AI4 recap, Finalists x 5 (05/03)

Wow. Constantine is gone. That was quite a shocker. He was absolutely brutal on Tuesday night, but of all of the contestants, I thought that he had enough fans to vote him through a rough week. Honestly, how are Scott and Anthony still on this show? I can see Anthony with the good kid/tracheotomy thing, but Scott? Psychos of the world unite? It is undeniably unfathomable.

Since there are only 5 left, we get to hear 2 songs from each. The first song will be from the songwriters Leiber and Stoller. Who? And the second song is from any song on the current Billboard top 40. Interesting mix.

01 – Anthony, Poison Ivy (The Coasters)
So this was the first song was by, who was it again? Deloitte and Touche? The glasses were back. Don’t know if that was for better or worse. Red shirt. Kinda makes him look pale, but then again, most colors do on him. I thought this performance was horrible. He’s such a nice kid, but really, he’s entering JPL/Finchy status with me now. Believe me, I was not a huge Constantine fan, but how does he go before Anthony? I guess he got Tamyra-ed. Or LaToya-ed. Pick your poison. Randy called it very out of tune and not amazing for him. Paula said she is a bigger fan of him singing ballads and was looking forward to hearing his next song. Simon then said, so you didn’t like it? Nice catch. Simon called it an amateurish performance. Way to start off the show, Tony. As with some of my doctors, we’ve got no where to go but up…

02 – Scott, On Broadway (George Benson)
So this one was by Bartles and James. A lot more denim again. Scott must be keeping denim-growers in business. Looks like he’s growing his hair out a bit, which makes him look a little less, albeit slightly, menacing. Sounded pretty good on this song though. He’s got a major chip on his shoulder and Simon telling him to pack his bags last week makes that chip seem bigger. I used to like Scott, but he’s getting pretty annoying now. Still has a sweet voice, but his ‘tude is killing me. Randy said that he’s amazing because he has bad notes every week, but belts out enough good notes to get by. Paula said he has a lot of moxie. Simon said he’s had more escapes than Houdini, but granted that this one was probably his best performance.

03 – Vonzell, Treat Me Nice (Elvis Presley)
And this one was by Tony and Alba’s. Didn’t know this song, but she has such good vocals, so it didn’t matter. Vonz (is that supposed to be like the Fonz?) wore a black top and a multi-colored sash/belt. Good look for her, but she still cannot dance. But that voice is so strong. Randy said that was one of the best vocals of a song that he barely knows. Basically it was a compliment. Paula called her a consummate performer and could see her on Broadway in “Smokey Joe’s Café.” Simon said that there were elements that were good, but overall it was a mess. I just think that it was hard for the judges because they didn’t know the song.

04 – Bo, Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
Written by Hammacher and Schelmmer. Wore a typical rock outfit, but didn’t rock the mic stand for this one. Slowed it down, but it showed off his vocals better. Bo’s really growing on me. I hope that he makes it to the final 2 (along with Carrie), then it won’t matter who wins. Randy said he picked the right song. Paula was glad that he picked a song that both young and old would know and sing along to. Simon said he chose the best song by a mile. He’s in it to win it and that’s a good thing. I’m glad to see the confidence back in Bo.

05 – Carrie, Trouble (Elvis Presley)
I think this one was by Dolce and Gabbana. Very good song for her to show off her voice. And she strutted, instead of swayed this time. Had a bit of attitude for this song. Randy said that, like Bo, she knows exactly who she is and it was a great song choice. Paula said it was fun to see a different side of her. Simon said she gave her fans what they wanted. Bo & Carrie were head and shoulders above the other 3 in their first efforts tonight.

Now on to the Billboard songs (and away from those stupid pairs that I was making up…)

01 – Anthony, something by the Backstreet Boys
Okay, these guys are pretty old now. When do they start being called the Backstreet Men? And that Nick Carter dude. Who hasn’t he dated? Paris Hilton. A teacher that was busted for sleeping with a teenage student. How many more boy band songs do we have to suffer through? I thought we were done with them when the Malfetta twins were eliminated. Boy Anthony had some sour notes on this song, especially the last one. I don’t know if I can suffer through another week (and likely 2 more songs) from this guy. Can you believe that Scott or Anthony will be in the Final Four? Or both? Randy said he had pitch problems and gave him a 5 out of 10, which is brutal at this point in the competition. Paula said that he had some off notes, but he’s suited for these songs (ballads). Simon said he had a disastrous start (meaning the first song, I think), but absolutely chose the right song and did it well. Maybe that’s some reverse psychology on the voters (trying to say he did well so that he won’t get the sympathy votes).

02 – Scott, Every Time You Go Away (Brian McKnight)
Is it me, or did it look like he got his hair colored darker during his break? I know he was wearing all black (how many cows were slaughtered to make that coat?), but his hair definitely looked darker. Did a good job with this song. Actually I thought he was good in both his songs tonight. Randy said he did it again and pulled it out. Paula said it was a joy watching his joy. What? Simon deflated his huge head a bit by saying he was more flat than in tune in the last song. Then Scottie got cocky, saying that he’s not going home and that he is going to starting thinking about what he’s going to sing next week. I hope that come back to bite him in the arse. As good as he was tonight, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go tomorrow. After his singing I think they flashed on Cheryl Ladd in the audience. It’s funny because I had a whole e-mail discussion with my boss’ husband about a comment last week. He was upset that I casually implied that Farrah Fawcett and Heather Thomas were in the same era (for the record, I just mentioned that my friend and his older brothers had those posters up simultaneously). I think that he was delving too deep into the 2 sentences, but he did break down the timeline for me very well. Out of those e-mails also came the conclusion that Ladd was, hands down, the hottest Angel. But then we discussed who was the best looking original Angel and both agreed that it was Jaclyn Smith, with Farrah a close 2nd and Kate Jackson, as cute as she was, a distant third. Cheryl Ladd was probably the best (I’ll always remember her intro and her playing the magician’s assistant with the tux with tails) and Shelley Hack was the worst, right?

03 – Vonzell, When You Tell Me That You Love Me (cast of American Idol)
How crazy is that she is singing a song that she also has a bit part in? That’s like in Scream 3 when the movie is about deaths on the set of “Stab 3,” which is a movie about the first movie. Confusing, huh? I thought that she had some flat notes at the beginning, but overall did a pretty good job with it. Very hard song to sing, but she’s never shied away from tough songs. Wore a nice brown dress, which made me think that now that she’s done with the USPS, if she doesn’t win this thing, will she hook on with UPS? Is there an underlying tension between postal carriers and the UPS and/or FedEx guys? Do the UPS and FedEx guys look down on the USPS crew because they only deliver to certain houses and not all? These questions remind me of “Anchorman” when all the different news stations have that gang-type rumble. Had to have seen it to appreciate that last comment. Randy stood up out of his seat for the vocals on this song. Paula called it beautiful. Simon said it was not a perfect vocal and called her vulnerable. I thought she was fine, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the bottom 3 and it may even be her time tomorrow. I think she should be third behind Carrie and Bo, but I don’t know what kind of following she has. I hope she’s safe tomorrow.

04 – Bo, How Far Is Heaven? (Los Lonely Boys)
Bo is back! Man he was good tonight. I’ve done a complete 180 on him. I guess it took me a few months to get to know his personality better and appreciate his performances. So there. I admitted it. Bo wore a white leather jacket with tassels that looked like the one that the girl got wine spilled on in “Can’t Buy Me Love.” I guess there’s a remake of that movie out now on DVD called “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” starring Nick Cannon (from Drumline) and Christina Milian (from Be Cool). And there was a JPL sighting during this song. What’s he doing now? He really can’t have a music career, can he? Maybe his fame is making him the top pencil salesman in Utah. Who knows? Who cares? Randy stood up again and called him the captain of the Dawg Pound. Paula called him fantastic and that he ruled tonight. Simon said that he had a good night and made the others look like amateurs.

05 – Carrie, don’t know (don’t know)
It was a ballad. And she sang it well. Started the song sitting on the steps a la Fantasia’s “Summertime” performance last year. Wore a black camisole thing. And when she stood up, it looked like her dress was made of large peacock feathers. I didn’t know the song, but she sang it well. Randy called it another great song and perfect vocals. Paula called it eloquent and beautiful. Simon said she sang it beautifully, but she was robotic in her performance.

Let’s be real here. Based on the performances tonight, Anthony should go. Bo and Carrie should be safe as the top 2 and the bottom 2 should be Anthony and either Vonzell or Scott. Stranger things have happened (witness last week).