"American Idol" 2009: Blame it on the alcohol

April 28, 2009 at 9:44pm

The theme was standards from the Rat Pack era. Another really topical genre; again, none of these contestants were alive when these songs were recorded. I don't understand the point of doing genres like this. I think part of the problem some of the past winners have had is that we fell in love with them singing classic songs, and then when they put out really genre-specific contemporary albums, America just couldn't care less. Let's use Fantasia, for example. We loved her singing Aretha and "Summertime." The minute she puts out a modern r'n'b album, the audience just walks away. Shouldn't the time be better spent giving these kids a viable launching pad for their music careers, rather than rolling out songs that were popular with my parents' parents?

Whatever. The best part of the episode was the mentor for the night: Jamie Foxx. Well, of course. I mean, don't you just automatically think "Rat Pack" when you think "Jamie Foxx"? Comedian, actor, Ray Charles impersonator, and awful r&b "star" Jamie Foxx? WTF, show. I can't stand Tony Bennett or Michael Buble, but I would at least understand those casting choices. This was even worse than the Tarantino mentorship, and I don't care what Simon said about how he "brought the best out" in the competitors. (I would also like to share my personal opinion that Foxx's "Alcohol" song is actively destroying popular music as we know it. So maybe he IS the perfect mentor for this show...)

Kris Allen "The Way You Look Tonight" This is a lovely song, and when it's sung wrong, it can seem utterly endless. In a bad way, I mean. Kris did a good job giving the number a pulse, although I didn't particularly like when the swing kicked in. His vocals - which were already somewhat weak and wispy - fell apart for a bit, although he got it back toward the end. Not his best performance, that's for sure. Randy would have you believe the opposite, so that automatically proves me right. Kara called him a dark horse - I don't think that's right at this point. I think he's right up there with Gokey for the non-Adam spot in the finale.

BTW: How hilarious is that americanidol.com commercial that has Alexis Grace splashed all over it? When did she get sent home? It feels like 1982. I'm not even convinced she was ever real. She's, like, Jem of the Holograms. Doesn't Michael Sarver seem like a distant memory at this point?

Allison Iraheta "Someone to Watch Over Me" Allison just turned 17, and is adorable. I've really grown to like this girl. She's so much more talented than her years, and I think she delivered a remarkably mature take on this song. Her diction was off in parts, but her tone was absolutely beautiful. I desperately hope she makes it through this week. I thought she handled Simon's question about whether she thought she could win the competition exceptionally well. And now that we're down to five, almost ALL of them will be trouble, Simon. Except for Adam, because he is The Anointed One.

Matt Giraud "My Funny Valentine" That beginning was ROUGH; he cannot start a song. I did appreciate the fact that he didn't put on the Timberfake filter and sang with a full voice, but he was all over the place in pitch. Mid-way through I was tempted to call it the worst performance of the night, but then he got toward the end and sounded so much better in the upper register. I think the key was just too low for him.

Danny Gokey "Come Rain or Come Shine" Danny sounded better than he has in weeks. He sounded very cool and relaxed, and totally comfortable. And he got downright funky toward the end. Danny got himself back into the game in a big way this week, and it was just the right time, because I felt his momentum slipping.

Adam Lambert "Feelin' Good" Adam just brought it. I don't know what else to say. It was just full force. He was just charging through that song, and I thought he kept the shrieky thing down to a minimum. A fantastic performance. There's nothing else to say.

I have to say, Adam and Gokey SHOULD be the only two safe. They were fantastic. That leaves the Kris (who should be fine), Allison, and Matt, and at this point Matt really needs to go. He wasn't terrible last night, but he has no business out-lasting Allison. So here's hoping for the end of Matt (and ZitWatch 2009).

Comments for ""American Idol" 2009: Blame it on the alcohol" (13)

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Bob said on Apr. 28, 2009 at 10:29pm

Yeah Matt can go home now. Thanks for playing, here is your parting gift...a lifetime supply of Clearasil.

Psst...hey Adam. Have you called Jenny yet?

Laura said on Apr. 29, 2009 at 8:34am

Eric,
I'm having SUPER hard time understanding why Simon and the rest of the judges are praising Matt. Simon may be a twit, but you can always rely on him for honesty. Yet with Matt, he must be lying through his teeth.

Is there any other explanation other than Idol thinks they can market him better than the other folks? Isn't ONE JT enough in the music market?

Or is Simon just high?

Bernie said on Apr. 29, 2009 at 9:03am

Am I imaginging it? Or do I feel like every week I hear that Kris is a "Dark Horse."

It's time for Matt to go. I listen to Simon, but this week I disagree, I don't think that was a good performance. And my husband (who does not read this blog - for shame) said, "Hey, he's wearing a hat to hide that zit on his forhead!"

I think the bottom 2 will be Allison and Matt with him going home. I cringe to think what the group song will be. And please don't make me cry AI and ruin a Dean Martin song for me.

Eric said on Apr. 29, 2009 at 9:26am

Laura and Bernie: I didn't get the Simon love for Matt either, unless he was deliberately over-praising him and grilling Allison to lull Matt's voters (who I still think are an urban legend) into a false sense of security, and to get Allison's crew all riled up and working the phones. The judges really have pimped Matt to a ridiculous degree, between giving him the Wild Card after his disastrous Coldplay performance and then using the save on him him. I will say that if you only listened to the second half of last night's performance it sounded good. But that beginning was totally bobo.

Cathy said on Apr. 29, 2009 at 9:28am

I think this genre of music is as valid as any other. And speaking as someone from your parents parents generation (well, maybe only one generation) I loved the song choices. I thought it showed their range as singers and I loved that they all bumped up their game and dressed up and looked like they were working it.. I really hope Allison stays this week....I thought she did a beautiful job and was annoyed with Simon for asking such a ridiculous question. What is she supposed to do....go home? I liked Matt although he is the one that I think should go home...please. I liked Adam when he did the song more quietly with Jamie Foxx. And don;t get me started...WTF! Matt gone...everyone else stays. Chris may be in touble though.

Bob: ouch!

forest said on Apr. 29, 2009 at 10:09am

I thought the performances last night were very good in general....
I reeeeeaaaalllllly hope allison stays she is so talented and she and kris are the only one's i can see buying an album from. I thought kris had a solid performance, and he will stay just because of his charm.... I didn't care for adam's performance I thought it was a little shrieky and not his best by any means (I think the judges have seen so many amazing performances by him that they are just going to praise him even if he is bad.). I thought the end of matt's was good but not good enough to stay in the competition...and I loved danny's performance... I think matt should go home and I really hope allison doesn't

Bob said on Apr. 29, 2009 at 5:07pm

Cathy: It's with love in my heart that I say these things. Sometimes the truth hurts but needs to be said.

Cristina said on Apr. 29, 2009 at 5:50pm

They praised Matt to justify wasted only life-save chance that they had. Such a lost. I want to see their faces when/or if Allision were sent home tonight.

Tommy said on Apr. 30, 2009 at 2:25am

So Jamie's is an awful r&b singer and his song is destroying popular music as we (you) know it. Millions of fans would disagree. I can't wait until your cd comes out, so that the public can compare it to Jamie's cd. I'm sure you are a true vocalist who has millions of eager fans, waiting to hear from you.!!!

Bob said on Apr. 30, 2009 at 8:10am

Hey Tommy: What are you talking about? These are Eric's opinions on this weeks show. Why don't you share your thoughts on why you think Jamie ISN'T ruining popular music instead of making some off the wall comment about Eric putting out a fictitious CD of his own? What does that have to do with anything? I would rather know why those millions of fans would disagree.

ALSO, Just because Jamie has fans doesn't mean he is any good as an R&B artist, he's just sold himself well. William Hung and Sanjaya had millions of fans too.

Cathy said on Apr. 30, 2009 at 8:59am

Tommy: I was stunned that Jamie Foxx was the mentor. He was superb as Ray Charles....I did not realize that he had a musical career. Hearing him on the results show...OMG...I thought he was horrible.

Bernie said on Apr. 30, 2009 at 9:42am

I would so purchase a cd made by this blogger!!!!! And based on Jamie Foxx's performance during the results show, I do not understand why he was picked as the mentor for Rat Pack week.

I agree 1000% with this blogger's OPINION this week.

linda henry said on May. 02, 2009 at 10:38am

Simon Cowell gives an impression he just about tolerates Kris, I was amazed that he praised Matt whose performance was bad in pitch, tone and clarity and sometimes not for the first time Matt was out of tune. The judges comments are incredible this season sometimes totally off the wall maybe it has been caused by too much messing about with Paula and Simon, who talk to each other even when the contestants are performing. It was a shock to see Adam in the bottom two but anything goes now. I would really like Kris to sing "Chantilly Lace" a Big Bopper song from the real rock and roll era which I think he would make a great job of. I like Kris but the coming week is going to be a struggle I think for him but fingers crossed he will pull out all the stops..
Slash as mentor do me a favour he wasn't even around when real rock & roll was popular, has he got a new record or film out? The only good mentor Idol has ever had was Jon Bon Jovi.

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