Running a little behind tonight because I was crying over a blog post that made me sad while the husband was doing the Wii Fit, but I am good to go now and at least I won't have to watch commercials. I love DVRs.
The theme tonight is songs from the year the contestants were born. We see baby pics of all the judges and Ryan. Randy was the cutest of the bunch.
Danny Gokey was born in 1980, and is the oldest contestant, and is singing Mickey Gilley's version of "Stand By Me." He isn't two lines in before the husband says, "Pitchy," and I say, "Boring." Sound familiar? I hope this isn't the same as last week, when I was bored by the whole thing and hated everyone. Oh, but I do hate this performance. This is quite possibly the lamest version of this song I have heard. Husband disagrees and thinks it's better than the original. Randy didn't love the arrangement but said Danny is such an amazing singer that Danny made him love it. Kara says ditto. Hump-happy Paula says he set the bar so high no one else will be able to catch up. Simon says overall it was great.
Kris Allen was born in 1985 and wanted to be a taxi driver when he was little. He is singing "All She Wants to Do Is Dance." He gets to be in the audience scrum this week. I really hate that. Also, I might be grumpy tonight. I am enjoying this more than Danny's performance. Husband feels the opposite and made some sort of disgusted sound just now as he passed through the family room. Kara liked the up tempo but said it felt like an assignment for music class. Paula said he made it his own and is one of the most likable contestants ever. Simon agrees Kris is likable but says it was indulgent, boring, and forgettable. Then some girl in audience yells out, "Kris, you're hot!" Simon says, "So am I, but it's not about that." Randy agrees with Simon that Kris came across as a guitarist who wants to sing, not a singer.
Lil Rounds was born in 1984. Lil is her real name, after someone named Lily. That's what I thought all along, because I am totally smart. She is singing Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It." Husband makes the loudest disgusted sound ever from the kitchen as soon as she starts singing. I love her hair and make-up tonight. She looks great. I think she did really well but maybe the judges will say it was too much a sound-alike. Paula says Lil looks hot and then rambles through a bunch of words without much meaning. Simon sums it up for Paula and agrees that it was copycat sort of performance and that they have lost who Lil is. Randy repeats it all. Lil looks sad at the critique. I feel sad for her. I think I am still sad about that blog post. He says there are lots of other songs from that year that could have been better for her. Kara doesn't add much new. Lil takes it like a champ and says she hears the judges and will try to do what they say and change their minds about her.
Anoop Desai was born in 1986 and is an only child whose parents took so many pics of him by himself that they ruined picture taking for him. He tells Ryan he is sorry for sassing Kara during the judging last week because that isn't how he normally is and not how he wants to present himself. He is singing Cindy Lauper's "True Colors," one of my all-time favorite songs. It is nice and smooth, but lacking a little bit of heart that I think comes from having a little bit of quirk in your voice, like Ms. Lauper and some other guy I have heard singing it. Randy thought it was a very nice, controlled vocal. Kara agrees. Paula loved everything. Simon says he is like a singing yo-yo; up one week, down the next. This was an up week, but Simon didn't think it was fantastic. He also says that Anoop doesn't need to apologize for anything; the judges can be horrible to him and he can be horrible back.
Scott MacIntyre was born in 1985 and loved trains as a kid. His mom looks YOUNG. He is singing "The Search Is Over." He is not at the piano this week. He is standing at the mic and playing electric guitar. He doesn't look awkward. His movements are much more natural here than during the hokey group sings. Some notes, not so hot. Kara commends him for playing the guitar and taking on a difficult song, but maybe wouldn't have picked it for him for that reason. Paula has lipstick on her teeth and calls him out on missing the notes, "but overall, bravo." Simon says he should go back to the piano because that's where he is comfortable. Simon says the song was horrible (the song, not Scott) and that the guitar playing wasn't much better. Randy says it was just all ok, but didn't show Scott as a star. Scott says he was trying to show his versatility.
Allison Iraheta was born in 1992, the year I graduated from high school. For some reason her pediatrician said she was going to be a singer because she talked so much. What? She is singing Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me." I love her hair this week, but I kind of hate Allison from the moment she opens her mouth. Her facial expressions seem so fake. Her singing is great and gave the husband goosebumps. Paula says Allison gave all of her heart and that this is a perfect example of a contestant making the song her own even without changing the arrangement. Simon says that it was good but now they need to figure out how to make her more likable, to get her personality to come out more. Randy says she reminds him of Kelly Clarkson and that she can "sing her face off." Kara said she took the adult content in that song and made it believable and young. I don't quite agree on that point.
Matt Giraud was born in 1985. Fortunately, he did grow into his ears. He is singing Stevie Wonder's "Part Time Lover." Paula and Kara get the foreplay going by standing up and dancing almost immediately. This is way better than last week's terrible performance. Kara is spent already, but Paula is still going strong. This is definitely his own version and not Stevie Wonder's. I liked it. Maybe this was my favorite so far. Randy says that it was vocally one of the best of the night. Kara says unbelievable on every level. Paula says, "Two words, standing O." I think that is technically a word and a letter. Simon says it was a million times better than last week. They rushed through the judging because they are over time AGAIN.
Thank goodness we started recording FRINGE or else we would have missed Adam's entire performance. Get it together, American Idol.
Adam was born in 1982. Oh my gosh, he was blond and freckled. He is singing "Mad World." He has his old hairstyle back, so my love for him has also returned. I like this version and I think it was a very good performance, but maybe not enough variation in the song. Simon is the only judge talking because there is NO TIME, he gives Adam a standing ovation.
Watching the recaps, Matt was my favorite, Adam my second favorite. Bottom three for tomorrow night: Scott, Kris, and Lil.
