[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday April 22, 2008 at 10:37pm]
American Idol - 6 Finalists
American Idol should borrow the element of surprise from "Survivor" - and hold a double elimination tomorrow night. Jason Casto was "Lost." Brooke White broke rule one: "Don't Forget the Lyrics." The other four were pretty damn good considering the degree of difficulty that Andrew Lloyd Webber numbers present.
I knew immediately that David Cook would do "The Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera." While not his genre, and not his best, I could so easily see him on stage in that very role. He again was best in show, the one to beat.
Happily for me, Syesha Mercado finally broke out with a jazzy, sexy number. She looked great and finally took command of the stage. But for a couple of minor pitch and tempo gaffes early on, she was the equal of David Cook tonight, her best ever.
What a marvelous voice David Archuleta has, and he's only 17! He is one of the few who can do runs and riffs to my satisfaction. All he needs is a couple of decades of life experience to put the meaning into his words. But today, while magnificently, perfectly competent, it would be track 10 or so of a full CD - and fourth place tonight.
For Carly Smithson took third in my book, finally getting the match of song and available power she has needed. It was her best ever, and I liked the outfit, too. I might rank her higher, but she collided with the backup singers in the choruses, which may not have been her fault.
Who's going home? Usually a lyric lapse is fatal, so I'll say Brooke. Jason was lifeless and plodding, but made no mistakes.
***
AMERICA VOTED to send Carly Smithson home after her best performance to date. I can't help but wonder if she simply wore too many sleeveless dresses.
I knew immediately that David Cook would do "The Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera." While not his genre, and not his best, I could so easily see him on stage in that very role. He again was best in show, the one to beat.
Happily for me, Syesha Mercado finally broke out with a jazzy, sexy number. She looked great and finally took command of the stage. But for a couple of minor pitch and tempo gaffes early on, she was the equal of David Cook tonight, her best ever.
What a marvelous voice David Archuleta has, and he's only 17! He is one of the few who can do runs and riffs to my satisfaction. All he needs is a couple of decades of life experience to put the meaning into his words. But today, while magnificently, perfectly competent, it would be track 10 or so of a full CD - and fourth place tonight.
For Carly Smithson took third in my book, finally getting the match of song and available power she has needed. It was her best ever, and I liked the outfit, too. I might rank her higher, but she collided with the backup singers in the choruses, which may not have been her fault.
Who's going home? Usually a lyric lapse is fatal, so I'll say Brooke. Jason was lifeless and plodding, but made no mistakes.
***
AMERICA VOTED to send Carly Smithson home after her best performance to date. I can't help but wonder if she simply wore too many sleeveless dresses.