It’s been a sad few days here on the home front because we lost a beloved pet. Rest in peace to our German Shepherd, Soldier - ten years was not long enough. My Kid Tru is still broken-hearted and not really into Idol right now.
Ryan starts the show in black and white then it quickly morphs like the wonderful land of Oz into color. It’s Motown Night, wow surprise. I don’t think they’ve done this one. (I need a sarcasm font.) Expect lots of repeat-o songs because they do Motown every season.
The judges are lovely as always and take forever to walk from stage to judges' table. Jennifer is a pretty ballerina Barbie doll come to life.
Ryan reminds us that this summer there will be a tour but only ten can go. Tonight is very important because the last one standing will not get to go on the tour and will miss out on a lot of cool things like making money and having panties thrown at them.
We see a background about Motown and Berry Gordy who started this legacy with 800 bucks and a dream. A blend of R&B and soul, awesome music with real singing. Not an autotune in sight for this musical era.
Ryan teases Randy about being old, but thankfully he doesn’t call Jen out on her blue eyeshadow. (J.Lo, 1970s called and said thank you for the comeback.)
The crowd goes completely wild for Steven Tyler to his delight. His lovely daughter Liv is in the audience. Always and forever known to us as the lovely elvin Arwen.
Okay Top 11. “Here we are now. Entertain us!” (Yes the Nirvana song is still stuck in my head from last week.) They sure are dapper-looking tonight indeed.
Casey looks less like Yukon Cornelius with his hair slicked back. They show him working with the producer and he sounds really good in the studio. He is doing that California Raisins song. Almost from the start we notice two things - he has lost a lot of weight, and he is not taking advice about dialing back the growl. The thing with Casey is that he is IN the moment and he feels it; he is a true performer. This is worlds better than the performance last week. This song has been done great (Fantasia) and poorly (that Chicken Little guy.) Casey works the crowd and has a complete orchestra backing him up on stage. ST loves his crazyass "out of control ego," Jen says he’s THE GUY and Randy says his YOU is great. Ryan teases him about the gal in the audience. (She looks 12.) It’s a fun, energetic way to start the show.
Shout out to some old Aerosmith dude, then Ryan introduces Thia. I found out this week that she was on America’s Got Talent a couple of years ago, so I watched some clips. She showed 1000 times more spunk and personality than she has on American Idol so far. Her performance of “I Am Changing” on AGT was excellent, resulting in Sharon Osborne giving her a standing ovation. Tonight she’s doing “Heat Wave” and though she’s not Linda Ronstadt, she has certainly stepped up her game. Compared to JHud and the fabulous Vonzell she is lacking though, and she noticeably flubs the lyrics a bit. The judges are thrilled that she is taking more chances, and it was very nice to see that she has had a “loosen up” chip installed. Yes I know I should STHU. Thia did fine tonight which is good because we are stuck with her.
In the audience - the actress who played in Bring it On and that vampire movie when she was a little girl, what is her name? Will google later.
I really do adore Jacob and am proud of him for freely admitting that he is a church-going boy. Jimmy is concerned that Jacob is going to go all melismatic on a Marvin Gaye song. We have to give props to the backup singers as they start the “All I Need to Get By” part gently. Jacob brings all of his tricks to this performance but he keeps it simple, for him. Jen is bouncing in her seat. This is definitely the best that I remember him doing, and I like his low-then-one-high note at the end. When he’s done, ST goes on stage to give him a hug and calls him Baby Luther. Randy loved it more than anything in ten years. It is really nice that he reeled it in and they are delighted. It’s especially sweet when he gets a hug from his grandma, then in a WTH moment, Ryan tells the whole front row to come up and hug him. Girls only!
Country gal Lauren is up next and she still lacks energy during her interview, but she's a goofball in the studio. Her producers picked “You Keep Me Hanging On,” and she relates this to how she’s not gonna let the negative chatter bring her down. Anti cyber-bullying. Reminder to America that she is just a child. And a very gorgeous one tonight - she looks like DJ Tanner at the prom. Lauren starts the song slowly then revs it up. Not as original as the Blake Lewis spin but good. She struts right out to sing to Randy but ignores ST completely. I guess she really does read the message boards and is listening. Thank you internet. This is the best I remember her doing and she is singing her heart out to those haters. Jen likes her attitude and Randy reminds us that the girl they loved in Nashville has her "swagger on high" tonight.
Ryan is on the chat stools with Stefano, or as he says SteFAno. The cute singer talks about his mom cooking for the group, and Ryan even gets garlicky leftovers. Watch out Ms. Langone, that mean cooking show guy is in the audience. Stef is thrilled at doing Motown as that is his niche, but why is he doing a song that’s brand new to him? Jimmy is concerned that Stef is going to go all Broadway on “Hello.” They should have retired this song after David Cook did it back in his very good day, as Ryan reminds us. He also reminds Stef to keep his eyes open. Stef stays true to the Lionel Ritchie version but he puts a boy-band spin on it. This guy has a great voice for sure, but it’s coming across as shallow as his chin hair. The judges notice this too (the disconnection, not the peach fuzz.) Jen lectures him for a thousand years about it.
Indeed, Ryan jokes with the British cooking show guy who is an asshat. Thankfully we quickly segue to a legend in a ball cap named Otis, who is impressed with the festivities so far.
We are reminded that Haley is a habitual bottom 3-er, but she says “young'en” in her interview clip and I am won over. In the studio she sounds great singing the Smokey Robinson song “You Really Got a Hold on Me.” Hopefully her confidence will be up since she is comfortable with this genre. I don’t recognize Haley at first because her hair is straight. Before the contemplation of hair irons, we must assess the outfit; it’s like a combination of head waiter and hooker. This is most definitely the best we’ve heard her sing; it was her “wheelhouse.” Randy is glad that she has finally got the growly-bluesy sound back and compares her to Janis Joplin. ST gives us an impromptu concert much to everyone’s delight. Jen says that she is the girl version of Jacob. Haley is thrilled with the praise and has a cute Sally Field moment.
On the chat stools with Ryan, we learn that Scotty can make a basketball shot from the 3rd floor window of the mansion. They have the footage to prove it. What in the world will Scotty do with Motown? Why he will do himself some Stevie Wonder and it will have a twang, but that is okay. Scotty is very mature in his interviews, such a likable young guy. Jimmy thinks that we will enjoy Scotty’s version of “For Once in My Life.” He starts out on the stairs and looks dashing in all black. He definitely puts a country spin on classic R&B, but he pours his heart into the song. The crowd goes wild at the last couple of low notes. ST compares him to Glen Campbell. Jen and Randy don’t think it was his strongest vocal; Randy is funny with his “lady killer note.” Ryan’s teasing goes over Scotty’s head, but that’s okay, he’s just a boy.
The Flashdance lady is in the audience. Then it’s time for Pia. I have been trying to figure out what it is about her that is just “off.” She is gorgeous, sings perfectly, she’s not bot-like, dresses well, she has a nice attitude. The whole package is wonderful, so why can’t I remember her from one minute to the next? Maybe I will get the answer tonight because she is doing a slow song, “All in Love is Fair.” On the plus side, she performs more heartfelt that Kat McPhee did back in her day. On the other hand, it’s a ballad. Again. By the time she sings that last note, it hits me that we are missing a key ingredient – she is not living the words that she’s singing. Steven is literally yawning. The judges really want more than BALLADS from her also, and they have confidence that she can bring it. I do also because I really like her.
We are reminded again how much we love Seacrest when he is all adorable with a little girl. Then he tells us that Paul will be playing guitar during his performance tonight. I am really glad that for one night there will be no two-step chicken-arm combo. Paul is doing “Tracks of My Tears.” I have always loved the Linda Ronstadt version of this best. With the guitar, Paul is definitely a sexier performer but his voice is still not growing on me yet. I keep going back to his website and listening to his original songs. The backup singers don’t really blend with him either. Maybe someday he can come back and visit the show with the Grand Magnolias. Randy admires Paul’s guitar more than anything but still thinks he’s cool. Dial down the quirk and bring us more tender. ST is reminded of everyone from Dylan to Nelson.
Ryan is thrilled that Randy hasn’t said the word “pitchy” yet tonight. They’ve all done really well, but we still have Naima. She is going to put an African spin on “Dancing in the Streets.” My favorite version of this is the Jagger/Bowie cheese fest. I have high hopes for Naima tonight and really hope she does well. Her recordings have sounded so much better than what she brings on stage. You can tell that she is concentrating more on staying in tune and she sounds better. Even in the horrid bell-bottom pantsuit, she brings pizzazz and is a natural performer. She saves her “look at me I’m dancing crazy” to the end when the African drums join her on stage. The judges are loving them some exciting Naima. Ryan compares it to a mash-up of Idol and Nigel’s dancing show. (Not the one with Kirstie Alley, the other one.)
James does a funny Dr. Evil “million dollars” face which makes me like this guy more. He gives his all while recording and working with the producers. His version of “Living for the City” by Stevie Wonder makes us forget that Taylor Hicks ever did this song. We’re glad that they saved this for last because James is a real showman. He brings just the right amount of soul, screech, and swagger to the stage. Jen OMGs for a hundred years as the crowd goes crazy. ST has the look of “wow that was me 100 years ago.” James really is "serious business" as Jen says. Then she and Randy argue about “pockets” or some such. ST likes that James is crazy because that is what it takes to nail this competition sometimes. Go Durbs!
The recap reminds us that it was forever and a day ago that the show began. I do believe that this was one of the best episodes I’ve ever seen of American Idol. Not a single contestant totally blew it. I can tell it was good because my puppy did not flee the room in terror even once! Jennifer gave excellent and useful critique to everyone tonight. And not a single Paula-ish "seal clap."
Quotes galore from tonight:
ST (about Motown music): It made me want to make out with girls.
Randy: The great Berry Gordy is somewhere saying “oh my God!”
ST: You ripped that song another beauty mark didn’t ya?
Ryan: I’m on a picnic.
Randy (to Stefano): Ryan and you, you know…
Ryan: Randy with all due respect we're gonna cut your mic off at this point.
ST: You don’t look a day over fabulous.
Ryan: Is the voice inside your head that low as well?
Ryan: It’s important that you see the couture, Randy.
Ryan (re Paul's pin): Cougar vote!
Based on tonight’s performances, there’s no one that should really go home tomorrow, plus they each have something special to bring to the tour. Even Ryan thinks so… I’m off to vote vote vote for my favorite folks!
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