“Rock ‘n Roll Night on Idol” by Guy Aoki

Wednesday, April 6.  After being stuck in place two weeks in a row with 11 contestants, the list finally got cut down to 9 as the show paid tribute to artists who’ve been inducted into the Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame.  Though unmentioned by host Ryan Seacrest, only two producers worked with the kids this time around:  Ryan Tedder and Rodney Jerkins.  The focus was on mentors Interscope Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine and… oh no, not again!  Will.i.am from Black Eyed Peas, making his third appearance in four weeks! 

1.  Jacob Lusk:  “Man In The Mirror”/Michael Jackson.  Lusk first tried Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” but concluded it was too sexual for his own comfort level, so he returned to singing Jackson’s #1 hit from 1988.  Before performing it, in his video package, he told the camera that if he wound up in the bottom three, it wouldn’t be because he didn’t sing the song correctly but because the audience wasn’t ready to look at themselves in the mirror.  WTF?  He should wind up there just for that startling display of arrogance!  I expected the cliched 10 gospel singers in navy blue robes to come out to mimic the gospel flair of the original record.  Thank goodness they didn’t enter the stage.  Lusk did it OK.

     Judge Steven Tyler pointed out that singing back-up with Lusk on stage was Siedah Garrett who’d co-written that song with Glen Ballard (and also did that dreamy duet with Jackson, “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” from that same album Bad.).  Jennifer Lopez said it proved that when you believe in yourself you can do anything, adding it was “perfect in every way.”  Randy Jackson said that before, he’d waited for a “Jacob Lusk moment” and this week, he found it all over the place.

2.   Haley Reinhart:  “Piece Of My Heart”/Big Brother and the Holding Company.  The 20 year old explained that since the judges keep saying they hear Janis Joplin in her voice, she figured why not do one of the legend’s songs.  Good decision.  During rehearsals, Will.i.am asserted she wasn’t really feeling the lyrics.  Reinhart’s performance was OK, bringing out the expected growl in her voice, but I couldn’t shake the feeling she was playing dress up.  Even her final downward arm gesture signaling the end of the song and the band’s final note came across as weak.  Lopez said that if she kept that up, “you’re gonna be around for a minute!  A minute!”  Yeah, and maybe that’s all!  Jackson exclaimed, “That’s the Haley we loved when we first saw you!”  Tyler, in what could speak for most of the feedback he’s issued this season, said, “I couldn’t find nothin’ wrong with that!”  He even felt she took it up another level than Joplin.  What?!

     Before going to a break, Seacrest teased that Casey Abrams and Lauren Alaina were coming up next “only on Idol.”  You mean as opposed to “only in theatres?”  I’m confused…

3.  Casey Abrams:  “Have You Ever Seen The Rain”/Creedence Clearwater Revival.  Mr. Redbeard was going to do the Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” but Iovine and Will.i.am complained he was changing the melody too much.  Feeling he was only giving it “80% of my energy,” Abrams switched numbers, though he sounded like he only gave 80% to that selection too probably purposely holding back his trademark growl in case the audience had tired of it and that was the reason they voted him off the show two weeks ago (the judges saved him by using their one-time only veto).  He once again sang with the stand-up bass.  Jackson loved that he was making that instrument cool since it’s usually used in jazz settings and not a rock context.  Tyler was also impressed saying “nobody can play upright bass!”  Lopez said she’s pay to be in the front row of his concerts.

     Seacrest asked Abrams if he felt obliged to give a lot in his performances since the judges saved him.  He said yeah, 150%.  Well, let’s just say at least 80% OK?  Before the next contestant sang, Seacrest introduced smirky actor Christian Slater who was sitting in the audience.  Why’s he there?  Oh right, his new show (which I refuse to name cos I hate these plugs) is following “Idol.” 

4.   Lauren Alaina:  “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”/Aretha Franklin.  Though Franklin’s one of the R&B artists who made it into the Hall of Fame, it’s hardly a rock song.  Will.i.am offered solid advice:  Be in the moment and don’t anticipate what’s going to happen a few bars down the road.  This classic’s been done to death not just on Idol but by so many recording artists and Alaina added nothing to it.  Tyler and Lopez liked it.  Jackson said he wasn’t jumping up and down (to boos from the audience) but that she did a “good job.” 

5.  James Durbin:  “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”/The Beatles.  In the behind-the-scenes video, Durbin explained he’d done three big rock songs in a row, so he wanted to do something unexpected:  a ballad.  Will.i.am voiced his concern that it was risky because everyone else would be doing upbeat stuff and Iovine warned it might become “while my guitar gently sleeps.”  Durbin kept it low key throughout his entire performance, but, as I expected, he let out a yell on a long, sustained final note.  Lopez said it was “nice to see that other side of you.”  Jackson said he “loved seeing the real emotional side of James Durbin.”  And he was happy that Durbin, like a true artist, took a chance, which would give him longevity in the business. Durbin explained to Seacrest that he worked on it for five years and “wrote my own version of it.”  You what?  George Harrison wrote it.  You interpreted it.  You didn’t write it!  Slap head. 

6.  Scotty McCreery:  “That’s Alright Mama”/Elvis Presley.  McCreery wanted to pay tribute to his childhood idol.  Will.i.am offered this profound insight:  “If you take the word country and rock and you sandwich them, that’s Country Rock.”  Uh, thank you.  I never would’ve considered that without your help.  The 19 year old had some fun with it, singing behind the judges’ table.  He didn’t really do it in a rock voice but created the illusion of giving a rock performance.  After he finished, girls from both sides of the stage ran up to hug him.  It was clearly staged (either that or security should be fired), though in his post-performance interview, the singer said it was a big surprise.  Oh what, now he’s an actor too?

     As expected, the judges fell for his act.  Jackson said McCreery proved he wasn’t a one trick pony and that he was “in it to win it.”  Lopez loved that it was fun and entertaining and wondered if he watched rap or hip hop because “I feel a little bit of flavor there!”  What’s she talking about?!  This was just our smirky country boy singing a little more upbeat than usual.

     After another commercial break, Seacrest was now sitting in the audience with Christian Slater, spelling out that his new show was coming up after “Idol.”  Why does this arrogant girlfriend-beating jerk get a third chance when his last two starring vehicles failed?  It’s called the “Alex O’Loughlin syndrome.”  Don’t get me started on that charisma-less “actor.” 

7.   Pia Toscano:  “River Deep, Mountain High”/Ike & Tina Turner.   A good choice which could’ve demonstrated the power ballad singer’s ability to cut through tougher material.  Iovine believed that in order to do the song justice, “she’s gotta get pissed off tonight.”  Eh, she wasn’t mad enough.  Early on, Toscano had potential to win this contest because she’s the total package:  gorgeous and blessed with a strong, diva like voice.  But her potential’s been hampered by her Whitney Houston/Mariah Carey/Christina Aguilera vocal and hand gesturing mannerisms.  She lacked the textured voice to really hammer this one home.  Of course, it fooled the judges.  Tyler cried:  “Murderer!  Murderer!  You killed it!”  Lopez said Toscano proved she could do uptempo material.  In the future, she wanted her to do what Michael Jackson did:  Research classic artists from the past like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire and add that to her stage persona because she’s still not comfortable in her own skin.  Jackson reminded the single mother that her influences--Carey and Houston--had as many uptempo hits as ballads (good point) and that she had to work on moving onstage more. 

     After commercials, Jackson pointed out Todd Rundgren in the audience saying he’d produced Janis Joplin.  That was news to me.  Turns out he did one cut which didn’t come out until the ‘80s.  Instead, I would’ve mentioned his work with Badfinger (“Baby Blue”), Grand Funk (“The Loco Motion”), and Meat Loaf (“Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”).  But it was terrific seeing a great artist in the crowd for once. 

8.  Stefano Langone:  “When A Man Loves A Woman”/Percy Sledge.  Will.i.am repeatedly tried to get the Langone to sing “When a…” stop for a long time, then continue with the chorus.  For whatever reason, the contestant didn’t follow through in his performance, which began strangely in falsetto then came back down to earth for the rest of the chorus.  He’s one of the weakest singers left, and he’s just not going to go far with that wobbly voice.  Lopez was excited, though, cackling something unintelligible in a high pitched voice.  For the first time, she felt another level of emotion from him as if he was singing it to somebody.  I couldn’t tell because, once again, he was closing his eyes too much while on stage.  Jackson said he wasn’t jumping up and down about it feeling he was too jerky in the beginning by using too many short phrases and not saving them for later (in other words, establish the song first before doing vocal calisthenics).   

9.  Paul McDonald:  “Folsom Prison Blues”/Johnny Cash.  Iovine wanted him to perform it like he was out of his mind.  The weak-voiced singer was once again allowed to go on stage with his guitar (how do they determine who gets to accompany themselves with an instrument?  The producers said they were going to limit it this year because last year, the contestants got carried away hiding behind them).  McDonald even indulged in an 18 second guitar break, but because it was his first uptempo song in ages, he also gave his best performance in ages.  No lame whispered lyrics that always seduces Randy Jackson who, this time said, “Three words:  I loved it!”  Tyler and Lopez liked it as well.

     Once again, the contestants did a pretty good job overall, so although I pick Lauren Alaina and Stefano Langone to place in the bottom three, it’s hard to choose a third candidate.  Abrams rebounded strongly last week after being voted off by the audience, so he could be back in their good graces.  McDonald finally wound up in the cellar where he belonged last week, but he doesn’t deserve to be there based on tonight’s performance.  Maybe Lusk for his arrogant assertion that if America didn’t like his singing it was because they couldn’t look at their own shortcomings?  Reinhart just because she’s been in the bottom three twice before?  Durbin because he was finally boring?  I’m gonna go with Jacob Lusk.  Going home:  Stefano Langone.

     Check in here tomorrow night for the results.