It's Andrew Lloyd Webber week! Which means...Musicals! Simon is miserable, Paula looks like a real human being for the first time in forever, and for a second, I thought Randy was giving the finger to Ricky Minor and the band. THIS...Is American Idol.
Lord Andrew is excited because he loves British Idol, will he still be excited when the night is over? (Spoiler: NO!) Poor guy looks terrible in HD, by the way. Kind of like a Hobbit after a face lift. Where's Enya week?
Sayesha Mercado Singing: "One Rock & Roll Too Many" from Starlight Express Lord Andrew Says: Quit being so goddamn boring. Performance: Sayesha shows more life in this one performance than she has in about nine million shows or however long this season has been on again. She's lost the poofy hair again (yay!), she's flirty with guitar guy and Ricky Minor, she's emoting for once. She's still totally boring and unmemorable, but her best performance of the season. I love how Simon is implying that she should quit the show and go do theatre. Thanks, Simon! Judges Say: Nobody knows this musical, but it wasn't bad. I Say: Finally, the Sayesha that I don't remember! Change: +2 Score: -1
Jason Castro Singing: "Memory" from Cats Lord Andrew Says: I don't think he'll remember a thing I said. Performance: Jason has never seen a musical. Andrew Lloyd Webber has no freaking idea what to do with Jason, which is funny. I guess I have a misconception of how many potheads are involved in musical theatre. Then again, Jason has no idea what to do with Jason. This is just awful. Nobody has any idea how to take this. Even Castro knows that this isn't going well. Old cat songs and this show don't really mix. Then Simon says not to vote for Jason. Bwahahahaha! Judges Say: What the hell was that all about? I Say: He could've saved it by pulling out the Phyllis Diller impression. Change: -2 Score: -5
Brooke White Singing: "You Must Love Me" from Evita Lord Andrew Says: I don't think...she gets it. Performance: Next up in our "Brooke is rather rapidly falling apart" segment: Brooke forgets the words. It's right at the beginning of the song, and she decides to point it out by telling Ricky Minor to start over. The rest of the song is really good, actually, her best performance in weeks, but that stop start thing? That sticks with people. She got away with it once, but not twice. Poor Brooke. I feel horrible for her. Simon tries to pull it together by saying he would've done the same thing, but she's about three seconds away from exploding because she knows she's going home. The Judges Say: That kinda fell apart pretty fast. I Say: At this point? Send the poor girl home to her rainbows and kittens, this competition is killing her. Change: -3 Score: -1
David Archuleta Singing: "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera Lord Andrew Says: STOP SQUINTING, YOU LITTLE TROLL! Performance: It takes David about 10 seconds to settle into his first squint of the night. Ugh. This has been an even longer night than some of the two hour shows, y'alls. I do love it when he realizes the camera is on a close up so he tries to open his eyes really wide. The problem with getting him to open his eyes is that you realize there is litterally no emotion there. Just a halfway decent voice. The judges, of course, go nuts. Judges Say: Lavamoltenhotexplosionofthebomb,dawg! I Say: STOP SQUINTING, YOU LITTLE TROLL! Change: -2 Score: -2
Carly Smithson Singing: "Jesus Christ Superstar" from Jesus Christ Superstar Lord Andrew Says: You're fucking singing what I tell you to, you little Irish brat! I'm LORD Andrew Lloyd Fucking Webber! Performance: Yeah, him cutting her boring ballad off was pretty awesome. It was like, "I wrote that, so I *know* it's going to be terrible." To his credit: He was right. Easily Carly's best performance since "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and certainly in her top two or three all year. Dig her Persian Carpet dress with spangly boobs! And Ricky Minor feeding her "Simon Loves Me" props). Ricky Minor is all OVER this show tonight. Judges Say: This is why you should listen to Lord Andrew. I Say: I know she despirately wanted to sing that boring ballad, but this was the best option. Change: +2 Score: +2
David Lee Cook Singing: "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera Lord Andrew Says: Pretend I'm a seven year old girl, and you're a Utah Cultist Performance: He couldn't go full throttle on his whiny emo-ting, and he actually sounds really good. I don't think he has a future on Broadway or anything, but all things considered this is way better than it had any right to be. He actually pulls it all off until the last note, when he slips back into that throaty Daughtrey crap that he spent the whole week getting rid of. Damn it, Cook! Judges Say: Lavadoublehalfcafvskimventibomb,dawg! I Say: Inexplicably good, until that last awful note. Change: +2 Score: +6
What a really, really long night. Brooke had the unfortunate distinction of screwing up in a major way on a night when Sayesha finally actually did something. Her only hope is that Castro hangers on don't get up the gall to vote for his Catwoman performance. Which is really unfortunate, because once she reset, she did a pretty terrific job of covering that song.
Still, performance of the night honors to Carly, David Lee, and Sayesha in that order.
Bottom Three:
Sayesha Mercado Jason Castro Brooke White
Eliminated:
Brooke White. Poor Brooke. She was doomed from the word "Go" on this one, I'm afraid. Castro's performance was mind blowingly awful from start to finish, but he's just plain more popular than she is, and while Sayesha is normally predictably boring, this week she actually had a personality. So farewell, Brooke! I hope you start feeling better soon. Take some solace in the fact that you outperformed Castro and Archuletta tonight...on your second try.
(edited by Excalibur05 on 22.4.08 2129) For NFL Power Rankings, My Blog and More, check out Hock Show Dot Com (hockshow.com)
David A - one of his better weeks. Hard to stop squinting when it's a habit but the poor kid tried. He did great.
Carly - best of the night by a mile. Instead of looking pissed she actually smiled through a song. She gets better every week in my view, just doesn't have the fan base.
Syesha - man I wanted to hate this but it was damn good. She was the lock to go home, with Carly at the bottom too, and both pulled off their best nights of the season.
Jason - Normally you're just there and pleasant. Tonight sucked.
Brooke - totally with you that without the false start, she was great. But it happened so she's in trouble.
So the question now becomes....do we go with what SHOULD be obvious and say Brooke or Jason is going home?
Or do we learn from last week, where we all convinced ourselves that even though Kristy was hated that her better performances would get her noticed?
I'm going with the latter and saying bye bye Syesha.
That was FANTASTIC. Unfortunately, I think that sets her up for sympathy votes and Jason is going to feel the brunt.
Also, Syesha was tremendous, but her comment that they finally had given her a theme that would let her show her personality? Like she hasn't had eight weeks to pick better songs.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
WEBBER WEEK! I do have a dark and secret love of Webber's work, so I am quite intrigued by this week. Will David C. somehow turn "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" into a 90's grunge song? Will David CLB. avoid another week of dog food in the basement? Will Brooke finally go insane on live tv? Is Syesha still on the show? So many questions to answer.
Syesha - We see her working with Lord ALW. Mrs. SPF points out that Syesha seems unaware there is any such thing as middle ground in performance. I point out that she likely learned that in one of David CLB's "Master Class" performances. I will say she looks good, if toothy, tonight and is really giving it a go on a rather middling song. Probably her best performance in many weeks, and while she will be bottom 3, she likely survives one more week.
Jason - I am enjoying the interaction with Webber and the contestants, as he is the first mentor this season to actively criticize their performances. This fell apart 2 seconds into the performance, when it was obvious that Jason was going to try and tackle the traditional Broadway/Streisand arrangment of "Memory". Bad idea. After two weeks of impressing me he made me turn off this week. But I'll be forgiving and say this was just a terrible decision that led to an inevitably bad performance. Safe as it seems likely to be an all female bottom 3, but the worst performance of the night.
Brooke - I am officially fascinated by Brooke at this point. Webber gives possibly the best mentor work of the season to Brooke, and it seems to connect for her. Great choice in "You Must Love Me" as A) it was written for someone without a huge vocal range and B) it really fits her at this point. I couldn't care less about stopping and starting a song, at least not 5-10 seconds in. But what it did, for me anyhow, is to make her that much more vulnerable and scared, two things that work for the song. Technically it was good but not great, but I felt like this was the difference between her and a more technically proficient singer like little David. He threw all those runs and big notes in his song and never connected with it, in fact he sucked any emotion out of it. And personally, and this is just my own personal taste obviously, I'd rather hear a song done with that intangible passion and connection and a few rough notes than to hear a big booming song that has no soul to it. Brooke's soul, battered and scared by a competition that is probably too much for her, was in that song, and I approved to the point of actually calling in for the first time since Chikeze was on the show. Bottom 3, most likely going home, but not before making at least a couple fans at SPF Manor.
David CLB - And its my favorite person. Webber tells the creepy little bastard to stop squinting. David says he is feeling the music. I think he's just trying not to see his father menacingly wielding the wrench again. David decides to kill "Think of Me" this evening. For the first half of the song he goes for pleasant and bland, before unleashing Mjolnir, the Sledgehammer of Song Bludgeoning in the second half with unnecessary runs and out of place notes. This is just not all that good. He's still gaspy when he's not hitting his giant notes, and he still brings the Robo-David quality to a piece. He's safe because he's going to the finals and he brings the molten lavablahblahblah. He's becoming the Robert Goulet to my Elvis, and my tv is beginning to look at me with fear and suspicion.
Carly - I would have liked to see her do "All I Ask of You" but that's just me. She did a good job with the song, and seemed playful about it. I liked the performance well enough, but still wish she had done her original choice. The t-shirt was amusing, though the "Look, aren't I funny? Huh? Huh?" was a bit grating after a bit. But still the shirt was funny enough to justify it for me. Bottom 3 but safe.
David C. - I was nervous when I heard he was doing "Music of the Night" but it turned out there was nothing to fear. He nailed it and he showed that he can work in a style other than the one he's been known for. Safe and still cruising to the inevitable David/David clash in the finals.
(edited by spf on 23.4.08 1007) 2007 W-League Fantasy Football champion!
I was not looking forward to this week since I'm not a showtunes person and I thought for sure they'd all pick songs I've never heard of. And also because of Archuleta. Luckily, I recognized pretty much all the songs but Archuleta still showed up with his Hannah Montana clone army of fans.
Syesha - I can't stand it. I don't want her to go home anymore. She just keeps getting better... and looking hotter. (I know it's a singing competition, Simon.)
Jason - Hahahaha. Seriously, I know Jason probably hasn't seen Cats but someone should've made him watch it before he decided on "Memories". I'm hoping he would've said, "Yeah, should probably leave that one for the ladies." I knew this one was tanking before it started.
Brooke - First time stopping & starting was somewhat charming. Second was extremely irritating. And Simon was right - she sounded rattled throughout the rest of the song.
The Chosen One - Yes, the girls love you. No, I still don't like you. Yes, you have a great voice. No, no one is buying the shy, modest act for a second.
Carly - I was not familiar with her other choice but it could not have been as good as Jesus Christ Superstar. Best performance of Don Muraco's entrance music I've ever heard.
David C. - The one showtune I REALLY like is "Music of the Night" so I was concerned he might ruin it for me. Wow. Amazing job - right up until the last note. I agree with Excalibur - that song is not meant to be rocked out like that, even if it's only the last note and you want to stamp your trademark on it. My favorite of the night, however.
Bottom three: Jason, Brooke and Syesha Going home: Brooke
Not the best week by any means, but some interesting performances, to say the least:
Syesha - I think this was Syesha's best performance of the competition. That said, I think it means she has a great future on Broadway, but isn't a popular recording artist, so it kind of screws her as far as this particular competition goes. Clearly not as popular as others on the show, so going to be in the bottom 3.
Jason - *sigh* I really, really like Jason, but he was bad this week. Just clearly not his theme and definitely the wrong song. When the show started, I said "Please, God, no one do Memory!". And then there he was. I think he gets through, though, because it simply was clearly not his week and his girly fans will forgive it. His worst performance ever, though.
Brooke - My long-running distaste for Brooke seems to be rewarded, as she screwed herself pretty well. I actually think she was still terrible, even after the re-start, and I didn't see that emotional connection. She seemed vulnerable, yes, but more like a nervous "God, I screwed up and don't want to go home" than "I'm dying and want to convey my love to you" sort of way.
Archuleta - Ugh. This boy wears on me more and more, week after week. Everything he sings sounds the same. Randy's "you can sing anything, dawg" merely means that he reduces everything he sings to the same breathy pablum. It's like he swaddles every song with cotton. Still sure to sail through, because girls want his pasty virgin penis.
Carly - I thought she was really great this week, very fun, sexy, and she sounded really good. Carly's still my favorite girl in the competition, and I think she's safe this week.
David Cook - Unlike David A., Cook seems to actually be able to sing any style he wants, put his own imprint on it but not water it down. Excellent performance, best of the night, clearly safe.
Bottom 3: For me this week, Brooke, Jason, Archuleta, with Brooke going home. I think the actual 3 will be Syesha, Brooke and Jason, with Brooke still going home.
"Never piss off a hawk with a blowgun" - Conan O'Brien
Originally posted by wmatisticI'm with you on most of it.
David A - one of his better weeks. Hard to stop squinting when it's a habit but the poor kid tried. He did great.
Carly - best of the night by a mile. Instead of looking pissed she actually smiled through a song. She gets better every week in my view, just doesn't have the fan base.
Syesha - man I wanted to hate this but it was damn good. She was the lock to go home, with Carly at the bottom too, and both pulled off their best nights of the season.
Jason - Normally you're just there and pleasant. Tonight sucked.
Brooke - totally with you that without the false start, she was great. But it happened so she's in trouble.
So the question now becomes....do we go with what SHOULD be obvious and say Brooke or Jason is going home?
Or do we learn from last week, where we all convinced ourselves that even though Kristy was hated that her better performances would get her noticed?
I'm going with the latter and saying bye bye Syesha.
How did I forget David C? Unlike pretty much everyone I've come across today, I honestly thought he was horrible. That song in no way fit him and made it impossible for me to take it seriously. Early on he struggled with a few notes, he didn't show the emotion ALW was trying to get from him and then had to push the rocker note at the end. Bleh in every way.
Alas, Snaggletooth, it wasn't meant to be. I sincerely hope some record company doesn't screw you over again. This one was all about fan bases, and Carly never did much to inspire one, I guess (I certainly thought Sayesha would have a smaller one, though). I also think sympathy votes played a big factor into it. Unfortunately, I don't think "The Music of Neal Diamond" is what's going to pull Brooke out of her funk.
On a side note, I just realized during her exit package that Carly is kind of hot when she's got her mouth shut. So...there you go.
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