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The top six "Idols" sing show tunes

We're halfway through the finals on American Idol, and yet I feel as though we've been watching these "singers" for months. Oh, wait. We have been. (It's amazing how much they can stretch out these seasons!)

On our first Kristy Lee–free (thank goodness!) night, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber was the mentor, and his songs were the theme.

The top six contestants with Andrew Lloyd Webber

Photo credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Kicking it off in the opening time slot was Syesha Mercado, and she looked absolutely stunning.


Photo credit: Frank Micelotta/FOX

She sang "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" from Starlight Express. All three judges sang her praises, and I wholeheartedly agreed with them. For the first time all season, I felt like she showed personality in her performance. According to Paula Abdul, theater is Syesha's "thing," and it definitely showed. Simon Cowell even called it "sexy!" (Look closely at 4:08 to see Allison Janney in the audience!)


Jason Castro
went second, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. Not only did he have the misfortune of following Syesha, but he admitted to being unfamiliar with Webber's music. And anyone who has watched any part of this season knows that Jason's style doesn't exactly scream "musical." His performance reflected his apprehension, and he could be in serious trouble this week. Randy Jackson actually went as far as saying it was "vocally a train wreck."

Next came the free-spirited Brooke White, for whom I had high hopes. Boy was I wrong. Two lines into "You Must Love Me," she forgot the words, stopped and asked the band to start over. Please understand, this was not the same little pause from the third finals week. This was an all out, hide-under-the-covers, never-to-be-spoken-of-again, get-you-kicked-off-Idol type of flub.


Photo credit: Frank Micelotta/FOX

And to top it all, she didn't even sound very good. I have been in denial for the past few weeks about Brooke's future on the show, but I don't think there is any denying the fact that she will likely go home tonight. Ugh.

Idol golden boy David Archuleta followed Brooke and sang "Think of Me." Webber advised him to open his eyes when he sings (Finally! Someone pointed that out!), but I think that actually backfired. He looked like he was caught between following his mentor's advice and napping. He just ended up squinting the whole time. Regardless, he sang fairly well and will still be around next week to battle his eyelids again.

Carly Smithson, now probably the only female capable of winning The Whole Thing, went into her session with Webber with the intention of singing "All I Ask of You." But after Webber told her that "All I Ask" was "not the song for a girl with a great big chest voice" (Who else thought he was going to leave off "voice" at the end of that sentence? C'mon, I know I wasn't alone!), she decided to sing "Jesus Christ Superstar."


Photo credit: Frank Micelotta/FOX

The switch ended up being a successful one for Carly, as she received the first bit of praise from Simon that she has gotten in weeks. While Ryan Seacrest was reading off her number, she even ran over to the side of the stage to grab a T-shirt saying "Simon Loves Me! (this week)." Touché, Carly.

The song was perfect for her range, and she was visibly enjoying herself on stage. I'm very glad to see her back in the thick of things.


David Cook
closed the show by singing "Music of the Night." The judges had high praise for him, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as they did. It was good, yes. But I've come to expect mind-blowing performances from him every week, and that wasn't the case last night. Simon put it perfectly when he said he preferred the "grittier" side of him.


Photo credit: Michael Becker/FOX

If the voting goes the way of the performances last night, then Brooke, Jason and David A. will be in the bottom three tonight. However, I don't think there's a chance in hell that David A. actually ends up in the bottom three, so I'm going to have to put Syesha there instead.

I would love it if Jason went home, simply for the sake of keeping as many of the women as possible, but I really think it will be the end of the road for Brooke. What do you think?

Gobias Somecoffee's picture

ALW Week

That guy is really weird isn't he? He's so wax-y. This week was a huge blah for me since I have no clue what songs are ALW's. Ironically enough, the only songs I recognized are from Evita and I hate Evita so much.

First off, almost everyone messed up their lyrics last night. Brooke's flub was really bad but I think once she got started, she sounded much better. At least she had emotion. But yeah, at this point, I think she'd be better off going home just to save her sanity. She's so defeated and broken right now. This competition is so not for her. It's not always about selling the most albums or having the biggest voice. She'll do fine after this.

I liked David Cook last night. He wasn't grumbly! And I didn't feel like he was living the unfinished story of Daughtry!. Jason has been really sick these past couple of days. Weird that no one mentioned it. And Carly, what is with that dress?

ETA: Syesha violated the piano! Please don't ever step on the piano. It gets footprint-y and gross.

/end ramblings.

nikkif99uk's picture

I thought Syesha was the

I thought Syesha was the best of the night hope she's not in the bottom three.

My idea one is also Jason Castro, Brooke White and David Archuleta but agree he might not be in it so will probs be Carly Smithson maybe, don't want her to go though. Think it maybe Bye bye Brooke or Jason

HallyB's picture

Syesha!

Totally agree. I think Syesha has the best voice of any of the remaining singers. I honestly think David Cook should win (if only to pay back the ghost of Chris Daughtry), but if he doesn't, Syesha is my second choice. I don't get why the judges have been so down on her. Every time she comes on stage, she gives an excellent performance. And I think her personality is fine. And Randy seems extra harsh on her, which bugs me. She gave a knockout performace a couple fo weeks ago and the audience was giving her big applause. Then, he goes and says it wasn;t really good, when it obviously was! Ugh...
melikeyou2's picture

Not a big

Syesha fan but I have to admit she impressed me last night! This was by far her best performance I think and as Carolinagrrrl said...she looked absolutley stunning! Jason did alright ..not as bad as the judges thought. He hasn´t got the strongest voice but I really like it. And I like his musicstyle. But as pointed out before he probably will be in the bottom three this week.

Loved Carly!! And her accent is so hot! Besides it was nice seing her all bubbly and happy. David A was ok too. He do what he always does..it will land him in top two eventually beside David C who was great as usual. That man has a beautiful voice and a nice range.

Poor Brooke are the one to leave I think. She has trouble handle the pressure and hasn´t performed that well for a couple of weeks.

tootles's picture

Hmmz

I wasn't excited about last night's performances. The only things that I loved was the background music (beautiful beautiful orchestra work; it moved me to tears at one point just by itself) and Carly's golden moment that you captured perfectly right there :D

I listened to Brooke last night and I suddenly felt very sad; as if I'm watching an end of something that I had foreseen :-| 

***

"All my possessions for a moment in time"
[Elizabeth I]

eromarap's picture

sigh..

i didnt watch too much of the show last night. I only tuned in to watch Carly and David Cook's Performance. 

I was so sad when i heard that Brooke messed up. but that only shows that shes human like the rest of us.. 

i pray that she doesnt get kicked off tonight. dang it :[ 

on a lighter note: Carly was Amazing! 

onedimpledcheek's picture

Oh, man.

I love that Brooke messed up last night. That sounds really horrible, but I get really bad vibes from her. She can't stand to be told she sung badly, so I love when she actually doesn't, because her face gives her away when she's critiqued. I think she could be really high-maintenance, and probably very snooty.

I won't say a word about David Cook besides the fact that I hate him. Everything about him.

What I heard of Carly's performance was pretty good. I dunno. She pushes too hard all of the time. She's one of my favorites, but I know she won't make it to the end because she lacks consistency.

I didn't even get to see Archuleta's performance. He's also insanely talented, but I'm sick to death of all the inspirational crap he sings every week. It's trite.

Jason isn't cut out for AI, because the show is all about big voices. I adore his voice; I find it beautiful. But it's too singer/songwriter for the AI audience. People don't get it because it's in a different league from the big voices.

Syesha has been my absolute favorite for quite some time now. I'll step up and be the one to play the race card. She's always in the bottom three, even if she is fantastic, and it's because of her skin color. If you want to make an argument against that, be sure to re-watch all previous seasons of AI...and you tell me how people tend to vote. (Case in point: Season 3. Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, and LaToya London were all in the bottom three. None had sung badly the night before.) Syesha has a strong voice, and for the most part, she uses it well, with control, and she has stage presence. There's always this fabulous twinkle in her eyes while she sings, and she connects emotionally with what she's doing. Will she win? Hell no. Let's be real. But a part of me wishes that people would vote on talent rather than who they like the most because of how they look, or what they wear, or whatever.

 

HallyB's picture

I don't know

I think the race card might be a little premature in this case. There's just no precedent in the previous seasons that would justify it (Ruben won, Fantasia won), and there's no evidence in this season. Your example of Hudson, Fantasia and London in the bottom three could easily be explained by vote splitting. Especially between London and Hudson. As for this season, I noted upthread that Randy has been her harshest critic this season. I don't see how racism could be part of that. I agree with you that Syesha has the best voice in the competition. For some reason, she's not connecting. Someone on another site said she looks down her nose at the judges when they're commenting on her performances, and I can see that a little. Maybe she's just coming across as an a-hole. I don't know, but I do know I get excited every time it's her turn to sing.
mArY's picture

WTF!!

Ok i am not sure if i can talk about the results of this week hear but i just really need someone to talk to and i really hope you girls understand my ranting..

I just heard the results for this week. First of all i could not believe the bottom 3.  I figured that after last night Brooke was going to be in it, ok fine BUT Syesha and Carly to????? No F*** way!! They had the best performance last night....UHGGG!! And then they announce the first one safe is Brook????

ok lets just get down to the point> Carly is gone...I am so fk** pst i am not saying that i wish Saysha had gone home NO. Niether of them deserve to be the bootom 2...

ill admit that Carly was my favorite so that dosen't help me relax either..i think Saysha should really think about doing some teather, she defenetly has that amazing voice. So... I guess now the show its between the David's....

ILL MISS U CARLY!!!

What u guys think about the results, am i the only one who think they suckt??

Jessi's picture

I am not saying you ladies did ....

and I am not saying you ladies did not. BUT if you don't vote you see what happens. Just remember you got to vote to keep your favorites in. And my 2 favorites are still in Brooke and Syesha. (fantasy AI 3some LOL)
Gobias Somecoffee's picture

Idol Results

I can't vote in Canada so I have no control.

Right now, David and David are untouchable so it's basically only a race between Brooke, Jason, Syesha and Carly but now she's gone. So it's very logical that Carly and Syesha would be in the Bottom 2 as they did not have a Bottom 3.

Brooke's and Jason's fanbases are big and clearly bigger than Syesha's and Carly's. Syesha, there isn't much about her. She has the smallest fanbase of them all but she picks up a lot of casual votes. Brooke's and Jason's fanbases voted their fingers off because their favourite was in trouble whereas Syesha's and Carly's didn't vote enough. They got good reviews so many thought that they were safe. It happens all the time. That's why every season has a shock-boot.

And because I believe in the conspiracy theory, I think there were many factors that caused her boot. There's always an agenda with the TPTB.

nikkif99uk's picture

damn it I looked at this and

damn it I looked at this and found out the results before watching it live. Can't believe Carly has gone. Leona Lewis is currently singing so not even seen result yet. Leona is amazing best X Factor winner ever. Yes Syesha is defo underappreciated and its all based on popularity David Archuleta and Jason Castro remain in the competition due to their teenage girl fanbase, its no longer a talent contest but a popularity one. One thing I love about X Factor is that there is a final two, then the judges send one home, based on talent.
melikeyou2's picture

This was not right!!

I am pissed right now! PERSONALLY I think Brooke or Jason should have been the one to leave. I live in Sweden so I can´t do anything about it! Carly has it all the voice, personality...but clearly not the american votes.

Now she´s gone ...the classy Irish lady:o( David C is still there..that is the only reason to keep watching!

 

Bobine's picture

This was not right!! (Part deux)

Holy crap!

What's with Brooke and Jason, people??? They clearly have limitations. I totally share Sweden's comment ... This is Canada here ... Like Simon said in the very beginning, when he commented on one of David Cook's performances, this is obviously a popularity vice TALENT contest ... I am so sad for Carly and according to how America votes, Syesha (no matter what she does) will be the next one to go ... Sob ...