Another disappointed watcher here! I'm a really big fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's work and the evening was a treat but...
much as I recognize the likability factor of Jason, I really feel he should have been the one to go this time. He did put real feeling into it but vocally it just didn't cut it. I have to agree with Randy, popularity was more of a factor this week than vocal ability and I feel really bad for Carly that somehow she didn't quite succeed in really connecting with the American people. Her performance was superb, attitude was great and I'd just like to see her come back with some albums that will show how good she really is. As for Cook, I didn't like some of his 'big' notes but otherwise really nice job. Brooke managed to put a lot of feeling into her song but I can't say it was really better than Syesha or Carly's performances.

oh I am totally sucked into this and never seem to get a chance to watch on wednesday when they boot someone off... hence I just read who got the umbrella pulled around their neck

AND WHY WASN"T IT JASON!!

he stunk last week with a ALW song

harumph
ok well whoever I want to win- never does - so I am boycotting the voting proces this season

Becky

Somebody here at FT said a few years ago re: Stevie Wonder night on "Idol" back then that "they realized how very much they appreciated Stevie singing Stevie after hearing the American Idols having a collective go at his stuff...". For me, the same could be said at my house, now, about Neil Diamond. I always thought he was better than just OK. BUT, after hearing Brooke offer her uptempo (?) version of "I'm A Believer"? I am now Neil's largest fan, with whistles on. In fact, I'm now pretty hot on Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork, too, when it comes to *the good old days* . Brooke flubs her lines last week and recovers with that? Oh, dear. I thought it was just too bad for semi-civilized societies everywhere (but she did EVER-so-much better with a more Brooke-ish take on "I Am I Said" - but, unlike Diamond, I think she could've left that too-many-syllables-in-it *Arizona* signature out - *New York*'s worked fine for a few decades now ~ just my opinion, though). But she earns nanny points for listening to the mentor, yes ? Jason sang my favorite Diamond tune, and didn't do anything special or bad with "Forever In Blue Jeans". "September Morn", though? Ye Gods indeed? Am I the only one who thought that [just maybe] he'd taken a sizable bong hit (with Paula ) before he did that song? I suppose having it judged before he even had a chance to sing it (see Paula / bong reference) flustered him a bit. Archie was successfully Archie (and, try as I might, that is about all I can say about him at this stage). Sang nicely, got those annoying people in the front row screeching and waving their arms around like crazy, pulled a "Kristy Lee" and dove red white and blue head-first into a patriotic song. He's 'safe' tonight, for sure. Gas prices will go down by 2 bucks a gallon before young David finds himself in the soup, don't you agree? Now to our hero: can you believe it? I almost didn't even "care" about Mr. Cook's first song. It was OK, I'm used to SO much more from him, though (which is becoming, let's face it, predominately unfair - he can't be fireworks every time he shows up). Then he did "All I Really Need Is You". Goosebumps! Electricity times two (especially that bottom half of it - once again, that voice took flight right where it needed to fly). Syesha did pretty darned well on BOTH her tunes. She gets two "props" from me, I think. First for having a cool hair-do last night. And second for developing most, top-to-bottom, over any other Idol this season week after week. Maybe all those *too big* tunes she started with only served to get her enough attention to keep her in the race long enough to find her best niche. I think she's gotten pretty terrific along the way. That said, I really doubt that she'll be around next week. Again, though, based on performances on Tuesday night only? She ougtta stay and my two one-time faves Brooke and Jason ought to be dusting off their luggage.

Simon said it best last night: "This has officially been the strangest show ever". Paula critiquing songs that hadn't even been sung yet? Neil Diamond looking like he'd rather be at a screening for "Baby Mama"? Jason appearing as if he'd had one too many kisses with the brandy snifter? Brooke telling us (yet one more time) how much 'fun' she's having. When she really means "Whew! I can't believe I'm still here !" Interesting evening!
Anybody else watch?

Thanks Gatsby for your take on the show tonight. I wish I could express the laughter after reading your post better than lol or but they will have to do and as we say here "You cracked me up" with your comments on Paula and Jason.. Kinda reckon you are right on with that one..

It was a strange night alright, especially on Planet Paula.. Her credibility is shot now for sure.. What is more worrying is that Jason just smiled through it all oblivious to what was going on As for Jason singing Neil Diamond it's a bit like Marilyn Manson trying to do an Elvis song..

Archie was ok.. not much I can say about him really.. Clever choice as you said .. a la Kristy Lee. What bothers me about Archie is that he seems to just sing in one tone, there is no light and shade... We know he has a powerful voice but I wish he could show us something different..

I really liked Syesha again tonight, even without her shoes! They must be taking turns, Brooke and her to be the "barefoot princesses". My daughter sings and she tells me that you sing better without shoes on, so, ok.. I believe that!! Who knows more than a teenager, not me that's for sure!

Brooke.. I was kind of expecting Shrek and Princess Fiona to appear from stage left, it was a bit of a pantomime performance .. cringeworthy.. Her version of "I am I said" was much better and more like the Brooke you will see in a club somewhere in the future.. No one can sing that song as good as Neil Diamond... not even David Cook!

Which leads me to my favourite subject (now that Michael Johns is gone)... Mr Cook! I agree with you Gatsby on his first song "I'm Alive", it was ok, not outstanding. The second one was outstanding both vocally and performance wise.. He has the knack of connecting with his audience that none of the others have so far. As Simon said, he makes the songs sound as if they were written for today and for me that really shows he knows his niche. I think he took a big risk tonight with a couple of lesser known songs and (hopefully) it should pay off for him.

Can't wait for next week... Hmm, wonder what theme is coming up?? I shudder to think..

Strange...definitely! I concur with the comments so far. I can't really figure out what David Archuleta has lost over the last few weeks, but I think Choco_nut may have touched on it. He really does sound the same every week to me - he was my favorite in the beginning, but now is just one of the "pack" following way behind David Cook.

I heard the excuses this morning for 'Paula's Bong Induced Bumbling', loved that one, Gats! It was because "they take so many notes during rehearsal that she simply was confused -no kidding- as to what had actually happened." Sorry, but that one appeared to be too many pain pills (that she doesn't take ) and it was funny that Simon kept his mouth shut and tried to quietly, via a hand on her shoulder, stop the trainwreck coming out of her mouth.

I hope that none of you mind my butting into your thread. I have really enjoyed reading your comments, and Gatsby, I think the dude at EW who covers American Idol should just hand in his resignation right now

I told myself I wasn't going to watch this season, and yet, like Harold & Kumar, having to get to White Castle, I too, have to get to the finale. Mostly because I'm routing for David Cook. Granted, he's not as hot as Michael Johns, but sometimes it IS about the singing

Back to Harold and Kumar, I think Jason's been hanging out with them. Only he's not as smart as they are. As a former sound engineer, who has worked with many, many wasted musicians, I would offer him this advice:

Dude, step away from the bong, especially just prior to getting up on stage. Your eyes are so glassy, you could hold Dunkin Donuts Glazed Munchkins up to your orbital sockets and no one would notice. Also, the dreads need more upkeep. Where's the locktician on the set?

On a more serious note, Jason has a real problem with vocal projection. Anyone else agree with me about this? I'm not saying he needs to be a male Whitney Houston (that's a scary thought), but I would have thought that a voice coach would have worked with him on breathing exercises. Oh, wait, there's a good reason he may be having problems breathing

I apologise if I appear to be bashing Jason Castro. I'm not mean spirited, and this wasn't intended as such.

I want to make another post and posit the question to you all about whether you think the show is rigged (I have some interesting statistics), but I don't want to do it before I know if my entire post here is inappropriate.

Cheers -

LOVED your post Cydonia ! And I've been reading stuff all day now about "Idol" being rigged - I'd heard it all prior, of course, but Paula eclipsed all drug abuse assumptions, somehow, last night and opened any number of suspicious doors! Maybe somebody did slip her a script not written in quick-read phonetics? I'd love to see those stats you mentioned. Otherwise I'll just have to go on thinking that Ms. Abdul is easily the most overemployed unemployable human being on the Fox lot. And I'm thinking that takes some doing?

And, yes, Jason deserves all bong remarks/dreadlock maintenance critiques and other general disparagings tenfold. I really like what Jason brings (or brought?) to the contest for weeks ... but now, he seems to be w-a-y adrift somewhere. The simplicity of his vocals is actually, for me, what I found most appealing at the beginning. Given the right song to fit him, I was enjoying him bunches. But when the "right" songs were less available, his lack of skills became more apparent over and over. And I forgot to mention, too, that all I could think watching him last night was (for some reason) B.J. Thomas . "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" Castro could make work like crazy! "September Morn", though? Not so much .

And what's this I'm reading about Cowell's telling Syesha that she's "in trouble" being his way of GETTING her votes? Some say it's working - this mysterious Simon-backlash? And that he did it deliberately? Yikes. Of course, too, the big buzz everywhere is that wee Archie might be plopped into a stool tonight as well. Can you imagine such a thing happening? Jeesh. "American Idol" is getting all complicated all of a sudden. Rather interesting, in a "misplaced priority" kind of way, eh? But, heck, misplaced priorities are the true stuff of life . In my opinion, at least.

cydonia,
I don't know about your post being inappropriate, I didn't think it was, but it was hilarious! I have only caught bits and pieces, but I get the ultimate reviews on here anyway so it's all good. The glassy, skate on me eyes and disgraceful dreads have got to be dealt with. I'm sorry (not really ), but it makes me not listen to Jason if I am watching him. I have to go in the other room or I literally miss most of what he is singing. No stereotyping or prejudice by looks there, eh?!

As someone who admittedly picks her favourite Idols by their cuteness or charm, rather than singing ability, what the heck do these young girls see in Jason?? I can't stand him, couldn't since the beginning. Little David's getting on my nerves too. But David Cook, I like more and more each week.

I agree, I think David Cook is also getting better every week.. I hope he wins.......

My God! What a long season!

I just spent the last hour or so reviewing American Idol via all your posts and found it very entertaining and at times prescient. Thanks Gats for your in depth analysis each week. I love how each entry captures a moment in time that we can see evolve over the weeks to months.

How I wish I could have put my two cents in each week but until today I could never find thread. I'll have to bookmark it.

I must say I'm starting to feel some Idol fatigue, I think. The performances don't have the spark they did earlier in the season even though as whole they are better.

Here are some of my impressions of the final five and their Neil Diamond night:

Jason Castro-The first song captured what I like best about him-a non-flashy crooner who has more presence than vocal chops but is eminently watchable. But yikes! His attempt at heartfelt emotion on "September Morn" reminded me of John Travolta singing at the drive-in in "Grease"-forced and insincere. At times it seemed like he knew he was coasting and didn't care. That could spell real trouble for him with his fans.

David Cook-At this point he's my favorite and the only one who sounded contemporary with his arrangements. That should easily keep him around and while I enjoyed his performances (the second more than the first) I can't say it blew me out of the water.

Brooke White-Her rendition of "I'm A Believer" was truly horrific. She looked odd with the guitar and did little to add to the classic from the 60s. I was embarrassed for her. Her second song was much more in tune with what I perceive people like about her. I wonder if her connection to the voters with this sincere rendition will make up for the lackluster first part.

David Archuleta-I was so glad to read how many of you have begun to experience Archie fatigue. I thought I was alone! I was unimpressed with either of his tunes. "America" was particularly disappointing for me. That said, I agree with Simon, it was probably pretty smart. The prodigy needs to step it up if he thinks he's going to win.

Syesha Mercado-I wrote her off many weeks ago and since then, little by little, I've come to like her and better appreciate her singing ability. I agree with you Gats about Neil Diamond. I never thought much about him before but I appreciate his vocal stylings much more after seeing these young people try to put their mark on his songs. Nevertheless, I really liked her emotion-laden take on "Hello Again" and enjoyed her theatrical second song. However, if last week is any indication of this being a popularity contest, she may be in trouble tonight.

More and more it does feel like it's going to be a David-David final.

Back when there still 24 contestants and we were caught up with that big voice from the little frame of Ramiele and people dismissed David Cook as just a word nerd with weird hair, there was this post from someone I would say could possess psychic powers:

"Outstanding , to me, were, not necessarily in that order, David Archiletta; Michael Johns, Jason Castro, Luke Menard and David Cook. I really liked both Davids best and am hoping that one of them wins."

You may very well get your wish, Ren!
Any stock tips you're willing to give up?

Although I cannot deny the great voice and the cuteness, I agree, Arch is getting monotonous. Not the least in the monotony is the inane grin which I wish he would turn off sometimes. His eyes, behind it, are terrified, with cause, I feel as it is getting near the end of the line for him, maybe.
I really liked Syesha last night , and the week before's "One Rock and Roll too Many" was lovely.
Whatever.... I think it should be David Cook's by a huge margin.
Go Jason! Go Brooke!(and I mean that literally).

Great show this week.
I'm thinking either David Cook or Jason Castro will be the winner.
Then either David Archuleta or Syesha being in the top 3. I'm thinking probably David Archuleta.

I have vowed, as I did last year with that little squirt with the hair(his name eludes me as I knew it would) That if Jason doesn't go this week, I will not watch again. It is always spoilt for me when mindless fans get the upper hand and talent goes by the board. Arghhh.

Just thought I would let everyone know that there is a nice picture of David Archuleta in the May/June 2008 issue of the magazine J-14. It is on page 53.

Now I am through with Jason completely. HOW DARE he take a song that my angel Eric perfected and try to imagine he can come even close to singing one word of it??The cheek of it!
Simon was completely on the mark tonight , in my opinion. Right about all of them, especially Jason. I agree , he was just AWFUL>
David A. really did 'Love me Tender' beautifully. I loved it. The other two were fine, DA was superb.
If Jason is here next week I just give up.

Y'know, Ren? I've made a life-long career of being *wrong* (actually, I think that's a good thing, in my world, since I've been humbled each time I was AND learned a lot each time I *oopsed* ... it all built [some sort of] character while keeping the 'fear' up at the same time - or so I like to think, at any rate). But, even though I tried tried tried [with recent lapses] to be in Castro's corner, I am with you (and Simon) 100% now re: Jason Castro. While I still like what he brought to the contest - a different "spin" on what an alleged Idol could be, if given a chance - I have to say that last night he was beyond atrociously bad. He was disrespectful. To three "greats" (perhaps more?) while he was at it !? As if derailing all comparisons (undeserved ones) to Bob Marley weren't enough, he did try to knock the good memories off of Sir Slow Hand at the same time. Then? Well, since trashing two legends wasn't enough? Let's just sit right down here and shiver the timbers off of Bob Dylan next, shall we? Oh, ye Gods indeed. That was a complete triple cheeseburger with double crap on it, in my opinion. IF he stays tonight, the voting public needs medication. Lots of it, for voting with their hormones (I still don't personally "get" this Castro / sexy bit I keep reading about, either) instead of their good sense . Syesha, who [once again] took on a much-bigger-than-necessary diva tune, even sang circles around Jason, and her Tina Turner show was just better than slightly average, in my opinion. Her NEXT song was so emotional, raw ... and lovely. Bah to Randy. For the first time this season I actually liked Syesha, the person. She's an ace singer, and has been better than most throughout (she, too, with a lapse or two). But I never felt like I knew / connected with her very much. Last night she earned a Top Three spot. Hands down. Cook was okay (I, personally, was in Who Heaven hearing "Baba O'Riley", I tell ya, and I loved the second half of it especially bunches ). Archie? Signed, sealed, delivered. Finalist for sure [but I think we all pretty much knew that already - him doing Elvis, though, last night made me sure that he deserves it once again]. Shoot me, but I'm in the Cook Camp, however, and won't be leaving there - it's just that, based on age and style alone (neither of which are Archie's fault), Cook commands that stage, electrifies it, "owns" it in a way that Little David doesn't quite muster up to yet. But, whatever happens, Archie was (in my humble opinion) the best in the *HOF* last night.

That's all I think today, such as it is. Jason. Go home! Get it right, America. Please!


...edited for [pesky] typo...

I think Archie must have read my post last week as he did show us something different tonight! Top performance from him, I especially liked him singing "Stand by Me". There was light and shade, a connection with the audience and he even kept his eyes open (most of the time).

I liked both of Syesha's performances tonight, she deserves to be in the top three and hopefully she won't be booted off tomorrow night.

Oh, David.. what were you thinking? Of all the songs in the hall of fame you chose "Hungry Like the Wolf" He could have at least chosen AC/DC or Led Zeppelin.. Come to think of it "Whole Lotta Love" might have been cool for DC.

I'm with you Gatsby on the "Baba O'Riley", that was absolutely fantastic.. I really think he's going to be a big star, our David Cook.. I'm hoping that he will get to do the kind of music that he wants to do... not the kind of manufactured pop that we hear so much of today.

Jason, Jason, Jason... please don't have any more lives.. nine is enough for any cat.. He is way out of his league, enough said.

Thank god he's gone! (And I have to say, he was looking and acting more stoned than ever tonight)

By the way, did anyone else find the performance by all four of them at the beginning of the results show kinda bad?

I haven't seen the show yet guitargoddess but will watch it and see..

America finally got it right!

Hallelujah.

Looking forward to next week where they will sing 3 songs.. Judge's Choice, Producer's choice and Contestant's choice. I wonder which contestant each judge will pick? I'll take a guess (probably a wrong one) and say:

Paula - Archie
Randy - Syesha
Simon - David

I heard Jason actually asked to be voted off. Since I wasn't able to catch any of the show, I am sure one of you will tell me if this is the straight dope on the doped up one.

This is from (one of) his Exit Interview(s) - given half a day after his oust, of course, which might have given him time to arrange a "proper" answer. Hard to say, really, where his head was really at at any given point the past few weeks. By all reports, though, he wanted to stay (on some level), but didn't seem to mind terribly not staying, either, if it happened that way? Which probably isn't the best attitude to carry into *any semi-finalist-in-any-contest* situation ?

Quote:

---

So, set the record straight. You weren't sabotaging yourself? You didn't want to go home?
I did not want to go home. But at the same time, now that it happened, I'm kind of glad. It all worked out like it was supposed to. I was reaching the point where I couldn't do it anymore. I wasn't able to keep up and it all caught up with me.

---

That was from Entertainment Weekly, for the record...

Thank you, Gats, I knew you'd come through! He stated he "wasn't able to keep up". Hmmm, I've heard that wacky stuff does slow you down.