and 6 of them praise the lord...
It's Andrew Lloyd Webber night, as the final six sing the songs of the Lord in a halfway salute to Broadway and a full-on salute to one of the most brilliant composers of our time. The kids even score a free trip to Vegas to work with the Lord, who admits he's been an idol virgin until last week when he caught his first episode.
The Lord's music wasn't kind on most of the kids, but, again, they're trying out to be pop stars, not Broadway legends, so at least none of them got criticized for being too Broadway. They just got criticized for being crappy. Or forgetting lyrics and expecting an entire band to stop and start over.
So here they are, my impressions as I'm watching, complete with the occasional typo but as always, from worst to first:
Jason Castro (Memory from Cats). Okay, so Jason didn't know that this song, from the musical Cats, was sung by a, uhhh, cat. We should have known what we were gonna get. His breathiness is distracting. And I think he misses more notes than he completes, he's so far out of his comfort zone he just got a new zip code. Randy calls it a trainwreck. That pretty much sums it up.
Brooke White (You Must Love Me from Evita). After a mini-lesson in Argentinian history, Brooke says she "gets" the message behind this song, but unfortunately she doesn't "get" the start, decides to stop the band and start over. Again. She is the only contestant in the history of the show to stop and start, and now she's done it twice. And Paula justifiably crawls her butt for it. The other judges crawl her butt for her vocals and defend her decision to restart, even though she admits that she "lost the lyric." But continuing in a string of weak performances, Brooke may have just written her obituary.
Syesha Mercado (One Rock & Roll Too Many from Starlight Express). Syesha gets stuck in the fatal opening spot. And she gets points for the bare feet and the guts to start standing on the piano and in 90 seconds shows more personality than she has in the last two months. Randy calls her performance her best to date, and despite a handful of really sour notes, I can't help but agree.
David Archuleta (Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera). Andrew Lloyd Webber tells Archuleta to open his eyes. Thank you Lord Lloyd Webber. And he chooses a snoozer of a song. Randy and Paula drool all over him, but I'm siding with Simon. It was bland, simply pleasant, but certainly not memorable. What young David could have done with another choice.
Carly Smithson (Jesus Christ Superstar from Jesus Christ Superstar). Brooke could take some lessons about missing lyrics and moving on, as she fluffs (or intentionally altered?) many of them at the front of the song. Simon calls her a bit screechy at times. But when hasn't she been. I like Carly when she's having fun. And it didn't hurt that she was the only one to choose from my favorite ALW work.
David Cook (Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera). David plays this number straight, even through being told to look longingly into the eyes of the 17-year-old beauty Andrew Lloyd Webber. And, despite some rough patches that are common with his lower register and a final note that could have been avoided, he wraps up the show for the second time in the finals with the best performance of the night.
So who is leaving? I don't know anything but the fact that the two Davids are safe. So I will just flip a metaphorical coin.
Who I want: Brooke, Jason, Syesha
Who should: Brooke, Jason, Syesha
Who will: Brooke, Jason, Syesha
Jason could be in some real trouble, and Syesha seems to have a significant fan base, so there might just been a flood of tears on the stage. Brooke says goodbye.
So, who's in your bottom three?
The Lord's music wasn't kind on most of the kids, but, again, they're trying out to be pop stars, not Broadway legends, so at least none of them got criticized for being too Broadway. They just got criticized for being crappy. Or forgetting lyrics and expecting an entire band to stop and start over.
So here they are, my impressions as I'm watching, complete with the occasional typo but as always, from worst to first:
Jason Castro (Memory from Cats). Okay, so Jason didn't know that this song, from the musical Cats, was sung by a, uhhh, cat. We should have known what we were gonna get. His breathiness is distracting. And I think he misses more notes than he completes, he's so far out of his comfort zone he just got a new zip code. Randy calls it a trainwreck. That pretty much sums it up.
Brooke White (You Must Love Me from Evita). After a mini-lesson in Argentinian history, Brooke says she "gets" the message behind this song, but unfortunately she doesn't "get" the start, decides to stop the band and start over. Again. She is the only contestant in the history of the show to stop and start, and now she's done it twice. And Paula justifiably crawls her butt for it. The other judges crawl her butt for her vocals and defend her decision to restart, even though she admits that she "lost the lyric." But continuing in a string of weak performances, Brooke may have just written her obituary.
Syesha Mercado (One Rock & Roll Too Many from Starlight Express). Syesha gets stuck in the fatal opening spot. And she gets points for the bare feet and the guts to start standing on the piano and in 90 seconds shows more personality than she has in the last two months. Randy calls her performance her best to date, and despite a handful of really sour notes, I can't help but agree.
David Archuleta (Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera). Andrew Lloyd Webber tells Archuleta to open his eyes. Thank you Lord Lloyd Webber. And he chooses a snoozer of a song. Randy and Paula drool all over him, but I'm siding with Simon. It was bland, simply pleasant, but certainly not memorable. What young David could have done with another choice.
Carly Smithson (Jesus Christ Superstar from Jesus Christ Superstar). Brooke could take some lessons about missing lyrics and moving on, as she fluffs (or intentionally altered?) many of them at the front of the song. Simon calls her a bit screechy at times. But when hasn't she been. I like Carly when she's having fun. And it didn't hurt that she was the only one to choose from my favorite ALW work.
David Cook (Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera). David plays this number straight, even through being told to look longingly into the eyes of the 17-year-old beauty Andrew Lloyd Webber. And, despite some rough patches that are common with his lower register and a final note that could have been avoided, he wraps up the show for the second time in the finals with the best performance of the night.
So who is leaving? I don't know anything but the fact that the two Davids are safe. So I will just flip a metaphorical coin.
Who I want: Brooke, Jason, Syesha
Who should: Brooke, Jason, Syesha
Who will: Brooke, Jason, Syesha
Jason could be in some real trouble, and Syesha seems to have a significant fan base, so there might just been a flood of tears on the stage. Brooke says goodbye.
So, who's in your bottom three?
Labels: andrew lloyd webber, brooke white, carly smithson, david archuleta, david cook, jason castro, syesha mercado
posted by jennifer at 7:46:00 PM
20 Comments:
I had Syesha pencilled in to the bottom 3 even before I heard her sing a note. Going first was going to be her ticket to elimination . . .
. . . until Brooke flubbed the lyrics. I think the hippie girl will be gone after tonight.
I just wanted to say...a ALW fan of many years...I LOVED tonight! I would say worst: Jason, Brooke Syesha
Best: David A.(ok, so it's my favorite ALW song), David C., Carly. Who I think should go: Jason...Who may go: Brooke. :(
Sorry, Brooke, two times forgetting the lyrics and you're out! Except I secretly hope for Jason because I can't stand him!
I have the same bottom three but with Syesha leaving...again. One of these times, I'm going to get it right!
@Jennifer:
DJ Slim has videos of the performances online. I don't think Carly flubbed the lyrics; it sounded like everything was intentional.
I don't think Carly flubbed the lyrics either.. I was not expecting good things of her tonight but she did very well.. and it was nice to see her smiling and having fun.
Brooke!!! oh boy!! there really isn't much to say is there???
I thought Syesha did very well and again, it was nice to see her relax and enjoy herself for a change.
So, that's the girls:
The guys:
David A did sing very well... as usual.. and I really liked the first part because I was surprised at what he was doing with the song.. but then, he settled into the same old same old Arcbuleta and I was bored again.
David C was surprisingly good given the song, but it just didn't work for me.. I agree with Simon.. I like the gritty David more!
I know I'm in the minority, but I loved Jason tonight.. I admit his breathing was way too noticeable but I just love his voice and the sexiness of it.. the guy is going to be a hugely popular performer whether or not he gets voted off tomorrow.
I've never been good at predicting who will go.. I'm usually not at all in sync with what everyone thinks, but I believe/hope Brooke goes home tomorrow!! Tho her fans might be voting 'til their knuckles bleed.. let alone fingertips!! so she might hang on and Syesha, who did well, as Kristy did last week, may be sing her her swan song!!
I have always thought that Brooke would eventually let her nerves get the best of her and I think the pressure of this competition has put her on the verge of imploding.
However, after Jason Castro's performance tonight, I don't want to hear another word about Archie's breathing. I thought Randy was actually being kind, calling it a trainwreck. Proof positive that Michael Johns left too soon.
Syesha was actually a pleasant suprise. You're right...she showed more personality tonight than she has all season. She finally got away from the Power Diva glory note and lived to tell about it.
And I agree, I think David Cook was again the class of the night.
wow, I'm somewhat surprised and no so, all at the same time :)
My wife and I both thought Jason was better tonight than he's been seen the first 2 weeks or so of the finals (12 and 11 weeks as I recall). After the judges comments, I figured there would be bashing, but myself, it's the most enjoyable song from him in weeks.
Syesha was the best she's been. But other than Brooke, it just isn't good enough. But possibly she survives.
Brooke continues to disappoint. I really liked her the first few live weeks, and now she's gotten really safe or really scared or both, and she's picking bad songs too boot. Won't be surprised if she goes.
Jason I really liked tonight, compared to previous weeks that is. I didn't like the Under the Rainbow song all that much, but I liked this one, go figure :)
David's and Carly, well, they are all jumbled up for me in the top 3. Cook was definitely the best. I loved how he went up and down in both range and intensity, and his soft voice seemed right on with the music and the meaning of the song at those points. Carly simply rocked out tonight, so great to see her get some confidence and be happy. Will this be a seminal moment for her? We shall see. And for the first time, I actually "liked" Archie. I just think his voice is either too nasally, or it's stuck between his man and boy ranges and needs time to finish changing. But regardless, I actually enjoyed him tonight, which is a first in my house. It's not that he doesn't sing very well, it's his tone that keeps bugging us :) maybe I need to stop turning him up in Hi Def surround sound haha
All I'm expecting out of the results show is that the David's and Carly are safe. Any of the bottom 3 can go and it'll be deserved. Heck, Kristy deserves to still be here along with MJ over those 3.
oh, and did anyone else notice Paula getting lots of face time on Dancing with the Stars Monday night??
JJ
I was pleasantly surprised by Syesha last night. I loved to see her show some personality. Yeah, there were a few awkward notes, but the presentation made up for it. I thought this was one of her best performances.
I was a little surprised by David A. taking on "Think of Me." I guess it's because I've seen the movie version of "Phantom" so much that I could hear Emmy Rossum in the back of my mind while he was singing. It wasn't bad at all, though.
For me, David C. stole the show. (I admit that I'm a little biased: I'm a big fan of his and of ALW's music.) While it's not what we've come to expect from David, he did a great job on one of my favorite "Phantom" songs.
My bottom 2: Jason & Brooke. I've been fans of theirs in the past, but Brooke has just had some weak performances lately. Forgetting the lyrics didn't help either. With Jason, it just wasn't his style of music (not his fault; he didn't pick the theme, and the vocal just wasn't his best. It's hard to say who will go home.
I just rewatched Carly's performance. She definitely flubbed the second line, and I think that kind of threw her off which caused her to mess up the first chorus. But she didn't stop and, while it did mess up the rhyme in the chorus, it didn't disrupt the flow of the performance. So I'll forgive her.
People are saying Archuleta flubbed his lines too, but I've watched it twice and still can't find it. But, unlike JCS, I don't know that song well enough to tell.
I was very glad David Cook played it straight AND he did a great job - he proved he is not just a one-trick pony.
Jason should not be voted off for this one bad performance because that wouldn't be fair - he is fantastic, he's just not a broadway singer.
Brooke is great, too, and I'll bet she gets a huge sympathy vote. But of all of them, she has been the shakiest (literally and figuratively) and should probably be the next to go.
Carly has been terrible lately but surprisingly did a great job this time, even though she *did* mess up the lyrics. And she was a nice break from the slow boring songs.
Over all the night wasn't as big of a disaster as I thought it would be, although it was still pretty bad.
Syesha and Carly were my favorites last night. Maybe because I am always a sucker for the more upbeat songs over the ballads. Oh yeah, and I can't stand Phantom, so the Davids' song choices didn't do them any favors for me personally.
It should be Brooke's time to go tonight. She's been off her game lately, and I think she is in over her head.
Did you hear that Jordin Sparks suffered a major vocal chord hemorrhage and had to drop out of the tour? Wonder if that was why she had to lip-synch her performance on Idol a couple of weeks ago?
Yes about Jordin. I've also heard that it's a lot more serious than we're being told. I hope she recovers completely and quickly with as little damage to her voice as possible.
I thought Jason and Brooke were the worst last night. I hate to say that because I really like Jason. He's so cute!
Syesha and Carly were somewhere in the middle.
Again I think David C and David A were the best.
I hope Jordin's Ok. I have a friend who had problems with his vocial cords and he couldn't talk for about 3 months, and it did effect his voice.
Dori
Sometimes the contestant's lack of knowledge about their hoped-for industry astounds me: Castro not knowing that Cats was about ... cats; White not knowing the circumstances portrayed in the song she chose; and several other instances from other contestants in the past.
If anyone of them would have half a brain, s/he would have immediately gone out, bought the DVD of the musical, and discovered what their songs were all about. Granted, maybe Broadway musicals aren't their normal cup of tea. But if Castro can spend $600 for a ukelele to accompany that rancid rendition of "Over the Rainbow," he can spend a few bucks to learn about Cats.
In any event, my evaluation of tonight's show:
1. Syesha was at her best, but at this stage of the game the bottom 3 are the bottom 50%. She'll be in the bottom 3 but will not leave.
2. I've been a big admirer or Brooke, but this is the 3rd time she's had to restart a song. Probably her undoing. However, when one is in a recording studio, such mistakes are easily corrected and the listening audience never knows the difference. I can easily seem myself buying one of her CDs. I'd love to see her have one more chance to redeem herself, but it may not happen.
3. Please, please, please, if there is a God, Jason the Airhead will be eliminated.
4. The other 3 were outstanding; I can't decide who was best.
Jennifer, I agree with your Worst to First completely! Spot-on critique.
The only difference I have is that I liked David C.'s final note(s). It was vintage DC. :)
I also agree with your bottom 3. And I think Jason may find himself gone, after that awkward performance. But I hope it's Brooke. I'm soooo over her!
I re-watched Carly and I don't think she flubbed the line; I think it was intentional. However, if she did miss her cue, she did a good job of covering for it, unlike Brooke who had to start over (again) and The Arch from six weeks ago.
Not trying to be mean but Jason doesn't seem very smart. First he says he didn't even know "Michelle ma belle" was French and now he says he didn't know that "Memory", from the musical, "Cats", was sung by a cat? Ummm, okay...
I think he's probably a pretty smart guy; he's just too baked every night to successfully convey that to the audience.
my thots in the for what it's worth department..
Syesha.. she was better than before, but I didn't love it.. I think she could groomed quite well for Broadway and not pop. And, I think she'd completely be happy with that.
David A.. he's just boring. boring.
Jason .. he has much maturing to do. Much.
Brooke.. her nerves are bringing her down.. I think she's done with this competition. I do like her tho.
Carly..absolutely fantastic, especially when she's smiling.
David C.. magnificant.. every single time. He is a star already.
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