AIVI recap, Finalists x 10 (03/27)

Wow. Stephanie goes earlier than we thought. I’d say that I’m surprised, but really, she wasn’t going to win. I guess the only bummer for her is that she probably won’t get to tour with the final 10. But maybe that’s a good thing.

Gwen Stefani night, as the contestants are singing No Doubt songs and also music that inspired her. Can’t figure out who she looks like tonight (she’s always changing her look). Maybe a blonde Jennifer Love Hewitt? Remember when she was the hottest thing on the planet and when FOX was planning their “Summer of Love?” Believe me, I was one of those smitten by “Love” (allegedly the name those close to her would call her). I thought she was great on “Party of Five” and even watched her ill-fated spin-off “Time of Your Life,” which starred Jennifer Garner and Johnathon (yes, that’s how he spells it) Schaech (he played the lead singer in “That Thing You Do!”). Love hasn’t done much since “Ghost Whisperer,” which I’ve never seen. Her fall was quick. But she was in “The Tuxedo” with Jackie Chan. Does that count for anything?

01 – LaKisha Jones, Last Dance (Donna Summer)

Looks like she shopped at the same store as Stephanie did last week. Hopefully it doesn’t bring the same fate. Decent song and it sounded less like Nell Carter tonight. Song choice was a bit boring and predictable though. Some think that she is limited in her song choices. As good as she is, I really don’t think she’s going to win. But my wife always says, if they’ve gotten this far, they’ve already won. LaKisha will get a recording contract out of this. It just may not be with the American Idol label (whoever that is). Randy liked the uptempo song choice. He loved the boots and called her a fly diva. Paula said she did Donna Summer proud. Simon said he also loved the boots and that they made her look 30 years younger this week (compared to last week). LaKisha should be safe tomorrow.

02 – Chris Sligh, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police)

I heard somewhere that Chris tried out twice before for AI and never made it to the judges. Then he and his wife hatched a plan to get him noticed, which included him growing his hair out and looking like a Jack Osbourne-clone. I guess it worked because he’s a finalist now. He does have a bad habit of getting ahead of the music and I wonder where that comes from? Is it because he doesn’t have any formal training? He sounds like he knows music in his post-song interviews. His control is not that of some of the better singers in the competition, but I like his attitude towards the competition. And who doesn’t like a self-deprecating fat guy? Randy said it was a good song choice but he wasn’t on the same tempo as the music. Paula basically called him Jeff Garcia for not staying in the pocket (gotta love those “happy feet” moving down to Tampa Bay) of the song, but vocally it still sat very nice. Simon thought it was a mess, that he was all over the place and that it didn’t feel right. Then the music came on like at the Oscars when the award recipient has overstayed his time in his acceptance speech. Kind of a funny spot. Chris may be vulnerable tomorrow night, as he didn’t blow anyone away.

03 – Gina Glocksen, I’ll Stand By You (The Pretenders)

I think Gina honored Gwen this week by dressing like her, although Gwen’s more famous for her flat tummy, something Gina won’t be pulling off anytime soon. She did wear this funky shiny dress/short skirt thing and fish nets and cool boots. I like Gina’s fashion style. Looks like she should be hanging outside the Vet’s Hall across the street from Watsonville High (sorry, only a few of you will get that one). Randy called her boots fly and said it was one of her best performances ever; a perfect song for her. Paula said she’s improving each week and this week it showed her vulnerability and she soared with her vocals. Simon said it wasn’t one of her best; it was her best. He likes that she knows who she is (vocally, I presume). I thought she was pretty strong tonight and that should buy her another week of not being in the bottom 3. But she’s reaching her ceiling soon. Add the Sanjaya phenomenon and she could be out soon.

04 – Sanjaya Malakar, Bathwater (No Doubt)

Gwen said this was a hard song and said good luck to him, which reading between the lines, she was saying, please don’t butcher one of MY songs. Can’t you choose some artist that inspired me and warble that one instead? Sanjaya pinned his hair up in a Faux-hawk (my wife’s term!) tonight. Kinda looked like Joakim Noah, current Florida basketball player and son of tennis great Yannick Noah. From Sanjaya’s profile, he looked like a Spartan, as in the Michigan State mascot. Randy said he was speechless, which means he had nothing good to say, so instead of skewer him (which would bring pity votes), he just chose to say nothing. Called his hairdo interesting and that he can sing if he puts it out there. Paula says he needs to go for it. Simon said that he presumed that there was not a mirror in his dressing room. Sanjaya tried a smart alec comeback, but failed more miserably than Paula usually does. Simon concluded that it doesn’t really matter what the judges say about him and that he’s in his own universe. Sanjaya’s got so many people voting for him. Every single Indian person is probably dialing him up. He’s got the support of votefortheworst.com and Howard Stern is urging his listeners to vote for him, as a joke on the show. I know that there is a faction of people out there who don’t like the show or are jealous of the show’s success that are voting for Sanjaya to screw the show for allowing him to be a semi-finalist. Those people are sad. If they don’t like the show, don’t watch, but stop messing up MY American Idol. I honestly don’t think that Sanjaya will win. I guarantee he will outlast a few people that deserve to go on farther than him. But he won’t win. And even if he does, it doesn’t matter. So what if he’s the American Idol? You don’t have to buy his CD. Ron Artest has only sold like 343 CDs so far. Will this be Sanjayanara (I shamelessly stole that phrase)? Probably not.

05 – Haley Scarnato, True Colors (Cyndi Lauper)

I’ll tell you this, Haley likes to show us her legs. But I’m not a fan, especially when she gives us the “angry face.” I thought she did okay with this song, but not great. I think she’s gotten better, but she can go any week now and it will be fine with me. Randy said it started rough and got better at the end, but it was just a’ight and it had some pitchy moments. Paula called it a beautiful song and wished she just sang the melody. Simon called it sweet, but forgettable. Said she played it too safe. She should be in the bottom 3 tomorrow, if not gone altogether.

06 – Phil Stacey, Every Breath You Take (The Police)

Phil went with the knit hat today. Don’t know if I like him bald or with the hat. I think neither works for me because when he wears that hat, he looks like a chemo kid. The reason that I grew my sideburns out was because when I used to get my hair cut short and my sideburns were cut across by the top of my ear, if I wore a hat, I’d look like I had no hair. That and the whole 90210 phenomenon. Randy actually kinda liked it because he didn’t push it. Paula called it a good choice and that he shows so much personality when he hits the chorus, but wishes he showed more personality at other parts of the song. Simon thought it was very good and that he finally took it seriously and sang like he wanted to win. He was good, but I wouldn’t rule the bottom 3 out tomorrow night.

07 – Melinda Doolittle, Heaven Knows (Donna Summer)

Who knew that Donna Summer and The Police had such an influence on Gwen Stefani? Melinda went back to the ‘70s with a blue psychedelic top, but she always wears a high belt, which accentuates her short torso. I still like her though, even though she doesn’t have a neck either. My buddy Leroy texted me during her performance to ask my wife if “no neckitis” was a real disease? Randy called her a pro because she was living the words. Called her the bomb again. We had a Sabrina Sloan sighting in the crowd. Paula said she had charisma from the word go. Said she was so joyful and that she tells a story and does it in spades. Simon said, vocally, as usual, she was outstanding, but hated the outfit. She is good. She is nice and sweet. If she doesn’t win, I’ll be disappointed, but not crushed. She’ll still make it as a solo singer. And she’ll do well. People like her. She should be safe. I’m guessing she’ll be safe until the finale.

08 – Blake Lewis, Love Song (The Cure)

I was like, I know this song! But it’s way slower. And dreary. Blake looked stoned again and wore a sweater with a zipper on one side that looked like he should be in the show Sprockets (would you like to touch my monkey?). No beat box this time. Randy said it wasn’t the perfect song choice, but he made the most of it and that he liked it a lot. Paula loved what he did with it. She appreciates that he takes risks and loves that he is original. Simon called him definitely the strongest guy in the competition, but said he’s in the Chris Daughtry zone, doing his own thing. Meaning he has to be careful to not be too indulgent and boring. I think Blake has a pretty good following and should be safe tomorrow night.

09 – Jordin Sparks, Hey Baby! (No Doubt)

Jordin wore a Wizard of Oz, Dorothy-inspired outfit tonight, with the red checkered top and skirt. All she needed was a picnic basket with Toto peeking out. I think this song was a little tough for her to get all the words out at times, but she still gave a decent performance. After reading this, my wife disagreed. She thought Jordin was awesome and thought Gwen was also impressed, especially with her comment about not knowing the song to be so musical. She may be in the finale or top 3. Randy called this song a very risky thing to do, but she can sing anything and that she’ll be a great recording artist. Paula called her adorable and hip. Simon called her the most improved singer. He was glad to see her much younger and more confident. His only problem was that this song could be a bit copycat-ish. Jordin should be safe tomorrow and she really looks like she could be battling with LaKisha and Blake for the top 2 (along with Melinda).

10 – Chris Richardson, Don’t Speak (No Doubt)

I have to say, Gwen was refreshingly honest in all her intros. She gave praise where it was deserved and didn’t hold back on her hesitations. She said she’s seen CRich before and knew of his “vocal Olympics thing.” Classic. Going back to the boy band reference that my wife always gives with him, I think he’d have been better suited for “Making the Band,” instead of American Idol. Whatever happened to O-Town? And Eden’s Crush? I watched a bunch of “Popstars” when they had a marathon on MTV back in 2001 (pre-kids!). Well, I have to agree with my wife, I don’t think that I could possibly listen to too many songs by CRich. Randy called it very interesting and liked his flava. Paula just kept saying “you’re good.” Simon called this a much better choice of songs, but he wasn’t crazy about his vocals. And there was an AJ Tabaldo sighting. I’m not crazy about CRich anymore either. He may be in the bottom 3 again tomorrow.

I only voted for Melinda, Blake and Jordin tonight. DialIdol.com has Haley, Sligh and Jordin as its Bottom 3. I think the bottom 3 should be Haley, Sanjaya and CRich, with Haley going. I really think Sanjaya should be gone, but we know that’s not going to happen.