American Idol: Top Six

If American Idol is all about people trying to make a name for themselves by covering other artists' work, then who better than Andrew Lloyd Webber to be this week's celebrity mentor?

In general I thought this was one of the better weeks, which is usually the case when the contestants have to sing songs with real melodies. Okay, a lot of the notes were lifted from Giacomo Puccini but still, they were actual compositions (as opposed to last week's screechfest).

Jason Castro didn't know "Memory" was sung on stage by a cat. I guess the fact that it was from the musical Cats wasn't enough of a clue for him. What a complete moron. He sang the song not as a cat but as roadkill. Could be going home this week to resume his career as a village idiot.

But Syesha Mercado - hubba hubba!! I've never been a fan before but zowie - the slinky red cocktail dress, the sultry moves - I loved her. She dirties up well. Syesha sang "One Rock n' Roll Too Many" and clearly she has a future in musical theatre. She'd be great as Dorothy in The Wiz or Gary Coleman in Avenue Q.

Brooke White's schtick is that she makes every song so personal, which is why I laughed for five minutes when Sir Andew listened to her rehearse and said "she didn't have a clue as to what she was singing about." For the second time in the competition Brooke had a false start and had to begin again. It was one of the few reminders that this was live. But I fear it may cost her. America likes its spontaneity polished and rehearsed. She sang "You Must Love Me". I think with Webber's help she finally understood that the true meaning of this song is a desperate plea for votes.

David Archuleta sang "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera, making it his own - and by that I mean turning it into "Beauty and the Beast". It's a song normally sung by a woman but we may find out in ten years that it was.

I loved Carly Smithson's version of "Jesus Christ Superstar". The key to her staying in the competition is not letting her scary tattooed-covered skinhead husband get on camera. Remember, the kids are voting for American Idol not American Psycho.

And finally, David Cook did a mesmerizing version of "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera. He sang it pretty much like Michael Crawford but since no one who votes knows who the hell Michael Crawford is, or Phantom of the Opera, or Andrew Lloyd Webber, or Puccini, or Evita, or maybe even Jesus Christ (although that could just be Jason Castro), I'm sure they felt David's version was original.

All in all, good performances and no one sang Don't Cry for Me Argentina. I don't think I could ask for anything more...okay, maybe a Syesha wardrobe malfunction. But that's just me.

You can read more from Ken at kenlevine.blogspot.com

Comments

[gfk]

My favorite moment of this entire season was watching the little one, Ramielle (sp), try and sing In My Life. She is like 20 years old and looks 14. That was hysterical.

[mellene]

Jason is a fool. At least Carly could sing, where he can barely hold it together. I think the voting is rigged.

[josephbua]

The real tragedy here is that Ken Levine is spending his time blogging about this show and not creating one of his own.

Ken, you should be developing a multi-camera sitcom, not pontificating about this popularlity contest where, surprise, the kids sing a little, too.

And, btw, not such a big deal that young dreadlocked stoner kid with guitar doesn't know a song from the Lloyd Webber songbook. Cats was a long time ago now and the only thing it indicates to me is that the kid isn't gay.

I, of course, knew of Andrew Lloyd Webber during my trip out of mom's womb, indicating my sexual orientation.

[Burnsey]

Why do you pick on a 17 year old shy boy and infer he is a woman? Or is that just your way to slip in a gay joke like you slip in the colored people's jokes etc? There is a fine line between humor and hate and I think you stepped, no YOU jumped it, I guess everyone has their "shark" now-a-days don't they?

[wenton]

American Idol is losing it...I think this is the last year that AI will get huge ratings.

[Bulbul]

Sheyesha, lookwise a stunner, I notices her early on just for her looks. None of the girls have a chance, Brook should have gone sooner just after killing the Beetle song ! Only two talants standing out, Archulita ia only seventeen , let him finish high school. Dave Cook is the one with the silky velvetty voice and can sing any songs Rock n roll, blues, jazz...
Carly needs vocal coaching, top of the voice does not mean she has to scream, let it flow it would come without any effort.

[FlippyO]

Jason Castro is an idiot because he didn't know the song was sung by a cat, because it was from "Cats"? There was a musical about Charles Shulz's "Peanuts" characters, so we should assume the songs are sung by actual peanuts? The guy doesn't know Broadway songs, big whoop. I think he did a lousy job on the song, but I don't think he's an idiot because he didn't know that the cats in "Cats" sing.

[LeoMarvin]

You're absolutely. He's not an idiot because he didn't know the song was sung by a cat. That has nothing to do with it.

[DCDan]

Sorry, Mr. Levine, I don't understand this:

She'd be great as Dorothy in The Wiz or Gary Coleman in Avenue Q.

. . . probably cause I don't get the allusion to Gary Coleman. But regardless, the two references to black characters that a black singer could or should emulate harkens back to another post of yours from Top 12 Week (3/12/08) in which you grossly stereotyped another black Idol contestant, Chikize. Is there some reason Syesha shouldn't be considered for "white" parts?

[bugsbonzai]

Oh, get over it. Those are two iconic musical theater characters that Syesha just happens to have the right look for. Just as Clay Aiken got typecast as a goofy white guy in his first foray into musicals (Spamalot), so Syesha will get typecast as well. Thus is the world of performance. Stop implying that someone's bigoted because they didn't imagine a black woman as the star of Hello Dolly. Sheesh.

[DCDan]

Thanks so much for the tongue-lashing.

Try reading entries in their entirety, i.e., see other post for context, genius.