American IdolTop 5
Original Air Date: April 28, 2009
Patricia Morris Buckley — Associate Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com
I never thought I would say this — after all, it’s been a long time since I de-boarded his bandwagon — but Danny Gokey may have pulled off the best performance last night.
Other than that, it was kind of a sleepy night of ballads for Rat Pack Week. The contestants all dressed up in suits and even Allison Iraheta had on a party dress. Anyone notice that Ryan and Kris Allen were almost twins with the same tone gray suit, white shirt and dark tie (only Ryan’s was black while Kris sported blue)? Guess no one else got the memo…
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[photo: fox]
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I never thought I would say this — after all, it’s been a long time since I de-boarded his bandwagon — but Danny Gokey may have pulled off the best performance last night.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, it was kind of a sleepy night of ballads for Rat Pack Week. The contestants all dressed up in suits and even Allison Iraheta had on a party dress. Anyone notice that Ryan and Kris Allen were almost twins with the same tone gray suit, white shirt and dark tie (only Ryan’s was black while Kris sported blue)? Guess no one else got the memo…
Ryan pointed out that we are only three weeks away from the finale then introduced Jamie Foxx as the mentor this week. Fox won an Oscar for the film “Ray” and his tune “Blame It” has been No. 1 on the charts for 10 weeks — but he still doesn’t seem to be a good fit for a mentor. But when he started talking about “this isn’t the throat Olympics,” I started to take a shine to him (no matter how many times he insulted that little Miley Cyrus). He actually had some solid musical advice as well as helping contestants connect emotionally to their songs.
KRIS ALLEN: The Way You Look Tonight
For a few bars in the middle, Kris gives the song a more upbeat tempo and that’s the only part that really excited me. It just wasn’t a stand out performance. Before this performance, I saw him in the final two — not anymore.
Randy loved it, calling it Kris’ “best performance to date” with the R’n’B styling and “mad, nice vocals.” Kara says he has set the technical standards high for the night and praises his “magical phrasing, impeccable diction, rhythm and timing — you are truly the dark horse in this competition.” Paula says the genre has turned him from the boy next door into a sophisticated gentleman. Simon calls him a “well-trained spaniel” and criticizes him for taking the safe route. “I don’t get the feeling tonight that you can win this anymore,” he adds.
ALLISON IRAHETA: Someone to Watch Over Me
People have been begging Allison to do a ballad and she pulls this one off beautifully. She’s tamed her looks and gives a skillfully restrained performance.
Randy thought this week would trip her up, but says she sings like Pink with 9,000 more octaves. Kara believes she has converted new fans with her performance and felt her deep emotional connection. “If that doesn’t land you in the finals, I don’t know what will,” she adds. Paula calls it alluring and tender and says she’s proud of Allison. Simon still doesn’t feel her confidence, says it’s a 7 out of 10, and thinks she may be in trouble. Kara says to Simon: “I love you, but you are crazy.”
MATT GIRAUD: My Funny Valentine
Whoa — I can’t believe he’s tackling this worn song, especially after Melinda Doolittle killed it in S6. And Matt’s wobbly, sliding pitch and forced sound really doesn’t do it justice.
Randy calls it a little pitchy and says it didn’t come together. Kara says the competition is stiff and he has to be a leader, but she didn’t feel his emotional connection to the song. Paula loves what he did and hearing him in a lower register. Simon disagrees with Randy and thinks it’s the most authentic, believable song he’s heard so far, with Nat King Cole phrasing. He calls it “absolutely brilliant.”
DANNY GOKEY: Come Rain, Come Shine
Danny does himself a favor by not picking one of the “big” songs of this era. He really changes it up for the first time and puts his personality in it. It’s obvious that he’s pulled out all the stops and his growl at the end really is memorable. This is what he needed to stay in the competition.
Randy says he is the only one he’s heard tonight that could have an album of songs like that and win. Kara says he’s got that “Rat Pack swagger” and it’s the most creative he’s ever been. Paula calls his a “stellar, stellar, stellar performance” and she can feel he sees the finish line right in front of him. Simon says Kara is 100 percent right — Danny does have the swagger and says this is the best he’s heard from Danny. “Your performance is what I know you’re capable of,” he adds. “That was outstanding.”
ADAM LAMBERT: Feeling Good
He’s the only male not in a dark suit. As a matter of fact, his white suit and black shirt look as if he should have pulled them out Disco Week. Up to now, he’s been giving us rock one week and a restrained performance the next. This was a little of both. After a great entrance down the stairs, he takes his time building the song and has one note he holds on to forever, then adds a run at the end of it. Wow! While the song isn’t really engaging, he is amazing, as usual.
Randy calls it another good performance, but too theatrical. Kara says her mouth drops open every time he sings. “It was shocking, and sleazy and superb and way over-the-top,” Kara adds. Paula says: “With every performance that I see, it's like watching the Olympics and you're our Michael Phelps. Simon says that Randy complaining about Adam being theatrical is “like complaining that a cow moos.” But Simon is excited that Adam is showing that he wants to win and says he’s the best entertainer of the year.
While all five performances are excellent, Matt and Kris’ were the least impressive. But I think it is Matt and Allison who have the best chance of going home.
Not sure why people don’t see Allison as second place finisher that I do. Perhaps it’s because she looks 16 and sounds 40. While it’s nice to conjecture who will come in fourth, third and second, first is so wrapped up by Adam that the bow already has his name on it.
Who do you think is going home? Is there anyone who can beat Adam? Are we in for a shock elimination this week? Give us your Two Cents…