The Final Four Rock On…More or Less
And then there were four…
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
This week’s Idol brings us songs from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. At least that was my understanding of the theme, please correct me if I’m wrong. So for our mutual edification, I looked up the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which is apparently is in Cleveland, and inducts a handful of performers, producers and other rock related folks each year. So apparently Cleveland really does rock. Inductees work has to be at least 25 years old, which means both Madonna and I are getting up there.
And when you think Rock & Roll Hall of Fame don’t you just think Duran Duran? Hm,
Duran Duran’s not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, unless maybe David confused Hungry Wolf and Howlin’ Wolf. Apparently the song’s release the year of David Cook’s birth gives it classic status. And what could be more classic than this unapologetically tacky and self-indulgent little ditty. ” Woman you want me, give me a sign and catch my breathing even closer behind, Do-do do do, do do do, do do do, do do do, do do”. My sincere thanks to David for skipping the orgasm thing at the end. And let’s just move on please.
Next up Sayesha, who it seems needed a personal affirmation moment this week to once again choose a really big song. Notwithstanding, her version of Tina Turner’s Proud Mary was comfortable and surprisingly well sung (singing 7, dance 5). The dress is hot, and apparently she has gotten past the Catherine McPhee, Krisy Lee Cook shoeless thing.
Jason Castro continued with what should have been a great song choice, Bob Marley’s I Shot the Sheriff. I really wanted to like this, but it was campy, terribly over-sung, and once again sadly under-rehearsed. In short, it was a train wreck. Even Paula hated it… but she still loves Jason. If the guy with the dreadlocks can’t sing Bob Marley, what do we have left to believe in?
But never fear David Archuleta is here to save the day with a capable version of Stand By Me (The Drifters). It was more Broadway than Rhythm & Blues and more boyish than manly, but it was well sung.
To my great relief, David C did not return for Round Two with a selection from
Depeche Mode, but rather with The Who’s Baba O’Riley (often mistakenly called Teenage Wasteland), a song in a whole nother league than… I can’t even say it… that earlier choice… and released at least 10 year’s before David C’s birth. This was an excellent arrangement starting soft and low and building to the chorus, and it was a terrific performance. The only fault I can find with it was that it was too short. Paula, we too are humbled to watch David’s soul (or show, or glow, or whatever).
Syesha returns next looking for all the world like a star ( or the Oscar trophy). On the heels of Jason’s debacle I truly appreciated Syesha’s research and rehearsal of her song choice, Sam Cook’s A Change is Gonna Come. 
Okay, maybe the whole civil rights thing didn’t quite come across in the performance, but I appreciated it nonetheless. As to the singing, I think my review falls somewhere between Randy’s reservations and Paula and Simon’s raves. I thought that the opening note was indulgently long and that some of the end was yelled rather than sung, but all and all I liked it. Again in contrast to Jason, Syesha is peeking at the right time.
Given the chance to redeem himself with Bob Dylan’s Tamborine Man , Jason Castro makes the ultimate unforgivable Idol blunder and forgets the words to his song. Having worked a long time in the arts myself, I can tell you that this is a pretty damn near impossible thing to do if you are well rehearsed… okay enough about that. And it was a shame, because he sings this song well. Jason’s only consulation is that he will have a second chance to get the words right when he sings the song again at tomorrow’s send off.
Last up David Archuleta ends the show with a nice contemporary arrangement of Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender. Simon and company are awed. i am not a great fan of either Elvis or David A, but I appreciate both talents, and I liked this.
My choice to go this week: after two weeks of bad performances, Jason Castro who is no longer looking so cute.
More photos later today. Please feel free to comment, and please do have a great week… Idolkatt
Loading...