American Idol Season 7: American Idol finale experience

After two weeks of pretty uninspiring performances of songs by the greatest band ever lived, 10 of the best (or, are they?) of this year’s American Idol are set for a bigger stage.

AND how has your American Idol ride been thus far? Perhaps you’ve been dumbfounded, wondering how The Beatles hits – the world’s greatest band’s best songs – could ever sound so boring? Maybe you can’t quite understand why on earth blonde country gal Kristy Lee Cook gets to whine on stage yet another week. Or perhaps you’re still trying to figure out that song Chikezie performed last week….

Interestingly, EW.com (Entertainment Weekly online) called last week’s show a “Mersey Killing”. Sadly, I must admit that I kind of agree. Whatever the case, I’m thankful that we’ll be moving on to a new theme this week, so you can leave all that Yesterday business behind and let John Lennon rest in peace once again. 

If you’re wondering how the contestants have been faring so far, perhaps this will help. In a recent poll by Us Weekly magazine, 56% of some 100 people interviewed at New York’s Rockefeller Center felt that the men this season were stronger; Michael Johns (from Australia) got the top vote for most talented import (Irish girl Carly Smithson came in second, naturally), while 58% felt that David Archuleta was a shoo-in for this year’s title.

Also, 91% also felt that Nasty Simon was better than Nice Simon. Sometimes you really have to wonder about Randy, Paula and Simon, and the nonsense that goes up there in the judging box. They seem to be drawing the limelight away from the contestants much too often. Even Ryan Seacrest has lost some of his oomph factor.

As for the eliminations thus far, they have been fairly predictable. Two weeks ago, David Hernandez got the boot, but came away unscathed. He said in an interview: “Through all the chaos, I think I have gained a deeper respect for myself and an appreciation for the music business. I think that I have been given an amazing platform.”

Whatever criticism you might have of American Idol, there’s no denying it is an amazing platform for these wannabes, some of whom have gone on to make legitimate, credible entertainers of themselves.

Hernandez also shared some behind-the-scenes info. When asked how much control the contestants have over their performances, he said: “You are able to switch it around and make it your own.”

“You’d be surprised about how much the contestants are involved with the arrangement. We have mentors and they’re there to help us and to make sure we are staying true to the original artistes who recorded the songs. We usually sit down with the piano player and the vocal arranger, we have several rehearsals and we come up with the arrangement.”

So if the arrangement is less than perfect, you know who to blame.

And speaking of mentors, did any of the names mentioned last week grab your fancy? Dolly Parton? Neil Diamond? Andrew Lloyd Webber? They all just sound a bit far out for a programme like American Idol.

Last Thursday, rocker nurse Amanda Overmyer (who incidentally got voted for “most badly in need of a hair makeover” in the same magazine poll) made her exit after a disappointing performance of Back in the USSR (why she didn’t choose to sing Helter Skelter instead, we’ll never know). Of course, I’d have preferred it if Kristy Lee had bid us farewell, but looks like we’ll be stuck with her and her googly eyes for yet another week.

And so, the final 10 who eventually get to go on the Idol tour are (in order of my preference):

1. David Archuleta – I was hooked after Imagine. When he messed up during the Lennon and McCartney songbook week, I was crestfallen. For me, Archuleta is certainly the most talented vocalist on the show, in terms of ability. And at only 17, he is able to showcase his vocal prowess with confidence – you have to give him credit for being able to take liberties with certain melodies and doing it “his” way all very stylishly. Ballads are boring? Not with Archuleta, they aren’t.

2. David Cook – I never really liked Cook at the outset … in fact, I was surprised he got through the Hollywood rounds at all. But he’s proven to be the dark horse indeed, and that rendition of Hello really propelled him to the top of the class. Cook, 25, has been the most consistent performer, and his routines are all very carefully thought out. I think he’s the smartest performer this year.

3. Michael Johns – Ahh, the Aussie hottie. The wonder from Down Under. You just gotta love this guy for his sincerity, his music appreciation, his scruffy hair, his humility (all those “namaste” hand gestures go a long way). And yet, week after week, Johns just hasn’t managed to impress the judges. What gives? Even he seems to be at his wits’ end as to how to please them. After all, hasn’t he sung all the best songs? From Light My Fire to Don’t You Forget about Me to Across the Universe, I’ve really “connected” with all his song choices. And I eagerly await another Bohemian Rhapsody from the 29-year-old. Come on, Aussie, come on!

4. Jason Castro – Him of the honey-coated smile, dreadlocks and that strange Texan drawl (does anyone understand what he’s saying?), Castro is another one who chooses really good songs that showcase his skill – Daydream, Hallelujah, If I Fell. And at 20, he has a boyish charm about him that gets the girls all dizzy. It’s always with anticipation that I wait for his turn. 

5. Brooke White – I like Brooke on some weeks and then I don’t on others. She has her moments on stage. But when she starts interrupting the judges while they’re commenting on her performance, I sort of tune out. The boys seem to take the criticism much more graciously than the girls do, I have to say.

6. Carly Smithson – During the auditions, I thought Carly would be the one to look out for. However, I’ve not really liked anything she has done since. She’s always going for those high notes and though she has a good voice, it’s not really very endearing. Even with Blackbird last week, she pretty much killed all the sentimentality inherent in the song. Being in the Bottom Three last week must have been a reality check for her.

7. Ramiele Malubay – Ramiele looks like such a sweet girl, you can’t really dislike her. She’s got a good voice but she hasn’t been using it very well. Maybe she’s been spending more time at “Hair and Makeup” than at rehearsals. Also her “shy girl” demeanour is slowly starting to get on my nerves.

8. Syesha Mercado – Syesha annoyed me with that whole losing-her-voice, scarf-around-her-neck routine during Hollywood week. I haven’t recovered since. 

9. Chikezie – Boring. Apart from his name, there’s not much you remember about him.

10. Kristy Lee Cook – The sooner she bids us farewell, the better.

‘American Idol Season 7’ airs on Star World (Astro Channel 711) every Wednesday and Thursday at 6pm. To have your own ‘American Idol’ finale experience on May 22, look out for the secret password which appears on screen during each episode until April 11. The next day, tune in to Hitz.fm’s ‘Morning Crew with JJ & Rudy’ (6am-10am, every Thursday & Friday) and listen out for the cue to call. If you’re chosen, you could be jetting off to LA to be in the audience of the ‘Idol’ finale at the famed Nokia Theatre.

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American Idol Season 7: American Idol finale experience.

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