Previously on...
Last week Chikezie Eze got the boot, which I reported in a special results essay here. It wasn't a shock but after this week's efforts did any of you find yourselves wondering what kind of spin he would have put on a Dolly number had he been given the opportunity?
Just me? Ok, then.
Welcome to Dolly Daycare.
Since she has no actual children, Dolly Parton thinks of her songs as her children. It helps explain her sweet approach to each of the Top 9 contestants this week. I mean, Dolly said she doesn't like to critique other singers because she herself is a singer, but I think she was reticent to overly critique those who were being given temporary custody of her offspring. It was like she was dropping each child off at a new daycare center and she wanted to ensure no-one had a reason to mistreat them.
And it worked, sort of. While few of the Top 9 excelled, nobody ritually murdered their song either. All kiddies were returned safe & relatively sound to their mother at the end of the working hour.
Dolly arrived to cheers and whoops, then led the gang in a rousing couple of lines of that "9 to 5" song. She really was quite adorable in the way she halted the number, and even I couldn't help but smile. And over the course of the evening, I realized that she's penned a number of songs I quite like. Not enough to buy an album's worth (only Patsy Cline has earned that kind of recognition from me.) But enough to enjoy the hour's worth of performances. She's also very petite, which I only appreciated when seeing her standing next to the mostly tiny contestants.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Usual procedure. It's all based on my enjoyment of their performances.
1. Carly wisely chose "Here You Come Again," a song Dolly did not write herself, but recorded in an effort to help advance her career. Carly's voice sounded the strongest it ever has and the performance sold the story of the song. Good country songs tell a story in an interesting way. I remember this song from when Dolly herself released it, and I have to say I actually enjoyed Carly's version more. I didn't recall Carly's wardrobe until Simon brought it to my attention. Either the camera stayed glued on her face, or I was so caught up in her singing that I forgot to notice her outfit. I really believed in and enjoyed this performance. Well done, girl! She should win back many fans this week. Randy commended her, Paula used the word 'glorious' for the first but not the last time and while Simon thought it was good, he specifically said it was not great. As you can see, I disagreed. But he then went on to draw our attention to what turned out to be another fairly hideous outfit, which the cameras had not shown us during her 1:30 performance. Although it wasn't as bad as last week, I was calling for Carly to get herself a new wardrobe stylist LAST week. Simon, you're behind the curve on that one. Simon & Ryan fought like an old married couple about something the topic of which I couldn't remember 3 seconds after it happened.
I do take issue with Simon's comment that the audience tunes into the show expecting fabulous performances. No way. HOPING, maybe. We are hoping for a single fabulous performance, but I for one learned many seasons ago to NOT expect them. In any event, this week Carly's performance was the best. I really hope she wooed enough votes to steer well clear of the Bottom 3. Her scores from me so far: 4, 2, 7, 1.
2. David Cook chose one of Dolly's favorites and she complimented his voice as beautiful. He arranged "Little Sparrow" himself rather than borrowing from someone else, if indeed there is anyone else from whom to borrow. It sure didn't sound at all like a country song, which d'uh. That's what David Cook does, and why he has the fanbase he has. There was a little bit of indistinctness, dare I say slurring of some words, but it worked. I liked this performance very much, but I didn't realize until I looked back over the full set that I liked it a lot more than most of the others. He is in fact second only to Carly's performance. I put hers higher perhaps because it was more of a surprise. Randy called it hot and consistent. Paula liked the haircut and oh yeah, the performance was fantastic. (Paula's commentaries are more embarrassing than anything else. She basically reiterates what Randy says, only less articulately.) Simon gave kudos for making a song about sparrows good. David's scores of 3, 7, 1, 2 are similar to Carly's, but the main difference is that he's put together a solid fanbase and is going from strength to strength, whereas she seems to be fighting for her life on the show.
3. Michael Johns closed the show. Many of the contestants said something about how exciting it was to stand in front of Dolly singing one of her songs to her and um.... Since he placed the highest, I'm reporting it for him. Dolly said of Michael she hopes he becomes a star because she thinks she could write some good songs for him. OooOOoo she didn't say that about any of the others! Wow, eh? That's very interesting praise indeed. It distracted me from the beginning of the performance, so busy was I tippy-tapping to record the information. But I did note he gave the song a kind of bluesy feel with his delivery, which I enjoyed. The only part of "It's All Wrong But It's Alright" I didn't care for was the flourish at the end. It felt hokey and derivative and detracted from the momentum he'd been building up during the song. But that middle was solid, and so he earned this ranking. Randy called the performance blazing hot, a bit of an overstatement, while Paula took the opportunity to stroke Dolly's ego saying they're great melodies and that's what makes the songs pop or sizzle or something. Simon called it an interesting night, declaring, "This is the best I have heard you." 8, 8, 2, 3 reflects my feelings about him: he started weak in the competition but definitely has become stronger.
4. Jason Castro got to chit-chat with Ryan, who had a fistful of postcards from the same girl. Lame. Dolly thought highly of Jason's song choice. As he sang I had to agree that "Travellin' Thru" suited him perfectly. It summed up his whole attitude to this competition. He had his guitar again, and he did a credible job of singing & playing. Kudos for not becoming distracted by the business of playing a song he had just learned. I agreed with Randy that Jason was shaky at the beginning but settled in by about half-way through the song. Even Paula made sense when she said his voice sounded rich. Simon didn't like it at all blah blah blah. He said he doesn't get Jason. Well, either you're a fan of Jason's or you aren't. I am, Simon isn't, enough said. 7, 5, 5, 4. are Jason's scores from me and clearly his continued presence in the competition is reflective of a fairly solid fanbase. However, he did land in the Bottom 3 last week, and this performance, while pleasant, was probably not enough to reap him enough new fans to keep him out of the Bottom 3 this week. I do hope that he's safe again but I recognize that his time is growing short. Plus, he doesn't seem to care whether he stays or goes. The voters tend to pick up on that sort of thing.
5. Brooke White chose "Jolene," another choice with which Dolly agreed. Brooke played her guitar, accompanied by an interesting assortment of musicians including a guy on fiddle. Dean wanted to be sure I made a note of the fact that she did not yodel. I thought she looked especially pretty this week, although her arms are looking a bit thin. Is she eating enough? Randy found pitch problems, which he balanced with a a slew of "aiights." Paula was lucid enough to recognize Brooke White was Brooke White, but disoriented enough to forget that we knew it already. Simon likened the group of musicians to a mis-matched busking outfit. Oh well. In my view, Brooke has been working the middle of the crowd all season long. She IS pleasant, amenable, sweet, adorable, but in the final analysis I don't see her capable of winning this season. She has yet to produce a stellar performance in my view, although a lot of people gave her top marks for "Let It Be." My scores for her so far: 6, 5, 4, 5.
6. Kristy Lee faced a big choice this week. So many country songs, but only one she could choose. Why did she choose a song Dolly told us she wrote as a true life song about her own mother? The performance of "Coat of Many Colors" was quite lovely actually, but it wasn't outstanding. I found myself wishing she'd found a different dress, one that evoked the outfit of the song. Of course if she had, she probably would have been told it was too corny and received a full panning from the judges. But that's what her performance seemed to evoke the need for. She's kind of literal, is what I'm driving at. Randy declared this genre her "wheelhouse," but him saying so doesn't make it so. What I mean is, her singing was lovely, she looked good, but she didn't shine. She needed to be in the #1, 2 or 3 spot this week to have had a solid chance to win enough new fans to carry her much farther. As Simon said, it was pleasant but forgettable. He was also the first to say that last week's was her greater performance. 12, 11, 6, 6. I think she's made up a lot of ground, and she MIGHT avoid elimination but I won't be surprised if she's in the Bottom 3 or if she goes home.
7. Syesha took on "I Will Always Love You," a song best known for having been performed by the great goddess Whitney. Oy! That's strike one. Dolly pronounced strike two: "She's a pretty girl AND a good singer." Uh oh, that's a Paula-ism, to mention looks first, and ability second. And yet
. Seated on the piano, Syesha delivered strike three in the form of the first verse, "If I stay,
I'll only be in your way"?!!? UH OH, I'd forgotten how much these lyrics sound like a swan song. Large notes at the end of the song received
somewhat rousing applause but will they be able to save her? I doubt it, because this is Syesha's m.o. She always pulls out a few big notes after a so-so
minute and 20 seconds. Randy alluded to the biggest tiger/elephant in the room, but concluded Syesha did aiight. Paula talked about velvety textures and
growing. Simon thought the first part was good, but the second part paled in comparison to the Whitney version. I have to disagree. She wasn't quite as
good as Whitney, true, losing a little steam on the penultimate note, but I wouldn't say she paled by comparison. I
thought overall she acquitted herself nicely. I just don't know if it was enough.
Her scores reflect my taste: 6, 1, 3, 7. On their face they don't look bad. The trouble with these scores is that her 6 was out of 12 contestants, which was middle of the pack, and this 7 is out of 9, near the bottom. Last week me putting her near the top was out of step with the voters, since she landed in the Bottom 3. Things look dire for Miss Syesha.
8. "Ramiele picked a cute little song," said Dolly. "She picked a horror of an outfit," said I. May I say that I did not care for her outfit at all, accentuating as it did her thick legs. She has the legs of a much taller woman, which legs have been squashed down and simply seem to be too big for her. Why does she have such a tenacious fanbase? Her voice disappeared, as it usually does each week, behind the arrangement but then peeked out again. Her performance of "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?"didn't even feel like it was building, but rather as though reception was intermittent. Randy said he wasn't jumping up and down but he wasn't mad at her either. LOL. I agree in a way. How can I be mad at her if this song gets her booted thereby saving other contestants whom I like more? Paula thought it was a great minute and thirty seconds. Something about the spelling out of how much time Ramiele took to sing her song reminded me of how interminable it truly was. Simon's cruise ship analogy got a dusting off and a hauling out: "We aren't gonna remember this in 10 years' time." 10, 9, 9, 8 reflects the fact that I just don't care for her, but she seems to have a fanbase so she is probably not going to be in danger despite yet another mediocre outing.
9. DAVID ARCHULETA is once again at the bottom of my list. This week .. as promised... David gets his own forest of animated creatures.
Big thanks to Sigvold for the chop.
David's song was a bland dull number entitled "Smoky Mountain Memories." I probably would be put to sleep even if David Cook sang it. However, he would not choose a song like this in the first place. Dolly said she thinks Archilizard has the voice to become a great singer. She waxed melodramatic listening to his rehearsal. I gave him a chance to wow me, and I suppose it was technically a good performance, but meh. Yawnies. He's just not my cuppa. He's not an exciting young singer, he's dull. Everything feels studied, artfully chosen to appeal to the grown-ups and kiddies alike. He CAN sing; I just don't like it. Randy exulted it was the best o' the night. Paula used the word "glorious" again and even Simon babbled, dollar signs in his eyes. Archilizard's lip-licking seemed to be under control, but this performance was pap. The Pimpmobile may have been in full force but I wasn't feelin' it, dawg-dude. The more they pimp him, the less I like him. 9, 4, 10, 9.
Sing HEY! For The One-Hour Show!!
After the final contestant sang, the judges had to hurry with their comments. Ryan didn't even finish repeating the numbers because Dean and I scooted over to our next television appointment watching Hell's Kitchen. I have to say I love Love LOVE IT when there is just enough time for the performances and hardly any time for stupid crap and dumb fighting.
BOTTOM 3 PREDICTIONS
Gawd. I don't know. I keep putting Ramiele in the Bottom 3, and she keeps slithering through with a fanbase the size of Texas or something.
Okay, I reckon my lil sweetie Jason will have failed to win new fans, Syesha will fall victim to the Whitney Curse and Kristy Lee will also be in the Bottom 3. I WISH Archilizard would land here but he won't, not for a while. He seems destined to make Top 5 (puke).
So, Jason, Syesha, & Kristy Lee. Maybe Syesha will be sent back to safety and Kristy Lee will be eliminated. That's my guess, not that I'm happy about it. then again, I won't be happy with these three comprising the Bottom 3, but what can you do? I'm trying to be right this week, as opposed to "voting my heart." As long as my real favorite (David Cook) is safe, I won't be unhappy.
Let's face it - this is not JUST a singing competition, nor JUST a popularity contest. It's a combination of the two. Those who last longer in the competition are probably appealing to more of the music-buying public. I say "probably" because the voting is a function of tenacity as much as anything. Just because a bunch of teens and 20somethings are willing to push buttons for 2 solid hours does not mean the singer who will sell the most product will be chosen.
Nor am I saying that the winners every season always turn out to be non-starters. We know that some winners do very well, other winners seem to have disappeared into their niche-genres. More important, many who last from this point onwards do have a chance at a solid career in the genre of their choice.
But funnily enough, of all my picks, I'm least convinced that Kristy Lee really cares about a music career. Something about the song she chose makes me think she is just treading water in her life, waiting for her future husband to come along and help her make a family. Then she can get busy sewing clothes for her kids and teaching them to sing. I do not have the impression that Kristy Lee cares about being a professional singer. If the public picks up on her ambivalence, they won't save her. She should have SHONE this week, and she didn't. She was simply pleasant. That's not enough.
Thanks for reading. See you next time.
* * *
Fans of Survivor - enjoy my weekly essay on the Half-Ass Season in the S16 forum, here.
Check out Sir Links A Lot American Idol for more articles and recaps for this show.
Last week Chikezie Eze got the boot, which I reported in a special results essay here. It wasn't a shock but after this week's efforts did any of you find yourselves wondering what kind of spin he would have put on a Dolly number had he been given the opportunity?
Just me? Ok, then.
Welcome to Dolly Daycare.
Since she has no actual children, Dolly Parton thinks of her songs as her children. It helps explain her sweet approach to each of the Top 9 contestants this week. I mean, Dolly said she doesn't like to critique other singers because she herself is a singer, but I think she was reticent to overly critique those who were being given temporary custody of her offspring. It was like she was dropping each child off at a new daycare center and she wanted to ensure no-one had a reason to mistreat them.
And it worked, sort of. While few of the Top 9 excelled, nobody ritually murdered their song either. All kiddies were returned safe & relatively sound to their mother at the end of the working hour.
Dolly arrived to cheers and whoops, then led the gang in a rousing couple of lines of that "9 to 5" song. She really was quite adorable in the way she halted the number, and even I couldn't help but smile. And over the course of the evening, I realized that she's penned a number of songs I quite like. Not enough to buy an album's worth (only Patsy Cline has earned that kind of recognition from me.) But enough to enjoy the hour's worth of performances. She's also very petite, which I only appreciated when seeing her standing next to the mostly tiny contestants.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Usual procedure. It's all based on my enjoyment of their performances.
1. Carly wisely chose "Here You Come Again," a song Dolly did not write herself, but recorded in an effort to help advance her career. Carly's voice sounded the strongest it ever has and the performance sold the story of the song. Good country songs tell a story in an interesting way. I remember this song from when Dolly herself released it, and I have to say I actually enjoyed Carly's version more. I didn't recall Carly's wardrobe until Simon brought it to my attention. Either the camera stayed glued on her face, or I was so caught up in her singing that I forgot to notice her outfit. I really believed in and enjoyed this performance. Well done, girl! She should win back many fans this week. Randy commended her, Paula used the word 'glorious' for the first but not the last time and while Simon thought it was good, he specifically said it was not great. As you can see, I disagreed. But he then went on to draw our attention to what turned out to be another fairly hideous outfit, which the cameras had not shown us during her 1:30 performance. Although it wasn't as bad as last week, I was calling for Carly to get herself a new wardrobe stylist LAST week. Simon, you're behind the curve on that one. Simon & Ryan fought like an old married couple about something the topic of which I couldn't remember 3 seconds after it happened.
I do take issue with Simon's comment that the audience tunes into the show expecting fabulous performances. No way. HOPING, maybe. We are hoping for a single fabulous performance, but I for one learned many seasons ago to NOT expect them. In any event, this week Carly's performance was the best. I really hope she wooed enough votes to steer well clear of the Bottom 3. Her scores from me so far: 4, 2, 7, 1.
2. David Cook chose one of Dolly's favorites and she complimented his voice as beautiful. He arranged "Little Sparrow" himself rather than borrowing from someone else, if indeed there is anyone else from whom to borrow. It sure didn't sound at all like a country song, which d'uh. That's what David Cook does, and why he has the fanbase he has. There was a little bit of indistinctness, dare I say slurring of some words, but it worked. I liked this performance very much, but I didn't realize until I looked back over the full set that I liked it a lot more than most of the others. He is in fact second only to Carly's performance. I put hers higher perhaps because it was more of a surprise. Randy called it hot and consistent. Paula liked the haircut and oh yeah, the performance was fantastic. (Paula's commentaries are more embarrassing than anything else. She basically reiterates what Randy says, only less articulately.) Simon gave kudos for making a song about sparrows good. David's scores of 3, 7, 1, 2 are similar to Carly's, but the main difference is that he's put together a solid fanbase and is going from strength to strength, whereas she seems to be fighting for her life on the show.
3. Michael Johns closed the show. Many of the contestants said something about how exciting it was to stand in front of Dolly singing one of her songs to her and um.... Since he placed the highest, I'm reporting it for him. Dolly said of Michael she hopes he becomes a star because she thinks she could write some good songs for him. OooOOoo she didn't say that about any of the others! Wow, eh? That's very interesting praise indeed. It distracted me from the beginning of the performance, so busy was I tippy-tapping to record the information. But I did note he gave the song a kind of bluesy feel with his delivery, which I enjoyed. The only part of "It's All Wrong But It's Alright" I didn't care for was the flourish at the end. It felt hokey and derivative and detracted from the momentum he'd been building up during the song. But that middle was solid, and so he earned this ranking. Randy called the performance blazing hot, a bit of an overstatement, while Paula took the opportunity to stroke Dolly's ego saying they're great melodies and that's what makes the songs pop or sizzle or something. Simon called it an interesting night, declaring, "This is the best I have heard you." 8, 8, 2, 3 reflects my feelings about him: he started weak in the competition but definitely has become stronger.
4. Jason Castro got to chit-chat with Ryan, who had a fistful of postcards from the same girl. Lame. Dolly thought highly of Jason's song choice. As he sang I had to agree that "Travellin' Thru" suited him perfectly. It summed up his whole attitude to this competition. He had his guitar again, and he did a credible job of singing & playing. Kudos for not becoming distracted by the business of playing a song he had just learned. I agreed with Randy that Jason was shaky at the beginning but settled in by about half-way through the song. Even Paula made sense when she said his voice sounded rich. Simon didn't like it at all blah blah blah. He said he doesn't get Jason. Well, either you're a fan of Jason's or you aren't. I am, Simon isn't, enough said. 7, 5, 5, 4. are Jason's scores from me and clearly his continued presence in the competition is reflective of a fairly solid fanbase. However, he did land in the Bottom 3 last week, and this performance, while pleasant, was probably not enough to reap him enough new fans to keep him out of the Bottom 3 this week. I do hope that he's safe again but I recognize that his time is growing short. Plus, he doesn't seem to care whether he stays or goes. The voters tend to pick up on that sort of thing.
5. Brooke White chose "Jolene," another choice with which Dolly agreed. Brooke played her guitar, accompanied by an interesting assortment of musicians including a guy on fiddle. Dean wanted to be sure I made a note of the fact that she did not yodel. I thought she looked especially pretty this week, although her arms are looking a bit thin. Is she eating enough? Randy found pitch problems, which he balanced with a a slew of "aiights." Paula was lucid enough to recognize Brooke White was Brooke White, but disoriented enough to forget that we knew it already. Simon likened the group of musicians to a mis-matched busking outfit. Oh well. In my view, Brooke has been working the middle of the crowd all season long. She IS pleasant, amenable, sweet, adorable, but in the final analysis I don't see her capable of winning this season. She has yet to produce a stellar performance in my view, although a lot of people gave her top marks for "Let It Be." My scores for her so far: 6, 5, 4, 5.
6. Kristy Lee faced a big choice this week. So many country songs, but only one she could choose. Why did she choose a song Dolly told us she wrote as a true life song about her own mother? The performance of "Coat of Many Colors" was quite lovely actually, but it wasn't outstanding. I found myself wishing she'd found a different dress, one that evoked the outfit of the song. Of course if she had, she probably would have been told it was too corny and received a full panning from the judges. But that's what her performance seemed to evoke the need for. She's kind of literal, is what I'm driving at. Randy declared this genre her "wheelhouse," but him saying so doesn't make it so. What I mean is, her singing was lovely, she looked good, but she didn't shine. She needed to be in the #1, 2 or 3 spot this week to have had a solid chance to win enough new fans to carry her much farther. As Simon said, it was pleasant but forgettable. He was also the first to say that last week's was her greater performance. 12, 11, 6, 6. I think she's made up a lot of ground, and she MIGHT avoid elimination but I won't be surprised if she's in the Bottom 3 or if she goes home.
7. Syesha took on "I Will Always Love You," a song best known for having been performed by the great goddess Whitney. Oy! That's strike one. Dolly pronounced strike two: "She's a pretty girl AND a good singer." Uh oh, that's a Paula-ism, to mention looks first, and ability second. And yet
. Seated on the piano, Syesha delivered strike three in the form of the first verse, "If I stay,
I'll only be in your way"?!!? UH OH, I'd forgotten how much these lyrics sound like a swan song. Large notes at the end of the song received
somewhat rousing applause but will they be able to save her? I doubt it, because this is Syesha's m.o. She always pulls out a few big notes after a so-so
minute and 20 seconds. Randy alluded to the biggest tiger/elephant in the room, but concluded Syesha did aiight. Paula talked about velvety textures and
growing. Simon thought the first part was good, but the second part paled in comparison to the Whitney version. I have to disagree. She wasn't quite as
good as Whitney, true, losing a little steam on the penultimate note, but I wouldn't say she paled by comparison. I
thought overall she acquitted herself nicely. I just don't know if it was enough.
Her scores reflect my taste: 6, 1, 3, 7. On their face they don't look bad. The trouble with these scores is that her 6 was out of 12 contestants, which was middle of the pack, and this 7 is out of 9, near the bottom. Last week me putting her near the top was out of step with the voters, since she landed in the Bottom 3. Things look dire for Miss Syesha.
8. "Ramiele picked a cute little song," said Dolly. "She picked a horror of an outfit," said I. May I say that I did not care for her outfit at all, accentuating as it did her thick legs. She has the legs of a much taller woman, which legs have been squashed down and simply seem to be too big for her. Why does she have such a tenacious fanbase? Her voice disappeared, as it usually does each week, behind the arrangement but then peeked out again. Her performance of "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?"didn't even feel like it was building, but rather as though reception was intermittent. Randy said he wasn't jumping up and down but he wasn't mad at her either. LOL. I agree in a way. How can I be mad at her if this song gets her booted thereby saving other contestants whom I like more? Paula thought it was a great minute and thirty seconds. Something about the spelling out of how much time Ramiele took to sing her song reminded me of how interminable it truly was. Simon's cruise ship analogy got a dusting off and a hauling out: "We aren't gonna remember this in 10 years' time." 10, 9, 9, 8 reflects the fact that I just don't care for her, but she seems to have a fanbase so she is probably not going to be in danger despite yet another mediocre outing.
9. DAVID ARCHULETA is once again at the bottom of my list. This week .. as promised... David gets his own forest of animated creatures.
Big thanks to Sigvold for the chop.
David's song was a bland dull number entitled "Smoky Mountain Memories." I probably would be put to sleep even if David Cook sang it. However, he would not choose a song like this in the first place. Dolly said she thinks Archilizard has the voice to become a great singer. She waxed melodramatic listening to his rehearsal. I gave him a chance to wow me, and I suppose it was technically a good performance, but meh. Yawnies. He's just not my cuppa. He's not an exciting young singer, he's dull. Everything feels studied, artfully chosen to appeal to the grown-ups and kiddies alike. He CAN sing; I just don't like it. Randy exulted it was the best o' the night. Paula used the word "glorious" again and even Simon babbled, dollar signs in his eyes. Archilizard's lip-licking seemed to be under control, but this performance was pap. The Pimpmobile may have been in full force but I wasn't feelin' it, dawg-dude. The more they pimp him, the less I like him. 9, 4, 10, 9.
Sing HEY! For The One-Hour Show!!
After the final contestant sang, the judges had to hurry with their comments. Ryan didn't even finish repeating the numbers because Dean and I scooted over to our next television appointment watching Hell's Kitchen. I have to say I love Love LOVE IT when there is just enough time for the performances and hardly any time for stupid crap and dumb fighting.
BOTTOM 3 PREDICTIONS
Gawd. I don't know. I keep putting Ramiele in the Bottom 3, and she keeps slithering through with a fanbase the size of Texas or something.
Okay, I reckon my lil sweetie Jason will have failed to win new fans, Syesha will fall victim to the Whitney Curse and Kristy Lee will also be in the Bottom 3. I WISH Archilizard would land here but he won't, not for a while. He seems destined to make Top 5 (puke).
So, Jason, Syesha, & Kristy Lee. Maybe Syesha will be sent back to safety and Kristy Lee will be eliminated. That's my guess, not that I'm happy about it. then again, I won't be happy with these three comprising the Bottom 3, but what can you do? I'm trying to be right this week, as opposed to "voting my heart." As long as my real favorite (David Cook) is safe, I won't be unhappy.
Let's face it - this is not JUST a singing competition, nor JUST a popularity contest. It's a combination of the two. Those who last longer in the competition are probably appealing to more of the music-buying public. I say "probably" because the voting is a function of tenacity as much as anything. Just because a bunch of teens and 20somethings are willing to push buttons for 2 solid hours does not mean the singer who will sell the most product will be chosen.
Nor am I saying that the winners every season always turn out to be non-starters. We know that some winners do very well, other winners seem to have disappeared into their niche-genres. More important, many who last from this point onwards do have a chance at a solid career in the genre of their choice.
But funnily enough, of all my picks, I'm least convinced that Kristy Lee really cares about a music career. Something about the song she chose makes me think she is just treading water in her life, waiting for her future husband to come along and help her make a family. Then she can get busy sewing clothes for her kids and teaching them to sing. I do not have the impression that Kristy Lee cares about being a professional singer. If the public picks up on her ambivalence, they won't save her. She should have SHONE this week, and she didn't. She was simply pleasant. That's not enough.
Thanks for reading. See you next time.
* * *
Fans of Survivor - enjoy my weekly essay on the Half-Ass Season in the S16 forum, here.
Check out Sir Links A Lot American Idol for more articles and recaps for this show.
