Didgeridoo? Yes, she did!

EDIT: 4/7/10 @5:35PM: to reflect new betting odds

This week we revisited the songbook of Lennon & McCartney. Idol fans will remember we had this same theme 2 years ago with a few really decent performances. You all remember what one of my number one bugs is too, right? Everyone, all together now,

"Never sing a song that a prior Idol has DONE".

Do you think they remembered this? Well, most of them did. Four of them, however, did not. Only one actually worked it out to the point I almost forgot the previous performer.

So. Of all the songs in this theme, there are exactly 2 that I hate and one that I find barely tolerable. I give you one guess how many of them got sung this week. Yep, if you guessed all three, you'd be correct. Exactly 33% of the performances I am guaranteed to hate, right from the word go. It would take a miracle, a decent performance, or something unexpected, to make me sit up and take notice.

Overall, it was an ok night. Well, at least I wasn't screaming "B3" because a performance was so damned horrible. It was a 3 Bears kinda night. They either did too much, not enough, or just right. Few did the latter and Goldilocks would be terribly disappointed with not enough little bear quality stuff.

This week we got to learn what it's like hanging with the kids, not from their own mouths but from those they were competing against. Do you think we'd be treated to some good natured smack talk? Hell no. Alotta treacly, cloyingly sweet sentiment *barf*. Puh-leez! You know y'all really want to just rip into someone, so just do it already!


Yoda Aaron (The Long and Winding Road) So. Right off the bat, and we hit one of those songs... ~already~. Why do I hate it? It's long, dreary and takes for-FREAKN-ever for it to end. The only thing longer is The Sherry Lewis song or anything performed by Meat Loaf. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a terrible performance, but I preferred Gaspuletta's version of it. Anyone who has been reading my Idol entries knows how I felt about that child and that it really takes ALOT to have to admit that. .oO(someone pass the Amaretto and cream because I canNOT believe I said it.) His odds have dropped from last week, although they're still up ever so slightly from day one. He had a one state win, down one from last week. Singing first certainly did NOT help him any this week. (As of this afternoon, Aaron's odd have dropped even farther. He is now BELOW his starting odds.)

Katie (Let It Be) Um. That's right, you shoulda let it be. Sorry, at least this is the more tolerable of the 3. She's not my favorite and I doubt she ever will be. I always seem to gravitate towards the older, more polished contestants. That said, this wasn't a bad vocal at all. It is one of her better vocals this season. I loved how she ended ever so softly instead of blasting it out like she could have. Two years ago we heard this song from Brooke. Of the two, I'd have to say I liked Brooke's version a bit better. Her odds are down from last week. She managed to win a state though, putting her ahead of last week's performance. Will this save her, maybe or maybe not. Only one state puts her in danger this week no matter what Simon said. (As of this posting, Katie's odds have risen somewhat.)

Andrew (Can't Buy Me Love) I can't my finger on it, but I really didn't like this performance at all. Maybe it's just how his voice sounds at times. The song had potential and I think with another week or so it may have been better. There were things that worked in it and alot that didn't. The backing band certainly needed to back it off a bit. Considering the 2-3 really good numbers that came after him, I'm afraid he's going to be forgettable. This goose egg really needs to go home. If not this week, then certainly by the next. His odds are slightly up from last week but he's still way down from where he started off. Yet again, no states won. On a positive note, he didn't lose any either so THAT'S a sign of improvement. Enough to save him, probably not. He's in danger this week too. (His odds dropped, not as bad as Aaron's though. )

Mike (Eleanor Rigby) This one falls in the "Oh NO he din't!". Yes, I was then and still am a huge Cookie fan. Huge. Massive. As far as I am concerned, NO ONE can do this song justice like Cookie did it. In all fairness, David knew how to pick the right song for his voice and the arrangement (pre-existing or not) that would showcase his vocals properly. However, it wasn't all that bad. He stayed closer to the original than David did and I really think Mike could have done just a bit more with it. He's got a great voice though and I really don't think he'll be in danger, not at all. His stock is rising ever so slightly and he gained a state from last week (this week he won 3). He, Lee and Casey are each in very good position to pose some serious competition to my gal Crystal. (His odds have risen a bit since last night.)

Crystal (Come Together) Ryan pointed out that she's sick and she played it off because EVERYONE in the camp has a bit of this illness. Good for her. She does good enough without fishing for the pity votes, thankyouverymuch. This was a neat performance that included a didgeridoo, of all things. It added a nice flavor, richness to the song. We've heard this one at least twice that I recall. Once was 2 years ago when Carly sang it (Carly's presently the lead singer of the new group We Are the Fallen). The last time we heard it is when Kris performed it on the Top 4 week (his performance video is being used in fairness to the girls). Of the 3, I like Crystal's live version best (Kris comes in a close second as he and Crystal at least attempted to make it a bit more current). It'll be interesting to compare her studio with his on this one. I think both will be equally good in their own fashion. Her odds slipped a little from last week, but she still is the odds on favorite to win so far. She won 10 states, which is down from last week. However, considering the performance that is yet to come AND she sang mid-pack this week. Those numbers are damned good. Crystal is in the green this week (they list her as 1-3), but she's sharing that spot with another for the first time this competition. (No surprise, her odds regained their former number from a week ago.)

Tim (All My Loving) I hate to admit this, but I actually kinda dug Tim this week. I wasn't overly loving the arrangement because he didn't really bring anything new to it. However, his vocal was mostly spot on, for once. I still think that the pick is a tip of the hat to the nefarious site. I mean, really, they're one of the driving forces keeping him on that stage and we all know it. The judges were actually very nice to him this week. I'm wondering if it wasn't a whole lot of reverse psychology going there, trying to get the fanbase to relax so they don't vote so hard. Hate to tell ya, Simon, those that really want him there saw right through your comments and I suspect they voted all the harder. His odds have plummeted farther than Paige's ever did, with no sign of slowing down. Maybe now's a good time to put a couple bucks down on him. A hundred will pay ya over $16,000 if he wins. This week was a 1 state win which is up one state from last week. Hey now, that means he faired better than Andrew! Still, the numbers are low enough to toss him into the B3 again this week so it won't be a surprise if he ends up there. (This performance brought his odds up substantially. A hundred will get you only $12,500 now.)

Casey (Jealous Guy) I didn't know this song. It was ok-ish. His vibratto was a bit out of control tonight which makes me suspect he had a touch of stage fright, maybe? I wouldn't have called it his best performance, but it was definitely one of his better ones. He only won one state this week which is down 2 states from last week. His odds are up slightly from last week. Even with just a one state win, I'll be surprised if he is in the B3. (His odds went up. He definitely needed this performance this week. He's now standing at numbers BETTER than when he started.)

Siobhan (Across the Universe) Quirky song, for a quirky girl. This had all the makings of a major trainwreck. She was extremely nasally tonight and I wasn't overly fond of it. However, there was some good in it. Siobhan showed tremendous restraint with her voice this week. Soft and tender in all the spots where it was supposed to be. Only only glory note in an appropriate spot and tastefully done. Yes, the performance was "sleepy", however the original is very sleepy as is the cover that was done of it (apologies to Chicago for my outburst cussing Randy out when he critiqued it). Does this put me on Siohban's fanwagon? No, not even close. Her odds have dropped a bit since last week, however they're not as bad as most and she's still a good bet for the win ($100 will get ya $791 is she wins). Last week she had 2 states won, this week it was 5. She can thank a very restrained vocal and the sweet spot behind the pimp spot for those numbers. If she hits B3, it'll be highly undeserved. (Her odds dropped somewhat after this performance.)

Lee (Hey Jude) And here it is. Song 3. And my second favorite is singing it. *sigh* You remember what I said about what it would take to make me sit up and take notice, right? Let me refresh your memory:

"It would take a miracle, a decent performance, or something unexpected, to make me sit up and take notice."

Ok, all three happened. Was it an unexpectedly good performance? No, Lee's always a fairly decent performer but he's had better... like last week. The miracle came with the unexpected when yet another unfamiliar instrument was brought to the stage. Bagpipes. Seriously? I think I've been drinking too much tonight folks. No, wait, I only had a couple shots and one doesnt count because it was Chicago's fault I had to drink it! Did I enjoy the performance? eh. I thought it was a bit much and it's doubtful I'll get it off ITunes (although I may at least proof it). However, I actually listened to it a couple more times just to be certain it wasnt going to grow on me. I'm sure. I still really hate the song. (His odds crept up somewhat. Maybe the bagpiper was wearing that kilt authentically??)


Ok. So who's in the most danger?

Any of the following:

Aaron: A first singing position with dismal critiques from the judges, a not so good vocal. All put him in danger of a B3 trip this week.

Katie: Too little, too late. This poor gal can't catch a break. They want her younger and relevant, yet they keep throwing these ancient themes at the group. Yes, it's a good test to see what they do, but still. If she hits B3, it'll be undeserved and if she goes home it'll be even more so.

Andrew: Even though he changed up the song, he sang before a didgeridoo and bagpipes. Plus with Siohban's restrained vocal and Casey's extremely vulnerable take of Jealous Guy, Andrew's all but forgotten. The only thing I remember is that 1) he sang and 2) he was on the catwalk. That's about it. He's past time for going home as his peak was a couple months back.

Tim: The perenniel bottom dweller had a decent performance this week, but it was no more memorable than Andrew's. Working for Tim, he's cute. That's about it.

Casey: I really will be shocked if he ends up here, but there is a distinct possibility. Why? A relatively unknown song (even I didn't know it and Lennon/McCartney songs were pretty much the only thing my ex would play on his guitar) and he didn't push it quite far enough this week.

Siobhan: If she's here, it's totally undeserved. Yes, it was a sleepy song, but the original was that way. Yeah, it was nasally but we've heard worse. If she hits B3 and gets sent packing, it'll only prove my theory that the contestant most likely to leave is the one that would have the easiest time the following week (see: Paige leaving the week before R&B week, Didi leaving before a great singer/song writer week, etc). Being the only one with the closest to a "rocker scream/wail", she'd be the logical choice (which means we'll probably lose Casey the week before we get Shania as a mentor) to send off.

Although I have 2 of the girls there, I really don't suspect any of them will head home this week. The odds favor a guy going home this time.