Murtzcellanious: LIVE Canadian Idol Recap – August 27

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Welcome back.

The theme for this week’s episode of Canadian Idol was “The Standards,” and the guest instructor for the episode was Paul Anka. Anka was a last-minute replacement for Mika who was supposed to help the Idols for the original ‘British Invasion’ theme.

Why the preamble?

It’s because I found it especially amusing that Mika’s “Grace Kelly” song was played during the warm-up to the show.

Speaking of the warm-up, it started really late on Monday, beginning at 6:51 p.m.

The show started with Ben Mulroney opening the show by saying that tonight’s music was crafted by “Canadian legend and the original Canadian Idol,” Paul Anka. Ben also announced that for the first time, the competitors would be performing two songs.

He then introduced the judges and asked for their opening remarks.

Jake said that some of them would really be stepping out of their element (obviously referring to Dwight). Sass said that Anka was in the perfect position to show them the in’s and out’s of the songs. Farley said something about sticking around before Zack said that the song-writing from that era was special.

A Paul Anka video package was then played before the performances began.

Carly Rae Jepsen
Age: 21
Mission, BC
– Sang “My Heart Belongs To Daddy” by Ella Fitzgerald
– In her opening video, Paul Anka said that she had the kind of voice that captures the imagination.
– Looks ridiculously hot as always.
– The theme definitely favours her this week.
– Wearing the highest heels that I have ever seen.
-It’s a good start to the show, but if I am being honest… definitely not memorable enough to make voters remember.
– The red dress was pretty memorable, but as always with Idol, it’s the girl-vote that you need to win.
– Carly Rae still might have it because she is the last female standing, but my honest assessment is that she needs Brian to go and to pick up some of his voters.
– She will need to pick it up with her second choice.
Jake: You didn’t disappoint, you’re on to the semifinals as far as I am concerned.
Farley: Really nice performance.
Sass: Those are fabulous shoes. Best performance you have done on the show so far.
Zack: I liked it. I want to see you sizzle more.

Commercial.

Jaydee Bixby
Age: 16
Drumheller, AB
– Sang “Fever” by Elvis Presley.
– In his opening video, Paul Anka said that he didn’t want to see Jaydee smile with the song.
– Anka also told him to think about how to make the performance sexy and to focus.
– He said that Jaydee had a concept of how to perform and I agreed.
– Originally, I thought that Carly would be singing this song.
– As an aside, I once was in a karaoke competition against Survivor Palau‘s Katie Gallagher in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
– I sang “Runaway Train” by Soul Asylum and she sang “Fever.”
– She won.
– Back to Jaydee, I liked how the orchestra was snapping their fingers during his performance.
– It really added to the standard vibe of the show.
– Another amazing performance!
– Crowd singing along for the second week in a row!
– This guy just knows how to pick songs.
– His dancing is spectacular!
– Totally playing it up for the cameras.
– Ending was very very weak, but I think everyone will be hard-pressed to top that.
Farley: You didn’t look comfortable. Kudos for trying.
Sass: That leg move was killer!
Zack: If I could take your face and cash it in, I would have a million dollars.
Jake: You weren’t in the groove. As far as the singing, I am not convinced so far.

Commercial.

Brian Melo
Age: 24
Hamilton, ON
– Sang “Mack The Knife” by Robbie Williams.
– In his opening video, Paul Anka said that he shouldn’t be afraid to be more aggressive.
– I am not the biggest fan of this performance.
– There is no question that Brian has really stepped up his game in recent weeks as he has become a fan and judge favorite, but let’s face facts… this performance isn’t that good.
– He can sing, but this doesn’t work.
– Strong ending, but I wasn’t into it.
– Sorry Melo-Fans.
Sass: That performance had attitude.
Zack: There were some weak things here and there, but you also had some really cool moments.
Jake: I like the attitude you brought to the song. You looked like a star up there.
Farley: You’re starting to really emanate comfort.

Dwight D’Eon
Age: 28
West Pubnico, NS
– Sang “I Get A Kick Out Of You” by Frank Sinatra.
– In his opening video, Paul Anka said that the “word kick is kick… not kiiiiiick.”
– Also told Dwight to not be afraid to sing and live the lyric and this week was a tough test for him.
– It pains me to admit it, but Dwight’s performance isn’t great.
– He isn’t at the same level as the others, but is clearly working with a major handicap.
– I think that he should have shaved off his beard and worn a top hat to really show that he cannot be typecast, but it just looked like a rock singer doing karaoke to a Sinatra song.
– Hopefully he can recover with his next performance.
– I think he will be ripped by the judges.
– It appears my final two prediction of Dwight and Carly will be in peril after tonight’s first songs from the pair.
– Hits some really bad notes.
– Not good.
Zack: I can’t necessarily see you as a crooner doing that tuner.
Jake: Valiant effort, but not your thing.
Farley: You came out like you had a 40 pound bag of flour on each shoulder… just relax.
Sass: You made such an effort and I really appreciate that.

Commercial.

Carly Rae Jepsen
Age: 21
Mission, BC
– Sang “I’ve Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good” by Mel Torme.
– I am bored.
– Not the best night for my final two.
– I don’t think picking a slow ballad was a good choice.
– Trying to save the performance with her upper register, but I am still not blown away.
– She is a good performer and her on-stage skills can save just about anything, but this was a tough one for her.
– She was clearly nervous and this was evidenced by the fact that she walked the wrong way after the song.
Jake: You sold the song.
Farley: You don’t have to sell, you just have to be.
Sass: It was like watching somebody in a film.
Zack: That was killer!

Jaydee Bixby
Age: 16
Drumheller, AB
– Sang “When You’re Smiling” by Louis Prima.
– Seems much more comfortable with this song, since he didn’t have to perform with Anka’s non-smiling rule in mind.
– Back-up singers come up to the front of the stage to sing with him.
– Another awesome performance!
– Dances with one of the back-up singers in the middle of the song.
– I really believe that Jaydee should be the Canadian Idol.
– Undoubtedly delivered the two most memorable performances of the evening.
– I loved it.
– He is very memorable and gets a huge ovation from the crowd.
Farley: You were believable. Really good job.
Sass: Right out of the barn door and headed to the race.
Zack: When America discovers you, you’re going to blow-up huge!
Jake: I was impressed by that.

Commercial.

Brian Melo
Age: 24
Hamilton, ON
– Sang “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble.
– Started the song by sitting near the piano.
– Much better than his first song.
– I liked it.
– I think that Melo is capable of better, but I also believe that the theme worked against him like it did with Dwight.
– He would have greatly benefited from ‘British Invasion’ week.
– Sounds good though.
– Clearly has the presence of a winner.
Sass: Are you going to be charging for real estate on the stage because you own it.
Zack: I see somebody wearing this crown and he’s wearing a hat right up there.
Jake: You still gotta vote for this guy. I felt it.
Farley: As a singer, you should stay here until the cows come home.

Commercial.

Dwight D’Eon
Age: 28
West Pubnico, NS
– Sang “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole.
– I was expecting big things from this performance because Dwight needed to close strong and it was a good song choice to end the show on.
– Definitely was not as good as I thought it would be, but much stronger than his first selection.
– He is not captivating the audience like I thought that he would.
– This just isn’t his element. Plain and simple.
Zack: You know Rambo, you kind of reached out and touch me in your own little way.
Jake: I just found it hard to believe you. I don’t know if you’re going to be here next week.
Farley: Just come out here and have fun.
Sass: Singing, schminging. You look wonderful.

Recap.

End show.

Heh, can you believe Sass said ‘singing, schminging?’ She’s the one who has talked about his voice not being up to snuff in the past and at the end of the day, Canadian Idol is definitely a singing competition. It is for that reason, that I believe the time has come for my final two prediction to cease as I think Dwight will be going home. That being said, I live by the sword and I die by the sword… and I am sticking with Dwight and Carly. I still think that Jaydee is the most deserving winner, but there is no question that Brian has the most momentum.

This has been the best season of Canadian Idol, because it really is unclear who is going to make it to the end.

I think that Carly and Dwight are in trouble tonight. I am hoping that it’s Brian who leaves.

Talk to you after the results.

Murtz Jaffer is the world's foremost reality television expert and was the host of Reality Obsessed which aired on the TVTropolis and Global Reality Channels in Canada. He has professional writing experience at the Toronto Sun, National Post, TV Guide Canada, TOROMagazine.com and was a former producer at Entertainment Tonight Canada. He was also the editor at Weekendtrips.com.