American Idol 2009: Top 3 Show
Ryan opened the show by saying this was the 300th episode, a fact he’d revealed on twitter earlier.
RyanSeacrest: This is our 300th episode of idol tonight…how is that possible? On way to the set.
He was looking smart in another dark suit, though I’m starting to long for jeans. Not much chance of that at this stage of the season, and he had to make it worse with his post-show tweet:
RyanSeacrest: Just finished idol live…it airs in the west soon..putting on jeans and going over our staging for katy perry and jordan sparks..
Ryan tried to introduce the judges, but ‘his highness’ has turned Paula’s chair around so she was facing the audience instead of the camera. He brought out the contestants and said that tomorrow we’ll find out why some chick bum-rushed Adam … we know why, we’re just wondering if they’ll play a clip!
Danny Gokey
Paula decided on Dance Little Sister by Terence Trent D’Arby for Danny (though we found out later via Ryan’s radio show that she’d actually given Danny a list that included the song he chose for his personal choice), which I think fits the tone of his voice even though his delivery was a little tortured. Randy thought it was dope, Kara complained about the dancing, which Paula lied was fantastic, and Simon pointed out it was a singing show before criticising the dancing and the saxophone solo. Simon was about to say something else, that was no doubt fascinating, but the stream was pulled.
From this point on, watching online felt a bit like being in the Matrix. Agents were out in force closing down the usual streams while the inhabitants of the Matrix (okay, okay, the Internet) attempted to escape the geographically-imposed temporal constructs keeping them from their Idols. Despite dodging a few cases of déjà vu and consulting the Oracle several times, we managed to watch most of the show … and even found a telephone exit ;-)
From the various reports I’ve read, it seems that there was some talk of Simon dancing in Vegas in his high heels (so that’s what Simon, Ryan and Randy got up to on their boys’ trip) before Paula and Simon tried to put on an entirely different kind of show while Ryan tried to keep the camera off them (spoil sport!) I shall track this down online. I know that ITV2 will cut that as they remove anything they think we might enjoy (I think it’s in their contract, along with hiding Coke and Ford logos and cutting anything amusing that Ryan says).
Kris Allen
KaRandy selected OneRepublic’s Apologise and Kris did a decent job. Randy thought it was nice, Kara told him he needed to be hitting it out of the park at this stage, Paula thought there was a bum note, and Kara tried to strangle Simon because he pointed out that she shouldn’t pick a song for Kris without advising on the arrangement if she’s then going to complain about that, while Ryan chatted to Kris and tried to get the judges back under control.
RyanSeacrest: Judges get aggressive tonight..!! Debbie- stage manager that got hurt is back. See u in a second on air
Panic during the commercial break as the Agents gained another access code right ahead of Adam, but we found our way back into the Matrix in time.
Adam Lambert
Simon must be the prophet because he selected the One by U2 for Adam (shall I drop the Matrix references now?) Ryan asked Simon why he’d chosen it. Simon said it was one of his favourite songs in the world and, looking very pleased with himself, explained that he had personally got permission from Bono for Adam to sing it. We get it, Simon: you love Adam, your song choice is genius, and you’re going to be completely pissed if America doesn’t love him too.
Adam absolutely rocked it. The start was understated and lovely, and it looked as though they were trying to recreate the feel of Mad World, bathing him in blue light and making everything dreamy. Adam went all-out half way through and although I liked it, I felt it was much too short and as though I had missed part of the song. I’m very excited about getting my hands on the studio version as this just felt like a preview.
Randy told Adam he’s in the zone but wasn’t sure about the changes to the melody. Simon booed him for that! Kara complimented Adam on doing his own version, then tried to use that to score points against Simon, which is kinda dumb as Adam proved Simon’s earlier point rather than hers. Paula joked about having to sit next to Simon while he’s gloating. Adam suggested she punch him again, which made us wonder what we’d missed at the time (though we know now!), and Paula called it a brilliant performance. Simon was ridiculously pleased with himself, complimenting himself on the song choice and echoing Paula that it was a brilliant performance, adding that it’d be one of the biggest upsets if Adam isn’t in the final next week.
Ryan and Adam asked each other how they’re doing. This was incredibly cute and made me want to run off with them both and keep them for my own amusement. They both come across as so sweet, humble, talented and, of course, entertaining! Plus Adam can really sing and Ryan can … make us appreciate that fact by generously sharing his gift of song.
Carrie Underwood did a commercial for Exxon and updated on the Idol Gives Back campaign, before it was time for the contestants to show everyone who they think they are as an artist.
Danny Gokey
Ryan pointed out that this was the last chance to make an impression before the finale. Danny said his strategy was to go through a bunch of songs, but they went with Joe Cocker’s You Are So Beautiful. I don’t know this song, but I was anticipating something sappy after Ryan’s hilarious impression of the girls’ faces when he said that.
Danny was looking less rock and roll and more as though he’d just finished a shift in a wine bar … I didn’t like the start of the song, but it got better as it went through. I’m probably not going to like anything that Danny does though, so just ignore me. I really don’t get him. I like the tone to his voice but really don’t like the songs he selects. It’s never anything I would ever choose to listen to.
Randy said he’s there because he can really, really, really sing and Kara thought it was everything the first performance wasn’t. Paula said he’d left everyone breathless and Simon wouldn’t have done that arrangement but thought it was a vocal master class. Danny’s relief was obvious when Ryan asked him how he feels with it all being done, though I’m not sure saying that you don’t care any more is wise! Ryan addressed America, asking if Danny had earned the right to go through.
Kris Allen
Ryan asked Kris whether the song had been a difficult choice, but Kris said it just came to him. He went with Heartless by Kanye West, and this was an inspired song choice. I thought it was one of his best performances of the year (great timing, Kris!)
Randy liked Kris’ performance better than either The Fray’s or Kayne’s version and Kara reminded everyone that he hadn’t done so well with Apologise before calling it bold, brave and fearless. Paula joked that it was brave singing about Simon Cowell before saying it was relevant. Simon had written Kris out after the bad song choice earlier, but thought he’d changed it around with that one.
Ryan said he is looking forward to an incredible results show. He’s just looking forward to torturing the contestants and viewers. We’re already dying to know, and he’ll just make it a slow and painful wait!
Adam Lambert
Ryan drew our attention back to flamboyant!Adam saying “you’ve done Queen, you’ve done Cher, what have you decided to go with tonight?” Adam told Ryan he was going with Aerosmith’s Cryin’ but when Ryan asked about the range he said he wasn’t veering too far away from the original because it was brilliant as it was.
Ryan introduced Adam saying he was always entertaining, and it’s another brilliant choice. This is the Adam I love! Randy said that Adam is one of the best they’d had on the stage and he’s one of the most charismatic. Kara wanted to know how he could still talk after hitting those notes and said she’d see him in the final. Paula said if Steven Tyler were a mentor he’d have nothing to say, also saying see you next week. Simon came in with a timely reality check and reminded people not to assume he’d sail through and to get with the voting, because Adam deserved it based on talent. Paula was chanting ‘vote vote vote’, so I think she agreed.
Ryan asked Adam what he thought, and he thought Kris and Danny had done really well and was honoured to have been in their company. That “we’ll see what happens” sounds too much like goodbye!
Ryan read out the numbers as America headed to the phones and we continued to monitor twitter traffic.
I have no idea who will be out tomorrow. I’d put the order as Adam, Kris, Danny but it could be any one of them leaving.
