One thing that has perplexed me during this American Idol season is the popular notion that this season was boring and that people weren't interested in the contestants. I, on the other hand, feel like there was plenty of drama this season on Idol. The issue is that the show has been going on so long that the habitual drama isn't as surprising anymore. Shocking eliminations (Carly and Michael) aren't as alarming, contestants overstaying their welcome (Brooke and Kristy Lee) is expected, and Paula drama has been done before (the Corey Clark scandal comes to mind...ew) so Paulagate wasn't even a big deal. (J says: Ya, like suddenly it's surprising to people that Paula has no relationship with reality? Puhlease)
Despite all of this, the season was saved by the wonderful presence of David Cook. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't like him right out of the gate. His sassy remarks right after his Top 20 performance turned me off. I've rewatched that clip retrospectively to try and find some reason to excuse those comments...but I can't. (J says: Leave the sass to gays, DC. Let's just say "SOME PEOPLE WEREN'T LIKIN IT") Anyways, I had written Mr. Cook off after that point. I even dismissed his amazing performance of Eleanor Rigby because I thought he was another Daughtry-esque douche bag. However, once he performed Billie Jean and got his makeover with Little Sparrow, I converted to Cookism and haven't looked back. David Cook has the potential to be the most successful and popular Idol since Carrie Underwood and the possibility to be the most likable Idol since Kelly Clarkson (because let's face it...Carrie may have good songs, but there are retirement communities with more personality than her) (J says: DOES...NOT...COMPUTE. Must return to Idol overloards for personality upgrade) .
So in order to recap the season, I have my Top 10 performances and my justifications for each one. I definitely think there's some leeway with this because I found that there were about 15 performances I wanted to include. However, when I narrowed it down this is what I came out with.
List:
On Top 4 night, Syesha choose to sing two songs that are both on my Top 10 list of the Best Songs of all Time. I was ready for her to screw up this song and Proud Mary by Tina Turner. Well, she fulfilled my expectations on the Tina cover. She halfheartedly copied Tina's famous choreography and did an okay job with the vocals. I think if you rewatch it, Simon's comments perfectly captured my thoughts on the performance. Therefore, I was totally prepared for her to ruin Sam Cooke's masterpiece, A Change is Gonna Come. She blew me away. I was in chills during the song and begrudgingly admitted she pulled it off. For that fact, she deserves this spot on the list. (J says: If only she learned not to speak during judging...or ever really.)
Originally, I hated Carly. I thought that she didn't deserve to be on the show because she already had a CD and music video and that the producers were pimping her way too much. I always acknowledged that she had a good voice, but would never consider supporting her. Then Top 12 night came along and she hit me with the one-two punch of Come Together and Blackbird. Blackbird was very haunting and beautiful, and her first attempt at a tender ballad. Considering that Top 11 night was generally shitty, this was a shining moment. Additionally, this performance was one of the very rare instances where I found a contestant's response to Simon to be appropriate. After this performance, I secretly was a Carly fan and then was able to openly admit that fact after Top 9, when she blew me away with Here You Come Again (very nearly on the list). You go, Carly. Oh, Randy. Cooliosis is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of and you need to shut up.
I have to be honest. I wasn't a Syesha fan for most of the season. After Top 7 night, she sang Vanishing and I was so convinced that she would be "vanishing" during the results shows. I also thought I was really clever for coming up with that super obvious pun. I even thought Kristy Lee should have stayed instead of her (Don't stone me!) (J says: We almost-like KLC and we're not afraid to say it!). Basically, she had to do a complete 180 on Top 6 night. She definitely did. With this sassy performance, she eliminated my biggest concern with her: that she hadn't shown any personality before Top 6 night. Well ok, she did: she showed the personality of a frigid bitch. I guess that counts as a form of personality. ANYWAYS she changed my mind with this. It was fun, flirty, and remains the Syesha performance I rewatch the most. Well done. Side note: Could the judges have been more obvious about their desire to see her on Broadway? I think that's sort of the biggest backhanded compliment on the show.
Coming out of the auditions, Amanda was my favorite contestant. She was so different from anything that we had ever see on the show, and she seemed genuinely talented. With the exception of one super-doody performance on Top 20 night, she delivered consistently. Her shining moment was her cover of this forgotten Joan Jett song. She rocked it, and her rough voice was perfect on this number. I always knew she would never win, but I still lament the fact that she didn't make Top 10 and won't go on the tour. PS her fiancé is hot. (J says: here's one we'll just have to agree to disagree about. Although I am glad she made the Top 12 because seeing her utterly pained expression during the overly-choreographed finale numbers will go down as most enjoyable moment(s) of the whole season).
As I said before, Carly won me over with her one-two punch on the Top 12 and Top 11 nights. I can still remember watching this performance over and over on Tivo, blown away by how cool and powerful it was. This is when Simon dropped the "Kelly Clarkson" bomb and I was excited because it seemed like Carly finally understood what she needed to do to succeed in this competition. (J says: Simon also dropped the KC bomb on Katharine McPhee, and then she dropped her self-titled bomb all over my life. Just for a reality check.) Although she blew it with Total Eclipse of the Heart and The Show Must Go On, this performance represents a brief time when Carly was at the top of her game and actually posed a threat to the David-David finale everyone was expecting. Unfortunately, she seemed to recapture her former glory with Superstar when it was too late for her to avoid elimination. Lame. I do have to say that her blouse was hideous during Come Together and Simon's comment on Top 9 night about her not looking like a star was totally justified, albeit a bit rude.
This performance was the single sexiest/hottest thing of the season. Holy God he turned me on here. I think that represents about 90% of why this performance is on the list, and the rest of the justification comes from the fact that this song was the one time that Michael best connected with the type of record he should make as an artist. I'm fairly certain that he got Dolly Parton hot and bothered. Unfortunately the episode was running long and he went last, otherwise we could have heard Paula say something more drawn out and awkwardly sexual to him. UGH SO HOT. (J says: And can I just add that Dolly Parton was an amazing choice of guest judge, but she disappointed by not a) humping any of the contestants, b) making hilarious remarks about her own trashiness or c) making horrifically inappropriate comments about any of the contestants bustsizes. Just throwing that out there.)
Aside from that last note, this performance was one of those magical moments where I was totally connected to the performer and the emotion of the song. This performance reminds me a little bit of Summertime from Season 3 in the sense that people either felt the performance or they absolutely did not and therefore its merit was debated. (J says: who could you possibly be talking about *ahem*) However, the Jeff Buckley version of the song went to the top of iTunes. People said that it was because of Simon Cowell's appreciation for the song. However, he frequently says he loves songs and they don't climb the charts. As someone who downloaded the song after Top 16 night, I can safely say it was because I was moved by Jason's version and had to have the original. However, Simon pointed me in the direction of Jeff Buckley so I downloaded that version. What I'm trying to say is that Jason influenced my decision to get the song because of his performance. Too bad he has those terrible dreads otherwise I think he would be really good looking.
I don't really feel like I need to say a whole lot here. This performance was beautiful and brilliant. There was a time when I was all about David Archuleta winning, and I think this performance occurred during the peak of my obsession with him. Sadly, he followed the Melinda Doolittle School of Idol and peaked way too early and followed the Semifinals with a series of performances that were technically good (unless he forgot the lyrics) but very bland. I think some calculated growth would have helped his chances of winning. PS why the hell did he sing Imagine on Top 20 night when he could have easily sang it on Top 11 night? It would have helped him avoid peaking too early. (J says: because I'm sure Poppaleta informed him that he could either sing that song then or spend the next 7 weeks in the basement peeing into a cup. Just a guess.)
Cook is bold, intelligent, and takes great pop songs and does amazing arrangements of them. It doesn't hurt that he has a voice that can be powerful and tender in the same verse. He cares about his fans and the other contestants. I think I'm a little obsessed with him. if this list were more subjective, I would have several more David Cook performances on here. However, I decided to be a bit objective and just place these two songs at the top. With Billie Jean, Cook announced his claim to the American Idol title and with Always Be My Baby he sealed the deal. I read online (which makes it sound like it was a really reliable source haha) that if iTunes reported the sales of Idol songs during the season, Always Be My Baby would have shot straight to number one and would have been one of, if not the biggest selling Idol download of the season (aside from the winning single). I am so absolutely thrilled that he won this season and I'm very excited for his debut album. (J says: and it certainly doesn't hurt that he's bangworthy. Excuse me while I go watch his Guitar Hero commercial again...and again...and again.)
There you have my list. Feel free to post your reactions to this list/season in the comments section!
-C
J says: Good list C. I'm just shocked that Brooke didn't make any appear-- I'm sorry, can I start over?
J says: Good list C. I'm just shocked that Brooke didn't make any appear-- I'm sorry, can I start over?
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