[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday April 29, 2008 at 9:07pm]
American Idol - 5 Finalists
After a smashing week of Dancing With the Stars, what a huge letdown to watch American Idol this week. Both shows have entered the two performances each mode, but Dancing gave it the 90 minutes needed. There was no concealing how rushed Idol was.
On the other hand, maybe this was a good week to roll the credits and run, on Neil Diamond week.
Jason Castro and Brooke White have already overstayed our welcome, and tonight's four numbers all fit that motif. I'll say right now that Brooke White is going home tomorrow night.
A bit surprisingly to me was that David Cook wasn't in top form. Neither song really suited him, but his vocal skills made the second ("All I Really Need Is You") still very enjoyable. I can't give him the high marks the judges did, though.
David Archuleta finally became human, missing a few notes in his first song, "Sweet Caroline." I probably can't blame him, given the third rate arrangement underneath. He did better with "America" but like some other Idol contestants, his youth only let him hit the notes, not the soul of this classic. But - a big finish, and enough to give him second place this week.
For Syesha Mercado took the week handily I thought. My girl, my girl, my girl, I'm talkin' 'bout my girl! She did a simple number to start ("Hello Again") and it was a good decision. Less was more here. She was a little pitchy in spots though.
But her "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" finish was a clever Motown cover of classic Neil Diamond, and well done even if the judges didn't seem enthusiastic. Why Simon thinks she's at risk for the number is totally beyond me, but he really has never liked her to date. She does seem to have trouble ringing the phones, that is true. She doesn't have the teenage girls fawning over the Davids or the 21-35 males ogling Brooke. I decided to vote for her, but got nothing but busy signals.
With Carly leaving unexpectedly last week, anything can happen this week.
On the other hand, maybe this was a good week to roll the credits and run, on Neil Diamond week.
Jason Castro and Brooke White have already overstayed our welcome, and tonight's four numbers all fit that motif. I'll say right now that Brooke White is going home tomorrow night.
A bit surprisingly to me was that David Cook wasn't in top form. Neither song really suited him, but his vocal skills made the second ("All I Really Need Is You") still very enjoyable. I can't give him the high marks the judges did, though.
David Archuleta finally became human, missing a few notes in his first song, "Sweet Caroline." I probably can't blame him, given the third rate arrangement underneath. He did better with "America" but like some other Idol contestants, his youth only let him hit the notes, not the soul of this classic. But - a big finish, and enough to give him second place this week.
For Syesha Mercado took the week handily I thought. My girl, my girl, my girl, I'm talkin' 'bout my girl! She did a simple number to start ("Hello Again") and it was a good decision. Less was more here. She was a little pitchy in spots though.
But her "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" finish was a clever Motown cover of classic Neil Diamond, and well done even if the judges didn't seem enthusiastic. Why Simon thinks she's at risk for the number is totally beyond me, but he really has never liked her to date. She does seem to have trouble ringing the phones, that is true. She doesn't have the teenage girls fawning over the Davids or the 21-35 males ogling Brooke. I decided to vote for her, but got nothing but busy signals.
With Carly leaving unexpectedly last week, anything can happen this week.