Idol "A song from the year you were born" night
I really dislike this night. First off it makes me feel old. Secondly, too many people cheat.
Danny Gokey (April 24, 1980) supposedly sang Mickey Gilley's version of Stand By Me. No, Danny. No you didn't. First because Mickey Gilley's version from Urban Cowboy is country and yours most certainly was not. Secondly, unless you were born in 1961 when Ben E. King sang this song, YOU should not be singing it. Why the producers allow this is beyond me. To make matters worse, it wasn't even sung all that well. From 1980, Danny should have sung either Crazy Little Thing Called Love or Funkytown.
Kris Allen (June 21, 1985) sang Don Henley's All She Wants To Do Is Dance. Somehow he took an up tempo song and made it more funky...and worse. It was a bad arrangement. From 1985, Kris should have sang Everytime You Go Away (by Paul Young) or Raspberry Berret.
Lil Rounds (October 20, 1984) sang Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It. And when I say she sang Tina Turner's she sang a lot like Tina Turner and that's the problem. Lil clearly admires a lot of other singers and she can copy them, but she doesn't seem to have a style of her own. She's got the ability and the raw talent, but she's not given a star making performance yet. From 1984, Lil should have sang Madonna's Borderline or the Pointer Sisters' Jump.
Anoop Desai (December 20, 1986) sang Cindi Lauper's True Colors. Now, I like this song and I think he did an alright job, but I've heard this song covered a lot. It's even used in commercials. To me, it's a little lame. But okay, we know he can sing. He spent a few weeks proving that he has real vocal talents, but I miss the fun Anoop. You know what would have been awesome? From 1986, Anoop should have sang Eddie Murphy's Party All the Time. Or Prince's Kiss, but more in the style of the Tom Jones version. Y'know, louder.
Scott MacIntyre (June 22, 1985) sang Survivor's The Search Is Over. I don't remember this song very well, but Scott made me dislike it retroactively. Scott is in a contest to be the next great singing artist. He'd do great if this were actually American Idol 1979 and it was aired on AM Radio. The Entertainment Weekly web site has made fun of him because he looks like William Katt and they play the theme to the Greatest American Hero. Y'know...Look at what's happened to me-he. To me, the likeness is amusing, but their choice of song is funnier because it's exactly the kind of song that Scott would sing. Scott also broke out a guitar which I guess is his way of showing he doesn't need the piano. It didn't help because he plays piano better than he plays guitar. From 1985, Scott should have (stayed behind the piano and) sang Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon or Night Ranger's Sentimental Street.
Allison Iraheta (April 27, 1992) sang Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me. I would say that Allison could be clone of Bonnie Raitt, but I don't think either of their hair color is natural. I like Allison a lot more than the voters it seems. Every so often, folks choose a song that ends up ironic. Picking this song is brave for someone who has been in the bottom three a few times this season. I think her days are numbered. From 1992, Allison could have chosen Save The Best For Last, but maybe that would be ironic, too. Honestly, Allison really should have sung U2's One which could have brought down the house. Or if Gokey can get away with what he did, she could have done a Tori Amos version of Smells Like Teen Spirit. A lot of popular songs from 1992 suck, but she had a few that are still being sung today.
Matt Giraud (May 11, 1985) sang Stevie Wonder's Part Time Lover. Matt is this year's "Most talent, least chance" ratio winner. He's not good looking enough to get the screaming girls, but he does a really good job y'know...singing. From 1985, I would have liked to have seen him done Sussudio, but I have no complaints about his song choice because it suited him.
Adam Lambert (January 29, 1982) sang Mad World. Lambert, like Gokey, is another cheater. 1982's Mad World is Tears for Fears. The version Adam sang was most definitely the Gary Jules version from Donnie Darko, which oddly became a hit single even a few years after that movie came out. Now, don't get me wrong. I think this was the song of the night. Adam could have sucked. From 1982, he could have sang Pac-Man Fever and he'd still get voted though to the next round because he's just that popular. But Adam did a really really good job with this song to the point where Simon Cowell stood up and applauded which I don't remember every happening before someone won the whole thing on the last show of the season. The show ran long (pissing off a lot of DVR watchers, I'm sure) so Adam was gypped of the praise he richly deserved from the other three judges, but Simon standing O was all that needed to be said. I am coming around to Adam, because I like the quiet Adam (this, Tracks of my Tears), but when he does the shrieking, I hate him all over again. Stick with the singing and lose the shouting.
Bottom three: Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds, and Anoop Desai. Kris deserves it more than Anoop, but I have the feeling his fan base is bigger. Going this week, I think: Scott.
Danny Gokey (April 24, 1980) supposedly sang Mickey Gilley's version of Stand By Me. No, Danny. No you didn't. First because Mickey Gilley's version from Urban Cowboy is country and yours most certainly was not. Secondly, unless you were born in 1961 when Ben E. King sang this song, YOU should not be singing it. Why the producers allow this is beyond me. To make matters worse, it wasn't even sung all that well. From 1980, Danny should have sung either Crazy Little Thing Called Love or Funkytown.
Kris Allen (June 21, 1985) sang Don Henley's All She Wants To Do Is Dance. Somehow he took an up tempo song and made it more funky...and worse. It was a bad arrangement. From 1985, Kris should have sang Everytime You Go Away (by Paul Young) or Raspberry Berret.
Lil Rounds (October 20, 1984) sang Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It. And when I say she sang Tina Turner's she sang a lot like Tina Turner and that's the problem. Lil clearly admires a lot of other singers and she can copy them, but she doesn't seem to have a style of her own. She's got the ability and the raw talent, but she's not given a star making performance yet. From 1984, Lil should have sang Madonna's Borderline or the Pointer Sisters' Jump.
Anoop Desai (December 20, 1986) sang Cindi Lauper's True Colors. Now, I like this song and I think he did an alright job, but I've heard this song covered a lot. It's even used in commercials. To me, it's a little lame. But okay, we know he can sing. He spent a few weeks proving that he has real vocal talents, but I miss the fun Anoop. You know what would have been awesome? From 1986, Anoop should have sang Eddie Murphy's Party All the Time. Or Prince's Kiss, but more in the style of the Tom Jones version. Y'know, louder.
Scott MacIntyre (June 22, 1985) sang Survivor's The Search Is Over. I don't remember this song very well, but Scott made me dislike it retroactively. Scott is in a contest to be the next great singing artist. He'd do great if this were actually American Idol 1979 and it was aired on AM Radio. The Entertainment Weekly web site has made fun of him because he looks like William Katt and they play the theme to the Greatest American Hero. Y'know...Look at what's happened to me-he. To me, the likeness is amusing, but their choice of song is funnier because it's exactly the kind of song that Scott would sing. Scott also broke out a guitar which I guess is his way of showing he doesn't need the piano. It didn't help because he plays piano better than he plays guitar. From 1985, Scott should have (stayed behind the piano and) sang Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon or Night Ranger's Sentimental Street.
Allison Iraheta (April 27, 1992) sang Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me. I would say that Allison could be clone of Bonnie Raitt, but I don't think either of their hair color is natural. I like Allison a lot more than the voters it seems. Every so often, folks choose a song that ends up ironic. Picking this song is brave for someone who has been in the bottom three a few times this season. I think her days are numbered. From 1992, Allison could have chosen Save The Best For Last, but maybe that would be ironic, too. Honestly, Allison really should have sung U2's One which could have brought down the house. Or if Gokey can get away with what he did, she could have done a Tori Amos version of Smells Like Teen Spirit. A lot of popular songs from 1992 suck, but she had a few that are still being sung today.
Matt Giraud (May 11, 1985) sang Stevie Wonder's Part Time Lover. Matt is this year's "Most talent, least chance" ratio winner. He's not good looking enough to get the screaming girls, but he does a really good job y'know...singing. From 1985, I would have liked to have seen him done Sussudio, but I have no complaints about his song choice because it suited him.
Adam Lambert (January 29, 1982) sang Mad World. Lambert, like Gokey, is another cheater. 1982's Mad World is Tears for Fears. The version Adam sang was most definitely the Gary Jules version from Donnie Darko, which oddly became a hit single even a few years after that movie came out. Now, don't get me wrong. I think this was the song of the night. Adam could have sucked. From 1982, he could have sang Pac-Man Fever and he'd still get voted though to the next round because he's just that popular. But Adam did a really really good job with this song to the point where Simon Cowell stood up and applauded which I don't remember every happening before someone won the whole thing on the last show of the season. The show ran long (pissing off a lot of DVR watchers, I'm sure) so Adam was gypped of the praise he richly deserved from the other three judges, but Simon standing O was all that needed to be said. I am coming around to Adam, because I like the quiet Adam (this, Tracks of my Tears), but when he does the shrieking, I hate him all over again. Stick with the singing and lose the shouting.
Bottom three: Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds, and Anoop Desai. Kris deserves it more than Anoop, but I have the feeling his fan base is bigger. Going this week, I think: Scott.