American Idol Does Country Night

Hey, it’s another week of America’s favorite Karaoke show.  It’s about 8:30 now, so I’ll give my DVR another 10 minutes before I start my weekly report. But I can tell you it’s Dolly Parton night so, it’ll be a miracle if I’ll make it through tonight’s installment.  But mercifully, it’s only an hour episode, so I should be able to speed through this in about 20 minutes.  While I wait, I’m going to take a Super Mario Galaxy break, I’m stuck on a level that is starting to frustrate me.

Ok, it’s now time to watch the show. First let me say, I just hate these star weeks, there’s something wrong when you have these major stars willing to sell their souls to be on Idol. Remember last year when one of them – I forget who said Sanjaya was a powerhouse? Ish.  So there’s no point in watching Dolly talk about how wonderful everyone is.

First up is my favorite Idol of this year’s crop – Brooke White. I don’t know any Dolly Parton songs, so I’m not even going to try and guess what this is. But as Randy would say Brooke is laying it down. Brooke is definitely the dark horse in this competition. She has a good – not great voice, but she’s been really smart in her song choices. She just has such a generic look and personality.  Randy thought it was ok, who cares what Paula says, and Simon hated it.

Hmm..It’s time for David Cooke, he won me over last week with Billie Jean.  Tonight he’s doing a song called Little Sparrow.  I’m digging this, he gave it a slow rock arrangement. I’ve never heard the original, so I don’t know how different it is. But this is nice, I can hear this on the radio. David is definitely the Daughtry of this year’s competition.  Judges loved him.

Now it’s time to snooze, Ramiele Malubay is up.  How has this no talent, boring hack come this far.  But hey, she’s doing an upbeat tune. She does look great this week, but her voice still sucks. She’s in tune, but there’s no power behind it and seems like this song needs it. At least it’s an up-tempo track. Randy thought it was ok – 6 1/2 out of 10.  Once again, who cares what Paula says. Simon thought it was a forgettable cruise ship performance.

Weird dreadlocks guy Jason Castro is up.  I have to admit I kind of like him, even though he is boring. But he’s different. He’s doing some Traveling song. It’s not bad. He’s trying to hard to be this generation’s Paul Simon. It’s a decent but forgettable performance.  Randy and his standard started rough, but “you worked it out.” Again who cares what Paula says (does she dislike anything?).  Simon said this is where he loses his pass to Dollywood. I love all of Simon’s “Simonisms.” He hated it.

Carly Smithson is terrible tonight. Bad, boring song choice. Didn’t match her voice at all. She does get to hit a high, long note that will probably wow the judges. Randy loved it. Can’t believe the Judges are going gaga over this tripe. Simon brings reality back to the show saying it was good, not great and then dissed her outfit. Ryan asks Simon what’s his problem tonight and if he likes country music.  Simon has been on point all night. All of these performances are just ok, but nothing that makes you go Wow.

It’s David A, the kid who I cannot stand. I’m just going to skip to the Judges slobbering all over themselves.  As predicted they went goo goo calling him the best of the night. Whatever. Kristy Lee Cook is up, this is her genre so she should hit this out of the park.  I don’t particularly like her but she definitely has that country twang down. I think she’s the best tonight. Wow, Simon is hating everything this week, said it was pleasant but forgettable and he’s right.

S’yesha is showing guts and entering the danger zone doing “I Will Always Love You.”   It’s starting off pretty good.  It’s technically good, but lacking the emotional punch that Whitney and even Dolly gives it and her high notes is definitely pitchy and off key. Randy thought it was ok.  I really dislike Paula. Starting to hate Randy as well. Simon said exactly what I did, first part good, 2nd part pales in comparison to Whitney.

Michael Johns closes the show, he’s another one that I just don’t get. His performance is terrible, song boring as hell, but it did have a great end. What the hell? My stupid Tivo cut off before I can hear the judge’s pronouncements. Oh well, I’m sure they loved it. Since they’ve been hyping him throughout the contest. Overall, pretty bad night. I think S’yesha is heading home this week. The number one Idol maxims is – You don’t do anything by the wholly trinity Whitney, Celine, or Mariah unless you can really kill it. Every contestant whose ever tried – at least in the last 3 years that I’ve been watching, ends up getting the boot. I think the curse will hold here. But Jason is also in danger, for some reason Ramiele is going to last a few more rounds even though she should have been gone weeks ago.