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The Top Three are here to fight for a place in the finals.
Can I just say that tonight’s show is a bit pointless? Just send Syesha home now, since we all know the Davids will be battling for the top spot next week…
It’s the judge’s choice songs up first. Paula Abdul has picked “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel for David Archuleta. This is a nice song for David. The reverb is a bit overwhelming during the acapella first verse. While I think he did a nice job, I hate how he changed the melody so much from the original simple and beautiful line. Randy said, “You are in the zone.” Paula called it “pure and stunning.” Simon said there were “no surprises, a bit predictable, but good.”
Randy Jackson has picked “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys for Syesha Mercado. Who is this girl singing up here? It’s not the same Syesha who has been singing flat notes and doing cheesy performances for the past couple of months. *This* Syesha looked stunning and sounded amazing. I’m telling you if she had been performing like this all along, I might have picked her as an early favorite to win. I still think she’ll go home tomorrow night, but this was a great performance for her to go out on. Randy thought she did an amazing job. Paula thought it was good and she looked stunning. Simon wasn’t pleased with the song choice, as he wished she would do something that wouldn’t be compared to the original. He thought she did a great job anyway.
Simon Cowell picked “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack for David Cook. I absolutely love this song. That was stunningly good. Not a note out of tune. Not a single wasted note. He chose to do it in his upper register which made it come across as very vulnerable, but when it kicked into the dramatic ending he had a ton of power behind it. If I were to choose the winner, right now, it’s Cook. Randy wished Simon would have picked a rock song. Paula said he’s her second favorite person to sing it. Simon thought it was one of his best performances to date. He said “Round one to Cook and Cowell.” I will admit, that song brought a bit of a tear to my eye.
It’s time for the contestant’s choices.
David Archuleta picked “With You” by Chris Brown. He’s completely awkward. I don’t get it. I can’t say I’m completely familiar with the song, even though I have the Chris Brown album. (I haven’t listened to it much.) I absolutely hate this. It seems like he’s out of breath. I’m pretty sure he forgot some lyrics. This is just not even right. David is just far too white for this song. Randy applauded the fact he tried something different, but he didn’t believe it. Paula thought he did a great job. Simon liked that he did something different, but compared him to a chihuahua trying to be a tiger. It just wasn’t him. I hated it.
Syesha Mercado picked “Fever” by Peggy Lee. She’s got a choreographed piece complete with a chair for this song. Seriously, I have no idea who this person on the stage is. This person looks like a star. She brought more than an A game tonight. She’s playing pro. Randy said she sang it “amazingly well.” Paula was surprised by the song choice. Simon thinks she will regret that decision and did a “quite lame cabaret performance.” While I don’t think it was the best song choice ever, they really can’t deny that she sang the shit out of it.
David Cook is up with his choice, “Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot. Great song. I saw these guys play live a couple years ago. I think this is a brilliant choice for David. He is doing what the other two failed to do, and that’s show exactly what kind of album he could put out. Randy loved the choice, but thought it was a bit pitchy. Paula wanted more from the arrangement. Simon thought it was just “ok.”
For me, Round Two went to Syesha.
The producers picked songs for the contestants. For Roboboy Archuleta they chose “Longer” by Dan Fogleberg. This was a terrible choice for him. The song was far too old for him. I pretty much hated it. Randy didn’t like the song choice, but thought he could sing the phone book. Paula called it “lovely.” Simon thought he sang it well, however, he thought the song was an awful choice. He did think Archuleta had done enough to advance to the finals.
The producers chose “Hit Me Up” by Gia Ferrell for Syesha Mercado. This wasn’t quite as good as the other two vocally, as there were a couple of off notes, but it was still far and away better than her choices on other weeks. Randy didn’t think it was that great. Paula didn’t think it was the type of song she should be doing. Simon thought it was better than the second song. He didn’t think it gave her the defining moment she needed.
David Cook’s producer-picked song is “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith. I think his voice is sounding a little tired, perhaps he’s sick from the airplane trip back to Kansas City? It was a pretty by the book cover of the song. Randy thought it was “just ok and predictable.” Paula said, “See ya in the finals.” Simon thought David Cook won the night.
I agree.
The recap:
Going home:
Syesha Mercado
My prediction for the winner: David Cook.
