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Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Can Syesha break up the Davids? Latest update on American Idol
We get down to the final three, and Craig needs some help on the blog. No pressure on me, right?
Actually, the pressure is on Syesha Mercado, who has the unenviable position of trying to break up the coronation of the Davids — Archuleta and Cook. It seems like the judges and producers have wanted the two Davids in the finale from the start.
Tonight, the judges pick a song, the contestants pick one and the producers pick the last.
David Archuleta is up first, and he gets Paula, who chooses “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel.
My take: I didn’t like this compared to the Joel version. The arrangement made the song seem older to me, and David already makes me think he’s far older than 17.
Randy: You can sing anything … You are in the zone.
Paula: It was a pure and stunning performance, and tonight I really felt that you were a storyteller.
Simon: It was very good. No surprises, a bit predictable. It was good; I don’t think it was outstanding.
Syesha is up next, and Randy Jackson picks “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys.
My take: I think she nailed it vocally, but because Randy picked a more current song by an artist who is hot now, I think it’s harder for Syesha to stand out. (This goes back to the copycat issue she was criticized for early in the competition.)
Randy: You did an amazing job on it … I am so happy that you are peaking at the right time in this competition.
Paula: It’s difficult to do a song that is so identifiable with the beautiful artist such as Alicia.
Simon: You sang that very well Syesha. I just wish that Randy had chosen something for you where you weren’t going to just try and sound like the original.
David Cook gets Simon, who picks “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack. Simon says he picked it so David has a chance to show originality.
My take: I thought vocally he was a bit off on some of the notes, and that might be the first time I can remember thinking that about David. He did make it his own as the song moved along, but not as much as I thought he would.
Randy: I’ve been a David Cook fan since Day One. Loved the high note at the end, but I wish Simon would not have picked something that wasn’t as predictable as this older kind of song for you. I needed more rock from you.
Paula: That is one of my favorite songs, and now you are my second favorite person who sings it.
Simon: This may sound a little bit biased, but I thought it was actually one of your best performances to date. You take risks. Round One goes to Cook and Cowell.
Round Two
David Archuleta chooses “With You” by Chris Brown. David said he wanted to try something younger sounding.
My take: I think David gets a free pass from the judges at times. I think he blew the lyrics once and was out of synch with the music. He also had some diction problems. Not a good performance or choice. (I hope David’s dad doesn’t come after me for saying that.)
Randy: I applaud the fact that you are trying something new and young … I’m not sure it was the right song.
Paula: I think you should be singing songs like this … I would work on just getting right into it, not extending the phrases. I think you did a great job.
Simon: It was a little bit like a Chihauhua trying to be like a tiger. I thought it was all a little bit awkward. It wasn’t really you.
For her number, Syesha chose “Fever” by Peggy Lee.
My take: Fun performance, good vocals, but a bit predictable overall. It reminds me of why earlier in the season I said she would be better on Broadway.
Randy: Very interesting song choice at this point … you sang it very well. Paula: I’m surprised you picked this song. I’m not sure that it shows me who Syesha is as an artist.
Simon: I think you will probably regret that decision tomorrow because you had a chance to prove you are a contemporary recording artist with your own choice of song. Instead, you did quite a lame cabaret performance.
David Cook picked Switchfoot’s “Dare You to Move.”
My take: I don’t think he nailed the vocals early, but he hit them when the song kicked into higher gear. And, he played the guitar, which we have seen helps contestants this year.
Randy: It wasn’t your best tonight, a little pitchy maybe.
Paula: I feel like you just got to the beginning when you hit the end of the song, and I wanted more.
Simon: It was pretty much what I would have expected. I think all three of you had an OK middle round.
Round Three
Producers chose “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg for David Archuleta.
My take: OK, so he can sing, and this type of song is fine for him, but … I’m never going to buy anything of his as a recording artist. He’s background music at best.
Randy: Once again, very interesting song choice for you. Another hot one for you.
Paula: It was a lovely performance from you.
Simon: You sang the song very well. I thought the song and the lyrics was absolutely horrible. I do think you’ve done enough to get into the finals next week.
Syesha drew “Hit Me Up” by Gia Farrell from the soundtrack of “Happy Feet.”
My take: I’m not terribly familiar with the song, but I thought she did OK … yes, just OK. She needed more.
Randy: Yeah, I could see you doing a song like that. It was just OK for me.
Paula: You did the song very well. I don’t know if it’s the song that defines you. I don’t know if it’s going to be good enough to get into the finals of American Idol.
Simon: It was better than the second song. If I am being honest with you, you had your best moment last week … I don’t think anything this week has topped that.
David Cook got Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” from producers.
My take: I think this was his best vocal of the night, but he seemed out of synch with the music near the end, and he had to force a longer song into too tight a timetable.
Randy: For me, it was OK for me. Very predictable for me.
Paula: See ya in the finals.
Simon: One of the great songs of all time, and I have to tell you: David Cook wins the night.
OK. Truth is I hoped Syesha would shine tonight enough to upset one of the Davids, but I don’t think she did it.
What do you think?
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