Double Duty for 'Idol' Top Five
The 'Idol' Finalists
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Contemporary hits and songs from the year they were born give the 'Idol' hopefuls plenty of challenges
Singer: ELLIOTT YAMIN
Song: "On Broadway"
My Take: The song starts off simply and Elliott tries to overcompensate for the simple melody. He improves as he goes along, as the arrangement lets him throw in a few runs and the sort of jazzy twists he does best. In an ill-fitting gold metallic suit, Elliott is trying to look dapper, but it's a slippery slope for him, and when his hair isn't properly styled and his goatee isn't properly groomed, he comes across as disturbingly scraggly. The more he resembles the most talented homeless man in Santa Monica, the less likely he is for mainstream viewers to embrace.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: He started rough for Randy, but worked it out. Paula, who can't pronounce "vibrato," wasn't reduced to tears this week. Simon thought it was a bit disjointed and warns Elliott that he's lucky to get a second chance.
Singer: PARIS BENNETT
Song: "Kiss"
My Take: Hmmm... Am I more distracted by Paris' return to Medusa hair or by the gigantic bejeweled cross weighing her down? Paris tries to strut, which mostly reminds me of how grateful I've been this season with how rarely the "Idol" singers have felt the need to play to the crowd in this manner. This is less distracting that other times Paris has tried to be playful, but she's noticeably and problematically out of breath at the end.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: Randy thought it was "nice," which is pretty soft praise. Paula goes into her "I know you can sing, but..." mode. Simon calls her "screechy and annoying." Is he providing her with an eTicket home as well?
Singer: CHRIS DAUGHTRY
Song: "Renegade"
My Take: See, I can't write mean things about Chris, because I'm afraid he might kill me. Once again, he looks right on the verge of snapping, which may actually be appropriate for a song about a guy on the run from the law. Like Paris, he takes to the audience, but unlike Paris, he carries the mic stand on his journey, just in case he's tempted to bust some heads as he travels. This song gives Chris more to do than previous rocker tracks he's attempted. He goes so far beyond his standard barking that there's even a hint of a falsetto. His subtle upper register comes across as a direct attack on long-gone squealers Ace Young and Anthony Fedorov, both in the audience tonight.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: Randy warns viewers that we're in the presence of a hot one. Paula says he's on his path. Simon calls it a million times better than the first two performance.
Singer: KATHARINE MCPHEE
Song: "Against All Odds"
My Take: Because Katharine uses the word "ironic" correctly, I'm going to forgive her for starting the night in a dress that even she compares to a garbage bag. I'm unclear if Katharine is confused by the pace of the song, or if the orchestra is a little confused. She's off-rhythm and a little flat early. She finds the melody, shows off for a bit and then has to work her last note into shape.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: Randy thinks the key was off for her as well. It wasn't Paula's favorite performance either. Simon, who apologized last week, says the song got away from her. He still calls it one of her best performances. Katharine knows she was off and admits that she couldn't hear herself. Meanwhile, Simon has to clarify that it actually wasn't one of her best.
Singer: TAYLOR HICKS
Song: "Play That Funky Music White Boy"
My Take: Taylor just shouts his way through the entire song. I'm not sure there's actually a single note being sung the entire time, but at least he's having fun and embracing the oddity and the jagged edges he's tried to smooth out in recent weeks. I suspect that this is exactly the kind of performance that both his fans and his detractors will point to for confirmation. He was either awful or awfully fun.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: Randy felt like he was in a bar and had a couple. Paula says this was the authentic Taylor she loves. Simon, like Randy, is without words, but he says, "I liked the end, when you collapsed."
Singer: ELLIOTT YAMIN
Song: "At Home"
My Take: How bad a sign is it that this season's "Idol" Finalists are so very bad with contemporary music? There's nothing wrong with Elliott's voice on this song. In fact, he builds momentum very nicely, but he couldn't be any duller. He's not great with "earnest" as his driving emotion. At least his suit fits better.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: Randy liked the song and the tender side of Elliott. Paula felt he melted her. Ew. Simon didn't think the song had enough of a hook to benefit Elliott. He's concerned.
Singer: PARIS BENNETT
Song: "Be Without You"
My Take: The song may start a little too low for Paris, but it has the kind of intricate phrasing that she does so well with. This is the mode when Paris can unleash her inner Fugee, which, for my money, is where a good record producer would push her. There's still a disconnect between her age, her desired persona and her actual stage presence, but this is the best of Paris' contemporary performances by a wide margin.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: Randy and Paula are both impressed that Paris took on such a challenging song. Simon says she did "rather well" with it.
Singer: CHRIS DAUGHTRY
Song: "I Dare You"
My Take: If Chris sings a song with this title and stands in front of a video screen filled with flames and gives me his patented glare, how am I supposed to think he isn't Satan? Say this for Chris, he's the person left in this competition who sounds most ready to step onto the charts without any modifications. His voice sounds a little raw on his second performance of the night and he has to shout a bit to punch out the notes. That can't possibly be a good sign if two rock songs in a night leave him hoarse. And sweaty.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: It was just aight for Randy and even Paula didn't like the song. Simon warns him about vocal stress, but suggests that his first performance was good enough to keep him safe.
Singer: KATHARINE MCPHEE
Song: "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
My Take: Much better. Why doesn't somebody tell Katharine to stop singing power ballads and just concentrate on being sassy, sultry and playful. If "Idol" were to do a stage version of "Oklahoma!" she'd insist on playing Laurey, when she'd make the best Ado Annie ever. When she fumbles Phil Collins, I can't ignore when she misses notes. When she's like this, I can just take in the whole package and be happy. Perhaps, though, somebody could explain to me why she does her whole performance bouncing on her knees next to two musicians. Is she afraid that if she wore a dress and walked around the stage, she might have another wardrobe malfunction? That'd be sad. Live without fear, Katharine!
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: Randy calls it a wild show and says it's more like the Katharine he loves. Paula agrees. "This is a strange show -- Taylor's laying down and you're on your knees," is how Simon begins. He says it was much better for Katharine.
Singer: TAYLOR HICKS
Song: "Something"
My Take: OK. Just because the album is on the catalogue charts doesn't make this performance any less of a total cheat and I'm not sure why the producers let Taylor get away with digging into the Beatles vault for his contemporary song. Taylor doesn't have the voice to sell an arrangement that requires this much belting, but unlike his first song, you know he's singing here. He hits the notes with a measure of heart -- nothing remarkable, but after "Funky Music" he had to prove he could be business-like.
John Doe, Jane Doe and Simon Say: Randy liked the tender vibe and Paula agrees. Simon praises his ability to cheat the theme and calls Taylor "barmy" before acknowledging that he's a very good singer.
TONIGHT'S BEST: Chris' first and Katharine's second probably stood out for me. None of the five singers gave two good performances.
IN DANGER: I think that with both Paris and Katharine salvaging their nights with good second songs, Elliott may have been just consistently so-so enough this week to have him in serious trouble.
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