Displaying the sleeve of tats and clad in all black, Carly is in rocker mode tonight. I'm pretty sure you can replicate her to the tee as a character in Rock Band. Busting out Heart's "Crazy on You," she's most comfortable when it comes to belting higher notes but gets a little lost when it comes to the verse and lower pitches. She's got better range than quite a few of the girls, but I don't think she maximizes her lower notes or phrasing. I get the sense that she often has to rely on the big diva notes to pull her through the song, which pump up the urgency and energy and make it exciting for the audience. By the end, though, she seems extremely winded. Overall, she's not a bad way to open the show, since she's a pretty good performer and carries herself less awkwardly than many of the other contestants.
Concentration is not your cup of tea.
Randy grins and comments that she came out rockin' this week. "I love hard," Carly replies. "I know you love hard. Did I mention I wear a size 13.5 shoe?" he replies. That's what she said, dawg. He notes that she started out rough, but made it solid by the end. However, she was pitchy and overhit notes. Paula is mostly happy to see that Carly loves Heart. Carly confesses that "Crazy On You" is her favorite song ever. Paula limits her comments to mostly how happy she is that Carly is back and healthy.
Simon calls her a heck of a singer, and says that she looked much more comfortable this week as her song was more her and less cabaret. However, he says, her excessive panting indicates she's obese and is at risk for diabetes. Get on the Carrie Underwood diet! Just kidding, you don't want to look like your head's going to fall of like the girl in the scary story (her head was tied to her neck with only a black ribbon and it totally fell off at the end). He does remark that she's the girl to beat, but she still hasn't found her "it" song yet.
Seacrest tries to remind me to keep a piece of the show in my heart by downloading the songs from iTunes. Um, no. If I could, I'd carve out the part of my short term memory that remembers the horrid performances with a piece of jagged glass from a broken Jagermeister bottle. Next up, Syesha Mercado. Guess what? She, too, is no stranger to the camera (but I think she's awesome). She's charming and quite funny in divulging that she's a commercial actress. I was hoping she'd talk about a less than glamorous gig involving an ad for genital warts, but instead we get a look at one of her commercials involving lots of sassitude and the line "D'wayne, find me a big, beautiful shell!" and are treated to her crying baby impression. She's also featured in a Ford Sync commercial. Who sponsors American Idol? Ford. Wah wah wah!
A baby crying, however, is possibly the worst segue way into a performance. Syesha is taking on Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones" but converting it to "Mr. Jones" so that Middle America doesn't chastise her for being a lesbian in song. It's slow and smooth as a ballad, but also pretty boring until we ramp up to the recognizable chorus. It makes me feel like I'm shopping for pizza pockets and discounted Valentine's day candy at Ralphs. At like, 1 in the morning. But, protests Paula, the girl has a YES in her name. I think the verses are just too meek and forgettable compared to the powerful notes and the chorus, so she didn't pick a song that maximized her vocal abilities or really challenged her. It was nicely interpreted, even if it was a bit on the side of easy listening, and I appreciate that she utilizes crescendos and diminuendos nicely.
Randy agrees with me, explaining that she needs to pick a bigger song that'll feature her chops. It's subdued for her voice and personality. Give it what you got, girl! Paula purses her lips and smacks them together, noting that Syesha powers through on the loud notes and it's very piercing, and likes the interpretation and choices made. Simon calls the song indulgent and that it wasn't written for a girl, which makes it silly of her to pick (hmm, kind of hypocritical considering the songs that are later performed). Simon, you probably wouldn't tell Amy Winehouse that, would you? Her interpretation's on Back to Black, which won, oh, I don't know, how many Grammys again?
« Survivor: And Now, For Something Awkward | Main | My Fair Brady: Confused In Every Reality »
Comments (16)
The fact that you referenced Butters in relation to Lushington's song choice means you're my best friend forever and ever!
1 of 16 | Posted by Izzyboy | Posted on February 29, 2008 6:27 AM
The fact that you referenced Butters in relation to Lushington's song choice means you're my best friend forever and ever!
2 of 16 | Posted by Izzyboy | Posted on February 29, 2008 6:28 AM
I love the music of the 80's. This new AI group, however, will continue to butcher every song they attempt.
Except, I guess, for Fetus. From all the breathless ass kissing I've seen, apparently he's been designated as Jesus Christ 2.0.
That is all.
3 of 16 | Posted by Snarky | Posted on February 29, 2008 7:15 AM
I noticed the scarfs, too. Are they prtecting their vocal cords?
I can't stand Amanda and hope she goes fast!
4 of 16 | Posted by menomor3 | Posted on February 29, 2008 7:25 AM
T.Vo, I'm not even through the recap yet, but I had to give you kudos for the Bill as Towlie screencap. That was so random and hilarious. LMAO!
5 of 16 | Posted by JasonR | Posted on February 29, 2008 8:15 AM
OK, I finished. Recap was absolutely hilarious. Double threat with the sarcastic recapping of song choice AND fashion choice. BTW, I recall once that in an interview in one of the past seasons that one of the finalists said that they get a budget from the show but the contestants do shop for and choose their own clothes, so you can rest easy in making fun of them for what they wear if you so choose.
6 of 16 | Posted by JasonR | Posted on February 29, 2008 8:31 AM
By the way T.Vo, I didn't mean to imply you were one of the ones slobbering all over Fetus. Everyone else seems to be.
You rock!
7 of 16 | Posted by Snarky | Posted on February 29, 2008 8:46 AM
Guess I'm the sole Lushington fan . . . she seems to be bringing subtle changes in melody that the others don't, Ramiele was thuddingly dull repeating the exact melody twice. Simon's never heard Magic Man, yet Hard songs have been on the show for seasons now . . . lame! He's so obvious in who he wants gone, F him!!!
Did we all hear about the wig!?
8 of 16 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on February 29, 2008 12:12 PM
What wig??? I heard some Bret Michaels-type wig jokes about Robbie Carrico. What gives juddfan?
9 of 16 | Posted by JasonR | Posted on February 29, 2008 12:38 PM
juddfan -- I actually liked Lushington (and okay, I had a soft spot for Butters' interpretation of the Chicago song) but I think this week's performance (while technically better than Amanda's/Kady's/etc, for sure) was really incongruous with who she is as a singer, or at least what the audience and judges were hoping for. I think we were all hoping for her to belt something big and vibrant. I did appreciate the subtlety of her interpretation more than Ramiele's song, which was slightly more memorable due to its upbeat tempo.
As for the wig, yes, I have heard the TMZ rumors that his locks are polyester and not from the Dolly Parton collection! DListed and MTV are also debating the wig's existence (they're no Drudge Report, though). Hit up Google.
10 of 16 | Posted by t.vo | Posted on February 29, 2008 2:43 PM
Thanks T.vo--I'm a huge dlisted fan, PP 4evah!!! I sometimes wonder if MK isn't on here somewhere, hiding under some psuedonym!!!! Weirdly, the wig came after the votes, so couldn't be considered in the later voting . . .
11 of 16 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on February 29, 2008 3:41 PM
I mean later results . . .
JasonR, Robbie faux rocker is rumored to be wearing a wig . . . talk about credibility!
12 of 16 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on February 29, 2008 3:43 PM
I, too, liked Lushington. She was my favorite! BOO HOO.
13 of 16 | Posted by dani2526 | Posted on March 1, 2008 11:52 AM
It's nice to see some Lusington luvin on this site. I couldn't understand any of the judges comments this week. I don't think Lush has a belter's voice but rather a very clear, nuanced voice - and that was on full display in her performance, which I really loved. I don't understand how that blond chick (the one with the guitar not the other 20 blond girls on stage - seriously I can't tell them apart just yet) could be praised for a boring, copy-cat version of 'You're So Vain'. Meanwhile Lush gives a IMHO wonderfully layered and subtle interpretation and is trashed for it.
My other favourite of the night, Syesha, got pummeled for the most ridiculous of reasons. I thought she did a very good rendition of "Me and Mr(s) Jones". Randy tells her she needs to pick a song where she can belt more. Um, Randy, if every note is belted out then there is no dramatic build-up to the big notes - which this performance certainly had. Then Simon criticises her for the most ridiculous of reasons: that the song was not originally written for a woman. WTF?!
I'm a fan but what the heck was up with Ramiele? Bad choice of song. Oh, and I thought the Irish lass did an bang up job on the Heart song.
14 of 16 | Posted by bdos88 | Posted on March 1, 2008 12:40 PM
I finally figured out who Simon reminds me of.
Those cranky old people who yell at the neighborhood kids to GET THE HELL off my lawn!
I've known:
- One old guy who hid in the bushes and hosed down the kids.
- One old lady who came outside with a shotgun if she saw the kids.
and
- One guy who sits in his garage where you can't see him and shoots kids with a paint ball gun.
I gotta admit, that is a pretty cool use of a paint ball gun.
Simon...you are gonna be the best cranky old guy, ever.
15 of 16 | Posted by rhoda | Posted on March 2, 2008 3:25 AM
What? How is Kady Malloy the resident hottie? I don't think she's hot by any stretch of the imagination. I like her, though. I'm quite dismayed by this week's results show.
I too disagreed with Simon's comments about SYESha. Made no fucking sense. Since when did people only sing songs that were originally written for their gender on this show? Or, you know, in life? Remember last year when hey all had to do Bee Gee's songs and Barry Gibb was shocked by every choice the women made because they were originally written for men?
16 of 16 | Posted by Rock Star | Posted on March 3, 2008 7:44 PM