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'American Idol' seeks a Diamond in the rough
I got no thrills from Dolly Parton Night. Mariah Carey Night didn't thrill me at all. So tell me why, should it be right, that I'm hoping to get a kick out of Neil Diamond Night? Would the American Idol Tuesday (April 29) Two-fer Tribute to the Jazz Singer live up to my expectations?
Singer: JASON CASTRO
Song: "Forever In Blue Jeans"
My Take: If Andrew Lloyd Webber's lite opera excesses crushed Jason and Brooke White last week, this should be a much friendlier theme, since Neil Diamond has been famously and successfully covered by all manner of artists and his greatest strength isn't necessarily his vocal range. The key to Neil Diamond is selling the snot out of every earnest, irony-free word, and Jason's dreamy sincerity is well-tailored for the material. The song starts off too low for him and I don't exactly know what he's singing about, but it's pleasant and friendly and as it moves higher, Jason sounds decent. He's got "September Morn" coming next, which means that Clifford the Muppet won't be singing "Shiloh," which I'd have pegged as a slam-dunk for a contestant who probably has several imaginary friends of his own. Tonight's format is wonky, as the judges will have to be taking notes before giving a cumulative evaluation after the second performance.
Singer: PRESUMPTIVE AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST DAVID COOK
Song: "I'm Alive"
My Take: Boy, I'd have bet the farm on David "The Leader" Cook rocking "Solitary Man" tonight. Like Jason, David's back on his guitar this week. And, like Jason, David's discovering that Neil Diamond's baritone isn't easily reproducible if your vocal range tends more comfortably to the higher notes. I don't instantly know what arrangement of the song this is, but I know that David really struggles with the earlier, lower parts of the track. Does this clip feel truncated to anybody? Maybe it's because David is actually handling the melody on his guitar, but it takes him a long time to approach the chorus and by the time he begins to look and sound at ease, the song is over. I guess that's the way several Diamond songs are structured.
Singer: BROOKE WHITE
Song: "I'm a Believer"
My Take: This is another Jason Castro-suited track, since I don't usually think of Brooke as being particularly playful and I do think of Jason as being ready-made for 1967's doofiest pre-fabricated boy band. Why wouldn't we have raised any of Neil's songs by an octave? That wouldn't have been so hard, would it? Because Brooke is also trapped trying to battle through a song that's just too deep for her voice. She gets Paula on her feet, but to me this performance comes across as much much more work than it should, and her smile seems forced when juxtaposed with her laboring, breathless vocals. I absolutely want to give Brooke credit for trying something different, for going rousing and campy when Neil Diamond could have provided her with plenty of wide-eyed spiritual options, but there's a reason she doesn't usually go down this path.
Singer: PRESUMPTIVE AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST DAVID ARCHULETA
Song: "Sweet Caroline"
My Take: Somebody looked at Li'l' Archie's demographics and realized that he was tracking poorly in the New England area, so they assigned him Red Sox Nation's favorite Diamond hit, "Sweet Caroline." The Idol audience is unprepared to sing along, but maybe they're confused by the arrangement. Or perhaps they're perplexed that Archuleta is singing an up-tempo song, but he's performing it with the exact same mannerisms he's brought to the message songs he's done for the past six weeks. The arm sweep, the closed eyes, the tremendous absence of tangible pleasure, it's a David Archuleta Special. The kid doesn't have a clue what he's singing about when it doesn't involve homelessness or disease and as meaningless as "Sweet Caroline" is, he makes it even more of a muddle. But he's in tune.
Singer: SYESHA MERCADO
Song: "Hello Again"
My Take: Why didn't anybody do Neil Diamond's version of Kaddish from Jazz Singer? That would have been awesome. Jason has, after all, shown eagerness to tackle languages he doesn't exactly understand. Like English. Anywho... Syesha's the night's first performer with a properly arranged song. She's got the song under control from the beginning and she handles her full 90 seconds without a low-register mumble. This has been one of the worst produced Idol episodes I can remember. The format stinks, the musical arrangements haven't been worthy of the songs and if you know Syesha beginning her song seated, you shouldn't start from a camera position behind the morons waving their arms inappropriately in the mosh pit.
POORLY PROGRAMMED JUDGE INTERLUDE:
Randy says: Jason was OK, David Cook was in the zone, Brooke was better than last week, Archuleta is da bomb and Syesha's in the zone.
Paula says: In one of the most awkward moments in recent Idol memory, Paula says she loved Jason's first song, but wasn't impressed with the second and that he didn't do enough. One problem: Jason's only performed once. Ryan looks embarrassed. Paula looks flustered.
Simon says: Jumping in to save the addled Paula, Simon tears into the singers, calling Jason forgettable, David Cook "just above average," Brooke "a nightmare," David Archuleta "amateurish" and Syesha "old-fashioned."
THE SECOND SONGS:
Singer: JASON CASTRO
Song: "September Morn"
My Take: If you're Jason, how do you bounce back from Paula telling you your second performance wasn't good enough before you give your second performance? That's tough. Even if Paula hadn't warned me, though, I might have diagnosed that Jason had gone into into an insulin shock back stage, because he delivers his second performance in an utter coma. There's no connection to the melody, the audience, the lyrics or much of anything. It's like he's checked out.
Master Shake, Frylock and Simon Say: Randy calls it just OK and he doesn't understand what Jason's doing around at this point. Paula urges him to get out of his comfort zone. "Oh Jason, come on," a frustrated Simon says, wondering what happened to the Jason they put through. The problem, Simon, is that the Jason you put through was good enough to make the Top 12 or maybe the Top 10. He isn't good enough to still be around at this point.
Singer: PRESUMPTIVE AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST DAVID COOK
Song: "All I Really Need Is You"
My Take: This is a much better arrangement and performance for David. I'm still lamenting the absence of his "Solitary Man," or also perhaps one of the Rick Rubin-produced songs off of Diamond's last album. He still finds a way to put just enough edge into the song's second half to recover some of the David Cook flair that was missing in the first performance. This wasn't a bad night for David, but he should have blown the competition away.
Master Shake, Frylock and Simon Say: Randy thinks it was blazing. Paula's proud of David's song choice, telling him that she feels like she's already looking at the American Idol. Simon calls the second song "brilliant" and contemporary.
Singer: BROOKE WHITE
Song: "I Am... I Said"
My Take: Oh great. A song about declaring your individual voice in a sea of alienation delivered by a singer whose voice is cookie-cutter and whose need to be loved is near-pathological. It's a song about bicoastal dislocation and I don't care if Diamond gave her permission, but if you're from Arizona and you're living in LA, you aren't lost between two shores. Really, she takes the song out behind the woodshed and spanks all of the meaning out of it. She ends every line with an odd, up-beat squeak, but I guess she picks up by the chorus. This is a song I really, really like. I'm going to have to get out my iPod (UNPAID PRODUCT PLUG!) to listen to the original at the commercial break to clear the taste from my mouth.
Master Shake, Frylock and Simon Say: Randy says it was a nice job. Paula thinks that Brooke reclaimed her vulnerability. Simon wants to repeat how much he hated the first song, but he thinks this one was better. Brooke makes sure she thanks everybody.
Singer: PRESUMPTIVE AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST DAVID ARCHULETA
Song: "America"
My Take: There are some unexpected and uncharacteristic rough patches to Li'l Archie's handling of some of the higher notes on what is truly Diamond's most magnificently cheesy song. [The judges won't mention that pitchiness, but they should be made to listen back to the beginning.] All of the second songs have been better arranged than the first and after croaking out those early notes, David comes through with a find performance that becomes predictably uber-serious at the end. Since I view Archuleta as having a strong Faith Healer vibe about him, I'd have killed to hear him sing "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show," but nobody asked my opinion.
Master Shake, Frylock and Simon Say: Randy raves. Paula's happy, but her comments are incoherent. Simon thinks it was a was a smart song choice for David's demographic. Really? This season we've seen premature exits for the show's two foreign contestants (three if you thought Ramiele left early). Is an anthem celebrating unfettered immigration and the realities of the American Dream really so well-suited? Would Michael Johns and Carly Smithson agree?
Singer: SYESHA MERCADO
Song: "Thank the Lord for the Night Time"
My Take: Syesha pulls a nice 180 from her first performance, going with one of Diamond's signature spiritual tracks, which sounds much less like a work of White Chocolate affectation when she does it. Personally, I get a kick out of Diamond's revivalist preacher shtick and Syesha plays it to the hilt as well, complete with hand-clapping. She's also the night's only singer to prowl more than a well-worn three-feet of the big Idol stage.
Master Shake, Frylock and Simon Say: You know what Randy's loving? It's that Syesha's in her zone. Paula all over the place with her joy. Simon suspects Syesha will be in trouble because her second song wasn't memorable enough. It isn't exactly going out on a limb to say that a performer who's taken up residence in the Bottom Three might be in trouble.
TONIGHT'S BEST: To my mind, Syesha did two songs that were completely different and that showcased a breadth of personality and succeeded both. Nobody else did that. David Cook's second performance was very strong. Archuleta was reliable.
IN DANGER: Jason Castro was overmatched on both songs and by all rights he should be going home, though I don't doubt that Syesha also be in jeopardy. I don't doubt that Brooke's fans will love her mangling of "I Am... I Said," so that should keep her safe, even though her version of "I'm a Believer" was indefensible.
Agree? Disagree, Brooke White Fans? Who do you figure's in danger?
And, as always, check out Zap2it's Guide to American Idol.
I just hope that the death slot kills off Jason's chances of being back next week.
I loved that the AI producers realized that they wouldn't go over w/o the judges comments between round 1 and 2 therefore decided that it just wouldn't be right for them not to go over therefore let's see what the judges can do to help us go over - at least we got a classic Paula Abdul moment out of it.
Rishi | Apr 29, 2008 6:45:52 PM | #I was pulling for YDA on "Kol Nidre".
Adam B. | Apr 29, 2008 6:46:37 PM | #Ok - I loved the Paula "licking toad" moment too. That was great. She looked clearly perplexed. But what I loved more about this episode was that it proved that David A CANNOT sing an uptempo pop song well. The guy will have a great career like Clay Aiken or Josh Groban - singing "adult pop contemporary". Does anyone think he's a true top 40 artist? His range is limited and he's honestly getting boring. He looked like a kid (yes I know he is) singing today. David Cook, in my opinion, is the only one with potential mass appeal and will probably be the most successful - unless Jason/Brooke can write great songs and do that whole singer/songwriter thing. I wish Randy would stop pushing David A. Listen to Simon everyone (and Paula this week).
Todd | Apr 29, 2008 6:57:42 PM | #Paula just proved teh entire show is scripted and fixed. I wonder if the singers know???? Very dissapointing
3man | Apr 29, 2008 6:58:48 PM | #Uh Daniel I think you need to edit your Judges Interlude for Simon. And correct me if I'm wrong, I thought Simon called Syesha's first performance "old-fashioned".
Tonight was TERRIBLE. Everyone was average or sucking bigtime. Is it such a big deal that Paula looked like an idiot? Wasnt she just judging the rehearsals?
I agree with what Daniel said though about most.
Jason's first was pleasant but his second was as bad as last week.
Cook was mumbly on the first and missed a lot of notes in the beginning of the second song.
Brooke was blah on both. 2nd was more believable.
Archie was um...KINDA having fun? Pitchy on the first but better on the 2nd.
Syesha was pitchy on the first again but nailed the 2nd.
Hyvent - Yup. Think you're right about that. I've fixed it...
Adam - I'd only wanna see Li'l' Archie do "Kol Nidre" if he accompanied himself on the cello...
-Daniel
Daniel | Apr 29, 2008 7:08:19 PM | #Ok was Paula drunk tonight or what, I mean that had to be so embarrassing. The only Idol that I was impressed with was Sayesha, and she is the one I am voting for tonight, I like Jason but tonight he totally sucked, I say goodbye.
Nancy | Apr 29, 2008 7:10:48 PM | #"It's a song about bicoastal dislocation and I don't care if Diamond gave her permission, but if you're from Arizona and you're living in LA, you aren't lost between two shores."
Lake Havasu blues, perhaps?
Claire Voiant | Apr 29, 2008 7:18:36 PM | #Mr. Fienberg, so you've changed PAIWDA to PAIDA and now to PAIFDA. No longer think he'll win eh? The way it's lookin, it should be PAIWDC.
Syesha's second song was the best IMO.
Cooks arrangements are so good it covers sub-par performances and vocals. He had that smug look tonight. No doubt now he will win.
I don't think I can watch Archie while he does that "arm sweep". Doesn't anyone tell him that it looks awkward? I liked his vocals on his 2nd song...although his voice cracked which was pretty funny.
Brooke & Jason bottom 2. I hope it's Jason.
Yer crazy. Brooke rocked both songs. She's awesome. David Cook? Booooring song choice. Bottom two-worthy.
Juan Figuroa | Apr 29, 2008 7:45:10 PM | #You either get Jason or you don't and I happen to love him along with many others. He is the only original amateur in the competition. David A was on Star Search and was not good enough to be signed to any record deal. Carly made a record where Randy is VP and it as a flop. Each of which have a story. Jason is an amateur and wow what great singer he is and poised as if he was like David A and sang his entire life. So if AI is about finding new talet, he is the guy of the season. Otherwise the ratings will continue to drop. What about David Cook pretending to play the guitar!
lotty | Apr 29, 2008 8:29:31 PM | #Jason played in a relatively successful local band in the Dallas area and was a regular on a semi-scripted MTV reality series, lotty.
In what weird-a** world does that make him more of an amateur than David Cook?
-Gavin
Gavin | Apr 29, 2008 8:34:38 PM | #I don't understand any David Archuleta praise at all. The judges always want some thing different, something that shows growth, something risky, something contemporary. He does none of this and gets praised, and don't say its cause of perfect vocals, cause he has a thin and very weak upper register which prevents any exciting sounds, and has many pitch problems that never get brought up. Its pretty obvious who they want to win the show, and thats one of the problems with idol this season. plus i havent heard onw track from David A., that would be played on a Top40 station. Just MY thoughts, I'm sure there are many who disagree with me and think he's the best thing since slice bread.
JAT79 | Apr 29, 2008 8:38:03 PM | #I think that Jason and Brooke are the bottom two. I thought that from the week Michael Johns was eliminated and I've been wrong for three weeks now. That makes it seem to me that it could end up with one or both of the David's or Syesha. Maybe they'll be like season five and the whole top five get record deals.
cm | Apr 29, 2008 9:06:04 PM | #Strictly speaking I thought Brook and Jason were terrible. Really these two haven't done anything new or different at any point on the show and is just happy staying on their safety zones. But because this is "Fanboy Idol", it will unfortunately be Syesha who will be cut (although she did really good).
David C's second song was really good. And he definitely WAS playing his guitar. I donno what that guy above was talking about.
RR | Apr 29, 2008 9:22:23 PM | #I just wanna say two things. Jason does not deserve to move on. And the this is the best Top 5 ever. That award goes to Season 5 with Elliott Yamin, Daughtry, Kat McPhee, Paris and undeserving winner Taylor. Those guys are much better vocalists.
Ritchie | Apr 29, 2008 9:24:28 PM | #Darn, I never edit before I post, I really should. I meant to say this is NOT the best Top 5 ever.
Ritchei | Apr 29, 2008 9:41:13 PM | #Good analysis of the evening, honestly, I think Jason Castro just needs to flippin' go home. Three or four weeks ago, actually, but whatever. Brooke has been floundering for weeks, and David Archuleta has been giving the same vocally quite adept but formulaic performance on every. Single. Song. (Tonight I noticed the voice cracking a bit on some of those notes, but that's just a minor detail compared to the issue of his unfortunately bland stylistic choices.)
For me, the ideal top two are David Cook and Syesha. David's been providing new and different songs and arrangements--despite the fact that they may not all be his own--week after week. Syesha is a contestant I couldn't have cared less about until the past few weeks, when she seems to have actually stepped out of whatever lull she spent the bulk of the competition in and actually showed some power and personality. She's got the vocal chops and the stage presence to earn a spot in the finals. Unfortunately, being realistic with America means you have to do more than that--I think it'll probably come down to the two Davids, and as more contenders drop out, they'll have to rally behind one or the other, and that'll be the real determining factor. It's all about popularity, sadly enough, but sometimes that syncs up with talent, and that's okay too.
That being said, I think Paula is more a Meatwad than a Frylock, wouldn't you say?
lacrymosa | Apr 29, 2008 10:05:11 PM | #For the second week in a row, Sayesha has done a really nice job! I hope that she gets through this week. It would be a shame for her to be rewarded for such a good night with an elimination. Seriously, has anyone in this show's history been in the bottom 3 as much as this poor girl?
And, Paula needs to take fewer crazy pills on show night.
Cat | Apr 29, 2008 10:44:26 PM | #Dont you think that paula having a prepared comment on jasons second song makes the show seem predetermined and paula to stoned to be judging others?
jeffie | Apr 29, 2008 11:00:37 PM | #Isnt obvious that david cook is under contract and buying better arrangements than others. Also the sound is turned up more for him than da or jc!
jeffie | Apr 29, 2008 11:06:55 PM | #Oh Paula, you always bring the funny when you're buzzed.
Sean | Apr 29, 2008 11:19:37 PM | #Also, Michael John's by all rights should still have been around by this point to sing "America" and rock it the frack out.
Sean | Apr 29, 2008 11:48:47 PM | #Simon made a prediction on Oprah weeks ago that the top 4 would be David A, David C, Brook and Jason. Brook and Jason could'nt sing if someone did the singing for them. Syesha cannot do anything good enough for Simon no matter how well she sings, then he tells her she's the one in trouble tonite. If she is the one voted off, then I do believe this show is fixed and Simon already knew who was going and staying. I happen to think this is one of the worst bunch of singers they have had, certainly not the best as they keep saying. The only one left now with any marketability would be David Cook. I am sure some would disagree but listen to the radio and you will hear his style of music all day long. If Brook or Jason do not go home and Syesha does, I am done watching. I will know that Simon has the say and all the voting in the world won't change what he wants!
Nola | Apr 30, 2008 12:49:43 AM | #
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