American Idol – Killer lounge tunes, good Idol night

Coolness abounds! Evil, dastardly, serial killer Daryl Lee Cullum is mentoring American Idol! Who could ask for anything more … ?!?

Will this creepfest character (played by Harry Connick Jr. in 1995’s “Copycat” starring Sigourney Weaver) corner one or two unsuspecting Idol contestants in the bathroom and frighten the bejeebers outta them with evil glares, sneering hisses and daunting Frank Sinatra tunes? Could there possibly be blood and guts on the Idol stage? Can the murder of Kara Dio Guardi (or at least the duct taping of her yap) be in the cards?  Will the contestants be swayed by Connick Jr.’s foreboding Cullum character … or will they simply get that deer-in-headlights gawky eye glaze over the good ‘ole Louisiana boy?

Let’s delve in and see.  What do you say?

Wow.  Look at this.  Harry Connick, Jr., a mentor who is putting his money where, a mentor who has proclaimed he’s ‘getting behind’ the contestants.  “American Idol is keeping me pretty busy right now to be honest with you,” Harry told the camera at the start of the show while getting ready to meet the Top 5.  He was twiddling with musical arrangements for the group, keyboard in front of him.  “I mean … I should be out laying by the pool.  You think Shania Twain was up in here doing this?!?”  Classic.  The dude is classic.

- Aaron Kelly “Fly Me To The Moon”  Aaron’s performance was a tad confusing, but let me tell you:  There were times when he let it shine.  Quavery in spots, but juicy goodness at other times.  Kara’s comments were goofy: Aaron needs more charisma?  He needs more stage presence?  He needs to fill up the stage?  Well, Kara, here’s a news flash for you:  He’s a kid and this is relatively new to him.  Cut him a little slack.  Because, while a bit jiggly in parts, he pulled the tune off.

- Casey James “Blue Skies”  “Gimme an “E”.  “E!”  “Gimme an M”.  “M!”  “Gimme an “P”.  “P!”  “Gimme an “T”.  “T!”  “Gimme an “Y”.  “Y!”  “What’s it spell?”  “Empty!”  And that’s what Casey gave us – a big, fat, empty minute and a half.  During the rehearsal with Harry, it was about “working the vibe more than it was about the lyrics.”  But Casey left both back in the rehearsal room … something verified by Harry during the broadcast, directly after Casey performed.

- Crystal Bowersox “Summer Wind” Harry preached to Crystal:  “There’s nothing I need to tell you.  You know what’s happening.”  And wow.  Did she ever.  I was racking my brain trying to figure out what tune Crystal would do from Frank’s repertoire.  This was one I’d have never believed she could pull off.  And I just about cheered when she flung it right back at Kara when Kara said, “It was out of your element.”  “No … it wasn’t out of my element,” she retorted.  Good for you, Crystal.  Give ‘em hell.

- Michael Lynche “The Way You Look Tonight”  Where I’ve said he’s been lost over the last few weeks, tonight Big Mike stepped it up with this performance.  That’s what you’re supposed to do at this stage of the game — mix it up and bring the challenge big time right at the other contestants.  Mike redeemed himself a tad tonight.

- Lee DeWyze “That’s Life”  Damn. Smilin’ all the way through that performance, I thought my face was going to crack.  Freakin’ superb. (See video below.)

So … did the contestants get lost in Harry?  No.  Not at all.  They all rose to the occasion in their own ways.  Some (Michael, Lee) loads more than others (Aaron, Casey).  They didn’t get swallowed in awe; they rode the wave of big band and lounge pop.

What a great night of Idol.  For a change.  Who’duh thunk it?

(Michael Side Note:  Have a nice pile of rubber bricks handy for the remainder of the season.  They’ll come in handy when Ellen and Kara try to say anything intelligent or funny.)

Oh … and one more thing:  Casey’s gotta go this time.

Clacked by Michael Noble
on May 05, 2010 @ 10:00 EST5EDT