Holy turnaround, Batman! Last week, I was complaining about my American Idol fatigue, and tonight, the show charmed me stupid. I’d say this was one of my top five episodes of all time.
Do you think Cecile Frot-Coutaz reads The Critical Condition? Did she mix it up this week just to make me happy? I’m choosing to believe she did.
What?
After the jump, I’m going to break it down, crooner style.
The Theme, the Mentor, and the Judges: Call it what you will—Rat Pack Week or Swing Week or Tony Bennett Hasn’t Died Week—but this has consistently been one of my favorite themes on the show. As opposed to, say, Broadway week, which always avoids how Broadway sounds now, thus duping millions of unaware viewers into believing we haven’t moved past Andrew Lloyd Webber.
But where was I? I like the Big Band theme because the songs have so much personality that they tend to elevate the weak performers and confirm the depth of the strong ones.
The contestants who really nail it perform the cool-breeze attitude as well as they sing, and it turns out Jamie Foxx is totally the dude to help them find that sass. He paid attention to the contestants and gave them specific, insightful advice on inhabiting both the songs and the theme. I mean, thank God somebody finally told Danny that reaching for the heavens is less “sincere” than just keeping your hands to your damn self. And I loved that he praised Kris for not playing in “the throat Olympics.” That’s a nice way of describing K-Dog’s humble appeal.
As someone who merely tolerates Jamie Foxx as a cultural presence, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed him as a teacher. It’s like that season where Jennifer Lopez rolled up and became Annie Sullivan with flawless skin. You think you know someone, and then they manage to be friendly and supportive without resorting to the bulshitty praise that so often makes Paula Abdul an afterthought.
But speaking of Paula: Did you notice how articulate her comments were tonight? Kara’s too. I bet they were practicing in the make-up chair, because I’ve never heard either of them speak with so few “ums” and “y’knows.” Randy, too. Weird, but I’ll take it.
The Bottom Two
Really, I thought all of the singers did at least a decent job, but old hates die hard, so I’m dubbing Danny Gokey this week’s worst. I just don’t believe anything he says or does, and though he took Jamie Foxx’s suggestions about his physicality, I still found him irritating. Also, my mind wandered during his number.
God love Matt Giraud, but he’s got to go. Even on this magical week when he was supposed to be in his comfort zone, he was just okay. Plus, no performance of “My Funny Valentine”—on Idol or otherwise—will ever make me forget what Melinda Doolittle did with the song. She was too magnificent to be outdone on the very show where she slayed me.
The Top Two
My boyfriend Andrew is a voice teacher, and he perceptively noted that Allison Iraheta has some kind of vocal damage that limits her range, but instead of straining past her ability, she get the most out of the voice she’s got. It was nice to see that she can apply that method to a ballad. I thought she rocked. (Note to Randy, though: Please do not suggest that Allison is a better singer than Pink.)
Big ups go to Kris Allen for looking cute and sounding cool. Do I think he will ever make a memorable record? No. But he is some tasty eye candy who also pleases my ears, and on the surreal terms of this show, that makes him one of my faves. (Did you guys read about the iTunes malfunction? Looks like Kris may knock Danny out of the finals. Please, please, please let it be true!)
Adam Lambert
For me, this performance was a nice blend of the contemplative singer and the flamboyant showman. I love Adam (as you know), and I always admire what he does, but when he gets too out there, I don’t really enjoy him. This week, though, he gave me just the right amount of razzle dazzle. That superfly entrance down the staircase and those dramatic shifts into power notes really rocked me because they were leavened by Adam’s physical stillness. Hat’s off, bro. Hat’s off.
10 responses so far ↓
1 ferretrick // Apr 29, 2009 at 9:08 am
I agree with your bottom two, and I’d rather see Danny leave than Matt tonight. Matt had some rough spots, and his time is about done, but Danny was the definition of oversinging last night. He sounded strained and off key on the big notes. I can’t believe Adam gets the “theatrical” critique after what Danny did. The difference is Adam can pull off the theatricality and land on Broadway star; Danny overreaches and lands on Off Off Broadway poseur.
Of course, by “theatrical” Randy actually means “gay” anyway. In any case, I’d rather see someone like Matt, who has SOME idea of his abilities and vocal control, advance than Danny, who just screams and counts on his personality and Idol voters “loud = good” mentality to pull him through.
2 Leslie // Apr 29, 2009 at 9:28 am
I was drawn to this post because I love Jamie Foxx, not Idol. I don’t like Idol. Anyway, I am glad you enjoyed Jamie Foxx, but Mark, can you tell me why you are “someone who tolerates Jamie Foxx as a cultural presence?”
3 Christy Baker // Apr 29, 2009 at 10:07 am
I love Danny Gokey. He reminds me of Robert Downey, Jr., who I just have a red footie pajama crush on… And I love his voice. Ryan and I have said several times that Danny Gokey is like Taylor Hicks, if Taylor Hicks were actually good. Snap.
4 Mark Blankenship // Apr 29, 2009 at 10:37 am
Damn, I want to reply to everyone!
@Ferretrick: I totally agree about the Gokey theatricality thing. I feel like Randy critiques Adam for it both because it seems queer and because Adam really knows what he’s doing. It seems like truly on-point showmanship reads to Randy as “inauthentic,” and that “realness” is sometimes interchangeable with sloppiness. But I could go on all day about all the ways people define authenticity.
@Christy — Your Gokey > Hicks equation was so right t on it made me laugh out loud. And Taylor’s performing tonight, so you can see it put right to the test!
@Leslie — What can I say? I’m completely lukewarm about Jamie Foxx. I’ve never thought he was unbearable doing anything, but I’ve never thought he was great until last night.
5 Casey // Apr 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Mark, you know I love you, but I am in total disagreement about Jamie Foxx. Last night, he combined the insincerity of Danny Gokey with the inanity of Randy Jackson. Hopping around, getting two inches from contestants’ eyeballs, and constantly yelling “WHAT? WHAT? This kid is CRAZY.” to someone off-camera is not mentoring. I don’t know what the hell it is, but it’s not valuable as guidance or good TV.
ferretrick – Absolutely brilliant comment:
Of course, by “theatrical†Randy actually means “gay†anyway.
That hadn’t dawned on me, but you are SO right.
6 Gonzalo // Apr 29, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Mark, I’m in agreement with you on Jamie Foxx. He really surprised me, and I thought his comments were quite good. Was it super-technical? No. But he really picked on things that needed to be worked on in their performances, which I think played a big influence on Danny Gokey being MUCH less annoying this week. But he’s still way over-pimped, and I really hope he doesn’t stay at the expense of Allison.
Speaking of which, Allison still rocks my world. I’m glad Kara pointed out how insane Simon’s critique of her was. Seriously, WTF? What does she have to do to get her well-deserved praise from the judges? It’s either backhanded compliments, or crayon-mustache-drawing, or “for-me-for-you” incomprehensible stupidity (btw, can we retire Randy? please? We can keep Kara, and I’ll ignore her occasional slips like saying that DG’s pitch is always right-on last week).
And Adam? I’ve been vocal about my reservations with him in the past, but he deserves to win this, and I’m really hoping he does. He was AWESOME this week. While I have accused him of seeming “inauthentic” before (which I don’t use interchangeably with “well prepared”), I agree that Randy’s “theatricality” comment last night seemed like a slight to anything remotely “queer” in his performance. Seriously, the rumors about Kara and Paula being out next season piss me off… it’s Randy that needs to go.
7 ferretrick // Apr 30, 2009 at 10:43 am
I’m for keeping Kara as long as she keeps making gaffs like “My mouth drops open…that’s what happens with Adam.” Because I’m five.
8 Madge // Apr 30, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I don’t watch the show regularly, but I’m starting to check out Adam Lambert’s stuff on YouTube because of your reviews. He did a great job, but I find it funny that it isn’t Broadway week, but Adam still got to choose a Broadway song – which plays to his strengths, but isn’t that a tiny bit cheating? Just a little?
9 Mark Blankenship // Apr 30, 2009 at 2:47 pm
You know, I would have thought… but my boyfriend pointed out that EVERY song from this week was originally from a Broadway musical. It was a nice reminder that Broadway music and pop music used to be the same thing.
10 Madge // Apr 30, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Haa! I didn’t know that – I should check out the rest of the performances now! And yeah, I like that there are some wonderful jazzy and poppy songs from Broadway musicals past, and that we’re starting to come back to the notion that Broadway songs don’t have to feel stodgy or aged to be on stage.
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