AI7 recap, Semi-finalists, Guys x 10 (02/26)

So it’s ‘70s Classics tonight. Interesting. And the contestants tell you something that you might not have known about them.

At the outset, two things struck me tonight. One, that the band director (Ricky Minor) looks a lot like former NBA head coach and current assistant coach Alvin Gentry. Two, that Simon kept doing the half-antlers during all of his comments. That reminds me of a drinking game we used to play when I was younger (way younger, as I’ve got my 20^th high school reunion this year!). Don’t know if any of you remember it, but it was called “Thumper.” You’d sit in a circle and everyone had a “sign.” You could do the antlers or thumb your nose or flip the bird, etc. You’d start the game and someone would do their sign and someone else’s sign. That person then had to do their sign then someone else’s. You’d proceed until someone messed up and they’d have to drink. Pretty sophisticated stuff, I know. I was pretty good at this game (meaning I hardly ever messed up). Not that I should be that proud of it. But then again, it was survival for me, as I’m a lightweight and couldn’t drink much anyway. You could also play this game with sounds instead of signs, which, when drinking was involved, could add to the difficulty factor. But don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t much of a drinker then, nor am I now. It may have to do with the fact that I get the “Asian Beer Rash” when I drink. Many of you on this list know of that phenomenon. Basically I turn beet red when I drink. That usually discourages an underage kid from drinking, especially if his mother knows that happens. J

01 – Michael Johns, Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac)

The Aussie said he is an avid tennis player. Easy, Pat Cash. Remember him with those sweet checkered headbands he used to wear? Michael did okay with this song. He has a good voice (but then again, just about everyone in the semis has a good voice), but this definitely wasn’t his strongest performance. I think Michael’s mic technique will start to bug me soon. And he hops a lot, like someone gave him a hotfoot or something. Randy said it wasn’t his best, but he liked it and he has a good tone. Paula said he was charismatic and charming and got the whole crowd working. Simon said it was okay and he was coasting along. The ladies love Aussies, so Michael should be safe Thursday night. Actually I think he’s a lock for the final 12.

02 – Jason Castro, I Just Want To Be Your Everything (Andy Gibb)

His secret is that he’s horrible at interviews. And his blooper tape proved it. The ladies love him though. I guess playing the guitar is his thing, as he did it again this week. My wife Kristin asked if it reminded me of Johnny Bravo (Greg Brady). I said no, but I’ll bet the girls would love to rip his shirt off! I actually liked him better this week than last week. But people loved him last week for some reason. Randy said it’s all cool with the guitar, but his vocals weren’t great. Paula wants to see him without his guitar next week. Simon called the song horrible and that it didn’t suit his voice. Regardless, I think Jason’s safe Thursday night and also into the final 12.

03 – Luke Menard, Killer Queen (Queen)

His secret is that he toured with an a cappella group called “Chapter Six.” And he said singing a cappella is not like having a band behind you. Um, yeah. I got that. Luke, take a drink for overstating the obvious. I thought Luke looked like the father from “Field of Dreams” and Tony Romo, but Sarah Royalty Tredo said he’s a dead ringer for Orlando Bloom. I see that too. Thanks, Sarah! And Seacrest called him “Dawson’s Creek” at the end of his song. I see that too. Definitely Dawson-hair, but just darker. I thought this was very Broadway and he also gave a lot of smoldering looks into the camera, a la Constantine. Randy said the degree of difficulty was there because it was a tough song and all and all it was pretty good. Paula called him great vocally. Simon thought it was a mistake because it lacked charisma and personality and it came off as whiny. When we watched it back, my wife Kristin couldn’t help but think it sounded like some kids song. About a half hour later she figured it out. You parents may recognize it, but it sounds like a song from the “Little People” videos. One that Sonya Lee (the Asian-looking one) sings. I think Luke is in trouble Thursday night. Definitely bottom 4 and maybe off the show.

04 – Robbie Carrico, Hot Blooded (Foreigner)

Robbie likes to drag race cars. How nice. So the faux rocker does a lite rock version of Hot Blooded. This is a high energy song and Robbie just doesn’t do it for me. Plus he reminds me of Seth Green, so I can’t shake that either. Robbie reminds me of his character Kenny “Special K” Fisher in “Can’t Hardly Wait.” Do you realize that Seth Green also played Patrick Dempsey’s little brother in “Can’t Buy Me Love?” I just saw the modern day remake of that movie called “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” with Nick Cannon and Christina Milian. Exact same plot, just updated (ie, she wrecked her mom’s Escalade instead of spilling wine on her mom’s leather outfit). I still prefer the original, but this wasn’t a wasted movie out of the Netflix queue. Randy said it was just okay and that the rock thing just isn’t his thing. Paula said he played it a little safe. Simon told him not to get defensive over their opinions of him and that actually the vocals were okay tonight. Robbie should be in the bottom 4 and possibly in the bottom 2. If he squeaks by on Thursday, he’ll definitely be gone next week.

05 – Danny Noriega, Superstar (The Carpenters)

Danny’s secret was that he was in a punk rock band (that sucked and they only played one gig). My wife Kristin thought he was flat and pitchy and that he’s really a better singer than he portrayed tonight. I still do like Danny though. Votefortheworst.com has adopted Danny as their poster boy. Randy said there were problems with his vocals tonight and that he could’ve sped it up a little and that he lost control of the song. Paula said he has amazing vocal skills, but he just needs to perform. Simon said it was better than last week but that he was over concentrating on the song. But what he likes about Danny is that he stands out in the crowd and he’s interesting and looks good on camera. Danny reminds us of Ross the Intern on Jay Leno, if any of you have seen that bit. Over the top, but in a way that works for both of them because it’s who they are. Danny may be in the bottom 4 on Thursday. I do hope he stays a bit longer though.

06 – David Hernandez, Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone (The Temptations)

His surprise was that he was a gymnast as a youngster. He doesn’t have the strongest voice, but this sure was a nice performance. Probably my 2^nd or 3^rd favorite of the night (way behind David Archuleta’s). He controlled the performance and hit some great notes. You could tell he believed in what he as doing up there. Randy said that was the David Hernandez they fell in love with and that he put it down. Paula said his voice was so pure (has she heard David Archuleta?) and that some notes were amazing tonight. Simon called it the best vocal of the night so far, which is like saying Janet is the sanest of the Jacksons. It’s all relative since the first half of the show was average at best. I’m glad David did well tonight. He should be safe on Thursday, but he’ll have to impress again next week to make the final 12.

07 – Jason Yeager, Long Train Running (The Doobie Brothers)

Jason mentions that he plays multiple instruments (piano, drums and guitar) and the proceeds to sing with playing anything. Maybe playing an instrument would slow down his horrific dancing. Um, white man’s overbite alert! He reminded me of Kevin James in “Hitch.” I kept waiting for Will Smith to come up and say, “this is your home base. Keep it here.” My wife Kristin thinks he has a nice voice, but I think he’s just a bad performer. He’s got a cheesy smile and weird points into the crowd. But that actually might work in theater, where cheesiness could blend with the acting. And I know I’ve said Jason looks like Chet, the older brother, in “Weird Science,” but I think he also looks a tad like the pre-HGH (allegedly) Roger Clemens. Randy called him pitchy and karaoke. Paula said she liked seeing the fun side of him, but the song choice didn’t have many notes in it so he couldn’t show off his range. Simon said the simple truth was that it was awkward and ordinary. I agree. He’s almost assuredly gone on Thursday night.

08 – Chikezie, I Believe To My Soul (Donny Hathaway)

Chikezie’s secret is his name is pronounced differently than he’s accepting it pronounced right now. He accepts the incorrect pronunciation because it’s just easier. Like a guy who used to work for TAP. His name was Steve Isaki (ee-saw-kee) but everyone would pronounce it (eye-saw-kee) and it quickly became “ice hockey” which then morphed into his nickname being “Puck.” Anyway, Chikezie is a Nigerian name for something that I scribbled down but can’t read right now. And it’s too late to back to the TiVo to figure it out. Sorry. Chikezie came out dressed like Boyz II Men and did much better than last week. In the words of my wife Kristin, “he let go.” Randy said Chikezie is back and that he was blazin’. Paula called it brilliant and fun. Simon said he looked better and sounded better. Just a little aside, but until Elliott Yamin sang his praises two years ago, I had no idea who Donny Hathaway was. Chikezie should be safe on Thursday.

09 – David Cook, All Right Now (Free/Stanfurd Band)

David’s secret is that he’s a word nerd. I think his secret is that he’s a thinner, blonder Jack Black. So, I hate this song. I hate the Stanfurd Band (as do most of their fans) and this is their de facto fight song. How ironic is it that the Stanfurd Band is a bunch of alcoholic druggies that don’t march or do formations and the Cal Band wears traditional uniforms and prides itself on their marching and formations? Well, David Cook doesn’t have to answer questions about the authenticity of HIS rock. He really makes Robbie Carrico look bad on the rocker scale. This song really matched his voice, and I like him, but he’s got the Chris Sligh thing going on. He’s older and I think he’s putting a lot of thought into how to win this competition and is very calculating in his song choices. It’s hard to explain, but he’s not the breath of fresh air that David Archuleta is. I think David’s very talented though and should definitely be in the top 12. Randy called him a real rocker. Paula called him the real deal and dropped her word for the season, “relevant,” on him. Simon called him solid and believable but said he has no personality. Which prompted David to spar with him saying that he didn’t have to win Simon over, but the fans. Simon got his nose pushed out of shape for his comeuppance and had to try to save face. Way to check your ego at the door, Simon. David’s safe on Thursday.

10 – David Archuleta, Imagine (John Lennon)

His secret was that he attended the finale for Season One when he was 11 and they have tape of him singing in a lobby for Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini. He had an amazing voice then and Kelly totally reacted to him. The word on the street is that David (among others) isn’t really undiscovered talent. He won the 2003 Star Search title (beating fellow semi-finalist Alexandrea Lushington in the process). And reading some things on the Net, his mother is from Honduras, which may explain his mixed-background looks. I think he actually looks like fellow recapper Mike Rico’s younger brother Todd, when Todd was a kid. Anyway, it’s no secret that I love David Archuleta. His voice is so pure. He made my wife Kristin cry tonight with this performance. He may not win it all (because the best singer doesn’t always win this competition), but he’s already won a recording contract with someone when this is over. That much is for sure. Randy said yo dog, that was the best vocals he’s every heard on this show. Paula said he was ridiculous and that was one of the most moving performances she’s ever heard. Simon said the song choice was risky, but it worked out and that he’s going to be very hard to beat. I can’t see David losing this competition or being in the bottom two until the finals, when there are only 2 left.

Bottom four: Jason Yeager, Luke Menard, Robbie Carrico, Danny Noriega

Top four: David Archuleta, David Cook, David Hernandez, Chikezie