Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Copyright 2006, Fox Broadcasting

This week, the American Idol finalists each did two songs, one from the year of their birth and one from the current charts.

Elliott "The Machine" Yamin, as host Ryan Seacrest dubbed him this week, started off the night with the George Benson song from 1978, "On Broadway." He started a little shaky but then got more comfortable, and his stage presence was much better than it has been in the past. He definitely has grown in this competition.

Judge Randy Jackson said that it started rough but then he got it together. Nice judge Paula Abdul said that she liked the ending and complimented his rich voice. Tough judge Simon Cowell said it's not his best and that he was a bit disappointed. He said Elliott was lucky he had two songs that night.

Next up was Paris Bennett who sang the Prince song "Kiss" from 1988. Once more, she performed a song that was way too sexual so someone of her young age, and it made me uncomfortable, distracting from her superior vocals.

Randy said it was nice to see her having fun and being young. Paula said that she loves to see Paris do songs from past eras, which might have been a slight dig, since this song wasn't quite in that category. Simon minced no words, calling it "screechy and annoying."

Rocker Chris Daughtry did the Dennis De Young song "Renegade" from 1979. It was a good song for him, allowing him to rock out as only he can.

Randy announced there was a hot one tonight. Paula said it was outstanding and that "you're on your path." Simon said it was a million times better than the first two performances and called it a great song choice.

Katharine McPhee sang the Phil Collins Song "Take a Look at Me Now" from 1984. She started out with a really rough note, and the performance was pretty much phoned in except for a few notes that she just belted out.

Randy said she looked amazing but that the key was too low. Paula also said she looked stunning but it was not her favorite performance from Katharine. Simon said that the song ran away from her and that it wasn't her best performance.

Soul Patrolman Taylor Hicks had fun with the 1976 song by KC and the Sunshine Band, "Play That Funky Music, White Boy". This was a perfect song for him, as he danced around the audience and finally collapsed on-stage at the end. He was wearing a funky shirt with jeans.

Randy called it "another wild choice" and said he felt he was in a bar after a few drinks. Paula called it "authentic Taylor." Simon was not impressed: for me, it was like a horrible, horrible wedding performance.

Starting off with a song from the charts, Elliott sang "Home" by Michael Buble. It was just the sort of pop song that he's very comfortable with, and he sang it sweetly. Although the lyric line, "I just want to go home," seemed somewhat ominous.

Randy said he loved him showing his tender side and called it a nice choice. Paula said it showed the richness of his voice. Simon said he's not sure he would have chosen a lyric saying, "I want to go home", and he also said it didn't have a wow factor.

Paris sang the Mary J. Blige song "Be Without You", wearing a really strange outfit combining a camouflage top and silver pants that bubbled out on her legs. She seemed very comfortable with this kind of song, though.

Randy said she took a big risk singing a Mary J. Blige song and noticed there were some pitchy parts but she rocked it. Paula said she loves her voice but wanted more of a Paris take on it. Simon said she did rather well.

Chris sang "I Dare You" by Shinedown. It got rough in the latter part of the song, as it seemed like he was losing his voice.

Randy said the song was a little high for him and that it was just all right. Paula said it was not her favorite song but she likes him. Simon said it was not a great song and that it sounds like his voice is going. He told him that he had a great first song, though.

Katharine got down on her knees for a funky, vulnerable and fun performance of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by K.T. Tunstall. It was outstanding.

Randy said this is a wild show. He said "that's the Katharine I've grown to love." Paula said she loved the choreography. Simon said he liked it better than the first song because it showed her personality.

Taylor got the money spot, performing "Something" by the Beatles, which is currently on the charts because of a rereleased album. He did for this song what Joe Cocker did for "A Little Help from My Friends", turning in an emotional, tender performance. Classic. It was also a perfect balance for the first song.

Randy said, "Wow" and said he chose a great song. He said he liked the tender performance. Paula also complimented him for "moving it tenderly." Simon gave him a backhanded compliment, saying that his "balminess" makes it "very easy to forget you're a very, very good singer.

Props to Taylor for choosing two songs that showed his range and doing justice to them both. Katharine's second song was unforgettable and almost makes up for the weakness of the first. Chris did such a great job with his first song that people should forgive the second.

This week, Paris and Elliott are in the most danger, with perennial bottom vote-getter Paris most likely to be singing over the credits.

More on American Idol:

Musings on American Idol Season 5 (2006)

Musings on American Idol Season 4 (2005)

Musings on American Idol Season 3 (2004)

Copyright 2006 by Alyce Wilson

Musings Index

What do you think? Share your thoughts
at Alyce's message board (left button):