Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Copyright 2007, Fox Broadcasting

This was the much promoted week on American Idol, "Idol Gives Back", where viewer votes were matched by donations from corporate sponsors that would go to various charities around the world.

To ensure a large vote, they held the phone lines open twice as long as usual, although the performances alone were strong enough to guarantee a surge of votes.

In the unenviable spot of kicking off the night, Chris Richardson performed the Eric Clapton song, "Change the World". Each of the contestants was supposed to pick a song they found inspirational. However, if you listen to the lyrics, despite the refrain, this is really a love song. Chris tried to jazz it up with a syncopated version of the melody, which might have been enough to impress some viewers, but he couldn't escape his nasal tone. He looked a little more put together than usual in a chocolate brown jacket, white striped shirt and brown cargo pants.

Judge Randy Jackson said it was the first time he sounded like he was in it to win it. He complimented the "fly jacket." Nice judge Paula Abdul called it a great song choice and said she was proud of him. Tough judge Simon Cowell said it felt like the contest started tonight (a veiled reference to the fact that Sanjaya was booted last week). He said this performance reminded him of the first time they saw him. He called it a good vocal and said the performance was sexy!

Melinda Doolittle chose a more appropriate song, Faith Hill's "There Will Come a Day". She showed off some powerful vocals where she really seemed to feel the lyrics, and she wore a cocoa colored wrap dress with asymmetrical hem and silver necklace, amping up the class factor.

Randy said that each week she's the resident pro. He called it great and said, "You have arrived." Paula said, "There's no one like you" and that "you're magical." Simon praised her for not turning in a copycat performance. He said that the second half was incredible and that she was a vocal master class.

Next up was Blake Lewis, who performed the John Lennon song "Imagine" in a gray tweed jacket emblazoned with embroidery on the shoulder and back. He paired that with a violet shirt, and strangely, he sat in a chair for the entire performance, while he turned in an ethereal vocal. The piano player bothered me, however, because he was slightly off on the tune. I'm not sure why that choice was made.

Randy called the song a great choice and said the performance was just OK. Paula said it was a beautiful, simple song and he'd given a sensitive performance. She enjoyed it. Simon said that it's one of the big songs of all time and that it's not one you can belt out. He said that while the performance didn't really go anywhere, he gave him points for his sincerity as he sang it.

For the umpteenth time, it seems, LaKisha Jones took on a song popularized by a former Idol winner, this time "I Believe" by Fantasia Barrino. Not only was it the wrong key for her, but her strangely dispassionate performance, where she mistook shouting for emphasis, left me cold. Plus, she wore a floor-length strapless dress that was too tight and I spent most of the performance worrying that it would slip right off her oversized bosoms.

Randy noted pitch problems and said it was not her best. He said it's hard to sing that after Fantasia. Paula said that she's a powerhouse vocalist but she'd taken on another monster vocalist and it was hard to get past that. Simon summarized Paula's comments by saying that "she preferred the Fantasia version." He called it very emotional but criticized her for shouting.

Taking a cue from his success on country week, Phil Stacey selected "The Change" by Garth Brooks. He turned in a soulful performance that didn't sound quite country, and he talked some of it, but he seemed much more connected than in previous performances. He wore a simple black suit with a white shirt. I think all the contestants were dressing more formally as a nod to the perceived importance of the night.

Randy said, "You're back with another strong performance." Paula said that he's really found his comfort zone and that this performance was his best. Simon said he likes him and that it was a good choice of song. He said that last week he'd used more of a country tone, which suits him. He advised him to do so in the future, as well.

Finishing off the night, Jordin Sparks sang the Rodgers and Hammerstein song "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the 1945 musical, Carousel. I wouldn't be surprised to discover that Jordin, who is only 17, had performed it in a high school musical. If she gave this sort of powerful, heartfelt performance, though, she would have truly deserved the standing ovation that such productions generally receive. For the first time in weeks, she actually chose a dress that was flattering to her shape, a champagne-colored drapy dress with a sweetheart neckline and uneven hem. I'd love to see her in more color, though, because I think she has a beautiful complexion. But that's the only thing I could criticize about this flawless performance.

Randy called it one of the best by any contestant ever and said it was the hottest of the night. Paula called it an amazing song and said it was haunting. She said Jordin did a lovely job. Simon called it fantastic and said that, while the song is 60 years old, she could have a hit record with it. This reminds me of when Idol winner Fantasia gave a similarly haunting, emotional performance of "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess or when Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee turned in a goosebump producing performance of "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz. Which just goes to show that a great song in the hands of a great vocalist can produce phenomenal results.

Kudos this week go to Jordin and Melinda with a nod to Phil and Blake. We've only got six contestants left, though, which means half of them will appear in the bottom three. Chris got pulled out of the fire last week, but will he escape judgment again this week? I predict a bottom three of Phil, LaKisha and Blake, with LaKisha taking her final bow.

More on American Idol:

Musings on American Idol Season 6 (2007)

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

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