2008 was declared "David Archuleta Day" or they simply received a plaque congratulating them on their achievements, as in David C.'s and Syesha's cases.
There were also some funny moments when a woman threw her baby at Syesha, asking for her to take a picture with her, to which she obliged but after the fact thought it was crazy. Also, David C. signed a fan's poster, and she cried.
Another portion of the show that the producers deserve credit for is the Top 3's "journey" videos. All three of them were done well and featured different songs that reflected who they were.
Ryan messed up when reading the recap of David C.'s judges' critiques, saying Chaka Kahn sang "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." Following David's journey video, he corrected himself and said it was in fact Roberta Flack, and chalked it up to "bad research on my part."
But the highlight of the night (and possibly the highlight of the season) was when one of the smartest camera guys ever scored s two-and-a-half-second shot of Simon making the biggest WTF faces ever, including an eyeroll, during Season 3 winner Fantasia's performance of "Bore Me." Believe me, there was nothing boring about the performance. Fanny took the stage with three back-up singers dressed in Beyonce-like black dresses, while she herself was decked out in three sizes too small black pants and backless top, complete with sunset red, barely-there hair and earrings the size of pieces of toast. She lolled her way around the stage, letting out painful spasms and screeches that 33 million people mistook for singing four years ago when the crowned her the American Idol over 16-year-old Snelville, Ga., native Diana DeGarmo. Simon's reaction was classic and will go down in Idol history as one of the best facial expressions ever. Fanny's performance was both the worst and most memorable guest performance this season, and for that she truly has shown America what it means to "act ugly."
So as we look ahead to the finale next week, it will be interesting to see how David A. winning the coin toss will affect the outcome of the competition. History is on his side, as the winner has always performed second except for Season 2, when Clay Aiken went second and lost by a slight margin of merely 134,000 votes to Ruben Studdard. But this season has been very predictable up until now, so in all likelihood something is bound to surprise us.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
And the 'Idol' bus keeps on rollin'
The producers have been gunning for a David 2x, David-squared, David vs. Goliath (whatever you want to call it) finale since the early stages of the season. So why should they stop now?
Of course they should not stop now, and that's exactly what they told America last night. Upon first reading the song spoilers chosen by the judges, I thought all three were poor. But after watching the Top 3 actually perform the choices, only two were clunkers.
To start off the show, David Archuleta followed Paula's wishes by singing Billy Joel's "And So It Goes." Vocally, he was as strong as ever on the performance, but it was a total snoozefest. Simon was the biggest critic of the performance, calling it a "bit predictable" while maintaining it was still good. Paula called David a storyteller, and Randy thought Paula chose a "dope song" and that he was "in it to win it."
As for his personal choice, David inexplicably picked "With You" by Chris Brown. After a little confusion on when to walk out onto the stage to prepare for the performance, David opened with the words "my boo," which alone was worth any price of admission. Seeing him try to dance and keep up with the tempo of the song was great, and he had all the girls in the audience (and probably at home) screaming. To be fair, David actually did get to show off his personality better than ever before, so he did score a few points in that department. Randy complained about not believing him saying "my boo," but he maintained that he was actually stepping out of his comfort zone. Paula thought it was a different side of David, and Simon compared him to a chiuauha trying to be a tiger, which earned him heaps of boos.
On his final performance, David tried his best on Dan Fogelberg's "Longer," which he was dealt by the producers. The choice was awful, boring with a capital B, and although he was vocally on par with his first performance, the lifeless song left him with a forgettable performance. Randy and Paula were not disappointed, as they agreed that it was a "hot one" and that they "expecting nothing more" from him. Simon was wise in choosing who to critique, as he said he would not go after him for his singing but instead accusing the song of being "gooey" and having awful lyrics. He did follow it up by saying he thought David did enough to make the finale.
On to Syesha Mercado, who was able to show more of her spunky side. In round one, Syesha had to sing Randy Jackson's choice of "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys, which on paper would be a perfect fit for her but in actually performing, came off as a karaoke-wannabe showcase. Randy of course said she did amazing, while Paula said she was glad Syesha was the last girl standing. Simon criticized Randy's song choice for being "not challenging enough," though he did say she looked stunning.
For her personal choice, Syesha decided to step it up a notch and did a sizzling rendition of the Peggy Lee classic "Fever." Wearing a short silver dress, Syesha danced around a chair and gave props to the musicians, especially the cellist, in what could only be described as a sultry display of soul in the vein of "One Rock 'N Roll Too Many." When it came time for the judges to deliberate, no one saw what was coming. After calling the song choice "interesting, Randy said she sang it very well. But when it came time for Paula, she started off with her panic-inducing "you look lovely tonight" blah comment, then said she did not think the performance showed her Syesha, and that she was surprised she picked that song. Simon went a little further, calling the performance "lame cabaret" and that she would probably regret it tomorrow. So the Idol bus kept on rollin' with Syesha underneath once again.
But it was her third performance that was the most blatant evidence that TPTB would stop at nothing to ensure her departure. Syesha was handed Gia Farrell's "Hit Me Up," which is prominently featured in the movie Happy Feet. Syesha did what she could with the mess, moving around on stage and putting her power vocals into it. Sadly, she could only do so much. Randy said he could see her singing something Rihanna-esque and that it was "just okay" for him. Paula was harsher, saying she did not think it was enough to get her into the finale, and brought up the fact that it was from Happy Feet, which got a rise out of Simon, saying the song was "about penguins." Simon took the cake with his comments, though, saying he was hoping she would have a "defining moment." How could she have a defining moment with that song!?
As for David Cook, his song choices were by far the best of the three. He started off with Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," which Simon bragged about being challenging compared to Randy's choice since he chose it. David was able to change up the arrangement enough to give the song a completely new life. It was not on the level of "Billie Jean" nor "Always Be My Baby," but it was masterful in its own way. The way he was able to make do with just the piano and a guitar in the first half of the song showed his vocal craft. Randy said he had been a fan of David's for a long time and said he wished Simon had chosen something "less predictable" because he wanted more rock, for which he was booed. Paula said David was her second favorite singer to sing one of her favorite songs, while Simon took all the credit for the choice and declared "round 1 goes to Cook and Cowell."
On his personal choice, DC tackled Switchfoot's "Dare You to Move," which was not his best performance by a mile. There was vocal straining to hit the high notes and a bit of pitchiness, which Randy addressed in his critique. Paula did not like how the song was arranged to fit into the one-and-a-half-minute format, and said she wanted more, to which everyone would agree with. Simon said it was what he expected, and that all three of the finalists had an "okay" middle round.
But it was on the producers' choice that David shone the brightest. On what normally would be thought to be a cheesy song, DC brought the house down with Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." Although he jumped right to the bridge from the first verse, David was able to hit a few great high notes and the performance, which included a host of strings, was the best of the night. It was as if TPTB were prepping for a Cook coronation song. Randy was only a little impressed, and called it "very predictable," for which he was incessantly booed. Paula told David she'd "see ya in the finals!" and Simon called the song "one of greatest of all time," taking note that Diane Warren, the song's writer, was prominently seated in the audience, and told David he had won the night.
So the Idol bus going the speed limit last night with DC and Arch inside it and Syesha stuck underneath all the while. That is not to take anything away from the Davids, though, but they were all pretty much even last night. Syesha was just stuck with the worst songs and got no love for "Fever," which was severely underrated. But there was probably little she could have done to defend against the imminent third-place finish. She will go on to have a healthy career, and maybe she'll even end up on the silver screen a la Jennifer Hudson. But Syesha should not complain, because placing third on Idol is a huge step up from being shown on ABC's failure of a talent show The One for four episodes.
Prediction
Eliminated: Syesha
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