Here we go again - the closet Christian is out (and out), and now there are nine. Tony Bennett is the guest host, and the song of choice will be "the standards..." As always, I write it as I see it before the judges say anything...
Blake - Mack the Knife - People will like this performance, but he is a deer in the headlights - he has no idea what he's singing. This is a musical theatre song, and he gave it no character whatsoever.
Phil - Night and Day - Alien hypnosis is making me like it - but then I remember that he's using that alien hypnosis, and then it just seems like he's doing a bad imitation of someone else's performance of this song. Phil's alien sweat glistens and hypnotizes.
Melinda - Who Could Ask for anything more - Here's a shock - she was surprised at the fact that Tony thought she was awesome! If she doesn't kick it up a notch, the judges may use this opportunity to give her some grief - okay, the big finish may keep them from getting too hard on her. She's good in the way that you are happy that the doctor is using instruments that have been sterilized. Amazing, skillfull, but a little too clinical. It is soooo funny now watching her try really really hard to control her insta-reactions to praise. Clearly she has read some blogs about this and is really trying to control it. But she sheepishly can't.
Chris - Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Ouch. Not memorized for Tony. It's okay, it's not like it's Tony Bennett or anything - wait. This whole night is starting to remind me of pop star Christmas albums. Just not jazzed about another version of "Chestnuts Roasting..." These versions aren't bringing anything new, and aren't really creating stars out of these contestants.
Jordin - On a Clear Day - This is a great choice of song because it's one that you think you should know better than anyone actually does, so it feels fresh and new even if your playing it straight. Much better for me compared to last week. Still can't believe that she's seventeen. Classy, classy...
Gina - Smile - Now she can really pick up some steam with this kind of performance, because no one expects rocker chick to be awesome at standards, even though anyone whose heard Pat Benatar's CD of standards knows that it's possible... (and I'm not joking) - She needs to put more gut into it though - she's backing off of it, and I think that will cost her.
Sanjaya - Dancing Cheek to Cheek - Dances with Paula, does not belong in this phase of the competition... Not really worth mulling over any more than that. Should have completed the freakshow and danced with Simon...
Haley - Ain't Misbehavin' - Tony calls her on the misinterpretation of the song. She responds by showing enough cleavage to make Gypsy Rose Lee blush. It is so sad to me that she and Sanjaya are now in the same "Entertainer" category, because she has so much better a voice than he, but with him still in it, you can't help but think that each of them is using their "bag 'o' tricks" to get the votes... And she sure is pulling out all the stops...
LaKisha - Stormy Weather - She's gonna murder this song. This is going to bring everyone back to when she kicked major tail with the Dreamgirls tune. She kept her tag to the song, but held the note longer for Tony's sake. She had fire. May have even caused a few to forget about Melinda. Here's hoping...
Them's the straight dope. Party on Wayne...
