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By PopSavant | February 19, 2008 | 
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Hi everybody, and welcome to the new season of American Idol. Sure, we already had the auditions and Hollywood week, but now the real fun begins. Read my version and offer your own comments along, hope you enjoy it.
- Ryan Seacrest is first up, telling us that this is the most talented group ever. Don’t they always say that?
- Ryan introduces the guys… most talented? Maybe. Most media savvy, certainly. They all had a professional smile and wave for the camera. Does anyone get onto this show now and not get a media makeover?
- Randy says he’s seen more originality from “the dudes” than previously, and encourages them to “keep it real.” Paula says that they have to pick the right songs and “have a blast.” Simon’s looking for personality, originality, and “you’ve got to sing well.”
A commercial break before any actual show content… no wonder the premier is two hours. Still, with all the advertising dollars saved up during the writer’s strike, why not?
- Ryan’s plugging itunes… like maybe you haven’t heard of it.
- David Hernandez – David’s first up, led off by an emotional video clip. His song is In The Midnight Hour
by Wilson Pickett. Very good opening, then his voice gets a little shaky. Feels like a case of nerves. He blows the last few notes. Randy says it fell apart at the end, and to watch the phrasing. Paula says the first contestant out is nerve-wracking… “I feel for you,” but “you have brilliant vocals,” and “perfect vibrato” (Paula’s definitely hearing something different than I am; she heard vibrato, I heard shaky) Simon says that David did better than he expected, but that he needs to “loosen up” and that he didn’t hear anything unique.
- Chikezie – Chekizie’s and his immaculate goatee take the stage, singing More Today Than Yesterday
by Spiral Staircase… and he sounds awfully flat from start to finish. Randy calls it “pretty good,” then sighs and says Chikezie’s a bit old-fashioned; it was “al’ight.” Paula calls him a throwback to great R&B, and that he’s “infectious.” Simon says he “absolutely hated the whole performance,” and they get in a brief argument about men’s fashions. Chikezie’s trying to make it light, but he’s glaring daggers at Simon. Chikezie says it was 60’s night and he’s “taking a genre and taking it to another genre in the same era”… whatever that means.
- David Cook – says it’s nice to have people outside his usual circle tell him that he “doesn’t suck” comes out in a ridiculous untucked-shirt-vest-and-tie look and gives us the Turtles’ Happy Together
which he starts out on a moody note and then tears into, rock style. Feels like he’s rushing it, but he’s generally doing well in a Bo Bice sort of way. Best of the night so far. Randy says it was “crazy,” and that he “worked it out.” Paula says “it was a bit worthy… of great praise. You rocked it.” Simon thought it was “good,” but that David shouted it a bit in the middle (Simon’s right.)
- Jason Yeager – takes the stage looking boy-band cute, and sings Moon River
from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
, going for the whole smoky jazz club thing. It’s a great choice of song, and does well. Randy says “it’s a tough song to sing… tougher than you probably thought,” and advises him to never lose his concentration, to “stay in it.” Paula concurs, and says she did her first ballet recital to the song. Jason says it’s sentimental for him too, that his grandmother taught it to him. Simon rolls his eyes and says that he bought his first puppy to that song, and that the performance was very “cruise ship”, and that the song will confuse the young audience. Simon says Jason’s like a “dependable old dog,” … though how he can be called dependable after the first show is a bit unclear. In the Ryan interview segment afterwards, Jason said that he’s had vocal coaches warn him about being a bit too cabaret… interesting, because his performance did scream “vocal coaches.” He also went for the emotional vote, mentioning both his young son and dead grandmother… and he didn’t need to, he did very well on his own.
- Robbie Carrico – tells us that he was once with a group that toured with Britney, but that he really wants to be a rocker; apparently that includes dressing up like Axl Rose. His choice is One (Is The Loneliest Number)
by Three Dog Night. This song is all chorus, which is a good thing, because whenever he goes off of the chorus it’s not as good. Randy says Robbie “moved him,” Paula thinks he’s “authentic” and that the vocals were “right in the pocket.” (I disagree with Paula; I got a crafted, rather than authentic vibe.) Simon says that Robbie had the only performance that had a “semblance of making sense.” Simon doesn’t quite buy the authenticity, and questions whether or not he’s a pop singer or a rock singer. Robbie says he’s definitely not a pop singer, then says “I can sing anything,” … which I’m not sure is the answer an authentic rocker would have given.
- David Archuleta channels a little bit of Anthony Michael Hall in his interview, then gives us Shop Around
by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, during which the impression disappears. He’s energetic and confident, but I thought the vocals weren’t up to snuff; he was too breathy and occasionally lost in the backup music and singers. However, Randy says it was “really brilliant,” and that he loved it. Paula says it was a “brave and bold choice,” that he’s an “older soul” and he did a great job. Simon says that it was the best performance of the night. David goes on to garner tons of cuteness votes in his interview with Ryan.
- Danny “Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That” Noriega - promises to bring us “hot” “swagger and attitude,” by way of Elvis’ Jail House Rock
which Danny does dressed up like Elwood Blues with a Pat Benatar haircut. He hits it right off and never lets up; it’s a good performance start to finish, he exudes energy tonight. Randy says it was both “cool” and “kinda hot.” Paula says it was “almost scalding,” but that it was a “safe song” that allowed him to strictly be a performer. Simon says that he doesn’t understand a word of what Paula says, but that the performance was “hideous,” bordered on the “grotesque,” and that he “destroyed an Elvis Presley song.”
- Luke Menard – sings Everybody’s Talkin’
, Harry Nilsson, from Midnight Cowboy
. He’s wearing a Bill Belichick-style hoodie… at least he’s dressed for traveling if it turns out to not stick around. It’s a drifty, unremarkable performance, the kind that makes you think it goes on much longer than it actually does. Randy says it’s “not great,” Paula thought it was not the best song choice and is glad that she’s heard Luke sing other things previously. Simon is particularly harsh, saying that Luke fell into the most dangerous trap of all, that of being forgetable.
- Colton Berry – who told us earlier that he thinks he looks like Ellen DeGeneres, and that he has a background in theater now tells us that when he’s nervous he sings the theme from the Teletubbies; hopefully he’ll restrain himself with a microphone in his hand. He does, instead giving us Suspicious Minds with an earnest, wide-eyed look. It’s moderately competent, but suffers from the absence of the big, sweeping, fat-Elvis-style resonating choruses… nothing you’d actually buy on a CD. Randy says it’s a great song, that it was “all in all, pretty good” which is faint enough praise. Paula says that Colton gave it “an eager and fun attempt,” more faint praise. Simon says that it was “okay… better than the other Elvis performance,” but that Colton hasn’t shown him any relevance in relation to the current music charts… “a complete waste of time” and that he thinks people should spend more time worrying about their vocals than their hair.
- Garrett Haley – Seacrest warns us Garrett looks like Peter Frampton; I see that, I also get a little bit of David St. Hubbins’ girlfriend from This is Spinal Tap.
Garrett’s looking forward to “showing himself to the world,” and he does so by offering us his version of Neil Sedaka’s Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Another unremarkable performance… shaky, flat vocals, he tries to pull it out at the last minute with a big finish, but to no avail. The performance was all steamy looks with little content. Randy agrees, saying that he didn’t do anything with the song, and that it was “boring.” Paula suggests that next time Garrett tell the music director that he wants to do the song differently – quite a bold suggestion for a young singer on his first show to actually follow. Simon says that Garrett looks like he’s been locked in his haunted bedroom and needs some fresh air. (I agree with Simon, give Garrett a couple years of rock star success and he’ll have the 1980s heavy metal junkie look down pat.)
- Jason Castro – It’s nice to talk about a Castro not named Fidel today. Jason tells us that how his whole life he’s stayed in the back, shying away from everything – quite a feat with a set of dreadlocks like he sports. He sings Daydream
by The Lovin’ Spoonful. This was, to me, far and away the best of the night, the only one that made me stop blogging and say “wow.” Randy was less impressed, saying it didn’t blow him away. Paula said it did blow her away, and her voice is almost cracking with emotion as she talks (Ah, the first sign of the verge-of-a-breakdown Paula from seasons past after a reasonably stable night) Simon says that it’s one of the two best of the night, and that it was “terrific.”
- Michael Johns – he comes from a land down under – I pray to all that I hold holy that Men at Work is the guest artist before the season ends – and he’s good looking, too. I’ll be surprised if he blows it this early. He comes out singing The Doors’ Light My Fire.
Michael does his best job channeling Jim Morrison, but unfortunately there was only one Jim; this is not a knock on Michael, but it was just a dumb thing for anyone to try to do, it’s just not possible. You’d have to strike out in a different direction to really do this song in a memorable way. Still, he does more than enough to stay in tonight. Randy says that he was “the bomb tonight, that was hot.” Paula says it was a “great, great ending,” and that he “set everyone on fire.” Simon says that he’s the “most consistent contestant” and that he has the natural charisma of a lead singer. So the judges disagree with me… go figure. 
The girls sing tomorrow night, and the bottom two from each show leave on the results show Thursday. Based on tonight, my pick for the bottom two guys would be Luke and Colton. Garrett deserves a spot here too, but cuteness will keep him in.
That’s it for tonight. See you next time.
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Topics: American Idol, TV | 1 Comment »
Comments
February 21st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Hi,
Im thinking Colton and Chikezie will be the two going home.
I already think David A will be the next Idol (I know,… I pick early!)
with Michael Johns and Carly at least in the top 5 with him