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‘American Idol’ 2010: Top 5 performances (video)
What a week to throw ol’ Blue Eyes at the “Idol” hopefuls.
After a season full of judges’ comments about making performances “young” and “relevant,” Frank Sinatra tunes seem anachronistic (and the swagger required kind of unfair to the lone remaining female voice — hey, wasn’t this supposed to be the year of the girls?).
It was also odd that doughy celebrity mentor (and, apparently, stand-up comic) Harry Connick, Jr. worked up all the arrangements. Isn’t “Idol” all about song choice and — more importantly — how the contestants interpret those songs? I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come. For one thing, professional arrangements would eliminate half the guilty pleasure of watching a Tim Urban reggae his way through “Under My Thumb” and we’d never have gotten to meet Lee DeWyze’s bagpiper.
This week was a little tough to process, since there are only two levels of talent left: Crystal and Lee; and everybody else. And the Sinatra theme didn’t cater to the frontrunners. YJMMV (your judges’ mileage may vary).
Let’s get to the performances:
Aaron Kelly, “Fly Me to the Moon”
This was probably my favorite Aaron performance, for a few reasons. First, it lent his generally spot-on vocals a little attitude, which I haven’t seen before. Also, I convinced my wife to do the trick where you close your eyes and suddenly picture a girl singing. Puberty is gonna be rough on Aaron’s singing career.
My grade: B+
Casey James, “Blue Skies”
I feel bad for Casey. He was clearly out of his element this week. A few weeks ago, Kara lauded one of his more guitar-less performances, telling him that we’d never really gotten to hear him sing before. Well, be careful what you wish for. She pointed out the weird, goat-y vibrato thing he had happening, and not in a good way. And for having the “ladies’ man” tag slapped on him near the beginning of this season, Casey sports surprisingly little swagger.
My grade: C-
Crystal Bowersox, “Summer Wind”
My, oh my … the genre weeks are not kind to Crystal. Her performance was really pleasant and tasteful — she didn’t miss a note — but the judges were all “meh” on it and it’s not something anybody’s going to be talking about today. I didn’t mind that her voice sounded quiet toward the beginning of the song, but it also sounded thin and a little weak, and that’s different. And I’m beginning to wonder whether Bowersox — the clear frontrunner for most of the season — is talking back to the judges more and more each week in a desperate bid to not win the competition and be locked into the “Idol” (hit?) factory.
My grade: A-
Mike Lynch, “Just the Way You Look Tonight”
Okay, Sinatra is clearly smack in the center of Big Mike’s wheelhouse. His propensity toward theatricality serves him well as he dons a fedora and croons tastefully with a surprising level of restraint. I still find him boring — and can’t imagine what kind of album he’d put out that I would ever be interested in purchasing — but he clearly impressed the judges (who are kind of obligated to like him every week since they “saved” him weeks ago).
My grade: B
Lee DeWyze, “That’s Life”
Wow, the judges really like Lee. Usually it’s deserved, but I thought he hit some really sour notes tonight. He had the swagger, though, and the judges have always been hard on Lee for his confidence issues. I thought his take on this tune was good, although — with Lee’s smokey vocals — I expected it to be better. Last week the judges pulled a similar trick with the pimp spot performance, slobbering all over a lackluster effort by Siobhan Magnus. And we all know what happened to her. I don’t think Lee’s in any such danger.
My grade: B
Should go home: Casey James
Say goodbye to: Casey James
I miss: Phil Hartman’s “SNL” Sinatra impersonation
I don’t miss: Joe Piscopo’s “SNL” Frank Sinatra impersonation
I can take or leave: Harry Connick Jr.’s Frank Sinatra impersonation
But it’s better than: Frank Sinatra Jr.’s Frank Sinatra impersonation
BONUS VIDEO: Phil Hartman in “SNL’s” The Sinatra Group
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