Idol Gives Back Top 7 Recap

I'm writing this recap after watching half of the Idol Gives Back Two Hour Extravaganza....I already know who went home, but not who I expected to...

I'm going to restate what I've already said on Twitter. No matter what u have 2 say abt Am. Idol,#idolgivesback does great things. Children need health care. It doesn't matter where they r from. (Sorry for the Twitterspeak, I had to get it in 140 characters.)

On to the Inspirational Songs week...

Casey James "Don't Stop Thinkin' About Tomorrow"

Casey has some amazing potential...He may be the contestant that has not lived up to his potential the most of any contestant, ever...What key did he start in?  Not the one he arranged...His guitar playing continues to outshine anyone that has ever been on this show, but this isn't Guitar Idol.  I hope he was watching Steve Vai and Oranthi tonight.  Goat vibrato was in full effect tonight.

Lee Dewyze "The Boxer"

My mother was commenting that she was not inspired to download a single song from this season on Itunes.  Then Lee performed.  Her exact comment was, "I'd download that one."  This was emotional and authentic.  Bless Alicia for having him speak the lyrics.  Not vocally perfect, but is this a song that needs to be perfect?  I have a theory about Lee's background...we'll see if a story emerges after the press ban is lifted.  I doubt he'll be as candid as Glambert, but maybe...

Tim Urban "Better Days" 

On first listen,  I didn't hate this.  I liked him belting.  He needs to work on his phrasing, but someday, he may actually work all this out.  His lower range is really quite nice.  Sometimes, I think the judges give too much credit to popular recording artists.  There are a few out there that arent' as good as they give them credit for...

Aaron Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly"

I'm so surprised he didn't go this week.  Aaron doesn't have a big enough voice for this song, nor should anyone have a big enough voice for this song...why would you pick an R. Kelly song from the movie Space Jam?  He was consistently flat through the whole song.  I couldn't even listen to it for a second time to write the recap...just plain and bland and out of tune...

Siobhan Magnus "When You Believe"

Sure white girl, sing a Mariah/Whitney song.  You are no Mariah/Whitney...let alone a Christina or even Pink...I've over the weeks come to loathe her lower register...how can you be throaty and nasally at the same time.  She has this middle register that is magic, then she shrieks....time to go home Siobhan...

Michael Lynche "Hero" (Nickelback, not Mariah Carey)

sigh why would you sing Nickelback?  Even if it is from Spiderman?  And this was in your list of 200 songs you'd if you made it on Idol?  I'm lost...Vocally, he's fine....sometimes even inspired, or at least the most vocally proficient...get rid of the attitude, dude.  Your daughter will appreciate it in 20 years...

Crystal Bowersox "People Get Ready"

Gorgeous a cappella intro...cool mike stand...the dress is not flattering in the least, but it's Crystal, so do we really care what she looks like?  So emotional...so genuine.  The first week I've actually felt something when she sang.  Some people have been saying that it was unprofessional...what it was was an artist feeling...isn't that what music is about?

So, Tim Urban finally went home...after not even making the Top 24...That's chutzpa for you....

Glambert Week (Or The Week Ryan Seacrest Had A Nervous Breakdown) Top 9.2 Recap

Is Ryan Seacrest taking something?  Or is the stress of all of his jobs getting to him?  Or was he just giddy his biggest Man Crush to date was this week's mentor? Or is he seriously headed for a breakdown?  That man was just bizarre tonight.

But the most exciting news is ADAM LAMBERT WAS THE MENTOR!!!!! So great to see him on my TV again. :) And he actually knew what he was doing and pushed these kids into some really great performances.

Crystal Bowersox "Saved"
This was a great choice for her.  It really fed her bluesy style well.  Her vocals were spot on.  But does a singer in 2010 really want to be the second coming of Bonnie Raitt?  I wish Crystal had a little more stage presence.  When they pull back to wide shots, she gets lost behind her guitar.

Andrew Garcia "Hound Dog"
I take issue that he changed this up at all.  It sounded just like the version from Smokey Joe's Cafe...except sung by a man.  There was absolutely no fire to this performance.  I don't think it was as terrible as Randy said, but it wasn't great.


BJ Crosby is amazing...

Tim Urban "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You"
It's too bad Seacrest's crazy really came out during Tim's performance, because this was really a beautiful cover.  Vocally he was spot on and his phrasing worked well.  It's a good thing too, that way we can overlook the Turbin comment and Ryan's dancing during the song.

Lee DeWyze "A Little Less Conversation"
This was definitely the best performance of the evening.  I wish Adam could have pulled just a little more sex appeal out of Lee, though.  The one true thing about all Elvis songs is they are sexy.  Especially this one.

Aaron Kelly "Blue Suede Shoes"
Vocally Adam picked up on some great tones in Aaron's voice.  This was just a weird performance.  I wish he looked like he was having more fun singing it, because it's a fun song.

Siobhan Magnus "Suspicious Minds"
The beginning of this was weird.  I don't like the quality of her lower range.  It's kind of stuffy sounding.  I wish Adam had had time to work on that with her. Get her to open it up.  When she got to her middle range, where she was really belting, but not screaming, was amazing.  Allison Iraheta is really great in that range too, she just has the control over her lower notes too.

Michael Lynche "In The Ghetto"
Vocally this was spot on.  Gorgeous.  His guitar is kind of a prop for him, though.  I didn't really get the sense he was really playing it.  I just wanted a little bit more emotional connection to the song.  I can only imagine Adam singing this and how he would have had himself, and the audience in tears.

Katie Stevens "Baby What Do You Want Me To Do"
It's really time for Katie to go.  She's overconfident, and sassy.  She is the exact opposite of Alllison Iraheta.  This was screechy and out of control at times.

Casey James "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"
I really wanted to see Casey stand next to Adam, just so we could see how tall he really is.  (Although it would be hard to tell with Adam's giant Elvis pompadour.)  I'm liking Casey more and more every week.  If he puts this kind of stuff on his album, I may just buy it.

Lennon & McCartney Work Their Magic On The Top 9 (Recap)

Finally, I'm seeing a reason to keep watching this season.  It's really all about each contestants' growth this season, not about professional ready performers like the last two seasons.

There actually were some pretty great performances this week.  Although, just a reminder last year's Top 9 was Kris Allen's beginning of his Idol winning peak with "Ain't No Sunshine".  Was this Casey James'?

Aaron Kelly "Long and Winding Road"
This was the long and winding song.  I thought it would never end.  He struggled with his breathing and couldn't support his notes, staying consistently flat.  Kara was so right with the critique that he gives the same performance every week.  It doesn't help that he did the same exact arrangement as David Archuleta two seasons ago.

Katie Stevens "Let It Be"
This may be Katie's best performance to date, but she's still not ready.  Her voice is very shrill.  I don't like it at all.  It was brave to pick this song after Kris Allen did a beautiful cover of it just a month ago.

Andrew Garcia "Can't Buy Me Love"
I thought this was really fun.  It was really poppy and light.  It was a good choice for Andrew.  I'm not sure what more Kara wanted.

Michael Lynche "Eleanor Rigby"
Brave man picking a song that David Cook slayed two seasons ago...It was very theatrical, but not in a musical theatre type way.  I think more in a current big concert kinda way.  They criticize these contestants for  being too "Broadway", but the current pop market is full of that.  Lady Gaga, Pink, Britney Spears, Usher, they put on big shows.  Vocally it was really fantastic.


(I have to embed DC, he's my favorite. :) And it's funny to see pre-makeover David. Incidentally, his make-over happened Top 9...)

Crystal Bowersox "Come Together"
Crystal was very obviously sick.  But she's their golden girl this season, so they won't criticize her for things like that.  I feel sometimes that they judge her in the same way they judged Gokey last season.  I didn't think this was a good as Kris Allen's cover last season, which they crucified him for.  And the digeridoo was a bit strange.

Tim Urban "All My Lovin"
Tim is playing this game.  He's having as much fun as possible and just seems like a genuinely nice guy.  None of who he is is an act.  He may not be the most talented up there, but this week, he had one the the better performances.

Casey James "Jealous Guy"
I admit it, I'm officially a Casey James fan.  This was beautiful.  I loved that he just had the acoustic and a cello.  I also like that he picked a song that 1) had never been done on Idol, and 2) that is a little obscure.  I hope they kept it acoustic for the Itunes recording, cuz I'm planning on downloading this.

Siobhan Magnus "Across The Universe"
I think that in real life Siobhan would drive me crazy.  I'm not sure if she's really that slow or if it's just an act, but I would have no patience for her.  I was starting to be a fan, but these past two weeks she's really fallen.  There is something about her voice I don't like.  It's throaty and nasally at the same time.  She really, really needs voice lessons to control it.  And the stylists need to help her.  What was she wearing?!!!! Next week, I hope that Adam Lambert can help her pull something better out, I really do.  Cuz I want to like her.

Lee Dewyze "Hey Jude"
This was fun!  I felt like I was at a Lee Dewyze concert, not watching American Idol.  And I thought the bagpipes fit much better with this song than Crystal's random didgeridoo.  I also enjoyed the little ode to "Landrew" and the best quote of the season "I'm glad that those two can be together, and get married, and have lots of  little Danny Gokey babies" ~ Crystal Bowersox

Next week ADAM LAMBERT IS THE MENTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ok, I'm just a little excited to have him on my tv screen again...:)

Let's Pretend This Week's Idol Didn't Happen...

Ok, I was busy this week and didn't get a chance to recap...I promise next week I'll get to it!  This week was bad anyway...

My quick impressions:
Siobhan Magnus "Through The Fire"
Not sure what happened here.  She was sooo off.  I'm surprised she made it through.

Casey James "Hold On"
He's holding back on us.  I think there is a lot more to him than he has shown us.  And he keeps getting better looking each week.

Michael Lynche "Ready For Love"
He picked a contemporary song, which I liked.  I thought it was a good performance.

Didi Benami "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted"
Poor Didi.  This was terrible and I totally called that she was going home.

Tim Urban "Sweet Love"
Like Simon said, it doesn't matter what we say, this kid is going nowhere.  I don't think they were fair to him to question his smiling.  He's not dumb.  He's taking advantage of an opportunity and trying to enjoy it.

Andrew Garcia "Forever"
This was sooo much better than he's been in weeks past.  One of my favorite performances of the night.

Katie Stevens "Chain of Fools"
Nope.  I hope she goes home soon.

Lee Dewyze "Treat Her Like A Lady"
Finally, we get the performance we've been hoping for.  While Siobhan bit it tonight, Lee stepped up his game and actually performed! :)

Crystal Bowersox "Midnight Train To Georgia"
Once again, she gives a good performance.  She's a little shaky without her guitar, though...

Aaron Kelly "Ain't No Sunshine"
Silly Aaron should not have picked a song with the Kris Allen stamp on it...it doesn't matter how well he does, it won't be as good as Kris's last season...

I promise a better recap this week. :)