Summary
"American Idol" - Top Four Finalists Perform - May 5, 2009
Theme: Rock and Roll
Ryan tells us there was an accident on the set so the contestants didn't have their normal dress rehearsal. He also tells us that the contestants are pairing up for duets as well as solo songs.
Video Package: We get a recap of mentor Slash's career. He's mentoring them with a live band at the Roxy. He thinks it's going to be a good time.
Contestant #1: Adam Lambert
Video: Slash tells him not to improvise so much in the high register, but otherwise thinks he's effortlessly good.
Song: "Whole Lotta Love," Led Zeppelin
Performance: It's actually a pretty straightforward cover with Adam aping Robert Plant and then doing a few extra runs and notes here and there. It is convincing technically but feels very put on from an emotional/performance standpoint, like he's "playing" the rocker.
Randy: This is the Adam he loves. He thinks no one's ever going to think about Broadway again. (That's the first thing I thought and I'm so sick of hearing this as if it's some kind of insult.)
Kara: Thinks he's not only a rock star, he's a rock god.
Paula: Thinks he's a whole lotta perfect.
Simon: Agrees that it was great and that no one can top this performance now.
Contestant #2: Allison Iraheta
Song: "Cry, Baby," Janis Joplin
Video: Thinks if she pulls it off that it will be great. He thinks she needs to get past the fear.
Performance: She sings it well, hitting all the right notes and emotional high points but the song is a yawn.
Randy: Thinks she can sing her face off but didn't love it.
Kara: Liked that it was Janis, but wanted "Piece of My Heart" or something with more melody. She sees her personality in her performances unlike Simon.
Paula: Calls her fearless and if they make a movie about Janis, she's got the role.
Simon: Thought she had complete confidence and it was a great vocal but that it was a little copycat unlike Adam's more original performance. Allison fights back saying that she really felt the song and that "Piece of My Heart" is overdone. Simon likes that she's fighting back.
Performance: Kris and Danny do a duet of "Renegade" by Styx. It's meh. For rock night it's not very exciting.
Randy: Thought the individual vocals were just okay but that the harmonies were good.
Kara: Agrees that parts were strong.
Paula: Thought it was powerful and compelling.
Simon: Thought Danny was better than Kris.
Contestant #3: Kris Allen
Song: "Come Together," The Beatles
Video: Slash makes him nervous by making him play guitar. Kris wanted to pee his pants. Slash tells him to be more animated onstage.
Performance: He goes in a more Aerosmith direction with the tune and is a little too smiley in the beginning and seems nervous. But he sings it well enough, nothing spectacular but not embarrassing.
Randy: He enjoyed it even though Kris isn't really a "rock, rock" guy, but he liked the guitar work he did.
Kara: Didn't think it was a great performance and didn't like the song and calls him a "soft rock" guy.
Paula: Thinks the Beatles was risky but that his "artistic delivery" was all over it and she thought it was truly compelling and that he needed a little more energy.
Simon: Didn't like it that much, saying it was like eating ice for lunch meaning that it will leave you with nothing to remember afterwards and calls the song boring. (Two of the judges insulted the Beatles, oy).
Contestant #4: Danny Gokey
Song: "Dream On," Aerosmith
Video: Slash thinks he's naturally gifted and points out that he has to do the scream at the end. Danny wants to push himself.
Performance: Such a bad idea as this is one of the most recognizable vocals in rock history. (Much like "Whole Lotta Love.") Danny is marginal to adequate at the beginning, adds unnecessary and embarrassing doo-doos-doos in middle and then almost lands but then completely botches the scream at the end.
Randy: Knows this is not his genre and thought it was alright but he'll give him an A-plus for a valiant effort.
Kara: Thinks he took the swagger advice too far. She then makes the colossally ridiculous statement that she thinks he should have done "early" Aerosmith like "Cryin'" or "Crazy." THIS WAS OFF AEROSMITH'S FIRST ALBUM. Oy. She commends him for being bold and going for it though.
Paula: She knows it's a tricky genre for him and didn't think this was the perfect song but gives him an A-plus-plus for going for it.
Simon: Agrees and says the last note was like watching a horror movie. He still thinks he's going to be safe.
Performance: It's another duet. This time Adam and Allison do "Slow Ride" by Foghat. It's a ridiculous non-song but they still smoke Danny and Kris for sure.
Randy: Thinks they should duet on their albums and that it was hot.
Kara: Calls them rock god and rock goddess and that they pushed each other to be better.
Paula: Agrees saying it's a perfect marriage.
Simon: Says in the battle of the duets they won.
Directed : Unknown
Written : Unknown
Stars : Simon Cowell Mark Thompson Ryan Seacrest Randy Jackson
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : May 4, 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 Four Finalists Perform - May 5, 2009
Theme: Rock and Roll
Ryan tells us there was an accident on the set so the contestants didn't have their normal dress rehearsal. He also tells us that the contestants are pairing up for duets as well as solo songs.
Video Package: We get a recap of mentor Slash's career. He's mentoring them with a live band at the Roxy. He thinks it's going to be a good time.
Contestant #1: Adam Lambert
Video: Slash tells him not to improvise so much in the high register, but otherwise thinks he's effortlessly good.
Song: "Whole Lotta Love," Led Zeppelin
Performance: It's actually a pretty straightforward cover with Adam aping Robert Plant and then doing a few extra runs and notes here and there. It is convincing technically but feels very put on from an emotional/performance standpoint, like he's "playing" the rocker.
Randy: This is the Adam he loves. He thinks no one's ever going to think about Broadway again. (That's the first thing I thought and I'm so sick of hearing this as if it's some kind of insult.)
Kara: Thinks he's not only a rock star, he's a rock god.
Paula: Thinks he's a whole lotta perfect.
Simon: Agrees that it was great and that no one can top this performance now.
Contestant #2: Allison Iraheta
Song: "Cry, Baby," Janis Joplin
Video: Thinks if she pulls it off that it will be great. He thinks she needs to get past the fear.
Performance: She sings it well, hitting all the right notes and emotional high points but the song is a yawn.
Randy: Thinks she can sing her face off but didn't love it.
Kara: Liked that it was Janis, but wanted "Piece of My Heart" or something with more melody. She sees her personality in her performances unlike Simon.
Paula: Calls her fearless and if they make a movie about Janis, she's got the role.
Simon: Thought she had complete confidence and it was a great vocal but that it was a little copycat unlike Adam's more original performance. Allison fights back saying that she really felt the song and that "Piece of My Heart" is overdone. Simon likes that she's fighting back.
Performance: Kris and Danny do a duet of "Renegade" by Styx. It's meh. For rock night it's not very exciting.
Randy: Thought the individual vocals were just okay but that the harmonies were good.
Kara: Agrees that parts were strong.
Paula: Thought it was powerful and compelling.
Simon: Thought Danny was better than Kris.
Contestant #3: Kris Allen
Song: "Come Together," The Beatles
Video: Slash makes him nervous by making him play guitar. Kris wanted to pee his pants. Slash tells him to be more animated onstage.
Performance: He goes in a more Aerosmith direction with the tune and is a little too smiley in the beginning and seems nervous. But he sings it well enough, nothing spectacular but not embarrassing.
Randy: He enjoyed it even though Kris isn't really a "rock, rock" guy, but he liked the guitar work he did.
Kara: Didn't think it was a great performance and didn't like the song and calls him a "soft rock" guy.
Paula: Thinks the Beatles was risky but that his "artistic delivery" was all over it and she thought it was truly compelling and that he needed a little more energy.
Simon: Didn't like it that much, saying it was like eating ice for lunch meaning that it will leave you with nothing to remember afterwards and calls the song boring. (Two of the judges insulted the Beatles, oy).
Contestant #4: Danny Gokey
Song: "Dream On," Aerosmith
Video: Slash thinks he's naturally gifted and points out that he has to do the scream at the end. Danny wants to push himself.
Performance: Such a bad idea as this is one of the most recognizable vocals in rock history. (Much like "Whole Lotta Love.") Danny is marginal to adequate at the beginning, adds unnecessary and embarrassing doo-doos-doos in middle and then almost lands but then completely botches the scream at the end.
Randy: Knows this is not his genre and thought it was alright but he'll give him an A-plus for a valiant effort.
Kara: Thinks he took the swagger advice too far. She then makes the colossally ridiculous statement that she thinks he should have done "early" Aerosmith like "Cryin'" or "Crazy." THIS WAS OFF AEROSMITH'S FIRST ALBUM. Oy. She commends him for being bold and going for it though.
Paula: She knows it's a tricky genre for him and didn't think this was the perfect song but gives him an A-plus-plus for going for it.
Simon: Agrees and says the last note was like watching a horror movie. He still thinks he's going to be safe.
Performance: It's another duet. This time Adam and Allison do "Slow Ride" by Foghat. It's a ridiculous non-song but they still smoke Danny and Kris for sure.
Randy: Thinks they should duet on their albums and that it was hot.
Kara: Calls them rock god and rock goddess and that they pushed each other to be better.
Paula: Agrees saying it's a perfect marriage.
Simon: Says in the battle of the duets they won.
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : May 4, 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
