Idol Idol Damn

[koganbot]

Got home late, watched 'em all on YouTube, Brooke, David, and Jason are still the only three I care about, Syesha ran her voice 'round several ferris wheels and impressed the judges but not me, Ramiele lost her voice and the judges sympathized and I couldn't tell the difference, Michael Johns sang "We Are The Champions" with no swish but with volume, judges thought it was a breakthrough, Kristy Lee Cook actually found a way to be husky and OK on "God Bless The USA," though she's still a mediocrity, Chikezie went for smoke and lust but doesn't have the voice for it, Carly Smithson's pipes are just too rigid to make "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" sing, as it were, but I liked her for pulling out all the stops, and I'll be sad if this is her swan song but am afraid that the judges may have swayed voters to give Kristy and Michael one more chance. So:

Brooke White "Every Breath You Take": False start, then she's fine, quietly lets the intensity of the song speak through her, then the accompaniment rushes in and whooshes her away and wrecks the mood. The judges were spot-on for once, though the first part of this was still better than anyone else on the show can do.

David Archuleta "You're The Voice": Last week I was saying he couldn't emote in the deep register but he's OK deep tonight; I don't like the song but he's on top of it. Still wish he'd emphasize beauty rather than energy.

Jason Castro "Fragile": His voice is as sketchy as ever and as natural and comfortable, and I don't mind where it sounds torn.

David Cook "Billie Jean": A lot of gall to do the deep ruminative Soundgarden thing on this one. A lot of gall. I have to give the fucker credit. Holds the mood. Damn. (Link.)

(But David's not pretending to the originality that the judges credit him with, since Ryan tells us that David's basing his version on this one.)

Comments

[martinskidmore.livejournal.com]

I don't see this until the weekend, but I am impressed with the quality of the last 12 this time, and think they got rid of good choices in the first two weeks.

[koganbot]

What do you think of Brooke White? If you haven't heard them yet, I urge you to listen to her versions of "Love Is A Battlefield" and "Let It Be." I said on Rolling Country that I think it would be a natural move for her to go country, and with the right material and arrangements she could be a lot better than Carrie Underwood.

[martinskidmore.livejournal.com]

I like her voice, but the two songs I've heard her do so far, both Beatles numbers, didn't impress me a lot. I agree with what you say about her, though. There's only one Carrie track I'm a really big fan of, Before He Cheats, which is fantastic. I do suspect Brooke might be a better singer on mainline country ballads in particular.