Ken Levine

Ken Levine

Posted March 18, 2009 | 09:04 AM (EST)

American Idol: Country Week -- Watch Where You Step

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Now that the kids not attractive enough for FOX have been weeded out we can get down to business. This was Country Night and the guest mentor was Randy Travis (or, for you non Country fans: Thomas Hayden Church).

By and large all of the vocals were good. I must admit though that although I enjoy Country music I'm not an aficionado of it so I apologize if I don't get all the titles exactly right.

Texas redneck Michael Sarver sang "Don't get my girl confused with my horse". Kara (as always) pushed for bigger notes. I bet if you looked at her iPod playlist you'd find thirty Celine Dion songs, twenty Shirley Bassey songs, and the complete works of Ethel Merman.

Adam Lambert is the illegitimate love child of Freddy Mercury and Liza Minelli. He sang "Ring of Fire" but in the more traditional pre-Hitler Berlin cabaret style.

Allison Iraheta (the Little Mermaid) did a great rendition of "Take my heart but leave the beer". Randy Jackson liked it too and gave the ultimate compliment to a Country singer - "It was dope".

Kris Allen, this season's tween sensation sang the touching ballad, "If you leave me now I'll kill your dog". Randy Jackson was shocked. "Who knew you had tender moments?" he said to the boy who looks like a girl.

Randy was on fire last night. He amazingly surmised that classy R&B belter Lil Rounds wasn't comfortable singing Hee Haw music. It's like he's...psychic! Personally, I thought she did a very nice job with "Harper Valley PMS".

Scott McIntyre did a lovely interpretation of "There's not enough whiskey in Kentucky to get me to take you home". Paula thought he should stop accompanying himself on the piano. She said "Audiences need to see you as a showman". Great advice to a blind man. Let's see Scott juggle next week. Thank you, Simon for just calling her advice "stupid".

The judges again scolded Alexis Grace for not looking and sounding like a whore. She sang, "Picking dingleberries".

Widower/crooner Danny Gokey did not wow the judges this week with his version of the Carrie Underwood smash, "Jesus, check the oil".

My favorite performance of the night was by Anoop Desai. He killed with "You were on my mind". If there's such a thing as Hindustani Soul, he's got it.

Why did Megan Joy Corkrey drop her last name? Her graphic just read "Megan Joy". I thought she looked gorgeous tonight; that gown really went well with her tattoos. And despite having the flu (which should be good for at least 10,000,000 votes right there) she nailed "After Midnight".

And finally, Matt Giraud served notice to Danny Gokey that he's not the only frontrunner. He brought down the house with "Give me back my spurs, the wedding is off".

I think everyone is safe on Country Music night except Michael Sarver, the only actual country boy. It's not fair. But isn't that what the Coen Brothers were trying to tell us in "No Country for Old Men" after all?

You can sign up for Ken's Twitter here.
And read his blog here.

Now that the kids not attractive enough for FOX have been weeded out we can get down to business. This was Country Night and the guest mentor was Randy Travis (or, for you non Country fans: Thomas Hay...
Now that the kids not attractive enough for FOX have been weeded out we can get down to business. This was Country Night and the guest mentor was Randy Travis (or, for you non Country fans: Thomas Hay...
 
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- 1sparrow I'm a Fan of 1sparrow 20 fans permalink

ken levine you made my day! i haven't read such clever commentary in years! i think meagan joy is current -and i expect her by the april issue's centerfold.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:37 PM on 03/19/2009

Last night it was all about 4 guys: Kris Allen, Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, and Danny Gokey.
Would an all-female Bottom 3 surprise you?

http://www.ryanseacrest.com/blog/americanidol/

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:27 PM on 03/18/2009

"Adam Lambert is the illegitimate love child of Freddy Mercury and Liza Minelli."

Last night.

Other nights I thought he was Freddy Mercury/Patti Labelle

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:00 PM on 03/18/2009

Adam Lambert doesn't have near the state presence of Freddy Mercury, if he did, he would be more interesting. I look am him and he seems very creepy, in a "I am obsessed with death" way. He is more like a mix between Robert Smith (The Cure) and Liza Minelli.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:16 AM on 03/19/2009

Having grown up with the music of Freddie Mercury I will tell you that I think Adam Lambert is really talented but he reminds me more of Stephen Tyler. BUT!!!!! Last night was "country" night. Yes, Adam you sang a country song but it would have been nice to hear it the "country" way! I also hated Simon's comments on Alexis Grace singing Dolly Parton's song, Jolene, too much like Dolly. So what is it? It was supposed to be "country" night. Michael was the one who actually gave it the country touch and yet the panel slammed him for doing so. Matt, Megan, Allison, Anoop and Kris were the stars last night. Time for Danny and Adam to get it in gear.

I think there is a whole lot of talent on that stage this year and maybe the problem is the panel? Think about it!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:38 PM on 03/18/2009
- learntofly I'm a Fan of learntofly 292 fans permalink
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The title of your article sums it up nicely. If I were judging the show, I'd give it a D+ for showing up. Can American Idol get any more boring?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:12 PM on 03/18/2009
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Who's worse - the karoake singers, the fans who actually watch the show, or the 'writers' who waste everyone's time with this nonsense ?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:01 PM on 03/18/2009
- karenann I'm a Fan of karenann 5 fans permalink

This write-up is hilarious -- and spot on. I do enjoy watching the show; it's pure entertainment no matter who you're rooting for.

I did agree with Simon about Adam -- pure narcissistic self indulgance. It was a bit much and I do believe I saw shades of Tatiana Del Toro in his bravado last night.

No one really knocked my sox off last night; there were some good performances, but nothing that made it out of the park.

Keep up the great reviews! They're the perfect complement to an already fun show.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:48 PM on 03/18/2009

This whole article annoyed me, lol.

Thank you, that is all.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:52 PM on 03/18/2009
- singlemalt I'm a Fan of singlemalt 2 fans permalink
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I thought Megan was outstanding. Her voice and style--just so unique. She's unlike any other
Idol. Yes, she nailed After Midnight. Alexis was good. Not great, but good. Last week they said she over sang. Last night, she plays it too safe and gets called on that. She has to find the middle ground between over singing a being too safe. She has huge star potential.

Adam is a guy trying desperately to be a rock star. He's not a rocker, he just tries to act like one. Great vocal range, but so what? Let him go on the dinner theatre circuit and do Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Anoop bores me. Nice voice. Nice range but...zzzzzzzzz

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:43 PM on 03/18/2009
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AI fans actually don't like music. They like the soap opera aspect and don't actually care about or enjoy music. It's all wallpaper noise to them and they don't really 'get' any of it. Sad.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:03 PM on 03/18/2009
- PatA I'm a Fan of PatA 53 fans permalink
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Mr. Levine, while you're making fun of country music, all the singers/songwriters are laughing at you and all the way to the bank.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:58 PM on 03/18/2009
- NHBill I'm a Fan of NHBill 15 fans permalink
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Bravo! Great post full of great lines. This one was my favorite: He sang "Ring of Fire" but in the more traditional pre-Hitler Berlin cabaret style.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:15 PM on 03/18/2009
- Charity I'm a Fan of Charity 22 fans permalink
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*laughing out loud* ken! but i sure missed hearing "I Don't Want Your Body If Your Heart's Not In It."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:13 AM on 03/18/2009
- Bulbul I'm a Fan of Bulbul 46 fans permalink
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Beg to disagree....
Megan , was off key the whole time, this week can be excused for flu, but the week before ?
She has no buisness being there....looks lovely, but that`s beside the point !
My pick....Cris, Matt and Anup in this order. Anup probably will not win because of his smart geeky look. Alexis, have a unique voice but she messed up last night !
I liked Lil, she looked fabolous and I liked her singing, other times she is too much.

...and Adam ? Rubbish as Simon say.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:09 AM on 03/18/2009
- BlackJAC I'm a Fan of BlackJAC 71 fans permalink

So when do they do they have Blues Week, with Buddy Guy as the mentor?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:06 AM on 03/18/2009
- RonPaulFan I'm a Fan of RonPaulFan 4 fans permalink

Adam being the love child of Freddie and Liza- Classic! Of course he doesn't match the vocal genius of Mercury, but certainly matches his flamboyance.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:37 AM on 03/18/2009

I think there's a little Boy George in the mix somewhere.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:18 AM on 03/18/2009

He's the Emo Axl. Love it or weep it.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:33 PM on 03/18/2009
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You cannot possibly be serious.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:03 PM on 03/18/2009
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