American Idol: Have Your Say
Did you catch Idol last night? I did, although I just wasn’t in the mood to blog it. Funny thing, that: the further this season has progressed, the less I’ve had to say about the performances. Perhaps that’s due to the whole predictability factor — I wasn’t the only one saying as early as Week 3 it would come down to Blake, Melinda and Jordin.
My recollection of last night’s performances:
Melinda Doolittle: Once again, her neck disappeared. Once again, she delivered technically good performances but somehow lacking in actual personality. The whole Tina Turner “Nutbush City Limits” rendition sounded great… but felt much like watching someone trying to be Tina Turner. (Without the same degree of physical comfort, I might add.) And her re-run of an earlier performance — complete with a little bad acting involving her jacket — was so much less engaging than the first time around. I think the repeat was a bad choice: it reminded me of the first time she’d sung “I’m a Woman,” and yet failed to impress.
Blake: His version of “Roxanne” sounded off to my ears. Flatter than Sting’s and lacking in that split-second-before-the-beat timing that stands out in anything by the Police. Loved the Maroon 5 song, though, and I wholly agree with Randy that Blake’s album needs to have that vibe. The Robin Thicke song? Didn’t like it. No, not at all. Then again, I don’t like it when Robin Thicke does it, either.
Jordin: I agree with Simon that the first song’s jazz arrangement marred the performance, but Jordin herself sang quite well. Her Donna Summers tune was uncannily well-done… for a kid who wasn’t even alive when the original blared nightly at the disco. As for her choice to reprise an earlier performance with “I (Who Have Nothing)”… unlike Melinda’s repeat, this one delivered. Pisses me off that a 17 year-old can sing with such power and emotion, but that’s precisely why I’ll be buying her album.
My prediction: Blake will go home. The Zomby thinks the teen vote will keep him there.
What’s your say?
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I think Blake will be sent packing as well. That whole phonograph/turntable imitation thing wears thin, and he seems to me to be a one trick pony. I am not sure there are others that went before him that are more deserving of his spot in the top three.
As for the neckless Melinda; I am always impressed so much can come from such a short distance. I remember on an earlier show one of the judges said something to the effect that it wasn’t fair to compare the contestants to Fantasia Barrino when commenting on one of Melinda’s performances. I would say it should be the other way around. I think Melinda is head and shoulders above the likes of Fantasia. I never could warm up to that tinny, nasally voice of hers.
I meant, I am not sure there are others that went before him that are not more deserving of his spot in the top three.
I don’t like Blake at all. His voice, his personality just irks me. The two women, great voices, but I see nothing to go with the voice. It’s like I’m constantly waiting for the “oomph” that never materializes.
In short, not happy with any of those in the final.
Well, you know the opinion I left on your blog last night. There’s something about Melinda that’s so… mechanical.
About a month ago I started mentioning in my post-Idol entries that I just don’t buy the “I’m so humble” act. And now I’m torn.
Honestly, I don’t know whether to believe that she’s all that humble — which is a stretch for anyone who’s gusty enough to go out for such a grueling talent competition — or whether it’s all feigned.
The more I watch her, the more I think that every move, every note, every shoulder-shrugging “Shucks!” grin, glance and head-toss is calculated.
If you’ve got it TiVo’d, as I do, watch her “performance” from Bon Jovi week. The pouty moue, the left-shoulder-jerk shrug, the hair extensions whipping across the face… it was all calculated to make her look like a ‘rock star’. She wasn’t just singing that song… she was doing a “sketch” of someone singing that song. (Remember Reba’s early years?)
That whole coat on the shoulder thing during “I’m a Woman (W-O-M-A-N)” was equally calculated. With one exception: it lacked the fire in the belly that her first AI rendition had. It was a calculated “let’s repeat the song that got me singled out” performance.
Yes, Jordin’s was equally calculated… except Jordin’s reprise was better than her original.
As for Blake, Kelley and I were talking the other night about him. We agreed there’s some kind of alchemy that occurs the instant he opens his mouth to sign (the right) song. Can’t stand him unless he’s singing. But, oh, then….
Even so. I’m with you. I’m not happy.
American Idol: Countdown to Extra Special Mediocrity…
The night is one of my favorite nights of the year: the night that the judges and the producers choose songs for the singers. I like it mostly because I like to imagine the hell that I would put the contestant through if I were choosing the songs that …
This was the first episode of Idol I’ve ever watched start-to-finish, aside from the audition episodes, ever.
Jordin’s missing something. I don’t know what. I Who Have Nothing was an awesome performance, but it was the only one. I think that was the second time she’s broken it out during the season, too. Blake had two and a half — Roxanne was a little off for me too. Makes me think Paula really is achieving better living through chemistry before sitting there judging.
Melinda will be your winner of Idol. While my preference would be to see Blake stay for the finals, I think he’ll go tonight. At this point it’s strictly a popularity contest, and a meaningless one at that. Cowell’s going to give an album to all 3, mark my words.
My opinion of the entire thing…
…..yawn.