American Idol: What Goes Up Must Come Down
In the words of Randy Jackson - "Wow!" Last week, with the coaching assistance of Barry Manilow, we were treated to the most consistently entertaining night of American Idol yet this season. Now, I hope, we've seen the worst overall night.
Whether it was Kellie Pickler appearing to not at all be into her version of the "cute" "Suds in the Bucket" or Lisa Tucker seeming to completely miss the emotional depth of Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You.", it was a mostly painful evening. The entire hour seemed to be like one of those figure skating competitions where the winner turned out to be the one who simply managed to not fall down.
Notably, the controversy over Chris Daughtry's version of Live's cover of "I Walk the Line" was addressed. Thank you to the producers for not completely ignoring the matter. Daughtry followed up by turning in his weakest performance yet with a loud and boring version of Creed's "What If."
The judges demonstrated what seems to be a growing trend toward inconsistency. Last week Simon praised Chris Daughtry for being uncompromising, and this week scolded him for continuing to sing rock week after week. Paris Bennett, who has been told in the past she needs to appear more young, seemed to be told her performance of Beyonce's "Work It Out" was both too old and too young...although Beyonce first became a star when she was close to Bennett's age.
Those who didn't fall on the ice included Taylor Hicks performing "Trouble," a song by unfairly overlooked singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, and Katharine McPhee looking relatively cool and calm with a version of Christina Aguilera's "The Voice Within" while her fellow contestants stumbled. Thankfully, the entire evening ended on a high note with a confident, self-assured performance of Gavin DeGraw's breakthrough hit "I Don't Want to Be" by Elliott Yamin (pictured above right).
Details on all of the songs performed:
- Paris Bennett - Work It Out
- Bucky Covington - Real Good Man
- Chris Daughtry - What If
- Taylor Hicks - Trouble
- Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
- Katharine McPhee - The Voice Within
- Kellie Pickler - Suds in the Bucket
- Lisa Tucker - Because of You
- Elliott Yamin - I Don't Want to Be
- Ace Young - Drops of Jupiter
Comments
I have become a huge fan of your honest and insightful take on American Idol, and for your desire to speak the truth about the program in general and right on target when a contestant squeaks like Chris’ cover of Live.
I found it profound to see, Ryan try to balance this mess with a simple question to Chris. Because many of his fans acknowledge on your article about the Live version that it was edited out, but that was not disclosed by Ryan or Chris in the comments the other night. Since that time Simon has been hard on the back of Chris and talking out of both sides of his mouth as you point out in this article. And, to top it off, Chris butcher’s yet another groups music (as he did live’s verison of ‘I Walk The Line’); Chris does the same with Creed’s “What if” (and showing how close to the line he is walking in real life.
In Creed’s song, which Chris Screamed at us all the words are shared:
“What if you did?
What if you lied?
What if I avenge?
What if eye for an eye”
I would like to respond to those words here. What if you did? If I got on American Idol, I would want people to hear me, not how I can try to sound like other bands poorly! What if I Lied? If I Lied, I would admit it and come clean – - because I have to live with myself at the end of everyday! What if I avenge? I am really not the avenging type, by if I was to avenge; it would be by making myself and others accountable for the truth Chris – - and you and your fans can take that to the bank!! And finally, What if eye for eye? If I was eye for eye with Chris and his fans, If I were eye to eye with American Idol producers I would borrow from a judge on people’s court: “I would not believe you if your tongue came notarizied!! But, if I came eye to eye with you Mr. Lamb – - I would shake your hand and say you Rock On!!!!!!!!!!