Unlike any other "American Idols Live" tour, this year's version had 10 singers who could easily hold the stage for their three songs. However, that also made this year's version the least different from the TV show ever. Even the group finale of Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" had been seen before. That said, there were a few unexpected things at the first Nassau Coliseum show:
TOP 5 SURPRISES AT "AMERICAN IDOLS LIVE" LAST NIGHT
5. Jason Castro doesn't get "Crazy": It's hard to believe, but somehow he made the Gnarls Barkley song "Crazy" annoying. It was slowed down, kinda noisy and a little messed up, even after he flubbed the words of "Over the Rainbow," though he smoothed it over nicely.
4. Ramiele Malubay's Strong Island salute: Sure, she probably doesn't know that Taylor Dayne is from Baldwin, but that doesn't really matter. Her version of "Love Will Lead You Back" was strong and sweet and connected well.
3. Kristy Lee Cook still working it: She wasn't the best singer, but she still knows how to give a crowd what it wants. She got a big ovation, in part, because she was the only one who handed out t-shirts.
2. Brooke White, arena rocker: Nothing fazed Brooke White. Not the big crowd, not the faulty mic stand that get slipping so that she had to stop playing guitar and hold it up a couple of times, after skooching down slowly to keep singing into the mic. And when it came time to bring it, she knocked Coldplay's "Yellow" out of the park.
1. Michael Johns' booty pop: He had the best set of all the Idols (sorry Davids), belting out "We Are the Champions" and "Dream On" like he had been playing arenas for years. But the way he enjoyed himself during the two group songs made Johns all the more endearing, especially his half-joking version of the Beyonce booty pop from "Crazy in Love" that he did during "Don't Stop the Music." It was one of the evening's only moments where it looked like someone was enjoying with working with everyone else.
SETLIST: Chikezie - I Believe to My Soul / Caught Up / So High // Ramiele - I Want You Back / Love Will Lead You Back / If I Never See Your Face Again // Michael Johns - We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions / It's All Wrong, But It's All Right / Dream On // Kristy Lee Cook - Squeezin' the Love Outta You / God Bless the USA / Cowgirls // Carly Smithson - Bring Me to Life / Crazy on You / I Drove All Night // Brooke White - Let It Be / 1234 / Yellow // Chikezie, Ramiele, Michael, Kristy Lee Cook, Carly, Brooke - Pride (In the Name of Love) /// Jason Castro - Over the Rainbow / Crazy / Daydream // Syesha Mercado - Umbrella / If I Ain't Got You / Listen // David Archuleta - Angels / Apologize / Stand by Me/Beautiful Girls / When You Say You Love Me // David Cook - Hello / The Time of My Life / I Don't Want to Miss a Thing / My Hero / Billie Jean // All - Don't Stop the Music
PHOTO: David Cook at Nassau Coliseum by Wayne Herrschaft for Newsday
Comments (24)
Glen Gamboa,
This is the second time you've said Jason Castro flubbed his lyrics to SOTR however there is no evidence of this. Are you just confusing the fact that he sang the Brother Iz version instead of the traditional version? They have the lyrics rearranged in different orders. That is how that version goes.
As for Crazy, well, then the AI producers and singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne don't get it either. That is the song that got him put in the Top 24 in the first place and it is a cover of Ray LaMontagne's more plaintive version of the song. It's supposed to sound that way. If you don't like it, personal preference. But you are wrong about SOTR.
Mr. Gamboa, you are incorrect about Jason Castro and his version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. He is doing the version by Israel K, not the Judy Garland version. I'm disappointed with your lazy and sloppy reporting.
A correction to your comment regarding last night's AI show: I just watched a video of Jason Castro's Somewhere over the Rainbow performance from last night. He did not fumble the words. He sings the Israel Kamakawiwoʻole version of the song, which is different than the original version. You might want to look up Bruddah IZ's interpretation; it's really beautiful, and Jason did a perfectly beautiful job of performing it last night.
As for his slowed down version of Crazy, he is not doing the Gnarls Barkley version of the song, Jason does the Ray LaMontagne interpretation of the song, and he did it soulfully and fantastically last night. I don't understand what "messed up" means in this context.
With all due respect, I don't think you should be blogging or writing articles about concerts and musicians when it seems you don't have a very broad knowledge of contemporary music. Perhaps a little research would help?
Jason sings the Bruddah Iz version of SOTR, so the lyrics are different. As for Crazy, he doesn't do the Gnarls Barkley version, he does a Ray L cover, and does is great justice. If you just don't like his music that's your opinion, but make sure the facts are at least correct before reporting.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=VtHozq0paL0
Not a lyrics flub in the whole thing.
jason castro did not flub his lyrics, he is singing the bruddah IZ's version so get your facts straight! and your comment about the song crazy was stupid as every other critic (idol hating critics including) have praised him on that song.
An article that is obviously not well researched does not deserve any more comments. It's clear the author does not care about the facts.
Glenn and Rafer
A liitle research, please, on Jason Castro's songs would be much appreciated by your readers, Thx,
Mr. Gamboa...I hope it is you, who is personally chosen, to interview Jason when his first CD goes platinum. He has a very loyal legion of fans who love, not only the IZ version of SOTR that he sings, but "Hallelujah" (Cohen's version), "Daydream" and a host of his own written music that will accompany his debut CD. I, for one, hope you are left to eat your words!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe5p1BXNCQM
Iz's version
Jason's version from last nights performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtHozq0paL0
No Flub
Who are you and why are you critiquing a concert? You're certainly not a music expert and you can't be a journalist. Jason Castro DID NOT flub the lyrics to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" he sang a different version than the one you are evidently used to. And I might add, he performed it beautifully. The only thing that was flubbed was the facts in your article.
How embarrassing for you and then you go and compound your ignorance by repeating the same trash in 2 different articles, if you can actually call them that.
You owe Jason Castro a retraction. The young man is trying to start a music career and he is being trashed in a major NY newspaper by a dolt like you. Do the right thing and print a retraction.
Fumbled the words? Wtf lol. He sang Bruddah Iz's version of that song and thus sang the CORRECT lyrics. Iz's arrangement is beautiful. Castro immersed himself in the song. He self-interpreted it and sang effortlessly whilst paying homage to Iz, RIP.
His take on Crazy is Ray LaMontagne-inspired. Ray is Jason's favourite musician, one of mine too. He is a modern musical and lyrical legend. One of the most soulful artists in this world. His vocals are pure ****ing passion and his music is nothing short of brilliant. JC is in GREAT voice on tour. His vocals sound CLEAR and POWERFUL. This is the first article I have come across that has shown him in a negative light. You evidently have something personal against the kid which is beyond me seeing as you can't get a more decent, humble, unassuming person. I don't know whether he mentioned Ray at your concert but every night so far on tour, he has given credit to his favourite artist. I personally cannot stand the original vocals on Crazy. I like gritty, raspy vocals like Ray's but I really appreciate JC's passionate, half-acoustic rendition and authentic vocals. Jason Castro is a master minimalist.
You should submit your resumé to Idol. They're always on the lookout for people who don't know shi.t about music ;)
Mr...what did you say your name was?
I think you need to get a new job because apparently you have no knowledge of music. I won't repeat the many comments here by telling you that apparently you must not be familiar with Ray LaMontagne and Brudda Iz, but perhaps, you need to tell your editor to give you a transfer.
Get with the program. You might fool some of the people..but apparently not the ones who are commenting.
tsk ... tsk ... If you're going to blog about music, perhaps you should learn a little more about this amazing version of Over the Rainbow. It's actually quite well known by now. And I'll say it again. Jason Castro most definitely did not mess up the lyrics. Why not set the facts straight, please?
tsk ... tsk ... Just another music fan admonishing your for your embarassing error regarding this amazing version of Over the Rainbow. You're the one who flubbed up, not Jason Castro. How 'bout setting the facts straight now?
Oh My. Jason's fans remind me of Clay's and Taylor's fans... which is not good at all. Guys, this is an opinion and everyone is allowed to have one.
Thanks for the review. I think Brook and David C have the best sets. Michael Johns was very karaokish for me, but still one of the best.
Is anybody else out there tired of reading articles by these crabby cranky reporters who think they are being cool when they write such negative reviews of these kids' performances? Give me a break! The Top 10 are still stuck with their American Idol contracts until the tour is over and since most of them have not had the chance to record any original songs, they have to sing what they've agreed to sing. To me, the writer of this article is even worse than the AI judges. Not only is there no fair assessment of the artists' abilities; there is also nothing newsworthy or constructive in the whole article. You are entitled to your opinion, but, please don't take it out on the Idols just because your boss made you cover a concert you obviously didn't want to go to in the first place! Hopefully, all the fans, no matter which Idol is their favorite (Mine is Jason Castro), will ignore this particular writer's comments and still go to a show if they can. It's exciting just to be a part of these kids' odyssey. Some will be huge stars. Some won't. But, shouldn't we at least give them a fair chance?
Carl, the lyric "flub" he spoke of was not an opinion. It was stated as a fact, but the writer was mistaken. A performer either flubs or they don't. Black and white. There is no lyric error in the song. Therefore, the blogger should do what any self respecting journalist would do: issue a correction.
The blogger's statement about Crazy was an opinion. To each their own. That's not what most people have an issue with.
Carl, actually, Jason's fans are still tame compared to other idols fans when they got a negative review. Lots of cussing involved. :P
We're just stating our opinion that the writer should have researched more before reporting this, journalism is about reporting facts, right?
Peace!!!
Michael Johns is the greates and I loved seeing him in New Jersey concert on American Idol show i was there but did not have the time to meet him :( i loved his songs and too bad he did not sing light ;my fire cause it is sososossoooooooooo Great. I realy enjoyed him for a small bit
You are entitled to your own opinions about Crazy but you need to get your facts straight when you make these declarations -- Jason Castro didn't flub the lyrics.
Well - such sloppy reporting and a lousy report on the Idol show. Actually Jason Castro did RayLaMontagne"s version of Crazy. Nigel Lythgoe (Idol) thought it was the best of all the auditions when Jason did that song. It got him through to the top 24. He also DID NOT fumble the words to Israel Kamkawiwo'ole's version of the song Over the Rainbow. Try listening to that version then you will understand.
I thought Cook was fabulous and has all the makings of a "rock star". David Archuleta was most comfortable and confident - how can you have misread him so wrongly.
Carl - Saying that someone flubbed lines is NOT an opinion. He is "supposedly" stating fact there...which is incorrect! Jason sang the song perfectly...the way it is supposed to be sang. I think that we are all justified in saying that Mr. Gamboa got it wrong when he said Jason flubbed. I believe this mistake needs to be retracted or corrected!!
Hold me I'm scared. The Jason fans are like the Taylor and Clay fans. So the writer messed up, but do you all need to head here and represent? Telling the writer once is one thing, but 3+ times? Get a grip!