American Idol 2009: Top 5 Show
RyanSeacrest: idol rehersal. Songs from the Rat Pack era…we moved the band on to the stage and all 5 sounded great. See u in an hour and a half live
Ryan was looking good in his suit (which he later revealed felt a bit tight … but it looked fine). He was wearing a tie bar …. and so were some of the contestants!
Ryan explained that there were two numbers tonight to make it easier to get through on the phones. Those aren’t the two numbers most of us were hoping for, but c’est la Vie.
The mentor for the rat pack era theme was Jamie Foxx … and Ryan seems pretty excited about that in his before and after show tweets:
RyanSeacrest: My man jamie foxx is th mentor!! 2 mins left in commercials and we are back live
RyanSeacrest: loved jamie foxx if u get me on the radio in ur city tune in tomorrow..i just asked him to come on as a guest and talk about the show
Kris Allen
Ryan asked Kris what he thinks he has to do to stay in the competition. Kris said that he can only do what he knows how to do … and it looks like what he knows is how to get into Ryan’s closet. Can’t fault his choice of style icon. The performance starts off sweet, but a little dull, and livens up part way through when he started channelling Stevie Wonder.
Randy thought it was Kris’ best performance to date. Kara complimented his technical ability and called him a dark horse. Paula thought he’d transformed from boy next door into a sophisticated gentleman. Simon wasn’t so enthusiastic, calling it a bit wet and saying he doesn’t get the feeling Kris can (or thinks he can) win the competition.
Ryan’s body language with his arms crossed suggested that he was about to challenge one of the comments, and he picks up on Simon calling the performance ‘wet’, asking him what he means by that: ‘not dry’ is the totally unexpected response. Honestly though, ‘a bit wet’ is spot on.
Allison Iraheta
Ryan talked to Allison about being the only girl left in the competition and celebrating her seventeenth birthday this week. Ryan said that being in the competition is a gift and he hopes she’s here another week. Me too, but America worries me with Allison being a regular visitor to the bottom three.
The performance was really good. She changed her style just enough to fit in with the theme, and she looks the best she’s looked so far in the competition. I think she was better than Kris this show.
Randy loved it. Kara said if that doesn’t land her in the finals she doesn’t know what will. Paula thought her vocal was innocent and tender but Simon doesn’t feel the belief and has a horrible feeling she could be in trouble tonight, which Ryan asked if he was saying based on her performance. Is Simon trying a bit of reverse psychology? Kara tells him he’s crazy, which is probably the most sensible thing she’s said.
Matt Giraud
Ryan said that Matt is stoked about this week because he studied jazz in college. That somehow feels like a bad sign. Ryan asked what grade he got, and it was only a B. Jamie Foxx advised Matt to lower the key, and I’m not sure that was such a good thing. The first two thirds sounded a bit weak and I’m not sure the big ending was good enough to compensate. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Matt leave this week after that performance.
Randy thought it was a little pitchy. Kara didn’t feel an emotional connection. Paula complimented him on lowering the key and Simon thought it was the only believable and authentic song he’s heard tonight.
Danny Gokey
The song wasn’t bad for Danny. Nothing special, but not too annoying. Just a bit bland in the first half, though I found the second a bit more interesting. For me it was probably his best performance so far.
Randy thought he could have an album of songs like that. Kara thought the rat pack swagger had been missing all season and the end of the performance was the most creative he’d been with a melody. Paula said it was stellar. Simon said Kara was right about the swagger and confidence, calling it outstanding and complimenting Jamie Foxx for what he’d brought out in Danny.
Adam Lambert
Adam’s feeling good and Jamie Foxx thought he was going to knock everyone’s head off.
Oh wow. Adam!!!!! That was outrageous.
Randy said it was a little too dramatic and broadway, which Simon pointed out was like saying a cow moos. Kara said it was confusing, shocking and sleazy, in a good way. After a failed attempt to speak (I hear you!), Paula said Adam makes her feel better than good. Simon said he gets the feeling Adam wants to win (well done, captain obvious). He also said that it’s the best entrance we’ve had all year and told Ryan he’s no longer using the staircase. Ryan wasn’t up for walking down like that … how about if we beg?
I don’t think this will be one of Adam’s most popular performances, but I don’t think he’s in danger. I hope not!
Update: I’ve just listened to the studio version of Adam’s song and it’s so much better than the way he sang it live that I’m retrospectively disappointed in his live performance:
/end upate
Bottom two I think will be Matt and Allison, though on performance I’d say it should be Matt and Kris, which is a bit of a bummer as my money’s been on Kris for the win since the early live shows (even though my heart says Adam). Sometimes I change my mind after hearing the audio in HQ on a Thursday evening here in the UK, so I’m hoping Kris was better than it sounded on the stream. I think Danny is more likely than Adam to win votes from the people with no particular favourite this week. For me the rank was Adam, Allison, Danny, Kris, Matt but I think America will go for Danny, Adam, Kris, Allison, Matt. I’m probably wrong, but it entertains me to speculate!
What was Ryan doing at the end of the show? Did he forget his words or was he going to say something else?! He looked totally spaced out for a second there!
Later on twitter, Ryan revealed next week’s theme:
RyanSeacrest: next week theme is rock and roll on idol btw…what r u doing i’m having a cold smoothie for dinner
and his exciting dinner plans. It’s an improvement on M&Ms! Who am I trying to kid … M&Ms and berry smoothies sound like perfectly acceptable meals to me ;)
