Idol Chat-Final Three

Well my fellow idol watchers, it is almost time for the big crowning, and at this point I have absolutely no idea who is going to win it. I do have a pretty good idea of who isn’t, however. Ryan said we have a high schooler, an actress and a bartender in the semi-finals. Who is going to win and who will go home to their day jobs? This is American Idol.
David Archuleta "And So it Goes" Billy Joel
David learns from a freakish man who apparently is the Mayor of David A’s hometown, that Paula is the judge who picked his first song. With all the crazy bad press poor David has received about his Dad being banned from rehearsals, and Idol getting stuck with extra royalties from his Dad’s insistence on incorporating a second song in Stand By Me, I am sickly fascinated as to what will happen. Will the puppet be able to perform when the puppeteer is kept away? This song was actually a beautiful choice for David, and I loved that he started a Capella to showcase his crystal clear voice. I am totally bugged by his eyes tonight though. He needs to either open them all the way or shut them. The affect I am getting is "the sun is blinding me", or " hey mom, I need glasses". In other words his pained expression took away from the overall beauty of the vocal for me. I also want to grab that right hand and move it a different way. Or stick something in it. Randy said that David was in the zone and in it to win it. Randy isn’t even trying to come up with new phrases anymore. Paula said it was a pure and stellar performance. Simon said it was very good, but with no surprises, so for him it wasn’t outstanding.
Syesha Mercado "If I ain’t Got You" Alicia Keys
Syesha needs to hone those acting skills a little, because I wasn’t buying the spontaneity of "look- I just got a text message from Randy" for one minute. While I certainly could see where Randy was going with his song choice, I don’t think he did Syesha any favors. She couldn’t match the depth and raw emotion of Alicia Keys, and during the verse her voice sounded strained and out of tune at times. She soared through the chorus and she looked absolutely beautiful, but I thought the top of her dress looked like it needed to be taken in. Since I still play the original, I would not start listening to this version when I could have the real thing. Randy said she was peaking at the right time of the competition. He could see her heart. Paula said she was proud of Syesha and that she applauds how beautiful she looks. Hey, did she get away without really critiquing her vocal? Simon said she sang it well and was gorgeous.
David Cook "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Roberta Flack
David also is no actor, and I cringe as he gets his text message from Simon. Simon wanted to challenge David and give him a chance to be original with one of the greatest songs ever written. From the first note, I have Goosebumps. I tend to forget that David has such great technical ability because he leans so heavy on rock. I loved what he did with this song, and think it is probably one of his best moments on stage. We all love to kid Simon, but he was right on this time. Randy wished he would have rocked. Paula said he had perfect tone and that it was now her second favorite version. I guess we are to assume that Flack’s is her favorite? Simon said it was his best performance to date and that round one goes to Cook/Cowell.
David Archuleta "With You" Chris Brown
David manages to get through his interview without looking too confused. Oops, he isn’t sure if it is time to go sing or not. I spoke too soon. I think that his vocals on this are pretty good, but rhythmically he looks at odds with the piece and he is way too big a slice of white bread to say "my boo". I can see that he is battling his image as the ballad boy, and so I am glad he tried it. He showed potential on this number and when he was dancing around (however badly) he didn’t seem as squinty. Randy didn’t believe the "my boo" line either. Paula thought he needed to shorten the phrasing. I don’t know about you all, but Paula has been amazing me with her clarity this evening. Simon applauded him for not choosing a ballad, but felt that it was like a Chihuahua attempting to be a tiger.
Syesha Mercado "Fever" Peggy Lee
My first thought when I see the chair is "uh oh". I may need to close my eyes again if this gets too embarrassing. Her vocal is pretty good, the performance is sexy, but for me this is back to talent show, dance competition stuff. Don’t get me wrong, she would probably get a gold medal, but this is not relevant to what I would go out and buy and listen to in my car. Randy thought she sang it well, but was confused by the song choice. Paula thought she looked lovely, but that she was surprised that she picked this song and didn’t think it showed who Syesha is as an artist. Simon took it even further by saying it was a lame cabaret act, and that she was going to really regret this decision.
David Cook "Dare You to Move" Switchfoot
I really like this song, and I am curious as to what David is going to do with it. It starts off really rough for me, he hits a few bum notes and the performance is a little flat. Then he finally hits his stride and it ends so abruptly I am looking to see if somebody pulled the plug. Randy thought it was a great song choice, just not his best performance. Paula wanted more, (and again is completely on her game with her comments-what is going on?) Simon thought it was pretty much what he expected and that the middle round was just okay for all three singers.
David Archuleta "Longer" Dan Fogelberg
The producers pick this song for David, and I have to say that vocally it matches him perfectly. I loved Dan Fogelberg and cried at his passing, so this song moves me more because it was one of the first songs I fell in love with by him. I can’t even give a critique. Well, he is doing that weird eye thing and licking his lips again, but aside from that he really sings this song beautifully. Randy said it was a very interesting song choice. Well he didn’t choose it Randy. How about saying something relevant this evening? Paula said it was a lovely performance. Simon thought he sang very well, but that the song was gooey and should be sung by a 90-year-old. Again, he didn’t pick the song!
Syesha Mercado "Hit Me Up" Gia Farrel
I can see where the producers were going with this very upbeat song that was from the Happy Feet soundtrack, but Syesha looks about as comfortable with this style of music as David A. did singing "my boo". She is a really good performer, and she had fun with it. It was cute and fun, but not necessarily memorable. I am glad she got out of the dress, and thought she looked younger in her black pants and white top. Randy said it was just okay for him. Paula thought she did the song well, but she didn’t think it would be enough to get into the final. Paula has not had a nonsense comment all evening. Simon said it was better than the middle song, but that it wasn’t as good as last weeks Sam Cooke song. Unfortunately for Syesha she needed a defining moment on this show, and she didn’t have it.
David Cook "I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing" Aerosmith
David starts off a little weak but finds his stride quickly. I think he sings it fabulously, with the exception of the second to last note, which was painful. I also didn’t care for some of the timing in the chorus, but overall I am just picking at him, because it was a believable performance and a memorable one. Randy loved the song but thought it was predictable. Paula gave a shout out to Diane Warren, who wrote the song and was in the audience. She simply said "see you in the finals". Simon said that David Cook won the night. I would agree, but not for this song. His rendition of Flack’s song will be the one I remember from the entire evening.
Best tonight: David Cook.
Going home: Syesha Mercado-unless the Daddy Archuleta press has a negative impact, she just didn’t do enough to break through against the Davids.
Tune in tonight….

I wanted to add that as this season wraps, please give So You Think You Can Dance a try. I will be blogging this show as I have for the last three seasons. If you are curious and not sure you want to make the summer commitment-but have plenty of spare time this weekend then check this out this blurb from BSYTYCD.com.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

TV Dance News
Cancel your weekend plans and stock up on snacks. SYTYCD season 3 marathon on MTV begins at 8:30 Saturday morning and goes till Sunday night. Plan your bathroom runs to coincide with the Tila Tequila commercials. We'll have an open comment thread here at BSYTYCD.

The actual season starts on May 22nd with a two hour season premiere. Give it a try-you won't be disappointed.