AMERICAN IDOL Recap

It’s Bon Jovi night!! I was raised on Bon Jovi and I’m giddy with excitement. Each of the Idols are singing a classic Jovi tune tonight. YAY!!

On a personal note, this is my first time watching American Idol since meeting Simon Cowell last week. I’ll definitely talk more about it later, but let me just say that I loved him. I know he’s media savvy and all, but he was really, really sweet and VERY charming. May I also say that he’s quite handsome. I was sitting directly in front of him, about an arms length away and it was hard not to stare. Well, then again it was either stare at Simon or David Hasselhoff’s chest hair so….

Phil Stacey – First up for the night and singing “Blaze of Glory”. WOW! What a performance. I thought he sounded amazing. I mean I know I’m a Phil fan but I think you have to agree that this was pretty fun. Randy and Paula loved it, and Simon was, in my opinion, WAY too harsh.

Jordin Sparks – Jordin took on one of my favorite songs EVER, “Livin’ on a Prayer”. I think Jordin is brilliant, but I thought she really struggled with the song tonight. She was really off when she sang in her lower register. Even on the higher notes she was uncharacteristically warbly. The judges and I were on the same page – they didn’t love her. Simon went as far to say it was terrible.

LaKisha Jones – “This Ain’t a Love Song” was her choice and of all the Jovi songs, I think this is the perfect choice because it’s got a lot of soul. Just her voice on the song made it completely new to me. What a performance! Fantastic…really fantastic. The judges loved her. So much so that Simon kissed her right on the lips…HYSTERICAL!! No, I mean she walked off the stage and he stood and insisted that she kiss him on the lips. Love it!!

Blake Lewis – Jon Bon Jovi is a little weary of Blake’s version “You Give Love a Bad Name” – that can’t be good. Beat Boxxing Black haired Blake is on tonight. The boy has somehow made the song into a techno remix, and OMG I am in LOVE. He’s so different than anything we have EVER seen on Idol before. I almost don’t want to hear what the judges have to say because I loved it THAT much. Ok, the judges loved it…whew. Can I download this performance on iTunes tomorrow?

Chris Richardson – Have you ever wanted to hear Justin Timberlake cover Bon Jovi? Or at least a less talented version of JT? Well Chris Richardson is taking on Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive”. OH NO!! Chris Daughtry’s Idol version was a huge hit for him post-Idol so I’m thinking Chris made a bad choice this week. Yeah, two lines in and this is pretty bad. Bye bye Chris Richardson – it’s been fun. Although I will say that I love your jacket – you’ve got a great sense of style (guess I’m channeling Paula here a bit).

Melinda Doolittle – “Have a Nice Day” is one of the newer Jovi songs. Melinda is pretty nervous since she’s not a rock singer. But when you have a talent like hers there’s really nothing you can’t sing. Hmm, it’s not bad – definitely not, but it’s not the best song for her voice. If felt very Tina Turner to me. I know this song pretty well, but if I’m being honest I couldn’t even tell it was the same song that Jon and the boys originally covered. OMG Randy just mentioned “Tina Turner” …so did Simon. The judges loved her.

Ha ha ha…um President and Mrs. Bush on Idol. Wasn’t there a Mandy Moore/Hugh Grant that mocked this very thing? It was about an unpopular President who tried to earn some street cred by appearing on an Idol-esque show. Ha ha.

BEST OF THE NIGHT: Phil, Blake and LaKisha stepped it up tonight. I personally would give Phil the best vocal of the night, but Blake stole the entire show with his AMAZING performance.

GOING HOME: I think Phil and Chris will be in the bottom two with Chris going home. (Thanks to Carly for reminding me that two contestants are going home tomorrow.)