After last week’s poor choice of theme on American Idol, I remember thinking to myself, “Self, it can only get better from here.” I was incredibly mistaken. It appears as though every theme will eventually repeat itself later in the season under the guise of a different name: “Songs from the Lennon/McCartney Songbook” became “Beatles Night,” and now “'80s Night” has morphed into “Songs from the Year You Were Born.” Oh, boy. (I can only count down the days until Dolly Parton is the mentor!)

Ramiele Malubay kicked things off with a performance of Heart’s “Alone,” prompting the inevitable comparison to Carrie Underwood’s performance of the same back in Season 4. Who sang it better? You decide.

Ramiele Malubay:

Carrie Underwood: … continue reading

So last night was '80s night on American Idol, and I got to hear some of my favorite songs. (What's wrong with Simon — how can he not recognize the awesomeness of "I Drove All Night"?! And I do mean the Cyndi Lauper version, of course.)

I think Amanda Overmyer totally redeemed herself, after a very weak performance last week.

It helped that she sang one of my favorite songs ever, Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Here it is:

I love myself for loving the way Amanda's so unimpressed by the whole Idol experience!

And Ramiele Malubay did a great job with a song I thought I never needed to hear again, Phil Collins' "Against All Odds."

  … continue reading