Aired 5/12/09
Bunny: Tonight's episode is the 300th of American Idol. The top three battle it out tonight to get to the finale. Correction: the last three standing will battle it out. Two of the top three have already been voted off.
They sing two songs tonight; one chosen by the judges and one they themselves pick. We see brief clips of them being texted the song choices while back in their hometowns, but isn't this usually the episode where we get to see the parades and school appearances and such? Not that I'm generally a fan of that kind of filler, but I was just wondering.
RATING SYSTEM
Litterbox Level
Paws-itively Purr-fect
JUDGES’ CHOICE ROUND
(known here at Predict Idol as the “We-Picked-This-Song-For-You-But-It’s-Still-Your-Fault Round”)
Danny Gokey
“Dance Little Sister” by Terence Trent D'Arby
Bunny: He is saddled with a song he doesn't know (nor do I), thanks to Paula Abdul. Let's see if he can make it sound as if it's one of his favorites. He always seems to start off at such an overpowering level that there's no such thing as building to a crescendo with him. And the DOOT-DOOT-DOOT or whatever in the middle is obnoxious. The other problem: What in the world kind of song was that? Not his decision, I know, but blech, not one of the greatest ditties ever penned.
Burke: I don't think I've ever heard that song before, so I couldn't really identify with it. I liked his energy and thought that he performed it well. He looks more and more like George Michael every week.
Kris Allen
“Apologize” by OneRepublic
Bunny: Randy and Kara chose this one. I love the song for personal reasons, and I think it's a good one for him. He's playing the piano tonight. Other than the fact that he sometimes strains really hard when he sings, I absolutely loved it. It's emotional, powerful, and his voice is spot on. Wow. Paula says there was a loud bum note. I'll have to listen again; I didn't hear it. He could have probably changed it up a bit more, but he was way, way better than Danny.
Burke: I like the song choice, and I thought he did a good job on it. A little karaoke, maybe, but I liked it.
Adam Lambert
“One” by U2
Bunny: The first part is “Mad World” 2.0, which is great. The second part is “Feeling Good” 2.0 which, ironically, makes me feel bad.
Burke: Excellent song choice. Did not like his performance of it. I don't like his faky emotions and crying faces. I didn't even recognize the song that I like. He has to make everything such a theatrical event. Can't he for once just stand there and sing?
Bunny: Time for a quick “Idol Gives Back” update with Carrie Underwood. She is in Africa distributing bed nets to prevent malaria. Then it's back to the music for Round Two.
CONTESTANTS’ CHOICE ROUND
(Alternate name: The “Singing-A-Song-I've-Always-Loved-In-Other-Words-Professional-Suicide” Round)
Danny Gokey
“You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
Bunny: Interesting choice. I'm sure it will be better than the first song. He starts out with an energy level the polar opposite of the first performance, which would seem to indicate that he has proven me wrong about building a song to a climax, but I disagree. The transition didn't seem very smooth to me. However, it's not bad overall.
Burke: Didn't like the song choice—lame-o—but I thought he performed it well.
Kris Allen
“Heartless” by Kanye West
Bunny: This time he's on the acoustic guitar. Personally, I liked the first number better, but probably only because of my preference for “Apologize.” But he did great.
Burke: Liked the song, liked the performance, best of the night. He wasn't dancing, he wasn't being theatrical; he was just singing.
Adam Lambert
“Cryin'” by Aerosmith
Bunny: Could that be “early Aerosmith” I'm hearing? Insert customary Adam commentary here.
Burke: Ditto. ScreamFest '09 continues. Whoopee.
PREDICTIONS
Bunny: First: I am so over Kara E-NUN-CI-A-TING EV-ER-Y SYLL-A-BLE as if she's nailing it to a building with a wrecking ball. Second: I hate to say it, but I can't wait for this season to be over. I have never felt that way before. And it's not so much because of any failing on the part of the contestants (although it happens to be true that two of the remaining singers make my ears bleed). It's the judges and the producers who have my knickers in a twist. I'm really, really tired of Adam getting the best treatment (singing order, lighting, etc.). I'm sick to death of the clowns at the judges' table fawning over him. Before the Adam fanatics go all ballistic in the comments, it's actually not the screaming that bothers me the most. It's the Idol producers and judges deciding for us who will win and who we should vote for. I can understand and appreciate their insight and opinions when offered honestly. But when all pretense of fairness and democracy is as absent as Alexis Grace, it peeves me. We the public are now irrelevant. Yes, I know the majority of viewers love Adam. But I get the feeling that even if Kris, Danny, or any ousted contestant were America's favorite, we'd still be asphyxiated by Adam aggrandizement. (Whew, that was some serious alliteration.)
Burke: If they've already anointed him the American Idol, why are we even watching?
Bunny: Exactly. Is he a nice guy? Sure appears to be. Does he have incredible technical prowess? Certainly. I. Just. Can't. Listen. Anymore. I have to say, I hope Kris goes home tomorrow. You know why? So I can totally not care next week when Gokey gets schooled and Adam is given the crown the judges have been lovingly polishing for him with their own saliva since Day 1. If Kris makes it to the finale, and nails his performances, as he usually does, he will still be the ugly stepchild. I'd just as soon he not be put through the humiliation of showing up for a competition whose outcome was decided months ago. They might as well critique Kris right now and save some time, as Paula did to Jason Castro last year. But I think Danny Gokey will finally be going home tomorrow night, and he also wins the dubious distinction of being Bunny's Bomb. Obviously Kris is my choice for best of the night.
Burke: Burke's Turkey is Adam Lambert. I agree that Danny Gokey is going home. I liked Kris the best.
Prognosticats: Tonight's hairball is Adam Lambert. But we concur as well: Danny Gokey is going home.
Bunny: See you tomorrow night for the results! (And Nigel? Please come back—I take back all the mean things I said about you.)
{ 3 comments }
I hate to say it………but Burke & Bunny are in the MINORITY regarding Adam………I have now dubbed him the ***GAY ELVIS*** because he is so incredibly awesome!
And I really beg to differ over this statement (from Bunny):
“It’s the Idol producers and judges deciding for us who will win and who we should vote for. I can understand and appreciate their insight and opinions when offered honestly. But when all pretense of fairness and democracy is as absent as Alexis Grace, it peeves me.”
Really, you’ve got to be kidding, right? You’re talking about the 11th place singer who didn’t even qualify for the AI Tour (only the Top Ten get the $$$ from the concert tour).
America didn’t think she was that good…..and her crappy song choice for C/W week (Jolene) made it even more obvious how boring and banal she really is/was.
Now she can go back to the Memphis trailer park and raise her daughter like a single unmarried mother is supposed to be doing…….LOL
I was using Alexis as a metaphor; although many liked her, I’m not saying she should be in the top three. I was just trying to think of something that is as absent as fairness and democracy, that’s all.
I have to agree about Adam. Is he talented? Yes. Is he creative? Yes. Does he have style? Yes. Could I listen to a full-length CD of just Adam? No.
I just find his style too theatrical and as a result I don’t feel any real connection to his performances … much like most pop music out there today. I’m also not a huge fan of his voice. It’s a little too screeching. That being said, it’s not Adam’s fault that so many viewers have become Anti-Adam (although I know there are far more viewers who love him).
I found that almost immediately I didn’t like Adam’s over-the-top theatrical style yet the judges and the show are telling us every week that he is the best. So I guess everyone else’s opinion is irrelevant? I found myself getting more and more annoyed at the judges responses to some of Adam’s performances. Kara’s remark after watching Adam’s “Whole Lotta Love” performance comes to mind …”Adam, you are a ROCK GOD!” Hmmmm? He definitely did good but to say he is a ROCK GOD? Adam is definitely no Robert Plant.
Here’s an experiment. Take Adam’s voice and imagine someone like Michael Sarver belting out some of Adam’s performances. The judges definitely would not have given Michael the same praise. So it’s definitely not Adam’s voice that is making a major impact with the audience but instead, in my opinion, it is his looks, style and theatrical performances that is. When I think about it, it doesn’t surprise me because society has reduced pop music to as much. Great, well written songs with real passion and meaning are few and far between these days … so Adam should fit right in.