American Idol Commentary

It irritates me that the best of the blond girls went home this week.  Alaina was off my radar until top 24, when I became a fan.  This week she was more than adequate.  She lost to demographics, the slow song effect, and perhaps a critical mass of people not liking that song to be covered.

Kady should have gone instead.  Kady knew it.  Unless she does something amazing, Kady is likely to be gone next week, based on how they said the voting went.

Sarah K. Jennifer Jason Leigh Kristy Lee Cook was okay, apart from the weird stance, and has enough appeal and pimpage to have stayed.  She and Brooke also stand out a bit in appearance compared to Kady and Alaina, who resemble each other more closely, except for Alaina being both more pleasant and more talented.

Oh well. 

I totally expected Amanda to be gone.  She would have deserved it.  In a way I’m glad she stayed, and I think it’s again a demographic factor at work, for now, above and beyond anything Vote for the Worst can throw her way.  There’s absolutely no confusing her with anyone else.  She’s not “one of the blonds.” She’s not one of the “black divas.” I’m no longer thinking she’s a female Daughtry, and at first I thought she was Gina but with more potential.  Now I don’t think she’ll get as far.  If she get it right next week, she’s in the top 12.  I think she’ll be lucky to make the top 10.

I had also become an Alexandrea fan, much as I had with Alaina.  Absolutely awful song choice this week, even if it was done well enough.  She made the mistake of doing a song about leaving, and this always seems to happen.

We were talking about generic black girl confusion (and generic blond girl confusion).  I’d kind of put Asia’h and Syesha as competing directly for votes, with Alexandrea being a bit different.  Deb tended to confuse Alexandrea and Asia’h, while thinking of Syesha as a different type.  To which, on reflection, I suggested it was more Syesha versus Ramiele, perhaps. despite the different ethnicity.  If that is so, then Asia’h is relatively safer, with her main vote splitter gone.

After the first week, I was sure Luke was gone and wouldn’t have missed him.  I’m glad he stayed.  What he did this week worked and showed why he’s there, so I am glad he stayed again.  He looks distinctive, too.  Not that the guys have something like the generic blond problem to the degree the girls do, but some have been either bland or people you can hardly bear to look at.

Jason Yeager was no surprise, and we were happy to see him go.  He has a wealthy future as a televangelist or slick motivational guru.  Well, if he has the charisma to go with the look, which the judges would seem to be saying he doesn’t.  Wedding singer, perhaps?  Why am I being so mean tonight?

Robbie was no surprise, and another happy one at that.  He’s good enough to have a future in some genre at some level somewhere, and if he hadn’t gone this week it’s not like I’d have been annoyed.  He probably just needs to be what he is, whatever that may be, or be convincing enough to act what he is not.

The best of the guys this week was David Hernandez, no contest.  David Archuleta can sing well and seems nice enough, but he butchered Imagine.  As Deb said, if she’d not been told ahead of time it would be a John Lennon song, she would have had trouble identifying what song it was.  I also tend to react badly to the blatant pimping by the judges, trying to make the final result, or who the final few standing will be, at least, come out the way the powers that be have in mind.  They are in big danger of a backlash with him.

Sadly, best of the girls was Carly, who finally showed why she’s there and being pimped to the point of backlash already having started, above and beyond any reservations people have about her recording history or proximity to Randy Jackson in the industry.  There was no contest, but Ramiele was excellent, arguably number two.  As well as the shameless promotion of who they want to come out in the top couple or so, they are blatant in tearing down unexpected challenges.  Thus the “were they even listening” critique.

Carly seems to have sprouted a better personality, besides her performance, and besides endearing herself to me with her love of Crazy On You.  It’s a favorite of mine, and a song I always point to as a well written song with a concise, compelling story and vivid imagery.  I’ve used it as an example of writing well more generally, not just lyrically.

She and Ramiele seem to be the girls to beat.

Michael Johns seemed to be the guy to beat at first, and if he comes back strong next week, he could still be one of them, along with Archuletta and Hernandez.  And Jason Castro!  Speaking of resemblances, he has one to John Travolta and to a guy named Paul Selkirk.  The guys are just stronger than the girls this year overall.

Chikezie was another one I was sure was gone the first week, and he may have demographics in part to thank for staying.  This week, however, he showed why he was there.  I’d be surprised not to see him in the top 12 at this point, and perhaps much higher, given song choice, skill and luck.  He’s a pleasure to listen to, and I’m back to my original impression.  Which means I’ve basically just declared who I think should and likely will be 5 of the top 6 guys.  Who’s left?

Luke should probably be the 6th.  Depending on the power of Vote for the Worst and what happens next week, Danny may be instead.  I don’t see a future for David Cook beyond next week, unless he wows everyone.

Of the girls, Carly and Ramiele are essentially guaranteed to be in the 6 that get to the top 12.  Kady and Amanda probably won’t make it that far, which leaves Kristy, Brooke, Syesha, and Asia’h.  That’s an easier prediction than the guys, in that it’s easier to figure who’s likely to leave next week.  Upsets are always possible, and Amanda may have enough fans and worsters behind her to squeak through.  But if she does, it’s hard to say whether Brooke, Asia’h or Syesha will pay for it.  Kristy has been too pimped to be a surprise 13th place finisher.

While I don’t want another Taylor Hicks any more than the Idol powers that be, the degree of manipulation and pond stocking evident this year leaves me dying for an upset like the surprise elimination of Carly or Archuleta at 6th or 8th place.  And that would be fine all around, because many albums could still be sold by those people, or basically by anyone likely to make the top 12.  They’ve stocked the pond so well, they can withstand a result they didn’t beg the voting public for week to week.

So much for quick commentary.

1. I quite disagree…
   
   Hernandez??!!  He was barely a step above the rest of the pack, with Archuleta being the best singer “no contest”.  And in NO WAY did he butcher that song. (was Deb even born yet when it came out? LOL)

   I agree about Carly, but not Ramiele… maybe Syesha. Amanda is really good but had a bad song choice. Kristy Lee was much better with song choice and I suspect she will do even better with a country song (no comment on the ‘weird stance’. I was not surprised one bit to see Alaina go. Actually, I wasn’t surprised about anyone that left.
   As far as the rest of the contestants, some have potential to do better with the right song choice, but for the most part were forgettable or off-key.

   I think Arculeta is the ONE to beat with Carly a close second.

   ... just my two cents.

   Posted by  on  02/29  at  01:57 PM  from 

2. Slowing the thing way down to avoid having to sing the lyrics you don’t want to sing constitutes butchering, in my book.  The kid can sing, but if you’re just going to do that, pick another song!

   Posted by Deb  on  02/29  at  02:18 PM  from  hell
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