AI 7.1 - Lennon-McCartney Songbook
Mar 14 '08
The Bottom Line American Idol - Season 7, Week 1, wrapup
Ummm... yeah. So I've been a member on Epinions for how may years now, and it never occurred to me to post my Idol blog here? Silly pear!
So here it is finally in all its belated idol glory.
* * * * *
It's a brand new Idol stage and a brand new Idol intro. A fitting setting for a brand new crop of Idol hopefuls to display their wares. Everything in the theatre is all fancy-schmancy. The band under the tutelage of Ricky is rarin' to go, and Ryan is a metro as ever. So let's get on with the show.
I'm looking forward to hearing some of the best songs ever in tonight's theme: Lennon-McCartney Songbook.
Syesha Mercado
"Got to Get You Into My Life"
8/10
She was a little flat on the opening phrase, but managed to find her center not too far into the song. I'm not sure I'm in love with the disco take on this, but her performance was decent overall. She could have used more of this new, giant stage, but she had some nice moments in this and I suspect she'll be safe this week.
Chikezie
"She's A Woman"
10/10
Wow. It's a bluegrass version... a very brave choice. But wait, it becomes a hard rock/rockabilly thing after the first pass. An interesting choice. And, lucky for Chik, it totally worked. He's got a great vocal going, great stage presence, and it was overall completely entertaining. I'm a fan.
Ramiele "Jasmine Trias" Malubay
"In My Life"
5.5/10
Before she even starts I'm sure I'll hate it. Maybe that's not fair, but you can't escape your history. And, what a shock, I'm right. She's got lousy pitch. She's got really awful phrasing problems and no support. It's a dippy, sappy arrangement. She might play well at the retirement village or in an amusement park retrospective. Towards the end she had a couple of really nice moments, but "blah" is the best I have to say for Ramiele.
Jason Castro
"If I Fell"
6.5/10
I really like Jason in general, but I'm not sure he did himself any huge favors with this arrangement. It was enough like the original to be poorly compared to it, but different enough to make me wonder what on earth he was thinking. I just didn't love it. The guitar playing was boring. He needed to either take a big risk with the song or be really classic. Instead he was just plain forgettable.
Carly Smithson
"Come Together"
10/10
Carly is probably both the prettiest and most talented of the girls. I love this chick! Her performance was flawless. She really strikes me as being the 'real deal'. I'm ready to run out and buy her album. Awesome job.
David Cook
"Eleanor Rigby"
9.5/10
I love the groove. It's a totally unexpected alt-rock kind of thing. He had a couple of minor pitch problems, but nothing that really affected the overall sense of the song. This is the third performance of the night that's ready to go straight to the studio. Really great.
Brook White
"Let It Be"
9/10
Nice Piano Playing. And I am consistently impressed with her simple but powerful vocals. She's got a country flavor without being a caricature, which is a very good thing. This didn't quite blow me away like a couple fo the other performers tonight, but it was a very strong performance that would make a very listenable recording.
David "Plasticman" Hernandez
"I Saw her Standing There"
5/10
The arrangement is boring. The vocal is mediocre at best. His stage presence is as overly-rehearsed as ever. I just don't find anything likable about him at all. He's smarmy. Actually, I really like Simon's assessment... "corny verging on desperate." I think that's sums it up perfectly.
Amanda "Overdrive" Overmeyer
"You Can't Do That"
8.5/10
Funky pants, babe. I don't like the hair though - it makes you look too young. Here's the thing about Amanda - she does what she does very well. Musically, she isn't trying to be anything she isn't. I know not everyone is in love with her, but for what it is it really works for her. I liked her performance a lot, but I'll admit it's starting to look a little like the same thing every week. I'd love to see some more depth from her, but I also worry that trying to do anything different would make her suck.
Michael Johns
"Across the Universe"
7/10
He's just a solid, straight-ahead singer. Unfortunately for him, that means he doesn't stand out in the crowd this season. Any other year he would have been one of the best. Against this year's group he's just OK. I think he needs to kick it up a notch or he'll be going home sooner rather than later.
Kristy Lee Cook
"Eight Days a Week"
6/10
Not a good start when you're behind the beat. But once she caught up to that country back beat she did OK. Her biggest problem now is a complete lack of stage presence. Singing a unique arrangement badly just doesn't work.
David "Babyface" Archuleta
"We Can Work It Out"
4.5/10
I don't love the groove to the exact extent that I loved David Cook's groove earlier. And, OH CRAP! he forgot the words. Twice. This is the first time he has been really, completely, totally, and in all possible ways, terrible. He almost saved it toward the end with some energy and a couple of interesting runs, but overall this was not a good night for the young'un.
Top Of the Heap: Chikezie and Carly are in a near dead-heat tonight. Both had great breakout performances. David Cook was cooking, but a few pitch issues keep him from joining the top podium this evening.
Pack Your Bags: While Archuleta was surprizingly the weakest overall performance of the night, I think he gets a pass based on his history. For me, the two who should really be most worried are Plasticman Hernandez and JasmineTriasIMeanRamiele. My fear tonight is that both David Hernandez and Ramiele Mal(meaning 'bad')ubay have a fairly deep fanbase to draw on in addition to possible help from Vote For the Worst. It's possible that the solid but forgettable performances from Michael or Syesha won't be enough to garner the votes needed to beat the true riff raff. They need to say their prayers or start shopping for airline tickets. At this point in the competition being unremarkable is possibly a bigger sin than being truly bad.
RESULTS
I'm very pleased to announce that it's Plasticman going home. I'm beyond thrilled. I'm ecstatic. I'm over the moon. I'm downright giddy.
I will not miss this talent-free Ken doll one iota.
And, when all is said and done, I'm even glad that he was eliminated based on talent, and not on any kind of morals issue. There can be no question now that this was the right elimination.
Now, next to go? I'm hoping Ramiele. Tune in next week to find out.
See this review in its original habitat at www.pearannoyed.com.
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Member: Amy Padgett
Location: CA Dreamin' ~ TX reality
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Mean people suck.
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