May 1, 2007

"American Idol" -- singing Bon Jovi.

We're told that Bon Jovi is one of the best rock bands in history, which just seems so ridiculous, but then it turns out these songs are pretty hard to sing. Jordin Sparks really can't get through the range of "Livin' on a Prayer." Simon says she "completely lost control... terrible." On either side of her, there's a pretty good singer: Phil Stacey and LaKisha Jones. Simon tells LaKisha: "I could kiss you." And she comes over and kisses him. With her lipstick on his lips, he tells her she nailed it.

Bon Jovi's saying Blake Lewis is going to take a risk and "roll the dice" doing "You Give Love a Bad Name" with 16 measures without singing. But that's what we want from Blake. And, ooh, his hair is black now. Randy raves it was the most original version of a song ever on the show. Paula's all "amazing." Simon says "very brave... you took a massive risk." But was it such a risk? It would have been risky to play it safe. There are only 6 left, and 2 are leaving this week.

Chris does "Wanted Dead or Alive." I'm betting on dead.

Melinda Doolittle has kind of a crappy song to do: "Have a Nice Day." Do people know this song? She's trying to prove herself as a rocker, using, I think, Tina Turner as a model. Randy detects Tina in it. So does Simon, who sees her as clearly the best.

So who goes home? If it were just based on tonight, it would have to be Chris and -- terrible! -- Jordin. But we're adding the votes from last week, so who knows?

Ryan says: "And on a different note, we have got some very special thanks to share with you." Suddenly, on the screen behind him... it's George and Laura Bush. I hear a bit of a sorrowful "oh" from the audience. This isn't what they've been expecting. George and Laura thank people for contributing money last week and showing "the good heart of America." He jokingly threatens to sing. Very scripted. But nice. Unless you hate Bush. Then it's got to be how dare he invade my show.

12 comments:

Patm said...

I thought Melinda was excellent, but she and Chris Richardson had the lowest scores on Dial Idol last week, and I think they'll be going home this week, even though Jordin really was awful. She had huge numbers last week, and they'll save her. I rarely vote, but I voted for Melinda and was able to get thru ten minutes after the show ended.

Too bad - the girl can sing anything - but hopefully she'll have a nice career without the Idol contract.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

I missed it. Thanks for the update. Chris Daughtridge didn't do half bad not winning. Same goes for Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington. I'd like to hear what Melinda Doolittle sings when she's doing all the picking.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

"Daughtry". Oops.

Bender R said...

Does that pea-brain Blake ever bother to listen to the words of the songs he's singing?

He blandly sings Mack the Knife, a song about malice and death that requires some toughness.

Then he tells the poor of Africa to "imagine a world without possessions."

Now he interjects some goofy robotics and sound effects that have absolutely no relevance to a song about some evil wench who "give[s] love a bad name."

What a boob.

Laura Reynolds said...

Not that anybody cares but I don't see how adding the votes from last week to this week is close to legit given many reasons too boring to go into here. I think Chris and probably Lakisha go.

I don't see any stars from this group although they'll all try.

Michael said...

I hear a bit of a sorrowful "oh" from the audience.

Not on the West Coast feed....

Chip Ahoy said...

Bon Jovi sings 'Levon' on the album Two Rooms that might change your mind about him.

Ann Althouse said...

I don't dislike Bon Jovi. I just don't think they are one of the all-time greatest bands. They have some catchy songs and Jon Bon Jovi is extremely attractive and a terrific singer who puts on a good show. They deserve their success. I remember enjoying their videos in the 1980s when my sons we're little. Everyone loved "shot through the heart and you're to blame...."

Agnostic Monk said...

I remember seeing Bon Jovi in 1994 or 1995 at Bombay. They were mediocrity personified. I had seen local bands cover their songs better. Well, they were always a pop-rock band aiming for a mass audience. Now, they are on American Idol. Sheesh. Wanted Dead or Alive is a classic but the rest...

LoafingOaf said...

I had a college roommate who was very into Bon Jovi and cheesy mainstream rock of that ilk, and it was hard to take for a whole year. So I decided to skip this week's Idol and just tune into the brief snippets they show when they're giving up the phone numbers one last time, just to get a taste of what happened (a taste was enough to see Jordin did terrible...). I kinda wish I had seen Blake though. I felt sorry for him having to do a Bon Jovi song, but it sounds like he handled it with some creativity.

Methadras said...

Melinda Doolittle is my favorite Idol of all-time. She's a phenomenal talent and quite cute to boot.

h said...

My prediction 1 month ago of a Blake/Melinda finale remains probable.

Let's face the facts.

The owners of the American Idol franchise do not want a grossly over-weight ebonics-speaking Lakisha as America's Idol.

Neither do they want an Amazon 17 year-old rich girl who very well may balk at the rigorous appearance schedule that being Idol requires.

Also, Melinda is just plain BETTER than either of them. And Blake is more interesting, versatile, and probably the best candidate to promote the franchise on talk shows etc...

I'm quite glad Chris bit the dust. Will miss Phil but wasn't surprised by his departure.

Bon Jovi, while not good, do have a large collection of recordings. Melinda chose well. And, as always, delivered. She did miss two notes but promptly recovered.

Jordin, by contrast, missed 2 notes and got ahead of the music. Then got very flustered and gave her weakest performance to date.

Terrible song choice. Lyrics like "tommy used to work on the docks" and "gina works the diner all day" are sappy. But bleached-blonde pop-star Bon Jovi wasn't far removed from being janitor Gianni Bonagiovi at the time he wrote it.

The lyrics and the feeling of the song are so far removed from Jordin's life-experience, she was doomed from the start.