Top 4 - Scream Edition

And, then there were four…

Before we get started, I want to announce the very welcome return of Mrs. RAD’s interjections to the commentary this week after a two week absence. Let me tell you, she had some built-up American Idol frustration that needed some release after her hiatus. Thank goodness, this week’s “final four” episode provided several awkward moments for such outbursts.

To begin, the impact of the misreporting of a Neil Diamond week continues to reverberate a week later. The disappointment felt by Mrs. RAD, due to her anticipation of Kris singing “Forever in Blue Jeans” being denied, was only further exacerbated by the appearance this week of Guns-n-Roses’s Slash in the mentor role. “Wait a minute: no Neil Diamond, but instead I get Slash?!? This is a traveshamockery, and a boycott must begin!” (You don’t even want to know the reaction when I informed her that Jamie Foxx was the mentor last week.) And, one more obvious thing on this subject: Slash – in ANY mentor position?! Much less, singing? Moving on. After a glass of wine, I was able to coax her back and we un-paused the DVR…

Danny SHOULD Go
Allison WILL Go (I have no faith anymore)
The Judges (All of them, including Simon) MUST Go

4. Kris Allen (Last Week’s Ranking: 4th), “Come Together” by The Beatles – As regular readers know, I never have much to say about Kris. I understand what Kara’s “marketability” appeal of Kris is about, but I just cannot see him as a winner of the show. He has always bored me. This week, however, I could not help, for the first time, finding myself rooting for him. I would hope that the themes for the weeks are determined far in advance of knowing which contestants would be left, but, whether it was intentional or not, this was not a genre to showcase Kris’s strengths. Maybe he could have picked a better song (Mrs. RAD suggested Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” that was wrongly recommended by Kara for Allison), but I feel that he was pretty stuck in a no-win situation. Despite his struggles, the ladies seem to love him, and I have more faith in his fan base to rally to his cause and save him than just about anyone else.

3. Allison Iraheta (3rd), “Cry Baby” by Janis Joplin – First of all, ummmm, Adam has had his own hair girl throughout the competition? One that he has had for two years? Stop it. I do not even know why I am acting surprised by this revelation. I will admit when Allison picked this song, I openly cringed. You do NOT pick Janis Joplin unless you going to absolutely crush it (like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef-f-l2Pbn8). I definitely felt she could have lifted Grace Slick’s “Somebody to Love” to great heights (or, Freddie Mercury’s “Somebody to Love” for that matter, as Simon confused). But, after the opening line of Allison’s performance, Mrs. RAD exclaimed, “Wow. This is excellent. She sounds just like Janis, but far from in a karaoke way…”. All I can say is that she is still my favorite, that is not going to change (even if she goes), and all the judges are utter dopes. And, I am happy that she is not going down meekly. It definitely would have been trite (Mrs. RAD’s word) for HER (not Kris) to do “Piece of My Heart”, and she was right to tell those dummies so. And, yes Adam, her hair did look great finally. Thanks for the help.

2. Danny Gokey (2nd), “Dream On” by Aerosmith – So, is he trying to get me to stop saying that he is screaming at me by screaming a song that he is supposed to scream? I don’t care: Danny, stop screaming at me! And, Mrs. RAD just could not get past the satin-backed vest with the purple shirt. I have to apologize for appearing to be a Gokey-hater now, but that performance could have been seen at any University of Wisconsin frat house with a karaoke machine. This is where his tragic background story is probably going to come into play to keep him out of danger, in my opinion. Otherwise, he would be my pick to go.

A quick pause for a comment on the worthlessness that is Kara Dioguardi. Okay, that’s being a little mean, but, when she had “five words for us: ‘that was the best performance of the night’”, I dismissed it as being caught up in the moment. When she called “Studio 54” Studio 57 instead, I just forgave her for being young and confused. But, now, when you are actually in the music industry and you call “Crazy” “early Aerosmith”, as if it was supposed to be earlier than “Dream On”, then I have no excuse but to call you dumb and have no further hope for you. Please be quiet, Kara, from now on. I would rather listen to Paula rather than you. I hope you realize how bad that is.

1. Adam Lambert (1st), “Whole Latta Love” by Led Zepplin – Face it. This was supposed to be Adam’s week to do whatever he wanted to blow our doors off. I think that worked against him. He has thrived on turning whatever theme of the week on its head to entertain (some would say, shock) the audience and turn things to his advantage. But, what happens when the genre theme is turned to your advantage? Adam couldn’t seem to figure out how to surprise us and live up to his weekly anticipatory hype. I felt this song choice was too easy, and, honestly, found nothing special about it. Maybe, I’m the dummy, but I believe the judges exuberantly lavish praise upon him was a bit of over-correction after they felt themselves and Adam’s voters (whoever you are) getting complacent, which sent him to the Bottom 2 last week. Don’t get me wrong, he never performs badly, but I have grown tired of the act. We’ll see what the Midwest has to say about this.
A brief word about the duets (also known as “time fillers”):
Kris and Danny, “Renegade” by Styx – After my dog listened to the first stanza, he left the room, went to bed, and did not come back. Also, Danny, stop screaming at me.

Adam and Allison, “Slow Ride” by Foghat – Yes, they will both release albums whether they win or not. And, yes, they will have a duet with each other on those albums. And, if Kara calls Adam or anybody else on this show a rock “god” one more time, I will openly pray for the appropriate lightening strikes.

Bottom 2 Prediction: Allison and Adam

Can’t wait to see your comments on this one!