A Moment's All I Ask – 5.10.07

Columns

Bee Gees night on American Idol… wait for it, you know what I’m going to say but wait for it…

Whoever really wanted to live out their own fantasy of hearing Bee Gees music on prime-time TV, should never pick themes again. Every contestant had a major disadvantage in this category: none of them have the voice of four, high-pitched guys. The only one with a snowball’s chance in hell being human techno-flirt, Blake Lewis. However, he too ended up disappointing.

Melinda, who can usually make any song golden, had to lead off a pretty dreadful hour of disco songs. In “Love You Inside and Out”, which was pretty boring—though she was on-key—there was no special Do-Better-Than-That flare to it. Luckily her second song, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”, was much better. The second half was what she should have done the entire night, especially the ending. I believe it was enough to save her for next week.

I think after last night I fell off of the Blake bebop bandwagon. I’ll give his record a listen when he releases one, after this is all over, but I just didn’t enjoy his interpretations or attempts at originality on Tuesday. It became annoying, as he is trying for the young girl vote, to be “contemporary.” It really killed the flow. Normally he can make it work, but not last night. I would send him home because his performances were only memorable on account of that they were so bad.

LaKisha attempted “Staying Alive”, which is extremely risky, though it was risk that was something that the judges wanted at one time. But they never mentioned that as a plus in her review and instead focused on how she fell short. I liked her version and it wasn’t as bad as the judges made it out to seem. LaKisha had the most difficult songs of the night, so kudos for trying. She needs some serious fashion help though.

The real winner of the night and possibly the entire competition is indeed Jordin Sparks. Jordin made her performances believable with “To Love Somebody” and “Woman in Love”. She made them sultry, and were the smartest choices of the night for her voice.

Just a trainwreck of a night, as I’ve never been a huge Bee Gees fan anyway and somehow this night made me realize that only those guys can truly sing their own songs. I think traditionalists may rally and vote Blake off tonight, and maybe the divas will save LaKisha. My first votes went to the real winner, Jordin, and I had planned to make my policy to only give votes to the person who should win the competition. I ended up having a change of heart and giving two or so votes to LaKisha because I want Blake to go home that badly.

YouTube Video of the Week:

The best LaKisha Jones performance of the season that brought the house down.

Wednesday Results Update: LaKisha was preparing all night to be sent home. I was actually bummed, but I do admire the genuine closeness of this group. I don’t remember it being that way last season. Blake will be sent home next week unless something goes horribly wrong, and then the real show down begins between the two champs of Idol‘s season, Jordin Sparks and Melinda Dolittle.

Thank you for reading; make your moment your breakthrough.