I had a late night catching Billy Elliot on Broadway for the 2nd time. Get tickets if you can, because the show is a true gift in these down economic times. It is a story of redemption in an era when the main livelihood was wiped away, and entire communities had to reinvent themselves. I will save my Billy Elliot review for a future column. But here's a suggestion, for those who have the extra spending money...buy tickets to the one current show that is an absolute must-see. It has electricity to spare.
Back to American Idol, I saw something blatant last night that totally annoyed me. Simon Cowell is (more brazenly than usual) using his influence to advance those he wants, and sabotage those he doesn't. It is beyond obvious that he does not want Kris and Allison in the top 3. Both were brilliant on the Rat Pack edition. What's infuriating is that the other judges could not give either higher praise, which then got fully dismissed with a condescending Cowell remark.
Kris took a song I love and owned it. "The Way You Look Tonight" show me that Kris Allen is the king of easygoing, natural ability. He isn't a belter, just a multi-talented performer. Because Idol producers have never touted him, he is, as Kara says, the dark horse in the competition. He solidified his status as my favorite tonight, but what Cowell did was disgusting. He basically told Kris and Allison that they don't think they can win the competition. His comments were rooted in....what, exactly? Yet, Jamie Foxx said Kris is his #1 precisely because he sells songs with emotion not vocal histrionics. That is the way I feel about him.
Allison did "Someone To Watch Over Me" and it was terrific. She still sometimes swallows her words and did not have the life experience to totally sell the song's message (it's not a song about one's family). I put it a notch below Kris tonight.
Matt Giraud was, for me, the weakest of the night. I didn't connect with him. Judges seemed to agree, but then Simon came in and pronounced that he acted like he could win it. It was a not so subtle dissing of Kris and Allison. It actually seemed calculated. He wants to control the top 3, that he sees as Matt, Danny and Adam. If that happens, we know who controls this show.
Danny Gokey was okay for me. I didn't need to hear some of the growling but "Come Rain Or Come Shine" was fine. I had no quarrel with it. I still feel he is relatively the same each week.
I was listenening to Mad World on my IPOD on my train ride home. I like Adam Lambert, but I think he is better off being a runner-up. Like Daughtry, he is too unique to be IDOL-ified. I think of Idol career moves as hit and miss. Some of the winners have been deserted (Ruben, Taylor), some have fallen in and out of favor (Kelly), some have had solid careers (Carrie, Kelly) and, for others, the jury is still out (Jordin, David). His performance of "You Know How I feel" was okay, but it did not blow me away. I was a bit disappointed, because it came in the pimp spot.
Here are my top 5 and predictions for the night:
1) Kris: Jamie Foxx gets him...3 judges get him..Simon wants more drama. And he picked one of my all-time favorites. Delivery does not get more sincere than that. Grade: A
2) Allison: There are many good people in the competition tonight and I think Allison was understated and tender. I still don't think the song was the best choice, even if she was supposedly singing about her family. Grade: B+
3t) Danny Gokey: He was good, just more of the same. He has a wonderful voice and I like his song. But I want to applaud loudly at the end. Grade: B
3t) Adam Lambert: He would have been better singing a ballad tonight. With his voice, he could have made magic. I did not like the arrangement, but there is no arguing his talent. Grade: B
5) Matt Giraud: Melinda Doolittle blasted this song out of the park. Matt had an infield single. Simon would like to see him make the top 3, but his was the most disconnected vocal of the night for me. Grade: C
There was a clear bottom tonight, Matt. But Simon did his best to save him....unless his fans think he is safe and don't over-vote.
I think Matt will be going home.
Back to American Idol, I saw something blatant last night that totally annoyed me. Simon Cowell is (more brazenly than usual) using his influence to advance those he wants, and sabotage those he doesn't. It is beyond obvious that he does not want Kris and Allison in the top 3. Both were brilliant on the Rat Pack edition. What's infuriating is that the other judges could not give either higher praise, which then got fully dismissed with a condescending Cowell remark.
Kris took a song I love and owned it. "The Way You Look Tonight" show me that Kris Allen is the king of easygoing, natural ability. He isn't a belter, just a multi-talented performer. Because Idol producers have never touted him, he is, as Kara says, the dark horse in the competition. He solidified his status as my favorite tonight, but what Cowell did was disgusting. He basically told Kris and Allison that they don't think they can win the competition. His comments were rooted in....what, exactly? Yet, Jamie Foxx said Kris is his #1 precisely because he sells songs with emotion not vocal histrionics. That is the way I feel about him.
Allison did "Someone To Watch Over Me" and it was terrific. She still sometimes swallows her words and did not have the life experience to totally sell the song's message (it's not a song about one's family). I put it a notch below Kris tonight.
Matt Giraud was, for me, the weakest of the night. I didn't connect with him. Judges seemed to agree, but then Simon came in and pronounced that he acted like he could win it. It was a not so subtle dissing of Kris and Allison. It actually seemed calculated. He wants to control the top 3, that he sees as Matt, Danny and Adam. If that happens, we know who controls this show.
Danny Gokey was okay for me. I didn't need to hear some of the growling but "Come Rain Or Come Shine" was fine. I had no quarrel with it. I still feel he is relatively the same each week.
I was listenening to Mad World on my IPOD on my train ride home. I like Adam Lambert, but I think he is better off being a runner-up. Like Daughtry, he is too unique to be IDOL-ified. I think of Idol career moves as hit and miss. Some of the winners have been deserted (Ruben, Taylor), some have fallen in and out of favor (Kelly), some have had solid careers (Carrie, Kelly) and, for others, the jury is still out (Jordin, David). His performance of "You Know How I feel" was okay, but it did not blow me away. I was a bit disappointed, because it came in the pimp spot.
Here are my top 5 and predictions for the night:
1) Kris: Jamie Foxx gets him...3 judges get him..Simon wants more drama. And he picked one of my all-time favorites. Delivery does not get more sincere than that. Grade: A
2) Allison: There are many good people in the competition tonight and I think Allison was understated and tender. I still don't think the song was the best choice, even if she was supposedly singing about her family. Grade: B+
3t) Danny Gokey: He was good, just more of the same. He has a wonderful voice and I like his song. But I want to applaud loudly at the end. Grade: B
3t) Adam Lambert: He would have been better singing a ballad tonight. With his voice, he could have made magic. I did not like the arrangement, but there is no arguing his talent. Grade: B
5) Matt Giraud: Melinda Doolittle blasted this song out of the park. Matt had an infield single. Simon would like to see him make the top 3, but his was the most disconnected vocal of the night for me. Grade: C
There was a clear bottom tonight, Matt. But Simon did his best to save him....unless his fans think he is safe and don't over-vote.
I think Matt will be going home.
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