Tonight the contestants are supposed to sing songs that inspire compassion and hope, as they try to raise money for the Idol Gives Back project. I certainly hope this doesn’t mean we are in for a night of sappy, sentimental songs. Because that will seriously make me gag. Despite the fact that my Top 7 List contains more than my fair share of cheesy ballads, I much prefer the upbeat song selections on Idol.
So after a video clip of the Ryan and Simon visiting Africa, Chris Richardson takes the stage to tackle a Clapton number. The judges love it, but I’m not as excited. He probably did quite a good job, but I just didn’t care for the song. I’ve never been much of a Chris fan, though.
Simon sure is in an unusually good mood tonight. Maybe that trip to Africa really did get to him a little bit.
The next performance of the evening was Melinda’s rendition of Faith Hill’s There Will Come A Day. Besides the fact that this performance was, as Simon put it, "a vocal master class", the message of the lyrics was near and dear to my heart, for obvious reasons.
And Randy was his typical articulate self when he told her she was "so dope". The guy’s a record producer. Can’t he come up with something a little more professional than that??
Anyway.
Blake sang Imagine, which is a beautiful song, but tackling John Lennon is really a gamble. And a gamble that Blake lost tonight. I have to admit that Blake seems to be losing his spark. The performance may have been "sincere", but it was boring. And he just looks funny when he sings and stares right at the camera with his mouth in that little O. I miss the cool, hip Blake who took a song and made it his own and threw in a little beat boxing every now and again. Methinks Blakey-Boy might be on the chopping block this week.
LaKisha sang Believe, which is a Fantasia number, evidently. And while I haven’t seen or heard Fantasia perform it, I am sure that she has made it uniquely her own in a way that only Fantasia can. LaKisha’s performance, while solid enough, just didn’t have anything special about it to hold my interest. And she still looks like she’s not particularly happy to be there. I guess that’s just the way she looks, but it’s so much more fun to watch Melinda and Jordin and even Phil and Chris, who really seem to be having the time of their lives.
Phil sang a Garth song, and I was expecting him to sound more country than he did. His voice sounded heavy in parts; those low notes get him every time. Still, it was a really good performance. He’s been a different performer these last two weeks. I agree with Simon’s advice 100%, and how cute is Phil’s wife? She’s obviously so proud of him. I hope he makes it through to next week. I am eager to see where he goes with his newfound confidence.
There is yet another video clip, and do you mean to tell me that Simon didn’t know there were hungry people in the United States? I’m actually speechless.
Jordin is up. I hope they saved the best for last. Okay. How could you NOT have tears, watching this performance? She just put her heart and soul into it. I have to say, though, that I disagree just a bit with the judges. I thought she was amazing up to the last few notes. She seemed to lose her tonal quality there at the very end, and I felt like she over-sang it as she tried to keep it building up to a fabulous finish. And in the recap at the very end of the show where they review the numbers to call and vote, I noticed one of those last couple of notes was really "pitchy".
All that to say, my pick for the best performance of the night goes to Melinda, with Jordin’s a close second.
And I’m afraid Blake’s was the weakest performance of the night.
As far as who’s going home? I’m afraid it’s either Blake or LaKisha. At this point in the game, it’s hard to see anyone go, but I think I’d rather see Chris go next. You better believe I’ll be tuning in tomorrow to find out! Because not only do we get the results, but Ryan did say Bono was going to perform, didn’t he? Very cool!
And that’s a wrap!
Jordin’s performance was no less than incredible!!
OK, I’m cracking up that we both mentioned Blake’s O. And I agree with you about LaKisha’s face. She doesn’t often look happy, does she? But I have to send little Chris home instead of Blake this week.
I want Lakisha to go home. I don’t care for her attitude any more.
I’m surprised and impressed w/ hoe much Phil has stepped it up.
This wasn’t the show that we saw last week. I am with you I don’t particularly like the sappy sentimental tunes on Idol. I like them to come out and really let loose and be upbeat and take some chances. At least we didn’t have to suffer through another Sanjaya song but I do feel badly for that young man although on the news this morning they said he is a new ‘sensation’ now so he will probably laugh all the way to the bank.
I think it might be LaKisha’s time to go. I was disappointed with Blake (face it- he sounds the same every single week!) but I must say that the judges were very kind with their comments tonight… I agree that Jordin was pitchy and I would definitely NOT say that was the best performance in Idol history (as Randy said)!!! Really!
Steph
I was equally speechless that Simon didn’t know there were hungry people in the US, much less food banks! I really wanted to encourage him to open his own wallet and provide some of those $1 bags of groceries for the hungry. I hope this charity drive really does make an impact on him.
As usual, I agree with your views.
Blake reminded me of Chicken Little last night…he sang that song so smoothly and evenly he sounded like someone from the high school glee club – no emotion. Same with LaKisha – she just seems like she’s just not got any joy in her heart, which is sad. She’s so talented.
I think Melinda/Jordin were the best…I wish Chris no ill, but he should go home.
I think LaKisha’s going home, or maybe Chris. And I thought Blake looked kind of nervous.
Phil is really coming into his own, isn’t he?
I think I’m the only person in America who feels this way, but I wasn’t crazy about Jordin’s performance. It sounded like she was shouting, not singing.
But Melinda, ah, Melinda…there just words.
We’ve established that I’m way too pregnant, miserable, and emotional,so this may come as no surprise, BUT watching Jordin last night made me cry. And I don’t think I’ve ever cried watching Idol before. She’s almost become my favorite, I’m afraid (sorry Melinda). I’d really like to see Chris go tonight. I’m just not a fan at all.