Last night’s show may be the earliest time in an “Idol” season where everyone left was actually pretty good. (Yes, even Kristy Lee Cook.)And of the eight contestants left, in any given week, any one of them is capable of being the week’s best. (Well, OK, maybe not Kristy.)
The theme of “inspirational” songs was a good one, not only because it gave the gang a chance to sing songs they actually knew, but because the expanded band and choir made them all sound better. The only problem is that each of them has developed a slice of a demographic and most of them are mining it a little too predictably. We all kind of know Kristy’s going to do a country song, that Michael Johns will do a big ‘70s rocker and that Syesha Mercado will do a big R&B ballad. And we know David Archuleta will do something precocious and dramatic, though his version of “Angels” this week was truly moving.
Nevertheless, it’s the risk-takers that keep the show interesting. David Cook’s version of Our Lady Peace’s “Innocent” was good, if not great, and it actually reflected that he is an artist and not a contest-winning automoton. I’m more and more convinced that he’s not going to win and that his career will be just fine coming in second or third or fourth. Carly Smithson took a risk too – or maybe she just misunderstood the show’s premise? – but her performance of “The Show Must Go On” was so out of place that the show will likely go on without her.
David Archuleta, “Angels”
David Cook, “Innocent”
Jason Castro, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
Brooke White, “You’ve Got a Friend”
Michael Johns, “Dream On”
Kristy Lee Cook, “Anyway”
Syesha Mercado, “I Believe”
Carly Smithson, “The Show Must Go On”
BOTTOM THREE: Michael, Syesha, Carly
WILL BE CUT: Carly
SHOULD BE CUT: Kristy
ACTUALLY CUT: Michael