Word is out on tonight’s ‘Idol’ songs
Posted on May 13th, 2008 – 1:49 PMBy Randy Salas
Hey, guest American Idol blogger Randy Salas here. The final three singers don’t perform until tonight on the top-rated TV show, but word has already gotten out on some of the songs we’ll hear. Each singer must perform a song chosen by one of the judges, by the producers and by him- or herself. According to Internet scuttlebutt, here are some of the songs on tap:
David Archuleta: Dan Fogelberg’s “Longer” (producers’ choice), Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” (Paula Abdul’s choice) and Chris Brown’s “With You” (his choice).
My thoughts: Wow, if that’s really Paula’s choice, it’s brilliant. Little Archie’s smoky-toned voice is just right for the Billy Joel song. “Longer” also is a cool choice, and “With You” will finally give us a glimpse of how he’ll do with something contemporary. Unfortunately, all three sings emphasize that Archie can only do a ballad salad — not much stylistic range.
David Cook: Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (Simon Cowell’s choice), Collective Soul’s “The World I Know” (his choice) and an as-yet-unknown producers’ choice.
My thoughts: What an odd choice for Simon to make for the rocker: a musty, slow ballad. I thought at first that he’d be better off doing the earlier folk version by Gordon Lightfoot, but that would probably misfire from being too unfamiliar to viewers. Here’s hoping for another reinvention as he did with the version he covered of Lionel Richie’s “Hello.” “The World I Know” is a down-tempo, fairly unmelodic number, so we could really use an all-out rock choice from the producers.
Syesha Mercado: Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” (Randy Jackson’s choice) and two unknown numbers (her choice and the producers’).
My thoughts: Eye roll. Mercado performed the same song on the ABC reality show ”The One.” Did Randy Jackson know that when he made his choice? She acted it well.
I have to say that I’m seriously pulling for David Cook at this point. David Archuleta has worn on me, largely because he has no stylistic range and I tire of his “making songs his own” by simply changing every original melody. Syesha has been touted as “coming on strong” in the past few weeks, but has any contestant ever been among the bottom vote-getters so many times and made it to this point? I’m over her shrill high notes and “it’s all about me” stage presence, such as equating her Idol journey to the civil rights movement. I hope we shall overcome her this week and have a finals pitting David vs. David.
What say you? And come back later tonight for my thoughts on tonight’s show.
11 Responses to "Word is out on tonight’s ‘Idol’ songs"
I have been tired of the “Archiebot 2008″ for a long time now. He’s the same every week. Same hand gestures everything. Ballads are great but I don’t think you can make a career on that. He’ll be great in “Cabaret”.
Agreed. David A. plays it way too safe. If he thinks he will have a professional career he’ll be just another one-hit wonder. Same with Syesha. No one has really stuck their neck out this season and risked it all.
Either of the 2 Davids is ok with me. It’s probably better if the kid wins so that Cook can do his own thing and make a better CD. Archuleta’s gonna have adults mucking up the works no matter what, so let him sign the more tightly reined winner’s deal. Syesha’s grown on me, but the boys are better.
Quote: I’m over her …“it’s all about me” stage presence, such as equating her Idol journey to the civil rights movement.
I could not agree more! Stuck up little girl.
I don’t know if it was being stuck up as much as it was her trying to be “deep”. She’s way to young to have any inkling of what the “civil rights” movement was really about. I “do” think the girl can sing though. Jordin Sparks has a record on the radio for godsakes!
I am so so over David A. But I agree with fasty…David Cook could make a better album…def. the Chris Daughtry lesson of Idol. Get them off the show so we can see his individuality instead of what idol wants him to make. I also agree that Syesha is “over” shes annoying but not even comparable to the annoyance I feel when I watch and listen to David A. So my vote is for Syesha. Because I get the same sick feeling when I look at David A as I did when I looked at Clay Aiken. And because I want Cook to make his “own” album. So that leaves Syesha! Happy voting!
All in all I’m not impressed with this season. But for what the season is I have to agree with everything Kate said.
Syesha should win, She as a black person can say what she wants about the civil movement, u can never take that away from her u HATER! Un like you she has family memebers who remind her of what they went through so how dare u even speak on that!
carly looks like boy george
David A. has got to go. Second verse, same as the first…..
The little guy looks like a muppet with a slight buzz. When he refused to sing the first verse of John Lennon’s “Imagine” because of the line “imagine no religon” American Idol should have put him in a circus cannon and shot him back to Utah.
