American Idol, Episode 26: "Top Six Perform"
Oh Mimi. Mariah Carey was on fire during last night's performance episode of American Idol. She spilled the backstage T about how she had been talked to about not doing her job, you know, judging. So, for the first time since she stepped in front of the Idol cameras, she attempted to give a negative critique. It went about as well as expected. Her comments were still as verbose as ever and I was barely able to stay interested. Mimi did much better when she glitter bombed Candice Glover, after her final, transcendent performance of the night. The contestants sang two songs last night, one from songwriters Bacharach/David and a song they wish they had written.
Angie Miller kicked off the night singing "Anyone Who Had a Heart." This was probably Angie's best performance away from the piano. When Angie leaves the piano and wanders around the stage, she sometimes has a problem connecting with the lyrics. She didn't have that problem. She was really feeling ever single part of the song. I wasn't really feeling the arrangement of the song, though. It felt like she changed up the melody too much. It almost made the song sound unrecognizable. I'm not really sure what the judges were smoking, because Keith and Nicki basically felt the exact opposite of what I felt. I'm not sure what Mariah said, because I have a low tolerance for incoherent rambling.
Amber Holcomb continued her solid run of performances with "I Say A Little Prayer." Amber's vocal was impeccable, as per usual. She also looked freaking gorgeous. I couldn't get over how old fashioned it sounded. It sounded like it was straight out of the '60's. I thought that maybe I had stumbled onto a progressive episode of Lawrence Welk. So, I wasn't really sure where all the judges enthusiam was coming from. I have a feeling that they were so effusive, because they really don't want Amber to become Lazaro's next victim. If that is the case, then I can get on board.
Lazaro Arbos was up next and calling what he did to The Carpenters' "(They Long To Be) Close to You" singing, would be stretching what most people's credibility. What he actually did was mercilessly behead it like King Joffrey did to Ned Stark while Sansa watched sobbing. Seriously, I was afraid that Idol would become an episode of The Walking Dead, as Karen Carpenter's dessicated corpse stormed the stage to take bloody revenge on the stuttering second coming of Ricky Ricardo. What followed was the most awkward judging session in Idol history. It included Mariah's first stab at criticism, and it was a spectacular failure. I can only hope that this doesn't backfire and Lazaro inexplicably stays.
Kree Harrison is there anything you can't do? You washed the horrid taste of rancid meat right out of my mouth with your flawless take on "What the World Needs Now Is Love." I still feel like it was a smidge old fashioned, but Kree really brought it. I loved the beginning a capella portion and I was kind of wishing that she would have just done the whole song that way. Is everyone else wishing for a Kree/Candice finale? There really would be no loser.
If anyone is sacrificed on the Altar of Lazaro tomorrow night, it will probably be Janelle Arthur. Her rendition of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" was dripping with cheese. This reminded me of the performance you'd see on a Carnival Cruise four days after the bathrooms stopped working. Everything about the performance felt staged, especially when she attemtped to "flirt" with Keith. Janelle is great singer, but when your female competition ranges from phenmoneal to mind blowingly awesome, great is enough to get you sent home.
Candice. Glover. Get used to that name, America, because with any luck it'll be a household name very soon. I have to say, that I completely agreed with Nicki. Candice's first performance was the best of the first hour because it sounded so modern. I would have no trouble believing that "Don't Make Me Over" was a Candice Glover original. It would sound right at home on modern R&B radio. I mean, words can't do it justice, so you should just watch it:
The song that Angie Miller wishes she had written is a contemporary Christian joint by Kari Jobe called "Love Came Down." Now, I don't know a lot about Christian music, so I had never heard this song before, but it was a home run for Angie. It was her best performance since the Colton Dixon song she sang a few weeks back. As the judges noted, when Angie is behind her piano, she can't lose. In fact, I would be completely fine if Angie never left her piano when she performed. I mean, if it's good enough for Tori Amos, Elton John, Bill Joel, and countless others, it's good enough for Angie. The judges were also correct when they pointed out that this sounded like a potential Angie Miller album cut. Girlfriend knows exactly who she is as an artist, and for someone so young, that is mucho impressive.
Amber Holcomb wishes that she had written Beyoncé's "Love On Top." Let me be clear, y'all know I loves me some Amber. I was also elated that she chose an up tempo song and she definitely committed. I was also digging her Kids Incorporated inspired jean short get up. It's just always tough for me a contestant does a Queen Bey song. It's hard for me to just judge it on it's own merits and not compare it to the original. I will say, I was a fan, and Amber is def in my top 3.
Lazaro wishes he had written Robbie Williams' one major US hit, "Angels." I mean, what can you say? Anything would have been an improvement. This wasn't a trainwreck, but compared to the ladies, Lazaro seems like a kid who got lost on the way to his elementary school talent show. Let's end this with a compliment... um... he's cute.
Kree Harrison busted out Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make It Through The Night." I have to say, this is probably my very favorite Kree performance. She really made me feel every single not. I got chills. I loved it. Kree is a storyteller. She, like Candice, makes you really believe everything that she is singing about. I mean, Canidce obvs, was the best of the night, but Kree was a close second.
Janelle Arthur brought some old school Garth Brooks to the Idol stage performing "The Dance." This was not a bad performance. It was a smidge boring and there were some pitch issues for sure. It is too bad that Janelle followed Kree, especially since they are both country singers. Kree is by far the better artist, so it just made Janelle's performance look really lackluster.
What more can be said about Candice's performance of The Cure's "Love Song." Seriously. Can we just crown this lady the winner already? Who deserves it more? No one. I mean, a video is worth a thousand words.
So, will there be an elimination shocker? Or will Lazaro finally make his way home? Let me know in the comments.
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