IDOL TOP 8

4.7.09

 

Tonight’s blog is a cliff’s notes version because 1 – I don’t feel well(read angry). 2 – FOX didn’t program the show correctly and both my Time Warner DVR and my Tivo cut off after Matt Giraud(that’s right, I record American Idol on two TVs). 3 – I’m not sure anyone really reads/ cares about these reviews anyway(and if you do, you need to comment and tell me so). This is where I would stick my tongue out at you if I could.

 

And off we go…

 

No big judge intro this week? Thank goodness they lost that dead weight. Is Kara next to go? One can only wish.

 

We start with baby pics of the judges. Randy = cute. Kara = not so cute. Paula = looks the same(insert cute or not so cute here depending on your opinion of Paula). Simon = bad ass.  Ryan = so not cute(good thing he improved with age…and orthodontics).

 

Danny Gokey

28-year-old from Milwaukee – the oldest contestant

Sings “Stand by Me” from 1980

 

His goatee kind of makes him look like a marionette. I don’t dig this arrangement, but it’s Gokey so of course his vocal sounds good. He kicks it up a notch half way through. Paula is out of her seat doing the clap. He he. The clap.

 

Randy didn’t dig the arrangement but thinks he’s got talent.

 

Kara agrees with Randy and says he “killed it” and “turned it on its head.”

 

Paula says, “All I can say is WOW.” But then continues to talk. She mixes metaphors as usual and talks about setting the bar and running to catch up. She then mentions “chord substitution.” Is that a real term? I’m guessing not since Simon is cracking up.

 

Simon thought the beginning was good, the middle lazy and the end terrific.

 

Kris Allen

23-year-old from No Where, Arkansas

Sings “All She Wants to do is Dance” from 1985

 

This set up is doing nothing for his credibility. He is surrounded by screaming girls and looks more like a boy band buddy than ever. His mouth/facial expressions still bug the crap out of me. I am not in love with this song nor performance. The honeymoon is over. I’m back to not digging on Kris.

 

Kara is a huge fan but this performance felt like jazz funk homework.

 

Paula thought he changed it up and he is one of the most likeable contestants ever.

 

Simon agrees that he is likable but says this was indulgent, boring, forgettable and stupid.

 

Randy agrees with Simon.

 

Lil Rounds

24-year-old from Memphis

Sings “What’s Love Got to do With it” from 1984

 

She’s attempting to emulate Tina. Bad idea. She seems confused. She’s trying to look and sound like Tina…but keeps adding in these random riffs to make it her own. Another bad idea. She has a decent voice but completely lacks originality. Another bad idea? That cheap wig. Ugh.

 

Paula thinks she looks hot and then babbles on endlessly. I’m thinking she didn’t like it but the way she is continuously contradicting herself leaves me confused.

 

Simon tries to clear up what Paula was babbling about(thank you, Simon) by saying we are not looking for a second or third rate version of Tina. He calls it a ghastly copycat performance and says we have lost Lil.

 

Paula says, “That is what I said.”

 

Simon says, “But I make more sense, Paula.”

 

She disagrees. I, however, fully agree.

 

Randy thinks Lil is mad, mad talented but he didn’t dig. He says it’s not clicking.

 

Kara tells her she’s struggling to make the leap from singer to artist.

 

Anoop Desai

23-year-old from Chapel Hill, NC

Sings “True Colors” from 1986

 

Remember when Kodak used this in all their commercial campaigns? Am I the only one who remembers that? I love me some vintage adverts. You should see how happy I am in the commercial viewing room at the Coca Cola museum. I’m giddy just thinking about it.

 

Regarding Anoop’s attire, Zap2itBrill wrote this on Twitter: If Anoop's cardigan was Fruit Stripe gum (which it may very well be) it would be lime flavor. (BTW – if you have a Twitter account, click HERE to follow the FOX 7 Idol Edge.)

 

Regarding Anoop’s performance, it’s fine…but a bit boring. That’s all I can say really.

 

Randy congratulates the Tarheels saying they are a hot team. He then says Anoop was hot tonight too.

 

Kara says he controlled the song and did not let it control him. “That is what it’s all about,” according to Kara.

 

Paula thought the choice of song was flawless, his phrasing was beautiful and where it “sat in his voice” was truly magical. He showed us his true colors, just like a rainbow. Puke.

 

Simon calls him a “singing yoyo” saying one minute he’s down, the next minute he’s up. He thought it was very good – but not fantastic, btw.

 

Scott MacIntyre

23-year-old from Scottsdale, AZ

Sings “The Search is Over” from 1985

 

Wow, no piano this week. He is holding an axe though. Not sure if he’s going to play it or just wear it like Allison did last week. Here he goes – strumming one chord over and over. Impressive. OK – it is just not right that he’s singing about looking in your eyes and realizing the search is over. Are there no songs that avoid eye contact? Seriously. I am jolted out of my blinding rant by Scott shouting “good LUCK!” This is awful. I wish I was deaf. Temporarily, of course.

 

Kara commends him for trying something different. She says there were parts she liked and parts she didn't like. Kara is a genius.

 

Paula gives him credit for stepping away from the piano and recommends an acoustic guitar rather than an electric one. Scott says this was his punk side coming out. It all makes perfect sense now. Thanks for clearing that up. Now, can you clear up Paula’s incessant nonsense?

 

Simon suggests that he go back to the piano next week. He calls the song “atrocious” and thinks the performance was “weird.”

 

Randy says it was just OK and didn't show him off as a star.

 

Allison Iraheta

16-year-old from LA, CA – the youngest finalist

Sings “I Can't Make You Love” from 1992

 

I am still amazed by how mature her voice is. This is a good song choice vocally. I would enjoy this a lot more if this song wasn’t so freaking played out. She was good though.

 

Paula seal claps and then says Allison’s voice is a gift you can’t put a price tag on. She loves the tenderness she added to the song – which made it her own. Really? The original has no tenderness? Take another listen, crazy pants.

 

Simon thought it was very good but says she needs to become a bit more likeable.

 

It reminded Randy of Kelly Clarkson. DAMN. I am so sick of the comparisons. Especially since they are constantly telling these kids to be themselves and then turning around and instructing them on which artist they should study/ sing and which artist they are just like. Mr. Walking Contradiction says Kelly can sing her face off and so can Allison.

 

Kara believes she made an adult song young and current. She ends with, “Let’s go make a record, man.”

 

Matt Giraud

The 23-year-old dueling piano player from Kalamazoo, MI

Sings "Part-Time Lover" from 1985

 

This is a great song choice and a great performance. Matt is my new Kris. I dig it.

 

The judges keep their comments short b/c we are running out of time. Oh, wait, no we aren’t. The show can just run past the scheduled time. No worries.

 

A-holes.

 

Randy says that it was vocally one of the best of the night.

 

Kara says it was amazing on every level. “Unbelievable,” she remarks.

 

Paula has two words for him, “Standing O!” So that’s her O face. I didn’t need to see that. Her standing O is accompanied by a cheerleading power pump. I didn’t need to see that either.

 

Simon says it was a million times better than last week.

 

Adam Lambert

27-year-old from Hollywood

Sings “Mad World” from 1982

 

Since my recording ended prematurely, I will post a few comments I found online regarding Adam’s performance:

 

It's a pulled-back, haunting performance — which I prefer to his crazy Steven Tyler schtick. – TV Guide

 

The judges ran out of time, so Simon was the only one to say anything about the performance AND HE GAVE A STANDING OVATION! Holy cow, it was great. – a commenter on fafarazzi.com

 

If tonight was any indication, Adam Lambert will win season 8 of "American Idol."  - The Los Angeles Times

 

SO who’s going home? Watch FOX 7’s Idol Chat tomorrow on GOOD DAY AUSTIN around 8:45am.

 

If you want to watch past Idol Chat segments, click HERE. And if you want to know how you cold win a trip the American Idol final performance in LA, check out our contest page.