Tonight the Top 11 performs and this time they have a mentor (and I use that word loosely). It’s Miley Cyrus. Okay, I get that Miley is a pop star and most of these contestants are trying to be pop stars, but couldn’t they get someone who isn’t a teenager? Couldn’t they find someone who has lived a little bit? In the past, mentors have been icons or heavies in the music industry. Tonight, it’s Miley Cyrus who is trying to prove she is not her Disney character and has grown up. Okay, enough b*tching. Tonight’s theme is Billboard Number Ones. It was going to be Teen Idols, but producers changed it. I’m thinking the songs of Teen Idols pretty much s*cked. Anyhow, on with the show…AFTER THE JUMP.
Tonight is really important because only the Top 10 go on the Idol tour, so the person getting cut tonight does not make the tour. Ouch!
We see the taped piece on Miley who has sold 15 million albums, so I have to give her props for that.
First up, Lee DeWyze — “The Letter” by Box Tops — I think Lee changed up the song a bit too much for me, but the camera shows Kara really getting into it. I’m a fan of Lee’s, but not of this performance. It’s just an odd, jazzy arrangement. Randy says, “You knocked it out of the box.” Ellen says, “That was fantastic.” Kara says, “You raised the bar for yourself. I’ve never heard you sound better.” Simon says, “That was not a recording performance. That was you doing something quite corny…that doesn’t define you as a temporary recording artist.” I agree with Simon.
Paige Miles — “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins — Paige has a very rough start to this song. I don’t think her voice has completely healed from her bout of laryngitis. When she hits her high notes she sounds great, but the low notes are killing her. I think this may be the last week we see Paige. Bad performance. Randy says, “That was honestly terrible.” Ellen says, “You look stunning and I am going to turn over the music critique to Kara and Simon.” Kara says, “It was the worst vocal I have ever heard from you and possible of the season.” Simon says, “It was like five of you singing that song and it got progressively worse each one…I think you are in serious trouble tonight…I think that song has just killed you.”
Tim Urban — “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen — Tim reminds me of someone I would see on a cruise ship. He’s good looking, but his performance is just good… not great, not memorable, just good. He does some stage runs, but it doesn’t make his performance stand out. At least he is on pitch. Randy says, “The dopest thing you did was the slide. The vocals were so boring.” Ellen says, “It was corny. It was pushed too hard.” Kara says, “It was Zach Efron in Hairspray…you didn’t do much with [the song].” Simon says, “It was completely utterly pointless and silly.”
Aaron Kelly — “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith –Aaron Kelly will have a very successful country music career. This 17-year-old has such a great voice. He puts his own spin on this Aerosmith classic even with laryngitis and toncilitus. He’s a contender. Randy says, “I love the way you sang that first verse. I’m a fan.” Ellen says, “That was a perfect song choice for you…I see your career already.” Kara says, “Best song choice of the night…week to week you really know how to pick a song that accentuates your voice.” Simon says, “It was very brave…there is zero chance that you are going to go home.”
Crystal Bowersox — “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin — You just have to love Crystal. When she opens her mouth her voice is so silky. Singing comes so effortlessly for her. This is a great rendition of this song. Randy says, “That’s what’s called being a star…dude, that’s what it’s about.” Ellen says, “We wanna see a little more connection.” Kara says, “Would you ever consider putting the guitar down?” Crystal says, “…I have big plans for next week.” Simon says, “I wouldn’t change anything… I have heard Pink sing that song…and that was as good as that.”
Michael Lynche — “When A Man Loves A Woman” by Percy Sledge — I have said this before, thought I don’t know if I have said it here, but Michael Lynche reminds me of a young Luther Vandross. He has such a soulfulness to his voice. He’s another contender. Randy says, “I loved it.” Ellen says, “I did feel like it was sort of a safe choice…and this woman loves that man.” Kara says, “Technically, it was really good…and I just felt it was a bit boring and loungy.” Simon says, “It was almost too much…you made it very loungy.”
Andrew Garcia — “Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye — Andrew butchers this classic. Ugh! Marvin Gaye had a smoothness to his voice. Andrew doesn’t have that. Plus, he is not playing the guitar so he has no idea what to do. He is pacing back and forth and its distracting. His enunciation is too hard too. I don’t think the judges will like this. I don’t. Randy says, “It wasn’t good, man. It was the wrong song choice.” Ellen says, “That was not enough to get a whole bunch of people on board.” Kara says, “You’re chasing that moment and it’s messing with your head..I don’t know what to do with you.” Simon says, “The arrangement was horrific. You sucked the soul out of that song…and ruined one of the greatest pop songs of all time.”
Katie Stevens — “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie — I think Katie makes a great effort, but her voice seems a little high for this song. Fergie sings it in a lower key and Katie gets a little pitchy because she is singing it in a higher key. Not her best performance. Randy says, “It was a little sharp, a little pitchy, a little all over the place.” Ellen says, “I think it was your best performance so far.” Kara says, “This is the lane for you, pop with R&B leanings…this is where you belong…you still have mad pitch issues.” Simon says, “I think you meeting Miley Cyrus was probably the best thing that could have happened to you.”
Casey James — “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & The News — I’ve never been a fan of this song, but Casey does it justice. He kind of sounds like Huey Lewis. I think the judges may chide him for not really doing anything new with the song. It feels like a safe performance. Randy says, “I wasn’t a fan of the song choice, but you definitely did it well.” Ellen says, “I think it was the best vocal of the night.” Kara says, “You are just on another level, it’s all there.” Simon says, “I don’t know what you are listening to, Kara. He didn’t make it current. He did an identical version.” I agree, Simon.
DiDi Benami –“You’re No Good” by Linda Ronstadt — Simon always talks about being current and trying to avoid being old fashioned. This 1974 hit sounds like its from 1974. It ages Didi. Toward the end she changes it up a bit, but it feels very old to me. Randy says, “I love the idea of it…just the pitches were ahhhhh.” Ellen says, “I don’t get the song choices tonight.” Kara says, “I felt like you were playing a character…it didn’t feel like it was you.” Simon says, “It’s sort of an irony you screeching out ‘You’re no good. You’re no good. You’re no good…’ It sucked the life out of you.”
Siobhan Magnus — “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder — Now THAT is how you take an old song and make it current. WOW! I’ve said it before, Siobhan is a dark horse in this competition. Amazing performance. Randy says, “You are so fearless…I loved it, man.” Ellen says, “You are just so good.” Kara says, “You express yourself every time you perform.” Simon says, “You need to start with the scream at the beginning next time…it’s becoming your thing.”
PREDICTION TIME: Paige Miles has run out of luck after tonight’s performance. I like her a lot, but that vocal was hideous tonight. If not Paige, Andrew Garcia, but I am going with Paige.
Results tomorrow night. Miley Sirus performs and so does Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato. Until then… MENDHEIM OUT.