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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The Top 6 Go All “We are the World”


April 24, 2007

Tonight is the Very Special Episode that we have been waiting for all season… The one where Ryan does not shave. Nah, just kidding. It is time for Idol to Give Back.

Stubble-sporting Ryan is in serious-mode as he describes that every vote will generate $$ donated to charity. At least 5 million dollars will be given from the company that owns AI. The sponsors, including Coke, Ford, and AT&T, will be giving money as well.

We are shown scenes from the heartbreaking trip that Simon and Ryan took to Africa. How is it that these broken children are so amazingly beautiful? Maybe it is because they belong to God. While watching this montage, it is hard to believe that it’s real. And while the show has received a lot of criticism that they are only doing this “for show,” I say who cares? No matter that 5 million bucks to these people is about what they pay in valet parking. The important thing is that they are raising the money. Doesn’t really matter why.

Tonight the contestants will be singing “songs about compassion and hope.” No coach/mentor will be shown with the kids tonight.

Chris is up first and he’s doing the Eric Clapton song “If I Could Change the World.” He is wearing a nice tie and jacket and pants that look like something from a construction job site. Ugh. I so do not get this look. Amazingly enough however, Chris actually sounds good tonight. I know, I couldn’t believe it either. Randy likes the singing and the jacket. Paula says she is excited that Chris gave a good performance. Simon is reminded that Chris has “good potential” and for the first time in forever, gives him a good review. For once, Timberfake does not have to defend himself which is kinda cool.

Ryan toots the horn of myspace.com and reminds us that we can not vote until the show is over. While “Waiting on the World to Change” plays in the background, we get to see a visit that Randy made to hurricane-ravaged Louisiana. Then quick clips of visits to Kentucky, Arizona and Atlanta are shown. This is just enough to make me sob a bucket of tears; it breaks my heart to see children hurting.

Melinda cheers me up though, as she always does. She does a Faith Hill song that I don’t know called “There Will Come a Day.” She looks more elegant tonight than ever and sounds fabulous. Toward the end of the song, the lyrics speak of “every knee will bow” and the “glory of His amazing grace.” Watch out, Simon will hate this since it mentions God. Randy calls her the “resident pro” and says she has “arrived.” (Dawg, she arrived back in January, where you been?) Paula is like, what else is new – “you are magical.” Simon proves that he is not the devil (Alec Baldwin is), by telling Melinda that it was a “vocal master class.” Ryan reminds Melinda to not look surprised which is getting old. Funny moment when he asks Simon to button his shirt and Simon tells him to stop ogling him. Shhhh, don’t get in trouble guys.

Ryan reminds us to vote vote vote vote vote! We need to raise money money money money money! Then he’s on the spaceship stool with Blake, who talks about the sacrifices he’s made to be on the show. My Kid says awwww when he says he misses his family.

Tonight Blake is doing “Imagine,” the old John Lennon song. Since I am not a Beatles purist I could care less that Blake dares to do this song. Oh please. Right before I take a nap, I realize that Blake looks sort of like our IT guy at work. My Kid wakes me up when the song is over; she thinks the he did GREAT. Randy thought it was “just okay man.” Paula disagrees and says that she liked the “sensitive performance.” Simon plays the comparison card, not surprisingly. But in the end he thought Blake did well. It is rather evident that they do not want a guy to win this year, perhaps because last year’s male winner was not as successful as they predicted. Hmmm, but the 4th runner up was wildly successful, yes? Oh snap! There will be hope for Blake as he is cute and marketable.

Ryan teases us with the line up for tomorrow night’s Even More Special Episode. He then shows us a montage of a feeding center in Africa as “Love Will Build a Bridge” plays in the background. The combo of hungry children and country music gets me teary again.

Then LaKisha tells us that she is singing the Fantasia song, “I Believe.” Yeah, THAT Fantasia. Okay so massacring the hit song of season four’s winner was not bad enough? Now we gotta hear her take Ms. Barrino apart? “Oh no you dit’int!!” can be heard all across America tonight. This chick is either setting herself up to lose, or she is so arrogant that she thinks she is just as good as previous winners. And even though she looks fantastic in a long black gown, I can not STAND to hear her sing this song. Ugh. I tell My Kid that her hair is in the exact style as Kiki’s and she immediately shakes it out. Randy expresses puzzlement at the song choice but he kinda liked it. To paraphrase, Paula says that she knew Fantasia. Fantasia was a friend of hers. And YOU LaKisha are NO Fantasia. Simon calls her shouty again and tells the audience to shut up. Ryan takes up for his main girl, so hmmmph.

So now it is Phil’s turn on the spaceship stools with Ryan, talking about what he misses most about home. Well duh, it’s his two daughters, you know the second one whose birth he missed to audition?

Tonight Phil is singing the Garth Brooks song called “The Change.” At the risk of being Repeat-o gal, I am not a fan of country music. But I have to say that country is definitely Phil’s element. He sounds better than Barf (er I mean Garth) on this song and he is sharply dressed, looking good. He does not sound country tonight; he has more of a Broadway vibe going. Randy says that he is “happy with Phil” doing country. Paula says he “found his comfort” and that this was his best performance. Simon likes Phil (he really does) but wants him to keep with the country style. Phil’s pretty wife is cheering from the audience.

Ryan reminds us that we have people right here in America that don’t have enough to eat. Then we see a video of Simon visiting a food bank that is located 20 minutes from where he lives. The song that Blake sang awhile back plays in the background, “Somewhere Only We Know.” Simon seems a thousand more times excited about this food bank than he ever has about judging AI contestants.

Last performer tonight is beautiful Jordin, who sings “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” a song that I used to perform when I was a teenager. Have to say that I was never half as good as this young lady. She is great even though her voice is somewhat shaky in spots. It is probably because of the emotional tone of the show tonight, and she is a compassionate girl. At this point, I want her to win the competition this year. I love Melinda, but Jordin has the whole package. You can certainly tell that the judges are promoting her marketability with their over praising. Randy says it was one of the “best AI performances EVER,” which is not true, dawg. Paula says it was “haunting” and “it swells.” (?) Simon makes fun of Paula and then tells Jordin that she could have a hit record with that old song. Ryan gives Jordin his necktie to supposedly wipe her tears in a part-awww and part-weird moment.

Recap time and it is clearly the best night vocally of the season so far. Everyone sang very well and there is really no one to wish “poof be gone.” If I had to choose who should leave, I would say Rosie O’Donnell but wait, that is a different show.

Melinda was the best as usual with Jordin a very close second. Very good show tonight. I am once again proud to be an American (“where at least I know I’m free”) Idol fan.

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