Brief summary of tonight...
Rod Stewart was classy. What a great gentleman. A very good influence IMHO.
Terrific show tonight. Everyone brought their A-game. Guess it goes to show you what happens when the contestants get to sing songs that are classics for good reason, instead of the crap that passes for pop music today. OK, on to the performances:
Chris: For the last few weeks I’ve been saying “Wow me or else” about Chris. Well…consider me wowed! He did a great job just singing the song rather than screaming it. He was in tune, showed vulnerability, and, near the end, also seemed to exhibit some control over his vibrato. Job well done. Who says this guy can;t be flexible ? Who says he's only into the yelling and screaming ? He can show his sensitive side if he wants to.
We're off to a good start.
Paris: I am just all over the board with her. One week I think she’s an overly-affected poseur, the next week I’m her biggest fan. Tonight? She gave me chills. Seriously. She is incredibly gifted, especially for a teenager. Plus, she looked great tonight – very sleek and sophisticated. Wow.
The Paris I fell in love with, the girl with the glorious voice who gave one of the best pre-audition performances in Idol History with her Billie Holiday, she's back in all her glory !
Taylor: I’m with Simon. The first verse was very reserved and I thought that it was going to be a safe, boring performance, but then...magic. This is what Taylor does best, and he knocked it outta the park tonight. I loved it.
Taylor likes to end his songs with his well known bluesy, soulful, spazzy bend your body style and then end with a flourish and panache. He outdid Sam Cooke's version ( which I believe was his influence ).
Elliott: I think that Simon was right. Standards should have been in Elliott’s wheelhouse, and it was a very solid vocal. Still, there is something about Elliott that has me solidly in his corner. I don’t know what it is – maybe the underdog thing? – but I have never rooted for a contestant as much as I’m rooting for E. In fact, I am voting for him tonight after five seasons of watching Idol, I can't think of anyone I am rooting for like I root for him. Unlike Taylor who has gobs of fans, Elliott is vulnerable and I'm doing my best to keep him in. I like him that much. But man, Elliott's IT HAD TO BE YOU surpassed Harry Connick Jr. and I am not one to exagerrate.
Kellie: She started out quite well, actually, but….whoa there were some flat notes in there when she went to the middle. She knew it, too. I hate to say it, but I was actually rooting for her at the beginning of the song because I love her song choice, but…yes, Kellie. You did butcher it. However, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I thought that she was classy (wha??) and composed during the judges' comments. Still, she's a brainless twit whom I want off my TV yesterday. She looked lovely tonight, though.
Kellie has shown that she is the sort of singer who needs a lot of technical help from studio whizzes to make her sound perfect. She can't do Tony Bennet's unplugged that's for sure. The worst of the bunch tonight.
Ace: I imagine that the Ace fans will dig this performance, but I certainly did not. The vocals were forced and nasal as usual, and Ace seems to have difficulty transitioning from the more robust notes to quieter ones.
On a sartorial note, I love the suit -- but the hair?
Ace was not bad, but the bridge to the middle showed some off pitches. I think he's in most danger of leaving tomorrow, but he'll leave with his head high.
Kat: One of my all-time favorite songs. I thought that she did a terrific job (her voice is absolutely suited to this genre), and Randy was right -- she’s in her element. When you throw a fish to the water, the fish will swim and Katharine will sing if you throw her into this genre.
Of course, Simon's comment about her making the others look like amateurs is overmuch.
But, *please* stop smiling! This is a plaintive song! Also, I know it’s over-stated at this point, but is she just the most stunning contestant ever on AI? Good lord, she's beautiful. Move over Kate Holmes, you got a younger version of yourself who can sing.
YES ! ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS IN AI HISTORY.
That's why they ARE standards !
Try making songs like these you 21st century song writers !