AI Top 8: Review/Recap
American Idol Review Top 8
This week the Idols sang songs from the year they were born. So its going to be a bunch of songs from the early 80’s to the early 90’s! On with the review!
Danny Gokey: Shares a birthday with very first American Idol Kelly Clarkson (April 24th) except he was born two years earlier. That has to be a good thing right? He sang some version of Stand By Me from 1980. The arrangement was unlike anything I’ve heard. I’m not positive I loved it but am I am positive I love him. J The judges seemed to like it though.
Kris Allen: Birthday June 21st 1985, Kris wanted to be a Taxi cab driver when he was little. That’s a rather usual ambition. He obviously changed his mind somewhere along the line. He sang All She Wants to do is Dance. I really liked the performance. I disagree completely with the judges. However, Randy did offer up some good advice “You’re the singer you’re in the competition. Not the song!” This is good to keep in mind for everyone.
Lil Rounds: Born Oct. 20th 1984, sang Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got to Do with it? Nothing really original about the song. She sang it very well. She’s a very talented performer and singer. I have to say Paula’s comments did not surprise me. I was afraid as I watched, that the judges would say just that.
Soapbox moment
American Idol did not used to be a show that was all about letting the contestants take liberties with the songs they chose. It has only been since last season that they began letting the contestants use instruments. (correct me if I’m wrong) They like to pigeonhole artists, and say “you are good at this - do this.” (or something similar to that) Sometimes people are good at more than one type of genre! Prime example, Kelly (Clarkson) can sing more than one genre. She can rock a song, be bluesy on another, and then do something straight up pop, or even country. Actually it is not entirely unheard of for even a country artist to crossover to pop. If all artists just sang what they were good at and didn’t stretch their artist limbs then all their songs would end up sounding the same. That could get kind of boring.
*steps off soapbox*
Anoop: Born Dec. 20th 1986, sang day as last year’s American Idol David Cook. He pointed this out. He sang True Colors. It was a beautiful arrangement. I love when he does the ballads. He did take the song and make it a bit more original - however it was not too much of a departure from the original. It was recognizable - which is good, because if it is so original you can barely recognize the song - that is a bad thing.
Scott: Born June 22nd 1985, wanted to be a train conductor when he was little. He sang The Search is Over. He is out from behind the piano this week, actually playing an electric guitar. I do not know the song, but I thought it was good. I have to disagree with Kara. There she goes pigeonholing him just like I was talking about a minute ago. I agree more with Paula. There were moments that kind of sounded screeching. He said he was showing off his “punk” side with the electric guitar. Before the AI music cut him off, I could hear him say something like “I wanted to show I was versatile before...” I think he knows his time left on the show may be limited. I love Scott. His spirit is bright and he continues to impress me. I love that he wanted to show his versatility!
Allison: The only 90’s baby - April 27th 1992, apparently liked to talk when she was little - too much according to her mom. Tonight she sang Bonnie Rait I can’t make you love me My first reaction was “I love this song!!!” Paula said it very well she when saying this song example of the same arrangement, but she made it her own. The judges loved her. Simon thought she needed to be more “likeable” - that she needs to reach out to the public some more because he feels like we don’t know much about her yet. Randy compared her to Kelly, and Simon (I swear) piped in that she needed to say “Cool Beans” one of Kelly’s key phrases from way back in the first season.
Matt: Born May 11th 1985. They showed footage of him dressed in an angel costume, from when he must have been about 11. Tonight Matt sang Stevie Wonder’s Part-time Lover. He made an old song current. I like him, but I worry that he might be trying too much to be like Justin Timberlake. The judges absolutely loved it - all in agreement on that as well. I have to say they are right. He is a great performer. This may be the song people look back and say - “that was when I started paying attention to him.”
Adam: Born Jan. 29th 1982, loved playing dress up when he was little. It was clear he was meant to be a performer from an early age he said. He sang, Mad World (I think that was the title?) I have never heard the song before. They give him awesome lighting and everything. We haven’t seen that type of thing before have we…(insert sarcastic tone) Simon gave him a standing ovation! Wow, that has never happened ever…at least I don’t remember it ever happening. It wasn’t just Simon either, it was all 4 judges and probably everyone in the audience. You can not deny that Adam is a star. He has the “it” factor, and well sometimes he performs on such a higher level than the others. This all said, I have not been voting for him, because I love some of the other contestants more…and some of the other contestants are more my kind of artist. My vote doesn’t matter anyway, the judges will “save” Adam if he is ever - eliminated. I don’t want him to go…I certainly hope it doesn’t sound this way. I just think - he doesn’t need this show to be a star…he already is one.
My prediction: yeah…I don’t know I’m not going to make one. LOL!