American Idol: Season 7

[LauraleeH]

I was just coming back on to say I listened to it again. I think he said "I like the way you strip to that" probably still in reference to the controversy.

Ah, that's probably more like it.

[Melanie]

Loved, loved, loved David Cook tonight. The arrangement, voice, guitar - all perfect. I'd definitely buy that as a single.

[Ian]

Luke Menard - What can I say that Simon hasn't already? It was corny, weak vocally, cheesey ... if this isn't enough to send him home, nothing will ever be.

David Archuletta - I actually didn't think this was one of his better performances. Which is to say, he was still better than most of the other guys. The one thing I will say, though, is I'm not 100% sure what his niche will be as a professional singer.

Danny Noriega - Oh, please. You know I've heard people compare him to Sanjaya ... he's not nearly as talented as Sanjaya was. The only reason I can't manufacture more venom for him is because Amanda Overmeyer is still around. I honestly think Danny will go home this week. That was just awful. And kinda creepy.

David Hernandez - I think this guy has got some pipes. He can really belt it out and I liked his performance last night a lot. He could be a dark horse in this race, because he really is very, very talented.

Michael Johns - Real fast before I forget ... I agree with PirateLover about Randy's comments. They made no sense at all.

I actually really liked his performance last night. He really does channel Michael Hutchence very well and I liked his take on the song. He was one of the best of the night, I thought.

David Cook - Yo, yo, yo!! Alright dawg, so checkitout ... that was HOT, baby!! The H to the O to the T! No really ... I loved, loved, loved this performance. If I had an actual iPod I'd download it and listen to it. It had single written all over it. Excellent. He really blew the competition away with it.

Jason Castro -Liked it. Loved the song choice, too. Anyone gutsy enough to tackle this song has my admiration. He did a great job, too. I kinda wish he'd kept the guitar, but I understand why he didn't. Very good, though. I like this guy.

Chikezie -The vocals were good, but ... I just find him very blah. I said it before ... he seems like a million church choir singers around the country and, honestly, I just don't like gospel-type singers. Not my thing.

Agree with Pirate Lover that Luke and Danny were the worst and I actually think they'll go home this week.

Agree, too, about Paula and the sauce. She was near incomprehensible at times, she kept rambling on and on ... have another, Paula!!

[Melanie]

Oh my, I was still so enamored with David's performance that I forgot to mention that I didn't get Jason Castro's performance AT ALL. I guess I've been living under a rock (that seems to have happened to me since I became a parent), but I've never heard that song before (when was it released and who sang it???) and based on that performance, hope I never do again. Sorry, I just don't get it.

And yes Jeff, I think Danny will be around to torture us for weeks to come. He's annoying with a capital A. I'd take both Scott Savol and Sanjaya together over him in a heartbeat.

Still loving Michael.

Oh yeah, I have an iPod. I think I'll head on over and download Hello, the David Cook version.

[JanetMegan]

Luke Menard- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (WHAM!).
Ugh really? I mean why on earth did he think this was a good idea of a song to sing-wayyyyy too cheesy for me! I think he's at the end of the road and it's a time for him to "go-go".

David Archuletta- Another Day in Paradise (Phil Collins)
Oo this was good, I didn't know he played piano. I'm a real sucker for dudes who play the piano. But it wasn't a good as last week. I agreed with the judges I'd like him to sing something a little more up-tempo. He reminds me of Clay sometimes...I keep waiting for him to belt out "Solitare"




Danny Noriega- Tainted Love (Soft Cell)
Ok sorry, I liked it. I know people will argue with me til the cows come home (esp Ian) but here is why. I know the point of American idol is to find the next great talent, but it's other point is to ENTERTAIN millions of people. And I'm sorry but I, for one, was entertained. Maybe not for the right reasons, but I just laugh and laugh when I see him and it's far from the boring songs some of the others are singing. So there ya go...



David Hernandez- It's All Coming Back to Me Now ETA Apparently the original 80s version was Pandora's Box, and then it was redone by Celine, and the Meatloaf.
I wanted this to be a little better. It was ok but not as good as last week. I missed Simon's comment, wish I had heard it



Michael Johns-Don't You Forget About Me (Simple Minds)
It was ok, I think he'll stay on to the top 12, but there is something about him that's a little off that I can't put my finger on. Plus this week I finally finished watching last season of Prison Break (almost the whole thing) and he reminds me of Whistler (that backstabber.)



David Cook- Hello (Lionel Ritchie)
Ooo, this was good, best yet from him I think. Good choice and I loved the arrangement too. Nice with the guitar.


Jason Castro- Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Good choice for him but I disagreed with the judges and thought that on all songs he SHOULD have played guitar on this one. It's such a haunting song. While not as good as the Jeff Buckley version I give him props for doing that song.



Chikezie- All the (Wo)Man I Need- Various
You know I have really liked him, but that was only ok. I think it will be him and Luke gone tonight.

[SBETigg]

I was thinking the same thing with Michael Johns. When he came out, I thought it was a weak song choice and wondered why he didn't do INXS and then Randy mistook the Simple Minds classic for INXS? That's two big misses for Randy this year and no one corrected him again.

Danny sang what I can only guess is closest to the Pussycat Dolls version of Tainted Love, a 60s classic by Gloria Jones (2nd wife of T Rex's Marc Bolan) remade into a huge hit by Softcell in the 80s.

I did not like David Hernandez last week (papa was a rolling stone, judges loved it) and this week was worse for me. It has nothing to do with his stripping, lap dancing past. That's not a problem for me. I just don't think he's all that great.

David Cook. I don't know. Everyone seemed to love this Hello version, but I thought it was just about as cheesy as it gets. I don't get a big rocker vibe from him. Emo, maybe. I really don't like him much. Though I do have to give him some points for taking a risk.

I really did like Jason Castro and David Archaluta last night. Michael Johns is still okay for me. And there's something really likeable about Luke Menard.

At risk, Danny (please, please go home!) Chikezie, and Luke. I think everyone else was okay and it was the most watchable week yet. My biggest disappointment was that no one did a Duran Duran song. What is 80s night without some Hungry like the Wolf, I ask you?

[JanetMegan]

I secretly hope one of the girls sings Bonnie Tyler

[tinkerbell04]

I agree that Danny and Luke and Chikezie were the weak ones. I think Danny really needs to go but I am not sure that he will. I agree with Ian that he is not nearly as talented as Sanjaya and I didn't like him! I really liked the rest of them, but David Cook's was my favorite

[murphy1]

Hey, guys, I'm not watching the show, but our radio was talking about Danny, they were talking about this creepy Christmas video on Youtube he did and it's just disgusting, I seriously hope he is not on this show long. But it sounds like he won't be from how "talented" he is.

[Jeff G]

By the way, I did not get Randy's comments at all. He said something about bringing it home and going to the roots for 80s night and talked about Michael Hutchence. Simples Minds was a Scottish group and Michal Hutchence was the Australian lead singer of INXS so I really wasn't following him there.

I was confused by this comment. Simple Minds and INXS don't even sound similar.

When Michael Johns is on stage he has the same moves every week which seemed familiar at first and now I placed it. Watch him perform and then turn on The Doors movie, he seems to emulate Jim Morrison (or Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison).

My top three this week were David Cook (I would buy this version of Hello), Jason Castro & David Archueletta.

My bottom three were Danny Noriega, Luke Menard and Chikezie.

I really hope Danny goes this week.

BTW - You all do a great job each week reviewing the perfomances, it's fun to come on here and read the reviews and differing opinions. Keep em coming!

[TheDuckRocks]

On Sunday I was with a group of people that got into a discussion about how really good and popular contestants get sent home because of lack of votes. We were all saying that we sure hopes this doesn't happen this year to David A, David C and a couple of others.
Well, as an experiment last night I called in to "vote" for my favorites (David A and C and Jason) and I never had any trouble getting through. Just out of seeing what was happening over at Danny Noriega's line I tired there and it was always busy!!! Good thing as I truely would have hated to have even given him one vote. If they haven't greatly changed the phone lines this doesn't look good, as in years past I always had trouble with getting through to the popular contestants lines.

[PirateLover]

OK I'll admit that Danny's performance was entertaining......... if it was at karaoke night or a drag show, not on American Idol.


And Mel, Hallelujah was a song originally written and performed by Leonard Cohen in 1984. One of the most popular covers was done by ill-fated but very talented singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. A version was also used in Shrek and it's been in a variety of TV shows, usually during a death or a bad breakup or some other tragedy because it's just a really haunting melody with only an acoustic guitar and one voice that really uses dynamics for emphasis. I Think you probably have to sit down and listen to the song in it's entirety and read the lyrics to appreciate it but if you really didn't like Jason Castro then maybe you won't like the song because he was pretty dead on.

Anyway here are the lyrics to the Jeff Buckley version:

Well I heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Well Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
she tied you to her kitchen chair
And she broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Well baby I've been here before
I know this room and I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew ya
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Well there was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me do you?
And remember when I moved in you?
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Well maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who'd out drew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah etc etc

[KarenP]

I am certain Luke will be going tonight. There is something about him I really like. I was hoping he would really improve but his vocals were very weak.

Danny's performance grossed me out. I want him to go most of all.

I still don't care for Hernandez. I am not sure why but I never have.

Loved David Cook!

I still really like David Archuletta but last night was not my favorite performance.

Michael Johns needs to step it up.

I still don't like Chikezee although his performance last night was not too bad.

Jason Castro sang very well but I did not know the song.

Paula was obnoxious. She rambled on and on. I could have slapped her.

[MNNHFLTX]

Well, now two of the Davids (Archuletta and Cook) are my favorites! Honestly, I just loved David Cook's version of "Hello", it was so powerful and creatively done. I think that performance has raised the bar for everyone else for next week, even for himself.

It will be interesting to see what the ladies do tonight--although so far I am enjoying the guys' performance more so than the girls.

[Jeff]

Brook White - my favorite to win it all.

For the first time I liked Carly Smithson.

What a "comeback" from Amanda Overmyer - so much better. Although, I would still send her home tonight.

[Melanie]

One of the most popular covers was done by ill-fated but very talented singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. A version was also used in Shrek and it's been in a variety of TV shows, usually during a death or a bad breakup or some other tragedy because it's just a really haunting melody with only an acoustic guitar and one voice that really uses dynamics for emphasis.

Okay, I guess I really have been living under a rock, cause I've never even heard of this guy. I just went and read his biography. And I've never seen Shrek, so there ya go.

[PirateLover]

Finally I felt that it was overall a good night for the girls with some smart song choices. Based solely on tonight's performances there is only one clear person to go home for me....
Some overall observations:
Paula was once again on goofballs
Randy is completely expendable as a judge
What was up with the high waisted pants? This is 80s night not 70s night II. I thought the high waisted pant comeback ended as quickly as it began this time last year...

Asia'h- I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney)
High waisted pant #1
This song sounded flat throughout to me but Randy didn't call her on pitchiness so maybe it was just me. This is another car jam of mine. I agree with Simon's comment. She's a second rate Whitney. She wasn't terrible but she didn't bring it home. She could be in danger of being sent home.

Kady- Who Wants to Live Forever (Queen)
Wow she really hit a bum note during the first key change. I also don't like people who say "Thank You" right as the song ends. It was definitely her best performance but that isn't really saying much, is it? It wasn't good enough. She'll be gone tomorrow.

Amanda- I Hate Myself For Loving You (Joan Jett)
OK, the train is back on the track! SOOO much better than the first two weeks. She still doesn't seem like she'll have much of a range of songs that she can sing, which means she'll struggle with themes and won't go TOO far. I guess the judges are sick of the same old girls because I still don't get the way they completely fawn all over her, Simon especially. She was good, but not GREAT.

Carly- I Drove All Night (Cyndi Lauper)
High waisted pant #2
I liked it a lot. I did NOT like the faces she was making while straining to hit the high notes. It looked like she was singing from her throat and not her diaphragm which is surprising given the number of years she's been singing. That's how you blow out your vocal cords.

Kristy Lee Cook-Faithfully (Journey)
It was alright until the end. I cringed on one of those notes. She also should not eat red lollipops before she sings, that tongue was distracting. She wasn't bad but she's just not my thing.

Ramiele- Against All Odds (Phil Collins)
Her lips are WAY too shiny!
I think she has amazing vocal control but she needs more attitude/personality. She seemed very tentative, but she's so adorable! Not the perfect song choice but I liked it overall.

Brooke- Love is A Battlefield (Pat Benetar)
Love me some Benetar and this was a very surprising choice but she made it work. It was stripped down and beautiful. Perfect choice. This girl really knows how to perform.

Syeshia- Saving All My Love For You (Whitney)
I was surprised that this was an 80s song. I looked it up and saw it was released in 85. I honestly would've guessed like 1992. But either way I used to absolutely love this song and I haven't heard it in a while. I think it was a great choice for her, it showcased her vocals perfectly. Too bad Paula's incoherent ramblings ate up so much time that Syeshia couldn't get meaningful feedback.

Who I want to go: Kady, Kristy Lee
Who I think will go: Kady, Asia'h

[Emily]

I watched both the guys and girls tonight (thank goodness for TiVo) because I was out last night, so I'm a bit behind.

First, I also have to mention... what's up with Randy not knowing his songs?! How in the world can you mistake Simple Minds for INXS?? And like someone else pointed out, isn't that 2 misses for him so far? And why won't anyone correct him? For someone in the "biz" he sure makes some stupid mistakes. Irritating. I guess it's because I'm BOTH a Simple Minds fan and an INXS fan that it irritates me!

Anyway, on to the guys... I really liked David A., David C., Michael Johns and Jason Castro. I thought David C.'s version of "Hello" was really unique and interesting. Agree with Simon that David A. needs to liven it up a bit, time for an up-tempo song, IMO. And if I could act like Paula for a second (Lord help me ), Jason Castro is just pretty in every sense of the word, like almost girly pretty. He has this beautiful flawless skin, nice lips, pretty eyes, and he's just so... well, pretty! Not cute or handsome... pretty. I'm sure I'm making no sense. And no, I haven't been hitting the sauce like Paula. (Man, WHAT is she on??)

I think David Hernandez has a good voice, he should stick around. I have absolutely no use for Chikezie. Luke seems like a nice enough guy, but I'm just not feeling it. Danny Noriega, oy... Don't know quite what to say about him. I'd be fine with Luke, Danny or Chikezie getting the boot.

I thought the women did pretty well, maybe a tad boring at times. Still love Brooke! I love the song "Love is a Battlefield" and I like what she did with it. I like Carly, Ramiele and Asia'h. Amanda was definitely better this week, but would still love to see her get the heave-ho. I really want to like Kady, but I have to agree with Simon that her performances are lacking a bit in personality. Kristy Lee Cook and Syesha can certainly sing, but I'm just not feeling anything strong one way or the other about them yet. My top 2 girls are Brooke and probably Carly - the only one I have strong negative feelings about is Amanda.

Lastly, it was 80's night and after all, that is my favorite decade ... have to agree with Sherri, where was the Duran Duran?! I think "Save a Prayer" would have been a good choice for someone. I've heard some really interesting versions of that song, and it can actually showcase the right singer's voice pretty well.

By and large, I am impressed with this year's talent, though.

[SBETigg]

Were the judges even listening to Kady? That was horrendous. She's in great danger of going home. I can't believe they were complimentary. I did not think it was her best yet. It wasn't even close to good. But then, I'm very familiar with the song and she was a mess with it.

Amanda was better, but let's face it-- that's all she can do well. And it wasn't even great, as Maryanne said. And I agree. Kristy Lee has a screaming red tongue every week, and it distracts my husband every week. This is the first time I noticed it, too.

Ramiele wore those same shoes last week. She can't move in them. They keep her anchored in place, and that's a bad idea because then she looks too karaoke and she is one of the best in the bunch. She needs to wear shoes she can move in and work the stage.

I didn't like Syesha, but didn't hate her. Actually, that's how I felt about everyone tonight. I wasn't blown away by Brooke's lowkey rendition, but she wasn't bad. Asia'h, Kady, and Amanda are at biggest risk, I think.

[Ian]

Asia'h - I'm sorry, but this was a lame song choice. Stop with the Whitney and the Celine already ... it's hokey. Pick something original. She sounded okay, but I agree with Simon ... 2nd rate Whitney. She's middle of the pack, but safe.

Kady - I didn't think she was that bad, but that one sour note stuck out like a sore thumb. Odd song choice, too. Not exactly a well-known 80's song. Anyway, she was a notch above "meh" and will probably be going home.

Amanda - Okay ... apparently the deafness is spreading because people are saying that she sounded "better." I'm sorry, but no she didn't. You need to really listen to her when the chorus hits and the music goes up ... she sounds HORRIBLE. When she tries to power through the "big" sections of the songs, I think she intentionally has the band dial up the volume to cover her over. I thought she was just as awful last night as she has been in the past and if she doesn't go home it's a travesty. She's rotten.

Carly - Good, but not great. I kept waiting for some moment during her performance where she'd just blow me away, but it never really ever got there. Honestly, I keep wanting to fall in love with her, but it never happens. She's kinda like the girl you go to the prom with who gives you a handshake when it's all over.

Kristy Lee Cook - I actually thought she did a really nice job with this song. I would have liked to see someone tackle a little more interesting Journey song (Faithfully is just so played out), but it was a nice effort. I kinda liked the way she "countrified" it. I agreed with whichever one of the judges said they thought it could be a hit single.

Ramiele - Again ... good, but not great. She's got terrific pipes, but the whole package makes it tough to love her. She's dull. And she made another dull song choice, too. What's up with picking all these lame songs? The 80's was an upbeat music generation and we get all these slow, depressing ballads?? I wasn't really a fan of any of the song choices this week, except ...

Brooke - Ahhhhhhhhhh ... now that was gooooooooooooood. I loved the way she stripped the song down and just laid it bare. Nothing but the guitar and her sweet, crystal clear vocals. I thought she was really great. Best of the week for the girls, hands down.

Syeshia - Ugh. Again with the slow ballads??? I'm sorry, but I can't stand all these generic, sappy 80's love songs and Whitney tops that list in my book. I think she was good, but I couldn't get past the fact that we had to suffer through another boring song selection.

Honestly, I thought too many of the girls missed the boat on song selection. To me, when you have a generational genre, you really need to pick a song that represents the overarching kind of "theme" of that generation. The 80's were upbeat, hip, flashy ... you don't represent that with "Saving All My Love for You." I can only assume that they end up with a very limited catalogue of songs to choose from, because that's the only explanation for these oddball selections week in and week out.