I don't think any of these singers can compare with Jackie and Shelley in OKLAHOMA. With the beautiful scenery done by Phyllis, I thought it was Broadway.
Makes you smile just thinking about it, doesn't it :)
I'm usually watching a hockey game while Idol is on but I do have to say that David Archuleta is my favorite to win. The kid has what it takes to sell records. I'm glad that the country bumpkin Kristy Lee got bumped. To quote Simon " I thought it [she] sounded like bad karaoke act" The English guy was phenomenal and I thought he was a contender to the end. Maybe he was an Aussie or a New Zealander.
BTW; Paula Abdul must be on Quaaludes, Mandrax,Valium or some other type of mandrake. Actually, Quaalude is no longer manufactured so make it a Tuinal and some shots of schnapps. She seems like she is floating in a lilac mist. Come on dawg!
OK Mitch, just like the "Great Wizard of Oz", you've pulled me from behind the curtain! It's nice to see a familiar subject. Storch, I don't know you, but agree with your comments about David and Paula. There is alot of talent this year, but I also have a soft spot for Carly. When she has the right song, she rocks! Sorry Mitch, David Cook doesn't do it for me...maybe he needs a "hair makeover" LOL
I am a big Idol fan. It is one of the few shows, on today, that our whole family can watch and enjoy together. I think that it will take personality AND a great voice to win it. They are all very talented.
No Shari, Not Leslie Brite. Spoke to her sister Alison before the reunion, but she could't make it. We did see Debbie Himmel after the reunion, found her a little late. She lives in Florida not far from my sister.
Look, we have fans.........So funny. After the wonderful reunion and all that has followed I am now in touch with some of my best friends from JHS and HS. We all know how it is, people go in different directions, funny I wonder if you have to be 50+ to search out your past. So it looks like there is another reunion in my future :)
I agree with Mitch. Brooke will be expurgated this week. Maybe Castro. BTW; that kid reminds me of Vinny Barbarino with dreadlocks. Syesha has found her place doing B'way tunes and I think she did a good job last night. I must say that Andrew Lloyd is a scary looking dude! Whoever did his facial work did a horrific job! Cook and Archuleta are good. It is a tough choice this season. I watched in between the Flyers-Caps game.
I think Cook is the best too. I love what he sang last night. He seems to be getting better looking too, maybe they fixed his hair a little. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, wonder what they could do with me. :)
Jason or Brooke for sure will go this week. I liked her at the beginning.
Oh well, now there are only a few weeks til the end, and can you believe it we will have a new AI and Hilary and Barack will still be fighting out in the primaries. I can't wait for that contest to be in the history books.
Is this a talent contest or a popularity contest? Every week I get a little angrier and more cynical. First, Michael Johns and now Carly?? Is the prerequisite cute blue eyes and dreadlocks or a back street boys vibrato? A year from now no one will remember Jason's eyes or Brooke's personality and they will go the way of Taylor Hicks, who was a nice guy, but forgettable. If the record industry is listening, cut a record of Michael Johns or Carly Smithson and I'm buying. Are you listening?
Shocking... and demoralizing. Jason was so far and away the most deserving of the boot. When the result is so far from reality, it does make one question whether it's worth making the emotional investment in the show.
Both Carly and Syesha handled themselves with dignity; the result was so far from just, there was nothing else they could do. Brooke's a one note wonder and Jason should be doing Karaoke. Although Carly struck me as tense and aggressive at times, I couldn't blame her because it seemed she wasn't liked by the judges, particularly Simon, from the moment the auditions were over and the show started. Time and time again Randy and Simon seemed less than enthusiastic about her performances, even though they were always light years ahead of others. I'm wondering if this has to do with Carly not being an American citizen and not fitting some desireable physical mould. The other stunner was Syesha being voted in the bottom two. What's that about? She's infinitely better than Brooke and goofy no talent Jason.
I was sorry to see Carly leave so prematurely...should have been Jason. Mitch, don't get me wrong, "your" David Cook is a great singer. I just haven't been able to connect with him...who knows, maybe the next performance will do it for me!
Shari, btw: To address your question to ME, I was Leslie Rose(Ellen Schwartz-Shilling's friend), and stayed at Makowsky's in 1971 with my family but visited many week-ends in previous summers.
First, I have to thank Mitch for coming up with a great topic to keep the Blog alive.I've watched the Idol from the first season till now and I must say the talent this season is far better than previous ones. Jason looks like Justin Guarini with dread locks..They both had no talent and got far in the game.My favorite singer is Syesha. I think she has the whole package.Even Simon is starting to believe in her as a real Idol.As for you "little David", hit the road, you're boring...
OK! We now have some "Idol Chatter" (Where are you Ellen? It's time to weigh in...)
What does a contestant have to do to get kicked off "American Idol"? You'd think flubbing your song so bad that you have to start over, or forgetting some lyrics, or just being kind of boring would be enough when there are only six bodies left to choose from. But on Wednesday night the contestants learned that sometimes it's one of your best performances of the season that trips you up.
One can only imagine what was going through the mind of clean-living, no R-rated-movie-watching former nanny Brooke White as she got waved to safety after becoming the first contender ever to stop a song and ask for a redo, only to watch Carly Smithson leave the show following what was arguably one of her best nights.
Maybe it was the too-cute T-Shirt.. "Simon Loves Me (This Week)"
Hey Larry, was it one of yours?
But Smithson didn't ask why she was leaving. Smiling and laughing as the remaining top five surrounded her, she faced the judges. "I'm very proud of myself and I'm very happy. I'm not upset that I'm going home. ... I've had the best time." (What a class act!)
For my money the three best singers left are Syesha & the two David's. This is all about fan support and that is why I wouldn't be surprised if Syesha leaves next week. Only because she's been in the bottom almost every week.(I hope not)
Keep watching Leslie, I know that Carly was your favorite. She has now left us too early, just like Mandissa a couple of years back.
Next week Mercado, White, Archuleta, Cook and Castro will be mentored by Neil Diamond.
Here's a question for all of you.
Who do you think will sing what?
Sweet Caroline He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother Holly Holy Soolaimon Song Sung Blue Kentucky Woman Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon
I think Jason will play "Song Sung Blue" using the Yuke. I think David A. will win it. I like Brooke better than most of you and think she might make it a couple of more weeks.
Gee! Neil Diamond? It sounds like a reunion of Erasmus Hall HS in Brooklyn! Who's next? Babs?
Hey if we are doing the 60's male vocals genre why don't they ask Johnny Rivers, Trini Lopez or someone like Richie Havens to come in? I'd rather hear them do 'Secret Agent Man' or 'If I Had a Hammer' along with some 'Handsome Johnny' or 'Freedom'. At least they have a cooler vibe. OK; I'll get forechecked on this one. Neil is good, no doubt but......
Brooke and Vinny Barbarino are next to be expurgated. Actually, if Vinny B wants to use his uke, why not sing "Tip Toe Through The Tulips' or 'Having A Wonderful Time' like Tiny Tim?
I will concur that the talent is better this season but the results are not adding up. It is a popularity contest and we do need to remember that.
I'm finally here, Mitch. You know I rather talk on the phone! Anyway, I totally agree with you about Idol and I really want David Cook to win. Syesha is pretty popular around South Florida. I'd love if David Cook would sing Sweet Caroline!
Wow! Neil Diamond...how much better can you get. Too much to choose from. I guess you had to grow up in his era to know how talented he was for his singing and songwriting. Larry and I made our own predictions of who would sing what...
David C. "Love on the Rocks" David A. "Hello Again" Brooke "September Morn" piano Jason "Solitary Man" Syesha "He Ain't Heavy,He's My Brother"
Isn't it is amazing that Neil Diamond is releasing a new album on May 6th and is appearing on Idol this week? I went on his website (http://www.neildiamond.com and found his new single is featured. "Pretty Amazing Grace" it sounds great - typical Neil Diamond.
Leslie & Larry, I like your choices and can see all of them doing it. Ellen, I agree that David Cook would probably sound great doing Sweet Caroline. Somehow, I think I'd like to see David doing "Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon", or L & L's choice of "Love on the Rocks" If Brooke does September Morn on piano, I hope she doesn't turn it into October Morn...lol. As far as Jason goes, he probably has a following of "dreadheads" that are keeping him in the game. David A. keeps singing those ballads and those pre-teens are a strong voting block. Now Syesha is the "one soul diva" in this competition, and I really like her. I would love to see her in the finals.
If I were a handicapper, this is the way I see it at this point:
David Archuletta - 1 to 1 David Cook - 3 to 1 Jason Castro - 5 to 1 Syesha Mercado - 10 to 1 Brooke White - 20 to 1
I am looking forward to this week's show. I am a Neil Diamond fan from way back. (My children DO NOT have the same appreciation.) I can remember singing the album, LOUDLY, again and again, with Ilene and Robin, when Ilene had her own bungalow. DWAG, that was back in the day when Neil was on FIA! :-)
I used to love American Idol. Now it's reduced to a teeny bopper popularity contest. All you had to do last week was close your eyes and listen to all the pretenders butcher Andrew Lloyd Webber's beautiful music. They were all exposed as rank amateurs despite the hype.
Brook's snafu in which she started over should have ended her run right there. Somehow, she endeared herself to the masses. Watching Andrew Lloyd Webber's face seemed as if he wanted to call Dr. Kevorkian to commit suicide. Here's the greatest composer of our generation reduced to tears working with awful clowns. It certainly made me wince thinking of the real Music Of The Night.
Jason Castro is so bad that it makes me long for Sanjaya, and G-d perish the thought, William Hung. Is it just me or is Jason really Tiny Tim reincarnated. Where's Miss Vicky these days? And that hair? I expect a canary to come flying out of it right there on the stage.
Michael Johns and Carly Smithson had the two best voices. They were sumarily dismissed for the same reason. Both were married and did not appeal to the teeny boppers who tie up the phone lines voting over and over.
Smithson has a powerful voice, but with her tatoo husband from hell, she turned people off. Both were doomed from the very start.
Seiously does anyone really think Jason or Brook's singing was better than these two dearly departed contestants? May they rest in peace.
So in the end it will come down to teen idol David Archleta, and bad hair guy, David Cook. Teen idol versus Rock Star.
David Cook do us a favor and please wash your oily hair! And if David Arhleta wins I expect his father to push him aside right off the stage to accept his roses. What a hoot! Where's Bert Parks when we need him?
Seriously, the others are just wasting their time. Is it just me or does it appear that Simon has come become bored and resigned to his fate. Yes, he makes a lot of money, but deep down he knows the show has disintergrated into medocrity. Gone are the days of Clay versus Reuben where both singers could really blow. And in the case of the former...
When Taylor Hicks with his bathroom gyrations won that was it for me. I used to laugh when he sung as he was so baaaad! Speaking of Taylor, where is he these days? I heard he was headlining at the Greyhound bus station in Arkansas. Or perhaps Taylor, like the late great Charlton Heston, the original Taylor, has been whisked away to the Planet Of The Apes? "Damn you, we've finally done it. We finally blew ourselves up"
And as for Fantasia, she sounded like Stevie Kiviat after inhaling some Helium from a balloon. I used to laugh as soon as she walked out onto the stage. What a joke! The Color Purple? She joined the show and the show closed! Enough said.
And Paula, well she has to be on something. I think she spikes her coke with uppers and downers at the same time. Has she ever been critical of anyone?
And as for Randy, yo doooggg yuz the bommbbb. Randy is that your entire vocabulary? Can you imagine what the show would be like if Simon left? It wouldn't even last one season.
If not for Simon, the man the world loves to hate there is no Idol American or other. By the way Simon I love when you criticize someone's fashion choice. This coming from a man whose entire wardrobe consists of black, white, and gray tee shirts! And his hair! What does he do take a weedwacker to it?
And while we're at it, what's a Ryan Seacrest? If not for his banter with Simon he would be reduced to "Come On Down" What's his claim to fame?
I would trade all of these Idol pretenders for just one more day on the porch of the luncheonette doing 60's music and Doo-Wop with my Senior Boys.
"Oh what a night late December back in 63..."
American Idol has indeed jumped the shark. And my winner is...
Phyllis! After all these years she's still the one.
I concur...What is a Ryan Seacrest? Some new kind of toothpaste?
He has to be the luckiest Disc Jockey in the USA. Kind of a modern day Shadoe Stevens. Back when I was a two-bit radio DJ in the 80's, I would have killed for such an opportunity none the less make a buck. I made that much. One buck(lol).
Simon is the best. He is the show. When he blurts out "I thought it sounded like a bad karaoke act" it makes me crack up. I can almost see it coming from some of the performances. He is a very successful producer in the biz. Randy can play a mean bass and although he is full of "schtick", he is a successful producer in his own right. Paula is on another planet. Which one, I have no clue. I cannot figure out what mandrakes she is popping as Metaqualone is no longer made. I can guess that it is either Xanax and vino or Valium and vino or maybe a doobie and vino. Comedy relief is the term to best describe her.
Do not get me wrong, here. Neil is a legendary perfomer. I'd love to see Phil Spector. There is the definition of talent bordering on psychosis! The "Wall Of Sound". The way my Rangers have been playing, I'll probably watch more Idol than the game. That is if the Rangers are losing.
Archuleta by a nose. A photo finish. My Trifecta will be Archuleta-Cook-Mercado. I could see OTB having a line on it and watching the degenerate, cigar chompers waiting for the results and then ripping tickets would be funny.
This theme for “American Idol” this week is the music of Neil Diamond. Oy, vey.
Now that I've indulged in the cheapest of Jewish jokes, let me say that Diamond wrote a number of great songs. One surprise tonight could be a rocking version of “I’m a Believer,” which was a hit for The Monkees back in the 1960s.
Maybe Jason Castro could have some fun with “Red, Red Wine.” or "Song Sung Blue"
An obvious choice for David Cook would be “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” which was in one of my favorite movies of all time - “Pulp Fiction"
David Archuleta is the only one left standing who could even go near "I'm a Believer."
"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" is probably too big a hit to ignore, and I can see Syesha wanting to take a stab at it.
If Brooke gets to do "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" and instead of going over the top with it, gets intimate — she'll pick up enough super-delegates to clinch the nomination for president of the Pity Party and ride that tsunami of sentiment for another seven days.
David Archuleta finally is good in seeking out the most obscure, uplifting track, so I'm thinking "Holly Holy," "Beautiful Noise" or "I Am I Said." But Kristy Lee Cook got a few weeks' mileage after waving a flag, so it would be silly for someone not to do "America"
Of course, this leaves most of his best songs from the mid-'60s. But I think, "Sweet Caroline," "Cracklin' Rosie," "Song Sung Blue" and even "Solitary Man" will likely find their place in the group medley Wednesday night.
I heard last night was a goodie. I was watching my Rangers get killed. I nearly drowned from making porcelain pizza from that game! Heard that Paula was pilled out of her head last night and it made for good theater.
I did catch a fast glimpse of Brooke White. I'm going with her or Barbarino as the evenings expurgation.
Neil looked pretty good for an oldie but goodie. None of them really did justice to his songs except Cook. All he needs is a hair makeover and he is the Next Americal Idol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last night was a classic as American Idle jumped the shark. Paula was on something because no one can be that ditzy.
She was totally incoherrent and finally Simon feeling pity said, "Paula just tell us who you liked best." It was so awkward that I felt embarassed for Paula.
As for the contestants no one could be as bad as they all were. All of us have sung Neil Diamond songs. Some of us may not have had the best voice but regardless it was always fun to sing and listen to.
Last night I was appalled at how truly awful each and everyone of these pretenders for the title of American Idle really were. I winced in pain and fast Tivo'd through Brook and Jason as I couldn't take the train wreck. Neil Diamond must have been thumbing through his directory for the number for Dr. Kevorkian.
Not a single one of these pretenders is qualified to wear the crown of American Idle. As for Paula she has to have an IQ lower than her age.
Does anyone truly care who wins now? Ted Mack's amateur hour was better than this. Just awful!
American Idol: No American Idle: Si!
I'm ready for my comeback. Who wants to back me up and be one of Bobby's Bimbettes? Paula is certainly one! I do a mean Venus in Bluejeans!
Mitch: You are absolutely on the money with the license. If she is that blotto'd, the only thing working in her crainium is her cortex to keep her breathing! Nothing else can possibly be working. Her dendrites had to have exploded. She would be Nancy Reagan's first choice as poster girl for Just Say No!
Ted Mack? What about 'Arthur Godfrey's (he was a nice anti-semite he was) Talent Scouts' or perhaps, the 'Gong Show'? Paula's favorite show is 'What's My Line' A line of snurf with heroin mixed in that is!
P.S. Neil had a lift. Maybe some carpet too. His eyebrows are pointed like Spock's on 'Star Trek'. The man is a legend. Musically, Jewish-ly and Brooklyn-y!
The title of this thread, "Who will win?" seems to be going in the wrong direction. These contestants, singing their hearts out, should be commended, not "roasted". I'm not seeing the humor here.
Most of them were too young to know Neil Diamond or his songs. How could they possibly sound the way that you remember, growing up with him? I give them all the credit in the world. Could any of you do better?
This group happens to be the most talented(instruments included) than the last few seasons. I favored Kimberly Locke several years ago, and felt that she got "shortchanged". Reuben who??
Agreed, this competition isn't always fair, but then why watch it if your not finding it entertaining.
Whether you were a fan or not, how could you not feel bad for Brooke tonight as she tearfully said good-bye.
BTW: I agree with Jodi about Neil being an "oldie but goodie!"
How awful are these finalists? How much of a simplteon is stupid Paula? Can you imagine Paula a judge advising these goofy wanabees to make the song their own. She can't even add 2 + 2.
And they're stupid enough to listen. Taking advice from a "never was" who we wouldn't let babysit a child, let alone give advice on singing.
The fact that anyone takes her seriously is even more ridiculous than anything. Imagine to take classics and standards and twist them into almost unrecgonizable off key dopey smaltz.
So dawg, can you say anything other than it was a little pitchy? There isn't a person alive that doesn't know the tune to most Neil Diamond classics.
But leave it to this untalented bunch to take it new lows which is beyond terrible.
So let me end the suspense as if we don't all see it coming.
5. Brook - nice knowing you! Don't let the door hit you on the way out. And take your guitar & Jimmy Dolan with you.
4. Jason - A Tiny Tim wanabee. Jason go back to the caribbean and take Miss Vicky and your ukelele with you. Aloha!
3. Syesha - the only one of the remaining three that remotely resembles a professional singer.
But her crime is she's not a pop star. Oh no, Simon told her she belongs on Broadway. Doing what exactly he didn't say?
Well Judges, if she wasn't AI material why did you bring her to Hollywood in the first place.
Remember that weirdo Taylor Hicks? Hell, Simon had the good sense to vote him off on his audition. But the birdbrain and The Dawg overruled Simon. Somehow he actually wound up winning with his bathroom gyrations.
2. And now it gets dicey! My guess is David Archuleta is the runner up. We need to get security to stop his father from killing him right there on stage. The reason - his teeny boppers unlike Taylor's Soul Patrol don't have enough dinero to pay for their cell phones. Why? Because they're all under 16. They can't do a sophistacated tie up the phone line campaign.
1. And the winner by default is David Cook. First prize is a bottle of shampoo.
After his short lived victory he can try to get back to his native rock. This should place him on an island smack dab on The Planet of The Apes with Taylor Hicks. Say hi to Taylor and while you're at it, Charlton Heston too.
And the Makowskyite who wins an all expense paid trip to every American Idol concert this summer is Steve Kiviat.
Accepting the award for Mr. Kiviat is his butcher. He advises us that Steve would rather have bamboo spikes put under his fingernails then be subjected to this torture watching this sorry excuse for singers.
So tell us Stevie how do you really feel?
This is the worst season ever for AI as there isn't even one deserving candidate. Welcome to the dumbing down of America.
As Neil would say...On the boats and on the plane, we're coming to America! Isn't anyone watching our borders? Until next week boys and girls. Same time - Same Bat channel.
I think you above all have finally nailed it....BRAVO! I applaud you.
But, I think this show has to change before it becomes "American I-Dull"
We now have 'Paulagate'
It is not a secret to anyone that the judges listen to the dress rehearsal performances. I don’t really think they should, but it is Simon’s contention if they don’t they aren’t able to hear the live performances over the crowd noise. This is a valid point. I assume they take notes, during said dress rehearsal, to use during the show. But there is ‘buzz’ about the producers feeding Paula comments. I think A.I. and the concept of giving talented kids, who would otherwise never be seen, a shot at making it in the business. For that reason, I wholeheartedly hope every aspect of A.I. is on the up and up (vote tabulating included). I am getting a little concerned about Randy summarily saying David Archuleta is ‘da bomb’. Especially in the case of his performance last night – good maybe – 'da bomb', I think not.
I think it is time to address what is the most important issue. And that is what to do for Paula. The girl really could use some help. Someone needs to step up and do the right thing by her. I for one volunteer to take her job and would do it for far less money!
Seriously, she needs everyone in her life to help her get it together, whatever it takes. Pulling oneself up from adversity that is the making of an American Idol.
Am I wrong...Brooke White has that Bill Clinton lip biting thing going on and it drove me nuts. I told my wife that if she gets the shoe, she will ball like the baby in 'Eraserhead'. I was right. She had to think that she was a goner. Next to go will be Barbarino and maybe Syesha. Syesha has a place on Broadway. Barbarino I think is in limbo. Brooke to me was simply a good karaoke act. Her Carly Simon thing does not work. It only works for Carly. That is the breaks. Too bad Idol is not on tonight. I dread seeing my beloved Rangers get flushed down the toilet!
Well, Brooke being eliminated was not a shock. Her past several performances showed she was not American Idol material. It was obvious she knew it was her week to go. She seemed like a very nice person who went further than anyone could expect.
Again, Jason slid by. Must be all those girls that love his locks. But I believe it will be between Jason and Syesha (a big week for her to snatch some of the voters who used to support Carly & Brooke) as to who goes next and then the contest is between the two Davids and I believe it will be very close.
There is also a part of me that believes a David vs. David finale seems too obvious. We've seen major surprises before. Could it be...gasp!...David Archuleta vs. Jason Castro?
I am with Leslie and Jodi. I have a lot of compassion and respect for those in this competition. It cannot be easy to stand where they do. Too often, I see our society raise people up so we can shoot them down. I wonder why we do this...
Carly Simon: Nobody does it better than Brooke on 'Idol' By CHARLES J. GANS – 2 days ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Carly Simon has more than a passing interest in this season's "American Idol" and leaves no mystery about who's her favorite remaining finalist — Brooke White.
Simon was tipped to turn on the television at her home in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., the night White won over the judges by performing her hit song "You're So Vain" during 1970s theme week.
"I thought, `Oh my God, this girl is so talented and she sings the song so much better than I ever did or ever could,'" said Simon, interviewed during a rehearsal break with her band at a Manhattan studio. "I was so flattered that she chose the song and ... more than impressed. I think she should win."
Simon was preparing for a showcase performance of songs from her new bossa-nova flavored album, "This Kind of Love," her first album of original new songs in eight years, which was released Tuesday.
The 62-year-old singer confesses that when she watches "Idol" her motherly instincts take over and she just wants to protect the young singers from what she sees as the show's cruelest part — and it's not the comments by judge Simon Cowell whom she likes.
"One thing I don't like about the show is that it turns truly sadistic when the person is voted off and they have to sing while they're crying," Simon said. "I just want to go up .... and carry them off and say, `It's OK, sweetheart, come with me.' ... I don't know how the panel can stand that cruelty. ... Doesn't that seem like being thrown to the lions?"
With her legendary stage fright, Simon admits she couldn't have gone far on "Idol" if she had to perform live before a TV audience in the tens of millions. And she doubts that the other noted singer-songwriters of her generation — Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell and ex-husband James Taylor — could have gone far because they all had distinctive but untrained voices.
Well; another week done. Cook did not do it for me this week. Barbarino is done. Simon said he better pack his bags and I concur. He really has the same goofy grin that Travolta had as Vinny Barbarino. All he needs is a few "whuh? where? why?" lines to make it complete. Maybe I'll bring back 'Welcome Back Kotter' and cast him as Vinny.
I may have to re-do my Trifecta to a Daily Double. It might be Archuleta and Syesha with Cook in third. The grunge gravel voice is wearing thin. Either way, Syesha, Dave and Dave have careers ahead of them. They are all very talented and should do very well.
We should have a new line item called 'Paula Watch'. Last night she seemed as if her face was numb. Who knows what she is popping. Only other thing that is more glazed over than she is are the donuts over at Dunkin's!
I'm going with Archuleta and Syesha as of this week. Survey Says?
Be nice, Paula looked fine, I thought Syesha was great, but I still like Cook. That little David is adorable. Hard to take a love song from him seriously though. Just a few more weeks. Who knows, we may have a Democratic Nominee before the next American Idol.
David Cook ("Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Baba O'Reilly"): Duran Duran? Seriously? After weeks of savvy performances, David Cook! What happened to you? All I can figure is that this year's designated rocker was so determined to own Rock Night that he choked. A teenage wasteland, indeed.
Syesha Mercado ("Proud Mary" and "A Change is Gonna Come"): Syesha's turbo-charged performance of "Proud Mary" was probably the entertainment highlight of the evening. Syesha seems to work harder than anybody, and her post-performance meltdown felt very real and very moving.
Jason Castro ("I Shot the Sheriff" and "Mr. Tambourine Man"): Oh my God, what WAS that? The laziest contestant in "Idol" history followed a version of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" that was so insulting, it qualified as grave-robbing, with a stab at Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" that would have been simply forgettable if Castro hadn't also forgotten the words. But since he did, it now qualifies as unforgivable. Really. I defy all you Jason Castro fans to defend either of those performances. And to think we lost Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, and this person is still here.
David Archuleta ("Stand By Me" and "Love Me Tender"): His voice remains one of the Great Idol Wonders, so even though I found his version of "Stand By Me" to be predictable, there is no denying that Little David gave the evening's most consistently strong performances.
BEST IN SHOW: David Archuleta and Syesha
WORST IN SHOW: Jason Castro
NOT DOING HIMSELF ANY FAVORS: David Cook
NOT LONG FOR THIS SHOW: It better be Jason Castro. But if Simon's "pack your bags" comment mobilizes the fans, it could be Syesha or David Cook. In which case, I will have to hurt somebody.
Mitch, I agree with everything you said. Archuleta has a great voice but he's a little boring. I hope David Cook wins. I think he's a great performer. Everyone should leave Paula alone. She's adorable and probably laughing all the way to the bank!
At dinner, tonight, I was predicting that Jason MAY NOT be down for the count. (Time will tell.) He is a favorite with the teenage girls and I beleive that many teenage girls VOTE. How many of you have ever voted? Come on, admit it... :-)
Looks like America got it right tonight. Jason was just as happy to go home. It should be an interesting fight to the finish. Syesha vs. "little David" would be my choice.
After all the surprises this season, it finally has come down to the three best singers after all. David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado will duke it out for the top spot.
Yo Rob... Just keeping it real
As "Idol" watchers know...The final three contestants will be required to perform three songs apiece during next Tuesday’s (May 15th) program.
I still think it will still be David vs. David in the finale, but I'm rooting for Syesha next week.
(CBS) Rocker David Cook got the best feedback from the "American Idol" judges Monday, as he competed against Syesha Mercado and David Archuleta for the two spots in next week's finals.
"David Cook wins the night," judge Simon Cowell declared at the end of the Fox reality show.
The first round of songs was chosen by the judges, the second by the contestants, and the third by the show's producers.
The singers fared best with the songs chosen by the judges, but faltered with the songs they chose for themselves.
Here's how it all played out:
Round 1 - Judge's Choice
David Archuleta kicked off the evening with Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" chosen by Paula Abdul. Judge Randy Jackson loved it, Abdul called it "a pure and stunning performance," and Cowell thought it was very good but not outstanding.
The gaggle of fans standing in front of the stage booed the cranky judge for his comments. "Oh, you lot are now judging? I don't think so," he snapped.
Syesha Mercado, who looked like she had borrowed Beyonce's glam squad, sang "If I Got You" by Alicia Keys. Jackson said he chose it for her because "I think this is the kind of record she can make and be successful with."
"It was good, but I wish Randy had chosen something where you weren't going to try and sound like the original," said Cowell.
"If you listen back you'll hear she changed quite a few notes," Jackson said.
David Cook sang "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" which Cowell chose for him. "It is one of the great songs of all time, and unlike Randy, I wanted him to do something different," said Cowell.
Cook showed a mastery of his upper register in his performance. "Loved the high note at the end," said Jackson. "But I wish Simon would have picked something that wasn't as predictable as this older kind of stuff for you. I needed more rock from you."
Abdul loved it and, speaking of predictable, so did Cowell.
"I know this is going to sound biased, but I think that was one of your best performances," he said. "Round 1 goes to Cowell and Cook."
Round 2 - Singer's Choice
Archuleta usually sings ballads, so he thought he'd change things up by singing "With You," a recent up-tempo hit for Chris Brown. Abdul said she thought he did a great job, but Jackson and Cowell thought it was an awkward song for the baby faced singer from Murray, Utah.
"I'm not sure that was the right song, seeing you singing 'my boo,'" said Jackson. "I didn't believe it."
Mercado in a sparkly mini dress was up next to sing Peggy Lee's "Fever." None of the judges thought it was an appropriate song choice.
"You had a chance to prove that you are a contemporary recording artist with your choice of song," said Cowell. "Instead it was a lame cabaret performance.
Cook didn't do much better with his song, "Dare You To Move" by Switchfoot. Jackson thought it was a great song choice, but a "little pitchy." Abdul commented on the challenge of taking a three minute song and squeezing it into the allowed 90 seconds. She felt the song was over when it was just starting to hit its peak.
"There's not much I can add to that. I think all three of you had an okay middle round," said Cowell.
Round 3 - Producer's Choice
Archuleta sang Dan Fogelberg's ballad "Longer." Jackson and Abdul loved it. Cowell thought he sang it very well, but he hated the song. "It was a song for someone who's 90, not 17," he said. "But you sang it well enough that I think you'll be in the finals next week.
Mercado sang the peppy "Hit Me Up" from the "Happy Feet" soundtrack. It was just okay for Jackson, Abdul thought she sang it well but not necessarily good enough to get her in the finals. Cowell liked it better than her second round song, but "it didn't give you the defining moment that I would have liked at the end of this show."
Cook finished the night with the Aerosmth power ballad "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing." It was "just okay" for Jackson, but Abdul loved it.
Based on the judge's critiques, the finals will come down to a battle between The Davids. The judges don't have a say in who stays or goes, so it's up to the viewing audience to vote for their favorites. The results will be announced on Wednesday's show.
He was a true American Idol. His music was loved by many . If you were a true fan of his you'd understand better. His words were like poetry put to music. Whether a hot electric set or love ballad , he was great. I listen to him frequently and his music still 'moves me' (my own DF sets , of course, right KUP?
We lost him recently, he was a strong advocate for men's early detection
If Storch ever really took the time to listen to Dan Fogelberg’s music he would find it was powerful in its simplicity. He did not rely on the volume of his voice to convey his emotions; instead, he came through in his soft, tender delivery and his poignant lyrics. Songs like “Same Old Lang Syne,” in which a man reminisces after meeting an old girlfriend by chance during the holidays, became classics. (This happens to be my all time favorite DF song)
I suggest Storch listen to this classic song on youtube....
"Same Old Lang Syne"
Met my old lover in the grocery store The snow was falling Christmas Eve I stole behind her in the frozen foods And I touched her on the sleeve She didn't recognize the face at first But then her eyes flew open wide She went to hug me and she spilled her purse And we laughed until we cried
We took her groceries to the checkout stand The food was totalled up and bagged We stood there lost in our embarrassment As the conversation dragged We went to have ourselves a drink or two But couldn't find an open bar We bought a six-pack at the liquor store And we drank it in her car
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how
She said she'd married her an architect Who kept her warm and safe and dry She would have liked to say she loved the man But she didn't like to lie I said the years had been a friend to her And that her eyes were still as blue But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw doubt or gratitude She said she saw me in the record stores And that I must be doing well I said the audience was heavenly but the traveling was hell
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to time Reliving in our eloquence, another 'auld lang syne'
The beer was empty and our tongues were tired And running out of things to say She gave a kiss to me as I got out and I watched her drive away Just for a moment I was back at school And felt that old familiar pain And as I turned to make my way back home The snow turned in to rain...
After reading these lyrics again, I can even relate this song to our Makowsky Reunion....Can you?
Can you all believe we are one week away from Memorial Day.....Hard to believe. That's when the real count down would begin. My mom and dad weren't big on a long weekend, but I think we did get up there a few times.
Is it just me or is life at it's most stressful ever. What I wouldn't do for one night on the back porch, just one more time. Or waking up on a Sunday with bacon frying and coffee perking in the kitchen. Remember perked coffee, I still use my Farberware electric perc over any of those stupid machines. Hey, remember coffee in our PJs outside the bungalows or were we drinking Hawiian Punch. I loved that stuff. I wonder if it would taste the same. Anyway just wandering on this rainy day, thinking.........
OK; Just to be fair and so I'm not labeled as musically impaired....I have a Dan Fogelberg album in my collection. It was his first that came out in either 72 or 73 entitled 'Home Free'. It may have been a gold record too! May it be Dan or James Taylor, that genre of 1972 Male Singer-Songwriter types put me to sleep. The worst song ever placed in to the Jukebox was Michael Murphy's 'Wild Fire'. That 45 was a double sider too! It was originally speculated that the worst tune was The Pipkin's 'Gimme Dat Ding' but Murphy won top honors. I'd take Dan over that anyday. Mitch; Dan actually had a 45 in the jukebox!
Which David will be the Goliath?
Ah; all this chat about Memorial Day or as the elders of my family called it "Decoration Day" is near, I wonder if the pool has water in it? This was the weekend that was the welcome mat for summer. My Mom always had the percolator going. Back then cigarettes were going too. The smell of the coffee along with the fresh rolls from the store and the smell of clean, summer air. The bunglaow smelled musty but....
It was a right of summer passage to consume Hawaiian Punch, Hi-C, Kool-Aid or Wylers powdered drinks. Always loved the Hi-C Citrus Cooler! Low and behold, we also discovered that it tasted quite good spiked with vodka that the folks had for the Saturday night casino shindig.
Even in that wet, muddy summer of 72 when we had to cross planks to get to certain bungalows, it was still great to be there! I'd take Makowsky's come rain or shine!
"Idol" hammered the boxing theme over and over, beating the metaphor into submission amid a barrage of every sports cliché in the book.
Going in to last nights competition, I was hoping that David Cook would win. It is clear barring some miracle that "Archie" is going to be the next American Idol.
I do however disagree with the judges on the first song choice.
I thought that Cook's version of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was better than Archie's rendition of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."....
after that David A. was better than David C.
I do think that if Cook had sung "Billie Jean" to close he might have fared better.
I still say that Archie's version of "Imagine" is better than the original!
BTW, just a small observation here...
Ruben Studdard is back! I know this is two months too late, but can someone please explain to me exactly how to celebrate oneself home?
Yes, Ruben Studdard is back. So was his front, sides and everything else he brought. Now I know why they needed to be on the BIG stage last night.As Ed Sullivan once said, "IT WAS A REALLLLLY BIG SHOW".I was proud of little David standing tall and giving a pure performance.I guess that listening to the music of today sometimes doesn't do it for me.That's why the classic sounds always seems to stay around forever. Way to go LITTLE DAVE, YOU MADE THAT CLASSIC SOUND LAST NIGHT WORK FOR YOU! "Imagine," you really could win it all!
Archuleta nailed it! Cook is very talented and there is no debate there. Last night, Cookie seemed a bit off and did not have the edge that he usually had. He will be working with Clive soon enough.
Little Dave will be the next AI.
Rubie! Holy smokes! His suit looked like it was made by Omar. He has to be clocking over 3 on the scale with ease! Guy has to lose weight. He does not want to be like Luther.
Now that AI is over what to do next? The Yankees and Mets are in the toilet, no more hockey, no NFL until the end of the summer.
Hello pool? Beach? Swimming Hole? Makowsky's? I'll take them all!
Have a great Memorial Day. Fly those flags and remember those who gave their lives in the defense of freedom.
These last two nights of Idol were amazing. What a great ending! I was happy to see David C. win. From what I have read, his brother has had a ten year battle with brain cancer. He and his family deserve this joy; he is a very talented singer. I hope that he goes far.
Newsday.com David Cook wins 'American Idol' BY VERNE GAY
verne.gay@newsday.com
10:47 PM EDT, May 21, 2008
As expected, a David did win the seventh season of "American Idol." Just not the David some of us (ahem) predicted.
David Cook, Texas-born, Missouri-raised, and a former bartender who will never have to tend another bar in his life, won "Idol" Wednesday night, and it wasn't even close. Per Ryan Seacrest, 97.5 million votes were cast, and of those about 55 million votes went to Cook.
He didn't look that surprised when the nod went to him just before 10. "I started this season as the word nerd, and I'm at a loss for words," he said, wiping away tears, and maybe a season of doubting Thomases who believed he would never make it this far. "This is amazing. Thank you." And he turned away from the audience, before welcoming his brother, Andrew, on the stage.
"This is his fault." Yes, some fault. His brother encouraged him to audition last year for "Idol," and now the rest is history. Adam -- "AC" -- is his other brother, suffering from cancer and an unseen presence on this season's show. His initials have appeared on his brother's guitar and his illness has been part of the Cook legend.
Not that Cook milked the "sympathy vote." He didn't. It was just impossible to ignore.
And the other David? The 17-year-old Utah native was the front-runner much of the season. He stumbled during the Beatles rounds, but "Idol" -- cleverly -- never indicated that his votes were starting to tail behind Cook's, as they did (per bloggers) about five weeks ago. On Tuesday's finale, he easily won the duel of the front-runners: He sang better, and with more passion, than Cook, but perhaps Simon Cowell's words should have served as a sign of things to come. For years, Cowell's reputed get-out-the-vote strategy for his favorite has been to chastise the contestant he wants to win. Why? So that fans will be motivated to vote against Simon.
Begs, of course, another question: Why would "Idol" and Cowell want David Cook as opposed to the equally gifted David Archuleta to win? Perhaps because "Idol" and its record producing sibling, 19 Entertainment, simply believe David Cook will sell more records in the long run. (Also, Archuleta's father, Jeffrey, was considered difficult and a meddling backstage dad -- not fun as a potential partner.)
Meanwhile, how about that finale? Exhausting, endless (nearly) and undeniably entertaining. The show was sort of like an extended time-warped Grammys, spread over half a century, with stars who appeal to a demographic spread between the ages of 8 and 80. For a show that's been buried by critics, pundits, and opposing networks anxious to throw some dirt on the "Idol" coffin, last night's capper sure acted like a lively, culturally aware corpse.
It started with a Nickelback duet between the two Davids. We then saw Donna Summer, ZZ Top, Graham Nash and ended with George Michael.
What did this all mean? That "Idol" had something to prove. This megahit can still draw the big names, create an "Event," and make the pundits swallow their words.
Congrats to David Cook & David Archuleta. They will both sell a ton of records.
Last nights show was very entertaining and whatever the reasons really were this year, in a competition that can crown a 29-year-old gray-haired Southerner one year and a cheery 17-year-old high-school student from Arizona the next, it's ultimately impossible to tell why America chooses its "Idols" the way they do.
I loved the show. I'm glad it was DC. I liked him early on and although I like little David, I don't think he has the versatility of DC. Plus, maybe it's me, but did anyone else notice the twinkle in his eye. You know me, I'm a sucker for a pretty face. I even got used to his hair. Here's to next year!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was happy for DC. Little D too. There is no doubt that the two of them will be successful.
Archuleta's Dad has been a tad meddlesome. He is the type to count the money before he has it. I would not be surprised if the guy gave his son a what for last night. Seems like the type.
Back in January. We shall see what the next season brings in. I find the auditions quite comedic!
Aren't any of you interested in my crystal ball? I nailed the last 5 in the exact order in my post of May 1st. Ho-Hum!
Can't wait for David Cook to get those shampoo endorsements from Prell.
They all sucked this season!
Forgetting lyrics, starting over, destroying classics, and singing off key. Jason was begging to get kicked off and couldn't. Now he can go back to his ukele and smoke some weed. He had NO voice whatsoever.
As the Dawg said, it was a little pitchy and not his favorite. I guess that is sort of like being a little bit pregnant. Other than that these clowns were GREAT!
How can anyone say that this years talent wasnt the best group yet? I'm sitting with Leslie and Larry and we all agree that David Cook was terrific and this was the best finale ever.Jodi, we're with you! David's personality, charm and voice will probably make him one of the most successful "Idle" winners ever.
69 Comments:
At 4/18/2008 11:59 AM ,
Jodi said...
I don't think any of these singers can compare with Jackie and Shelley in OKLAHOMA. With the beautiful scenery done by Phyllis, I thought it was Broadway.
Makes you smile just thinking about it, doesn't it :)
OK, OK, Judy and Lenny too!!!!!!!!
At 4/18/2008 4:01 PM ,
Storch said...
I'm usually watching a hockey game while Idol is on but I do have to say that David Archuleta is my favorite to win. The kid has what it takes to sell records. I'm glad that the country bumpkin Kristy Lee got bumped. To quote Simon " I thought it [she] sounded like bad karaoke act" The English guy was phenomenal and I thought he was a contender to the end. Maybe he was an Aussie or a New Zealander.
BTW; Paula Abdul must be on Quaaludes, Mandrax,Valium or some other type of mandrake. Actually, Quaalude is no longer manufactured so make it a Tuinal and some shots of schnapps. She seems like she is floating in a lilac mist. Come on dawg!
At 4/18/2008 4:46 PM ,
Mitch said...
David Archuleta definitely has the following. (His rendition of John Lennon's Imagine was awesome)
I just happen to like David Cook. He has got a good voice and seems to have that star quality.
At 4/18/2008 10:11 PM ,
Leslie said...
OK Mitch, just like the "Great Wizard of Oz", you've pulled me from behind the curtain! It's nice to see a familiar subject. Storch, I don't know you, but agree with your comments about David and Paula. There is alot of talent this year, but I also have a soft spot for Carly. When she has the right song, she rocks! Sorry Mitch, David Cook doesn't do it for me...maybe he needs a "hair makeover" LOL
At 4/19/2008 5:29 AM ,
Mitch said...
I like Carly as well. She has got some set of pipes!
Talking about "hair makeovers", whats up with Jason Castro?...But you know the saying....people in glass houses....lol
At 4/19/2008 4:28 PM ,
Rob said...
Forgetting for a moment all the idol worshiping going on here,
Ellen & I would like to wish all you folks a happy Passover. 'Zessen Pesach'
At 4/19/2008 8:59 PM ,
Shari S said...
Happy Passover to all!
I am a big Idol fan. It is one of the few shows, on today, that our whole family can watch and enjoy together. I think that it will take personality AND a great voice to win it. They are all very talented.
Leslie, are you Leslie Bright?
At 4/21/2008 8:54 AM ,
Jodi said...
No Shari, Not Leslie Brite. Spoke to her sister Alison before the reunion, but she could't make it. We did see Debbie Himmel after the reunion, found her a little late. She lives in Florida not far from my sister.
At 4/22/2008 2:37 PM ,
Jodi said...
Look, we have fans.........So funny. After the wonderful reunion and all that has followed I am now in touch with some of my best friends from JHS and HS. We all know how it is, people go in different directions, funny I wonder if you have to be 50+ to search out your past. So it looks like there is another reunion in my future :)
At 4/23/2008 12:56 AM ,
Mitch said...
The time has come for Jason Castro or Brooke White to leave the show. They certainly had the weakest performances of the night.
I thought that David Cook (sorry Leslie) was the best last night followed by Syesha, Carly & David Archuleta.
At 4/23/2008 10:39 AM ,
Storch said...
I agree with Mitch. Brooke will be expurgated this week. Maybe Castro. BTW; that kid reminds me of Vinny Barbarino with dreadlocks. Syesha has found her place doing B'way tunes and I think she did a good job last night. I must say that Andrew Lloyd is a scary looking dude! Whoever did his facial work did a horrific job! Cook and Archuleta are good. It is a tough choice this season. I watched in between the Flyers-Caps game.
At 4/23/2008 2:26 PM ,
Jodi said...
I think Cook is the best too. I love what he sang last night. He seems to be getting better looking too, maybe they fixed his hair a little. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, wonder what they could do with me. :)
Jason or Brooke for sure will go this week. I liked her at the beginning.
Oh well, now there are only a few weeks til the end, and can you believe it we will have a new AI and Hilary and Barack will still be fighting out in the primaries. I can't wait for that contest to be in the history books.
At 4/24/2008 5:59 AM ,
Mitch said...
Is this a talent contest or a popularity contest? Every week I get a little angrier and more cynical. First, Michael Johns and now Carly?? Is the prerequisite cute blue eyes and dreadlocks or a back street boys vibrato? A year from now no one will remember Jason's eyes or Brooke's personality and they will go the way of Taylor Hicks, who was a nice guy, but forgettable. If the record industry is listening, cut a record of Michael Johns or Carly Smithson and I'm buying. Are you listening?
Shocking... and demoralizing. Jason was so far and away the most deserving of the boot. When the result is so far from reality, it does make one question whether it's worth making the emotional investment in the show.
Both Carly and Syesha handled themselves with dignity; the result was so far from just, there was nothing else they could do. Brooke's a one note wonder and Jason should be doing Karaoke. Although Carly struck me as tense and aggressive at times, I couldn't blame her because it seemed she wasn't liked by the judges, particularly Simon, from the moment the auditions were over and the show started. Time and time again Randy and Simon seemed less than enthusiastic about her performances, even though they were always light years ahead of others. I'm wondering if this has to do with Carly not being an American citizen and not fitting some desireable physical mould. The other stunner was Syesha being voted in the bottom two. What's that about? She's infinitely better than Brooke and goofy no talent Jason.
At 4/24/2008 9:46 AM ,
Jodi said...
I was shocked. I didn't get to see it last night, but really didn't think I would have to.
Not to worry Mitch, Carly and Michael will be like the next Daughtry, remember he didn't win anything either.
At 4/24/2008 2:22 PM ,
Shari S said...
I also missed it last night.
We know that they can all sing; sometimes the genre or the pressure is too much. I think that America is looking for a singer who they can like.
At 4/25/2008 12:02 AM ,
Leslie said...
I was sorry to see Carly leave so prematurely...should have been Jason. Mitch, don't get me wrong, "your" David Cook is a great singer. I just haven't been able to connect with him...who knows, maybe the next performance will do it for me!
Shari, btw: To address your question to ME, I was Leslie Rose(Ellen Schwartz-Shilling's friend), and stayed at Makowsky's in 1971 with my family but visited many week-ends in previous summers.
At 4/25/2008 12:27 AM ,
LARRY said...
First, I have to thank Mitch for coming up with a great topic to keep the Blog alive.I've watched the Idol from the first season till now and I must say the talent this season is far better than previous ones. Jason looks like Justin Guarini with dread locks..They both had no talent and got far in the game.My favorite singer is Syesha. I think she has the whole package.Even Simon is starting to believe in her as a real Idol.As for you "little David", hit the road, you're boring...
At 4/25/2008 6:16 AM ,
Mitch said...
OK! We now have some "Idol Chatter"
(Where are you Ellen? It's time to weigh in...)
What does a contestant have to do to get kicked off "American Idol"? You'd think flubbing your song so bad that you have to start over, or forgetting some lyrics, or just being kind of boring would be enough when there are only six bodies left to choose from. But on Wednesday night the contestants learned that sometimes it's one of your best performances of the season that trips you up.
One can only imagine what was going through the mind of clean-living, no R-rated-movie-watching former nanny Brooke White as she got waved to safety after becoming the first contender ever to stop a song and ask for a redo, only to watch Carly Smithson leave the show following what was arguably one of her best nights.
Maybe it was the too-cute T-Shirt..
"Simon Loves Me (This Week)"
Hey Larry, was it one of yours?
But Smithson didn't ask why she was leaving. Smiling and laughing as the remaining top five surrounded her, she faced the judges. "I'm very proud of myself and I'm very happy. I'm not upset that I'm going home. ... I've had the best time." (What a class act!)
For my money the three best singers left are Syesha & the two David's. This is all about fan support and that is why I wouldn't be surprised if Syesha leaves next week. Only because she's been in the bottom almost every week.(I hope not)
Keep watching Leslie, I know that Carly was your favorite. She has now left us too early, just like Mandissa a couple of years back.
Next week Mercado, White, Archuleta, Cook and Castro will be mentored by Neil Diamond.
Here's a question for all of you.
Who do you think will sing what?
Sweet Caroline
He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother
Holly Holy
Soolaimon
Song Sung Blue
Kentucky Woman
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon
Certainly, plenty to choose from...
Kup.......OUT!
At 4/25/2008 2:02 PM ,
Mona said...
I think Jason will play "Song Sung Blue" using the Yuke. I think David A. will win it. I like Brooke better than most of you and think she might make it a couple of more weeks.
At 4/25/2008 4:15 PM ,
Storch said...
Gee! Neil Diamond? It sounds like a reunion of Erasmus Hall HS in Brooklyn! Who's next? Babs?
Hey if we are doing the 60's male vocals genre why don't they ask Johnny Rivers, Trini Lopez or someone like Richie Havens to come in? I'd rather hear them do 'Secret Agent Man' or 'If I Had a Hammer' along with some 'Handsome Johnny' or 'Freedom'. At least they have a cooler vibe. OK; I'll get forechecked on this one. Neil is good, no doubt but......
Brooke and Vinny Barbarino are next to be expurgated. Actually, if Vinny B wants to use his uke, why not sing "Tip Toe Through The Tulips' or 'Having A Wonderful Time' like Tiny Tim?
I will concur that the talent is better this season but the results are not adding up. It is a popularity contest and we do need to remember that.
Good Shabbos and GO RANGERS BEAT PITT!!!!!!!!!
At 4/25/2008 10:13 PM ,
Ellen said...
I'm finally here, Mitch. You know I rather talk on the phone! Anyway, I totally agree with you about Idol and I really want David Cook to win. Syesha is pretty popular around South Florida. I'd love if David Cook would sing Sweet Caroline!
(p.s. Hi Jodi, Leslie and Larry!)
At 4/26/2008 12:09 AM ,
Leslie said...
Wow! Neil Diamond...how much better can you get. Too much to choose from. I guess you had to grow up in his era to know how talented he was for his singing and songwriting. Larry and I made our own predictions of who would sing what...
David C. "Love on the Rocks"
David A. "Hello Again"
Brooke "September Morn" piano
Jason "Solitary Man"
Syesha "He Ain't Heavy,He's My
Brother"
At 4/26/2008 6:55 AM ,
Mitch said...
Isn't it is amazing that Neil Diamond is releasing a new album on May 6th and is appearing on Idol this week? I went on his website (http://www.neildiamond.com and found his new single is featured. "Pretty Amazing Grace" it sounds great - typical Neil Diamond.
Leslie & Larry, I like your choices and can see all of them doing it. Ellen, I agree that David Cook would probably sound great doing Sweet Caroline. Somehow, I think I'd like to see David doing "Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon", or L & L's choice of "Love on the Rocks" If Brooke does September Morn on piano, I hope she doesn't turn it into October Morn...lol. As far as Jason goes, he probably has a following of "dreadheads" that are keeping him in the game. David A. keeps singing those ballads and those pre-teens are a strong voting block. Now Syesha is the "one soul diva" in this competition, and I really like her. I would love to see her in the finals.
If I were a handicapper, this is the way I see it at this point:
David Archuletta - 1 to 1
David Cook - 3 to 1
Jason Castro - 5 to 1
Syesha Mercado - 10 to 1
Brooke White - 20 to 1
At 4/26/2008 9:19 AM ,
Shari S said...
I am looking forward to this week's show. I am a Neil Diamond fan from way back. (My children DO NOT have the same appreciation.) I can remember singing the album, LOUDLY, again and again, with Ilene and Robin, when Ilene had her own bungalow. DWAG, that was back in the day when Neil was on FIA! :-)
At 4/28/2008 4:22 AM ,
Bob Hutt said...
I used to love American Idol. Now it's reduced to a teeny bopper popularity contest. All you had to do last week was close your eyes and listen to all the pretenders butcher Andrew Lloyd Webber's beautiful music. They were all exposed as rank amateurs despite the hype.
Brook's snafu in which she started over should have ended her run right there. Somehow, she endeared herself to the masses. Watching Andrew Lloyd Webber's face seemed as if he wanted to call Dr. Kevorkian to commit suicide. Here's the greatest composer of our generation reduced to tears working with awful clowns. It certainly made me wince thinking of the real Music Of The Night.
Jason Castro is so bad that it makes me long for Sanjaya, and G-d perish the thought, William Hung. Is it just me or is Jason really Tiny Tim reincarnated. Where's Miss Vicky these days? And that hair? I expect a canary to come flying out of it right there on the stage.
Michael Johns and Carly Smithson had the two best voices. They were sumarily dismissed for the same reason. Both were married and did not appeal to the teeny boppers who tie up the phone lines voting over and over.
Smithson has a powerful voice, but with her tatoo husband from hell, she turned people off. Both were doomed from the very start.
Seiously does anyone really think Jason or Brook's singing was better than these two dearly departed contestants? May they rest in peace.
So in the end it will come down to teen idol David Archleta, and bad hair guy, David Cook. Teen idol versus Rock Star.
David Cook do us a favor and please wash your oily hair! And if David Arhleta wins I expect his father to push him aside right off the stage to accept his roses. What a hoot! Where's Bert Parks when we need him?
Seriously, the others are just wasting their time. Is it just me or does it appear that Simon has come become bored and resigned to his fate. Yes, he makes a lot of money, but deep down he knows the show has disintergrated into medocrity. Gone are the days of Clay versus Reuben where both singers could really blow. And in the case of the former...
When Taylor Hicks with his bathroom gyrations won that was it for me. I used to laugh when he sung as he was so baaaad! Speaking of Taylor, where is he these days? I heard he was headlining at the Greyhound bus station in Arkansas. Or perhaps Taylor, like the late great Charlton Heston, the original Taylor, has been whisked away to the Planet Of The Apes? "Damn you, we've finally done it. We finally blew ourselves up"
And as for Fantasia, she sounded like Stevie Kiviat after inhaling some Helium from a balloon. I used to laugh as soon as she walked out onto the stage. What a joke! The Color Purple? She joined the show and the show closed! Enough said.
And Paula, well she has to be on something. I think she spikes her coke with uppers and downers at the same time. Has she ever been critical of anyone?
And as for Randy, yo doooggg yuz the bommbbb. Randy is that your entire vocabulary? Can you imagine what the show would be like if Simon left? It wouldn't even last one season.
If not for Simon, the man the world loves to hate there is no Idol American or other. By the way Simon I love when you criticize someone's fashion choice. This coming from a man whose entire wardrobe consists of black, white, and gray tee shirts! And his hair! What does he do take a weedwacker to it?
And while we're at it, what's a Ryan Seacrest? If not for his banter with Simon he would be reduced to "Come On Down" What's his claim to fame?
I would trade all of these Idol pretenders for just one more day on the porch of the luncheonette doing 60's music and Doo-Wop with my Senior Boys.
"Oh what a night late December back in 63..."
American Idol has indeed jumped the shark. And my winner is...
Phyllis! After all these years she's still the one.
At 4/28/2008 11:44 AM ,
Storch said...
I concur...What is a Ryan Seacrest? Some new kind of toothpaste?
He has to be the luckiest Disc Jockey in the USA. Kind of a modern day Shadoe Stevens. Back when I was a two-bit radio DJ in the 80's, I would have killed for such an opportunity none the less make a buck. I made that much. One buck(lol).
Simon is the best. He is the show. When he blurts out "I thought it sounded like a bad karaoke act" it makes me crack up. I can almost see it coming from some of the performances. He is a very successful producer in the biz. Randy can play a mean bass and although he is full of "schtick", he is a successful producer in his own right. Paula is on another planet. Which one, I have no clue. I cannot figure out what mandrakes she is popping as Metaqualone is no longer made. I can guess that it is either Xanax and vino or Valium and vino or maybe a doobie and vino. Comedy relief is the term to best describe her.
Do not get me wrong, here. Neil is a legendary perfomer. I'd love to see Phil Spector. There is the definition of talent bordering on psychosis! The "Wall Of Sound". The way my Rangers have been playing, I'll probably watch more Idol than the game. That is if the Rangers are losing.
Archuleta by a nose. A photo finish. My Trifecta will be Archuleta-Cook-Mercado. I could see OTB having a line on it and watching the degenerate, cigar chompers waiting for the results and then ripping tickets would be funny.
At 4/28/2008 6:25 PM ,
steve kiv said...
Awww man!
I'd rather go swimming with great white sharks then watch this stuff!!!
At 4/28/2008 7:54 PM ,
Rob said...
Steve ,
Look out for 'Mack the Knife' and his Pearly Whites....
At 4/28/2008 11:11 PM ,
Mitch said...
This theme for “American Idol” this week is the music of Neil Diamond. Oy, vey.
Now that I've indulged in the cheapest of Jewish jokes, let me say that Diamond wrote a number of great songs. One surprise tonight could be a rocking version of “I’m a Believer,” which was a hit for The Monkees back in the 1960s.
Maybe Jason Castro could have some fun with “Red, Red Wine.” or "Song Sung Blue"
An obvious choice for David Cook would be “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” which was in one of my favorite movies of all time - “Pulp Fiction"
David Archuleta is the only one left standing who could even go near "I'm a Believer."
"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" is probably too big a hit to ignore, and I can see Syesha wanting to take a stab at it.
If Brooke gets to do "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" and instead of going over the top with it, gets intimate — she'll pick up enough super-delegates to clinch the nomination for president of the Pity Party and ride that tsunami of sentiment for another seven days.
David Archuleta finally is good in seeking out the most obscure, uplifting track, so I'm thinking "Holly Holy," "Beautiful Noise" or "I Am I Said." But Kristy Lee Cook got a few weeks' mileage after waving a flag, so it would be silly for someone not to do "America"
Of course, this leaves most of his best songs from the mid-'60s. But I think, "Sweet Caroline," "Cracklin' Rosie," "Song Sung Blue" and even "Solitary Man" will likely find their place in the group medley Wednesday night.
At 4/30/2008 10:57 AM ,
Storch said...
I heard last night was a goodie. I was watching my Rangers get killed. I nearly drowned from making porcelain pizza from that game! Heard that Paula was pilled out of her head last night and it made for good theater.
I did catch a fast glimpse of Brooke White. I'm going with her or Barbarino as the evenings expurgation.
At 4/30/2008 11:53 AM ,
Jodi said...
Neil looked pretty good for an oldie but goodie. None of them really did justice to his songs except Cook. All he needs is a hair makeover and he is the Next Americal Idol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At 4/30/2008 2:33 PM ,
Mitch said...
After last nights show, it is paramount that no DMV in this country ever grant Paula Abdul a license to drive.
It would be considered criminal!
At 4/30/2008 2:46 PM ,
Bob Hutt said...
Last night was a classic as American Idle jumped the shark. Paula was on something because no one can be that ditzy.
She was totally incoherrent and finally Simon feeling pity said, "Paula just tell us who you liked best." It was so awkward that I felt embarassed for Paula.
As for the contestants no one could be as bad as they all were. All of us have sung Neil Diamond songs. Some of us may not have had the best voice but regardless it was always fun to sing and listen to.
Last night I was appalled at how truly awful each and everyone of these pretenders for the title of American Idle really were. I winced in pain and fast Tivo'd through Brook and Jason as I couldn't take the train wreck. Neil Diamond must have been thumbing through his directory for the number for Dr. Kevorkian.
Not a single one of these pretenders is qualified to wear the crown of American Idle. As for Paula she has to have an IQ lower than her age.
Does anyone truly care who wins now? Ted Mack's amateur hour was better than this. Just awful!
American Idol: No
American Idle: Si!
I'm ready for my comeback. Who wants to back me up and be one of Bobby's Bimbettes? Paula is certainly one! I do a mean Venus in Bluejeans!
LOL
At 4/30/2008 2:56 PM ,
Storch said...
Mitch: You are absolutely on the money with the license. If she is that blotto'd, the only thing working in her crainium is her cortex to keep her breathing! Nothing else can possibly be working. Her dendrites had to have exploded. She would be Nancy Reagan's first choice as poster girl for Just Say No!
Ted Mack? What about 'Arthur Godfrey's (he was a nice anti-semite he was) Talent Scouts' or perhaps, the 'Gong Show'? Paula's favorite show is 'What's My Line' A line of snurf with heroin mixed in that is!
P.S. Neil had a lift. Maybe some carpet too. His eyebrows are pointed like Spock's on 'Star Trek'. The man is a legend. Musically, Jewish-ly and Brooklyn-y!
At 4/30/2008 11:22 PM ,
Leslie said...
The title of this thread, "Who will win?" seems to be going in the wrong direction. These contestants, singing their hearts out, should be commended, not "roasted". I'm not seeing the humor here.
Most of them were too young to know Neil Diamond or his songs. How could they possibly sound the way that you remember, growing up with him? I give them all the credit in the world. Could any of you do better?
This group happens to be the most talented(instruments included) than the last few seasons. I favored Kimberly Locke several years ago, and felt that she got "shortchanged". Reuben who??
Agreed, this competition isn't always fair, but then why watch it if your not finding it entertaining.
Whether you were a fan or not, how could you not feel bad for Brooke tonight as she tearfully said good-bye.
BTW: I agree with Jodi about Neil being an "oldie but goodie!"
At 5/01/2008 12:28 AM ,
Bob Hutt said...
How awful are these finalists? How much of a simplteon is stupid Paula? Can you imagine Paula a judge advising these goofy wanabees to make the song their own. She can't even add 2 + 2.
And they're stupid enough to listen. Taking advice from a "never was" who we wouldn't let babysit a child, let alone give advice on singing.
The fact that anyone takes her seriously is even more ridiculous than anything. Imagine to take classics and standards and twist them into almost unrecgonizable off key dopey smaltz.
So dawg, can you say anything other than it was a little pitchy? There isn't a person alive that doesn't know the tune to most Neil Diamond classics.
But leave it to this untalented bunch to take it new lows which is beyond terrible.
So let me end the suspense as if we don't all see it coming.
5. Brook - nice knowing you! Don't let the door hit you on the way out. And take your guitar & Jimmy Dolan with you.
4. Jason - A Tiny Tim wanabee. Jason go back to the caribbean and take Miss Vicky and your ukelele with you. Aloha!
3. Syesha - the only one of the remaining three that remotely resembles a professional singer.
But her crime is she's not a pop star. Oh no, Simon told her she belongs on Broadway. Doing what exactly he didn't say?
Well Judges, if she wasn't AI material why did you bring her to Hollywood in the first place.
Remember that weirdo Taylor Hicks? Hell, Simon had the good sense to vote him off on his audition. But the birdbrain and The Dawg overruled Simon. Somehow he actually wound up winning with his bathroom gyrations.
2. And now it gets dicey! My guess is David Archuleta is the runner up. We need to get security to stop his father from killing him right there on stage. The reason - his teeny boppers unlike Taylor's Soul Patrol don't have enough dinero to pay for their cell phones. Why? Because they're all under 16. They can't do a sophistacated tie up the phone line campaign.
1. And the winner by default is David Cook. First prize is a bottle of shampoo.
After his short lived victory he can try to get back to his native rock. This should place him on an island smack dab on The Planet of The Apes with Taylor Hicks. Say hi to Taylor and while you're at it, Charlton Heston too.
And the Makowskyite who wins an all expense paid trip to every American Idol concert this summer is Steve Kiviat.
Accepting the award for Mr. Kiviat is his butcher. He advises us that Steve would rather have bamboo spikes put under his fingernails then be subjected to this torture watching this sorry excuse for singers.
So tell us Stevie how do you really feel?
This is the worst season ever for AI as there isn't even one deserving candidate. Welcome to the dumbing down of America.
As Neil would say...On the boats and on the plane, we're coming to America! Isn't anyone watching our borders? Until next week boys and girls. Same time - Same Bat channel.
Oy Vey!
At 5/01/2008 1:42 AM ,
Mitch said...
Leslie....
I think you above all have finally nailed it....BRAVO! I applaud you.
But, I think this show has to change before it becomes "American I-Dull"
We now have 'Paulagate'
It is not a secret to anyone that the judges listen to the dress rehearsal performances. I don’t really think they should, but it is Simon’s contention if they don’t they aren’t able to hear the live performances over the crowd noise. This is a valid point. I assume they take notes, during said dress rehearsal, to use during the show. But there is ‘buzz’ about the producers feeding Paula comments. I think A.I. and the concept of giving talented kids, who would otherwise never be seen, a shot at making it in the business. For that reason, I wholeheartedly hope every aspect of A.I. is on the up and up (vote tabulating included). I am getting a little concerned about Randy summarily saying David Archuleta is ‘da bomb’. Especially in the case of his performance last night – good maybe – 'da bomb', I think not.
I think it is time to address what is the most important issue. And that is what to do for Paula. The girl really could use some help. Someone needs to step up and do the right thing by her. I for one volunteer to take her job and would do it for far less money!
Seriously, she needs everyone in her life to help her get it together, whatever it takes. Pulling oneself up from adversity that is the making of an American Idol.
At 5/01/2008 10:01 AM ,
Storch said...
Am I wrong...Brooke White has that Bill Clinton lip biting thing going on and it drove me nuts. I told my wife that if she gets the shoe, she will ball like the baby in 'Eraserhead'. I was right. She had to think that she was a goner. Next to go will be Barbarino and maybe Syesha. Syesha has a place on Broadway. Barbarino I think is in limbo. Brooke to me was simply a good karaoke act. Her Carly Simon thing does not work. It only works for Carly. That is the breaks. Too bad Idol is not on tonight. I dread seeing my beloved Rangers get flushed down the toilet!
At 5/01/2008 10:41 AM ,
Jodi said...
That's why I love you Leslie, You are such a mush................I'm glad she's gone, but I did feel bad.
You can call me crazy, but even with the hair, Cook gets just a little cuter each week.
At 5/02/2008 6:29 AM ,
Mitch said...
So, how will the Top 4 shake out?
Well, Brooke being eliminated was not a shock. Her past several performances showed she was not American Idol material. It was obvious she knew it was her week to go. She seemed like a very nice person who went further than anyone could expect.
Again, Jason slid by. Must be all those girls that love his locks. But I believe it will be between Jason and Syesha (a big week for her to snatch some of the voters who used to support Carly & Brooke) as to who goes next and then the contest is between the two Davids and I believe it will be very close.
There is also a part of me that believes a David vs. David finale seems too obvious. We've seen major surprises before. Could it be...gasp!...David Archuleta vs. Jason Castro?
Oh man, if that ever happened.....
At 5/03/2008 11:24 AM ,
Shari S said...
I am with Leslie and Jodi. I have a lot of compassion and respect for those in this competition. It cannot be easy to stand where they do. Too often, I see our society raise people up so we can shoot them down. I wonder why we do this...
At 5/04/2008 9:31 AM ,
Mitch said...
Published: May 02, 2008 9:16 AM
Carly Simon: Nobody does it better than Brooke on 'Idol'
By CHARLES J. GANS – 2 days ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Carly Simon has more than a passing interest in this season's "American Idol" and leaves no mystery about who's her favorite remaining finalist — Brooke White.
Simon was tipped to turn on the television at her home in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., the night White won over the judges by performing her hit song "You're So Vain" during 1970s theme week.
"I thought, `Oh my God, this girl is so talented and she sings the song so much better than I ever did or ever could,'" said Simon, interviewed during a rehearsal break with her band at a Manhattan studio. "I was so flattered that she chose the song and ... more than impressed. I think she should win."
Simon was preparing for a showcase performance of songs from her new bossa-nova flavored album, "This Kind of Love," her first album of original new songs in eight years, which was released Tuesday.
The 62-year-old singer confesses that when she watches "Idol" her motherly instincts take over and she just wants to protect the young singers from what she sees as the show's cruelest part — and it's not the comments by judge Simon Cowell whom she likes.
"One thing I don't like about the show is that it turns truly sadistic when the person is voted off and they have to sing while they're crying," Simon said. "I just want to go up .... and carry them off and say, `It's OK, sweetheart, come with me.' ... I don't know how the panel can stand that cruelty. ... Doesn't that seem like being thrown to the lions?"
With her legendary stage fright, Simon admits she couldn't have gone far on "Idol" if she had to perform live before a TV audience in the tens of millions. And she doubts that the other noted singer-songwriters of her generation — Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell and ex-husband James Taylor — could have gone far because they all had distinctive but untrained voices.
At 5/07/2008 11:40 AM ,
Storch said...
Well; another week done. Cook did not do it for me this week. Barbarino is done. Simon said he better pack his bags and I concur. He really has the same goofy grin that Travolta had as Vinny Barbarino. All he needs is a few "whuh? where? why?" lines to make it complete. Maybe I'll bring back 'Welcome Back Kotter' and cast him as Vinny.
I may have to re-do my Trifecta to a Daily Double. It might be Archuleta and Syesha with Cook in third. The grunge gravel voice is wearing thin. Either way, Syesha, Dave and Dave have careers ahead of them. They are all very talented and should do very well.
We should have a new line item called 'Paula Watch'. Last night she seemed as if her face was numb. Who knows what she is popping. Only other thing that is more glazed over than she is are the donuts over at Dunkin's!
I'm going with Archuleta and Syesha as of this week. Survey Says?
At 5/07/2008 1:55 PM ,
Jodi said...
Be nice, Paula looked fine, I thought Syesha was great, but I still like Cook. That little David is adorable. Hard to take a love song from him seriously though. Just a few more weeks. Who knows, we may have a Democratic Nominee before the next American Idol.
At 5/07/2008 4:13 PM ,
Mitch said...
Here is my take on last nights Idol:
David Cook ("Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Baba O'Reilly"): Duran Duran? Seriously? After weeks of savvy performances, David Cook! What happened to you? All I can figure is that this year's designated rocker was so determined to own Rock Night that he choked. A teenage wasteland, indeed.
Syesha Mercado ("Proud Mary" and "A Change is Gonna Come"): Syesha's turbo-charged performance of "Proud Mary" was probably the entertainment highlight of the evening. Syesha seems to work harder than anybody, and her post-performance meltdown felt very real and very moving.
Jason Castro ("I Shot the Sheriff" and "Mr. Tambourine Man"): Oh my God, what WAS that? The laziest contestant in "Idol" history followed a version of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" that was so insulting, it qualified as grave-robbing, with a stab at Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" that would have been simply forgettable if Castro hadn't also forgotten the words. But since he did, it now qualifies as unforgivable. Really. I defy all you Jason Castro fans to defend either of those performances. And to think we lost Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, and this person is still here.
David Archuleta ("Stand By Me" and "Love Me Tender"): His voice remains one of the Great Idol Wonders, so even though I found his version of "Stand By Me" to be predictable, there is no denying that Little David gave the evening's most consistently strong performances.
BEST IN SHOW: David Archuleta and Syesha
WORST IN SHOW: Jason Castro
NOT DOING HIMSELF ANY FAVORS: David Cook
NOT LONG FOR THIS SHOW: It better be Jason Castro. But if Simon's "pack your bags" comment mobilizes the fans, it could be Syesha or David Cook. In which case, I will have to hurt somebody.
At 5/07/2008 5:58 PM ,
Ellen said...
Mitch, I agree with everything you said. Archuleta has a great voice but he's a little boring. I hope David Cook wins. I think he's a great performer. Everyone should leave Paula alone. She's adorable and probably laughing all the way to the bank!
At 5/07/2008 8:40 PM ,
Shari S said...
At dinner, tonight, I was predicting that Jason MAY NOT be down for the count. (Time will tell.) He is a favorite with the teenage girls and I beleive that many teenage girls VOTE. How many of you have ever voted? Come on, admit it... :-)
At 5/07/2008 10:26 PM ,
Leslie said...
Looks like America got it right tonight. Jason was just as happy to go home. It should be an interesting fight to the finish. Syesha vs. "little David" would be my choice.
At 5/08/2008 8:59 PM ,
Rob said...
Hey Mitch ..or do we call you 'Dawg'
Idol should hire you as a talent scout or something...
At 5/08/2008 10:32 PM ,
Mitch said...
...and then there were "three"
After all the surprises this season, it finally has come down to the three best singers after all. David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado will duke it out for the top spot.
Yo Rob...
Just keeping it real
As "Idol" watchers know...The final three contestants will be required to perform three songs apiece during next Tuesday’s (May 15th) program.
I still think it will still be David vs. David in the finale, but I'm rooting for Syesha next week.
At 5/14/2008 11:54 AM ,
Storch said...
Archuleta slipping: Details at 9.
What was with Dan Fogelberg? That song was horrible when it came out! It could be a Cook-Mercado ticket. Anything is possible.
At 5/14/2008 1:12 PM ,
Jodi said...
Can you believe I missed it, Please fill me in. I finally saw DC's last song. I like him, he's a cutie.
At 5/14/2008 1:39 PM ,
Mitch said...
Jodi, This is for you honey...
(CBS) Rocker David Cook got the best feedback from the "American Idol" judges Monday, as he competed against Syesha Mercado and David Archuleta for the two spots in next week's finals.
"David Cook wins the night," judge Simon Cowell declared at the end of the Fox reality show.
The first round of songs was chosen by the judges, the second by the contestants, and the third by the show's producers.
The singers fared best with the songs chosen by the judges, but faltered with the songs they chose for themselves.
Here's how it all played out:
Round 1 - Judge's Choice
David Archuleta kicked off the evening with Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" chosen by Paula Abdul. Judge Randy Jackson loved it, Abdul called it "a pure and stunning performance," and Cowell thought it was very good but not outstanding.
The gaggle of fans standing in front of the stage booed the cranky judge for his comments. "Oh, you lot are now judging? I don't think so," he snapped.
Syesha Mercado, who looked like she had borrowed Beyonce's glam squad, sang "If I Got You" by Alicia Keys. Jackson said he chose it for her because "I think this is the kind of record she can make and be successful with."
"It was good, but I wish Randy had chosen something where you weren't going to try and sound like the original," said Cowell.
"If you listen back you'll hear she changed quite a few notes," Jackson said.
David Cook sang "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" which Cowell chose for him. "It is one of the great songs of all time, and unlike Randy, I wanted him to do something different," said Cowell.
Cook showed a mastery of his upper register in his performance. "Loved the high note at the end," said Jackson. "But I wish Simon would have picked something that wasn't as predictable as this older kind of stuff for you. I needed more rock from you."
Abdul loved it and, speaking of predictable, so did Cowell.
"I know this is going to sound biased, but I think that was one of your best performances," he said. "Round 1 goes to Cowell and Cook."
Round 2 - Singer's Choice
Archuleta usually sings ballads, so he thought he'd change things up by singing "With You," a recent up-tempo hit for Chris Brown. Abdul said she thought he did a great job, but Jackson and Cowell thought it was an awkward song for the baby faced singer from Murray, Utah.
"I'm not sure that was the right song, seeing you singing 'my boo,'" said Jackson. "I didn't believe it."
Mercado in a sparkly mini dress was up next to sing Peggy Lee's "Fever." None of the judges thought it was an appropriate song choice.
"You had a chance to prove that you are a contemporary recording artist with your choice of song," said Cowell. "Instead it was a lame cabaret performance.
Cook didn't do much better with his song, "Dare You To Move" by Switchfoot. Jackson thought it was a great song choice, but a "little pitchy." Abdul commented on the challenge of taking a three minute song and squeezing it into the allowed 90 seconds. She felt the song was over when it was just starting to hit its peak.
"There's not much I can add to that. I think all three of you had an okay middle round," said Cowell.
Round 3 - Producer's Choice
Archuleta sang Dan Fogelberg's ballad "Longer." Jackson and Abdul loved it. Cowell thought he sang it very well, but he hated the song. "It was a song for someone who's 90, not 17," he said. "But you sang it well enough that I think you'll be in the finals next week.
Mercado sang the peppy "Hit Me Up" from the "Happy Feet" soundtrack. It was just okay for Jackson, Abdul thought she sang it well but not necessarily good enough to get her in the finals. Cowell liked it better than her second round song, but "it didn't give you the defining moment that I would have liked at the end of this show."
Cook finished the night with the Aerosmth power ballad "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing." It was "just okay" for Jackson, but Abdul loved it.
Based on the judge's critiques, the finals will come down to a battle between The Davids. The judges don't have a say in who stays or goes, so it's up to the viewing audience to vote for their favorites. The results will be announced on Wednesday's show.
How's that Jodi!
At 5/14/2008 2:19 PM ,
Jodi said...
I Love you.......Now I feel like "I didn't miss a thing" :)
At 5/14/2008 8:34 PM ,
Rob said...
Hey watch the Dan Fogelberg 'cracks'.
He was a true American Idol. His music was loved by many . If you were a true fan of his you'd understand better. His words were like poetry put to music. Whether a hot electric set or love ballad , he was great. I listen to him frequently and his music still 'moves me' (my own DF sets , of course, right KUP?
We lost him recently, he was a strong advocate for men's early detection
At 5/15/2008 1:59 AM ,
Mitch said...
Hey Rob,
If Storch ever really took the time to listen to Dan Fogelberg’s music he would find it was powerful in its simplicity. He did not rely on the volume of his voice to convey his emotions; instead, he came through in his soft, tender delivery and his poignant lyrics. Songs like “Same Old Lang Syne,” in which a man reminisces after meeting an old girlfriend by chance during the holidays, became classics. (This happens to be my all time favorite DF song)
I suggest Storch listen to this classic song on youtube....
"Same Old Lang Syne"
Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve
She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried
We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged
We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how
She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie
I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw doubt or gratitude
She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly but the traveling was hell
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence, another 'auld lang syne'
The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out and I watched her drive away
Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned in to rain...
After reading these lyrics again, I can even relate this song to our Makowsky Reunion....Can you?
At 5/16/2008 2:38 PM ,
Jodi said...
Can you all believe we are one week away from Memorial Day.....Hard to believe. That's when the real count down would begin. My mom and dad weren't big on a long weekend, but I think we did get up there a few times.
Is it just me or is life at it's most stressful ever. What I wouldn't do for one night on the back porch, just one more time.
Or waking up on a Sunday with bacon frying and coffee perking in the kitchen. Remember perked coffee, I still use my Farberware electric perc over any of those stupid machines. Hey, remember coffee in our PJs outside the bungalows or were we drinking Hawiian Punch. I loved that stuff. I wonder if it would taste the same. Anyway just wandering on this rainy day, thinking.........
At 5/16/2008 9:23 PM ,
Shari S said...
Jodi,
Even a rainy day was beautiful at Makowskys. I think that is where I learned to love watching the rain. It was so quiet and so peaceful.
And when the sun came out...that was even better.
At 5/20/2008 3:46 PM ,
Storch said...
OK; Just to be fair and so I'm not labeled as musically impaired....I have a Dan Fogelberg album in my collection. It was his first that came out in either 72 or 73 entitled 'Home Free'. It may have been a gold record too! May it be Dan or James Taylor, that genre of 1972 Male Singer-Songwriter types put me to sleep. The worst song ever placed in to the Jukebox was Michael Murphy's 'Wild Fire'. That 45 was a double sider too! It was originally speculated that the worst tune was The Pipkin's 'Gimme Dat Ding' but Murphy won top honors. I'd take Dan over that anyday. Mitch; Dan actually had a 45 in the jukebox!
Which David will be the Goliath?
Ah; all this chat about Memorial Day or as the elders of my family called it "Decoration Day" is near, I wonder if the pool has water in it? This was the weekend that was the welcome mat for summer. My Mom always had the percolator going. Back then cigarettes were going too. The smell of the coffee along with the fresh rolls from the store and the smell of clean, summer air. The bunglaow smelled musty but....
It was a right of summer passage to consume Hawaiian Punch, Hi-C, Kool-Aid or Wylers powdered drinks. Always loved the Hi-C Citrus Cooler! Low and behold, we also discovered that it tasted quite good spiked with vodka that the folks had for the Saturday night casino shindig.
Even in that wet, muddy summer of 72 when we had to cross planks to get to certain bungalows, it was still great to be there! I'd take Makowsky's come rain or shine!
At 5/21/2008 6:30 AM ,
Mitch said...
"Let's get ready to rummmmble!"
"Idol" hammered the boxing theme over and over, beating the metaphor into submission amid a barrage of every sports cliché in the book.
Going in to last nights competition, I was hoping that David Cook would win. It is clear barring some miracle that "Archie" is going to be the next American Idol.
I do however disagree with the judges on the first song choice.
I thought that Cook's version of
U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was better than Archie's rendition of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."....
after that David A. was better than David C.
I do think that if Cook had sung "Billie Jean" to close he might have fared better.
I still say that Archie's version of "Imagine" is better than the original!
BTW, just a small observation here...
Ruben Studdard is back! I know this is two months too late, but can someone please explain to me exactly how to celebrate oneself home?
At 5/21/2008 8:05 AM ,
LARRY said...
Yes, Ruben Studdard is back. So was his front, sides and everything else he brought. Now I know why they needed to be on the BIG stage last night.As Ed Sullivan once said, "IT WAS A REALLLLLY BIG SHOW".I was proud of little David standing tall and giving a pure performance.I guess that listening to the music of today sometimes doesn't do it for me.That's why the classic sounds always seems to stay around forever. Way to go LITTLE DAVE, YOU MADE THAT CLASSIC SOUND LAST NIGHT WORK FOR YOU! "Imagine," you really could win it all!
At 5/21/2008 10:40 AM ,
Storch said...
Archuleta nailed it! Cook is very talented and there is no debate there. Last night, Cookie seemed a bit off and did not have the edge that he usually had. He will be working with Clive soon enough.
Little Dave will be the next AI.
Rubie! Holy smokes! His suit looked like it was made by Omar. He has to be clocking over 3 on the scale with ease! Guy has to lose weight. He does not want to be like Luther.
Now that AI is over what to do next? The Yankees and Mets are in the toilet, no more hockey, no NFL until the end of the summer.
Hello pool? Beach? Swimming Hole? Makowsky's? I'll take them all!
Have a great Memorial Day. Fly those flags and remember those who gave their lives in the defense of freedom.
At 5/21/2008 10:51 PM ,
Shari S said...
These last two nights of Idol were amazing. What a great ending! I was happy to see David C. win. From what I have read, his brother has had a ten year battle with brain cancer. He and his family deserve this joy; he is a very talented singer. I hope that he goes far.
At 5/22/2008 6:58 AM ,
Mitch said...
This was in Newsday...
Do you believe it is true?
hmmmmmm......
newsday.com/entertainment/ny-etidol0522,0,1976439.story
Newsday.com
David Cook wins 'American Idol'
BY VERNE GAY
verne.gay@newsday.com
10:47 PM EDT, May 21, 2008
As expected, a David did win the seventh season of "American Idol." Just not the David some of us (ahem) predicted.
David Cook, Texas-born, Missouri-raised, and a former bartender who will never have to tend another bar in his life, won "Idol" Wednesday night, and it wasn't even close. Per Ryan Seacrest, 97.5 million votes were cast, and of those about 55 million votes went to Cook.
He didn't look that surprised when the nod went to him just before 10. "I started this season as the word nerd, and I'm at a loss for words," he said, wiping away tears, and maybe a season of doubting Thomases who believed he would never make it this far. "This is amazing. Thank you." And he turned away from the audience, before welcoming his brother, Andrew, on the stage.
"This is his fault." Yes, some fault. His brother encouraged him to audition last year for "Idol," and now the rest is history. Adam -- "AC" -- is his other brother, suffering from cancer and an unseen presence on this season's show. His initials have appeared on his brother's guitar and his illness has been part of the Cook legend.
Not that Cook milked the "sympathy vote." He didn't. It was just impossible to ignore.
And the other David? The 17-year-old Utah native was the front-runner much of the season. He stumbled during the Beatles rounds, but "Idol" -- cleverly -- never indicated that his votes were starting to tail behind Cook's, as they did (per bloggers) about five weeks ago. On Tuesday's finale, he easily won the duel of the front-runners: He sang better, and with more passion, than Cook, but perhaps Simon Cowell's words should have served as a sign of things to come. For years, Cowell's reputed get-out-the-vote strategy for his favorite has been to chastise the contestant he wants to win. Why? So that fans will be motivated to vote against Simon.
Begs, of course, another question: Why would "Idol" and Cowell want David Cook as opposed to the equally gifted David Archuleta to win? Perhaps because "Idol" and its record producing sibling, 19 Entertainment, simply believe David Cook will sell more records in the long run. (Also, Archuleta's father, Jeffrey, was considered difficult and a meddling backstage dad -- not fun as a potential partner.)
Meanwhile, how about that finale? Exhausting, endless (nearly) and undeniably entertaining. The show was sort of like an extended time-warped Grammys, spread over half a century, with stars who appeal to a demographic spread between the ages of 8 and 80. For a show that's been buried by critics, pundits, and opposing networks anxious to throw some dirt on the "Idol" coffin, last night's capper sure acted like a lively, culturally aware corpse.
It started with a Nickelback duet between the two Davids. We then saw Donna Summer, ZZ Top, Graham Nash and ended with George Michael.
What did this all mean? That "Idol" had something to prove. This megahit can still draw the big names, create an "Event," and make the pundits swallow their words.
Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.
At 5/22/2008 7:44 AM ,
Mitch said...
Congrats to David Cook & David Archuleta. They will both sell a ton of records.
Last nights show was very entertaining and whatever the reasons really were this year, in a competition that can crown a 29-year-old gray-haired Southerner one year and a cheery 17-year-old high-school student from Arizona the next, it's ultimately impossible to tell why America chooses its "Idols" the way they do.
At 5/22/2008 10:46 AM ,
Jodi said...
I loved the show. I'm glad it was DC. I liked him early on and although I like little David, I don't think he has the versatility of DC. Plus, maybe it's me, but did anyone else notice the twinkle in his eye. You know me, I'm a sucker for a pretty face. I even got used to his hair. Here's to next year!!!!!!!!!!!!
At 5/22/2008 12:01 PM ,
Storch said...
I was happy for DC. Little D too. There is no doubt that the two of them will be successful.
Archuleta's Dad has been a tad meddlesome. He is the type to count the money before he has it. I would not be surprised if the guy gave his son a what for last night. Seems like the type.
Back in January. We shall see what the next season brings in. I find the auditions quite comedic!
At 5/25/2008 12:09 PM ,
Bob Hutt said...
Aren't any of you interested in my crystal ball? I nailed the last 5 in the exact order in my post of May 1st. Ho-Hum!
Can't wait for David Cook to get those shampoo endorsements from Prell.
They all sucked this season!
Forgetting lyrics, starting over, destroying classics, and singing off key. Jason was begging to get kicked off and couldn't. Now he can go back to his ukele and smoke some weed. He had NO voice whatsoever.
As the Dawg said, it was a little pitchy and not his favorite. I guess that is sort of like being a little bit pregnant. Other than that these clowns were GREAT!
Just an awful season of Idle.
At 5/25/2008 7:31 PM ,
Ellen said...
How can anyone say that this years talent wasnt the best group yet? I'm sitting with Leslie and Larry and we all agree that David Cook was terrific and this was the best finale ever.Jodi, we're with you! David's personality, charm and voice will probably make him one of the most successful "Idle" winners ever.
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