While charity is great, the circumstances of Idol Gives Back twists things up. This is a blend of the Jerry Lewis Telethon with Sophie’s Choice. They want to you to save children around the world yet one youth on that stage will have their dream of winning it all snuffed. You figure they’d at least call off the contest to focus on the telethon aspect, but no. The loser will be sacrificed for the greater good of the charity as the highlight of tomorrow’s two-hour special headlined by Elton John. This year’s charity list should include a fund for ex-Idols who can’t get a VH1 series.
Ryan has the seven finalists lined up as he talks about how our calls change lives, but tonight we’ll be saving lives. Figuring how much this show will be saving when Simon departs, they ought to just throw that difference into the collection plate. Tonight’s theme is “Songs of Inspirational songs.” Tonight’s mentor is Alicia Keys. There’s talk about her ability to inspire people. Mostly I’ve seen her inspiring kids to use Proactiv acne cream. Zits are an outspoken plague upon the famous according to the infommercials. She seems eager to meet the seven.
Casey James rasps through Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop.” He’s got the guitar out. He’s in the middle of the stage and keeps giving a smirk at Kara during the song. He’s in his usual singing rang with just an extra touch of hoarse notes. He’s glued behind the microphone. It’s rather boring to watch him on the stage. The man doesn’t sweat for his applause. Randy wants a little something more special. Ellen likes the guitar playing. She gets tougher on him by saying he’s consistently good, but he’s not great. Kara writes him off a jam band. She’s frustrated by him. Simon doesn’t think it’s that inspirational of a song or performance. He scoffs him a lazy. This puts Casey in the sad position of hoping somebody else blows it since it’s the end of the love affair for him.
Lee DeWyze has been talking to Andrew Garcia since the elimination. The guys are going on tour. It’s not like they won’t see each other for the next four months. Lee has picked Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer.” Is it that inspirational of a song? We’ll see if he can bring hope. Lee has the piano and strings backing his acoustic guitar. He’s working on the emotion in his voice. It’s a good cover worthy of a telethon. Randy believes this season is about artists and he think Lee will have a big career. Ellen digs the soul and depth. Kara thinks this is his moment. Simon calls it the best of the night. He feels like the song was written a week ago. Simon probably never heard the song before.
Captain Sully from the Hudson River landing gets introduced as being in the crowd. Good to see a guy who knew what to do in a crisis since Ryan might go nuts again.
Tim Urban will inspire us by his amazing comeback story. Why has he decided on the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Better Days?” Well at least he picked a lead singer whose vocal range is within his own. He’s playing the acoustic guitar so he doesn’t move around much. The strings are next to him. It’s nice without being that memorable. He needed to reach out to the crowd. Randy calls it an interesting choice, but OK karaoke. Ellen must call him the soup of the day. She didn’t like him today. Kara deducts it as not his best performance. Simon doesn’t believe in the performance. Sounds like the judges are really sick of Tim Urban. They must be pissed that he survived the double elimination. He’s marked for death.
Aaron Kelly batters “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly. I’m more inspired by “Trapped In the Closet.” Aaron sounds rather painful as his range goes splat as he goes higher. My father declares this as terrible. I trust his taste since he listens to this kinda dreck on the radio. Randy think Aaron has pure vocal talent and did a great job. Ellen thinks he’s on his way. Kara thinks he flew as the song progressed. Simon would have turned this song off if he heard it on the radio. At least one voice of sanity resists the hype.
Simon lets Ryan sit in his chair to hype tomorrow night’s Idol Gives Back super show. They’ve kissed and made up.
Siobhan Magnus has picked “When You Believe.” This was a duet from Mariah and Whitney on the Prince of Egypt cartoon. I’d forgotten this song existed. Siobhan looks good in her outfit, but she keeps doing this suck in voice that’s distracting. She goes for the big soar note that doesn’t sound like the fog horn. She’s getting better as the song progresses. She flashes the big smile at the end for the soft close. This so could have been a major trainwreck. Randy calls it the toughest song of the night, but it was OK to him. Ellen disagrees. Kara would rather hang out with her than buy her record. Simon calls the arrangement old fashioned. Her outfit confuses him. She defends her choice as the meaning why she’s here right now. She gives the judges a nice little retort. That might help her.
Michael Lynche wants people to step up like the song “Hero.” He’s doing a song by the guy from Nickelback that featured that guy who wasn’t in Nickelback (Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott). He gets emotional and soaring on the stage. He does this huge lip lick at the end. It seems like half a song when it ends. Why does anyone put their future in the hands of Chad Kroeger? Randy says he held his own. Ellen just gives a great job. Kara hates the tone in his voice. Simon feels he sang it pretty well, but the song is about Spider-Man. Simon feels he’ll be around next week. This is the same guy who they had to save two weeks ago. He has no margin for mediocrity.
Crystal Bowersox luckily has the closing slot. Word surfaced this week that she nearly quit the show. But Ryan talked her into sticking around with talk of buying her mother a house. She takes centerstage without an instrument. She’s a cappella for the opening. The back up singers and band kick in with a soulful vibe. She’s owns the night with her first big note. This is inspirational. She’s crying at the end. She went beyond selling it. Randy gives her a standing ovation. Ellen likes it. Kara appreciates the risk. Simon calls it inspirational. She got weepy cause her dad is in the crowd. She dabs her tears with Ryan’s handkerchief.
The night was rather rough. Crystal was the only one who truly produced a telethon worthy performance that could challenge Jerry Lewis doing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Lee DeWyze was also good, but “The Boxer” is more slice of life than a Rocky theme. It’s getting lonely at the top for Crystal. Everyone has completely embraced their safety zones. There seem to be no surprises coming from this contest. Forget money, people ought to be calling in to demand these kids mix it up on the stage.
INSPIRATION
Crystal Bowersox
DONATE
Lee DeWyze,
NEEDY
Tim Urban, Siobhan Magnus
LOST CAUSES
Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Michael Lynche
Ryan warns us that tomorrow night’s show might go long so set your DVR according or you’ll miss the elimination.
Who should get the boot? Aaron Kelly gets way too much praise for so little offered on the stage. Was this tongue bath from the judges part of his prizes for winning the contest at Disney? Casey James has become a Bo Bice wannabe without the energy. But I fear the person going back to the rehearsal room is Tim Urban. The judges are sick of him. But will the producers really let him go? The show is scoring lower the Dancing with the Stars. They remember the dramatic drop off after Sanjay got bumped. The buzz factor is lost when people don’t wonder if Tim Urban is still surviving. Casey James ought to be cast aside since he’s no longer Kara’s boy toy.
