AI Top 3: The Power (?) Of Three

Watching American Idol after the fact is always a weird, systematic succession. One has to (try to) avoid all things online. Facebook has to be limited and Twitter has to be almost null and void. A failure, I might add, but my want to be surprised, shocked, outraged, perturbed, frustrated, elated while I’m “in the moment” – even though the show was old news to about everyone else – is always desired.

I’ve become more restive as my middle age approaches, though. Trying my hardest to refrain from fast-forwarding through a 2 hour slog-fest chock full of filler is relieved only with the knowledge that this is the penultimate week of season 10. And it couldn’t have ended any faster…

Yet, for some reason, post-performance show last night, I couldn’t find the inner inkling to write a damned word. I’m usually pent up with an abundance of thoughts, just itching to get to my computer and start typing away. But, not last night. I merely continued on into the rest of the night watching DVRd shows I can’t seem to find the time to during the week.

So, here I sit on my lunch hour at work, chicken Caesar salad wrap in one hand, hunting and pecking with the other, hoping I could make it through on my memory of last night.

Here’s a quick (yeah, right) recap…

Idol gave us our obligatory three’s-a-charm(?) scenario, whereas the final 3 contestants perform three selections from three sources – the contestant’s own, then season 10 Svengali, Jimmy Iovine, and finally judges pick (this year as an aggregate, not individually).

Round one started with Scotty’s choice of “Amazed” – and while I can’t blame him for the song itself (a massive crossover Country and Pop #1, and one of the most turgid), I can blame him for choosing it. He imbued it with more uncharacteristic range than is his norm (though his status as ‘one-note’ is speciously inaccurate), and with more, uh, passion ?, than the hideous Lonestar original, so he gets upped a grade for that. Alaina’s pick was Faith Hill’s very first #1, “Wild One” and the exuberance of the song should have been a tailor fit; Alaina is always at her (pedestrian) best when instilling, if not vocal aerobics, at least a little joviality in her recitals. Perhaps when mentor Beyonce advised her to tap into her own Sasha Fierce-type persona, a better suited choice should’ve been Beyonce’s own “Lose My Breath” for all the uncontrollable breathiness. Haley’s Led Zeppelin choice was a fiery reminder as to why she’s Top 3 at all, despite the historical, maddening drubbing by JLo and Randy (though not here), and why she belongs in the finals. Her quick slip up the steps will be talked about, but so will her trouper-in-stiletto’s confidence – fall and all, she commandeered the song with a jazz and blues inflected, totally stylized Tasmanian devilish lure mixed with a Rock passion. It was chills-inducing, dynamic and a total Idol anomaly, much like Zeppelin’s sole other song clearance back in season 9 (Adam Lambert’s powder keg explosive “Whole Lotta Love”). Haley gave the performance of the week. For the SIXTH WEEK IN A ROW! I know. It’s only Rock N Roll, but I like it!

Iovine’s song selects should be commended – unlike seasons past, when either Clive Davis or “Idol producers” chose generic, pop music standards to head-scratching effect/affect, Iovine’s eclecticism encourages the Idol’s to think outside the barn. It didn’t necessarily work. Scotty’s Thompson Square Jimmy jam, while totally proficient, missed an opportunity for a needed McCreery epiphany. Same with Iovine’s The Band Perry choice for Lauren, where the modulation tripped her enough to negate the lovely opening refrains. Haley, like Stevie Nicks’ protagonist “Rhiannon”, rang like a bell in the night, and, wouldn’t you know? I love her (Jimmy – a one-time lover of Nicks, and producer of her first three solo albums – is the one person who could rightfully bequeath a Nicks song on anyone). Reinhart’s fear of forgetting Nicks’ lyrical eccentricity could have obstructed the performance art, but instead she allowed Nicks’ abstruse, mystical, gypsy vibe to permeate her own being– from the wind machine, the abstract arm choreography, the quivering, wavering tones. I loved how Haley mellifluously swooped the melody in the name “Rhiannon” during the chorus. Perhaps it could have benefited Reinhart if the key was lowered a half step, and I know this wasn’t for everyone, but, as a Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac worshipper, am I being prejudiced? Perhaps. But who cares…I’m too lazy to go back and re-listen.

Judges picks were – shocking! – pure curiosities. I grew up on Kenny Rogers and there’s a special place in my heart for “She Believes In Me”, but a 17 year old can’t possibly relate to its adult lyrical content. Scotty’s prone to cornball aesthetics, I know, but it didn’t fully work, especially the strain in the songs choral crescendo. Lauren’s “I Hope You Dance”, a modern Country classic, was too life-size for her to seize. The tempo was inappropriately rushed, and Lauren missed an opportunity to adhere to the emotionalism and expression of it’s definition. She hit the notes accordingly, but the performance as an entity fell into the too-often tracked terrain that has become Alaina’s main detriment – pageantville. The less said of Reinhart’s massacring of Alanis Morisette’s anthem “You Oughta Know” the better. Sure, one can accuse the judges of sabotage for choosing this classic, bitter fuck-you to ex’s everywhere – I mean, can anyone but Morissette embody the autobiographical rage so innate to her? – but that wouldn’t excuse Reinhart’s almost comical blundering and indecipherable mumbling of the bridge – even though everyone I’ve ever met does the same thing since no one knows what the hell Morissette’s saying anyway. She somewhat saves herself from total atrocity on the choruses, but overall, this scarily reminded me of those embarrassing pre-Bennie & the Jets days. Not an avenue I ever want to visit again.

Okay, it’s back to work…I’ll revise any text later (though not the grades) if I find any misinformation, or any grammatical/spelling errors. Don’t forget to catch me on tonight’s post-results SECRET SHOW GONE WILD with SPECIAL GUEST JIM CANTIELLO. Always a blast.

In order of performance:

Scotty McCreery
Song: Lonestar’s “Amazed”
My grade: B

Lauren Alaina
Song: Faith Hill’s “Wild One”
My grade: B-

Haley Reinhart
Song: Led Zeppelin’s “What Is And What Should Never Be”
My grade: A-

Scotty
Song: Thompson Square’s “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
My grade: B+

Lauren
Song: The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young”
My grade: B+

Haley
Song: Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon”
My grade: B+

Scotty
Song: Kenny Rogers’ “She Believes In Me”
My grade: B

Lauren
Song: Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance”
My grade: B

Haley
Song: Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know”
My grade: C