I’ve got to be honest with you, PopWatchers: Country music is not really my scene. So I’ve had to rack my brain to come up with suggestions for what the seven remaining American Idol finalists should sing when Martina McBride (pictured) shows up as vocal coach for this Tuesday’s episode. Worse still, since Kellie Pickler already covered my favorite country song of all time ("Fancy") during season five, I feel I must strike it from consideration. So check out my choices below (clearly, I’m more of a country classics boy), and then see if you can make this request list a little more current. In the meantime, I humbly request that the ladies avoid the dreaded "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" Oh, and one other thing, LaKisha, you will officially be dead to me if you pick Dolly Parton’s "I Will Always Love You" as an excuse to make this Whitney Houston night. That is all.
- Melinda Doolittle: Reba McEntire’s "You Lie" (Guaranteed show stopper — and I’m not referencing Danity Kane.)
- LaKisha Jones: Dolly Parton’s "Jolene" (Perhaps the only song that could return her to front-runner status)
- Jordin Sparks: Patsy Cline’s "I Fall to Pieces"
- Phil Stacey: k. d. lang’s "I’m Down to My Last Cigarette"
- Blake Lewis: Hank Williams’ "Move It On Over" (Begging for a little Blake-izing!)
- Chris Richardson: Shelby Lynne’s "Your Lies"
- Sanjaya Malakar: John Denver’s "Thank God I’m a Country Boy"
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Michael, I am not into country either. And “Fancy” is also my all-time favorite country song.
Why not have Melinda apply her master-class style to Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”?
Also, you’re just being mean to Sanjaya. You know he’s not capable of speaking–ahem–singing that quickly. How about Glen Campbell’s “Like a Rhinestone Cowboy”? I’m sure the possibilities would make the AI stylists swoon …
michael, you know that those country songs are too “obscure” for Idol. they’re gonna either do overdone country songs or the ones that were top 40 pop hits. chris is sooo gonna do “amazed” by lonestar or “best i ever had” which of course WAS a pop song first. as far as the others, dunno, but, even though it will sort of be a sell-out, jordin should definitely sing “crazy” by patsy cline, it fits her voice perfectly, but it may be deemed safe by the judges. although it’s too new, i would love to see melinda do “before he cheats” by carrie underwood, but i think it’s too soon, but wouldn’t that rock? i’d love her forever. and i commented before, if lakisha sings “any man of mine” she’ll be dead to me. country week always bites, so i’m sure this one will too.
i think kiki could take over the world with “break it to me gently.” sanjaya will come up with something fun, but i suggest the pointer sisters’ “fairy tale.”
“Jolene” is a great song suggestion, although I’d switch it to Jordin (or have her do Ashley Monroe’s “Satisfied”). And Sanjaya just HAS to do “I Wanna Talk About Me” by Toby Keith (mainly because it would reduce the amount of actual singing he’d attempt). Nothing against Reba’s “You Lie”, but Melinda is possibly one of the few contestants (from any season) to actually have the voice to do Martina…so please let her do “Where Would You Be”. Everyone needs to avoid Patsy because it’s distinctive. Chris R. should do “On the Road Again” (which would herald his leaving the show, but ah the fun), Blake should steer clear of Garth and Tim and go in favor of something from George Strait, possibly “All My Exes Live In Texas”. Phil I’d choose an alt-country tune (well, sort of alt-country) in Marc Broussard’s “Home” and finally, LaKisha should avoid all of the female artists entirely and that sound and go for “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash.
and thank someone we won’t have to endure haley’s “walking after midnight” in a thong.
I am not a country fan at all, however in the last two decades country music has come a long way….so please, please, please, tell Lakisha and Mindy-Doo to pick a song that has come out in the last twenty years! Heck! Sing a Carrie Underwood or Kellie Pickler song….but something that at least sounds contemporary.
Heather – You hit the nail on the head with Satisfied by Ashley Monroe for Jordin. When is that album going to come out!? It would be perfect for her.
But Slezak I’m guessing you’re right about Lakisha and I will always love you. I will demand a booting if she does it. Even over Sanjaya. They might coax her not to which will only lead to the inevitable “Breathe” by Faith Hill.
Frank.. I LOVE “FAIRY TALE!!!” but please don’t wish that song upon Sanjaya.
My picks:
Melinda – Woman to Woman
Phil – Behind Closed Doors
Jordin – It’s Only Make Believe
Lakisha – Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
Blake – Kentucky Rain
Chris – Lost in the 50’s Tonight
Sanjaya – Take This Job and Shove (that’ll kill his chances of furthering, right?)
“Man, I Feel Like a Woman!” would have been great for Haley, but since she’s gone no one should touch it. I want to hear Jordin do either “Wide Open Spaces” by the Dixie Chicks or “Blue” by LeAnn Rimes, both would be incredible for her. I think Chris will probably go the “Amazed” route, but he should attack Keith Urban again and do “Days Go By”. Blake should be bold and try Joe Nichols’ “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.” I want Melinda to do Shania Twain’s “If You’re Not In It For Love (I’m Outta Here)” – it’s sassy and contemporary. Lakisha should try “There is No Arizona”. And, Sanjaya will go for “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” – it won’t even matter.
I just want them to avoid those played out songs like “Hope You Dance” and “Breathe” and do not sing Martina – she’s too good for any of these contestants even Melinda to cover. There are a lot of great contemporary country artists that they can cover and do well with.
Sanjaya should sing the song Willie Nelson released after ‘Brokeback Mountain’—-”Cowboys are secretly frequently fond of each other”
Sanjaya should sing the song Willie Nelson released after ‘Brokeback Mountain’—-”Cowboys are secretly frequently fond of each other”
Phil should sing that Josh Gracin song, “Stay (Brass Bed)”. It’s beautiful and Phil has the voice for it. I just hope someone does a Brad Paisley song – he never gets his due.
I will bet actual money that LaKisha will sing “I Will Always Love You.” If it weren’t so true, it would be funny.
Considering how amazing Kiki was when she sang the emotional “I’m Telling You” in the semi-finals, she should totally pick a song with major emotion behind it, and my current favorite is “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. She would BRING THE HOUSE DOWN!
I’m pretty sure that Josh Gracin was not the originator of the song Stay (Brass Bed). But for the life of me I can’t remember who was.