Aired 5/5/09
Bunny: It seems the Idol stage is falling apart and the contestants didn't get a complete dress rehearsal. But the bigger news is that the Idols will be performing duets tonight for the first time. I'm not sure how I feel about the idea. I'm not a fan of the group singing during Hollywood week, and this seems like just a slight variation of that. We'll see how it goes.
Slash is guiding the contestants. At least the mentor fits the genre this week. He changes the venue for their mentoring sessions; it's at the Roxy with his band.
RATING SYSTEM
Litterbox Level
Paws-itively Purr-fect
Adam Lambert
“Whole Lotta Love'” by Led Zeppelin
Bunny: Adam is a two-trick pony. He is either 100 mph or 1 mph. He's either a triple fudge sundae or a lettuce leaf. Niagara Falls or a puddle in the driveway. (You decide which performances are which.) There's no in between. Not that I expected any in-between-ness on rock night. I'm just curious what it would be like if he ever tried 50 mph, a ham sandwich, or Lake Tahoe.
Burke: Don't even ask.
Allison Iraheta
“Cry Baby” by Janis Joplin
Bunny: She looks very much the part, but she doesn't have to try too hard because she is the part. The applause is not as enthusiastic as I think it should be and, in fact, Randy and Kara are not applauding at all. No doubt Paula is the only one. But I thought it was great. She doesn't seem nervous to me, and I think the song choice was much better than “Piece of My Heart,” which has been done to death. Wow, and she just said exactly the same thing after I wrote it!
Burke: I thought it was good. She can sing rock without screaming. This was probably better than the original. Janis wasn't actually that good of a singer.
Bunny: Next is the first duet. We'll give them an overall rating as well.
Kris Allen and Danny Gokey
“"Renegade" by Styx
Bunny: Danny doesn't look too happy sharing the stage. Their voices blend together quite well when they do harmony. At the end, it sounds like they're trying to outsing each other volume-wise. It wasn't bad, but I'm not blown away. Afterwards, Kris doesn't look too thrilled either. And he has to do his solo after he put his vocal cords through the ringer trying to be heard over Danny? Why are Adam and Allison not doing their duet next instead? Doesn't seem fair.
Burke: Tepid.
Kris Allen
“Come Together” by the Beatles
Bunny: This will be a challenge lyrically, as it was for Carly Smithson last year. He does a great job as far as I'm concerned, even though this isn't his comfort zone. After hearing the judges, I'm really peeved. The “screamer can do no wrong and anyone with less energy is subpar” mentality is incredibly annoying. The eight Gosselin children together have less energy than Adam, for crying out loud.
Burke: It was better than I expected.
Danny Gokey
“Dream On” by Aerosmith
Bunny: When he does the signature “Dream On” scream during the filmed segment with Slash, Big Z is startled. As are we. That did not sound good. She jumps again during the actual performance. Ow. That was ... rough.
Prognosticats: You're telling us!
Burke: Dumb song choice; I don't know what he was thinking. But he tried. It was all right.
Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert
“Slow Ride” by Foghat
Bunny: Yes, they're cute doing a duet together. And it's not too bad.
Burke: This was definitely better than the first duet, no doubt about it.
PREDICTIONS
Bunny: Ironic moment #1: Simon is incredulous that Danny's final note was “just this ... scream” and that he was “over the top.” I thought you loved over-the-top screaming, Simon. You said that no one would be able to top the screaming that went on during the first performance, Simon. Okay, I'll admit the first screamer was at least screaming in tune. But still! Come on! Double standard, much? Ironic moment #2: The one time Adam has to perform first, the last person doesn't even get the benefit of being last, because guess what? Adam's still last! Speaking of which, Bunny's Bomb is Adam Lambert, Danny Go-Go-Gokey is go-go-going home, and my favorite tonight was Allison Iraheta.
Burke: Burke's Turkey is Adam Lambert. Who will go home? Very tough call. I'll say Danny Gokey. Allison Iraheta was the best of the night.
Prognosticats: Tonight's hairball is Danny Gokey. But Kris Allen will get the fewest votes.
Bunny: See you tomorrow night for the results!
{ 4 comments }
You guys probably have a lot of Jack Johnson, old Elton John, and even John Denver I bet. Nothing wrong with these guys, but my guess is that you don’t vary more than 2 degrees from them across your entire iPOD, unless you still just use cassettes. You try to act in your 20s, but your vocal tastes are seemingly uneducated and somewhere over 50. You would have more credibility if you did not all have the same opinion.
There’s really no need for personal attacks here. I’m only allowing your comment here to make a point. Your purpose in posting seems to be simply to put us down for having an opinion. I can’t pinpoint what we said in our review of last night’s show that got you so upset, since you didn’t spend any time formulating a thoughtful argument for your favorite Idols. All you have to do is state your opinion about the contestants. It doesn’t have to be the same as ours. That’s why we’re not robots; we get to like who we like for our own reasons. It just has to be civil and respectful.
If you’re interested in having an intelligent discussion of the merits of various contestants, we’d be glad to hear your thoughts. If you just want to be snarly, don’t bother because it will be deleted. There are other sites that may suit you better if nasty confrontations is your thing.
By the way, you’re right, we do have a few Elton John and John Denver songs among the 2,400 others on the iPod (haven’t had a working cassette player for about 15 years). But we also have Blind Pilot, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Queen, Madonna, O.A.R., Yellowcard, Coldplay, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Snow Patrol, Marc Anthony, Dave Matthews Band, Pink Floyd, Nickelback, Elliott Yamin, Norah Jones, Regina Spektor, Evanescence, Dixie Chicks, Foreigner, Paul Simon, Heart, Frankie Valli, Imogen Heap, INXS, James Taylor, Joshua Radin, Keith Urban, Louis Armstrong, Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, All-American Rejects, Frank Sinatra, Martina McBride, Mat Kearney, Celine Dion, Gwen Stefani, Nat King Cole, Eagles, Patty Griffin, David Cook, The Police, Linda Ronstadt, Goo Goo Dolls, The Cure, Roy Orbison, Hinder, Sheryl Crow, Simple Plan, Smokey Robinson, Mozart, Tom Petty, Jason Castro, Lenny Kravitz, Bruce Springsteen, Weird Al, 3 Doors Down, Billie Holiday, Jewel, Elvis, Ciara …
Yup, you’re right. No variety there at all
I have to respectfully disagree (as I’m prone to do) about ADAM…….his “Whole Lotta Love” (Led Zeppelin) was OUTSTANDING (A++).
Otherwise, I agree with everything else you said: KRIS is probably going home, although DANNY (“DWD”) was the Worst with that horrible scream at the end of his song.
One more comment……..I’m surprised that “Toad” got under your skin with his first posting on your blog…….I’ve been posting for 2-3 years and can’t recall anyone reacting to anything I said.
So, let me state for the record: I love this blog……..you guys (and cats) are doing a great job…. just don’t overreact when someone (who obviously is clueless) gets critical!
Keep up the good work……..ALLISON is possibly going for an upset victory in AI 8.
Hi SW! Thanks for your kind comments.
Yeah, it might have been a little overreaction, you’re right. It’s just that I’ve had to moderate (read: delete) a lot of mean comments lately, and it’s starting to bug me. I’m totally not into the kinds of forums or blogs where the commenters just bash one another mercilessly and the site they’re on. It’s just so NEGATIVE. We don’t want this blog to even start down that road. Yes, our commentary is often snarky, but we try not to be mean-spirited or unfair. And it’s our blog, so our rules.
Did I get a little carried away listing the artists on my iPod? hehehe, I just couldn’t stop. Consider yourself lucky I didn’t list them ALL …