Top 9: Top Downloads

When the theme for the Top 9 show was revealed I wasn’t optimistic. I thought that it was a bad idea to ask wannabe talent to sing, essentially, their favorite song because I figured most would end up sounding like, at best, good karaoke versions. And, just as Simon usually is, I was right. Anoop tried Usher and failed miserably, Alison thought she could pull of Gwen Stefani and missed by a mile, and Matt tried to prove he could sing along to alt-rockers, The Fray, but unfortunately proved for the second time this doesn’t suit him. And I know that some of you will turn on me, but I have officially grown disgusted with Danny Gokey, who struggled to push out a single tear to top off his pitchy performance, but ended up just looking constipated while singing Rascal Flatts. And, somehow, this all passed the judges because they thought it was…touching! It was obvious why he chose the song, but it isn’t believable that he actually thinks he’s a country singer. Scott debuted a new hair do, but that was about all that was different. His performance was predictable and boring, while Lil Rounds, who also premiered a new wig, skewed way too old. She has the potential, but refuses to take it to that next level. And Megan Joy, who cawed her way all the way home this week, was the biggest disappointment. She is finally given a chance to pick any style of music and she picks a horrible choice, Bob Marley. Had she gone with Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Adele, or, even, Estelle, I believe she’d still be in the competition.

But not everyone was horrible. In fact, a couple of our favorite Idol wannabes delivered in a big way. And when they took the stage, it was like “Studio 57” up in the Idol studios on Tuesday night! How is it that a woman, 14 years my senior, doesn’t know that it’s called Studio 54? Unless, of course, she actually meant to compare Adam Lambert’s creative take on “Play That Funky Music” to a New Jersey Salon. But one thing I have to commend Kara on nailing home is her over usage of the term artistry. While it is, as one audience member, who turned out to be Megan Joy’s brother, yelled out, a “broken record”, it actually stuck with some of the initial underdogs. Kris Allen, my favorite performance of the night, took an older song, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, and made it current and fresh. He also mixed it up by playing the keyboards this week, which shows that he has real range as an artist.

And, finally, I wasn’t going to say anything about the horrible, pre-recorded group songs, but if you’re on a singing competition and you’re going to have contestants mimic their way through a song, at least put the microphone near the blind guy’s face. And, honestly, if the contestants don’t sound good together live, then how does that fare for the upcoming Idols Live Tour?

Ryan announced that next week’s show theme will be Songs From The Year They Were Born, so it looks like we have, with the exception of Alison, Songs from the 80’s.

Ciao!