So it’s Disco Night on American Idol and the battle is on! Not between the contestants, but between the producers and the clock. We get no context as to how Idol defines disco. Was it time frame? Artists? Instrumentation? We’ll never know; we can only suppose a guess. One thing I know about this week’s episode is that I’m sorely disappointed in the lack of MacArthur Park in this week’s episode. Come on, kids! Carrie Underwood did it. Sigh. I guess it’s up to me….
Lil Rounds — I’m Every Woman by Chaka Khan
Spring was never waiting for us, girl
It ran one step ahead
As we followed
in the dance
Between the parted pages and were pressed,
In love’s hot,
fevered iron
Like a striped pair of pants
You know, when most folks discuss Lil Rounds, the subject of her pants often comes up. I don’t know if Lil has ever worn a striped pair of pants. I’m thinking the folks from What Not To Wear would advise her against the striped pants. Today, Lil is in an all-black ensemble, and it looks good on her. Unfortunately, Lil doesn’t sound all that great. It’s not that she’s bad. She’s rarely bad. She just isn’t that exciting or original. Oh, I’m noticing the pants — make that pantsuit — is actually shiny. Not the best choice. The song is a fun choice but it also talks about being ‘every’ woman. That’s not the point of American Idol, is it? You’re supposed to be better than every woman, not just like them. All the judges ding her on being unoriginal and boring, but spunky Lil fights back a bit. It’s too little too late.
Kris Allen — She Works Hard For The Money by Donna Summer
MacArthur’s Park
is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down…
Someone left the cake out in the rain
Does this song make the disco genre just because it’s a Donna Summer song? This song was released in 1983, so to me it lies outside of the disco time frame. Kathy thinks Kris’ version sounds like the Doobie Brothers. Paula thought it had a Santana vibe. I can hear a bit of both. Kris has definitely not been melting in this competition. He’s gotten better week-by-week. I didn’t think I’d like him as much as I do. I thought he’d be gone a long time ago. Paula brings a bit of MacArthur Park for me by blathering on about shopping in the women’s department vs. the men’s department. Lots of women shop in the men’s department, but not a lot of men shop in the women’s. Thank you Paula Abdul. And I left the cake out in the rain.
Danny Gokey — September by Earth, Wind And Fire
I don’t think that I can take it
’cause it
took so long to bake it
And I’ll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!
I don’t think I can take Danny Gokey for another week. I know that’s an act of treason since I live in the Milwaukee area, but does he ever sound different? I think the answer is Oh no! Danny tries to groove with the backup singers and he just ends up standing by them & singing. He doesn’t actually relate to them at all. Randy talks about taking the song & gave it a lot of range. Huh? Didn’t Philip Bailey sing this song? He’s got a crazy range — way bigger than Gokey’s. The judges fawn all over him, with the exception of Simon who doesn’t think Danny demonstrated star power. Danny needs to find that recipe again, cause someone definitely left his cake out in the rain this week.
Allison Iraheta — Hot Stuff by Donna Summer
I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground around your knees
I think Allison wouldn’t be caught dead in a yellow cotton dress. Or any dress that would ‘foam like a wave.’ It’s just not happening. Her performance is her usual good rocker number. Should American Idol have scrapped the whole disco idea & just made it Donna Summer week? I mean, just about every contestant has done a Donna Summer song. Why not just go all the way & make them all do a Donna Summer song? Back to Allison’s performance, the trio like Allison, but didn’t like the arrangement. Simon doesn’t care, he loves Allison.
Adam Lambert — If I Can’t Have You by The Bee Gees
The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing checkers by the trees
We got upbeat Adam last week, therefore, even if the theme is Disco Week, we’re getting downtempo from Adam this week. It works, but it’s not as revolutionary as Mad World was. When he does do the ballady-type songs, he could have birds flocking too him & soothing babies. Randy thinks Adam’s got it going on & gets the ‘hot one tonight’ seal of approval. Kara thinks it was his most incredible performance. Really? Ok. Paula gets a visceral response when Adam performs. She felt his pain & thinks he’ll be in the finals. Simon’s giggly & would’ve bet $10,000 that Adam would do a Donna Summer song. He also called the vocals immaculate. Adam gives a last minute shout out to the arranger because he’s a smart boy. The staff must love this guy. Love him.
Matt Giraud — Staying Alive by The Bee Gees
There will be another song for me
For I
will sing it
There will be another dream for me
Someone will bring it
This week for Matt Giraud was brought to you by the judges. If not for the judges bringing the save last week, Matt wouldn’t be here today. Staying Alive is Matt’s tribute to staying on the show. He’s alive, Idol fans, Alive! There may not be many lyrics to remember, and he’s going to remember them all this week. And use that falsetto. Randy wasn’t a fan of the song, but dude, he can sing. Kara notes that Matt brought disco back to the show, which is true. Paula compares Matt’s singing to her bowling. ‘Cause that’s relevant. Kind of like leaving one’s cake out in the rain.
Anoop Desai — Dim All The Lights by Donna Summer
I
will drink the wine while it is warm
And never let you catch me looking at
the sun
And after all the loves of my life
After all the loves of my
life
You’ll still be the one.
I like Anoop, but he’s not the strongest singer, as evidenced by the face he made after the last note of the song. Anoop is using the power of his pink sweatervest to try & woo the ‘pit’ girls with his suavity. He is offering the warm wine for us tonight. It doesn’t quite work. For me. Dawg. Randy notes that Anoop can sing also. Thank you Randy. Kara thinks the past two weeks have been his best performances. Paula starts off by talking about how great he looks. Her advice: smile more, you’ve got great teeth. Simon keeps it real by calling it mediocre. Simon is not looking at the sun.
Wouldn’t this entire show have been better if one of these contestants had the cojones to sing MacArthur Park? I think it would’ve been. Truly.
i’m still pulling for Gokey, though I admit he needs to turn it up a notch if he wants to win the whole thing