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Fast Idol Blogging
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008Jason Castro apparently told Entertainment Weekly last week that he’s “ready to go home.” That seemed pretty apparent last night. I kinda’ respect him for that. He’s probably got a record deal at this point if he wants it. Or some endorsements. Maybe a small role in a couple of movies. In any case, he was pretty awful last night, half-singing his way through both performances, and forgetting the words to “Mr. Tambourine Man.” He should go home. He wants to go home. Whether he does go home, I guess we’ll find out tonight.
I thought Syesha Mercado won the night for the second week in a row, though browsing other reviews of the show it looks like I’m the only one who thinks so. Her “Proud Mary” wasn’t Tina Turner, but then, Mercado didn’t try to be. Her voice is higher than Turner’s. It was lively, sultry, and soulful. I thought her “A Change Is Gonna Come” was phenomenal, though I’ll confess, it’s one of my all-time favorite songs. I think Mercado had the first and third best performances of the night.
David Cook did well, too. Again, I’m not a huge fan of his style of music, but he’s very good at what he does. I actually thought his “Hungry Like the Wolf” was pretty good. His version of Baba O’Riley was also very good, but was hindered by the need to compress the song down to 90 seconds. That’s just too difficult to do when you have a song with a couple of different parts. Still, Cook was very good.
Unfortunately, the judges’ and critics’ darling last night was David Archuleta. Yes, he can hit all the right notes. And he has that innocent Mormon charm. I’m sure he’ll sell lots of records. But he’s incredibly boring. His “Stand By Me” had no soul at all. He oversang “Love Me Tender,” filling it with needless runs and changes in the melody.
My ordering would be Mercado, Cook, Archuleta, and Castro. What’ll actually happen tonight? Cook and Archuleta are shoe-ins. Castro should absolutely go after the last couple of weeks he’s had. And Mercado should absolutely stay, after the couple of weeks she’s had. But given the way the votes have come down thus far, I’d say it’s a toss-up.
“A Change is Gonna Come” is one of my favorite songs as well, and that’s probably why I disliked Mercado’s performance of it. I mean, it wasn’t bad, but it lacked the desperation the original had. Also, I thought Cook’s “Baba O’Riley” should count as a capital offense.
Cook and Syesha are very good, and it will be a shame when Archuletta’s fan base beats out Syesha’s very good performing. The only one I think may be able to topple Archuletta’s appeal is Cook, and I hope he does it.
The stoner goes…5 contestants too late. I fear David v David final. Don’t think DC has enough God vote to pull it off. DA as Idol? The Osmonds are in full effect..
Cook is gonna win this thing. According to dialidol Archuleta hasn’t won a week, or beaten Cook, since the week of 8. Four wins in a row is a lot of momentum.
Even if Archuleta does win I don’t think he’ll be a very successful recording artist. I can’t think of a single current popular singer who’s like him (Clay Aiken is close, but Clay Aiken doesn’t sell many records anymore, either). Plus he doesn’t fit modern radio formats. His first record might sell a bit but then he’ll disappear.
You all are forgetting something…..it doesn’t matter who wins. All of the finalists are looking for exposure, and those that are worthy of a contract will get one, whether they win it all or not (and it’s probably better for most, from a contractual perspective, for them to get close, but NOT win).
Most of the successful Idol finalist have not won it all. Think about it……and would Taylor Hicks have gotten a contract if he hadn’t won it all?
I think we might see Jason again……in a shampoo commercial.