AMERICAN IDOL Top 10 Performances

That my friends almost sums up last night IDOL Top 10 performance show. I’ve been a loyal fan of AMERICAN IDOL since Season 1 and last night was the first time I considered giving up on the season and just walking away. For me, it’s that bad. I don’t know where things went so wrong. It all looked so promising during Hollywood Week.

Last night cemented things for me – this season is all about Crystal and Lee.  Sorry Siobhan fans, but I don’t think she has the goods to go all the way. I’m not just saying that because she had an off night, I’m thinking about the total package. I think that Siobhan has a powerful voice, but she really doesn’t know who she is as an artist….and maybe as a person.  That’s ok, she’s young. She doesn’t have to have it all figured out right now.  I’m all for faking it until you make it, but she’s just trying too hard. From the quirky clothes to the screaming notes, it’s just not authentic. It’s not forced and pre-packaged like it is with Katie Stevens, but it’s not real to me either. When she screamed that note last night it kind of all came together for me.  She’s not going to make it all the way. You can disagree, it’s what this blog things all about, but I’m not sure you can convince me.

I’m not for advocating abuse, but if someone could backhand Lee Dewyze and get him our of his stupor I think he’d really make IDOL worth watching again this season.  Despite what I thought was a killer performance last night, there is still this barrier between Lee and the audience.  I do think it’s nerves, but he needs to talk to a therapist or something because it’s holding him back.  Until last night Lee’s performances have been just ok for me.  Obviously he has more talent than most of the other riff raff, but he hadn’t yet broken through.  Last night he did just that.  He owned the stage.  His voice came from somewhere deep and he brought so much authentic soul to the stage.  Hell, I even watched it twice.  I’m really hoping he builds on that next week (assuming the American public doesn’t frak it up and send him home in favor of Mr. Smile.)

The other contestant worth talking about is of course Crystal Bowersox. I like this girl more and more every week.  And while she’s always fantastic during her performance, it’s what she brings to the stage during the judging panel that makes me really want to root for her. Having never watched IDOL before, Crystal isn’t trying to mold herself into what the judges want her to be.  She’s taking the best parts of their feedback and using that to improve her game from week to week.  Last night Crystal put down the guitar and sat down behind the piano for a moving rendition of “Midnight Train to Georgia”. I’m not saying that playing the keys worked out perfectly.  Crystal isn’t good enough of a piano player to ever do that again, but hell if I wasn’t impressed that her vocals didn’t suffer one bit despite how nervous she was while playing.  I think Crystal knew her limitations and that’s why she chose to step out from the piano for the second half of her performance. The girl can sing. She’s confident in who she is and the kind of artist she wants to be.  Even with Lee’s great performance last night, Crystal still sets herself apart from everyone else in the competition. She’s the reason I’m going to be tuning in next week.

Now that I’ve tackled Lee and Crystal, I’m not sure I have the energy to bother with the rest. Do I really have to? Yes? Fine.

Andrew Garcia was better this week than he’s been since, well, you know.  I can’t say that he blew me out of the water with his take on Chris Brown’s “Forever”. I thought it had real potential but it never went anywhere.  Had he started it off slow and then taken it to a rockin’ level it could have put him completely back in the game.  I kept waiting for a tempo change or something that would have shown me that Andrew owns his musicality. I happen to love that song – it’s one of my favorite songs to dance out to in the car – and I didn’t mind that he slowed it down, but in doing so he lost the essence of the song, and he didn’t have to.  I liked it enough, but it wasn’t at the level he needed to make him a contender again.

Aaron Kelly took on “Ain’t No Sunshine”. Yeah, that was a big moment for Kris Allen last season so he really shouldn’t have gone there.  The kid doesn’t suck but there is just no way I’m ever going to rally around him. He’s cookie cutter, and not the real deal.

If you still have IDOL on your DVR, go back and watch the judge’s criticism of Tim Urban.  Their critique is the embodiment of this whole season.  Everything went off the rails and the judges acknowledged that they really aren’t needed when it comes to Tim’s performances. If that kid keeps smiling he might end up being this year’s IDOL. I’m not kidding.

Katie Stevens. Yeah, I have zero desire to watch her ever again.  I’m wondering if Casey James is maybe stuck inside some strange little invisible box.  He’s so stiff and doesn’t move from his comfort zone…ever.  And that smile?  Yeah, I’m annoyed by someone’s smile, but it’s this weird nervous smile.  One of the better voices this season (and that’s not saying much), but the guy has absolutely no charisma.

Who else is left?  How sad that I can’t even remember the Top 10.  Oh wait, Michael Lynche.  Clearly not that memorable.  Another good voice, but he’s not AMERICAN IDOL material.  There are a lot of guys and gals that can sing and sing well, but that doesn’t mean they are worthy of a record career and massive amount of publicity. That’s Michael. He’s just ok. He only stands out from time to time because he’s surrounded by train wrecks.

Didi Benami was a favorite of mine going into the competition, but she’s another one that has completely lost her way. Kara is right. She has no idea who she is. And what was up with Ryan trying to get her to break down in tears on stage?  Did he have a side bet with Simon that he could make her cry?  I couldn’t tell if he was trying to draw an emotional moment for TV, or if he was trying to find any excuse in the book to comfort her. I don’t like smarmy Seacrest.

Sorry kids, but if you are looking for an uplifting look at IDOL then you’ll have to go elsewhere.  This crew isn’t worthy of unnecessary praise or flattery.  When they step it up, so will I.

I’ll be honest with you. As long as Crystal and Lee stay I could care less about who goes home tonight.  So sad.

Thoughts on last night’s performances?  Judges comments?  Who were your favorites?  Who should go home? Who will go home tonight?