Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox; Inset: Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesMovies wouldn’t be the same without music, Ryan Seacrest declared at the top of tonight’s American Idol episode. And likewise, season 9 wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t walk away with just the slightest hint of disappointment at the end of every performance-show telecast.
I know, I know, I’ve sounded like a broken record all season, getting lost in a fog of “season 8/7/6/5/whatever” nostalgia. But it’s frustrating when you’re down to just four contestants — pretty talented folks, all of ‘em — who don’t seem to inherently understand that every performance on the Idol stage might be their final one. Where’s the competitive fire? Where’s that hunger so innate to every one of the contestants who cracked my countdown of the 20 Greatest Idol Performances of All Time? And what’s up with the song choices?
Actually, I can’t blame Lee, Crystal, Big Mike, and Casey for my latter gripe. While Simon, Randy, Kara, and the nice comedian lady complained to the contestants about the peculiar lineup of ditties, they should’ve been pointing a finger at Ken Warwick & Co. A Fox publicist earlier this week reminded me that contestants aren’t required to choose from the 50 suggested “Songs of the Cinema” currently streaming under the American Idol banner at iTunes, but it’s telling that all six tracks performed tonight could be found on that list. In other words, I’m guessing the Idol wannabes were at the very least strongly encouraged to select from a pool that included “Beauty and the Beast,” “Eye of the Freakin’ Tiger,” and “Lose Yourself” (a song that would probably result in instantaneous elimination). Idol brass declined my invitation to get on the phone and discuss this season’s less-than-inventive themes and song clearances earlier this week, but you can bet I’ll be putting in another request tomorrow. Until then, you can reach me at 1-800-MY-HEART-WILL-GO-ON.
Not that there weren’t a few very cool moments tonight, as well as a couple elephants in the room that were completely ignored, but I’ll save all my positive, negative, and conspiracy theorist observations for my full TV Watch recap, which will post tomorrow morning on EW.com. [UPDATE: Here it is!] Until then, head on down to the comments and discuss who’s going home tomorrow (Michael or Casey?) and share which performances you enjoyed most. And to get all my Idol news and commentary, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak.
Tonight’s Set List
Lee DeWyze: Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose”
Michael Lynche: Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There”
Crystal Bowersox & Lee DeWyze: Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová’s “Falling Slowly”
Casey James: Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson”
Crystal Bowersox: Kenny Loggins’ “I’m Alright”
Michael Lynche & Casey James: Bryan Adams’ “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman”
Lee’s solo wasn’t his best, but he redeemed himself with his duet with Crystal. I thought it was beautiful. I hope Michael goes home. Casey’s solo was actually my favorite of the solos, so of course the judges hated it.
The judges are throwing Casey under a bus so their “chosen one” Lee will make the final 3.
I agree that they threw him under the bus, but I don’t think it was for Lee. Lee got his fair share of criticism tonight. I’m afraid that Simon’s “You gave it your all” speak to Michael is going to save him. He was terrible.
Actually, it’s Casey throwing himself under the bus by being, y’know, awful.
Casey threw himself under the bus. He could of pulled a Kris and sing a current, song from the Oscars ( from the movie Crazy Heart) and came out looking like a genious, just the way Kris did last year.
Mrs. Robinson? Casey James lacks subtlety. Oh, brother!
That would be accurate if he had actually been, y’know, awful, but since he was better than Lee and Mike, I don’t agree that this is the case. YMMV
I thought the judges were hard on Casey tonight. There are some nights he deserves this (Don’t Stop, for one), but tonight he deserved better. I don’t think for a minute that he chose that song with Kara in mind; don’t you see how he grimaced when they made jokes about it afterwards? It just doesn’t seem like he likes it when they make comments about him and Kara, but he’s too much of a gentleman to say anything. His guitar playing on “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” was great.
Its funny how last year kara acted like she did not approve of the song Falling Slowly when Kris sang it. And now this year it was used for a duet song that is known as a fantastic song. She said last year to Kris that its not a song people have heard of.
I agree with you. Will someone just fire that Kara Dioguardi already? please!! She just talked bad about Simon and Siobhan in her recent interview. She has a stick up her a** that makes her talk too much to start trouble.
I think he played the judges like a fine tuned fiddle! ha. Good for him!
Even thought Lee/Crystal’s “Falling Slowly” was not as emotional as Kris’s last year, I do appreciate them picking a song that that is not a golden-moldy.
Kris was smart to ask for the song to be cleared, because it is a beautiful song, which they gave it justice. I still like how Kris connected with the audience and that was his “game changer” on the show.
Nobody ever heard of it? It did win the Oscar for Best Song two years ago. And it was one of the most fantastic songs to ever do so.
Casey, Lee and Mike messed it up solo time and I love and adore Lee. But dude, Lee Lee Lee. It was like you were sleeping.
Casey- desperate for cougar votes much? At least step it up a bit instead we got a night of karaoke until Crystal gave us a real solo.
Loved Lee/Crystal duet on the song Kris did. Mike and Casey combined were almost as good as Daughtry on thier song (no “knew to Idol” songs left?).
That’s right many people NEVER HEARD IT before until Kris sang it last year.
A great song from “he who must not be mentioned”…Lee/Crystal did okay…sure studio version will be better. Love Lee but he was so pitchy last night.
I kind of agree that Casey has been thrown under the bus. I think he’s been under that bus all season. The guy has talent. He can sing (yes, I will admit the vibrato can be an issue), he’s always professional, he never argues with the judges. He’s taken all the harsh criticism with grace and class, and he’s a hell of a guitar player. I’m glad Randy finally pointed that out. I don’t think he deserves the hate he gets.
Casey should have opened with, “I’m dedicating this song to YOU, Kara.”
No, the judges have been doing that since Casey sang Jealous Guy. And Lee was the worst part of the duet with Crystal, she saved that song, she did really well, he didn’t.
@Mrs Dolly: Hilarious! That’s exactly what I thought when I found out he was singing that song.
I agree that the judges threw Casey under the bus. Ellen didn’t even comment on either of his performances. I thought his solo was the best last night. I like Lee but he was clearly the worst last night. I think the producers want a Crystal/Lee f2 so Casey has to go in their minds. I’m hoping that Mike goes tonight and really messes with them.
Well I for one thought that there was parts of Caseys songs that where not good, but having said that, I still like him the best. Lee was not very good at all ( intill the duet) Crystal wasnt much better and Mike, well he did do better for me then his usual singing, but still the same ol thing. I agree that I dont believe for one minute that Casey sang that song for Kara. I mean why would he subject himself to that? Enough with that line of thinking from the judges. I dont like Kara but found myself embarresed for her! And Ellen last night, geeze… is all I can say! The duet with Mike and Casey was very good, I loved Caseys guitar playing in that. I hope Casey stays and Mike goes, or maybe Lee Okay I would rather have Mike go home. But at this stage of the competetion they all need to STEP it up a few notches!
@Sharon
Casey DOES have talent.
Unfortunately, his talent is for guitar playing and this is a SINGING competition.
MIKE was the best! and he will be the next american idol! Bet on that!
Also, the Baltimore Orioles will win the 2010 World Series.
Mike was the best singer tonight, He’s a very humble person.
I will bet on it!!! 10000 bucks…against…
Oh wait…I thought you were serious! Good one!
dl… as a lifetime Orioles fan… that hurts… a lot…
ill bet you -999999999 dollars you are correct. to add on sports analogies, the detroit lions are more likly to win the superbowl.
Big Mike is a Big Annoyance sporting unfortunately tight-fitting clothes and a diva attitude that even Mick Jagger or Barbra Steisand could not justify. Mike should go HOME. The highlight of the evening was the Crystal/Lee duo, followed closely by Crystal’s solo number. Casey’s solo number was probably the 3rd best peformance of the weekend (after the 2 above). Lee started off horribly on his solo but saved it a bit at the end. Big Mike was just utterly forgettable — except for his facial tics, which will haunt me to my grave.
And monkey’s will fly out of his wife’s a$$ when he wins.
Danny Gokey screamed it best…..”Dream On…Dream On….Dream until your dream comes true”!
Oh I hope not…
I sure hope you’re right.
If I bet on that, I’d lose
who that f@ck is voting for that disney princess gone wrong anyway?
I don’t know how someone can think that Big mike is going to win this competiton because in my opinion he was the worst last night and deserves to be sent home.
@dlauthor: That made me laugh for the first time today. Thanks!
Lee is the BEST by far!!! Crystal is awesome, too. Mike needs to go, already. There’s only one reason they have kept him this long..NO NEED to explain!!! He has no more talent than Rubin Studdard. And he is WHERE?? now. Exactly!!! Casey can sing, but he’s not the next AI!!!…He should do modeling, Gorgeous!!! GO LEE!!!!!
hoping for lee to win- would buy his album over all others. crytal is just boring…casey would be great if he’d loosen up a bit…and mike’s done as much as he can- bye bye!
The “save” was truly wasted on Mike Lynche. I find both his attitude and his voice utterly annoying. I do hope that he’ll get his overdue exit tonight.
Lee was never as great as the judges have been hyping him to be, and I’m glad they finally got off it this week. Vehemently pedestrian is the best I can say about his solo performance. The duet with Crystal saved him. Speaking of whom, Crystal is a punk! And I *love* it. Also, she did make that song better, and was the only one worth watching this week. Casey was better than Mike, I thought. Going on solo performances alone, I’d say either Mike or Lee should go home – but since we know the judges want Lee in the top two – it’ll be Mike or Casey.
Casey fan, eh? You must be a fan of bleating lambs and goats too then, huh?
Well that was unimpressive.
This was once again another blah episode. It was “eh” at best. Of course Crystal wiped the floor with everyone else.
In fact I thought all were good except for Lee.
The duets? Casey & Mike were the best duet. Crystal & Lee-just ok. Mainly because they were singing AT each other. No chemistry.
At this point I am soooo over idol.
Is anyone else scared “Casey Hicks” might win this?
Based on the absolute devotion of his fans- I am.
crytsal is arrogant and suck a**. she still sound like a lot of grabage to me. she need to go srub herself down!she is stinking up the stage next to fat mike! both are arrogant and needs to get booted off!!
Crystal’s was the only solo I liked, and Falling Slowly was AMAZING. <3
Falling Slowly WAS amazing…last year when Kris Allen sang it!!
EXACTLY…I yelled at the TV when they praised “Falling Slowly” as a song that could be a current record when Kris was lambasted last year for singing the exact same song because it was “obscure.” And of course, yet again, no one mentioned Kris’ name after the performance. Such is the difference between being the judges’ favorite and being the one breaking up the party.
Jeremy, you put it perfectly. I find I’m still mad at the judges for undervaluing Kris.
I didn’t like any of the solo performances tonight. Mike and Casey’s duet was the best thing tonight. I like Lee, but he is not all that as the judges seem to think.
Jeremy and Tonya, I’m in total agreement with you. Kara said something about the connection is what makes a duet work? Umm, why did she not call out Gokehead last year for ignoring Kris during thier duet last year? GaH!!!!
I agree with you all. I yelled at my TV when Ryan said they were singing this song. No originality. The song was fabulous…when Kris sang it. We can’t be surprised that they didn’t mention it, since they haven’t mentioned Kris at all this season. Someone else did a song that Kris covered as well, and it was glossed right over. It says a lot when last year’s winner has only been asked to perform at a semifinal results show…
This season, and especially this show are reasons that I may not watch next year.
I just KNEW the judges wouldn’t mention Kris. They didn’t mention him when Aaron sang “Ain’t No Sunshine,” so no surprise they didn’t mention him here. With that said, I did like Crystal and Lee’s version.
and it was Kara who said this song was ‘obscure’ last year…. and Christ on a Bike, no one needs Kiss from A Rose….EVER!!! it’s the 2nd worst Batman movie ever!
So glad that ya’ll are calling attention to the egregious lack of recognition for Kris and his previous work on AI. When Ryan mentioned Crystal and Lee would be singing an Oscar winner, I thought to myself, “Surely they would not be stupid enough to do ‘Falling Slowly’” I was wrong. I didn’t mind the version, but I do mind the fact no one seems to give Kris any credit! I was psyched last year when Kris did the song and thrilled by his taste in music and knowledge of obscure (but awesome) songs! I agree with Slezak; we should retire songs! And we should establish an unwritten rule: you don’t touch a former idol’s thunder. Especially not the NEXT season. And producers: perhaps switch up the themes for this exact reason and shame on you for letting it happen.
The fact that half of these comments are about season 8 shows how terrible this season has been comparatively. Anyway, I thought the duet was ok. The fact that it was a duet added an extra element, but it was vocally and emotionally subpar
LOL – pretty much. The highlight of the ep for me was getting to see a few glimpses of S8 during the Jamie Foxx intro package
Falling Slowly is an amazing song. And Kris Allen killed it last season! All I could think during Lee and Crystal’s attempt, and I mean attempt was wow Kris and Crystal singing this would be fantastic. Lee sucked with his part of it. It really irked me that props aren’t given to Kris but why dare remind us how pathetic this group really is. Crystal is absolutely the only true talent on this season.
All u Kris fans need to get over it and yourselves. Good lord – he was Season 8 and guess what – it’s OVER. Every season there are songs that get repeated and the judges RARELY mention the previous year. Good lord – boo hoo!!
Someone wrote that Lee and Crystal took a nice gentle love song and turned it into a sing around the campfire song. Just commenting …
I’m with Sally in Chicago. Seriously, when has the judges ever mentioned any previous contestant? Why would they make an exception for Kris. Good lord….seriously, get over it already!
Please, FOX, someone listen to just .05% of what Slezak says and save yourselves. Retire songs. Do not let the Tim Urbans sing Hallelujah or Apologize again. With all the zillions of song choices in 2010, it would be so very nice for contestants to be forced to choose from the billions of not-yet-performed-on-Idol songs. BORING
@walkerfan wrote: “Falling Slowly WAS amazing…last year when Kris Allen sang it!!”
x^p LOLOLOLOLOL 4thewin!
I am a HUGE kris fan, but It’s not Kris’s song. He did a great cover and so did Crystal and Lee. The versions were completely different. If you’re gonna get upset everytime someone covers a song Kris did before, I am sorry for your life
Playlist this season from “he who must not be mentioned”:
Jermaine Sellers-What’s going on?
Tim Urban-Apoligize
Katie Stevens-Let it be
Aaron Kelly-Ain’t no sunshine
Crysatl Bowersox-Come together
Michael Lynch-The way you look tonight
Lee DeWyze/Crystal Bowersox-Falling slowly
Oh FFS! Kris fans get over yourselves. I’ve watched all 8 seasons and the judges rarely mention contestants from other seasons…including the winner. Kris fans treat him like an invalid. Stop with the pity party and enjoy his music. He’s doing really well if you just stop b!tching and take notice.
@Jeremy:Thank you for putting into words exactly what I was thinking!
If Kris’ fans would go out and buy his CD rather than spending all of their time on message boards whining and complaining maybe his CD would be in the Top 200. Just a thought…
I agree!
I agree. I think they are all campfire singers. Better together = Crystal & Lee. Alone, I’m going to take Casey for the minutest of appeal.
This was once again another blah episode. It was “eh” at best. Of course Crystal wiped the floor with everyone else.
In fact I thought all were good except for Lee.
The duets? Casey & Mike were the best hands down. Crystal & Lee-good. Mainly because they were singing AT each other. No chemistry.
At this point I am soooo over idol.
I had it this way: Casey’s Solo, Casey & Big Mike’s Duet, Crystal’s Solo, Big Mike’s Solo, Crystal & Lee’s Duet, Lee’s Solo. Casey made it a fun bluegrass version. Lee was terrible tonight. Even in the duet, he started poorly and only got better in the chorus. Big Mike started too low but recovered, but without the choir it wouldn’t have amounted to much. His duet with Casey though was great except the first few notes from Casey who did a great job with the guitar and vastly improved over the first few notes. Crystal was a little shouty at the end but mostly good.
Sonja, that song wasn’t cleared or on the list for them to sing. The list of songs just sucked and there was very little to choose from. I loved Casey on the mandolin, and thought he was by far the best of the night. Lee really struggled with that song. Mike was just boring. Crystal rocked it out. I am really surprised that Mike and Casey were better than Crystal and Lee at the duets.
eat yourself, GUG!!!!!!!!! I like Big Mike!!!!!
I agree!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know why some of you losers don’t like Big Mike, but I’m with these guys. He Is MY IDOL!!!!!
Look at me!!!! I need to post the same thing three times, under three different names just to make it look like Big Mike has Fans!
Mike is the greatest soul love singer ever. He is better than Marvin Gaye. He is better than Barry White. He is better that Reuben Studdard, who could never pack away 3 baked chickens in one sitting like Big Mike can. Big Mike sings & eats chickens because he is all there for love and the little life He created.
Ok — Big, Bigger, Biggest and Abs: You are fans but did you vote? That’s what it’s all about.
I agree that Big Mike is great and he has a wonderful voice but I think Crystal will end up the winner. She blew everyone away last night.
Crystal sounded good (not great) on ‘Falling Slowly’ but Lee was off-key again. And even Crystal didn’t come close to Kris’ version last year, which I still have on my ipod and listen to all the time. As for solo performances, Lee was okay, Mike was Mike – you either like his thing or you don’t, and I don’t – Crystal really did make that song better than it ever deserved to be (loved her boyfriend doing the gopher dance btw) and for me (for him), Casey was the best of the night. Why did he choose that song indeed.
Crystal is so far away and above the others it aint funny. She’s just a bluesy woman.
But I for one don’t want to see another season where everybody plays the guitar. I am so sick of guitar playing, I could puke. I hate guitar players after this season.
Yes the guitars do get a bit tedious, kind of like this whole show has been, but i keep watching and waiting and hoping. guess it ain’t going to happen.
I agree.
Especially when so few of them are actually playing. Did you see Mike and Casey together. Casey was definitely playing. Mike … not so much.
I completely agree. She’s the only one this season who you could have transplanted to a previous season and she would have held her own in a final four. All the rest–not a snowball’s chance in ****.
Crystal interested me earlier – she does have a pretty voice, but her lyrics are so low anymore – hard to discern. Lee – I am non-musical, and I sound at least that good in the shower. Mike is just your average back-up singer. Casey could pull this out, if he really plays to win next week. Somebody has to sing their heart out, and then we will all know who it should be.
Solos weren’t any good. I loved the duets. Crystal and Lee duet of Falling Slowly were impeccable. They sang it way way better than Kris Allen last year. Loved Casey and Mike duet as well. For sure the duets were the highlights of this season. But I must say last year’s duet between Adam and Allison of Slow Ride were magnificent. Nobody can top this last year performance of Adam and Allison for sure.
He is really pretty.
Casey + Mrs. Robinson= zzzzzzzzzz
Sorry, but crystal didn’t helkp him. I wish Lee could have sung this solo. he would have been great without her. I only listen to his part of the song. Sorry but i really don’t like her voice!
Simon was absolutely right – the duets FAR outshone the solo performances. What was Lee thinking tackling KFAR? I mean, I love ya kiddo but you do NOT have the chops for that – that’s a tough song, man. Too bad.
Having said that, “Falling Slowly” was terrific, and I have to admit the Mike/Casey duet was pretty good too.
Think Casey is going home, but really it could be anyone on the strength of what we saw tonight. (Free Willy, Mike? REALLY?)
Last week, we saw Internet trolls “Crystal is God”, “Jericho”, and “Gina”. As the competition goes on, watch out for these cruel beasts.
Oh come on Slezak. Screw your 20 best “Idol Moments”. Or at least stop hyping it. Taylor Hicks, who probably got more votes than an Idol in the show’s history NEVER had an “Idol” moment (well according to your list) and won the Karaoke Award–um American Idol…
Why the hostility? Slezak, I like your lists.
Taylor Hicks should not have been on that “Idol Moments” list because he didn’t have a performance that was truly worthy for consideration!
Yeah, if that person was such a fan of Taylor they should have cited what “moment” they thought was overlooked.
Casey’s solo was my favorite solo performance as well. Casey and big Mike did really well on their duet, as did Lee & Crystal. Would buy a Casey album, and, possibly, a Crystal album, but that is it. Season 9 is a real sleeper!
Casey’s solo WAS the best. It was original and all the pre-school judges could do was laugh their way through a stupid Kara/Mrs. Robinson comparison. Casey acts like a gentleman all the time. Also, Casey and Mikes duo was great and waaaaaay better than Crystal and Lee.
Ahhh c’mon. Casey has a sense of humor, a twinkle in his baby blues, and he did this because to him it was just plain fun! They’ve blasted him on most of what he’s done anyway while giving passes to some mediocre competition, so why not?!
I think Casey was totally snarking on the stupid Kara flirting lameness. Good for him. I wish they had actually let him get a word in edgewise after Randy asked him why he picked it.
Harley – here’s your answer. “I picked the song because I love the song,” the Texas native said from the American Idol green room, where we were hanging out post-show May 11. “… I thought it was funny because of the cougars but that wasn’t why I picked the song.”
Casey’s interpretation of Mrs. Robinson may have been original, but it was pretty awful. He has talent but he’s making some very bad choices. I think he’s history.Crystal’s solo was the best of the night but that’s not saying much. The duets were the Idol worthy performances!
i agree with leeann.i didn’t like caseys song choice but it was fun watching him play with his little boy guitar.lol!as far as casey and mikes duet, i loved it. it was amazing!!!!!!!! i want casey to win but who knows on this goofy show. im a casey fan all the way. although mamasox did a great job on her solo, im not a fan of hers.sorry. GO CASEY, get back in your comfortable zone, rock that guitar, i love it.
I thought Casey was exceptionally expressive and emotive tonight! Both of his performances were fabulous… the highlights of the night for me.
There were parts of it I didnt like, but I thought he was the best. Crystal is 2nd to that. Lee then Mike. Though Lee was terrible tonight. I am a big Casey fan, so are my kids.He will do well no matter if he makes it to the top 3 or not
Like Jamie said this week (and Harry C Jr last week)Casey had no connection with the song. There was no passion. Did he even know what it was about? I liked his mandolin work (and great guitar on the duet, but Casey is not a front man.
“Classic Song from Caddyshack”….four words I never thought I would hear said in sequence.
Funny and true
MAD Props to Crystall for having the guts to sing a song from Caddyshack (the best comedy EVER!)
CB did a good job. Definitely the best (and least boring) or the night. There was one thing missing though…I was waiting for the gopher to make an apprearance.
Of all the gazillion songs from movies, these are what we get? Mrs. Robinson? Really? Performances just ok, considering the material, but c’mon. Hey producers, let’s revise those lists for next time, or next year may as well be Idol’s last.
Hey, “Mrs. Robinson” is one of the best movie songs of all time (TM Randy). I think Casey could have had a real moment if he had chosen “The Sound of Silence” though.
And I was so hoping for a rousing, hip performance of A Whole New World. Or one of the other appalling Suggestions made by AI.
Great song choice Casey, shows your sense of humor and gives the judges a perfect retort to the obnoxious cougar references you’ve tolerated all season. You have a lot of class in the way you dealt with their foolishness and disrespect.
lila, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve posted it several times that Casey has more class than most contestants I’ve seen. Nobody wants to mention that.
yes casey has a lot of class and respect for people, casey ALWAYS has a message in his music. i get that,today is my birthday, i want to adopt casey for my birthday, but my husband probably wont let me. hes a jealous guy.lol!!!!!!!!!!
I could not have been happier that 1) Lee and Crystal got to sing together, they really are the best and that 2) they picked one of the loveliest songs of all time, that suits both their voices, and they absolutely killed it. I will definitely be making that purchase.
Yes, they killed it…as in stick a fork in it, it’s done. What an overwrought, bloated version of what is originally a sweet, unassuming love song.
+1
Abso-freaking-lutely right, Jerry.
I could not agree more. Lee and Crystal were shrieky and sharp during the choruses and the judges blind love for them didn’t let them notice that at times it was painful to listen to.
Oh..and..Kris Allen’s version was far better and, of course, not one mention of him during the judges “critique”.
This season is really bad. I find myself ff’ing through 90% of each show. The good thing is that I get to watch “Glee” and “The Good Wife” in time to go to bed!! : )
It was unbearable to me, too.
I’m with Mike … (except for the Glee part)
Lee looked like he meant every single word. Not.
“Not.” Really? Are we in the 90s now? Who uses not as a comeback anymore.
So on one side people complain Lee/Crystal were mild little campfire singers and on the other side people are complaining they made it overwrought and bloated?
Uh, that can’t both be right.
Hansard and Irglova perfection.
The Swell Season rocks!
I totally agree with you. It’s a great one of the greatest duets ever written, and they truly nailed it.
It looked like Crystal was leading Lee through the whole song. She did great, he didn’t.
Not a bad night, but not a memorable night.
BLLLOLLLLLLU
I hate everything
lol
I know for business/practical reasons the producers can only clear a limited number of songs, and I haven’t seen the complete list of 50, but the songs that the 4 finalists chose could not have been weaker. Uninspired choices by all 4 finalists. At least the duets were good.
The complete list isn’t much better…a lot of 80′s tunes and Disney duets.
I actually thought Mike made a smart choice but didn’t execute it well. On paper, an uplifting, inspirational ballad (complete with choir) seemed like a good fit for him, but he needed to come with the right emotion and conviction from the start, and he didn’t. He recovered at the end, but not soon enough to create a moment. I still think it was a good song choice (I could be biased since I’ve been hoping for that song since Idol Gives Back night). I also thought Casey picked a song that fit him. It probably didn’t help set him apart, but it was my fave of the night.
I’m somewhat in shock….AI singers show LESS singing skill and performance awareness each week. Tonight’s show was one HOT MESS….or possibly I should substitute another word for ‘hot’….after wonderful seasons 7 and 8, this season has just fallen into serious decline week after week. These are ‘top four AI talent?…..wow, how sad. I’ve been ‘on the fence’ trying to decide if this season is the very worst or second worst. After tonight….there is no doubt left. I’ve heard better talent at my local high school. For those of us who have been AI fans….this is just so very sad!
Love the judges avoiding He Who Must Not Be Named during the Falling slowly critique.
I know. I’m amazed that they’ve talked about so many Idols but not one mention of Kris. Something is wrong with that picture.
They’ve studiously avoided mentioning any of Kris, Adam, and Alison for most of this season. It’s a comparison they’d prefer not making for the most part.
That being said, I actually liked this year’s “Falling Slowly” even more than I liked Kris’s last year. I’d seriously consider it in the running for “best of the season”.
Both Andrew & Siobahn got compared to Adam at one point this season – hardly a studious avoidance. Now Kris and Alison on the other hand . . .
Avoided Adam? Um, hello, 1st-time 2nd-place MENTOR?!
So true, why can’t they just give Kris the respect he deserves!!! Lee & Crystal sung Falling Slowly perfectly fine but Kris had a moment with that song and I still get chills when I play it on my iphone! And Kris asked for and got that song cleared – the contestants this year just aren’t original or competitive, they just go with what’s in front of them! Adam got songs cleared we’d never heard on Idol before and he, Kris & Matty G flipped a bunch of them in ways we hadn’t heard before – and David Cook was the king of that in his season! These guys are dreary and I doubt any of them will have much success after Idol cos you gotta go out there and push and fight to rise to the top, not lay back and be mediocre!
If you read Ideology… it sounds like the producers just aren’t letting them choose songs not on the list anymore
“the contestants this year just aren’t original or competitive, they just go with what’s in front of them!”
And when Siobhan tried to be original and take on the toughest songs on the list – well. WE know how that turned out.
Stay in your box! Sing safe songs! Don’t do hard stuff, you might miss a note!
Well said, Spycig! Well said.
Because when these guys get creative, they bring in bagpipes for gosh sakes!
I agree! Kris’s performance last year was gorgeous! And Kris is a class-act all the way.
I loved the song on Kris (who was undervalued) and I love it on Crystal/Lee
Tune in next week when Casey will sing a stripped down HeaRTLESS, and no one will mention Kris’ name!!!!
I was thinking that!!!!! Soooo weird… 0_0 But yeah, and then Randy’d be like, ‘I don’t know, dawg…Kara?’ And she’d be all, ‘You know, it’s about more than just your looks, but…” And Simon will say, ‘So many others have done that song so much better on this show before…’ Spoon. Gag.
Someone did give me one reason and they did’t mention Jordin! RAGE! Someone did Come together and they didn’t mention carly! RAGE! Someone did have you really loved a woman and they didn’t mention Matt Giraud! RAGE RAGE RAGE. Get over it
I wish Lily and Alex were still around. IMO, their elimination night was when this season went downhill and fast. This season is horrible. No excitement, no wow moments. So dull and lackluster. Even the duets, IMO, were so boring. Can’t wait until this worst season ever is over.