AI8 recap, Finalists x 3 (05/12/09)

Not a big shocker that Allison went home last week. She’s an unbelievable talent, but I don’t think she had people voting for her (obviously). For some reason, I think that she was fun off camera, but once that red light went on, she went Cindy Brady on us. No doubt she’ll get some kind of record deal based on her performances throughout the season. She’s got mad talent, but mad talent doesn’t always win this competition.

This has traditionally been the week where the final 3 sing 3 songs (judge’s choice, own choice and Clive Davis’ choice), but either due to time constraints or Clive not being there, it’s only 2 songs each. I’m not complaining in the least.

01 – Danny Gokey, Dance Little Sister (Terence Trent D’Arby; Paula’s choice)
So I’ve got to be honest with you, the only Terence Trent D’Arby song that I remember is “Wishing Well.” I looked Terence up on Wikipedia and found out that he’s changed his name to Sananda Maitreya. Huh? Um, okay. The guy who blogs for USA Today thought this was a great song choice for Danny. Me, not so much. Danny’s better at ballads and inviting him to dance up there is only asking for trouble. My wife Kristin called this a sucky song choice and added that Paula did him a disservice (although she did think he sang the song well). I agree. Danny doesn’t do dance. It’s not Taylor Hicks bad, but it does resemble a fish out of water in some ways. It’s not Elaine from Seinfeld bad, but it’s not all that smooth either. Randy said way to jump it off and it was dope for him. Kara liked the song choice because it kept him in his money spot, but thought there was too much gyrating in the dancing. And added that she won’t remember that performance. Paula thought he did really good, but c’mon, what else is she going to say since she picked the song for him. Simon called the dancing a bit desperate, but it was vocally very good. Personally, we wish Paula would’ve collaborated with Kara instead of going solo on this one.

02 – Kris Allen, Apologize (OneRepublic; Randy & Kara’s choice)
My wife Kristin wished they’d have given this song to Danny or even last year to David Archuleta. Kris is very talented, as he’s been up on that stage with both the guitar and piano. I didn’t think that this was a great song choice because it’s a bad song to change up. They’d have done him more of a favor if they gave him a regular song that he could change up. This song was already stylized and hard to make sound different. Randy said this was a glimpse of what Kris can be in the industry. Kara said it was a real confident performance, but thought it was too safe and that he didn’t hit it out of the park. Paula said there was a bum note that was real loud, but she was proud of him. Simon blamed Kara (but not Randy, interestingly enough) for the song choice. I agree with Simon that it was a bad song choice, but I wouldn’t have blamed them in the way that he did.

03 – Adam Lambert, One (U2; Simon’s choice)
Simon got to name drop saying that he got the okay from Bono personally for this song. Nice work, Simon! Only 150 more name drops to catch up to Randy. Adam slowed it down a bit and did his normal Adam brilliant performance. But it’s interesting because at a lunch today we were discussing Adam (and all 3 contestants, for that matter). My friend said that out of the last 3, Kris’ would be the only CD he’d be interested in buying, which I thought was odd at first, but after explaining himself, it made a lot of sense. Kris sings the music he listens to. Adam has a great voice and unbelievable falsetto, etc, but he wouldn’t want to listen to a whole album of his (my wife Kristin has been saying this since week 1 too!). He thinks Danny might be best suited for Christian rock, although I think he may have a little more crossover appeal than that. Randy thought the vocals were unbelievable but didn’t like how he changed the melody. Kara called him a strategist. If it was Dubya speaking, he’d have complimented him on his strategery. Paula said something that sounded like an ode to one (since that was the name of the song; very clever Paula. Not). Simon called it a brilliant song choice and added that it would be one of the biggest upsets in the history of the show if he wasn’t in the finals.

Round one went to Adam, with Danny in second and Kris in third.

04 – Danny Gokey, You Are So Beautiful (Billy Preston/Joe Cocker)
So this song was originally by Billy Preston, but Joe Cocker sang a slowed-down version of it a year later. Danny had amazing control and gentleness on this song. See Paula, Danny does ballads. Picking a fast song for him does him no favors. What would she have chosen for Anoop this week? Another Michael Jackson song that he’d have to dance to? Randy reiterated what we already know – that Danny really can sing. I sure hope so. It’s a singing competition. Kara said that was stunning. She’s beginning to over-enunciate her words like Avery Johnson now. It kinda bugs. Paula said he left us all breathless. I wish it would’ve left her speechless. Simon loved the song, not the arrangement (should’ve left well enough alone; but then he’d have gotten hammered for not making it his own), but called it a vocal master class. I still think Danny is safe tomorrow. He’s never been in the bottom 3. He’s got a great voice and a uniqueness to it. He’s got a riveting backstory (young wife who passed away recently). He’s very likeable. I’d be very surprised if he goes home tomorrow.

05 – Kris Allen, Heartless (Kanye West)
When I first heard that he was singing this, I was like, how is that going to work? Kanye’s voice is all computerized (like Roger back in the ‘80s) and he’s a rapper. And I have to admit that I don’t know this song. My wife Kristin (kiddingly) says I’m not relevant enough to do this recap because all I listen to in the car is sports talk radio and ‘80s music! She also says this because she knows I hate it when they use the word “relevant.” And I have to agree with her. Back to Roger, he played at my Grad Nite at Disneyland back in 1988 (yup, I’m dating myself). The big headliner was Expose. The Force MDs played on the Tom Sawyer island theater. Roger played at what is now the Buzz Lightyear Café. And Expose played at an amphitheater that is no longer there. I’m trying to figure out what is there now. Toon Town? Anyway, back to Kris. This was a pretty cool deal. He stayed true to the song. He just did it with an acoustic guitar (and no band behind him). Randy said he liked this version better than Kanye’s or The Fray’s. Kara wondered why he didn’t do that to the song they chose for him (um, because you picked a stylized song that he couldn’t further stylize, Kara. Duh). She also called him fearless by going out there with only an acoustic guitar. Paula said this keeps him relevant (goodness I hate it when they use that word). Simon had written him off after his first song, but that song changed his opinion. This totally redeemed Kris for me. I think it’s between him and Adam to go with Gokey at this point.

06 – Adam Lambert, Cryin’ (Aerosmith)
Adam was again good with this song, but what was up with the background singers being louder than him on the chorus? This was our least favorite of the last 3, contestants choice songs. Randy called Adam one of the best AI’s had and one of the most charismatic. Kara asked who hits those notes that he hits? Simon pleaded with the public to vote for Adam because he deserves to be in the finale on talent alone. But Simon was also quoted in TV Guide that he thinks it should/will be an Adam and Danny finale with Danny getting a 55/45 split of the votes. But then I just read that Simon was also recently on Oprah and he predicted that Adam was going to win. I’m a bit scared for Adam after this last song. He didn’t end it as strongly as I thought he might. I do see Adam coming out with a Glam Rock album, which would be interesting. He’d corner the market, as there aren’t any Glam Bands currently. But on the flip side, there’s a reason there aren’t any Glam Bands anymore. They’ve run their course and that’s not “relevant” right now. I hate myself for just typing that.

Round two goes to Danny and Kris, with Adam in 3rd.

In: Danny
Out: Kris or Adam, but probably Kris

NOTE: My supreme jinxing power just went into effect and Danny should now be shaking in his boots. Sorry Danny.