American Idol: Round of 9 Recap - April 3rd, 2007
It's Tony Bennett night on American Idol. After Chris Sligh left us last Wednesday, we are now down to nine contestants. The show opens with Ryan Seacrest reminding us that tomorrow night, yet another contestant is history. Tony tells us that the songs they will be singing tonight will never go out of style (just like he's never gone out of style).
Blake kicks us off with Mack The Knife, which most people from my generation remember best as "Mac Tonight" performed by a singing moon in a McDonalds commercial. Blake decides to perform the song as it was originally written instead of adding any sort of modern feel, and it works great. He looks very comfortable in a suit and tie, singing in a jazz style, and his dancing is very, very good. Simon gave it seven out of ten, but I will give it an eight.
Randy: A very good way to start off the evening. A couple pitch problems. I liked it.
Paula: Tonight, you personified pizazz. You're just cool.
Simon: Good choice of song. You performed it well.
Buzz Score: 8
Here we go, let's all sing....
"When the clock strikes, Half past six, babe.
Time to head for Golden lights.
It's a good time For the great taste (dinner!)
At McDonalds, It's Mac tonight!
Come on make it make tonight!"
I can't believe I remember that after what must be about 20 years. Anyway, moving on....
Phil Stacey is next, and he has chosen to sing "Night and Day". He says that Tony Bennett is his hero, and Tony returns the compliment, saying Phil is one of the best singers he's heard in a long time. This is a pretty good style of music for Phil too. He almost sounds like Frank Sinatra. This may just be the type of music that fits him best. Also, just for the record, I write this recap as the show is happening, and then go back and edit it a bit after the show. I wrote that Frank Sinatra line before Paula said it, and I stand by it, even after Simon disagreed. But I digress.
Randy: You sang it good, but I didn't feel any real connection/passion.
Paula: You're reminiscent of a young Frank Sinatra, but I need you to have more joy.
Simon: I think it had all the joy of somebody singing in a funeral parlor.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Tony Bennett thinks Melinda Doolittle is the best singer he heard all day. I think she might be the best singer I've heard today too. The song starts off slow with an amazing, jazzy, sultry style. It gets faster, and it gets better still. In the end, she really brings the song home with a show-stopping ending. Once again, it's hard to find much of anything wrong with Melinda's performance.
Randy: You give everyone here a lesson in singing. This is how you do it, America.
Paula: You're like a master class.
Simon: I thought it was a bit cabaret, but I liked the second half of the song.
Buzz Score: 9.5
Chris Richardson first answers a viewer question about what he considers most when choosing a song. He tries first for something he's comfortable with, but thinks about what the judges and America will like when making his final decision. The song he has chosen is "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". He didn't have the words memorized yesterday, but he seems to have them under control tonight. He's not quite as comfortable in this style of music as the three contestants before him, but he brings a nice vibe to the performance, and she has very few flaws. As an aside, he's looking very Timberlake-esque tonight, even more than usual.
Randy: I think this was one of your best performances of the whole season.
Paula: True artistic integrity.
Simon: I thought that was very good. Very believable. One of the strongest tonight.
Buzz Score: 9
After Tony Bennett lavishes praise on Jordin Sparks, she takes the stage with "On A Clear Day". In the past few weeks, she has started to emerge as a potential threat to make a run at the finale. Her performance tonight is very solid, but not particularly exciting. From her clothes to her voice, to the energy she projected, it was very good but not completely memorable. Paula predicts that she will sail through to the next round, which is a sure sign that she should worry when the results are read tomorrow night. Many a judge has eaten their words when making predictions.
Randy: We got some heat up here. That was the bomb.
Paula: You are this magnet of joy. You exude it when you walk on stage.
Simon: You sang it very well, but you didn't achieve what Chris did.
Buzz Score: 8
Gina Glocksen sings "Smile", and song that gives you hope in your darkest moment, according to Tony Bennett. In rehearsals, the song brings Bennett and Glocksen both to tears. Gina tends to bring a 'rocker' persona to most of her performances, so this is definitely out of her element. Even so, her tongue-ring is probably the only thing making her look out of place here. Her voice is very nice, and her whole dynamic really came along very well. I agree with Randy, when he says that her performance was nice and controlled. Overall, very good.
Randy: A very nice controlled performance for the rocker girl.
Paula: Flawless, understated, beautiful, and sentimental.
Simon: I can't rave about the vocals. The two previous girls outsang you.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Sanjaya Malakar dares to be different. He sings "Cheek To Cheek" this week, with yet another new hairstyle. I think Sanjaya gets a bad rap, with all the buzz about him. Overall, I would agree that he doesn't match up to most of the other remaining contestants, but he still is a very good singer. He proves that tonight, with not only a good vocal performance, but an entertaining show, coming into the audience, and dancing with Paula. I think Sanjaya did a great job tonight, and if any other contestant did just as well, no one would be calling it a poor performance. Since it was Sanjaya, I think most people will look upon it unfavorably, as usual.
Randy: I can't even comment on the vocals anymore. You've turned into a great entertainer.
Paula: I get why people love you. You're charming.
Simon: Incredible. (with a bit of sarcasm)
Buzz Score: 8.5
Haley Scarnato is the next to answer a viewers question. Does she get more nervous singing in front of the crowd, or listening to the judges comments. She says listening to Simon is the most nerve-racking. Singing "Ain't Misbehavin'", she starts off slow, and then picks up the pace as she goes into the crowd. Back on stage, she really picks up the pace. Her vocals are very good and her energy is better than usual. I found the latter part of the song to be a bit strained, and her movements a bit awkward, but overall, I really liked the performance.
Randy: Didn't really say much, deferring to Simon, since Haley apparently respects him so much.
Paula: Didn't really say much, deferring to Simon, since Haley apparently respects him so much.
Simon: I think you've got gret legs. It was a good style of music for you. A bit pageanty.
Buzz Score: 8
La Kisha Jones caps off the show with "Stormy Weather", and as usual, she starts off the song with a great vocal performance. Throughout the song, the vocals just get better and better and she brings it home with a great ending. Great performance!
Randy: I love this. The perfect song for you.
Paula: This is the most gorgeous you've ever looked.
Simon: That was a sassy, great performance.
Buzz Score: 9.5
The field is very tight this week, and for the first time this season, I think everyone had a good performance this week. As such, it's even harder than usual to choose who will go. Despite his good performance, I think Phil will go tonight. He hasn't seemed to completely connect with the voters yet. I think Gina may also be in a lot of trouble. We'll see what happens tomorrow night.
Until then.....
Blake kicks us off with Mack The Knife, which most people from my generation remember best as "Mac Tonight" performed by a singing moon in a McDonalds commercial. Blake decides to perform the song as it was originally written instead of adding any sort of modern feel, and it works great. He looks very comfortable in a suit and tie, singing in a jazz style, and his dancing is very, very good. Simon gave it seven out of ten, but I will give it an eight.
Randy: A very good way to start off the evening. A couple pitch problems. I liked it.
Paula: Tonight, you personified pizazz. You're just cool.
Simon: Good choice of song. You performed it well.
Buzz Score: 8
Here we go, let's all sing....
"When the clock strikes, Half past six, babe.
Time to head for Golden lights.
It's a good time For the great taste (dinner!)
At McDonalds, It's Mac tonight!
Come on make it make tonight!"
I can't believe I remember that after what must be about 20 years. Anyway, moving on....
Phil Stacey is next, and he has chosen to sing "Night and Day". He says that Tony Bennett is his hero, and Tony returns the compliment, saying Phil is one of the best singers he's heard in a long time. This is a pretty good style of music for Phil too. He almost sounds like Frank Sinatra. This may just be the type of music that fits him best. Also, just for the record, I write this recap as the show is happening, and then go back and edit it a bit after the show. I wrote that Frank Sinatra line before Paula said it, and I stand by it, even after Simon disagreed. But I digress.
Randy: You sang it good, but I didn't feel any real connection/passion.
Paula: You're reminiscent of a young Frank Sinatra, but I need you to have more joy.
Simon: I think it had all the joy of somebody singing in a funeral parlor.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Tony Bennett thinks Melinda Doolittle is the best singer he heard all day. I think she might be the best singer I've heard today too. The song starts off slow with an amazing, jazzy, sultry style. It gets faster, and it gets better still. In the end, she really brings the song home with a show-stopping ending. Once again, it's hard to find much of anything wrong with Melinda's performance.
Randy: You give everyone here a lesson in singing. This is how you do it, America.
Paula: You're like a master class.
Simon: I thought it was a bit cabaret, but I liked the second half of the song.
Buzz Score: 9.5
Chris Richardson first answers a viewer question about what he considers most when choosing a song. He tries first for something he's comfortable with, but thinks about what the judges and America will like when making his final decision. The song he has chosen is "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". He didn't have the words memorized yesterday, but he seems to have them under control tonight. He's not quite as comfortable in this style of music as the three contestants before him, but he brings a nice vibe to the performance, and she has very few flaws. As an aside, he's looking very Timberlake-esque tonight, even more than usual.
Randy: I think this was one of your best performances of the whole season.
Paula: True artistic integrity.
Simon: I thought that was very good. Very believable. One of the strongest tonight.
Buzz Score: 9
After Tony Bennett lavishes praise on Jordin Sparks, she takes the stage with "On A Clear Day". In the past few weeks, she has started to emerge as a potential threat to make a run at the finale. Her performance tonight is very solid, but not particularly exciting. From her clothes to her voice, to the energy she projected, it was very good but not completely memorable. Paula predicts that she will sail through to the next round, which is a sure sign that she should worry when the results are read tomorrow night. Many a judge has eaten their words when making predictions.
Randy: We got some heat up here. That was the bomb.
Paula: You are this magnet of joy. You exude it when you walk on stage.
Simon: You sang it very well, but you didn't achieve what Chris did.
Buzz Score: 8
Gina Glocksen sings "Smile", and song that gives you hope in your darkest moment, according to Tony Bennett. In rehearsals, the song brings Bennett and Glocksen both to tears. Gina tends to bring a 'rocker' persona to most of her performances, so this is definitely out of her element. Even so, her tongue-ring is probably the only thing making her look out of place here. Her voice is very nice, and her whole dynamic really came along very well. I agree with Randy, when he says that her performance was nice and controlled. Overall, very good.
Randy: A very nice controlled performance for the rocker girl.
Paula: Flawless, understated, beautiful, and sentimental.
Simon: I can't rave about the vocals. The two previous girls outsang you.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Sanjaya Malakar dares to be different. He sings "Cheek To Cheek" this week, with yet another new hairstyle. I think Sanjaya gets a bad rap, with all the buzz about him. Overall, I would agree that he doesn't match up to most of the other remaining contestants, but he still is a very good singer. He proves that tonight, with not only a good vocal performance, but an entertaining show, coming into the audience, and dancing with Paula. I think Sanjaya did a great job tonight, and if any other contestant did just as well, no one would be calling it a poor performance. Since it was Sanjaya, I think most people will look upon it unfavorably, as usual.
Randy: I can't even comment on the vocals anymore. You've turned into a great entertainer.
Paula: I get why people love you. You're charming.
Simon: Incredible. (with a bit of sarcasm)
Buzz Score: 8.5
Haley Scarnato is the next to answer a viewers question. Does she get more nervous singing in front of the crowd, or listening to the judges comments. She says listening to Simon is the most nerve-racking. Singing "Ain't Misbehavin'", she starts off slow, and then picks up the pace as she goes into the crowd. Back on stage, she really picks up the pace. Her vocals are very good and her energy is better than usual. I found the latter part of the song to be a bit strained, and her movements a bit awkward, but overall, I really liked the performance.
Randy: Didn't really say much, deferring to Simon, since Haley apparently respects him so much.
Paula: Didn't really say much, deferring to Simon, since Haley apparently respects him so much.
Simon: I think you've got gret legs. It was a good style of music for you. A bit pageanty.
Buzz Score: 8
La Kisha Jones caps off the show with "Stormy Weather", and as usual, she starts off the song with a great vocal performance. Throughout the song, the vocals just get better and better and she brings it home with a great ending. Great performance!
Randy: I love this. The perfect song for you.
Paula: This is the most gorgeous you've ever looked.
Simon: That was a sassy, great performance.
Buzz Score: 9.5
The field is very tight this week, and for the first time this season, I think everyone had a good performance this week. As such, it's even harder than usual to choose who will go. Despite his good performance, I think Phil will go tonight. He hasn't seemed to completely connect with the voters yet. I think Gina may also be in a lot of trouble. We'll see what happens tomorrow night.
Until then.....
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