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OLTL Discussion Group
THEME ~~Songs That Shaped/Inspired Rock n’ Roll
Selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum curatorial staff and a number of rock critics and historians, these 500 songs are some of rock and roll’s most popular and influential recordings. The songs cover a variety of musicians and genres illustrating the evolution of rock and roll over the last century. I have no idea how many were actually made available to the contestants or how many were cleared for performance. I guess just about anything would be better than last week’s speed-wreck.
ROUND 1
David Cook - ''Hungry Like The Wolf'' - I'm no authority on Duran Duran but my sense is that this performance is somewhat below par for him. With so many songs to choose from, I'm surprised that he couldn't find something better than this. My complaint is song choice, not his vocal.
Randy - just ok
Paula - gave her an 'appetite'
Simon - a little bit copycat
Syesha Mercado - ''Proud Mary'' - She's attempting to take on Tina Turner vocally and in dance! The pace of the song is too slow both vocally and in the dance segment. Tina is more than volume....Tina is on FIRE when she sings.....Syesha is not! Questionable song choice.
Randy - she's in the zone
Paula - magnetic voice and presence
Simon - a bad shrieky version of Tina Turner
Jason Castro - ''I Shot The Sheriff'' - They woke David up so he could sing! The only good thing I can say is that he has finished the song. Obviously, the stories about his wanting to go home are true!!! NEEDS TO LEAVE
Randy - karaoke
Paula - not crazy about the song or vocal
Simon - utterly atrocious (Simon is really angry)
David Archuleta -''Stand By Me'' - He does Ben E King proud and brings this song home! The vocal and interpretation are his best since ''Imagine''. He made a very wise song choice. LOVE it!
Randy - it was hot
Paula - delivered it
Simon - best performance so far
ROUND 2
David Cook -''Baba O'Reilly'' - I'm loving his vocal and interpretation of this song by 'The Who'. His stage presence is excellent and he sells the song, IMO. His performing arts background is obvious in this performance. LOVE it!!!!
Randy - great
Paula - she wants more
Simon - welcome back David Cook
Syesha Mercado - ''A Change Is Gonna Come'' - This song means a great deal to her..... so much so that she researched it before deciding to sing it. I'm loving her vocals and interpretation. Tonight, Syesha is very emotional and cries. Sam Cooke would be proud!! What a hauntingly beautiful performance!
Randy - disconnected
Paula - beautiful vocals
Simon - agrees with Paul
Jason Castro - ''Mr Tambourine Man'' - A mess both vocally and in interpretation. HE NEEDS TO GO
Randy - not in the zone
Paula - was in his niche
Simon - pack your suitcase
David Archuleta -''Love Me Tender'' (Norah Jones version) - He performs a lovely restrained interpretation, accompanied only by piano. There are some weak notes in the second half that the judges fail to 'note'. Usually, we hear the word 'pitchy', but not tonight with Little David. It's highly overrated by the judges, IMO.
Randy - great
Paula - a favorite of hers
Simon - crushed the competition
FAVORITE QUOTE~~ David A to Ryan...''Their faces scare me'' (referring to the judges--LOL)
COMMENTS~~ What is your definition of an AMERICAN IDOL? Mine is someone who, when given the platform, represents who they truly are and can convey it in a way that makes the audience want to know more.
RESULTS~~ Wednesday at 9:00 EDT
BEST: David C (round 2) - David A (round 1) - Syesha M (round 2)
ABYSMAL: Jason C (round 1 & 2)
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Good-bye Jason.
Are the articles right? Is he trying less and less? It sure seemed so tonight. I'm not familiar with the Bob Marley version of "I Shot The Sheriff", but I still didn't recognize it until he was into it awhile and I knew ahead of time that he was going to sing this song. Jason's other song was slightly better but then he didn't remember the words. It didn't seem like it was a case of nerves as in Brooke's case. I'm not sure if Jason has any nerves, LOL, but it just seemed to me that he just didn't take the time to learn the words.
I go with the other three for the final three. It still seems like it will be down to the David's to me but I wouldn't mind a David C. and Syesha final two. I thought they both did well on both of their songs. David Cook's second song, although done well, didn't seem like a good song choice to me. Not in the fact of vocal range or anything like that but song choice in the fact that he needed more time with that song that they just aren't given. It was just building up to pick up the tempo and then stopped suddenly. I wanted to hear how David sang the uptempo part. Since the time allotted for songs didn't work with this song, he should have chosen something that did.
I liked both of Syesha's songs but did not like the way she decided to go the Tina route when Syesha, herself, said that "Proud Mary" had been covered by so many bands. Then why go with the obvious version? After we finally found out who Syesha really was, she went back to singing like the original instead of with the Syesha twist. What I did like about her performance was the way she performed it instead of just standing there like she used to do. Ever since ALW week, she knows that she can be more animated when she sings a song and I did enjoy that. Her second song was very moving. She just has to watch herself on those power notes and try to soften them so they aren't so harsh. I liked hearing that she actually researched the song, something that I don't think Jason ever does or even some previous contestants. What I didn't like is both Simon and Randy's opposite comments that can make her more confused again. Randy said of her Sam Cooke song that she should have sung it more like the original and he didn't like the way she changed it, yet Simon said of her first song that he didn't like that she sang it like Tina Turner. So who is right? We are back again to should they sing it like the original or not?
David A. did well on both of his songs. I really was surprised at the second song because when he said that it was very romantic, I wondered what he knew of romance. But he did a very good job on the song. I don't think he "crushed the competition" as Simon put it or was "da bomb" but did better than I thought he would on these songs.
Except for Jason, I thought the other three did well tonight.
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This wasn't Idol's finest hour.
Syesha didn't (couldn't) emulate Tina in the least. She's not a "down and dirty" girl. Why did she try? But then ... the Sam Cooke song. Amazing! This is the Syesha that is right there in my own personal #2 spot.
David A.: Still, I don't get his accolades and following. Baby lounge singer. I find myself feeling sorry for him because he comes across so needy. I don't find his voice that exceptional. I just don't get him. But then, I don't get Jamie Lee Curtis either (wacky reference) and people seem to like her for whatever reason.
Jason Castro: I read Linda's link re Jason (thank you Linda) and everything we saw tonight reinforced that. Jason isn't into this. He wants to go. Fine with me.
David Cook. The American Idol!
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If you missed the show, like I did, and didn't tape it or just would like to see one of the performances again, go to the
Season 7 Top 4 Performance - Recap at
http://mjsbigblog.com/season-7-top-4-performance-recap.htm
You can click on the song and just see that or click on "Full clip" and see the interview, song, and judges comments. By sometime tomorrow there should be a written recap along with it at that same link.
If you want to see another written take on the show tonight, go to read Long Live Rock! at
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/American-Idol/American-Idol-Episode/800039075
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First, I just have to say that of ALL the song choices these people had, I thought most were so far away from the heart of rock and roll (wasn't that the theme?) it was pityful! Proud Mary definitely qualified, but singing a Tina Turner song (imo) was nuts.
I hated everyone's first songs! No, I didn't hate David A's song, it just bored me because it sounded like everything else he sings. I enjoyed his performance of Love me Tender more.
Syesha's second song was one of my favorite performances from anyone this whole season. I was stunned when Randy went off on it. Thank goodness Paula and Simon liked it.
David Cook somewhat redeemed himself with his second song, but I could think of at least 100 songs it would have been better for him to sing. I didn't even KNOW it. He has been my pick to win this thing since pretty early on, but he needs to do very well again next week.
OMG on how bad Jason was. I thought Mr. Tambourine Man was an EXcellent choice for him and it started off good until he forgot the words. Just not much excuse for that at this point in the competition. I knew he'd be going this week, but hated that he did SO poorly on his last night. ACK!
This hasn't turned out to be my favorite season of Idol at all and I'm not even sure why. ?
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What a letdown tonight's show was for me. Of all the songs on that list, 'these' were the ones selected? **shaking my head** David Cook's first song was boring. He did nothing different with it at all, borrowing words from Randy ''it was just okay for me''.
And Jason? Oh. My. Gosh.!!! Two bombs in one night. He is begging to go home. lol!!
I thought Syesha was great tonight. I really enjoyed both performances and I don't know what Randy was hearing because her 'A Change Is Gonna Come' was beautiful to me. I liked her 'Proud Mary' performance too, she's not Tina but then again who is. :) And Syesha looked absolutely beautiful tonight.
For me, David A had the best vocals and best song choices of the night. I even got a little teary when he sang 'Love Me Tender'.
My favorites of the night were David A and Syesha. Jason should go home now. I almost get the feeling that he's not really even trying anymore.
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