American Idol 2007

[Logan]

But, of Jordin Sparks, he says, ”…the second it was announced we were doing a Bon Jovi week, she requested her song early. She knew exactly what she was going to sing.

Bad choice Jordin. "Livin on a Prayer" isn't a song that can be "sung" like she tried to.

But Phil fucking rocked Blaze of Glory.

[MJ4H]

hahaha BLAKE

fucking YES

[sabotai]

Watching Melinda try to sing and act like a rocker is just.....sad.

[Logan]

Watching Melinda try to sing and act like a rocker is just.....sad.

She did not have a nice day.

[adubroff]

My rank for the week:
1) Melinda
2) Phil
3) Blake
4) Lakeesha
5) Chris
6) Jordin

[MJ4H]

eh melinda was good. blake stole the show tonight though.

My ranking:

Blake, Melinda, Phil, Lakisha, Jordin, Chris.

[Easy Mac]

So I only caught the recap. Was it as bad live as it was in the short 5 seconds I saw for everyone, because they all sounded like ass. Based on the little bit I saw, Chris sounded the best, which sees hard.

[MJ4H]

No, it was actually quite tolerable tonight.

[Lathum]

I thought tonight was great. Melinda proved she is light years ahead of anyone else as a singer. Blake was by far the most entertaining and took the biggest risk but it kicked ass!!

I thought Jordan and Chris were horrible and Phil and Lakisha were great, Lakisha was the biggest surprise for me.

[Ksyrup]

I'd rank them:

Blake
Melinda
LaKisha
Phil
Chris R
Jordin

Jordin was awful. She may be versatile, but she's not Janet Jackson (Black Cat) versatile. Chris R. picked probably the worst song possible, which showcased how thin and lacking in depth his voice is. But Jordin saved him, even though her good week last week should keep her pretty safe. Phil has been solid for 3 weeks in a row. Melinda would have been better had she not already done a Tina Turner-like performance, but this was a hard week for her and she pulled it off. LaKisha made the smartest choice of any of them for her style. Jordin was probably kicking herself halfway through LaKisha's song.

Great week, I hope they do more rock next year.

[wade moore]

eh melinda was good. blake stole the show tonight though.

My ranking:

Blake, Melinda, Phil, Lakisha, Jordin, Chris.

I'd reverse Jordin and Chris, but besides that I agree...

Thank god we got the "Fun Blake" again and it was awesome... this is the way he wins, not trying to show off his voice...

I'm very intrigued to see what his album would be like... I figure he gets one iether way, and I'm curious how much control they'd give him..

[EagleFan]

Blake and Melinda showed who should be the final two this week. Phil did a great job as well but he doesn't have enough outstanding past performances to deserve getting that much farther. LaKisha rebounded quite nicely, luckily for her she didn't get a chance to choose another past contestant's song this week.

Jordin picked a bad song for her voice and may have been the worst today, though I would love to say Chris was the worst.

I would say Chris and LaKisha to go based on the last two weeks but who really knows at this point.

[Mota]

I thought Melinda was horrible. She sounded like someone stuck her neck in a clothes wringer and twisted, and during this time she tried to get this song out. Yuck.
Phil sang it well, but once again the song was devoid of the Phil personality. What kind of album would he record? You just can't hear Phil, just a bunch of copycat performances (which are fairly good).
I think that Blake's performance was one of the best of the season. You KNOW what kind of album that Blake would record, and you hear him on everything that he does. Big risk, big reward.
Lakisha was great as well, she didn't try to force one out like Jordin this week, took a less "rocker" song and sang it.
I think the non-rockers should have realized that Bon Jovi is at the pop end of the rock spectrum, and that they could have picked a lot more material that's applicable to their voices and stayed away from the more rocky stuff.

[Mota]

One more thing ... didn't Ryan say that they played 2 songs each last week, and the same for this week? I only heard one.

[Solecismic]

Okay, so here it goes. After the most overrated week in American Idol history - a week in which Ryan Seacrest and his band of corporate suits preached non-stop about giving up the pretense, I mean, giving back, yet didn't have the chutzpah to tell us beforehand no one would be eliminated - they go ahead and feature the most overrated band in rock history.

A fraud followed by a fraud. Hey, it's all good when you can get the First Lady reading more awkwardly from her cue cards than Hortatio Sanz at an old Saturday Night Live dress rehearsal.

Yeah, I can just hear the Bubble Metal enthusiasts winding up for a rant. Can't I see that Jon Bon Jovi is a true musician? Can't I see that there's real talent behind these over-produced, Kiss-wannabe bubble anthems? Damn it all, an entire generation of sanitized pulsing power music afficianados grew up on this safe schlock. Surely that's better than Veronica kissing a puppy dog named Piz or Lorelai mooning after Luke because he wore the blue hat she gave him in seasons past while she threw away the love beads he pressed upon her after a whimsical moment at some Renaissance Festival long forgotten. Right? Am I right?

But I digress. There was some singing to be heard, and, truth be told, those who can't do, teach, and apparently either Jon Bon Jovi is a fairly good teacher, or these bubblicious power songs are designed to neatly hide amateurism. It wasn't a bad week, after all. Not bad at all. Even if the CW should be renaming their about-to-be-canceled 9:00 p.m. show "Mac and Cheese."

Oh, I'll keep the faith, even if this show seems to be on a lost highway these days. On to the rankings:

1. Melinda Doolittle. Not only can she sing, she can interpret a song as well. I can see why she likes the musicals genre, because she put together a nice acting performance along with her rendition of Have a Nice Day. It kinda makes you think the humility schlump may be a bit of an act. As always, a pro among pronouns. She could be a credible rocker. Score of 97.

2. Blake Lewis. Kudos for throwing in a pig snort and making Bon Jovi sound better for trying. The kid has one small bag of tricks, but he does it very well. If Bon Jovi is the guy who convinced Blake to stay out of his upper register, he did his coaching job very well this week for that reason alone. I'm not sure I liked it, but it was a solid performance and it was nice to see Blake back in the game. I'm also not sure whether this has made me root for his demise. He had better not go into nehru metal jacket again. Score of 87.

3. Phil Stacey. Randy's comparison to Steve Perry was very solid. There was always something a little nerdy about Perry, but Journey had its place among the solid rock acts of the late '70s and early '80s. I get the impression Phil works very hard at this, and when he does, he sometimes pulls together a nice, almost melodic nerd-rock tone. Score of 83.

4. LaKisha Jones. Out of all the singers tonight, I thought she best fit in with the Bubble Metal genre. Her natural inclination is to scream the lyrics a bit, and that fits in nicely with this week's theme, and hard rock in general. The problem is, it just wasn't a great singing performance. It started out very shaky and out of tune, but she ended up selling it well. It wasn't bad, it's authenticity is more an indictment of the musical genre itself. Score of 78.

5. Chris Richardson. Yes, he can sing in tune. But his tone is all wrong for this genre. Simon had it exactly right, the end result of his goatbleating was a performance that's hard to criticize, but excruciating to hear. I have little doubt his performance in tomorrow's double-results show will be his last. Score of 66.

6. Jordin Sparks. This not-so-little little girl has all the poise in the world. I just don't understand why she went for it on this song. She didn't get what the other women were doing at all, and just tried to belt it out more like a punk rock rendition (and if you think I don't like Bubble Metal, wait 'til you hear my thoughts about Punk). It was strained, and she knew it. She was beat this week worse than the Cowboy receivers used to beat her dear ol' Dad. By leaps and bounds her worst performance of the season. Score of 48.

Bottom 3: Chris, LaKisha, Phil.
Who Should Go: Chris and Phil.
Who Will Go: Chris and LaKisha.

Due to the indulgent Idol Gives Up crapfest, Jordin should benefit big-time from the carry-over from her very good performance last week. This might save her. It hurts Blake, who wasn't very good last week. But I think the response tonight will be very enthusiastic for him and it will be enough to save him.

[Neuqua]

HOW DARE NOBODY IN THIS THREAD LET ME KNOW BON JOVI WAS GUEST ON AMERICAN IDOL THIS WEEK

[Neuqua]

....they go ahead and feature the most overrated band in rock history.

You hurt me today Jim, tear.

[Eaglesfan27]

I LOVED Blake's performance tonight. However, I thought Melinda was great and agree with Jim in that I would give her the top score tonight. I thought Jordin had the worst performance of the night by a long shot. In fact, I would rank everyone in the same order that Jim did tonight. Melinda and Blake are the only two I would be shocked to see go.

[Ksyrup]

HOW DARE NOBODY IN THIS THREAD LET ME KNOW BON JOVI WAS GUEST ON AMERICAN IDOL THIS WEEK

Apparently you missed my post YESTERDAY MORNING.

[Neuqua]

Apparently you missed my post YESTERDAY MORNING.

I don't watch American Idol so I never really participated in this thread.

:(

[Buccaneer]

Jim, with all due respect, you should stop tinkering with tedious numbers and write articles/books for a living. I would be your groupie. That was fucking brilliant to read.

[Fouts]

Jim, with all due respect, you should stop tinkering with tedious numbers and write articles/books for a living. I would be your groupie. That was fucking brilliant to read.

Well written, but too much negativity. It makes you wonder why the guy even watches the show.

[wade moore]

I LOVED Blake's performance tonight. However, I thought Melinda was great and agree with Jim in that I would give her the top score tonight. I thought Jordin had the worst performance of the night by a long shot. In fact, I would rank everyone in the same order that Jim did tonight. Melinda and Blake are the only two I would be shocked to see go.

FWIW, I put Blake above Melinda because I "enjoyed" it more.. I realize Melindas was a more technically sound performance... I could easily swap the two and not feel guilty about it though.

[Lathum]

I usualy agree with Jim but I couldn't disagree with him more this week. I think his dislike of Bon Jovi seeped into his write up to much.

[primelord]

I actually don't think Jordin's choice of song was bad at all. I think the version of the song she did was terrible. In the little clip with Bon Jovi she sounded good. Bon Jovi has done a couple different accoustic and more soulful versions of Livin on a Prayer. I can't for the life of me figure out why she didn't go that route.

[Mota]

I actually don't think Jordin's choice of song was bad at all. I think the version of the song she did was terrible. In the little clip with Bon Jovi she sounded good. Bon Jovi has done a couple different accoustic and more soulful versions of Livin on a Prayer. I can't for the life of me figure out why she didn't go that route.

Yeah, that was probably one of the least authentic headbanging moments I've ever seen. Jordin, my dear, you are not allowed to flip the horns ever again.

[Mota]

I actually don't think Jordin's choice of song was bad at all. I think the version of the song she did was terrible. In the little clip with Bon Jovi she sounded good. Bon Jovi has done a couple different accoustic and more soulful versions of Livin on a Prayer. I can't for the life of me figure out why she didn't go that route.

Yeah, that was probably one of the least authentic headbanging moments I've ever seen. Jordin, my dear, you are not allowed to flip the horns ever again.

[Ksyrup]

I would die to see punk night on AI - and to read Jim's critique afterward. Of course, they'd come up with a neutered list of songs - Should I Stay or Should I Go, Rock the Casbah, anything by Green Day, and leave the goods on the table. Except Blake, who would have to go into hiding after his performance of "A-a-a-a-anarchy-ee in the U-u-u-u-u-u-k-K."

I agree, though, too much negativity from Jim about the music. Not only is Bon Jovi far from the worst/most overrated rock band in history (and I'm not fan of Bon Jovi, or at least I haven't been since I was about 17 years old), but given the slop we've been forced to listen to the past seasons, not just weeks, I'm a bit offended that Jim chose this week of all of them to lay into the coach/artist.

[Ksyrup]

I'm very intrigued to see what his album would be like... I figure he gets one iether way, and I'm curious how much control they'd give him..

As much as I like Blake as an AI contestant, and even with what I thought was a great version of YGLABN last night, I'm even less interested in hearing an album of this stuff. It sounds neat in small doses and juxtaposed against boring/mediocre performances of crappy songs, but a whole album of it? No thanks. He is the perfect "sound bite" contestant for a show like this, but I can't see an entire album of half-beat box, half-moody crooner. I'm sure it would sell, but I don't see any staying power there at all.

[Logan]

I agree, though, too much negativity from Jim about the music. Not only is Bon Jovi far from the worst/most overrated rock band in history (and I'm not fan of Bon Jovi, or at least I haven't been since I was about 17 years old), but given the slop we've been forced to listen to the past seasons, not just weeks, I'm a bit offended that Jim chose this week of all of them to lay into the coach/artist.

No shit. Not only do I want a refund on all my purchases so far, but I'm done with Solecismic products.

[Ksyrup]

That's a bit harsh, Logan. The football soap kicks much ass.

[Logan]

Not as much as Bon Jovi.

[Ksyrup]

Sorry, didn't notice you are in New Jersey.

[Lathum]

Not as much as Bon Jovi.

QFT

another Jersey guy here

[kurtism]

Screw AI, at least Jim threw VMars a little recognition.

[Ksyrup]

Strangely enough, dialidol.com has Jordin safely ahead of everyone based on last night's votes. Huh.

[Ksyrup]

QFT

another Jersey guy here

Is Bon Jovi really that popular these days? I kinda lost touch with him/them after high school - I knew he was out there, the band put out a few albums, he did his solo thing, etc., but kinda like Def Leppard, in a way, the band was "there" but not really making much of a splash. At least, that is my perception. They certainly weathered the grunge/anti-hair band backlash of the 90s and have benefited from the 80s resurgence, I guess. Are kids listening to them now? I just don't hear the name much these days, so it would surprise me to find out they still have a strong following.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Jon Bon Jovi's AFL team is on ESPN2 pretty much every fucking week. Screw Bon Jovi.

[ISiddiqui]

Not as much as Bon Jovi.

QFT * 2

[Logan]

Is Bon Jovi really that popular these days? I kinda lost touch with him/them after high school - I knew he was out there, the band put out a few albums, he did his solo thing, etc., but kinda like Def Leppard, in a way, the band was "there" but not really making much of a splash. At least, that is my perception. They certainly weathered the grunge/anti-hair band backlash of the 90s and have benefited from the 80s resurgence, I guess. Are kids listening to them now? I just don't hear the name much these days, so it would surprise me to find out they still have a strong following.

They don't make stadiums big enough to prevent sellouts anywhere around the NY/NJ area.

[Lathum]

Is Bon Jovi really that popular these days? I kinda lost touch with him/them after high school - I knew he was out there, the band put out a few albums, he did his solo thing, etc., but kinda like Def Leppard, in a way, the band was "there" but not really making much of a splash. At least, that is my perception. They certainly weathered the grunge/anti-hair band backlash of the 90s and have benefited from the 80s resurgence, I guess. Are kids listening to them now? I just don't hear the name much these days, so it would surprise me to find out they still have a strong following.

I think it's more from my generation 25-35 that keeps him popular. His early music IMO is timeless, take the fact that Jordan was excited to sing a song that was recorded about 5 years before she was born, I think that is an indicator that they are still popular

[rkmsuf]

It's My Life was a big song in 2000. That album, Crush had a huge tour. They still make an impact. Have a Nice Day in 2005 is a fairly popular as well. They were #2 on Billboard with that one for a while.

[cuervo72]

I'll draw ire here I'm sure, but as far as Jersey singers go, I think I like more Bon Jovi songs than I do Bruce Springsteen songs.

But then again...I'd probably say the same for Bruce Willis, too. :p

[Ksyrup]

I think it's more from my generation 25-35 that keeps him popular. His early music IMO is timeless, take the fact that Jordan was excited to sing a song that was recorded about 5 years before she was born, I think that is an indicator that they are still popular

See, I'm surprised to see the ages you cite trending more young than older. I'm 36 and was into Bon Jovi with Runaway and through the New Jersey album. I'd expect someone who was younger than me by more than, say, 4 or 5 years, to have been caught up in the hair band backlash. If I had to guess I'd say 30-40 makes more sense to me.

But then again, I don't really find his music to be timeless, so I'm probably (unintentionally) discounting him because he's been so irrelevant to my musical tastes since high school. I never disliked him at any point, I just stopped listening to that kind of stuff once I got into college, and like most of those bands, they pretty much disappeared for a while when they were out of fashion. Good for them if they've managed to pick up some momentum in the past 5 or so years. I just haven't really seen or heard much about them since the early 90s.

[Logan]

I'm 23 and everyone I know, even if they don't like that style of music, loves Bon Jovi. Maybe it's just because of the area I'm in, but then again, when I would go and hang out with friends at different schools, they were huge there too. Plus his songs are monster hits in the bar, which always helps.

[Drake]

I'll draw ire here I'm sure, but as far as Jersey singers go, I think I like more Bon Jovi songs than I do Bruce Springsteen songs.

But then again...I'd probably say the same for Bruce Willis, too. :p

ditto

I plop Springsteen in the same pile with Johnny Cash and Nine Inch Nails. I understand that lots of people like them, but I just don't get it.

[Ksyrup]

I'm 23 and everyone I know, even if they don't like that style of music, loves Bon Jovi. Maybe it's just because of the area I'm in, but then again, when I would go and hang out with friends at different schools, they were huge there too. Plus his songs are monster hits in the bar, which always helps.

That's interesting. I'm sure the NJ connection probably overstates his general popularity, but maybe not by much.

[ISiddiqui]

I'm 26 (27 in less than a month) and everyone I know from Jersey loves Bon Jovi... well, let me add, they are either a Bon Jovi fan or Springsteen fan... usually not many that like both.

[rkmsuf]

Springsteen...meh. What a hack.

[Solecismic]

No shit. Not only do I want a refund on all my purchases so far, but I'm done with Solecismic products.

You're lucky I don't come down to New Jersey and rip them off your computer myself. When you've sung the National Anthem a cappella in front of a packed house in the Meadowlands, then maybe I'll listen to your opinions about wannabe glam-rock princesses like Bon Jovi. Welcome to Canton.

[Ksyrup]

You're lucky I don't come down to New Jersey and rip them off your computer myself. When you've sung the National Anthem a cappella in front of a packed house in the Meadowlands, then maybe I'll listen to your opinions about wannabe glam-rock princesses like Bon Jovi. Welcome to Canton.

See, this is where the QOTM function is absolutely essential. Well played, sir!

[sabotai]

1. Melinda Doolittle...She could be a credible rocker.

Invalid Entry. Does not compute.

[Logan]

See, this is where the QOTM function is absolutely essential. Well played, sir!

Funny, QOTM was the first thing to cross my mind. Well played, sir x 2.

[cuervo72]

See, this is where the QOTM function is absolutely essential. Well played, sir!

Reusing a line (that others have used as well) is considered well-played now?

[Ksyrup]

A line meant to rip on a game developer, coming from Jim, in the AI thread? It was unexpected, to me anyway. So that's part of the effect. I give Jim a 92.

[cuervo72]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?p=1445786#post1445786

[rkmsuf]

So what song is Bon Jovi doing tonite?

[Ksyrup]

From MJ:

On Wednesday, Jon’s band, Bon Jovi drops by to perform their new single, “(You Want to) Make a Memory.”

[rkmsuf]

From MJ:

On Wednesday, Jon’s band, Bon Jovi drops by to perform their new single, “(You Want to) Make a Memory.”

Now I like Bon Jovi but that title screems suckage.

Oh, and suck it spoiler warning people.

[Neon_Chaos]

Living on a Prayer is timeless. :)

[Ksyrup]

I'm also hoping that Akon drops in again, but decides not to dry-hump a 14-year old on stage this time.

hxxp://pandagon.net/2007/04/22/hip-hop-star-akon-dry-humps-14-year-old-onstage/

[rkmsuf]

I'm also hoping that Akon drops in again, but decides not to dry-hump a 14-year old on stage this time.

hxxp://pandagon.net/2007/04/22/hip-hop-star-akon-dry-humps-14-year-old-onstage/


they have so many of his performances in the can that he's good to be on the next 3 seasons at least twice.

[Ksyrup]

Maybe he needs to try Dancing With the Stars.

[rkmsuf]

I'm also hoping that Akon drops in again, but decides not to dry-hump a 14-year old on stage this time.

hxxp://pandagon.net/2007/04/22/hip-hop-star-akon-dry-humps-14-year-old-onstage/

hip hop star? the only better headline I saw was "Celtics Star Telfair Arrested" in some newspaper.

[rkmsuf]

Maybe he needs to try Dancing With the Stars.

Fox could sell ABC some footage to use with that Elvis technology and BOOM, Akon waltzing.

[Ksyrup]

I don't think waltzing is his cup of tea, though.

[rkmsuf]

I don't think waltzing is his cup of tea, though.

that's where the hologramming comes in. then it's Akon, waltzing star.

what better Akon or Brady Quinn

thanks

[Solecismic]

A line meant to rip on a game developer, coming from Jim, in the AI thread? It was unexpected, to me anyway. So that's part of the effect. I give Jim a 92.

Not meant to rip on anyone. More like riff. It's a line that's taken on its own meaning here. I'm sure if the HM guy were here, he'd be joining in.

[Ksyrup]

Something tells me he doesn't have the sense of humor you do...

[wade moore]

As much as I like Blake as an AI contestant, and even with what I thought was a great version of YGLABN last night, I'm even less interested in hearing an album of this stuff. It sounds neat in small doses and juxtaposed against boring/mediocre performances of crappy songs, but a whole album of it? No thanks. He is the perfect "sound bite" contestant for a show like this, but I can't see an entire album of half-beat box, half-moody crooner. I'm sure it would sell, but I don't see any staying power there at all.

I'm not so much saying I'd like it (although I might) as I'm just curious to see how it sounds.. my assumption has always been that the beat-boxy type stuff would ideally be more techno/house/whatever sound if he had his way on an album... I've always thought that he was substituting for not having a DJ to some extent..

[Buccaneer]

I was interested in seeing the performances of the top 3 on YouTube since I like those three songs (Blaze, Nice Day and Bad Name) - unlike most other weeks which I hated the theme. Melinda is still doing her usual Gladys Knight impression which means she has the pipes but not the diversity. Blake and Phil brought it, imo and that was really gutsy performance by Blake. Phil can sing, not sure if he can't rock though.

[Easy Mac]

Evidently the Evolution of Robert Thicke doesn't involve his balls dropping

[MJ4H]

the hell????????????

[ISiddiqui]

the hell????????????

Yeah, that fucking SUCKED... and I'm a big Bon Jovi fan :(.

(I'm going to adopt that for Jovi's song and not the reason reason you said that :p)

[Arles]

Phil's final song was the way everyone should leave (no crying, moving around and wishing goodbye). Well done.

[Buccaneer]

Not having ever watched this while the show aired, remind me how the final song works? They tape the standup/sit down thing and then the loser prepares a final song? I know none of it is live and fully rehearsed, edited, etc. but when do they record their final song? Is it at right after they do their performance song?

[Ksyrup]

I had no idea Robin Thicke was a man (just from seeing the name on the charts, although had I heard the vocals, I probably would have thought the same thing). That was probably the worst song I've ever heard in my life. And to make matters worse, he's the spittin' image of his dad (I assum; surely they're related).

[Ksyrup]

The crowd was all ready to rock, and Bon Jovi went limp. The crowd was begging to cut loose (as the screams during Sambora's solo suggested), but they didn't give in. I thought for sure that song was going to take off, but no. That was boring as hell.

[Lathum]

Man I look bad defending Bon Jovi earlier.

[Schmidty]

I don't feel like watching this tonight, so can you guys tell me who's gone?

[Easy Mac]

I had no idea Robin Thicke was a man (just from seeing the name on the charts, although had I heard the vocals, I probably would have thought the same thing). That was probably the worst song I've ever heard in my life. And to make matters worse, he's the spittin' image of his dad (I assum; surely they're related).

Yes, Alan Thicke is his father, God rest his soul... oh wait, he's not dead... with a son like that...

[Lathum]

Dola- I am upset but not surprised to see Phil go, I really liked how genuine he is.

I really don't care about Chris but I didn't realize he and Blake had become such good friends, I really believe that Blake would have gone home for him and he was obviously upset at the end of the show.

Overall no big surprises.

[Lathum]

Robin Thickes ?mustache? is the most horrible thing I have ever seen.

[Ksyrup]

Robin Thickes ?mustache? is the most horrible thing I have ever seen.

It's strange - he looked, all at once, like a 13 year old, a 35 year old, and what his dad probably looked like at 20. I was completely confused. And that was before I heard the voice.

[Swaggs]

So, I tivoed through and watched the elminations.

is this Robin Thicke thing so bad that it is worth watching?

[Neuqua]

Bon Jovi is going more country with their new album, hence the more mellow tune.

[Ksyrup]

That wasn't particularly country...not to mention, country doesn't necessarily equal mellow.

[Lathum]

So, I tivoed through and watched the elminations.

is this Robin Thicke thing so bad that it is worth watching?

yes it is,

[Fouts]

Not surprised here at who left this week. It was a little obvious with the groups of 3 they had up there. I wasn't sure who Robin Thicke was and after a few seconds fast-forwarded through the song.

I'm not sure Blake can beat the girls unless he keeps doing the remix stuff. He hasn't used it every week, so can he make it to the finals even if he skips the beat boxing a week or two?

[Danny]

I think Blake now being the only male competitor, gives him a nice little edge. Not a guarantee by any means, but I say he makes the final 3 at least because of that.

[JeeberD]

Not having ever watched this while the show aired, remind me how the final song works? They tape the standup/sit down thing and then the loser prepares a final song? I know none of it is live and fully rehearsed, edited, etc. but when do they record their final song? Is it at right after they do their performance song?

It's all live, and for the final song they just re-sing the song they sang on the previous day's show...

[Ksyrup]

I actually had a nightmare about Robin Thicke's mustache. It involved Dave Wannestadt. I woke up sweating and pleading for AI to bring back Michael Buble.

[Ksyrup]

It's all live, and for the final song they just re-sing the song they sang on the previous day's show...

Thanks for responding to Bucc. There were so many wrong assumptions in there, I didn't know where to start! :D

[Ksyrup]

I think Blake now being the only male competitor, gives him a nice little edge. Not a guarantee by any means, but I say he makes the final 3 at least because of that.

I assume Blake now gets the bulk of Chris R's "I voted for him because he's cute" contingent. Any idea what Phil's voting demographic is? Enlisted personnel and their families? Ugly men and the women who love them? Funeral directors of America? Hard to figure where his votes go.

[Logan]

Wow, where to begin.

I watched this at my girlfriend's place, and therefore didn't have a chance to jump on here to delete every post I made praising Jon Bon. Thanks pal. I kept waiting for that song to drop but it just never did...call it "country" or "mellow" all you want, but it just sucked. Wasn't this rock week? AI is getting so ridiculous that even the guest performer can manipulate song choice.

He does have 10 dates coming up in the area, so I'll still probably check him out again. When I saw him in 2001 or so, it was a tour for one of his new CDs, and his song selection was maybe 4 new, 20 old. So he's got that going for him...

And let it be known, I have nothing against displays of affection between men, whether they are actually gay or just close friends...but come on. That was a little too much between those two last night.

Sorry to see Phil go. His performance was my favorite of the night. Lakisha doesn't stand a chance next week though.

[Ksyrup]

I guess I can understand how Blake and Chris became good friends on the show. But it made me thinnk even more that Phil was completely out of his element, not just on the show but as a contestant. He never made a connection with the audience, and I'm guessing he never really made much of a connection with any of the other contestants, either. He was just "there."

[rkmsuf]

The crowd was all ready to rock, and Bon Jovi went limp. The crowd was begging to cut loose (as the screams during Sambora's solo suggested), but they didn't give in. I thought for sure that song was going to take off, but no. That was boring as hell.

Called that one when you told me the title. I rule.

[JeeberD]

Thanks for responding to Bucc. There were so many wrong assumptions in there, I didn't know where to start! :D

Yeah, I was thinking, "Where the hell does he get this stuff?!?" :D ;)

[sachmo71]

This show is a good argument for embracing Armageddon.

[Eaglesfan27]

Phil's final song was the way everyone should leave (no crying, moving around and wishing goodbye). Well done.


100% agree. Also, I'm a Bon Jovi fan, but that was just hideous last night.

[Swaggs]

I guess I can understand how Blake and Chris became good friends on the show. But it made me thinnk even more that Phil was completely out of his element, not just on the show but as a contestant. He never made a connection with the audience, and I'm guessing he never really made much of a connection with any of the other contestants, either. He was just "there."

I didn't get that feeling about Phil, at all. His exit and farewell song seemed like one of the most emotional, for the rest of the group, that I have seen on AI.

From the way the three remaining women were crying, I got the feeling that they were closer to Phil than the two other guys. I would guess that Phil was more like the big brother of the house and probably quite a bit more mature, with his military experience/working class/married/father, while the other two guys were a little more youthful.

[Ksyrup]

Whatever happened to the typical release schedule - first single is the uptempo, radio-friendly rocker, then you follow that with the ballad to suck the chicks in. Even if this album isn't a typical rock album, I'm assuming there's something on there that would have been more appropriate for a rock week on AI. But maybe they thought they would do better by going for something softer that might appeal to AI fans more? Who knows.

[Eaglesfan27]

I guess I can understand how Blake and Chris became good friends on the show. But it made me thinnk even more that Phil was completely out of his element, not just on the show but as a contestant. He never made a connection with the audience, and I'm guessing he never really made much of a connection with any of the other contestants, either. He was just "there."

Even though he performed well the last few weeks, I've felt like he was just "there" and wanting to go home for a long time now. His goodbye clip/performance just reiterated that for me. I think his mind was preoccupied with how much he was missing in his baby's life. If so, I give him tremendous credit for doing as well as he did.

[Ksyrup]

I didn't get that feeling about Phil, at all. His exit and farewell song seemed like one of the most emotional, for the rest of the group, that I have seen on AI.

From the way the three remaining women were crying, I got the feeling that they were closer to Phil than the two other guys. I would guess that Phil was more like the big brother of the house and probably quite a bit more mature, with his military experience/working class/married/father, while the other two guys were a little more youthful.

I'd buy that if they didn't have the same kind of send-off of every single contestant. I mean, Chris Sligh was tearing up when people were being sent home in the top 11 or so.

[rkmsuf]

Let the whoring begin!

[Ksyrup]

I read elsewhere several comments about Jordin smiling during one of the "singouts" last night, and then when she saw the camera on her, she quickly got sad and made a tear roll down her face. Apparently this upset some people. I guess I missed it. Anyone catch that?

[Ksyrup]

Some funny comments from a buddy of mine:

When did Bon Jovi turn into Bryan Adams?

Maybe Chris R's tour can be sponsored by Breathe Right Nasal Strips

Taylor Hicks looks like George Clooney and Rovert DeNiro had a baby, and apparently in the spirit of giving, he donated 30 pounds to Kelly Clarkson

The Robin Thicke and Growing Pains joke is almost too easy to write

[Pumpy Tudors]

I read elsewhere several comments about Jordin smiling during one of the "singouts" last night, and then when she saw the camera on her, she quickly got sad and made a tear roll down her face. Apparently this upset some people. I guess I missed it. Anyone catch that?
Yes, I actually did notice that.

[Ksyrup]

Is anyone else having font issues on this particular page? It appears to be tied to my posting of the tour schedule. I tried modifying it, but I can't get it to change. It's just on this page, though - it changes the font on all posts on this page to small italics. I hope it's only affecting me, because it's annoying.

[rkmsuf]

haha, you have font envy

[Ksyrup]

It's bizarre. I guess you aren't seeing it? It even affects the posts before that one. I hope when we get to the next page it goes away.

[Logan]

I see it. Good job dickhead, you broke FOFC.

[Toddzilla]

way to go, asshat

[Logan]

Just delete the post, no one actually cares about the tour.

[Ksyrup]

It's gone. And you know you want to see the tour. Just admit it. PM me for the link.

[JeeberD]

Awww, they're not coming to Dallas? What ever will I do?

[Ksyrup]

I hesitate to make this spoiler info since it's printed in the USA Today and thus cuts against my argument in the Captain America thread, but Wade and I need a break from each other, so I'm giving in just this once... :p


Song Spoilers: (thanks to kirsten for pulling these out of the article).
Tonight, it’s the music of the Bee Gees. Barry Gibb is the guest mentor this week.
Blake Lewis

“You Should Be Dancing” - Beat-box style
“This is Where I Came In”Jordin Sparks

“To Love Somebody” - Nigel convinced Barry to let her have it (Barry is performing it tomorrow)
“Woman in Love”Melinda Doolittle (two of the following)

“Love You Inside” - Melinda thinks the lyrics might be a little too racy–her pastor will be in the audience tonight.
“I Just Want to Be Your Everything”
“How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”Lakisha Jones

“Stayin’ Alive”
“Run to Me”Ford Commercial: “You Really Got Me” - A take off on the Beatles Hard Days Night, with fans chasing after the Idols.
Group Number: “How Deep is Your Love” with beat boxing.
A pre-recorded performance from Pink will be featured on tomorrows results show.

[rkmsuf]

Anyone know that length of delay FOX uses for this "live" show. I thought it was like 10-15 seconds. Some claim it's way more.

[Ksyrup]

Uh.... :eek:


Paris Bennett’s debut CD, “Princess P” drops (http://www.startribune.com/457/story/1161932.html) today.

The CD features guest spots by her mom, Jamecia Bennett, and her grandmother, Ann Nesby on the tune, “Best Friends.” Kevin Covais raps on the song, “Can I Rap.”

[Ksyrup]

This is part of the spoiler I posted above, but since it's not part of the competition, I'm going to post it because I have a question:

Group Number: “How Deep is Your Love” with beat boxing.

Isn't this the Hollywood Week number that Blake did with the foursome? They're ghoing to resurrect this with the Blake and the 3 chicks? Ugh. We saw it once, it was really well done, come up with something fresh.

[Solecismic]

Just a quick prediction (and remember I always get these wrong) from the song choices.

LaKisha should know better by now. She's taking on too much.

Blake is getting cocky, and he needs to introduce something completely new with the beat boxing or he'll stagnate.

Jordin and Melinda have big opportunities here. I hope this is a preview of the final show.

I have a nasty cold and I haven't slept the last couple of nights, so I hope I'm somewhat sharp tonight. I'm trying out some aromatherapy in addition to a standard decongestant. I thought I sounded good in the shower today, so something's obviously wrong with my hearing.

[Crim]

Kevin Covais raps on the song, “Can I Rap.”


no.

No.

NO.

Aww, GodinheavenNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[Solecismic]

At last, I understand what Bee Gee stands for: Be Gentle. Yeah, I know it has something to do with Barry Gibb as well, who seems to have settled into a pleasant senility. And you know what? I totally get it.

He and his brothers created complex melodies and an endless variety of great songs for decades. I'd be smiling, too, if my work still held up in my old age. Barry, your mentoring skills leave a lot to be desired, but you should take a well deserved bow.

Tonight, the quartet of Idol aspirants butchered the living daylights out of Bee Gee tunes. They murdered them in every way possible, and I can only hope that when Simon is kicking back in his hotel room reviewing the tapes late this evening, he doesn't put the remote through the television screen in frustration. It was Amateur Idol. Just not want you want to see from the four singers who really have deserved a place in the final four.

Each Idolist took on two Bee Gee tunes, so the rankings will look a little different tonight.

1. Melinda Doolittle, Song 2 (How Can You Mend a Broken Heart). The arrangement was a bit stilted, but that was by design as Melinda wanted to belt out a riff in her comfort zone. It's like shooting clay pigeons with a Bush Era Shock-and-Awe Cluster Bomb. I think the girl is incapable of a truly bum note. Even though I think I've seen this performance before, the rules allow it, so the pro is going to get the good review. Score of 87.

2. Blake Lewis, Song 2 (This is Where I Came in). It's been about a month since I was reminded that Blake has a nice voice when he finds the right melody. He recovered well from a horrendous beginning. Like Randy, I wish he had left the beat-boxing out of this one, it interrupted a solid performance and lowered the score, which probably would have been #1 for the night otherwise. Score of 84.

3. Jordin Sparks, Song 1 (To Love Somebody). On most nights, this would have been quickly forgotten. It was a solid, but immature performance. If Jordin could just learn one tenth of what Blake understands about song arrangement, she could hit these out of the park. Her transitions are very bad. They will improve with experience. I have no doubt this girl has a big future in music, whether she wins here or not. Score of 82.

4. Jordin Sparks, Song 2 (Woman in Love). She oversang it, but I don't think she was as out of tune as Paula thought. It was somewhat unpolished and unconvincing. I'm a bit disappointed, because I thought this would be the song of the evening going in. Score of 80.

5. Melinda Doolittle, Song 1 (Love You Inside and Out). It was okay, in key, but just not very entertaining. She has such a good lower register, I'm surprised she didn't show it off in the first half of this song. And that meant boredom, ennui, and maybe even listlessness. Her worst of the season. Score of 74.

6. LaKisha Jones, Song 2 (Run to Me). The poor girl's voice just broke at the end of the song. She obviously has laryngitis. She rearranged the song to limit the big notes, but by the end she was just hoarse and shouting. It's almost unfair to be judging her at this stage, because a real performer would shut it down for a week or two right now. Score of 50.

7. LaKisha Jones, Song 1 (Staying Alive). Oh, oh, oh, oh, not this week, ironic choice. Again, we actually saw her hit the chorus nicely in rehearsal. She completely changed the arrangement so that she was actually singing backup to the chorus, probably in deference to her voice problem. The arrangement was rough. There just wasn't anything in this performance to hang on to. Score of 42.

8. Blake Lewis, Song 1 (You Should be Dancing). This was pure indulgence. I don't think it would even work in the club scene. I was reminded of a college talent show. Just all the difference in the world from last week's very solid beat-boxing arrangement and this complete abortion of an attempt. This is a pure dance song, not a performance song. Score of 31.

Average Scores tonight:

1. Jordin Sparks 81.
2. Melinda Doolittle 80.
3. Blake Lewis 57.
4. LaKisha Jones 46.

Average Scores this Season:

1. Melinda Doolittle 90.
2. Jordin Sparks 80.
3. Blake Lewis 75.
4. LaKisha Jones 72.

Expected Bottom 2: Melinda and LaKisha.
Who Should Go: LaKisha.
Who Will Go: LaKisha.

[EagleFan]

lol, trash Bon Jovi with major venom last week and then praise the freaking Bee Gees?

Next Solecismic release..... Front Office Lounge Lizzard (you too, can be like Disco Stew) :D ;)

[Vinatieri for Prez]

That's "Brothers Gibb," if ya'll interested.

[Mota]

I think the show really exposed the contestants this week, when they should be protected. Very inferior, and it makes you wonder if any of these people can truly be stars once the cameras are off and they are in the regular pool of singers around the world trying to make a buck.

I truly believe that Melinda is the most professional of all the singers, but has the least long term potential. She sings each song perfectly, but devoid of any star quality and anything that "matters" today. So basically she is Reuben without the charisma, does great in the show but no one would buy her album or go see her in concert.

[JeeberD]

Like Randy, I wish he had left the beat-boxing out of this one, it interrupted a solid performance and lowered the score

See...I don't quite get this. He only beat-boxed once during the song, at the very end. How did that "interrupt" his performance?

He did make that song sound VERY current, though. I could have sworn I've heard Maroon 5 sing it before... ;)

[Ksyrup]

If I had only listened to the mentoring sessions and not watched the show, I would have sworn the mentor this week was Sean Connery.

As a fan of rock music, I feel totally vindicated. They could have had a 2-song performance week of hair metal music that would have gone over better than last night's crapfest. That was truly awful. Not deserving of a 2-song night at all.

It seems fairly obvious that, just like last week when Simon undeservedly bashed Phil and then Chris (who deserved it), we're seeing who he/they want to be in the finals now. He bashed Melinda pretty hard for the first time this year, while falling all over Jordin's pretty mediocre first song. And by the time of her second song, they were running out of time so the negative comments for Jordin really didn't have time to stick.

Speaking of which, is it too much to ask AI to run another 15-30 minutes longer so that we can get a proper discussion of the performances by the judges? I only want to hear what Simon has to say, yet consistently, since he goes last, he gets the fewest words in. Last night was ridiculous. If Dancing With the Stars can run an extra 10-30 minutes when necessary, I don't see why the highest-rated show can't either.

Anyway...getting back to Blake - this is the second time he's run a particular type of performance into the ground. For the first few performances, I thought he did a good job of mixing the beat boxing with straight singing. And then he hit it big with the Who's Your Daddy song and parlayed that into 4 straight weeks of the same performance. Then when that stagnated, he pulled out the beat boxing again and now has run that into the ground. I actually liked the second song a lot, mostly because it was a Bee Gee's song I've never heard, but also because I liked that he arranged it in an 80s new wave-type style. I'm not sure I'd call that arrangement "modern," but it was different and it worked.

LaKisha...with Melinda and Jordin in the competition, I'd have rather seen Phil this week. She's just not necessary and she's overmatched at this point, laryngitis or not.

Oh, and I liked how Barry Gibb described every song as having a male falsetto vocal part, as if each one was the only song in his collection that had falsetto. "This choice really surprised me because it was originally written in falsetto for a male voice." REALLY?????!!!!! Cracked me up every time.

[Eaglesfan27]

Oh, and I liked how Barry Gibb described every song as having a male falsetto vocal part, as if each one was the only song in his collection that had falsetto. "This choice really surprised me because it was originally written in falsetto for a male voice." REALLY?????!!!!! Cracked me up every time.

Same for me and Mrs. Eaglesfan. We made a game of it, trying to name any songs of theirs that didn't have a male falsetto voice.

Overall, not a good night. I agree that it's time for LaKisha to go and Blake should also be in the bottom 2. I liked Jordin very early in the auditions and I think she has to be the favorite to win it at this point and have the best post idol career (although I think Blake will have a nice post idol career as well.)

[Drake]

I'm trying out some aromatherapy in addition to a standard decongestant.

This sentence and "I program hardcore text sim football games" should never be uttered by the same person.


;)

[Mike1409]

Was it just me or did Barry forget his poly grip? His upper dentures were falling out all night!

[Ksyrup]

My wife made a similar comment - "Are any of those his original teeth?" He looked like he was speaking through a mouthpiece.

[kurtism]

"Run to Me" ruined by the recent cover done by Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs (yum). Not a big LaKisha fan anyway, but stacking her version of the song up against Sweet didn't do her any favors in my mind.

[Ksyrup]

Dialidol's results are not all that shocking to me. I'm hoping they do a bottom 2 tonight, because with as big a spread as they're showing between the top 2 and bottom 2, it would be easy to tell whether Dialidol had it right or not.

[MJ4H]

Dialidol's results are not all that shocking to me. I'm hoping they do a bottom 2 tonight, because with as big a spread as they're showing between the top 2 and bottom 2, it would be easy to tell whether Dialidol had it right or not.

That is quite striking.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

I think it's safe to say that this season has no breakout performers, and is easily the most boring. Having 3 of the same type of singer in the final 4 is just awful.

[wade moore]

I think it's safe to say that this season has no breakout performers, and is easily the most boring. Having 3 of the same type of singer in the final 4 is just awful.

But at the same time there is a part of me that thinks once they get her in a studio, coach her up, etc. that Jordin could be with the big two idol winners (Clarkson and Underwood) as far as commercial success... She has a lot of growing to do, but as Randy like sto annoyingly point out she is only 17... much of her problems really resolve around arrangement, song selection, etc, etc that she can be coached on...

[EagleFan]

Wow, why did he sing? That was freaking awful. I almost would have rather listened to Sanjaya over that. That has to be one of the worst performances by a "special guest" on this show ever.



As for LaKisha leaving, that was predictable. Now will it be Jordin or Blake joining Melinda in the finale?

[Ksyrup]

Well, tonight there was definitely no bottom 2/3, and no tie-in to the votes, so we have no idea whether Blake was actually the 2nd-worst vote getter. I really wanted to see if DialIdol had it, too.

[Logan]

I'm willing to bet they were right. There's no need to "shock" anyone by having Melinda up there as the last to be saved, as there wasn't much doubt that Lakisha was gone.

[Swaggs]

That was one of the oddest live performances I have ever seen in my life.

[Ksyrup]

As for LaKisha leaving, that was predictable. Now will it be Jordin or Blake joining Melinda in the finale?

If you believe DialIdol, Melinda and LaKisha were very close in the bottom 2, and Jordin and Blake were miles ahead of both of them, but close to each other, for the top 2. Next week's vote-off should be pretty interesting.

[JeeberD]

Hey K, I saw this while looking for results from last night's show and it sounds like something that might be right up your alley...as long as there's enough rock bands.

http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN1032955120070510

"Idol" team searching for next big American band

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller is teaming with Fox for another music competition, this time featuring aspiring bands.

The network has given the green light to the series, tentatively titled "The Search for the Next Great American Band." Sources speculated that Fox might air it in the fall when "Idol" is off.

"American Band" will feature music groups of all ages, styles and genres competing for the "Next Great American Band" title and a recording contract.

Like "Idol," there will be a series of auditions nationwide, and a panel of judges will narrow down the hopefuls to 10 semifinalists who will perform in front of a live studio audience.

Each week, the bands will be challenged to take on different music themes and styles. Viewers will vote for their favorites via telephone and text messaging and determine who stays in the competition.

There have been several band-themed reality series. They have focused primarily on building brand-new groups ("Popstars," "Making the Band") or adding a member to an existing band ("Rock Star," "Pussycat Dolls," "R U the Girl").

"American Band" will be produced by 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America, the firms behind "Idol."

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. I haven't been so excited by an AI announcement since...I don't know when. I'm not sure I've ever been excited by an AI announcement before. They announced it during the show last night.

This is really the only way to do a rock-themed reality show. The idea of taking an existing band and adding a member during a contest just rings hollow to most rock fans. But being a nobody and winning a competition based on performance, that's where it's at.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I don't trust any "American Idol" spinoff after the tragic failure of "American Juniors." :(

[Fouts]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. I haven't been so excited by an AI announcement since...I don't know when. I'm not sure I've ever been excited by an AI announcement before. They announced it during the show last night.



Almost 400 posts in this thread beg to differ. :D

[Ksyrup]

I don't trust any "American Idol" spinoff after the tragic failure of "American Juniors." :(

Don't forget America's Got Talent. That's Simon's show, anyway. I can't wait for Jerry Springer!

[Mustang]

Each week, the bands will be challenged to take on different music themes and styles. [/i]

Aaaaaaannd.. they probably lost me. Do I really want a band that can play all different styles?

"We normally play Death Metal but, this week, we are going to bring the house down with music from Oklahoma"

[Ksyrup]

Aaaaaaannd.. they probably lost me. Do I really want a band that can play all different styles?

"We normally play Death Metal but, this week, we are going to bring the house down with music from Oklahoma"

I'm with you on that, but the "reality" is (haha), that the only way to make a show out of this that will attract a large enough audience to justify the hype (particularly since AI has a reputation to uphold) is to make them play covers in a variety of genres. My happiness about this is that this should - and I emphasis should - mean that instead of listening to God-awful R&B, disco, and standards music, we'll get more musician-based music. I don't care if it's not limited to rock - I'd take listening to an actual country band over listening to a vocalist sing a song with the band as an after-thought. Obviously, though, I'm hoping this will be heavy on rock standards, if anything.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Hopefully, polka, folk, speed metal, and techno will be some of the required genres. I really don't see how you can have a band competition over different genres -- the essence of a band is its genre.

[Schmidty]

Aaaaaaannd.. they probably lost me. Do I really want a band that can play all different styles?

Some of the greatest bands of all time, such as Queen, did just that. Bands that have range are just as valid as bands that strictly hold to a musical genre.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Right. Queen did everything from show tunes to C&W to metal? There's a difference between branching out as a band to different genres over a career and doing something completely different every week.

[Mota]

Hopefully, polka, folk, speed metal, and techno will be some of the required genres. I really don't see how you can have a band competition over different genres -- the essence of a band is its genre.

Yeah, if this were the case Mr. Bungle would win.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I'm not really sure it is an accurate reflection of who should win a band competition that X band sounded "out of its element" doing country music when, in fact, they play jazz fusion or something. Unless you're going to have a bunch of Faith No More-type bands that can pull off different genres pretty well, which ain't going to happen. Then again, is there really any point to LaKisha or Chris Daughtry or Bucky Covington types singing anything other than what they're obviously comfortable with and want to sing?

[Ksyrup]

More bits and pieces info:


Speaking of Sanjaya, it looks like he’s a front runner to be one of 5 contestants in the VH1 reality show I Love New York 2 (http://ilovenewyork2.com/).

[/URL]In other Season 6 news, last week, [URL="http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/2007/05/life_after_idol.html"]Idol Chatter (http://rickey.org/) reported that Top 24 contestant, Sundance Head signed a record deal with Universal. Pretty good.

[Ksyrup]

I don't think there's much confidence that these are correct, but here is some spoiler info for tonight's show:


Ok, I’m reserving this space for spoilers. Hopefully we will get some today. If you know any, please post! This is what we have so far for tonight’s Final 3 performance. Each contestant will sing three songs–one from a judge, one from Clive Davis and a personal choice:

Blake Lewis:

Paula Abdul chose ”Roxanne” by the Police.
Blakes personal choice is a song by Maroon 5 (according to a friend)
Clives choice for Blake is a song by Robin Thicke (according to a friend)Jordin Sparks:

Simon Cowell chose Jordin Sparks’ “Wishing on a Star” by Rose Royce.
Jordin told classmates (http://www.azcentral.com/community/westvalley/articles/0511gl-idol0512.html) at her homecoming that her personal song choice would be a reprise of “I Who Have Nothing”–her song pick for British Invasion night.Melinda Doolittle:

Randy Jackson chose “I Believe in You and Me” by Whitney Houston.
Clive Davis chose a Tina Turner song.Rumored performance order:

Jordin Sparks
Blake Lewis
Melinda DoolittleFor tomorrow night’s results show, Elliott Yamin will perform “Wait for You” and Maroon 5 performs “Makes Me Wonder.” Leona Lewis (she won Simon Cowell’s British show X-Factor) who was originally slated to perform, but word is she recently came down with tonsillitis.

[Solecismic]

Sad news today. Rory is off to sit on Barak Obama's bus, and she is no longer a Stars Hollow resident. And that's officially the start of Hollywood's Obama for President campaign.

Sorry, Hillary, all that Bloodsworth-Thomason work for naught. The media has dubbed you "The HillDog." I know how you feel. I dubbed the Carolina franchise in Front Office Football the HillCats. I was intending it as a compliment, but out of all the nicknames in the game, that one is the only one that has drawn complaints.

Yeah, I know, Hillary, they loved you when you were baking cookies and standing by your man with long golden hair, a teenage daughter and a ready smile. But you've aged, your daughter is earning $5 million trading insider stocks and no one believes you've gotten down and dirty with the Billster since the days when we thought the "Y2K bug" was going to kill millions and destroy our way of life. They hate our freedom.

It's sexist as all hell. A woman is still defined by her looks and by her man. You are middle-aged, not so cute any more, and your man prefers chubby Jewish 20-somethings wearing thongs and dresses from the Gap's "Slutty Ingenue" collection.

Look at Lorelai Gilmore. She had Rory in her teens, now she's barely touching 40, can still fit into a size 0 and is running a successful bed-and-breakfast that media superstar Christiane Amanpour finds quaint and refreshing. Yet the show must end with her in Luke's arms. Even Lorelai is defined by her man. You lost the presidency the day Miss Lewinsky performed magic with a cigar and a smile.

And that's where we are on American Idol right now. You knew I was getting there. We have two young women who aren't classic beauties going up against one young man who makes the teeny-boppers' hearts go pitter-patter. Women are defined by their looks, men by something else.

Tonight was round-of-three day. The first song was chosen by the judges, the second by some old guy named Clive and the third one by the contestants.

I'm happy with how the season has gone, so far. I think there's only one singer who has been eliminated who may deserve a spot in the final three above those who remain. That's the girl who took a chance with some extensive scatting back in week 2: Leslie Hunt. She listed Imogen Heap and Zero 7 as influences in her music - how could I not want her around? But who knows how she would have held up. I could still tolerate Chris Richardson back then. The voters have done very well.

The round of three is designed to take us away from the theme weeks and get the contestants singing what they sing best. It was refreshing to hear, though I don't think any of them will record anything I'll be buying in the future. On to the rankings:

1. Melinda Doolittle. Randy chose a tough Whitney Houston song for her, and while she didn't hit it out the park, she was credible. It's a song that would have destroyed 90% of the contestants they've ever had on the show, and Melinda only made it a tiny bit boring. Score of 88 for difficulty.

At Clive's request, she rocked out to Tina Turner. Again, she didn't hit it out of the park, but she was credible. Who is Melinda Doolittle? Rangy, kinda homely, she seems sweet but mature, and that comes out in her singing. When she rocks out, she pulls it off, yet you know she's only acting. I wonder what she will record when she's done with this. Thirteen weeks in, and I'm still wondering, but I think she's got the second-best voice they've ever had on this show. Score of 90.

Finally, she went back to the Woman song she did early in the competition, the one we were introduced to in some long-ago commercial about some long-forgotten product where some sex-kitten model comes home from work and pretends she knows how to cook and clean house. Kinda like Hillary, without the sex kitten part. "I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never let you forget that the national health care system's in shambles." So, Melinda does that song really well, no need to say that again. Score of 91. She wins the night.

2. Blake Lewis. Paula, despite her alcohol-addled appearance, does have a very good sense of the music industry. I believe she could produce. And I think she made a good choice for Blake in giving him the Police standard Roxanne. Blake trended it up a bit, but I think his usual strong instincts on arrangements abandoned him with the choruses, which showed what is wrong with his voice rather than what Paula had intended to show works well with his voice. Blake needs to accent what he has, because the gimmicks won't give you hot-selling recordings. Score of 71 for missing the boat.

Clive went the safe route and gave Blake a Maroon-5 song that was already designed for his kind of sound. Blake did a nice job, but the beat-boxing was a little odd - the same exact sound he's done before. I don't know. If you're going to make your schtick imitating machines, which really won't carry over well into the recording business, at least gain a repertoire of a few dozen machines. I liked it, didn't love it. Score of 75.

For his own choice, Blake picked a remake of Walter Murphy's A Fifth of Beethoven that's recently been recorded by someone else with lyrics - can't remember who did it. It was an excellent choice for him, exactly the stuff that's in his wheelhouse. What he didn't see in Clive's choice or Paula's choice, he saw in his own choice, and the result was a good Blake performance - a reminder that he does belong in the final three, though maybe no further. Score of 88.

3. Jordin Sparks. Simon kinda dropped the ball here, giving her a performance song from Rose Royce that didn't have the necessary complexity. I thought she was good, just a little boring. Score of 79.

Clive screwed up, too, and served up something very similar from Donna Summer. I think Clive and the judges need to work together on this. Jordin stumbled badly here. She was breathy, it was the only song tonight that sounded karaoke. It just wasn't her night. Score of 65.

Jordin went back to her British Invasion song "I Who Have Nothing," that she earned rave reviews for earlier this season. This is a nice song for her, shows off her talents perfectly. She's maybe a bit tired, though. I didn't get a sense she was interpreting the song. It was the weakest of the three personal-choice songs. Score of 86.

Average Scores this season: Melinda 90, Jordin 79, Blake 76.
Who Should Go: Blake.
Who Will Go: Jordin, based on Simon's strong push for Melinda.

[Ksyrup]

That song Blake did was by Robin Thicke, the uni-gender thing who probably doesn't love hockey as much as his dad.

[Swaggs]

That song Blake did was by Robin Thicke, the uni-gender thing who probably doesn't love hockey as much as his dad.

Robin Thicke has a smoking hot wife. :(

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/67/Paula_Patton_Idlewild.JPG/250px-Paula_Patton_Idlewild.JPG

Paula Patton from Idlewild and Hitch.

[Danny]

I'm still a big Blake fan. I put all of his performances on my itunes and enjoy listening to them often. The only other idol performers I did that with were Bo and Daughtry.

[Ksyrup]

Robin Thicke's wife should shave his mustache while he's sleeping.

That song Thicke performed was such a mess, I couldn't tell if it was the same one Blake sang last night or not.

[Ksyrup]

When she rocks out, she pulls it off, yet you know she's only acting. I wonder what she will record when she's done with this. Thirteen weeks in, and I'm still wondering, but I think she's got the second-best voice they've ever had on this show.

I think this boils it down to why I'm so lukewarm about Melinda. And I don't just limit it to "rocking out" - pretty much everything she does she interprets well, but in an obvious acting fashion. That's why she would be perfect for Vegas or Broadway. She doesn't have that "pop act" sense, like Gwen Stefani has, where she can be someone totally different on stage, but in a relevant, authentic, edgy way (and keep in mind I can't stand Stefani, but the difference in her performances and Melinda's are obvious).

I have to think Blake is staying based on simple demographics. And I hope Melinda makes it because Simon's right - she deserves it for putting on a consistently above-average performance every week. The voting on Dialidol is pretty close, though. I didn't watch the finale last year, and I probably wouldn't mind skipping it this year if we end up with 2 R&B singers against each other. Blech. At least they'll be perfectly suited for the crap song they have to sing.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Robin Thicke has a smoking hot wife. :(

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/67/Paula_Patton_Idlewild.JPG/250px-Paula_Patton_Idlewild.JPG

I think his wife needs a bit of a shave.

[Swaggs]

I think his wife needs a bit of a shave.

Hey Ya?!?!

[Ksyrup]

I forgot to ask if anyone heard what I thought I heard...when Melinda got news of the song Randy picked for her, did I hear her call him Randy Johnson? That's what it sounded like.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I forgot to ask if anyone heard what I thought I heard...when Melinda got news of the song Randy picked for her, did I hear her call him Randy Johnson? That's what it sounded like.
Yes. Yes, you did. When we heard it at my house, this is how the conversation went:

:confused: - My Wife
:cool: - Pumpy

:confused: - Did she just say Randy Johnson?
:cool: - Yes. Randy Johnson is a baseball player.
:confused: - I didn't see any baseball players around.
:cool: - Yeah, and he's 6-foot-10. You can't miss him. He used to play for the team that we're going to see this weekend.
:confused: - That's pretty funny!
:cool: - Hmm. It looks like he went back to Arizona, so we might see him this weekend playing against the Pirates!
:confused: - Yay! I can't wait!

So now my wife is looking forward to seeing Randy Johnson, even though she has no idea who he is.

Edit: THANKS, AMERICAN IDOL!

[Ksyrup]

I'm sure the connection is that Randy Jackson worked with Randy Johnson on something. His slider, probably. Thanks to him, The Big Unit's slider was OFF DA HOOK!

He also blew that bird OUT DA BOX during spring training.

[Danny]

the politician with Melinda read Randy Johnson from the letter by mistake and then corrected himself. Melinda was actually being funny and taking a subtle jab at the politician.

[Bisbo]

Kinda like Hillary, without the sex kitten part. "I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never let you forget that the national health care system's in shambles."

Best line of the thread!

[Pumpy Tudors]

the politician with Melinda read Randy Johnson from the letter by mistake and then corrected himself. Melinda was actually being funny and taking a subtle jab at the politician.
Oh. Well, that takes like two-thirds of the fun out of it. :(

[JeeberD]

My wife and I were confused at first, but after a rewind or two we figured out what was going on...

[Thomkal]

Jordin's performance of "I Who Have Nothing" ranks right up there with my favorite Idol performances ever. Even if Simon can't get past the fact that its 60 years old. So I was glad she chose that one to sing again. Sadly it probably won't be enough to save her this week. Thinking it will be Melinda vs Blake in the finals, even though Blake was the weakest of the three last night in my opinion.

[Eaglesfan27]

The DVR cut out Simon's comments after the final 2 were revealed. My wife wants to know what he said. Can anyone help out?

[Ksyrup]

He just congratulated the final two and told Melinda she was a great singer.

The wife and I thought that when Seacrest went to break before the Melinda segment, and he said something like, "After the break, Maroon 5 and Melinda goes home," that there was a good possibility that was intentional and had a double meaning. I guess we were right.

[wade moore]

The DVR cut out Simon's comments after the final 2 were revealed. My wife wants to know what he said. Can anyone help out?

Ditto.. I went to live TV, but it cut out a second or two in the middle..

Essentially he said "Melinda, you're amazing"...


On the results - I have to say, this makes me look forward to the finals much more. I know many will say this shows that Idol is sham, but imo last year proved that more than this year. Anyone who still thinks this show is a "singing competition" is delusional imo. The bigger travesty to me was a guy who was clearly not going to do anything after the show beating out people who very obviously would be successes after the show.

[Ksyrup]

Not surprising to me that the only real male talent and a 17-year old girl who sang the same style as the less attractive, older, fuddy-duddy made the finals. My wife was shocked, but once he announced Jordin made it, I was fairly certain Blake was in. Jordin and Melinda split the votes. I think Jordin wins in a landslide (not that we'll ever know the votes). I think 90% of Melinda's fans will vote for Jordin.

[wade moore]

Not surprising to me that the only real male talent and a 17-year old girl who sang the same style as the less attractive, older, fuddy-duddy made the finals. My wife was shocked, but once he announced Jordin made it, I was fairly certain Blake was in. Jordin and Melinda split the votes. I think Jordin wins in a landslide (not that we'll ever know the votes). I think 90% of Melinda's fans will vote for Jordin.

Agreed. And I think Jordin should win at this point.

Melinda will fade away, put out an album that won't sell - meanwhile Blake and Jordin will (i believe) have very successful careers.

[Ksyrup]

BTW, I'm not sure I would have recognized Elliott Yamin if he wasn't introduced. The new teeth and hair made him look like a totally different person. In fact, the teeth really took away the "character" in his face. I know that character made him look like a troll, but still.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

It's about time. Third was perfect for Melinda. She gets it for pure singing ability - the best in the bunch. But her lack of personality, stage presence and fondness for old songs doesn't warrant her to be in the final 2. I'd have to say America got the final 2 dead on.

[Schmidty]

Jordin is more cliche' and boring than Melinda could ever be. She'd be great as a Disney Channel personality. Basically, she's a Celine Dion wannabe, who should be competently singing "A Whole New World" as Belle in a touring off-Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast".

I guess that's what they'll be shooting for with her first album - 14 year old girls. I'm sure they'll make money, but it doesn't mean that Jordin deserves to win.

I just don't think a lot of people here get it, and it makes me shake my head.

[Eaglesfan27]

BTW, I'm not sure I would have recognized Elliott Yamin if he wasn't introduced. The new teeth and hair made him look like a totally different person. In fact, the teeth really took away the "character" in his face. I know that character made him look like a troll, but still.


Agreed. I wouldn't have recognized him either. I think I preferred his old look.

[Mota]

Ditto.. I went to live TV, but it cut out a second or two in the middle..

Essentially he said "Melinda, you're amazing"...


On the results - I have to say, this makes me look forward to the finals much more. I know many will say this shows that Idol is sham, but imo last year proved that more than this year. Anyone who still thinks this show is a "singing competition" is delusional imo. The bigger travesty to me was a guy who was clearly not going to do anything after the show beating out people who very obviously would be successes after the show.

J-Lo, Britney Spears, etc.

The real life music business isn't a singing competition either! There's that "something" that people are looking for in AI that makes them successful, and unfortunately this does not even necessarily translate into post-Idol success.

[wade moore]

Jordin is more cliche' and boring than Melinda could ever be. She'd be great as a Disney Channel personality. Basically, she's a Celine Dion wannabe, who should be competently singing "A Whole New World" as Belle in a touring off-Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast".

I guess that's what they'll be shooting for with her first album - 14 year old girls. I'm sure they'll make money, but it doesn't mean that Jordin deserves to win.

I just don't think a lot of people here get it, and it makes me shake my head.

I don't think we're watching the same show.

[Kevin]

I became a big Melinda fan over the competition. This is probably the best thing that could have happened. By finishing third, she probably gets to choose her own record deal and thus gain some artistic freedom.

I hope her choice is to put out some of the rawer sound rather than the boring stuff that passes for "in" music these days. It would be fantastic if she did some blues like her final song on a record as she reminded me of Koko Taylor during parts of that song.

I won't be buying Blake's music as I can't stand beat box, but he should be successful with it for a while. He may have the worst trouble with producers as they won't let him take some of the risks he did on the show.

Jordin is inconsistent but deserves a shot because she has a huge development upside. As her voice matures and she receives more training, she can be as good as Melinda. I thought she did nail the song Simon hated, as she put some real feeling into it.

[JeeberD]

I think Jordin wins in a landslide (not that we'll ever know the votes). I think 90% of Melinda's fans will vote for Jordin.

I don't know...if Taylor was able to beat McPhee because of the female vote last year, I think Blake has a definite shot. Of course, Jordin's age will help her with the teenie-bopper crowd.

[Ksyrup]

Jordin is more cliche' and boring than Melinda could ever be. She'd be great as a Disney Channel personality. Basically, she's a Celine Dion wannabe, who should be competently singing "A Whole New World" as Belle in a touring off-Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast".

I guess that's what they'll be shooting for with her first album - 14 year old girls. I'm sure they'll make money, but it doesn't mean that Jordin deserves to win.

I just don't think a lot of people here get it, and it makes me shake my head.

We don't get it?! Dude, this show is about finding a pop idol - you know, the next generation Shaun Cassidy/Debbie Gibson type pop singer? They've failed to a large extent to find another Kelly Clarkson in the past few seasons, but Blake and Jordin fit that 'idol' description better than most of the finalists they've had on this show. And there's no way Jordin is wrestling the Disney Channel/Celine Dion title away from Haley. Not to mention, she's more versatile and a lot younger, so she will get better and more mature.

14-year old girls is exactly the audience for a pop idol. I guarantee either (or both) of these finalists will outsell Taylor, McPhee, and Melinda combined. Heck, Sanjaya will probably outsell them all!

[Ksyrup]

The only thing that I think will save Blake from his gimmicks is that he seems to have a great sense of what works for him, from style to song choice. I just think the beat box thing is extremely gimmicky and limiting, and could potentially make him a flash in the pan. I mean, what someone like Bobby McFerrin does is cool and all, but basically 1 hit song and everyone was like, "OK, we've heard that before. We don't need to hear it again." I could see Blake going the same route.

[Mustang]

I think Blake has a definite shot. Of course, Jordin's age will help her with the teenie-bopper crowd.

I think Blake has more of an edge there, if not more.

[Ksyrup]

Interesting info considering the interview was before last night:


This week’s TV Week (http://tvweek.com/) interview with Nigel Lythgoe. Download here (http://www.tvweek.com/docs/docs/Idol_BLT_5_16_aif.mp3).

Nigel says he thinks it was the best Top 3 that they’ve ever had, and, “The most talent they’ve had on that stage in a long time.”
While Nigel was careful to spread the praise around evenly he said that the two females could split the vote to leave a male in the race.
He thinks Jordin Sparks should be the next American Idol and was a little disturbed at Simon’s critical attitude toward her last night.
Initially, the Maroon 5 song did not get cleared. Nigel claims they relented when Blake called them up personally to ask permission to sing the song.

[Eaglesfan27]

I agree with his first comment. I know some have said there are no breakout stars, but I think for overall talent, last night's top 3 was the best of any season.

[Solecismic]

Is there any truth to the rumor that Blake will duet next week with the weird noises guy from the Police Academy movies?

[Crim]

Is there any truth to the rumor that Blake will duet next week with the weird noises guy from the Police Academy movies?

:D

[Vinatieri for Prez]

THE Michael Winslow.

[wade moore]

We don't get it?! Dude, this show is about finding a pop idol - you know, the next generation Shaun Cassidy/Debbie Gibson type pop singer? They've failed to a large extent to find another Kelly Clarkson in the past few seasons, but Blake and Jordin fit that 'idol' description better than most of the finalists they've had on this show. And there's no way Jordin is wrestling the Disney Channel/Celine Dion title away from Haley. Not to mention, she's more versatile and a lot younger, so she will get better and more mature.

14-year old girls is exactly the audience for a pop idol. I guarantee either (or both) of these finalists will outsell Taylor, McPhee, and Melinda combined. Heck, Sanjaya will probably outsell them all!

Very well put.

[Schmidty]

I don't think we're watching the same show.

I think we are; however, we're coming from different backgrounds and understandings of music.

[Schmidty]

14-year old girls is exactly the audience for a pop idol.

Good point.

[wade moore]

I think we are; however, we're coming from different backgrounds and understandings of music.

To be clear - neither KSyrup or myself are saying that Blake or Jordin are better SINGERS than Melinda, just that they are better American Idols and will do far better commercially in the "main stream".

[Mota]

I became a big Melinda fan over the competition. This is probably the best thing that could have happened. By finishing third, she probably gets to choose her own record deal and thus gain some artistic freedom.

Problem with that is I don't think Melinda has a style of her own. The whole season she's been showing that she has great vocals, but you have no idea what kind of album she'd write if given the chance. I'm pretty sure that it won't sell, but I'm also pretty sure that it will show a real lack of direction and focus on her part.

Jordin is easy, give her the generic AI pop-star song list and she'll run with it. And Blake needs to be given the freedom to write his own stuff, if they force him into the generic pop stuff it'll be a disaster.

[Ksyrup]

Problem with that is I don't think Melinda has a style of her own. The whole season she's been showing that she has great vocals, but you have no idea what kind of album she'd write if given the chance. I'm pretty sure that it won't sell, but I'm also pretty sure that it will show a real lack of direction and focus on her part.

I agree. That's why she's been a back-up singer - it's not that she can't sing or even perform. It's just that she doesn't have a style of her own nor a personality that fits within mainstream pop. Honestly, she needs to be doing exactly what Fantasia is doing...go to Broadway. That's where her performance skills and ability to take on whatever they give her will translate best. She can sell a story through her vocals and performance; but pop music, to a large extent, is based on the ability of the singer to sell herself, and she's got none of that ability.

[RedKingGold]

I think we are; however, we're coming from different backgrounds and understandings of music.

What is your background in understanding of music?

[Ksyrup]

What is your background in understanding of music?

More importantly, what does it even matter in the context of AI? I, for one, am not claiming that Melinda is lesser of a singer/performer than the other two, nor am I suggesting that I'm interested in buying any music put out by any AI performer. I'm looking at it solely from the perspective of TV show viewer and what the producers of the show ultimately hope to accomplish. If you're trying to put too much into critical analysis of TV show contestants, you've lost the plot of the show to begin with.

[wade moore]

More importantly, what does it even matter in the context of AI? I, for one, am not claiming that Melinda is lesser of a singer/performer than the other two, nor am I suggesting that I'm interested in buying any music put out by any AI performer. I'm looking at it solely from the perspective of TV show viewer and what the producers of the show ultimately hope to accomplish. If you're trying to put too much into critical analysis of TV show contestants, you've lost the plot of the show to begin with.

yes yes

[Vinatieri for Prez]

I actually do get it. Forced to buy and ticket and watch an hour of someone's show, I would go with Blake first by far, then Jordin, and last Melinda. I want to see a show, a performance, and Melinda brings none of that. Of course, if not forced to buy a ticket, I wouldn't go see any of them perform.

I have left out a discussion of CD sales (the non-visual/non-performance part) because AI is performance contest.

[Ksyrup]

Hadn't heard of this one before. Sounds kinda interesting.



<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=522 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD background=images/news_top.gif colSpan=3 height=42><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=522><TBODY><TR><TD><TD><TD vAlign=center height=42>KITTIE Attorney Serves 'America's Hot Musician' Cease-And-Desist Letter - May 21, 2007 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=regular bgColor=#9c9c9c colSpan=3><TABLE cellSpacing=10 border=0 cellpading="0"><TBODY><TR><TD>An attorney representing the band KITTIE served American Youth Symphony (AYS), producers of the upcoming television show "America's Hot Musician" a cease-and-desist letter for their use of clips from the band's video "All I Always Wanted" in the show's opening theme.

"America's Hot Musician" features former KITTE bassist Talena Atfield as one of its three judges.

AYS, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote instrumental music in the MTV/hip hop generation, says it was given permission to use the clips by Sheridan Square Entertainment, which owns licensing rights to the video, and has no plans to adhere to the cease-and-desist request.

"America's Hot Musician", the "American Idol"-like competition for instrumental musicians debuting on the Oxygen network in July, was scheduled to begin taping the first round in May, showcasing male and female musicians from all over the country playing a wide range of styles.

"America's Hot Musician" will feature clips from each of the judges in its opening theme. National Symphony Orchestra violinist Marissa Regni and Duke Ellington Orchestra trombonist Gregory Charles Royal also have featured clips. New audio tracks have been set to the clips for a cohesive musical theme.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Ksyrup]

I wanted to post this earlier, but I was laughing too hard to cut-and-paste this!



LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paula Abdul (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22Paula+Abdul%22&sid=breitbart.com) broke her nose over the weekend after she fell while trying to avoid stepping on her Chihuahua, her publicist said Monday.

Abdul was recovering from the mishap and will appear on "American Idol" Tuesday and its season finale Wednesday, publicist David Brokaw (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=brokaw&sid=breitbart.com) said.

"She's a little sore, but is doing fine," he said.

Abdul told the syndicated entertainment TV show "Extra" she tore cartilage in her nose and fractured her toe.

"I took a nasty fall ... trying not to hurt my dog. I bruised myself on my arm ... my chest, my waist all the way down to my hip. All from my little chubby Tulip," Abdul said.

The dog was not hurt, Brokaw said.

[wade moore]

You made my day.

[kurtism]

Man, I sure hope that David Brokaw is no relation to Tom. "Hey, nice work being Paula Abdul's publicist! Do you have the "Big Book of Drug Excuses" handy? I'm sure Grandpa Tom is very proud of you!"

[Ksyrup]

lol

[Toddzilla]

I'll step on the dog 20 times out of 10 in a situation like that.

[wade moore]

I'll step on the dog 20 times out of 10 in a situation like that. FWIW, my experience/reading would tell me that you SHOULD step on the dog in that situation... the dog needs to learn to move out of your way, not the other way around.

[Ksyrup]

A whole bunch of spoiler info from MJ re songs for tonight and appearances on tomorrow's finale. Note this is pretty early for this stuff, so I bet some of this will be revised between now and then.


Song Choices (Winner Single, New Song, Reprise)

Jordin Sparks

A Broken Wing by Martina McBride
Fighter by Christina Aguilera
Winner singleBlake Lewis

She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5
You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi
Winner singleThere will be one coronation song–the winning single of the Idol Songwriter’s contest, performed by both Blake and Jordin.

Chris Daughtry appears tonight to sing this year’s elimination song, “Home.”


Idol Guest Performers for the Finale:

Kelly Clarkson - may sing solo (”Never Again”) and duet
Carrie Underwood
Taylor HicksSongs from the Beatles catalog have been made available for tomorrow’s show. More on that as details arrive…

Rumors:

According to MTV (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1559904/20070517/doug_e_fresh.jhtml) Doug E. Fresh is in negotiations with Idol to appear on tomorrow’s show. His appearance has not been confirmed.
There will be no hometown parties (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0518B1-talker0518.html). The original plan was to have them, but the producers thought otherwise and cancelled them (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0518B1-talker0518.html).
According to Perez Hilton, there is buzz around Hollywood that Britney Spears will appear on the Finale. Hello trainwreck!
I’m pulling this from comments. The NY Post reports that the winners of the songwriting contest are two men (http://www.nypost.com/seven/05222007/tv/the_last_song_tv_michael_starr.htm). Americanidol.com has songwriter bios (http://www.americanidol.com/songwriter/index.xhtml) posted for all 20 contestants. The forum at Spinme.com (I’ll be posting something on the songwriter’s contest later…) has supposed insiders (http://spinme.com/bb/topic/178/page/29) who claim “This is My Now” written by Jeff Peabody and Scott Krippayne as the winning song. You can listen to it at the bios link (http://www.americanidol.com/songwriter/index.xhtml).

[Swaggs]

I wanted to post this earlier, but I was laughing too hard to cut-and-paste this!



LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paula Abdul (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=%22Paula+Abdul%22&sid=breitbart.com) broke her nose over the weekend after she fell while trying to avoid stepping on her Chihuahua, her publicist said Monday.

Abdul was recovering from the mishap and will appear on "American Idol" Tuesday and its season finale Wednesday, publicist David Brokaw (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=brokaw&sid=breitbart.com) said.

"She's a little sore, but is doing fine," he said.

Abdul told the syndicated entertainment TV show "Extra" she tore cartilage in her nose and fractured her toe.

"I took a nasty fall ... trying not to hurt my dog. I bruised myself on my arm ... my chest, my waist all the way down to my hip. All from my little chubby Tulip," Abdul said.

The dog was not hurt, Brokaw said.

I wonder what her BAC was when she was avoiding the dog. :)

[Mustang]

Hopefully Blake loses so he never has to sing that tripe again.

[Logan]

Is Chris Daughtry wearing eye makeup?

edit: Yes. Yes he is.

Can I have my admiration of him from last season back please?

[Thomkal]

They have just got to stop making these finalist sing these sappy songs about their journey, time is now, etc. That song killed any chance Blake had of winning this thing. What they need to do is take the last 4 or 5 left in the competition, sit them down with a team of songwriters, and work out their own individual song to sing in the finale. That way they can tailor to vastly different styles like Blake and the more traditional like Jordin. I think Simon said it best, best performance to Blake, best singing to Jordin.

And yes that was Chris Daughtry with eye makeup. What the hell was he thinking wearing that?

[Mustang]

What they need to do is take the last 4 or 5 left in the competition, sit them down with a team of songwriters, and work out their own individual song to sing in the finale.

Shit.. don't even have to do that. Not like Bon Jovi doesn't have a bank of 1,000 songs to pick out one for Blake.

[Mustang]

And yes that was Chris Daughtry with eye makeup. What the hell was he thinking wearing that?

Nothing really new.. thought he did that several times (If not all the time) during last season. :confused:

[Mota]

Blake for the loss!

I much prefer Blake to Jordin, but for his long term survival as a musician he has to lose tomorrow.

Jordin is the malleable generic pop star type that they can transform into anything they want to. But Blake has a specific style that he excels at, and judging by his potential first single tonight, it would be a horrible disaster as they'd try to bracket him into the generic mold, which he can't do.

So I'll cheer for Jordin to win it all, and I'll buy Blake's album when it comes out.

[Draft Dodger]

so, the clip of Jordin singing the 3rd song in the recap was not the same as her live rendition. do they always pre-record those?

and wow, Chris Daughtry has the gayest looking band of all time

[Ksyrup]

That was the clip of her singing from the dress rehearsal. They always do that with the last singer, since they don't have time to edit the clips before they show the recaps. Most of the time you can't tell the difference, but tonight was obvious because of her "verklempt moment."

I hope Pumpy was watching, because when they flashed a shot of Kathy Griffin, I lost it. The exchange between my wife and I went something like this:

Me: "Oh my God, that wasn't...?"
Her: "Yes, that was Kathy Whatshername."
Me: "Goddammit, now I'll have to wait 4 weeks for my next erection."
Her: Solid punch to my stomach
Her: "That was unnecessary!"
Me: "But I looked right at her! It's not my fault she's so ugly!"

[Crim]

Whaa? I missed the KG sighting. Gotta go watch again, and get my solo groove thing going...

[Joe]

so, the clip of Jordin singing the 3rd song in the recap was not the same as her live rendition. do they always pre-record those?

and wow, Chris Daughtry has the gayest looking band of all time

they've always done it that way since they have slow editors.

[Solecismic]

It seems like just yesterday that Amy Krebs and three other extras bid adieu as season six of American Idol opened. It's actually been 90 days, and we've experienced a lot, from Haley Scarnato's daring outfits, the Sanjaya phenomenon, the fated scatting of Leslie Hunt, the goatbleating of Chris Richardson, the rocky rocking of Gina Glocksen and the tired shouting of LaKisha Jones.

The true winner was Melinda Doolittle, who outsung everyone, week after week. She will have a long career, but she failed to grab the audience as is necessary in this competition. I think she would have won the audience vote had she broken out with a Whitney ballad last week, or something a little more in tune with today's youth. That's just the way American Idol works. It's not even upsetting, really.

The people still *want* to see good performances. If it were just about youth popularity, Sanjaya would have been standing next to Blake, and Daughtry wouldn't have been the one wearing the most eye makeup, as he was tonight. I had a girlfriend once who liked to layer that black mascara under the eyes. I never understood that. After a while it starts to cake a bit, and then instead of that intense eye contact, you're distracted by those little globs of fuzzy black stuff, and wondering if you should hand her a tissue.

And maybe that's what happened in season five. Daughtry has always made people a bit uncomfortable - like we always knew some day he would show up for an important performance, and someone would talk him into wearing heavy mascara, or a pink fedora, or an eye-patch, or maybe one of those handlebar mustaches loaded up with styling wax. Or even short-shorts and a halter top like Haley. Thirty years ago, Daughtry would have been the only straight guy among the Village People (at least they knew how to apply mascara).

Yeah, Sanjaya wasn't on stage tonight, nor was his sister. Melinda was in the audience, but that's okay. It was Blake and Jordin's night out, and that worked fine for season six, kind of a weak season overall, but the voters generally did well.

On to the final rankings.

1. Blake Lewis, Song 1 (Reprise of Bon Jovi week). This is Blake. This was his signature performance, where the drum noises are in context and he's producing as well as performing. I don't think there's a whole lot else to Blake, but he does this very well. Score of 89.

2. Jordin Sparks, Song 3 (Song Contest). This is the kind of sappy ballad she should be singing while she learns how to perform. It shows off her considerable talent without forcing the changes that give her trouble. It's a very even, predictable song that shows off her type of voice. Teenagers will find this "deep," and mutter generally approving comments. Score of 87.

3. Jordin Sparks, Song 2 (Country Week reprise). This was one of her best performances during the season. A difficult song that doesn't hit her trouble areas, plenty of power notes. I thought she stumbled a little bit, but was generally solid. Score of 85.

4. Blake Lewis, Song 2 (Maroon-5). Blake has such a good sense of what he can do, the only problem is that he is limited to simple tunes because he can't riff like the other top contestants. This was credible, but really shows that his future could be as the lead singer of a band, not as a soloist. Score of 81.

5. Jordin Sparks, Song 1 (Xtina Aguilera). I know why Jordin is drawn to these songs, she can riff with the big voices like Christina's. But she's not mature yet, and she has a lot of trouble with the changes and breathyness when she tries complex songs. There will be a day when she can perform a song like this with anyone. Today is not that day. Only 17, though. The reminder is more a taunt when it comes to a performance like this. Score of 77, still good.

6. Blake Lewis, Song 3 (Song Contest). He tried. Not fair, really. The song was written for a big voice like Jordin's. Blake's attempt just reminded me how crappy these song-contest songs are every year. If he wins, they should wave the requirement of him recording it. Score of 62.

Scores for the night: Jordin 83, Blake 77.

Scores of the season: Jordin 80, Blake 76.

Who should win: Jordin.

Who will win: Jordin.

Good night, everyone. Thanks for listening, and I'll likely be back with the season 7 writeups in February, just as I celebrate ten years in the game-writing business.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Now get back to work on FOF2K8 and the new dynamic coaching staff add-in and combo game with TCY. Thanks. :D

[path12]

Jim, I've enjoyed your commentary almost as much as your game.




Well, no. That's not true. But they've been entertaining nonetheless. See you next year.

[Lathum]

Put me in the camp that feels Blake got screwed by that last song

[WVUFAN]

I can't stand Blake. He ruined a perfectly good Bon Jovi song.

He doesn't deserve to win, since this isn't a "beatbox" competion, or whatever you call that foolishness he did tonight, it's a singing competition, and Jordin is clearly the better singer.

Blake shouldn't have gotten this far. Now, having said that, he'll win, because America seems to enjoy voting for the sucky singers (see: Soul Patrol last year)

[Arles]

This is shaping up to be the most lobsided lost since Kelly roadgraded poor Justin in the finale of season 1. Ironically, there are many similarities to the first season in the most consistent singer (Tamyra = Melinda) being voted off before the finale so that the fan base can have the "simple" distinction between the charismatic guy with a weak voice (Justin = Blake) and the young, out of nowhere marketable voice (Kelly = Jordin). In no way do I think Jordin is as good as Kelly, but the final 3-4 weeks are very similar in theme.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

it's a singing competition, and Jordin is clearly the better singer.


Once again, it's not a singing contest. It's an idol contest.

[Danny]

I hope Jordin wins and she deserves it after putting up a better showing than Blake for the finale. Blake is my favorite contestant and I thoroughly enjoyed many of his performances this season, but he would be better off finishing second for his potential career.

Also, I know she's only 17, but to me Jordin was the cutest contestant all season.

[wade moore]

Once again, it's not a singing contest. It's an idol contest.

It's amazing how many people don't get that.


All of that being said, I think Jordin will and should win. She had an amazing night and imo outdid Blake even without the sappy song. I've been a supporter of Blake all season, and I felt like he deserved to be here. But, I think Jording should win. And I stand by what I said a couple of weeks ago, I think Jordin could be up there with Underwood and Clarkson in post-Idol success - she just has so much upside.

Edit: Oh, and I also agree that Blake's career is probably better off with a 2nd place finish.

[RedKingGold]

Jim, I've looked foward to your comments every Wednesday morning, and you never disappoint. You've definitely got some Tony Kornheiser in you. ;)

I also agree that Jordin should win, and I think she has great potential as a future Whitney when she gets her vocal skills developed along with her pipes. Blake is a one-trick pony, but he does that one-trick extremely well.

Either way, it'll be kinda sad to see American Idol end. I feel like there's not much to watch on TV now for the next two months until football cranks up again.

[Ksyrup]

Jordin is going to win this in a landslide.

Even before last night, it seemed pretty obvious. Just from snippets here and there of AI fans and local stories about people who watch, it was all about Jordin. Seacrest won't be able to give one of those "After 100 million votes, it came down to a razor-thin margin" comments he's made in the past. Well, he can say that, but he'll be lying.

That contest song was so damn bad. "This is my now." I've already turned this into a catch phrase I throw around for no good reason. After Idol ended, I forget what we were watching, but my wife learned something that I thought was common knowledge, and she said something about not having learned it in high school. So I turned to her and said, "Well honey, that was then, this is your now." And we both had a good laugh.

I guess the music industry is comforted by knowing that when the current generation of shlock writers dies off, there are more waiting in the wings.

[Ksyrup]

But she's not mature yet, and she has a lot of trouble with the changes and breathyness when she tries complex songs.

Yep. I'd never heard that song until last night, but I thought she was terrible in the middle of the song. I don't know if it was the song's phrasing, her inability to keep up with the melody and catch her breath or what, but that was a mess.

I hope you'll come back for the AI band search show. That starts up in the fall. Something tells me it's going to fall flat on its face, though. But I'll take what I can get.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I hope Pumpy was watching, because when they flashed a shot of Kathy Griffin, I lost it.
Damn, I was watching, but I missed Kathy Griffin. I'm usually pretty good at picking out people in the crowd, too. Dag nab it.

[Ksyrup]

With someone that ugly, you don't pick her out. She picks you out.

[Pumpy Tudors]

With someone that ugly, you don't pick her out. She picks you out.
IF YOU KEEP DISSING KATHY GRIFFIN, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE

[Ksyrup]

BRING IT ON. JUST DON'T BRING HER.

[Toddzilla]

With Idol's constant parading of past losers (Elliot, Daughtry, Kelly Pickler, et. al), they are all but admitting that the competition in and of itself is meaningless. Just getting into the final 10 is enough to make you a star - provided you have some talent.

And did anyone see Melinda in the audience when Jordin was singing the last song? She was standing in front of Chris, and she looked like a zombie again - pretty much the same as last week when Maroon 5 was performing.

[Ksyrup]

Interesting thought from a buddy of mine who does a funny as hell summary of each AI show on his blog:


"Now, the Songwriting Winner. Ladies and gentlemen, the fix is in. Scott Krippayne and Jeff Peabody have submitted “This is My Now”. Now, keep in mind everyone thought Melinda would make the finals. Also note her background in singing backup on Christian records. Note that Jordin has toured with Michael W. Smith. Note that Phil, Chris Sligh, Melinda, Jordin, and LaKisha have all cited, sang, or mentioned a church music background.

Scott Krippayne is a Christian singer/songwriter who has performed for years. He has written for numerous other artists as well. Seems a little too coincidental, no? Also recall the rumors that the contest was flailing not even six weeks ago. Furthermore, didn’t we hear there would be a song written for EACH finalist? I know I heard that somewhere…I guess Krippayne is on the “E” list, since he’s seated behind Kathy Griffin."


I also thought his take on Jordin was pretty dead-on:

"Jordin Huxtable is next, with Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter”. At first, I think it’s a good choice – she hasn’t really nailed a modern song yet. The song is a bit too fast for her, she’s trying to keep pace with it throughout. She doesn’t quite sell the attitude it needs, but she comes close. It’s weird, she’s like a combination of two previous top 12 performers – she’s half Lisa Tucker, the precocious 17 year old wunderkind, and half Mandisa, the likeable, pretty, big girl who has a gospel voice. Randy says “the voice was stellar”, Paula echoes that, and Simon states “it was great for you to choose a younger song, but a bit shrieky in the middle – round one to Blake.” "

[wade moore]

I hope you'll come back for the AI band search show. That starts up in the fall. Something tells me it's going to fall flat on its face, though. But I'll take what I can get.I intend to watch. I never watched the Rockstar show, but this one intrigues me because it is whole bands rather than individuals.They show Sligh in the previews, I wonder if he is eligible to bring his band on the show?

[Ksyrup]

Updated spoilers for tonight. Not all of these can be true, and dear God, I hope the Sanjaya rumor isn't!

EDIT: I'm updating the rumors here, instead of posting them separately. Some of them are contradictory, as more info (or new false rumors) appear.


Guests for tonight, according to this article (http://www.starmagazine.com/american_idol_finale_green_day/celebrity_news_gossip/entertainment/12093)

Green Day is the ”surprise” guest
Gladys Knight - internet rumors have her performing a medley with the top 12 girls
Smokey Robinson - internet rumors have him performing with the Top 12 guys
Joe Perry (guitarist for Aerosmith) - internet rumors have him performing a Beatles medley with the Top 12
Tony Bennett will perform
Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks will perform.
In an interview this morning, Taylor Hicks said that he would be performing a Sgt. Peppers medley with the Top 12 (with Joe Perry on guitar, perhaps?). Taylor will also be performing his single, “Heaven Knows.”
Nigel Lythgoe said in an interview on Good Day LA that Peter Noone would sing a medley of Herman’s Hermits hits (was he kidding?).
According to MTV (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1559904/20070517/doug_e_fresh.jhtml) Doug E. Fresh is in negotiations with Idol to appear on tomorrow’s show. His appearance has not been confirmed.
Lakisha Jones said on a radio interview this morning, that ONLY THE TOP 3 will get to sing duets with special musical guests.
There will be no hometown parties (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0518B1-talker0518.html). The original plan was to have them, but the producers thought otherwise and cancelled them (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0518B1-talker0518.html).RUMORS:

Melinda Doolittle performs with Bebe and Cece Winans
Jordin Sparks performs with Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Anika Noni Rose
According to this article (http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=107594&ac=PHnws), Sanjaya Malakar will sport short, platinum blonde hair tonight, and sing a duet with Steve Perry, former lead singer of Journey.
According to Perez Hilton, there is buzz around Hollywood that Britney Spears will appear on the Finale. Hello trainwreck!EDIT:
TMZ has learned that Kelly — and all winners from seasons past, except Fantasia — will be back performing on the “American Idol” stage for tonight’s finale.

Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks are headed to the Kodak Theater, but Fantasia Barrino won’t be, since she is headlining Oprah Winfrey’s production of “The Color Purple” on Broadway.

Sources tell TMZ Gladys Knight will perform “Midnight Train to Georgia” with the top six female finalists, while Smokey Robinson will join the top six male finalists for a rendition of “Ooh Baby Baby.” Most recently booted finalist Melinda Doolittle will sing with brother and sister gospel duo BeBe and CeCe Winans, while the hairiffic Sanjaya duets with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry to the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” It’s sure to be an unbeweavable night!

Beat-boxing finalist Blake Lewis will show off his mad skillz against rapper Doug E. Fresh, and then duet with fellow finalist and probable winner, Jordin Sparks, to the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There.” Since producers were able to finally get clearance to use Beatles music, a medley of Fab Four hits will be performed as well.


Randy Jackson will play bass on the Sanjaya/Perry duet

Sanjaya will play Paula in a Idols/Judges skit.

Someone also said the old guy (Sherman Pore?) that auditioned would appear - he has released an album

[Ksyrup]

Look at the jump these songs took!


Songs featured on Idol this past week:

1 Maroon 5 “Makes Me Wonder” 163908 (25%) 715397
41 Maroon 5 “This Love” 20913 (365%) 855512
183 Thicke “When I Get You Alone” 6223 (999%) 18566

[Ksyrup]

This really isn't a spoiler, so I'm just going to post it here:


ETA: Somebody gave me the heads up: They are pre-taping one of the bands today, it looks to be a last-minute deal. From the email:
We are taping a performance by a VERY special, surprise band and tickets are FREE. This pre-tape will be aired as a segment of tonight’s finale.

The taping is at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and the arrival time is 1:30 PM.

[CraigSca]

omg, the Stone Roses re-formed for AI?!

[Young Drachma]

So when did the Idol final day turn into an awards show? Pretty elaborate. But I guess with all of those folks watching...it makes sense.

[MJ4H]

Last year.

[MJ4H]

At least the second best won this year. Unlike last year.

[Young Drachma]

That Jordin girl is really....tall?

[Young Drachma]

Oh heavens....this bothers me. A lot.