Amazed To Be In It To Win It

I noted a couple of seasons ago that the Top 3 night is probably my favorite week of the Idol season. I have to admit that I enjoy the videos of the last three contestants making their triumphant tours of their hometowns. I know, I am such a softie.

The other reason I love this week is because this is the week that the judges get to choose one of the contestant’s songs. It not only provides a window into what the judges think of the contestants, it also provides a window into the judges themselves. Last season when Horny Chick was surprised to learn that Captain Jack actually spent time with Adam Lambert rather than just choosing the song and hitting the beach, it clearly showed who gave a damn and who was just collecting the check and the fame.

I have said many times this season how much I miss Paula Abdul, but no more so than this week. I did some research last season and found out that Drunk Chick had never selected the song for the eventual winner. The contestant that she selected the song for was either drummed out the next night or the next week, implying of course that Paula’s song choice had something to do with it. This was certainly true in Season 5 when the Angel of Death selected some lame Donny Hathaway song for Elliot Yamin while Captain Jack chose “Over the Rainbow” for Katherine McPhee. Both did fine with their performances but, in one of the closest votes in Idol history (at least that is what Trained Seal claimed at the time), Elliott was voted off the show. Coincidence? I don’t think so. That is why when the Angel of Death selected Danny Gokey’s song last season I was so certain that he was going to get voted off, and so he was. Of course now with Drunk Chick hanging out in some bar instead of the judges table I suspect it will be a lot harder to determine who will be sent home tomorrow without having to actually listen to the performances.

Again so Fox can showcase Glee the contestants only have to sing two songs tonight instead of three, one they choose and one the judges choose. That means again that Clive Davis, once a fixture of these Top 3 shows since his company gets the first born and right arm of the winner (otherwise known as a “recording contract”), can extend his boycott of the show. That apparently will not be the case next year, as Fox has announced that the performance shows will revert back to 90 minutes and the result shows will revert back to 30 minutes. Not that it matters to me since it is 50-50 I will be recapping Season 10.

Trained Seal seems on speed tonight as he is way too enthusiastic when introducing the audience, the judges, and the contestants on this, “the fight for the finale.” Let’s get ready to rumble!

Cool, Texas’s Casey James, “OK, It’s Alright with Me” by Eric Hutchinson: Casey says that he chose this song because he thinks it best represents him as an artist. He starts a little off pitch but quickly recovers. The song has a catchy beat; I tapped my feet the whole song. However, Casey’s vocal was dull, monotone, and boring. I agree, this song probably does best represent him as an artist. At least he kept the goat back at the farm. Big Sexy utters 1 yo but did not think that the song worked because it was too safe. The audience cannot muster enough energy to boo so they only murmur. Chicken Little E thinks that “this is the moment” to “live or die,” and that Casey did not quite reach that moment, though of course he is still great. Horny Chick criticizes Casey for choosing a song that no one has heard of since “you can’t take it to the next level and make it your own.” I guess Horny Chick has been so blinded by Casey’s golden locks that she has not noticed that Casey has been selecting little known songs all season and not making them his own. Never mind that she, and all the other judges, usually criticize contestants for choosing songs that everyone has heard of because they cannot make them their own. Captain Jack compares Casey’s performance to the salad before the dinner because something better will be coming later. Simon then pours on the analogies by claiming it sounded like someone buskering for a couple of dollars. Thanks to Captain Jack using that term last season on forgotten contestant Brett Smith I now know what “busker” means so I do not have to look it up. Trained Seal reminds us that tonight we get a two-course meal, whether it is dessert or a plate of vegetables remains to be seen.

Elliston, Ohio’s Crystal Bowersox, “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge: During her Coca-Cola treatment Crystal tells Trained Seal that she chose this song because it is one of her favorites since it talks about passion and love. She also thinks having fun is the most important thing tonight; oh there is that winning the competition too. Crystal brings back the Neil Young harmonica along with her souvenir guitar and crystal mic stand, and brings in a bit of a country twang to the song. Crystal shows a lot more range and emotion than Casey did even though the songs have somewhat similar arrangements. Just an OK singing performance though. Big Sexy utters 1 yo, 2 heys, gets booed for disliking the arrangement and tries to get cheers by claiming to like the vocal. Chicken Little E thinks Melissa Etheridge would be proud. Horny Chick agrees with the “guys” again and thought that Crystal got lost in the arrangement but still sang it well. Captain Jack was not impressed by the singing but lauds Crystal for an honest performance and for not compromising the entire season, unlike the poser who preceded her. Trained Seal plays reporter and wants to know how Crystal feels as if she just survived a train wreck. Crystal claims to be elated.

Mount Pleasant, Illinois’ Lee DeWyze, “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynard: I do not recall any Top 12 Idol contestant ever singing a Skynard song before. Not even Adam Lambert took them on. A Lynyrd Skynard theme would be cool only if someone dared to sing “Free Bird”, or perhaps “That Smell”. After quickly dropping an iTunes plug during the Coca-Cola treatment Trained Seal claims that Lee is a changed man since returning from his hometown tour. Lee talks about how he can relate to the lyrics of the song, I guess because he is a simple man, but I could not hear exactly why because some screeching tweener chicks drown him out. His first notes are somewhat strained, both his vocals and the ones from his guitar. The second lyric is a little better. The chorus is a little flat vocally but Lee’s emotions are clearly on display. He is giving it his all. Lee waves at Ricky and the band at the end of the song; either that or he is flipping them the bird. I cannot tell for sure. Big Sexy utters 1 yo, thought it was a brilliant song choice, and thinks Lee is in it to win it. Chicken Little E thinks that is what we are talking about and talks about how Lee has grown from a baby lamb to a gazelle, or an impala, or (Big Sexy’s choice) a jaguar. Horny Chick commends Lee for sharing everything he has with us. Captain Jack asks Lee why he chose this song. I guess he was not listening when Trained Seal asked him the same question a few minutes ago. To be sure Lee repeats what he said before. Unlike what usually happens when Captain Jack asks these types of questions, Simon thought that Lee “absolutely nailed it” and crushed the other two contestants. Lee waves to the crowd and Trained Seal forces him to admit that the wave “has meaning.”

Casey James, “Daughters” by John Mayer, selected by Big Sexy and Horny Chick: For the second straight year Horny Chick, the self-proclaimed songwriting expert, is not trusted with selecting a song by herself. Trained Seal asks Big Sexy why he, and not we, chose this song for Casey. Randy talks about the John Mayer box that he wants Casey to fit into, I guess because he was not enthused about the box Casey selected for himself earlier. Horny Chick wants to fit Casey into the emo box again and urges Casey to sing to his audience, “women and girls.” Anyone who still wonders why Casey is still in the competition should have no doubt any more. It’s the audience stupid. Randy may be on to something here because Casey does sound a bit like John Mayer with this song. After a bunch of ballads the tweeners have finally started waiving their arms. Much like Casey’s first performance it is rather monotone and dull. Even the self-indulgent guitar solo left something to be desired. While Crystal and Lee are singing like it is the most important night of their lives Casey is singing like he is back at the Circle M. Still, it was better than his first song. Big Sexy utters 1 yo and compliments himself for choosing a song that fit Casey so well. Chicken Little E thought it was beautiful. Horny Chick also compliments Randy, I mean her and Randy, for the song choice because it showed Casey’s sympathetic side that he has otherwise struggled with like a poser usually does. Captain Jack thought Big Sexy’s song choice was better than Casey’s but that the arrangement was dull and lacking any big vocal moments. He then, much like last year, blames Randy and Kara for not working with Casey enough/at all. Horny Chick jumps to Big Sexy’s defense, saying that the reason the song did not have any “wow factor” was “because that’s the way it’s written. Randy, right or wrong?” I will acknowledge the songwriting expert’s claim that the song was not written for a wow moment but, as usual, Horny Chick missed Captain Jack’s point that she and Big Sexy should not have selected a song without a wow moment on the most important night of Casey’s life. Prior to reading the three numbers (1.5 per song instead of 1) Trained Seal tries to assure Casey that the judges’ comments sounded like approval.

Prior to talking to Ellen Trained Seal gives a shout out to Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks, stars of the new Fox show debuting tomorrow night if you care.

Crystal Bowersox, “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney, selected by Chicken Little E: While visiting the AT&T store somewhere in Ohio Crystal seems amazed by Chicken Little E’s song choice, though she still thinks it is all good. Ellen chose this song because it is amazing and Crystal is amazing, and maybe I’m amazed by all of the amazement. Ellen also wants to see some more range from Crystal because Casey is clearly not providing enough. Crystal sings this song straight, right down to keeping the “man” lyrics in the song, as in “maybe I’m a man...” and so on. She also kept McCartney’s bluesy shouting of the chorus to thrill the audience. That part was indeed well done. Crystal breathes a big sigh of relief when she is done. Big Sexy utters 3 yos, 2 heys, and thinks Crystal is also in it to win it. Chicken Little E was happy that Crystal did what she hoped Crystal would do with the song. Horny Chick is amazed to have heard parts of Crystal’s voice that she had not heard before. Crystal is too. Captain Jack was initially amazed by the song choice but that she proved with this performance that she has soul and will thank Chicken Little E for putting her in the finale. Crystal claims to Trained Seal that she was really in her comfort zone while he admires her boots.

Lee DeWyze, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, selected by Captain Jack: I read an interview on Sunday with K.D. Lang saying that “Hallelujah” should be forever banned from the airwaves because it has been covered so many times, including by K.D. herself. Since there are usually about 1000 contestants who sing this song on Idol each season I cannot help by agree. This makes me wonder why Captain Jack, who usually is the most creative of the judges when it comes to selecting songs, chose it for Lee. Perhaps it is a case of senioritis. Simon does admit that we have heard this song too many times but that we have not heard it like Lee is about to do it. Lee starts with an acoustic arrangement before the strings come in with the first chorus. The 8 person choir is back to help Lee sing the second verse. He is back to trying to swallow the mic again, but like Crystal he is showing a lot of range and a lot of emotion. Very dramatic and well done. Hey, is that a goose bump? Captain Jack beams like a proud papa while Lee gets an extended ovation. Big Sexy shouts out 1 yo, gives props to Captain Jack for the song choice and arrangement, and claims that no one threw down the gauntlet this season like Lee just did. Chicken Little E is too stunned to be coherent. Horny Chick claims that this is what it is all about and that Lee has been the heart of the show all season. Captain Jack is proud of Lee because he is a great singer and an even better person. Lee, not Simon. Trained Seal again asks how Lee feels. Lee feels kind of stunned but still in the moment.

Trained Seal says good night by begging us not to abandon the person that we have invested in all season!

The Final Score: 16 shots at Captain Jack Simon; 15 shots at Horny Chick Kara; 12 shots at Trained Seal Ryan; 12 shots at Big Sexy Randy; 10 shots at Chicken Little E Ellen; 2 shots at Ricky Minor and the band, 6 shots at the audience, and 1 shot at Clive Davis the former tormentor. There were 5 references to former Idol contestants, 8 references to other non-Idol performers, and 6 references to Drunk Chick/Angel of Death Paula. 2 Coca-Cola treatments, 2 iTunes plugs, 2 web site plugs, 1 quick summer tour plug, 1 name drop, 0 K-word utterances, 8 yos from Big Sexy (he was quite frugal tonight), 4 heys from Big Sexy, 2 references to dinner, 1 case of senioritis, 1 sigh of relief, another possible bird flip, and 1 goose bump.

Your 3 Stars of the Night: I am forced to agree with Horny Chick that Lee owned the night with both of his performances. Crystal’s second song earns the third star despite the fact that Ellen chose the song.

Idol Gives Back: Once again the favorite coming out of the semis failed to make it to the finale, let alone win it. During the semis Michael Lynche showed himself to be the best performer of the group, but while the others (yes, even Casey) picked their game up during the finals Michael seemed to regress a bit. The sad part is that if Michael were better looking, like say Casey, he probably would still be in the competition and not needed Captain Jack to save him for elimination several months, I mean weeks, ago.

The Fearless Prediction: For the last several weeks it has become clear that Lee and Crystal were the class of the field this season, and tonight it was more obvious than ever. The only way I can see Casey making it past tomorrow is if the tweeners and the cougars, otherwise known as his audience, feel sorry for Casey and try to keep him on the show. And if that happens, then I will renew my pledge that I made if Aaron Kelly won and seriously reconsider recapping this show next week, let alone next season, if Casey wins.