AIV recap, Finalists x 11 (03/21)

Another two hours. It’s killing me. A few quick notes before I get to the singers. The Reality channel (yes, they actually have a channel devoted to Reality TV now) is running American Idol Extra and last week was the first show. They interview the person voted off and they have ex-AIers doing work. Matt Rogers does interviews and he is awesome. He has found his niche. He is full of personality and wit. He interviewed some of the celebrities who were at the show and one was Tori Spelling. He asked her “who her horse” was, and I thought this was kind of amusing because I’ve always said that Tori Spelling has a horse face. Mikaela also did a bit. She wasn’t too annoying and is very comfortable in front of the camera.

They also gave a “what are they doing now” feature on former Idols and we found out that Kimberly Locke is a model for Lane Bryant, Justin Guarini just released a jazz album, Josh Gracin is touring and Amy Adams has a part in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I didn’t really enjoy the interview part with Melissa McGhee, so I fast forwarded through most of her stuff. It’s an hour show and it really could be 30 minutes.

Also, last night I Googled my name. Have you ever done that? It’s kinda fun. You should try it. Not many links directly to me, but I did find out that URA is a common abbreviation for “you are a,” as in URA moron. Or URA funny guy. Or worse. Most of the matches were to myspace pages. And URA also stands for Undergraduate Research Assistant.

Okay, getting into tonight, I just have to let you know that I’m flying without a net tonight. My wife is traveling for business (but she’s in Hawaii, so don’t be too sad for her), so she’s not here to spellcheck, nor be my ears or veto some material. It’s pretty funny that I write these things because I don’t know music. I don’t know notes or meters or in pitch or out of pitch. I don’t know octaves from a cappellas. If I can tell that you’re out of tune, that means you’re bad. Real bad. So, it may be crass, my grammar may be bad (I can never get the its or it’s thing right) and my hearing may be off. But the bottom line is, I miss my wife.

Tonight the songs are from the ‘50s and Barry Manilow is the guest song coach. They flew the kids to Las Vegas (where he is doing a show) to work with him. He has a Greatest Songs of the Fifties out right now (my mom just got it), so he’s a perfect accompaniment to this week. Barry cropped his ‘do a bit now and he looks like Siegfried. Or is it Roy? I wish he still had his ‘70s hair. I think he’d still be able to pull it off today. And Barry was amazing as the coach. His insights were great and his knowledge of music and performing was cool.

01 – Mandisa, I Don’t Hurt Anymore (Dinah Washington)
Barry told her that he can come work with him if this doesn’t work out for her. That’s a pretty good compliment. She curled her hair tonight and looked a bit like Patti LaBelle. Did a good job with the song and had a BIG ending. Randy said he was speechless and it was a classy way to start the night. Paula said it took her back to the ‘50s and called her a thoroughbred. Simon said she was blossoming. Called it a sexy performance and that he loved it.

02 – Bucky Covington, Oh Boy (Buddy Holly)
I think Bucky is a nice guy, but I really can’t understand him half the time when he’s singing. I thought it was a boring, uninspired performance. Randy said his mic technique was good and it was a good choice of songs. Paula said he had fun on stage. Simon called it nothing more than a pointless karaoke version of the song. A “so what” performance. I have to agree. At this point in the competition, just having fun is not going to cut it. I think Bucky is in the bottom 2 tomorrow night and may be gone.

03 – Paris Bennett, Fever (Peggy Lee)
Barry called the depth and power in her voice shocking. She has a big voice but the song was a bit too subdued for my taste. I think she looked very classy tonight though, with her yellow dress and hairdo. Randy said she blew it out of the box. Paula called her phenomenal, her vocals were impeccable and she dressed the part. Simon called her voice perfect for that kind of song. I think Paris is a very talented singer, but I don’t think that she is going to win. And she will feel disrespected when she loses. I think she still gets a record deal out of this though. I mean with her connections, how does she not have a record deal right now anyway?

04 – Chris Daughtry, I Walk The Line (Johnny Cash)
Barry said that he has a good handle on who he is. Came out in all black, a la Johnny Cash. I haven’t been the biggest fan of Chris, but I thought this performance rocked. I thought he had great control of his voice and really did a great job. I don’t know Johnny Cash that well (I still need to see “Walk the Line”) but I did hear something about him consistently singing a key too low. But that was how he did it. Randy called it a great alternative version. Paula called him so true to who he is and that he should already be touring. Simon called his performance and enormous difference. Completely opposite of Bucky. And that he’s the one person who has refused to compromise who he is to suit the genre. I think Chris, vocally and talentwise, should win this competition, but I don’t think he will. I think he may be the most successful of all the competitors once this is all said and done, but I don’t think he’ll win. He may come in second, which may actually be better for him, because then he can sign with whatever record company he wants. Whatever happens, he’ll make it. And I’ll be happy for him.

05 – Katharine McPhee, Come Rain or Come Shine (Ella Fitzgerald)
Get me some Tylenol because I’ve got a McPheever! She looked a bit like Sandra Bullock tonight. My mom said she looked like Jaclyn Smith with Sally Field’s smile. I’ve seen her followers referred to as The Kat Pack and their symbol for her looks like this “=^.^=” Very clever. Did a wonderful job with this song. And had a strut going during the song. I just love her personality. She’s kooky at times and very genuine with her emotions up on stage. I really think that she’s the favorite to win. She’s got a spot on voice and she seems to have a huge following. The applause after her song was done was deafening and prolonged. Randy said wow and said she has her own dawg pound (but to be correct, it would be a Kat Pack). He said she had a tough song but she worked it out. It’s funny how singers get praised for singing hard songs and how they get bashed for doing simple 4 chord songs (see Ayla’s last performance). It’s almost like a gymnastics or diving competition where you get more points for the level of difficulty. Paula said they all love her and only she could pull off a song like that. Simon said tonight she turned into a star. Her popularity parallels Kelly Clarkson’s at the same point in the competition.

06 – Taylor Hicks, Not Fade Away (Buddy Holly)
My man Taylor rocked the powder blue suit with white sneakers tonight. He looked like the guy who decided to go to the prom at the last second and this was the only tux that was left. The only thing missing was the ruffles on his shirt. But I’m not capping on Taylor. I love me some Taylor Hicks. Although my manager’s former manager thinks he’s destined to be playing in Branson someday. Not that that is a bad thing. They come by the busload to Branson every day. He danced tonight, but he didn’t do the crazy 360 turns like last week. I call that the “Turning Man” in the same vein as the “Running Man.” Randy said he was having a blast. The song wasn’t challenging vocally, but he worked it out. Paula said they should tape him and make an exercise video out of his performances. Simon called it a complete mess. I don’t think it was a mess. Taylor’s been better, but I think he’s got a pretty solid following. I expect him to make it to the final four, if not farther.

07 – Lisa Tucker, Why Do Fools Fall In Love? (Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers)
First off, I feel real bad for Lisa. I can’t believe she was in the bottom 2 last week. But my wife thinks it’s because she has no following. She’s from Anaheim. Not from some small town where EVERYONE in the student body is voting maniacally for her (see John Stevens). Or from a state where people are manning phone in stations to vote for her (see Jasmine Trias, who by the way, was at the show tonight). I think that she is very talented, but I think she’s going to go away sooner rather than later. She did look like the Mexican or Italian flag tonight with her green top, red shirt and white shorts. My mom called her a young Natalie Cole (now do you see where I get my look-a-like talents?). Randy called it a good song choice, but it wasn’t the dopest (that probably isn’t a word, but I spelled it the best I could). Paula was glad she went back to her youthfulness. Simon called it okay, but said he felt like he was trapped in a high school musical. Which is a funny comment because there is a Disney original movie out right now called “High School Musical.” We taped it for Jared and he loves it. He can even sing along with some of the songs. It’s kinda like a modern version of Grease. If you have kids that like music, they’ll like this one. Anyway, Lisa will probably be in the bottom 3 tomorrow night. Unfortunately.

08 – Kevin Covais, When I Fall In Love (Nat King Cole)
I’m getting pretty annoyed with the fact that Kevin is still on this show, but I won’t be completely out of my mind until Bucky is off. Then for every time Kevin stays and someone else is voted off, my level of hatred will grow. Exponentially. He sang the song in an “aw shucks” manner, singing with his right hand in his pocket the whole time. He very well could’ve been singing an Alanis Morrisette song (“Hand In My Pocket,” get it?). His performance really reminded me of a Broadway musical. Like he was walking in the park, then just broke into song. Needless to say, this was not an Idol-winning performance. But he has a huge following and will be back next week. Randy said he did a pretty good job. Paula said he has more moxie (interpretation, he sucks, but he has the guts to come out every week and suck in front of millions of people) than a lot of people. Simon said it wasn’t the best version of the song he’s ever heard, but that his audience will love it. Kevin’s a nice kid, but he needs to go. Like yesterday.

09 – Elliott Yamin, Teach Me Tonight (Al Jarreau)
I loved Al Jarreau’s Moonlighting theme song. Anyway, Elliott rocked the untucked shirt and tie tonight like he was in Boyz II Men. And he added a goatee that made him look a bit like D.B. Sweeney. You know, the guy who played Shoeless Joe Jackson in Eight Men Out and the guy in The Cutting Edge (the ice skating movie with Moira Kelly). And there was a Lindsey Cardinale sighting. Did they bring back all of the former Idols? I wouldn’t mind seeing Ryan Starr again. Randy said this was the hardest song to sing with all of the chord changes and that he worked it out (again the level of difficulty thing). Paula said it gave her goose bumps. Simon called it fantastic. I think that Elliott is at his best doing the chord changes. I have a feeling he’ll be around for a little while longer but Kevin may last longer. Which would be a shame.

10 – Kellie Pickler, Walkin’ After Midnight (Patsy Cline)
Barry kept telling her that she needs to sing the song like the words mean something. I like Kellie, but after the intro, I don’t think she accomplished it. I don’t think she got the mood of the song. It was too upbeat and not desperate enough. If she was in the studio, they’d have her keep doing it over and over again because this did not capture the essence of the lyrics. That being said, I like Kellie and think that her personality will take her farther than her vocals should. Randy called it a great song choice and that her country pop performance was back. Paula said she wasn’t a minx, but rather a tigress (huh?). Simon said she was great and welcome back (from last week’s debacle). She should be safe tomorrow night.

11 – Ace Young, In The Still Of The Night (The Five Satins)
Jazzy rendition of this standard. Ace got a little dressy tonight, as he wore a button down shirt instead of a t-shirt. I liked it. And he had a nice falsetto at the end. But it’s funny because when they do the recap with the phone numbers at the end of the show, it video they show is from the dress rehearsal and not the live competition. I know this because Ace ended his song with his arms outstretched tonight, but in the recap he was grabbing the mic. And Katharine’s dress was way more revealing in the recap than in her live performance. Randy said that Ace is back and he enjoyed the fresh version. Paula said there were 34 signs asking Ace to marry them and called tonight’s performance his sexiest and sultriest to date. Simon said it wasn’t the best vocal tonight, but he won’t be in the bottom 3 tomorrow. I think Ace is safe and I used to think he would be in the top 4 but last week’s vote was a shock. Maybe it was just a wake up call to his voters.

Not a bad night tonight. I think the bottom 3 will be Bucky, Lisa and either Kevin or Elliott. I think Bucky or Kevin should be gone, but it could be Lisa.