Watching Sitcoms

Here we are being inspirational with the Top 8 on American Idol. Laura says there is a new intro. Is there? I must have missed it.

Right on into the music then:

Michael Johns - Dream On, Aerosmith. Still with the ascot. What’s up with that? Apparently, he didn’t read any of the reviews from last week. This is one of Laura’s favorite songs and since Michael is her favorite, this could be a great moment or a really bad one. I’m still stuck on that ascot. But I think he did a good job. The ending was a little off, but he didn’t suck.

Question: What is up with Randy lately? He’s just been crazy down on these kids this year.

Syesha Mercado - I Believe, Fantasia. I’m not sure what she’s trying to prove by singing this, other than she’s not as good as Fantasia. But I’ve said it all along, my biggest problem with Syesha has always been that she thinks she’s better than she is. She wants to be Whitney or Fantasia. She’s not and she never will be. She over sings it, as usual. I’m not impressed. I think this might be the end for her.

Jason Castro - Over The Rainbow, Judy Garland (Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s version). I’m not sure I’m happy about this choice. My nephew used this version at his wedding and I didn’t like it much then either. However, I thought Jason was great. I know, Jason not exciting, but he’s cute and he gives you the same thing every week. Clearly, this is his style and I like it. He’s not a powerhouse singer, but he’s who he is. Also, clearly, the judges are pimping him this week, cause they want him to stick around. They hardly ever give him any praise, but tonight they love him. My sister just called to tell me that that was the song from my nephew’s wedding and what a great job Jason did. My husband loved it. My mother said, he’s so cute. Laura, is not a fan. But, so far, Jason has caused the most discussion tonight in this living room.

We even had a discussion about whether or not he had messed up the lyrics. He didn’t. I went back and found Kamakawiwoʻole’s version on youtube and it is exactly the same.

Kristy Lee Cook - Anyway, Martina McBride. I don’t know country music, so I don’t know this song. And I probably won’t like it cause KLC is singing it. Laura wants me to go back and see how many times Kristy has worn a sequined tank top on this show. I just went back through the Top 24 shows - it was 5 times. This doesn’t include shiny shirts that aren’t tank tops. Laura thinks this is too many. My husband said she looks pretty good in them. I refuse to weigh in on the topic, cause then I’d have to kill my husband. Meanwhile, I kinda missed what Kristy sang. But, as I said, I wasn’t gonna like it anyway.

David Cook - Innocent, Our Lady Peace. This may be the first song on the show this year that was written after the 80’s. I want to like him. Mostly cause Laura hates him so much, but it sounded kinda mumbly to me. When it didn’t sound screamy, that is. Plus, I didn’t get his starting out low and then jumping high and then back down again vocal techinique. No one actually like him. Also, I was the only one in the room who had ever heard this song before, but then I listen to a Canadian station a lot, so maybe that’s it. Overall, I think this was his worst week and he might even be in trouble.

Carly Smithson - The Show Must Go On, Queen. This seems like a weird song choice to me and to Laura, I mean for inspirational. Simon agrees. I’d like to go back and count how many times she’s worn a sleeveless top. But I don’t care enough to waste the time. I know I’m hard on her, but I just don’t get her. What is her style, exactly? Also, I feel like she’s had her chances, she has contacts in the industry, and she just doesn’t deserve to take this spot from someone else who needs it more. I mean what’s gonna happen? She’s gonna get another recording contract, record another album, and sell another 436 copies, or however many the last album sold? My husband just reminded us of Constantine, singing one bad song and getting the boot. One can hope this might also be Carly’s fate as well.

David Archuleta - Angels, Robbie Williams. David had a hard time picking an inspirational song, because he’s only 17 and he has no idea about inspiration, only angst. My mother felt that his song was the first inspirational song tonigth. Personally, I just felt like it was another slow boring ballad. Where is Amanda Overmeyer when you need someone to rock the inspiration? Sorry, I’m not ready to like this kid. I think he’s a total phony. Laura just pointed out if I didn’t expect inspirational week to be dull, then I must not have been watching Idol last year. True.

Brooke White - You’ve Got a Friend, James Taylor. Brooke is in the pimp spot tonight, which is good for her, cause it was looking shaky last week. She chooses to just stand and sing, letting someone else play piano for her, which is nice. But I don’t think that she’s is just a singer/singer, I think she’s a a piano player/singer, so maybe it’s not good for her to just stand there. As I’m listening to her sing tonight, I realize that she is just not gonna win this thing. This song is her style and she’s good, but too dated and old fashioned to be the winner.

My top three this week were Jason, Michael and Brooke. I know some of you will argue that David A deserves a Top 3 spot. Maybe so, but I don’t actually count him when I make my decisions. My least three faves were Carly, Kristy and David Cook (mostly cause I expected more from him).

But if I had to pick the actual bottom three, I’m not sure, cause I think David Cook’s fan base will keep him safe. And maybe Kristy’s, too. I do think that Syesha will probably be in the bottom 3 and may be going home on Thursday.