I’ve complained before about repeat themes, but this week’s theme honestly gives us folks at home another reason to gripe. I sort of understand repeating themes if it’s given us good results, but the previous time we did the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame it was… disappointing. So why exactly did we repeat that whole theme again? It’s not exactly like there was a giant clamor for this season’s contestants to sing songs from a Hall of Fame. (Which, by the way, causes people like me and our friends at What Not to Sing fits of annoyance at the age of the songs.)
Whether Jacob Lusk sang well or not was overshadowed by his completely idiotic unforced error in the pre-song interview. Essentially, what he was saying that “if I fail because I suck, I should get through anyway!” Why the heck you antagonize the people on whose (Idol) survival you depend on… maybe this was an extreme case of pride goeth before the fall. The song itself was okay – nothing particularly outstanding to write home about, but it wasn’t anything that made people think he was particularly good either.
One thing you can say about Haley Reinhart’s version of Piece Of My Heart – the commitment was all there. It doesn’t change the fact that she’s not as good a singer as most of the field. Don’t look for a vocal masterpiece here. What it was, though, was a respectable version of an uptempo song that was as entertaining as anything else last night. You could do a heck of a lot worse. Haley’s not going to win, but she’s perfectly capable of going further than many expect.
Casey Abrams was smart to stay away from Every Little Thing is Magic. Like Haley, it was no vocal masterpiece, but it was as good as it had to be. What sets Casey apart is the ability to make the most of his material – depending on what’s needed, he can make it emotional, or he can make it light and entertaining. This was a good mix that did exactly what it had to do.
I’m frankly not familiar enough with what songs Lauren Alaina had to choose from, but this was not an ideal choice. Yes, it was a country song, and Lauren can be a good country singer. But for all her talents, Lauren isn’t at her best doing this kind of big R&B song – it’s too big for her. She’s got a bubbly, lively personality – which we didn’t see much of. She sang it well, but it was just okay. Not much more than that.
Pia’s taken some shots for doing all ballads, but James deserved some for largely sticking with fast songs. In some ways, this was a predictable choice: the fast paced rocker goes for the slow, emotional song. If you want to go back in Idol history, Adam Lambert did The Tracks of My Tears right after Ring of Fire. Overall, James did a good job. He sang well, did most of the emotions right, but there wasn’t that one special moment that separates the okay from the really great.
Who knew Scotty McCreery could be such a ham? There’s no other word for how he was flirting and playing with the crowd. This was the most entertaining performance of the night. Best? No. Scotty’s vocals are so unique they’re hard to compare to anyone else, but even on that mark he wasn’t as good as we’ve seen before.
The reality is that Pia Toscano, for all her vocal chops, is not a natural performer. She can do a good job faking it, but look closely: there’s not the natural charisma and confidence that a Lauren or James have in abundance. That’s not necessarily a roadblock by itself, and Pia’s fans can reassure themselves that it will only get better. Still, this was an excellent performance – and far and away the best of the night. Well done.
Somebody has to bring up the back of the pack, and it’s clear who it is: Stefano Langome. Now that Thia’s gone, he’s assumed the spot of “sings well, but has no emotion”. That sums up his song – and too much of his Idol stay.
Paul McDonald is officially, and completely, nuts. And in a good way. Vocally, he’s not good – but there’s so much charisma and personality there that, as far as entertainment is concerned, makes up for all of what he doesn’t have. He just makes audiences, viewers, and grumpy Idol pundits like me happy in a way no one else this season can.
My apologies for the somewhat… abbreviated reviews, but the truth is I didn’t particularly find it an enjoyable show. Yes, the singing was mostly good… but I’m looking for that one special moment that makes someone a star. I’m not seeing it this week, to be honest. There’s also the factor of predictability – this bunch, while great singers, aren’t the risk-takers that I’ve come to expect from my front-runners. We know, generally, what these contestants will do once we hear the song. Come on, people, give us the unexpected!
The pick: Realistically it should be down to two people. Jacob was mediocre, and utterly embarrassed himself in the pre-song interview. Stefano is just plain vocally outmatched right now.
It’s a coin flip, but I’ll call it for a Stefano boot. I still don’t trust his fanbase’s size, and he did no favors this week.
Stefano Langome to go home.
