American Idol 2009: Top 4 Show
The drama started before the show in what Ryan described as an ‘unconventional day’. American Idol stage manager Debbie Williams was injured falling from the stairs when they moved too quickly. After that, part of the set started to collapse covering the stage with glass, causing the dress rehearsal to be cancelled. We hear that Ryan remained calm and in control amidst the panic.
According to reports, Debbie needed stitches for a very deep gash that went right down to the bone, so the most important thing is to wish her well and be grateful that there were no further injuries. Ryan confirmed via twitter that she was doing okay:
RyanSeacrest: Good news our stage manager debbie is doing much better. She fell during rehersal ...she's my right hand during these shows. Love u deb!
Onto the show …
What a show. It had everything … the good (Adam, Allison, Adam & Allison), the bad (Kris & Danny), the outrageously sexy (Ryan & Adam), the hysterically funny (Danny).
A very stylish-looking Ryan opened the show in his usual fashion, despite Debbie’s earlier mishap. I don’t think Ryan was too keen on those stairs in the first place, despite Mr Cowell’s jokes on Ellen, so I was relieved when he stepped safely off them. Ryan’s always well-dressed, and I’m a fan of the tie bar, but it would have been great to see him wearing leather pants or otherwise channelling his inner rock god.
Ryan explained at the start of the show that there had been an accident earlier on set and that one of the towers had started to collapse just before the dress rehearsal so the contestants hadn’t had a run through, and also said that the contestants would do duets as well as a solo number.
Adam Lambert
Slash commented on Adam’s range and how effortless his singing is, but advised him not to improvise so much in the high register. If you compare Adam’s live performances with his studio recordings, it’s so much more effective when he holds himself back a little with the higher notes. The end of last week’s Feeling Good is an example of this … the live version was too much like showing off whereas the recorded version is haunting and beautiful. Also on Mad World when he takes the melody lower than usual, it really works.
Adam was well and truly in his element this evening singing Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love. It was fabulous, intense, outrageous and very, very sexy. Did I mention sexy? Sentence. Coherent. Can’t. Gah. At least it took my mind off the thought of Ryan in leather pants.
Randy said this was the Adam he loves and said he should make a record with Slash. Kara called him a rock god and advised him to make classic rock and glam rock records. Paula thought he was a whole lotta perfect and looked like she might float away. I don’t think she could count on Kara to bring her back as she didn’t look much more grounded. Adam just has that effect on people. Simon teased that the performance was a little understated before calling it one of his favourite of Adam’s performances and saying that the problem is nobody can top that. I think Adam might try in his duet.
Ryan talked to Adam about it being the first time a Led Zeppelin song has been done on American Idol and Adam looked stoked to have had that chance.
Allison Iraheta
Ryan said he was feeling slightly uncomfortable sitting beneath the tower talking to Allison (thanks for drawing our attention to that; now we’re uncomfortable too) before they talked about Allison going to Adam’s hair stylist this week.
Slash said Allison has a natural rock and roll mannerism and advised her to work past the fear. Randy didn’t love the song choice. Kara thought it was the right kind of rock but didn’t seem convinced about the song either. Paula thinks she’s fearless and a shoe-in for the role in a Janis Joplin biopic and Simon commented in the staggering difference in her over the eight weeks before saying he would have chosen the other song.
Allison argued back with Simon, which he probably loved, and Ryan said her feistiness was coming out before telling Simon to put his lighter away. Twice. I guess they’re about to cut to a break and Simon needs a cigarette. I needed a cigarette after Adam’s performance and I’ve never smoked.
Danny Gokey & Kris Allen
They really don’t look like rockers; this should be interesting.
Oh no. This is a bit of a train wreck. They don’t sound like they’re in it together as Danny is trying to out sing Kris and neither of them sounds too good. I’m worried for Kris after that.
Randy liked the harmonies saying the individual vocals were okay but they complemented each other. Kara didn’t think they could hear themselves and thought there were pitchy moments. Paula thought it was powerful and compelling and Simon told Danny he was better than Kris.
Ryan asked them about the dynamic of working together and Kris revealed it had taken a long time to pick out a song. Ryan picked up on them nodding when Kara had said they couldn’t hear on stage and Danny replied that he thought they overcame it. I don’t think they did.
Kris Allen
Ryan pointed out that this was Kris’ chance to stand out after Simon giving him a hard time with the duet. Kris had changed his mind about which Beatles song to do and Slash said he was nervous after being loaned a guitar and put through an amp.
Unfortunately I don’t think Kris’ voice works too well on the arrangement of the song. I think he should have stuck with something softer that didn’t lose him.
Randy wasn’t blown away but appreciated Kris could be himself. Kara thought he was definitely the softer side of rock but was trying too hard. Paula thought he’d managed to get his signature onto a Beatles track, which is difficult to do, and Simon didn’t like it too much, comparing it to eating ice for lunch and saying he was right when he believed nothing was going to top Adam.
Ryan told Simon he was too rich to have ice for lunch, but Simon said it was made with mineral water. M’okay. Ryan pointed out that the decision was up to America and Kris looked quite uncomfortable. It must be difficult getting comments like that at this stage with such fierce competition, but maybe he shouldn’t have tried to be rocky. Adam didn’t do country in the style of country, and that definitely worked.
Danny Gokey
Slash said that the main thing for the song Danny had picked was to get the scream at the end because people would be waiting for it, but thought it could go either way. Screaming? That can’t be good … doesn’t Danny know there’s only one Dark Lord Screamanova in this show?
Danny really doesn’t look like a rocker. I quite liked him last week, for the first time since auditions, but this week is just painful. It’s quite surreal and I actually have the giggles watching his performance. The scream is just a scream. Adam would kill that song; Danny murdered it.
Randy thought it was alright but not perfect or great. Kara thought he took the swagger a little too far but commended him for taking chances. Paula didn’t know if it was the right song and Simon thought the last note was like watching a horror movie, saying it was a little over the top and that although it kind of worked for Adam, it didn’t for Danny. Simon thinks he’s safe though.
Ryan asked Danny about the horror film comment, but he said he’d have to go back and listen to it. Ryan asked if he was surprised by the feedback. Danny said he didn’t want to stay in his comfort zone and would try better next time. Ryan pointed out that he’s the only contestant who hasn’t been bottom three so far.
Adam Lambert & Allison Iraheta
Oh my! I LOVED this. Adam’s entrance brought a huge smile to my face, and these two looked so good on stage together. They are obviously happy to be singing together and it’s infectious. This was such a contrast to the other duet … Adam and Allison are playing off each other and both benefiting from it, and they have the cutest hug at the end.
Randy thought it was the bomb and they should do a duet on their albums. Kara thought it was an example of when a duet is right because they were pushing each other to be better. Paula thought they were the perfect blend and totally in sync with each other. Simon said they’d won the battle of the duets and that Adam may have given Allison a chance of staying in the competition.
Ryan joked that it was a bit of a stretch for them. They both had so much fun and Adam said Allison was kind of like his little sister. You can see that dynamic with them.
I don’t think there was any question who was the stand out performer on this show: Adam totally blew everyone away. Allison was actually a pretty close second for me. I think it’s difficult to choose between Kris and Danny for third and fourth. I think Kris is more likely to be in danger because Danny appears to have a huge fan base, but Danny’s vocals were pretty terrible whereas Kris’ were just a bit ineffectual.
Adam has definitely earned the right to go through to the next round so I hope he gets the votes. The complacent fans and vote-splitters got a wake-up call last week, but who knows what will happen tomorrow!
