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'American Idol' Recap: Best song of the night is Billie Jean cover
By M&C Smallscreen Mar 26, 2008, 15:31 GMT
03/06/2008 - David Cook - 2008 American Idol Top 12 Party - Arrivals - Astra West, Pacific Design Center - West Hollywood, CA, USA © Tina Gill / PR Photos
"American Idol" is back with the top ten, and Ryan Seacrest is in fine form, as he should be, he takes in $12 million annually from hosting the Idol show and he recently inked a 3 year deal with E! for $21 million, and E! has a terrible reputation for underpaying their producers and on-air talent too.
The Top Ten theme for this week is "songs from the year of their birth."
First up is Miramar, Florida teeny tiny singer Ramiele Malubay (1987) sings "Alone."
Not a good performance. Randy and Paula tell her it wasn't her best, Simon thinks it was good enough to get to next week; first time I have thoroughly disagreed with him.
Next is Minnie Driver's long lost son Jason Castro (1987) who sings "Fragile."
Castro is accompanied by his guitar, and he does a pleasant enough job but it is a bit boring. Randy and Paula were so so, Paula loves him, but Simon tells him that he needs to pick it up, and if he does he could win. Jason seems like a bit of a slacker to me.
Pumping up the volume in a soulful R&B number is Syesha Mercado (1987), singing "If I Were Your Woman."
She can belt a tune, but I have to admit, R&B can get schmaltzy for me, just as some country. This song did nothing for me. Randy and Paula are effusive in their praise, Simon didn't love it as much and criticized her ending.
Hailing from driven Nigerian-American stock, Chikezie (1985) sings "If Only for One Night."
Again, schmaltzy old-school R&B for me, but Paula liked it, Randy called it and said it was too old-fashioned for him and Simon was bemoaning the loss of Chikezie's breakout performances the weeks prior. Seriously, when he gets funkified and a bit bluegrassy he nails it. Older folks who loved Teddy, Peabo and Luther would have dug this weeks snorefest of a love song.
Brooke White (1983) learned to play the piano by ear alone, and her mum is quite lovely too, like Carly Smithson's mother. She sings Sting's "Every Breath You Take."
Everything was cool until the crescendo from the accompanying orchestra, she should have kept it to her piano, and Randy and Simon note this in their critique. Paula was sweet and liked her niche performance.
Coming out like a rock star was Aussie Michael Johns (1978) he nails another Queen song "We Are The Champions."
He can sing the power ballads, his voice is true and clear, his stage presence is 100%. The judges were loving his performance. Randy was over the moon, as was Paula, and Simon was happy someone woke him up in the night's competition. "Most memorable performance of the night" so far he says.
Irish lass Carly Smithson (1983) had the curliest hair as a little kid. Her mum explains that she was named after Carly Simon on a mad-dash to the hospital whim.
She sings the eighties power ballad, "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
Undoubtedly she can belt a song. She has strong vocal power and range but she seems to be angry or forcing the tune, almost shouting at certain points. Randy also sensed an awkwardness to the whole performance, thinks it wasn't the right song for her. Paula was cagey, she loves Carly but she didn't love that song, Simon says her delivery was too tense and he didn't love it either. Her tattoo arm must be covered up, really, enough already. Give her some sleeves next week.
Youngin' (16!!) David Archuleta (1990), sings "You're the Voice."
The judges were mixed. Randy was like, hey, not familiar with the tune but okay, you did "your thing," Paula says he could sing the phone book and Simon was not bowled over either. Step it up was the general consensus.
Country gal Kristy Lee Cook (1984) has a hot dad! In all her baby pictures he is shirtless and ripped! Even as an older dude balding - he is a looker.
She sings "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood.
She does a great job but I am such a cynic (it was pointed out to me last night) I thought and still think that song is too corny. Save your talkback because I love my country, just not cloyingly pandering tunes about the US of A.
Judges were all, "hey welcome back" to the game. Paula was a bit stilted and guarded in her comments and Simon tells her it was her best performance by a mile.
Winner of the funniest baby pictures of the night was David Cook (1982), what a mug on that kid.
Cook does a Chris Cornell (Soundgarten) cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."
He totally does this; he does covers of covers that apparently are unheard of by the judges who do cartwheels for his "brilliant" arrangements. Not knocking the guy, he had the best performance for the night, but lets keep it real you MUSIC PROFESSIONALS paid as judges. Cook has done well week after week. Simon tells him it was very brave, could have been insane or amazing.... and it was amazing.
See you after the bloodletting.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I think David Cook has had hair extensions put in to make his hair look like it has more volume, hair is looking fuller and thicker every week. Went back and watched snippets of past performances and yes, I am convinced he has had extensions.
David Cook-You rocked the house with 'Billy Jean' !!! I hope you win and if you don't , then somebody needs to sign you up now cause you can sell records !
David, I'am musician and love all types of music, not particularly fond of Michael Jackson, but the way you did Billie Jean last night blew me away, I would buy that redition of the song you did in a minute.
Take care, keep the faith & sing like there's no tomorrow.
PEACE
David, I'am a musician and love all types of music, not particularly fond of Michael Jackson, but the way you did Billie Jean last night blew me away, I would buy that redition of the song you did in a minute.
Take care, keep the faith & sing like there's no tomorrow.
PEACE
David Cook did a great job this week, but he is still a self absorbed GEEK with a bad hairdo...I agree. I believe he had extensions added. Have you seen the first few photos? The comb over look...I bet you that is a hair piece. Soon he will be wearing eyeliner, eye make up and perhaps a mohawk...for a real true rocker look...might want to get some tips from Sanjaya's hairstylist..
love him love him love him. Hope he goes all the way. my dream concert will be him w/ chris Daughtry
I am so tired of hearing about David Cook and his supposed originality. I liked his performance, but he is not unique, original or bold. Ever since 'Hello' was a hit, he does the same thing week after week. He takes a pure pop song and looks for a rock arrangement of that song (sometimes giving credit to the arranger and sometimes not). The arrangements he picks are less well known so it makes him look as if he is original and interesting. But he is doing the same as all of the other contestants - covering an arrangement put together by another person or group. His version of Hello was Incubus' version, 'Day Tripper' was a Whitesnake arrangement, 'Eleanor Rigby' was the Doxology version, and 'Billie Jean' was the Chris Cornell arrangement. The judges should know this and it is ridiculous that they continue to portray him as original and innovative. He is a good performer, but far from original.
Who will win???
David Cook, most original, out of the box, the one!!!!
His version of Hello is nothing like Incubus. I watched several of the Incubus performances. Just because they cover the song doesn't mean he is stealing the arrangement from them. His arrangement is a hell of a lot more intense and interesting. His Eleanor Rigby is definately th Doxology arrangement. I hope he gave them credit for it. When you are gonna do a song, I think you would research how else it has been done and of course do something that sounds good and is different in order to gain interest. This whole competition has evolved into a competition on choosing songs, finding an arrangement that works for the song and popularity. It is not even about singing anymore. I like David Cook. I think he has great taste in his song choices and he knows what he is good at.
Let's be real here people. Idol does not offer it's contestants much material or opportunity to be 'original'. So the best thing a contestant can do is take the theme that is given to them and arrange it as uniquely as possible. There are no original compositions in Idol. That being said, David Cook did an outstanding job of this on Tuesday night by taking an arrangement that was not very well known to the public and making it his own. Immediately after his performance, I downloaded the Chris Cornell version of Billie Jean and listened to it. David Cook's performance drew influence from this performance, but he made it his own. So, I take my hat off to the man. It's about time a Rock and Roll guy is the front-runner on Idol. Pop music just doesn't seem to have the same soul or energy as Rock.
David Cook knows what the public likes, and that is a big part of being successful. And what does his hair have to do with his talent - how stupid. Should we vote on the person with the best hair/clothes, etc.???
page: 1
graceMar 26th, 2008 - 17:19:44
As a Professional musician.performer.singer....I have to say that I have been impressed with David Cook from the get-go. And whether or not he is importing other groups styles to super-impose on a Cover of another famous musician..THAT is not the point. The point is..HE is clever enough to KNOW How to do so. His sense of musicality is stunning..If you don't get that..Take some advice from me.DUH...What do you expect Japanese opera vocal stylings? This is American Idol..No one gets to do ORIGINALS.
Personally, I am impressed with David Cook. It's going to be between him and the other David in the end...I do believe.
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