Neil Diamond….wow…guess he IS still alive. He is releasing his 26th album THIS WEEK-what an amazingly lucky coincidence that he happens to be scheduled to mentor the kids on the top rated show in America and then perform live THIS WEEK of all weeks. Someone must really like him or something. I give him credit-no bad surgery, no silly toupees-just looks like Neil Diamond with a bit less hair and a bit more gray-good for him. Unfortunately for the contestants and for the hearing public, he’s one of those artists with a style that is unique enough that no one else can do it well. (Like Elton John or Sting) Will either be an amazing week or a really dull and uncomfortable week…could easily go either way. I’m assuming it will just be awkward and dull.
Hey! Who turned Paula loose in the dollar store ?? She looks more and more like a well groomed yet slightly disheveled bag lady every week! Way overboard on the makeup, jewelry and sparkly shiny, tight dress…. and with both Randy and Simon sitting there in t-shirts, she looks even more absurd. She reminds me of everyone’s cousin-in-law who shows up for weddings in Capri pants and flip-flops, and a backyard BBQ in her old prom dress…. never quite appropriate, but if you tell her, she might cry.
Jason-DREADful performance. Our stoner boy has clearly reached the point of “I don’t give a sh**-I’m going on tour anyway” Forever in Blue Jeans should not have that weird “Partridge Family” feel. It sounds like it should be the perfect song for him but he could not deliver. Second song-September Morn was even worse, if that’s possible…especially his little “September Moooaaarrrnnn" riff at the very end that was in some key that only aliens and small dogs can appreciate. WOW-he STUNK both times…his only hope is that his 14 yr old fan base is tone deaf and voting for him based entirely on his dreads and cool-guy vibe.
(I like the “no comments till the end” rule tonight!!)
David Cook “I’m Alive” should really be a Halloween song. Played the guitar and sang-it was nothing special. Rather obscure song to choose from all the hits Neil Diamond has had….and then “All I Really Need is You” for his second song choice…hmmmmm. That was ok-felt a bit more “rock” and seemed more at ease-still, a dull week, and not his best work. He is getting better each week-the hair is now one color and only going in 8 different directions, no more stripes or spikes…the facial hair is ok, but they are dressing him in more jackets, etc to give the appearance of shoulders, so the skinny weeble look is a thing of the past….I’ll be really surprised if he doesn’t win it all this season. Safe.
Brooke SHUTUP White-first song was awful, way too low, I was shocked that she didn’t stop and re-start since that is her new trick. Cannot understand the Elvis sneer at times and thought she was trying to rock much too hard-not believable. Although it didn’t happen right after her performance, Simon said her first song was a nightmare and she actually cried out NO and argued!!! OMIGOD. Second song was delivered in a monotone till quite close to the end-she is just far too impressed with herself and needs to go home. I’m sure she’s a lovely woman but I’ve had my fill of her and cant take her any longer-this is her week-GOTTA GO.
David Archuleta-what’s left to say about this kid? He has a great voice-no one can argue that. He’s just not that interesting and certainly not exciting to watch-he is predictable, good, pleasant enough….as I continue to say-DISNEY material. Sweet Caroline was a strange choice, especially trying to shorten it to the minute and a half time limit-it was a bad arrangement. America was better, but what was up with the squint? Liked it, but it was certainly nothing to rave about. I expect this to be a battle of the Davids at the finale and I am worried that having this little guy lose to the better man may just kill him.
Syesha Mercado-after all these weeks, she has finally shown that she has a personality. That being said, she can go home any time. Hated her straightened hair. Although her vocal was good for both songs, she was far too busy “performing” to focus on her vocals-she does love to play to the camera and goes all out playing up to it at every possible moment. The vocal is clearly secondary to her performance. She has enough going for her-pretty, bright, good voice, acting career-time to go home. Leave 3rd place for poor stoner Jason. He’s gone without a doobie for so long-give him a break.
And now, the real highlight of the show-Paula’s big blunder….I know the media is all abuzz with accusations of the show being rigged and Paula being impaired (gee, ya think?) but I think she just got confused. They tape parts of the show the night before the “live performances” at the dress rehearsal, so it’s not like they didn’t know what Jason was going to perform….and based on the lousy performance, it was a shame they had to sit through it again. Frankly, I’m far more interested in her fashion advisor's role and her ongoing babbling about the colors of you and being in love with everyone and looking like a bag lady than what she said about Jason’s bad performance, before he actually did it…..but I do enjoy the controversy. I’m so mean.
