A review of the "American Idol" Sgt. Pepper tribute
neilmonk wondered what I thought of the Sgt. Pepper tribute on the finale of American Idol. As I have never watched an episode of the show, he was nice enough to link me to a YouTube clip (before they removed it). I've also downloaded an mp3 of the performance. As a huge Beatles/Pepper fan, here's my breakdown of what I thought.
Kelly Clarkson w/Joe Perry, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band"
Clarkson has a great voice (I will admit that I have a few of her mp3s) and I think her voice works great with the song. Unfortunately, she flubbed some of the lyrics of the opening song; not a good start for a medley of songs.
Taylor Hicks, "A Day in the Life"
Great rendition of the song. This might be the most tragic cover I've heard. I don't mean that in a bad way; I just think, for the first time, I felt bad for the person in the car accident that is being sung about. I'd rather listen to him perform than see him though; his gestures just seemed pointless.
Carrie Underwood, "She's Leaving Home"
This track I have yet to find a more tragic version of than the original version and it pisses me off because it's such a good track. Underwood does a good job with it, with her best parts displayed in the chorus.
Ruben Studdard, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
Don't have much to say about it other than he really made this song fun.
The Rest of the Idols, "With a Little Help from My Friends"
And all of a sudden, the reality (no pun intended) that this is American Idol gets slapped in my face. This just seemed so fake to me. It was amusing to hear them say, "I get high with a little help from my friends." Yeah, right.
Being the show that it is, I'm surprised the medley was made up of mostly slow songs. There were plenty more "poppy" songs from the album to choose from, such as the ever-catchy "Getting Better" or "Good Morning, Good Morning". Honestly, I am pleased that they even bothered to pay tribute to this landmark album, although ironically, it's conception was really an effort to get away from traditional pop music. It's funny to me that they would pay tribute to it on a show that seems to set out to do the opposite.
Kelly Clarkson w/Joe Perry, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band"
Clarkson has a great voice (I will admit that I have a few of her mp3s) and I think her voice works great with the song. Unfortunately, she flubbed some of the lyrics of the opening song; not a good start for a medley of songs.
Taylor Hicks, "A Day in the Life"
Great rendition of the song. This might be the most tragic cover I've heard. I don't mean that in a bad way; I just think, for the first time, I felt bad for the person in the car accident that is being sung about. I'd rather listen to him perform than see him though; his gestures just seemed pointless.
Carrie Underwood, "She's Leaving Home"
This track I have yet to find a more tragic version of than the original version and it pisses me off because it's such a good track. Underwood does a good job with it, with her best parts displayed in the chorus.
Ruben Studdard, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
Don't have much to say about it other than he really made this song fun.
The Rest of the Idols, "With a Little Help from My Friends"
And all of a sudden, the reality (no pun intended) that this is American Idol gets slapped in my face. This just seemed so fake to me. It was amusing to hear them say, "I get high with a little help from my friends." Yeah, right.
Being the show that it is, I'm surprised the medley was made up of mostly slow songs. There were plenty more "poppy" songs from the album to choose from, such as the ever-catchy "Getting Better" or "Good Morning, Good Morning". Honestly, I am pleased that they even bothered to pay tribute to this landmark album, although ironically, it's conception was really an effort to get away from traditional pop music. It's funny to me that they would pay tribute to it on a show that seems to set out to do the opposite.