American Idol — Recap & Review — Top 10 Men

photo: fox

American Idol
Top 10 Men

Original Air Date: March 2, 2010

Patricia Morris Buckley — Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com

Damn technology! Damn DVR constipation! At 8:20 p.m. I look over to see that the DVR isn’t taping American Idol. I panic. I yell. I cry. I delete three nights of the Olympics.

So I miss the first singer, Michael Lynche, doing “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” I miss hearing more about Crystal Bowersox’s illness that caused the men to perform on Tuesday rather than on Wednesday.

But do I hear the judges do a Faye “Chinatown” Dunaway imitation throughout the show. “Be more original,” vs. “No, do the song straight forward.” Can’t they make up their minds? I’m getting dizzy from the back and forth and I’m sure the contestants were feeling like flounder on a beach, gasping for breath.

So I catch up with the show at…
JOHN PARK: Gravity
This song seems to suit his rich voice more. He still wobbled on a few notes, but hit a killer glory note. Still, I think he’s in big trouble – it just isn’t strong enough and combined with a terrible performance last week, I predict that Shania’s fave is on his way out.

Randy pointed out he didn’t bring anything new to the song and it didn’t sound as good as the original. “It was kind of flat for me,” he added. “There was nothing special about it.” Ellen gave him points for a better performance and song choice but wants him to feel the song more. Kara said he was way better than last week but it was safe and he needs to take risks —he won’t get to the next level without that. Simon said it was nothing to get excited about. “It’s what I call a ‘so what’ performance,” he added. “In 20 minutes time, we’re going to forget that performance.”

CASEY JAMES: I Don’t Want to Be
OK – I figure out that I missed how each contestant is revealing something about themselves that people don’t already know. In Casey’s case, it’s that he’s never seen the show because he grew up without a TV. This time he plays his electric guitar and man, can he play. Hard rock seems to suit his trembly voice well and he hardly hits a bum note.

Randy loves Casey channeling Hendrix but thinks the vocals could have been better, although he sees Casey making records in this genre. Ellen loved the song and the guitar, but thinks he has some stiffness up on stage. Kara felt he took two steps backwards from last week as his guitar was better than his vocals and this is a singing competition. Simon agreed with Kara (gasp!) and compares Casey to someone in a bar trying to be a rock star because he doesn’t have the grit in his voice.

ALEX LAMBERT: Everybody Knows
Interesting Fact: He invented his own language in sixth grade.
The mulleted Alex takes the stage with his guitar and sings mostly in tune except for the last note and for the first time, he sounds promising to me. Sitting in a chair is a good choice on his part, since he’s obviously still nervous.

Randy notes that it’s a big improvement from last week and he’s found his niche. Ellen, building on the metaphor she used last week of Alex being an unripe banana, said she feels as if someone put him in a paper bag and ripened him. Kara said that people would die to have his tone and he doesn’t know what to do with it, but the show will teach him. Simon thought he was a million times better and he has a great voice, but has to get the killer instinct and get into it to win.

TODRICK HALL: What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Interesting Fact: He started dancing at age nine.
The silver jacket is a bit much, and he slows the song way down, then speeds it up, which is confusing. His face is too upbeat for the lyrics.

Randy said Todrick is one the best they’d found, but didn’t love this performance because he still changed the song so much and wants him to sing something straight (“She’s my sister! My daughter!” Oh Faye, shut up!). Ellen wants to see him sing and dance, and feels it wasn’t the right song because it wasn’t current. Kara points out that he’s likeable and wants to hear the simple melodies that he first sang in the audition. Simon thinks this isn’t working out for him and compares his performance to something heard in a theme park.

JERMAINE SELLERS: What’s Going On
OK, it’s official, I really dislike this dude. I don’t care if he can rock a onesie, that he sings like a ferris wheel (up the scale, down the scale) just to show off — he talked back at each judge as though they just didn’t know what they were talking about. Plus, he looked as if he wanted to be a hip Pee Wee Herman. I’d really like him gone. Now.

Randy thought he did better than last week, but not great. Ellen loved his style (seriously?), but thought he pushed his vocals too hard, again. Kara said he hit some crazy runs but thinks he goes too far. “You’re showing us every trick,” she said in a rare instance of making musical sense. “Show us one trick that means something.” Simon said he watered down the song by playing around with it so much that no one can take him seriously as an artist.

ANDREW GARCIA: You Give Me Something
Interesting Fact: He break dances.
He has such a serious expression but delivers on the vocals. But I’m not loving the song, just like last week.

Randy said it wasn’t the vibe for him and he’s way better than this performance. Ellen disagreed with Randy, saying that he set the bar so high with his version of “Step Up” in Hollywood Week that everything else feels disappointing. Kara sees his potential but he needs to stay on the rhythm and not play it safe. Simon said the fact that he’s picked a bad song two weeks in a row is getting to be a problem, that this performance was OK and he’s better than OK.

AARON KELLY: My Girl
Interesting Fact: He loves photography
Aaron doesn’t do much with the arrangement, but he adds lots of runs and a few—surprising—growls in the mix. It’s unexpected from this 16 year old and I like it.

Randy thought the first half was better and his confidence 200 percent better than last week. Ellen thought he did a lot with the song, but thought he could have chosen a better song. Kara liked his consistency and thinks he gets better every week. Simon didn’t like the song and thought he went backwards as the arrangement was old fashioned. He encouraged Aaron to really think about what kind of artist he wants to be.

TIM URBAN: Come On Get Higher
Interesting fact: He has four brothers and five sisters.
He picks a song that fits his range, plays the guitar and sounds better with a straight forward song. Can’t help but think that, like Casey James, his looks are helping him get the votes.

Randy thought it was very karaoke and Ellen thinks he’d have a better career as an actor who sings a little on “Glee.” Kara liked the song choice but he didn’t make it his own. Simon said he showed a marked improvement from last week and praises him for listening to their feedback and incorporating it.

LEE DEWYZE: Lips of an Angel
Interesting fact: He went to an alternative high school and got in a lot of trouble.
Lee has a raw talent that is somehow appealing. He also shows a nice connection with the lyrics. But he still misses quite a few notes.

Randy liked his bold move in taking a chance, but noted there were pitch problems. Ellen liked his passion and called it a great performance. Kara thought it was a big improvement despite the pitch problems and could hear him on the radio now. Simon said he is vocally head and shoulders above the other men and he may be the one to beat.

So who were you impressed by? Who do you want eliminated? Do you understand the judges wanting something original but not too much so? (If so, please explain it to me.) Give us your Two Cents…

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