AI4 recap, Finalists x 9 (04/05)

Jessica gone from last week. A little bit of a shocker, but not really. She didn’t perform all that well and I don’t think that she had the following to get her through a rough spot. Like last year, Jasmine had a few rough weeks, but her following got her through. If Jessica didn’t dazzle, she was vulnerable. And that showed last week.

More news from The Smoking Gun. This about Scott Savol’s past. (Sorry, took out the website because it made the page look funny). Kristin’s co-worker Bryan calls him Sling Blade.

On to tonight. Musicals! is the theme. I’m not a hard core musicals fan, but I did enjoy watching them growing up. Mostly musicals that were made into movies. Among my favorites, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Singin’ in the Rain, My Fair Lady and West Side Story. I recently saw “Miss Saigon” in Hawaii and it was a beautiful musical but it really bugged me that they sang all of their lines. I don’t mind a musical that has dialogue, then BOOM, someone breaks into a song. I’m cool with that because that’s what musicals are all about. But singing all the dialogue? I couldn’t get with that. At all. I was hoping that I’d hear a song from one of the movies that I mentioned above, but only West Side Story hit the radar. Then I got to thinking that a lot of the songs in musicals aren’t great songs. They are really simply dialogue put into song. So “Gee, Officer Krupke!” from West Side Story or “Rain in Spain” from My Fair Lady may not have really played all that well tonight.

Seacrest wearing a loud sweater over an untucked Oxford type shirt. Just looked plain sloppy. Randy’s wearing these shirts that have a mad collar. Three neck buttons and the buttons for the collar aren’t at the front/base of the neck like normal shirts. They are mid way up the enormous collar a few inches back. Hard to explain, but if you saw the shirt, you may understand what I’m talking about. Kind of a cool look, but I think you’ve got to have some girth to pull it off. Simon boring black shirt as usual and Paula was wearing a skull and crossbones ring. And she can’t clap. But we know this. June wonders if she gets a manicure before the show and has to clap that way? At least that would explain why she claps so retardedly.

01 – Scott Savol, The Impossible Dream (Man of La Mancha)
Scottie the Body. If you saw the story above, it may have affected his preparation for this week. Scott came out in a black four-button suit with a blue shirt underneath. Almost looked like he stole the look from Nikko. But it was like a 60 short. Scottie was flat tonight. Didn’t really do it for me. He’s missed notes before, but usually gave a pretty good performance. Not tonight. But, on the bright side, they did have some people in his “friends” section. Or at least they flashed the graphic over some random people in the audience. Either one will do. Randy called it a tough song. He was shaky but ended with a bang. Paula said that she likes it because he picks songs that fit his life. Simon called it ordinarily extraordinary. I think Scott is on the bubble tomorrow night.

02 – Constantine Maroulis, My Funny Valentine (Babes In Arms)
This really was Constantine’s week to shine. He’s really a Broadway, cabaret-type singer. Like that guy last year that Randy called a sheep in Rocker’s clothing. Rock is his front, but he’s really a showtune-type of guy. I think that Constantine has a good shot to win this thing because of his female following, but more than that, he’ll headline some shows after this. He really is a pretty good singer. I just can’t get past the preening to the camera. He’s like a fly: always gravitating to the red light of the camera. He constantly knows with camera is on him and broods into it. Nauseates me, but others love it. I guess. This song is interesting. I think it’s normally sung by a woman, which is odd because he also sang a Bonnie Raitt song last week. I remember this song from that forgettable movie “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” which starred brothers Beau and Jeff Bridges, along with the sultry Michelle Pfeiffer. Michelle sang this song in the movie and I actually had this soundtrack. I used to get soundtracks with scores on them because for the few times I actually dragged my butt down to the library in college, I would bring a Walkman and listen to music while I read. Listening to music without lyrics made it easier for me to concentrate on the material. Another great soundtrack that is only a score is “Hoosiers.” I don’t think they make in a CD, but I about wore out that tape! Back to Constantine. He’s got a great theatrical voice, although tonight his last note started very sour. He ended up saving it, but it’s such a stark contrast to the other singers, who usually start slow and shaky, then save the performance with a huge last note. Constantine reminds me of a young Montgomery Burns (from the Simpsons). “Smithers, sing this song for me…” Randy said that he’s really a showtune guy and doesn’t buy the rocker thing. Paula called it remarkable and said he was a role model for guys to get into musicals. Simon gave him a 7 for vocals and 9 ½ for pouting. Called it the best pouting performance ever on AI. That Simon is such a cut up. Constantine should be safe tomorrow night and I think that he may be in the final 4, if not the final 2 (not on merit, mind you, but based on his following).

03 – Carrie Underwood, Hello, Young Lovers (The King and I)
Carrie came out in a dress that looked like she was in “Peggy Sue Got Married.” She really needs a fashion consultant. If she had Nadia’s style, she’d be money. My wife thinks she has the strongest voice in the competition and thinks it’s her competition to lose. I really like Carrie and the song wasn’t great, but she sang it well. Randy was impressed because he didn’t like the song choice, but his mantra has always been, “sing the song that you’re given.” Or something like that. Said she was in control throughout the song. Paula called her simply stunning and that she gave an elegant performance. Called her vocals a well-oiled machine. Simon said she sang the song well but criticized her for being old fashioned. Which is a bit unfair because musicals are old fashioned. When was the last musical that was made into a movie? Well, besides “From Justin to Kelly” that is. This really was a hard theme night and hopefully your favorites will get through to do better on a better theme night.

04 – Vonzell Solomon, People (Funny Girl)
If Mikalah was still in the competition, would she have battled Vonzell for the rights to this song? I mean, it was from Babs. Vonzell has such a big voice. I think that she is in the top 3 girls left in the competition. Definitely top 3. Pretty girl. Can sing a ton. Just can’t dance. As long as she sings like she did the last few weeks, dancing shouldn’t be a problem. Randy said that she keeps getting better every week and that she was brilliant and a girl just may win this thing. Paula called it a bold song choice, but she sang it in the same key as Barbra and hit the high note that Babs even couldn’t hit. Simon called it good, but not great. Said it was clinical and cold. I think Simon had wax in his ears tonight. I hope that Vonzell makes it through. I think that she’ll be in the final 4, but won’t beat Carrie. And I was being facetious above because I know there are only 3 girls left. But she’s a solid #2 behind Carrie and miles ahead of Nadia.

05 – Anthony Fedorov, Climb Ev’ry Mountain (The Sound of Music)
I’m really done with Anthony. Good story. Nice kid. But I really hope he’s gone tomorrow night. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not even remotely close to the outrage and frustration that I felt last year when JPL and Finchy were still in the competition. I think Anthony is confused right now because he’s trying to change things up, but it’s not working for him. His wardrobe is atrocious. Tonight he came out in white pants and a light blue shirt that looked like he was dressed by Ryan Seacrest. And vocally he was flat tonight. I know that Anthony has quite a following so he may be okay tomorrow. Randy said he didn’t like it at all. He was sharp and flat all through the song. Paula said it was interesting and she liked how he changed the song up. Simon called it hideous. I really think that Anthony and Scott should be in the bottom 2 tomorrow night, but stranger things have happened.

06 – Nikko Smith, One Hand, One Heart (West Side Story)
This song is especially special to me and Kristin because her father sang this song for us at our wedding. Not exactly the way Nikko sang it tonight, but it was memorable for us nonetheless. Nikko is a dapper guy. Really can dress the part. Black pants and vest tonight with a brown polka dot tie. Black fedora with a brown band. He’s really got a cool sense of style. Did a real good job with this song. My wife said he “Brian McKnight-ed” the song, as he does with all his songs. I like it. He’s winning me over. I’m really glad now that he’s back in the competition and forget Mario. I mean, who’s Mario anyway? Has he faded into the distance yet? I was once worried that Nikko doesn’t have a following, but I think that people are jumping on his bandwagon now. I have. Randy loves it because he keeps it contemporary. Paula calls him the Comeback Kid and loves that he brings an R&B flair to the competition. Simon said that he hits the big notes at the end of each song, but called the first part out of tune. I hope Nikko is safe tomorrow night.

07 – Anwar Robinson, If Ever I Would Leave You (Camelot)
Finally the old Anwar that we liked. He really has been shaky the last few weeks. Actually he hasn’t sung well since the semi-finals. He had his confidence back tonight. Long jacket, again. Scarf, again. Pretty good performance. Randy said welcome back. He’s one of the best singers and has one of the best voices. Paula called him the technically best singer and that his smile melts the audience. Simon said he seemed very comfortable up there. I think that Anwar should be good tomorrow night (after being in the bottom 2 last week). I think the final 4 should be Carrie, Vonzell, Bo or Constantine and Nikko or Anwar.

08 – Bo Bice, Corner of the Sky (Pippin)
This was an odd song choice for me. Couldn’t he have done “Pinball Wizard” from Tommy? Or something from Hair? Kristin had the call of the night when she referred to his shirt as a “fruit roll up.” On top of leather pants, mind you. Didn’t know the song. Thought he was okay. Randy said once again he was consistently great. Paula called him a winner. Simon said that he’s had 2 bad weeks and needs to pick himself up next week. I think Bo is safe, but that performance would put him in the bottom 3 tomorrow night.

09 – Nadia Turner, As Long As He Needs Me (Oliver!)
Nadia definitely had the most style in this competition. She looked very Diana Ross-ish in her long white dress tonight. Song matched her voice very well and she was very sultry tonight. I think they were rushing to get through because the judges comments were very short, although Simon got in that she was the strongest she’s been in weeks but asked to not have Ryan pick the themes anymore. She may be safe tomorrow night because she did give a pretty good performance, but she’s been in the bottom 3 for 2 weeks in a row now.

Overall, it was a tough theme night. Most of the kids had never heard the songs before they picked them. They’re all too young to even experience many of the musicals. Difficult, yes, but not really unfair. These theme nights are meant to have the cream rise to the top and do away with inferior competition. Although just because you can’t sing a certain theme shouldn’t preclude you from being an American Idol. That first year when they had the Big Band theme, Kelly Clarkson did swimmingly with it, but I don’t think that she’s releasing a Big Band CD anytime soon. I guess on difficult theme nights, you just hope to do well enough to make it to the next week and hope there’s a theme better suited for you.

Top 4 performances tonight: Carrie, Vonzell, Nikko, Anwar (I voted for those 4 tonight).

Bottom 3 performances: Scott, Anthony, Bo

I think it’s either Scott or Anthony tomorrow night. It’ll be interesting to see who the third of the bottom 3 is.