Summary
"American Idol" - Top Five Perform - April 28, 2009
Theme: Standards from the Rat Pack Era
Video: The Idols meet their mystery mentor, it's... Jamie Foxx. So we get a video package on Jamie's acting and music career. He wants to teach them that these songs are going to live forever. He tells them about Vegas, the Rat Pack, and the gangsters. He promises to say what's on his mind.
Contestant #1: Kris Allen
Video: Jamie likes how he's not into doing "throat olympics." Jamie wants to make a record with him. Kris likes that. Jamie calls him his number one.
Song: "The Way You Look Tonight"
Performance: He does a slow, up-a-lazy-river version that's sexily soporific. Like Jamie said, Kris will not be winning the throat olympics with this but it's pleasant. It switches to a slightly zippier tempo halfway through that also sounds fine and then settles back down. He ends on a sweet falsetto note.
Randy: Thinks it's his best performance to date, he took his time, told his story, and had mad nice vocals.
Kara: She thinks he's set the technical standard really high for the evening: diction, timing, phrasing. She calls him a dark horse.
Paula: Is pleased by his transformation from boy next door to sophisticated gentleman. His performance was near impeccable.
Simon: Thought it was good but is not quite as enthusiastic as the others since it was a bit "wet." He compares him to a well-trained spaniel. He doesn't get the feeling from him tonight that Kris can win the competition.
Contestant #2: Allison Iraheta
Video: Jamie Foxx is knocked out by her. He tells her to think of her family while she sings since she's too young to have a boyfriend. She seems touched by that.
Song: "Someone To Watch Over Me"
Performance: This is a great marriage of singer and song. We get to see a more tender side and a little bit more of the higher register. Her phrasing is effortless and her pitch is terrific. It's a beautiful performance with just a bit of grit to it. She really embraced the style and the moment.
Randy: Says she looks like Brittany Murphy and dope, sounds like Pink but with more octaves, and thought it was the bomb.
Kara: She's not nervous for Allison anymore since she probably converted new fans with that performance, which was gut-wrenching and terrific. She thinks it was good enough to get her in the finals.
Paula: Thinks it was alluring and tender with an innocent sensibility. She's really proud of her.
Simon: Asks if she thinks she can win. She says she thinks she can. He says he asked because he doesn't feel that belief coming from her and thinks maybe she's been overshadowed by some of the other personalities on the show. He thought the performance was great though. He's worried she could be in trouble. He said it felt mechanical and was a 7 out of 10. Kara says Simon is crazy. Randy tells Allison the vocal was on point.
Contestant #3: Matt Giraud
Video: Jamie tells him not to worry. But after Matt's session is over he calls him back in and advises him to change the key. He guarantees the key change will garner a standing ovation.
Song: "My Funny Valentine"
Performance: Matt, oddly, chooses not to play the piano. He sits on a stool and sings it pretty straight, hewing to the melody and staying off big runs. He bends a few notes here and there. His training is serving him well, although his breat support at the ends of phrases isn't as good as it could be. Jamie's "moment" does draw a cheer as does the last trilling high note. Not exactly electric but well sung.
Randy: Calls it one of the hardest songs to sing and that he was up to the task but that it was a bit pitchy and that it didn't all come together.
Kara: She says the competition is tough but you need to be a leader and that she appreciates what he tried to do technically but she didn't feel the emotion. He responds with an inredulous "what?"
Paula: Loved it and the fact that he took Jamie's advice and she felt the emotional connection. She thought it was pure, simple, and really impressive.
Simon: Disagrees with Randy and says that it was the only believable, authentic song tonight and that he heard some Nat "King" Cole-type phrasing and he thought it was brilliant.
Contestant #4: Danny Gokey
Video: Jamie thinks Danny is "this close." Danny says he's not going to change it up much, just give it a little bluesy feel. Jamie gets right up in his face to get his emotion to come out.
Song: "Come Rain or Come Shine"
Performance: He gives it a slight New Orleans vibe with the horn arrangement. He sings it pretty straight and it sounds pretty good, more like a performance than storytelling though and a bit sleepy until the end when he amps up the grit and energy. In fact, the end is pretty stunning.
Randy: Says he's the only one so far tonight that could have an album of songs like this. He says forget the connection stuff, this is a singing competition and Danny can sing.
Kara: Says what she's been missing from him is the Rat Pack swagger and he had it tonight. She says the end of the performance was the most creative he's been all season.
Paula: Stellar and she knows he can see the finish line.
Simon: Agrees with Kara and thinks that he came out and proved a point. He thought it was his best performance in weeks. He compliments Rickey for the great arrangement and Jamie for what he's bringing out in the contestants tonight.
Contestant #5: Adam Lambert
Video: Jamie is impressed and thinks he's going to knock everybody's head off. Jamie laughs and says it's great that Adam doesn't care who he is at all. Adam laughs and in his separate interview says he kept his eyes closed because he was freaking out that he was standing three feet away from Jamie Foxx. Jamie hugs him.
Song: "Feelin' Good"
Performance: In a white suit he struts down a staircase lit hot pink. The bump and grind rhythm kicks in and he digs in. It's confident, technically assured -even the tongue out metal scream- and a little naughty. Next to "Mad World" and "Tracks of My Tears" one of his best, and least annoying, performances.
Randy: He says it was a little too theatrical for him but Adam is in the zone consistently for him.
Kara: Her mouth drops open every time and says he's shocking and confusing in a good way and sleazy and superb and way over the top but she likes it.
Paula: He makes her feel better than good, she says it's like watching the Olympics and he's their Michael Phelps.
Simon: Laughs at Randy for calling Adam theatrical since that's like complaining when a cow moos. He likes this year's competition because normally there are people "bleating" about how winning isn't important but he gets the feeling from him and at least two others that he wants to win and to entertain. Calls it the best entrance he's had all season.
Directed : Unknown
Written : Unknown
Stars : Simon Cowell Mark Thompson Ryan Seacrest Randy Jackson
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : Apr 27, 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 Five Perform - April 28, 2009
Theme: Standards from the Rat Pack Era
Video: The Idols meet their mystery mentor, it's... Jamie Foxx. So we get a video package on Jamie's acting and music career. He wants to teach them that these songs are going to live forever. He tells them about Vegas, the Rat Pack, and the gangsters. He promises to say what's on his mind.
Contestant #1: Kris Allen
Video: Jamie likes how he's not into doing "throat olympics." Jamie wants to make a record with him. Kris likes that. Jamie calls him his number one.
Song: "The Way You Look Tonight"
Performance: He does a slow, up-a-lazy-river version that's sexily soporific. Like Jamie said, Kris will not be winning the throat olympics with this but it's pleasant. It switches to a slightly zippier tempo halfway through that also sounds fine and then settles back down. He ends on a sweet falsetto note.
Randy: Thinks it's his best performance to date, he took his time, told his story, and had mad nice vocals.
Kara: She thinks he's set the technical standard really high for the evening: diction, timing, phrasing. She calls him a dark horse.
Paula: Is pleased by his transformation from boy next door to sophisticated gentleman. His performance was near impeccable.
Simon: Thought it was good but is not quite as enthusiastic as the others since it was a bit "wet." He compares him to a well-trained spaniel. He doesn't get the feeling from him tonight that Kris can win the competition.
Contestant #2: Allison Iraheta
Video: Jamie Foxx is knocked out by her. He tells her to think of her family while she sings since she's too young to have a boyfriend. She seems touched by that.
Song: "Someone To Watch Over Me"
Performance: This is a great marriage of singer and song. We get to see a more tender side and a little bit more of the higher register. Her phrasing is effortless and her pitch is terrific. It's a beautiful performance with just a bit of grit to it. She really embraced the style and the moment.
Randy: Says she looks like Brittany Murphy and dope, sounds like Pink but with more octaves, and thought it was the bomb.
Kara: She's not nervous for Allison anymore since she probably converted new fans with that performance, which was gut-wrenching and terrific. She thinks it was good enough to get her in the finals.
Paula: Thinks it was alluring and tender with an innocent sensibility. She's really proud of her.
Simon: Asks if she thinks she can win. She says she thinks she can. He says he asked because he doesn't feel that belief coming from her and thinks maybe she's been overshadowed by some of the other personalities on the show. He thought the performance was great though. He's worried she could be in trouble. He said it felt mechanical and was a 7 out of 10. Kara says Simon is crazy. Randy tells Allison the vocal was on point.
Contestant #3: Matt Giraud
Video: Jamie tells him not to worry. But after Matt's session is over he calls him back in and advises him to change the key. He guarantees the key change will garner a standing ovation.
Song: "My Funny Valentine"
Performance: Matt, oddly, chooses not to play the piano. He sits on a stool and sings it pretty straight, hewing to the melody and staying off big runs. He bends a few notes here and there. His training is serving him well, although his breat support at the ends of phrases isn't as good as it could be. Jamie's "moment" does draw a cheer as does the last trilling high note. Not exactly electric but well sung.
Randy: Calls it one of the hardest songs to sing and that he was up to the task but that it was a bit pitchy and that it didn't all come together.
Kara: She says the competition is tough but you need to be a leader and that she appreciates what he tried to do technically but she didn't feel the emotion. He responds with an inredulous "what?"
Paula: Loved it and the fact that he took Jamie's advice and she felt the emotional connection. She thought it was pure, simple, and really impressive.
Simon: Disagrees with Randy and says that it was the only believable, authentic song tonight and that he heard some Nat "King" Cole-type phrasing and he thought it was brilliant.
Contestant #4: Danny Gokey
Video: Jamie thinks Danny is "this close." Danny says he's not going to change it up much, just give it a little bluesy feel. Jamie gets right up in his face to get his emotion to come out.
Song: "Come Rain or Come Shine"
Performance: He gives it a slight New Orleans vibe with the horn arrangement. He sings it pretty straight and it sounds pretty good, more like a performance than storytelling though and a bit sleepy until the end when he amps up the grit and energy. In fact, the end is pretty stunning.
Randy: Says he's the only one so far tonight that could have an album of songs like this. He says forget the connection stuff, this is a singing competition and Danny can sing.
Kara: Says what she's been missing from him is the Rat Pack swagger and he had it tonight. She says the end of the performance was the most creative he's been all season.
Paula: Stellar and she knows he can see the finish line.
Simon: Agrees with Kara and thinks that he came out and proved a point. He thought it was his best performance in weeks. He compliments Rickey for the great arrangement and Jamie for what he's bringing out in the contestants tonight.
Contestant #5: Adam Lambert
Video: Jamie is impressed and thinks he's going to knock everybody's head off. Jamie laughs and says it's great that Adam doesn't care who he is at all. Adam laughs and in his separate interview says he kept his eyes closed because he was freaking out that he was standing three feet away from Jamie Foxx. Jamie hugs him.
Song: "Feelin' Good"
Performance: In a white suit he struts down a staircase lit hot pink. The bump and grind rhythm kicks in and he digs in. It's confident, technically assured -even the tongue out metal scream- and a little naughty. Next to "Mad World" and "Tracks of My Tears" one of his best, and least annoying, performances.
Randy: He says it was a little too theatrical for him but Adam is in the zone consistently for him.
Kara: Her mouth drops open every time and says he's shocking and confusing in a good way and sleazy and superb and way over the top but she likes it.
Paula: He makes her feel better than good, she says it's like watching the Olympics and he's their Michael Phelps.
Simon: Laughs at Randy for calling Adam theatrical since that's like complaining when a cow moos. He likes this year's competition because normally there are people "bleating" about how winning isn't important but he gets the feeling from him and at least two others that he wants to win and to entertain. Calls it the best entrance he's had all season.
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : Apr 27, 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
