Image Credit: Michael Becker/FoxThis just in from the suits at American Idol: Enigma’s “Return to Innocence” is officially an “inspirational song.” So is “Dream Weaver” (note the word “dream” in the title). As is “Livin’ on a Prayer.” (Gina works the diner all day, yo!) In other words, we’ve got to accept that there are some wiggity wack jams on the list of songs available to the season 9 top 7 for Idol Gives Back week (with guest mentor Alicia Keys). But all is not lost. I’ve perused the full list of 77 ditties, and there were enough hidden gems — albeit not a whole lot of good stuff from the current decade — for me to create a dream set list (of songs not recorded by previous Idol champs, which is a recipe for #fail). Check out the “Inspirational Songs” list for yourself over at mjsbigblog, then make your own suggestions in the comments section. And for all my Idol news and commentary, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak!
Crystal Bowersox: Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day”
Lee DeWyze: Jewel’s “Hands”
Siobhan Magnus: David Bowie’s “Changes”
Tim Urban: Incubus’ “Drive”
Casey James: Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking On Sunshine”
Michael Lynche: Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
High School Student Aaron Kelly: Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer”
I think Siobhan should sing Mandy Moore’s Etraordinary.
Is that song on the list of 77 songs they can choose from?
As long as they don’t sing any past Idol winner songs like that godawful one Kara wrote or “This is My Now.”
Where is Idolotry this week? It is the only reason I watch AI..
Where the *&^% is Idolotry?!?!?! Slezak get on yo game!
Hey Katie fans-watch Katie on the Ellen Degeneres show this monday 4/19! We get to see the charming Katie do a lovely interview and performance on tv! Sweet!
i think lee and tim should just have sekz
WTF?!?!? Y?!?!
Okay…?
Totally concur
I’m thinking your choices for Lee and HSSAK should be switched up there Michael. Lee could do a great job with The Boxer and could actually deliver the world weariness the song needs, and as for “Hands” HSSAK has much smaller hands. That line would just sound odd coming out of Lee.
I agree. An LA Times article mentioned how Lee’s always playing the guitar (including The Boxer) and is going through a Simon and Garfunkel stage. I wouldn’t be surprised if the LA Times caught him preparing for it. I would like to see him do something with a simple acoustic or piano arrangement and this would be the week (and possibly the song) to try that on.
You’re missing the point, I think: Lee would do a great job on either song, but with “The Boxer,” High School Student Aaron Kelly would be able to prove himself so woefully out of his depth that he’d have to get sent home.
I want to know how anyone could consider “The Boxer” to be inspirational?
I would love to hear High School Student Aaron Kelly sing “The Boxer” — especially the part about hearing the “come-ons from the whores on Seventh Avenue.”
Maybe you should go check the lyrics of that song again, Shiny.
You want to know how anyone could consider “The Boxer” inspirational? Listen to the words. Now I could understand it if you asked that about “Living on a Prayer” or “Dream Weaver”, but not that great Simon and Garfunkle song.
@ shiny – maybe you missed the first SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE after 9/11 (which was like 2 weeks after it happened) PAUL SIMON came out and played the Boxer while Mayor Gulliani (not sure if I spelled that right) and a bunch of NYC firefighters and police stood off to the side of the stage and watched. believe me, it was inspirational. also while I’m posting may I add, VOTE FOR TIM, DIAL TILL YOUR FINGERS BLEED! TIM 2 WIN, we can do it, YES WE CAN!
In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of ev’ry glove that layed him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
“I am leaving, I am leaving”
But the fighter still remains…
The last line is the inspirational. The Boxer keeps fighting, beaten down but never giving up. Awesome song.
I saw the SNL after 9/11 and there was not a dry eye in the house when Paul Simon sang this.
The last line might be inspirational, but I never found the rest of the song to be so. But I would powervote for anyone who sang the verse about the whores on Seventh Avenue.
So…if were going with any Simon and/or Garfunkel songs I think they should rule out Bridge over Troubled Water – unless Crystal does it, anyone else would ruin it for me. I think “Get Yourself Free” is a great motivational song! I mean, for some people it could be perfect. I could picture Lee doing it?
Aaron should stay……..he has a good voice that will continue to improve…he sings his heart out each week, looks into the camera and goes for it. So, I hope he gets to sing a song that showcases his talent.
where’s the idolatry?
and really, the line “juat a come on from the boys on 7th Avenue… sometimes I was so lonesome I took some comfort there” would just be. really. really. really. creepy. From High School Student Aaron Kelly.
I’m not sure they’ll let me say this, but it’s “whores on seventh avenue”, but boys makes it… different.
It’s actually “Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue”. Creepy factor still there, but just not so high on the scale.
The lyric is actually “the whores on Seventh Avenue,” not “boys” — unless there’s a different version I have not yet heard (which would be equally dark and creepy). If High School Student Aaron Kelly felt uncomfortable singing the word “liquor” on Elvis night, he would definitely have trouble with “The Boxer.”
Uh Sara…it’s not a come on from “the boys” it’s from “the whores”. Still creepy though.
Sara – it’s whores not boys on 7th avenue!
I believe Lee would do an awesome job singing “The Boxer” or maybe “Bridge Over Troubled Water” since Simon and Gurfunkel are one of his musical influences.
All singers would be smart to stay away from “Bridge…” Even if they sing it well, they will never be able to surpass Clay’s version.
I have to disagree. His voice is great, to be sure. But his version too over the top for me. Very Vegasy. It was all production (choir, horns section etc) and very little connection to the actual words. Too much Showboat for my taste. I think at least 2 of this years Idols capture the magic of the original far better.
I agree with Kieran. No one should touch “Bridge”. It will never be done as well as Clay did it. That brought chills.
Lets cross our fingers Siobhan doesn’t do it! Where could you insert a scream in that song? Doesn’t matter…she would put one in.
I think that Aaron Kelly has never taken comfort with prossies or looks like he ever would or could, which might make it hard to believe him when he sings The Boxer.
I wanna hear Lee do some Evanescence. Something different, but a harder edge would be nice.
lee + evanescence = awesome!
I’m with Jen on this. Would love to hear Lee on Th e Boxer, and I bet Aaron would sound pretty on Hands (though the lyrics are a little weak/feminine).
I like Lee alot but don’t think he has the confidence or vocals to handle The Boxer. I’d hand that to Casey, Crystal or Michael.
@Miss Molly. I have a feeling we’ll find out. I read in some article last week he’s been walking around singing it. Either it’s a real fave of his, or he’s been preparing for this week. Either way, I can see him doing it.
Crystal doing The Boxer would be way cool. Lee too
Michael would be perfect. Vocal dexterity plus makes you feel the song.
C’mon Slezak is it really necessary to say High School student Aaron Kelly? Your absolute prejudices against certain contestants this years, is really appalling. I think it’s time you put the keyboard away when it comes to AI.
I don’t think it’s a prejudice. I think he’s making fun of Ryan. Just like “17-year-old Katie Stevens”. Slezak is one of the bright spots in an otherwise stinky season of AI this year. I <3 idolatry.
Yes, it’s a jab at Ryan, not Aaron.
Isn’t he a high school student?
Those are great picks Michael! Here are mine:
Crystal Bowersox – Amazing Grace
Casey James – Living in America
Siobhan Magnus – Holding Out For A Hero (Dark, Acoustic Version)
See the rest here
Holding Out for a Hero isn’t exactly an inspirational song – unless you are obcessed with scanning the singles ads.
It would rock my socks if Siobhan sung “Changes.”
I have a beter idea for songs for all of them!
Here it goes:
1. SIOBAHAN – LOSER by 3 DOORS DOWN
2. LEE – I’M A LOSER by THE BEETLES
3. CASEY – LOSER by BECK
4. ARRON – LOSER by ALCH3MY
5. BIG FAT UGLY MIKE – LOSER by JUST US 3
6. TIM – LOSER by SMILE EMPTY SOUL
7. CRYSTAL BOW-ER-SOX – I AM THE GREATEST SINGER TO EVER WIN AMERICAN IDOL AND ALSO IN THE HOLE WIDE WORLD!!! by CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
I know they are not usely aloud to do original songs but I think MAMASOX has proven herselve to be better then every one else so they wood probly make an excepsion!!!! and you can tell by the songs titles of the songs that I choose for everyone else why they wood be apropriate, be cause they are all total LOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSEEEEEERRRRRRSSSS!LOL! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
BOW-ER-SOX BOW-ER-SOX!
Oh boy… the wisdom…
How about going to school and learning how to spell?
Okay, I laughed
Yeah, I laughed too.
you and your spelling are embarassing
Even tho’ I am a fan of Crystal, if the post is by “Crystal is God”, I completely skip it.
Who knew there were that many songs in the world titled “loser”
i agree with you she has proven her self i fell in love with her voice when i herd her sing she will when this year i hope and pray
Siobon needs to do some Pat Benatar. Pat still so has the voice, would be a fabulous mentor. Trained as an opera singer for God’s sakes!
@SSC yeah you keep saying that but you seem to reply to them all.
@crystal is god – do you realize you are making people start to hate your Bowersox with all your vile posts? You should learn to sit back and smugly(and quietly) enjoy her success. With each vile post, people will become more and more turned off of her and it will be because of posters like you.
Poor Katie. This was her chance to sing “Over the Rainbow”. Sad to see her go. Glad I don’t have to hear her sing it.
Agree!
She would have nailed it, dip.
She doesn’t have the experience to redefine the song for an Idol audience, not when Katherine McPhee and even Kimberley Locke had such good renditions in the past. I’m with Slezak in wishing she had tried out a few years from now (but to be fair, who knows how much longer Idol will last?)
It would take a time machine and a visit from Katie circa 2016 for her to nail anything.
She’s plain yogurt.
water on top of the yogurt
if katie tried out a few yrs from now, she’d be perfect for x-factor. she has the voice, and the judges can choose the songs & arrangements and shape her performance skills.
Yeah, I agree too! Although, it is one of the more popular song choices.
Katie’s big fat lardbut wood sqaush the rainbow if she tried to go over it! LOL, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BOW-ER-SOX BOW-ER-SOX!
I see what you mean about (big fat lardbut) Katie, especially when compared with that leggy super model Chrystal.
This post should be removed. Its nasty and mean-spirited. Its uncalled for whether you like Katie or not. And Crystal would NOT approve. Careful of your “God” might strike you with lightning.
please learn to spell before you criticize anyone else for anything.
@Crystal is God – You are ridiculous!
Glad I don’t have to hear Katie sing anything anymore.
Katie was good on Ellen today. good strong voice
LOL. I don’t want to hear ANYONE sing “Over the Rainbow”.
I have Turban doing the Crowded House song, but it may need some perceivable soul, of which I’m not sure he’s capable.
He needs something cheese to succeed. GO TURBAN!
It needs a perceivable falsetto, of which he is demonstrably not capable.
He’s capable, he’s Simon’s hero!
This theme is terrible. I get it in conjunction with Idol Gives Back but man, are these songs cheesy and old fashioned. Will be a challenging week.
I think Crystal could do a cool, funky version of “Everyday People”. I could actually see Big Mike doing that one too, although very different from a Crystal version.
Aaron will probably do that Rascal Flatts song. Hoping Lee stays away from Creed and Chad Kroeger. Maybe “It’s My Life” for Casey? I don’t know – tough week.
Ah, yes! “Everyday People” is PERFECT for Crystal!
Any song is perfect for MAMASOX cuase she is perfect and the rest of them are all losers! HA HA! BIG FAT MIKE could sing “For He’s a Golly Good Fellow” and dedicade it to himselve since he is so full of himselve and also it wood be good cause it such a chessy song and he is such a corny, cheesy, fat ugly, stupid, smelly, dumb, loser, dork! BOW-ER-SOX!
I want Hands for Crystal, Lovely Day would be pretty good though. Wouldn’t it be awesome if she did We Are The Champions? Looking forward to this week actually!
Come to think of it Crystal might do Changes since Simon said he wanted to hear Crystal cover Bowie. I want her to take on some other Bowie song not this one though! I think it’s going to be a great night for everyone albeit a little sleepy bec of the potential onslaught of ballads!
@Kelly – “I want hands for Crystal”??? what the heck does that even mean? is that suposed to be some kind of stupid insult about MAMASOX? God you stupid Siobahan fans are sooooooooooo anoying. in case you haven’t noticed CRYSTAL HAS HANDS MORON!!!!! She using them every week for heer awesome guitar playing and some times awesome piano playing and some times, like this week when they say she is safe, to play her awesome little cute harmonica thingy, THAT WAS AWESOME WHEN SHE DID THAT!!!! OMG! anyway, Siobahan lover, if you are to dumb to come up with a decent insult keep it to your selve. “Hi, I’m Kelly and I love Siobahan and DUH that’s it, to dumb to think of any thing else DUH!” MAMASOX ROX and she also has HANDS MORON!!!!!
ummm-I think she means the song “Hands” and that Crystal should sing it–chill out
This is hilarious.
Lol this is actually hilarious someone is pretending to be a Crystal fan and gets ridiculously annoying to put other people off oh well. Good on you for having free time!
@kelly – unfortunately house arrest = lots of free time! LOL
Maybe in your “free time” on “house arrest” you could teach yourself how to spell correctly. Why am I not surprised that you are on house arrest…
No, no, no, you got it all wrong. Here’s how it should be:
Crystal Bowersox: The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkel)
Lee DeWyze: Drive (Incubus)
Siobhan Magnus: Don’t Dream It’s Over (Crowded House)
Tim Urban: I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
Casey James: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Fifth Dimension)
Michael Lynche: I’ve Had The Time Of My Life (Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes)
High School Student Aaron Kelly: Don’t Stop (Fleetwood Mac)
LOL, I Will Survive for Tim Urban? Too funny!
YES! that would be AWESOME!
But he has to do the Frank from Men in Black version.
He needs to do a couple more of those stage slides and laugh in Simon’s face some more.
It reminded me of last year when Matt Giraud decided to sing the Bee Gee’s “Stayin’ Alive” because he had just been saved by the judges! “I Will Survive” would be perfect for Tim, but he has to sing it with a non-disco arrangement.
only if he does the Cake version.
“I should have changed that f@#$in’ lock, I should have made you leave your key!”
@ RICK – Totaly dude, the kneeslide was awesome, even Miley said so!!!! Laughing in the judges faces, also awesome! TIM 2 WIN!!!!
LOL! Hi D-Con! Where ya been?
Tim doing the Cake version of I Will Survive- now THAT would be high-larious. Tim FTW!!!
OK I’ll do it…..Promise
I could totally see Casey doing Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In. That would fit his voice as well as his hippie looks. (NOT that I’m complaining about his looks!)
How about EYE OF THE TIGER for CASEY?
lostidol, I LOVE your choices!
I totally agree that “Don’t Dream It’s Over” would be better for Siobhan. My other picks:
Michael-I Hope You Dance-Lee Ann Womack
Aaron-When You Believe-Mariah/Whitney
Lee-People Get Ready-Curtis Mayfield
Casey – We Are the Champions-Queen
Crystal – I’ll Be There-Jackson 5
Tim – Only Hope-Switchfoot
**Probably not a smart choice for anyone, but I’d almost like to hear somebody try “Live Like We’re Dying”. There’s like 8 million words in that song.
Tim would be much better for We Are The Champions,
“and bad mistakes, I’ve made a few, I had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I’ve come through”
it don’t get more accurate then that.
@D-Con…trying to imagine that done in reggae-lite. ummmmmmm…..no, not happening….
@Mad Maggie, he wouldn’t have to reggae, he could bust out a mean rap version and maybe even throw in some beat boxing. that would be hilarious.
I’d prefer it if they all stayed away from Don’t Dream It’s Over. I love that song, and I like to think of it unsullied by most of these singers.
Great list, Michael! I can really hear your picks for Siobhan, Tim, Casey, and Lee. I think Hands would be really good for him (although not if he did that yelling thing on the chorus, I want him on a stool with an acoustic for this). I hope he’ll do something slower, more stripped-down this week — but I’ll be glad as long as he does anything besides the Creed and Chad Kroeger tracks (as Minnie said). (P.S. – No “My Heart Will Go On”?
)
Michael that IS the perfect song choice for Tim!
Incubus Drive will fit his style very well.
I really hope he chooses something current. I so want him to continue to do well.!
Please, please don’t let Tim ruin that song. It’s more up Casey’s alley. Tim should do the Cake version of “I Will Survive.”
Agreed. I think either could do a decent job on this song, but I think Casey would be better.
The voice of Sanity–I love “Drive” just shoot me now if talent challenged Turban sings it! I was actually thinking of Drive for Casey (but he will probably go for something bluesy), and Don’t Dream its Over for Siobhan.
Drive is one of my favorite Incubus songs. Tim would ruin it for me forever.
Tim should do “Show Me What I’m Looking For.”
No!! He’d ruin the song for me!
Has anyone heard “Only Hope”? I only know it because my 15-year-old self Napstered (actually I was probably using Kazaa by then) the soundtrack for A Walk to Remember. Seemed pretty obscure to me.
That’s a really pretty song! I can *kind of* see Siobhan singing it? I doubt it’s on the list of songs they get to choose from, though.
It is! I just thought it was strange. Turns out it’s a Switchfoot cover but I’ve never heard their version.
yeah, I could see Siobhan doing this. I like it when she sings something restrained
I’d love to hear Crystal sing Holding Out for a Hero, by Bonnie Tyler. Mostly because I love that song and I love Crystal. I’d like to hear her really rock out, too.
OOOO love it!!!
that’d be a great choice bethany!! love that song!
if that’s not a choice for the inspirational week, then hopefully they’ll be a movie week and she’ll sing it!
That’s the exact song I picked for Crystal too!! Really upbeat, a great beat, Crystal can do alot with this song.
Chrystal HAS to do–”We Are The Champions” with the Bow-Er-Sox begining, footstomps and all!
and how could Crystal do “we are the champions”? If you want her to look good, you have to consider she has a narrow range. She chooses songs that that don’t require 2 octaves etc.
That wood be awesome, she wood show all the other sucky losers who will be the next American Idol! MAMASOX MAMASOX!
@BLaT – it wood also be perfict cause when she sings the part wear it goes NO TIME FOR LOSERS she could point at all the other stupit, fat, ugly, yuky, smelly, dumb, stupid, fat, no talent jackasses that call themselfs singers especally ugly dork freek Siobahan maybe she could even say “that’s right Siobahan, I’m talking to you Beeatch, you ugly loser, sing it with me every one” and then she could point at Siobahan and go, “NO TIME FOR LOSERS” and the hole audiance wood sing it with her and Siobahan wood run off stage crying!!!! LOL! Oh my God, I am getting goose bumps just thinking about it! now that would be an Idol moment, could imagine how fricking awesome that wood be? I can! BOW-ER-SOX BOW-ERSOX!
@BLaT
the only problem with that logic is that the “BOW-ER-SOX” footstomps go with “We Will Rock You” and NOT “We Are The Champions”
To me they were always the same song, “We Will Rock You” being the intro for “We Are The Champions”. There is a live version that has almost no break between them.
No offense, but Crystal doesn’t have the range for Holding out for a hero or the pipes. It might make her look bad. It might be better suited for Siobhan, but then I wouldn’t even recommend that fast song for her either. It just makes singers run out of air.
It would be great to hear crystal do Stevie Nicks, Heart, Melissa E. or I agree that Bonnie Tyler would be a good choice.