This Week In Tonight In American Idol [25 March 2008]

8:00 PM: We're back for more Idol live-blogging. Tonite's theme is "Songs From The Year You Were Born".

8:01 PM: First up is Ramiele, born in 1987. She's taking on "Alone" by Heart.

Ramiele starts off her usual moussy self. When the "rock" part of the song kicks in, she brings the power better than she has all season.

But she's waaaaay off pitch. And shouty.

Randy agrees: not the right song choice...a little too big of a song...not quite your thing...pitchy...
Paula: I'm glad America has heard your big voice...I hope you make it through, because you're a big talent in a small package...
Simon: I don't think it was as bad as Randy said...a little bit shrieky and shouty in the middle...but after surviving last week, I think you'll make it through on that performance...

And what up with those fingerless black "Breakfast At Meth-Head Tiffany's" gloves Paula is wearing???

8:10 PM: Next up is Jason, born in 1987. "I've been TOLD I'm an Aries". WTF??? Jason takes on "Fragile", by Sting.

Jason also is playing a guitar. He's better than he was as a kid, obvs.

I must admit I'm not familiar with the song. So I looked it up and found this interesting info at SongFacts: "People who dig this song also like 'Every Breath You Take', 'Shape Of My Heart' and '(I've Had) The Time of My Life'". RUH ROH!

There's a nice Spanish run that actually reminds me of Enrique Eglesias. To the judges...

Randy: one of my favorite songs...very good choice...didn't do anything different with it...I'm still waiting for that breakout vocal from you...nice
Paula: staying true to who you are...beautiful song...didn't see anything different that made us go "wow"...playing it safe...that's who you are...
Simon: you've had two bad weeks, and it's time you start taking this a little more seriously...that was the equivalent of someone singing outside the subway system...too clumsy, too laid back, too much in your own world...you're someone who's proved you're potentially a winner, but you're not gonna win if you keep doing that week after week...

I have to agree with Simon. Jason has talent, but his laid-back hippie-stoner schtick is only gonna take him so far on this show, and I can't see him developing much of an enduring following post-Idol with that.

8:16 PM: Next up is Syesha, who was born in 1987. Syesha takes on "If I Were Your Woman", by Stephanie Mills.

Okay, I already think this is the best performance of the nite so far, and it's just started.

I've been a bigger fan of Syesha than some of the other Idol boards have been, but that was really good.

Randy: the best I've ever heard you sing...stellar...I'm shocked, I'm lovin' it...another competitor in the competition...
Paula: this will be the moment everyone remembers where Syesha "flipped it" and became the Dark Horse...pitch-perfect...brilliant...
Simon: definitely the best so far...I don't think the ending was as good as Randy thought...there's a limit to your vocal, and that song stretched it...

8:26 PM: Next up is Chikezie, who was born in 1985. Chikezie takes on "If Only For One Night", by Luther Vandross.

Chikezie won't win this competititon unless he REALLY catches fire, but he could easily be what TPTB wanted Ruben Studdard to be -- a handsome, quality modern "true" R&B singer.

That was good, but I still think Syesha was better.

Randy: interesting that you followed Syesha with another old-school number...she moved it around and made it younger-feeling...but you just sounded old-school...i didn't love it for you...it wasn't that hip Chikezie full of energy...boring...
Paula: you are a throwback, but it's a good throwback...I think you did a great job...you did amazing with the textures of your vocals...
Simon: I think you sang it well...the performance was very cheesy...you have to show originality, and I didn't see anything original other than someone trying to copy the original...i miss your personality...

8:37 PM: Next up is Brook White, born in 1983. Brooke's parents are named Kaylene and Brad. It's important that you know that.

Brooke is taking on "Every Breath You Take", by The Police.

ZOMG! Brooke has turned this song into a Tori Amos song!!!

Okay, it's "beautiful", but HELLZ TO THE NO!!!

Also, something happened at the beginning, and she had to restart after a second or so. But she handled it with aplomb.

Randy: very interesting song choice...[compliments her on her professionalism in starting over]...I didn't like the arrangement with the bad...I wish you had continued with just you on the piano...it was just okay for me, a'ight...
Paula: I enjoyed this performance so much more than last week's...we've always wanted contestants who are unique, and have their own niche...and you do...it was consistent, great...
Simon: I totally agree with Randy...should have kept it a piano solo without the band...when the tempo picked up and the band joined in, it made it very old-fashioned...definitely good enough to keep you in for another week...first half with you alone was fantastic...better than last week...

[behind the clock because of a phone call and a quick break]

Insta-ranking, the first five:

1) Syesha
2-3) Brooke, Chikezie
4-5) Jason, Ramiele

Looks like we're only 90 minutes tonite? Thank Gawd!

8:47 PM: Next is Michael Johns, who was born in 1978. Michael, obviously, is the oldest competitor in this year's competition. Will his older song choice be a handicap this week?

Michael is taking on "We Will Rock You", by Queen, and it's a good fit for Michael's style.

Oh, now it's a medley, with "We Are The Champions". Is that a good call???

That might be Michael's best performance yet.

Randy agrees: finally, you believed in yourself and used that voice you've got...for me, that was your best performance yet...
Paula: any time any one of us said you haven't found your right song, we can shut our mouths...fantastic...
Simon: this is the first time with you I saw star potential...tonite, you just got it right...comfortable...for me, the only memorable performance of the nite so far...

8:52 PM: Next is Carly, born in 1983. Carly's parents hadn't settled on a name before she was born. When they were on their way to the hospital, they heard Carly Simon on the radio, and decided that was the name.

Carly is taking on "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", by Bonnie Tyler. It's probably perfect for hear -- she's probably been singing it for years.

Carly is, of course, technically perfect. Do I hear a Celine influence there?

Carly gets the biggest crowd reaction of the nite so far...

Randy: very interesting song choice...liked it, didn't love it...a little harp on the final note...it was a'ight for me...
Paula: what I admire about you is that you could probably take every song I don't like it and make me a believer and make me go buy it...I loved what you did at the end...you stretch yourself...

Randy and Paula are bickering...Randy didn't like the run or the rock song choice...

Simon: something didn't quite work...you were tense, uptight...I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would enjoy it...you've got to lighten up a little bit...

Will Carly hit the bottom three again this week?

9:02 PM: Next up is David A., who was born in 1990.

Uh, yeah. 1990.

David is taking on "You're The Voice". The song was actually written and recorded -- and was a huge hit in Australia -- several years earlier. But David's hook is that it was covered by David Foster and Jeff Pescetto in America in 1990.

Hey! David Foster? Wasn't he just on Idol TWO FREAKIN' WEEKS AGO with Kat McPhee???

I am so bored by David Archuleta.

And this performance is doing nothing for me.

He's obviously safe.

Randy: strange song choice...but you can sing whatever...very nice...
Paula: all of us were trying to figure that out...you could sing the phone book and we'd fall in love with you...
Simon: I didn't like the performance at all...it was reminiscent of a theme-park performance...ghastly...I'd be amazed if you chose that song yourself, because it's not you...

9:12 PM: Next up is Kristy Lee Cook, born in 1984. Kristy Lee is singing -- and I SWEAR I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP -- "God Bless the USA", by Lee Greenwood. This song is the worst "patriotic" song in the history of "patriotic" songs.

Kristy Lee's version is...what...somewhere below karaoke-rific??? Technically fine, but this song is supposed to soar, and that just...floated...

Randy: great song choice...a few pitchy spots in the middle, but a very nice performance...
Paula: very good choice...I've seen better performances from you, but your voice is sounding stronger...
Simon: your best performance by a mile...most clever song choice I have heard in years...Lee Greenwood, brilliant songwriter, brilliant song...a good performance that will keep you in the competition...

9:20 PM: Last up tonite is David C., born in 1982. David is taking on...wait for it..."Billie Jean", by Michael Jackson.

As has been noted elsewhere, David is not really covering Michael J.'s version of "Billie Jean". Instead, David is covering ex-Soundgarden and ex-Audioslave singer Chris Cornell's 2006 version of "Billie Jean", which version was brilliant, in my opinion.

David's performance is a perfect carbon copy of Cornell's performance. And even knowing that, I still think it was the best of the night...

Randy: you're probably the most original, most bold contestant we've ever had...on that performance right there, you might be the one to win the whole lot...HOT!!! BLAZING MOLTEN HOT!!!
Paula [giving standing ovation]...I'm blown away...I can't sit down...I gotta tell you how smart you are, how brave you are, and how willing you are to stretch the boundaries...and you do it right to the edge without going over...[incomprehensible gibberish]...
Simon: that was brave...it could have been either insane or amazing, and I have to tell you, it was amazing...

Insta-reaction, second five:

1) David C.
2) Michael
3) Carly
4) Kristy Lee
5) David A.

* * * * *

So, I've gone back and listened to Chris Cornell's "unplugged" cover of "Billie Jean", and I actually think David C. got the better of Chris tonite. David C.'s rendition of the song might not have been "original", but most of the people who've heard Chris Cornell's haunting version no doubt consider themselves too cool to watch American Idol. So David C. will probably get lots of goodwill over the next few hours from voters who think he "took a chance" and nailed it.

I'm finding it quite the challenge to Insta-Rank the top 10 tonite. The first five to go were largely bland and forgettable, and there were some spectacular performances from the second five.

Biggest Improvement tonite were probably -- surprise! -- Syesha and Kristy Lee. Biggest Un-Improvement tonite were probably Jason and David A., who both continue to underwhelm me. Ramiele was just Ramiele, which means that she once again failed to bust out the big performance she SHOULD need to stick around much longer.

Insta-Rank The Idol Top Ten Performance Show:

1) David C.
2) Michael
3) Carly
[length-of-Soundgarden-era-Chris-Cornell's-hair-sized-gap here]
4) Syesha
5) Brooke
6) Kristy Lee
[length-of-Audioslave-era-Chris-Cornell's-hair-sized-gap here]
7) Chikezie
8) David A.
9) Jason
10) Ramiele

Insta-Prediction As To Tomorrow's Voted Bottom Three:

3) Carly
2) Syesha
1) Chikezie

* * * * *

Chris Cornell, "Billie Jean" (Unplugged) [mp3, via YSI]
Chris Cornell, "Billie Jean" (Unplugged) [mp3, via zShare]