Summary
"American Idol" - Top Eight Performance Show - April 7, 2009
Theme: The year the contestant was born. Because of this we're going to see baby pictures throughout the night so we get to see some of the judges as well.
Contestant #1: Danny Gokey
Song: "Stand By Me," Ben E. King (but he's doing Mickey Gilley's version from 1980).
Video: His dad told him he could sing when he was a little boy. His pictures are adorable.
Performance: He looks smart in black and mauve but I'm not grooving to the slow arrangement and slightly pitchy vocalizing of this tune. The band kicks in with a little conga-driven groove, it still sounds a little off in places. But his performance is very likable and the crowd loves it.
Randy: Says when he first came out he didn't love the arrangement but Danny made him love it through his vocals.
Kara: Agrees about the arrangement but thought it got progressively better and unique.
Paula: All can she say is wow and he's set the bar very high. She liked the arrangement.
Simon: He liked the beginning, thought the middle was lazy, and the end was terrific so overall it was great.
Contestant #2: Kris Allen
Song: "All She Wants to Do is Dance," Don Henley (1985)
Video: Also a very cute kid, unsurprisingly. His mother says they'd be just as happy if he was a taxi driver. His father's not so sure about that.
Performance: What an insane choice this is - it's one of Henley's more politically-bent numbers- and what an insane semi-Latin, chopped up re-arrangement of the song. It's probably a good thing he dropped out the "molotov cocktail's the local drink" line. He's out in the pit with the people strumming a white electric guitar. The vocal is fine but it's all very bizarre.
Kara: She's a huge fan and is glad he picked an uptempo but it felt like jazz-funk homework and it lost a lot of its youth.
Paula: She thinks he's heartfelt and took a melodicially boring song and made it his own and he's one of the most likable contestants they've had.
Simon: Likable yes, he agrees, but also indulgent, boring, and forgettable. He thinks he came over as a guitarist trying to be a singer, instead of singer and that it was a stupid song choice.
Randy: Agrees the arrangement was indulgent- and thoughtfully namechecks the song's co-writer and guitarist Danny Kortchmar-and he lost Kris because of it.
Contestant #3: Lil Rounds
Song: "What's Love Got to Do With It," Tina Turner (1984)
Video: She got her name from her grandmother Lily. She was really cute as a kid too.
Performance: Strike 1: She comes out dancing like Tina in the video. Strike 2: She's dressed somewhat like Tina is in the video. Strike 3: Her version is not that special and there are a few rough notes. She looks great though, love this week's wig.
Paula: Thinks she looks very hot. She hoped she would go outside the box and prove who she is an artist. She knows she's a great vocalist but wasn't a leader when it came to changing up a classic. She's worried that it's becoming a beautiful karaoke rendition.
Simon: Says they're not looking for a second or third rate version of Tina Turner and notes that she came walking out like Tina. Other than some nice parts near the end he calls it a ghastly copycat version and they've lost who she is and she's not making the right impact because she's making bad choices or getting bad advice. She needs to be more original.
Randy: He says she's mad talented and agrees with Simon and Paula and thinks she made a bad choice.
Kara: Says it is about that leap from singer to artist.
Lil looks sad. She tells Ryan she takes in everything they're saying.
Contestant #4: Anoop Desai
On the stools Anoop apologizes for his seeming arrogance after Kara's critique last week. He thinks he overreacted.
Song: "True Colors," Cyndi Lauper (1986)
Video: Very cute child.
Performance: He sits on a stool and sings sincerely. He makes a few small change-ups but sings it straight in the main. And even though it's slow he definitely seems more engaged and lively. It's nice.
Randy: He thought it was hot and it was a nice, controlled vocal.
Kara: She says he controlled the song and not the other way around and injected a pop song with soul.
Paula: Calls his song choice flawless, phrasing was beautiful, and where it sat in his voice was magical and showed his true colors.
Simon: He calls him a singing yo-yo, he's down and up. Last week was abysmal but he thought it was really good and made it his own. And he tells Anoop he doesn't need to apologize.
Contestant #5: Scott MacIntyre
Song: "The Search is Over," Survivor (1985)
Video: Also adorable. Wanted to be a train conductor as a child and played spooky music on Halloween.
Performance: This song is a big guilty pleasure of mine and Scott can't hold a candle to the melodramatic power of the original. And Paula's advice to abandon the piano? Not so good as his stance with the guitar is not as assured. And oh my, some of the high notes were not pretty.
Kara: She commends him for coming out and playing guitar. She wouldn't have picked that song for him and thought he had some good moments but some bad ones too.
Paula: She also credits him for stepping away from the piano. She finds it odd that he played electric. He jokes it was his punk side coming out. She laughs and compliments his sense of humor but contends that the high notes at times came off screechy but overall "bravo."
Simon: Suggests he go back to the piano, where he's comfortable. He says the song was horrible. And the guitar playing wasn't much better. He thought it was him trying to be somebody else.
Randy: The problem for him was it was just all okay: the song, the vocals. It didn't show him as a star and he's looking for that. Scott says at least it showed he's versatile.
Contestant #6: Allison Iraheta
.
Song: "I Can't Make Love You Me," Bonnie Raitt (1992)
Video: Also? Adorable. Talked a lot as a kid and the doctor said she would be a singer.
Performance: This seems a bit mature, no? Seems like something like "Thing Called Love" would've been better choice since she can't really nail the pathos of a song like this. Technically, she sounds great and relaxed though. Understated and nicely done.
Paula: She thinks she's very distinctive and loved that she showed some tenderness.
Simon: Thought it was very good. He says they have to sort her out and make her more likable.
Randy: She reminds him so much of Kelly Clarkson who could sing her face off and so can Allison and he thinks Allison should be more engaging.
Kara: Thinks it was impressive how she took adult content and made it youthful and believable. Kara wants to go make a record with her right now.
Contestant #7: Matt Giraud
Song: "Part-Time Lover," Stevie Wonder (1985)
Video: Adorable? Check. Video of him as a child in a Christmas pagaent.
Performance: The go-to trick, the slow open. He's rocking a fedora. The song has a little more spare funk bounce to it than the original that definitely sounds more timeless. This is exactly what the judges want song-wise so they should like it. His jerky movements are messing with the vocals just a tad but on the whole he sounds strong to the end.
Randy: Says vocally it was one of the best of the night.
Kara: Says "incredible on every level."
Paula: "Two words: standing O."
Simon: "A million times better than last week, well done."
Contestant #8: Adam Lambert
Song: "Mad World," Tears for Fears (1982)
Video: His parents talk about how as a very cute kid he loved everything, books, music. And then in what may be one of the most perfectly delivered comic lines in "Idol" history his dad says: "Sports, not so much." Adam talks about enjoying dress-up and we see him in various guises: cowboy, "Phantom of the Opera" etc. All adorable.
Performance: Shrouded in darkness and backlit- and doing the Gary Jules/"Donnie Darko" arrangement with an Erasure/Bronski Beat-tinge to his falsetto yearning- Adam is the picture of controlled vocals and emotions. It's a lovely, tender performance. Even better than the "Tracks of My Tears" from Motown week and leaps and bounds better his de facto histrionics. Perfect choice for him.
Simon: Because they ran over time Simon is the only judge who gets to talk and he says words are unnecessary and gives him a standing ovation.
Fearless bottom three prediction: Lil, Scott, and Allison (only because she's been in the bottom three for a few weeks).
Directed : Unknown
Written : Unknown
Stars : Simon Cowell Mark Thompson Ryan Seacrest Randy Jackson
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : Apr 6, 2009
Countries of origin : United States
Official sites : ABC American Idol
Language : English
Filming locations : Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California, USA
Production companies : Fremantle FremantleMedia 19 Television
Summary
"American Idol" - Top Eight Performance Show - April 7, 2009
Theme: The year the contestant was born. Because of this we're going to see baby pictures throughout the night so we get to see some of the judges as well.
Contestant #1: Danny Gokey
Song: "Stand By Me," Ben E. King (but he's doing Mickey Gilley's version from 1980).
Video: His dad told him he could sing when he was a little boy. His pictures are adorable.
Performance: He looks smart in black and mauve but I'm not grooving to the slow arrangement and slightly pitchy vocalizing of this tune. The band kicks in with a little conga-driven groove, it still sounds a little off in places. But his performance is very likable and the crowd loves it.
Randy: Says when he first came out he didn't love the arrangement but Danny made him love it through his vocals.
Kara: Agrees about the arrangement but thought it got progressively better and unique.
Paula: All can she say is wow and he's set the bar very high. She liked the arrangement.
Simon: He liked the beginning, thought the middle was lazy, and the end was terrific so overall it was great.
Contestant #2: Kris Allen
Song: "All She Wants to Do is Dance," Don Henley (1985)
Video: Also a very cute kid, unsurprisingly. His mother says they'd be just as happy if he was a taxi driver. His father's not so sure about that.
Performance: What an insane choice this is - it's one of Henley's more politically-bent numbers- and what an insane semi-Latin, chopped up re-arrangement of the song. It's probably a good thing he dropped out the "molotov cocktail's the local drink" line. He's out in the pit with the people strumming a white electric guitar. The vocal is fine but it's all very bizarre.
Kara: She's a huge fan and is glad he picked an uptempo but it felt like jazz-funk homework and it lost a lot of its youth.
Paula: She thinks he's heartfelt and took a melodicially boring song and made it his own and he's one of the most likable contestants they've had.
Simon: Likable yes, he agrees, but also indulgent, boring, and forgettable. He thinks he came over as a guitarist trying to be a singer, instead of singer and that it was a stupid song choice.
Randy: Agrees the arrangement was indulgent- and thoughtfully namechecks the song's co-writer and guitarist Danny Kortchmar-and he lost Kris because of it.
Contestant #3: Lil Rounds
Song: "What's Love Got to Do With It," Tina Turner (1984)
Video: She got her name from her grandmother Lily. She was really cute as a kid too.
Performance: Strike 1: She comes out dancing like Tina in the video. Strike 2: She's dressed somewhat like Tina is in the video. Strike 3: Her version is not that special and there are a few rough notes. She looks great though, love this week's wig.
Paula: Thinks she looks very hot. She hoped she would go outside the box and prove who she is an artist. She knows she's a great vocalist but wasn't a leader when it came to changing up a classic. She's worried that it's becoming a beautiful karaoke rendition.
Simon: Says they're not looking for a second or third rate version of Tina Turner and notes that she came walking out like Tina. Other than some nice parts near the end he calls it a ghastly copycat version and they've lost who she is and she's not making the right impact because she's making bad choices or getting bad advice. She needs to be more original.
Randy: He says she's mad talented and agrees with Simon and Paula and thinks she made a bad choice.
Kara: Says it is about that leap from singer to artist.
Lil looks sad. She tells Ryan she takes in everything they're saying.
Contestant #4: Anoop Desai
On the stools Anoop apologizes for his seeming arrogance after Kara's critique last week. He thinks he overreacted.
Song: "True Colors," Cyndi Lauper (1986)
Video: Very cute child.
Performance: He sits on a stool and sings sincerely. He makes a few small change-ups but sings it straight in the main. And even though it's slow he definitely seems more engaged and lively. It's nice.
Randy: He thought it was hot and it was a nice, controlled vocal.
Kara: She says he controlled the song and not the other way around and injected a pop song with soul.
Paula: Calls his song choice flawless, phrasing was beautiful, and where it sat in his voice was magical and showed his true colors.
Simon: He calls him a singing yo-yo, he's down and up. Last week was abysmal but he thought it was really good and made it his own. And he tells Anoop he doesn't need to apologize.
Contestant #5: Scott MacIntyre
Song: "The Search is Over," Survivor (1985)
Video: Also adorable. Wanted to be a train conductor as a child and played spooky music on Halloween.
Performance: This song is a big guilty pleasure of mine and Scott can't hold a candle to the melodramatic power of the original. And Paula's advice to abandon the piano? Not so good as his stance with the guitar is not as assured. And oh my, some of the high notes were not pretty.
Kara: She commends him for coming out and playing guitar. She wouldn't have picked that song for him and thought he had some good moments but some bad ones too.
Paula: She also credits him for stepping away from the piano. She finds it odd that he played electric. He jokes it was his punk side coming out. She laughs and compliments his sense of humor but contends that the high notes at times came off screechy but overall "bravo."
Simon: Suggests he go back to the piano, where he's comfortable. He says the song was horrible. And the guitar playing wasn't much better. He thought it was him trying to be somebody else.
Randy: The problem for him was it was just all okay: the song, the vocals. It didn't show him as a star and he's looking for that. Scott says at least it showed he's versatile.
Contestant #6: Allison Iraheta
.
Song: "I Can't Make Love You Me," Bonnie Raitt (1992)
Video: Also? Adorable. Talked a lot as a kid and the doctor said she would be a singer.
Performance: This seems a bit mature, no? Seems like something like "Thing Called Love" would've been better choice since she can't really nail the pathos of a song like this. Technically, she sounds great and relaxed though. Understated and nicely done.
Paula: She thinks she's very distinctive and loved that she showed some tenderness.
Simon: Thought it was very good. He says they have to sort her out and make her more likable.
Randy: She reminds him so much of Kelly Clarkson who could sing her face off and so can Allison and he thinks Allison should be more engaging.
Kara: Thinks it was impressive how she took adult content and made it youthful and believable. Kara wants to go make a record with her right now.
Contestant #7: Matt Giraud
Song: "Part-Time Lover," Stevie Wonder (1985)
Video: Adorable? Check. Video of him as a child in a Christmas pagaent.
Performance: The go-to trick, the slow open. He's rocking a fedora. The song has a little more spare funk bounce to it than the original that definitely sounds more timeless. This is exactly what the judges want song-wise so they should like it. His jerky movements are messing with the vocals just a tad but on the whole he sounds strong to the end.
Randy: Says vocally it was one of the best of the night.
Kara: Says "incredible on every level."
Paula: "Two words: standing O."
Simon: "A million times better than last week, well done."
Contestant #8: Adam Lambert
Song: "Mad World," Tears for Fears (1982)
Video: His parents talk about how as a very cute kid he loved everything, books, music. And then in what may be one of the most perfectly delivered comic lines in "Idol" history his dad says: "Sports, not so much." Adam talks about enjoying dress-up and we see him in various guises: cowboy, "Phantom of the Opera" etc. All adorable.
Performance: Shrouded in darkness and backlit- and doing the Gary Jules/"Donnie Darko" arrangement with an Erasure/Bronski Beat-tinge to his falsetto yearning- Adam is the picture of controlled vocals and emotions. It's a lovely, tender performance. Even better than the "Tracks of My Tears" from Motown week and leaps and bounds better his de facto histrionics. Perfect choice for him.
Simon: Because they ran over time Simon is the only judge who gets to talk and he says words are unnecessary and gives him a standing ovation.
Fearless bottom three prediction: Lil, Scott, and Allison (only because she's been in the bottom three for a few weeks).
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : Apr 6, 2009
Countries of origin : United States
Official sites : ABC American Idol
Language : English
Filming locations : Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California, USA
Production companies : Fremantle FremantleMedia 19 Television
