It's Michael Jackson night, which means a +5 ceiling for MJ pickers and no song points for anyone else, so that's kinda boring. I understand why they try to keep the themes at Top 12 (13, this year) broad, so singers aren't forced into weird and uncomfortable genres before they've had a chance to establish themselves in front of America. Michael Jackson fits that because his songs are just pop songs, no more, no less. But here's the thing about Michael Jackson: his songs, in and of themselves, are not that great. I'll admit I'm not as huge a fan of his as many are, but come on. His appeal is all in the performance, and some of these songs are dull at best, inspid at worst.
Which made two solid hours and thirteen performances worth of these songs pretty damn excruciating. Performers like Lil, Michael, Matt, and Adam were fine but nothing special. I actually thought Danny (much as I continue to dislike him personally) gave the best performance, with all the energy and enthusiasm that I think I was supposed to feel last week with Anoop (whose "Beat It," by the way, was pretty much interchangeable with his "My Prerogative" yet everybody seemed to hate it this week).
On the flip side, Megan was really the only truly awful performance. I mean, Jasmine was forgettable, and Jorge (aka The Nyez, aka The Fancy Nancy from Puerto Rancy) was monstrously cheesy, but Megan's performance reminded me of that honky-tonk Beatles song Kristy Lee tried last season. I couldn't look at her. Speeeeeaking of which, and I'll acknowledge the irony upfront, I don't think I can look at Scott McIntyre anymore either. The ever-more-Garfunkelian hair is one thing, but if he's going to sing songs about dreams and climbing the highest mountains and self-esteem, I'm going to be embarassed for all of us. Oh, and Kris's performance was pretty bad, on balance, mostly because of the bizarre decision to play acoustic guitar along with what sounded like the actual backing track from the original version of "Remember the Time." So weird.
Besides Danny, my two other favorites were easily Alexis and Allison, even if Allison seemed like she was coasting. Which might've worked in her favor because it kept her from blowing her vocal cords out unnecessarily. Alexis was awesome (though the song, "Dirty Diana," only made me long for Project Runway Season 2), and while I get Paula's cautions about oversinging, I didn't think it hampered her one bit. She continues to dress like a cheap floozy, but I blame Kara for that one.
Some choice judge quotes this week: Paula telling Danny that he's awesome because if you close your eyes you can still hear him singing. You guys, nobody tell Paula about the concept of the radio without easing her into it, okay? Randy actually called Kris's performance a "very well job done." Indeed. Kara said she hoped Michael Jackson was watching Adam's performance, which: dear god NO! Adam Lambert seems way too inside MJ's wheelhouse for my comfort. And, of course, Simon and Ryan implied that the entire system of America voting on the contestants would be thrown out the window this season in favor of greater judges' control, because apparently Megan Corkrey needs to win American Idol this year. But I don't even want to talk about that beyond saying BAD IDEA!
Best Three: Danny, Alexis, Allison
Worst Three: Megan, Jorge, Scott
Points Tonight:
Michael Jackson: +5
Alexis Grace: +3 (sang last)
Lil Rounds: +2 (sang first)
Two going home tomorrow. Boring always goes before bad at this stage, so I wouldn't feel safe if I were Michael, Jasmine, Kris, or Matt.
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2 comments:
I felt bad for Alexis because Ryan had clearly told the judges by that stage to keep their comments very short so they didn't run over -- but I also HATED that performance. I really don't like her, there's something very plasticky about her to me and she has this Tracy Flick approach to her oversinging that just bugs me.
Then again, I didn't think Anoop's "Beat It" was that bad. I have no earthly idea why he'd pick that song -- doesn't really show range, too iconic -- and sometimes I wonder why songs like that are even left on the list of choices.
...Unless it's to weed out the singers who don't have a good enough sense of those things innately, which actually is smart, but probably a higher order of thinking about the musicianship than I should give AI credit for.
Also, Megan was frickin' terrible from soup to nuts. Bad singing, bad K-mart-lingerie dress, bad bad bad. She's pretty, but: no.
(This is Sarah, I'm too lazy to log out and back in again.)
Why does Adam Lambert keep SCREAMING at me? Obviously he's got chops, but I find his performances excruciating. And oof, Scott. I can't wait for Talking Heads week when he reinterprets "Blind" as an inspirational ballad.
Also, Megan sucks, man.
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