American Idol Top 10: The Evolution of a Pop Culture Phenomenon
Sitting here in my living room with David Cook’s breath taking, bone chilling, can’t get over it, make me stop everything I’m doing and stare performance in the background I threw all my preconceived ideas of writing a recap of the show out the window. It’s about time we talked about the evolution of American Idol.
We the people aren’t satisfied with what it used to be and the judges and producers have, and I’ll quote Simon from the Top 10 performance of David Cook, done an insane or an amazing thing by picking who they picked for this season of Idol. It means we can’t go back to what we used to know, Idol must stay at the standard they set this season. They picked quite a few original and unique contestants that have changed American Idol forever. We, the voting public cannot and will not go back to what we once knew. That is why Ramiele Malubay (this seasons Jasmine Trias but with a bigger voice) and even extremely talented Syesha Mercado cannot win this competition. An original with unique flavor has to win it and most certainly will.
The obvious frontrunner after the Top 10 performed was David Cook in all of his rock and roll impassioned glory. Just think he was a bartender a few short months ago! Watching him sing “Billy Jean” was like watching a polished professional and still when I play it back I get chills up and down my legs. David Cook has got “it”. David Cook raised the bar so high the others might not be able to jump over it.
So what does this new season of American Idol mean? It means that people like Jason Castro, Michael Johns, Brooke White, David Cook, and David Archuleta will be what we demand to see in the future. Gone are the “old” ways of the show. We’re tired of seeing the same “types” of singers each time and that is why an original is going to win it all. It doesn’t matter how amazing Syesha Mercado sings each week. She doesn’t have that different pop of Jason Castro or even Brooke White. We won’t allow her to win. We’ve already voted for the Jordin Sparks, Tamyra Gray’s and Latoya London’s of the show. We want to vote for something we’ve never seen or heard before and vote we will.
Watching the Top 10 perform you could almost feel the hunger from the crowd cheering them on. They were yearning for something new, something edgy, and something that was going to tidal wave over them overwhelming every sense they had. America wants there Cinderella moment with a brand new funk and twist and I am confident that we the people will vote fresh and new because we have an idea of what we want and what we want is change.
So after the Top 10 did their thing it was obvious who we’ll be seeing for some time. Ramiele Malubay finally showed her big voice but it was may have been too little too late (plus her wardrobe choices put her in junior high). Didn’t she remember that Carrie Underwood sang “Alone” with her big hair and black outfit causing Simon to confess that she would win the competition and there were still like seven weeks to go? There are just some song choices you should not touch when a previous Idol winner or Idol success story has already had a golden moment with it. She may not be going home on results night this week but her time will soon be up on that stage. Jason Castro did excellent as usual but if he wants a chance at winning he has to up his game. We can’t see the same thing from him week after week if others are pulling out all the stops.
We are a demanding America and so far the only one feeding our demands each week is David Cook. I don’t think I need to say anything more about him. He was amazing, fantastic, phenomenal…you fill in the blank with any other synonym. He blew everyone out of the water by miles and miles. The rest of the crew has some serious catching up to do! Syesha Mercado was spot on, beautiful and really raised her game. She will need to keep it there too if she wants to stick around awhile longer. We finally saw Michael Johns do his thing and I was glad to see that while David Archuleta again picked a poor song choice. Who is picking those songs for him? It must be him, right? Or do they have someone “helping” them or is his dad “helping” him (seems like Simon alluded to that). He has had defining moments so far with “Imagine” and I really liked “Another Day in Paradise” too. David A. has got to pick the right songs or he WILL get to go to his prom.
Then there was Brooke White who was great and unique and back to her own thing but I agreed with the judges that the arrangement wasn’t the best and Carly Smithson was just too forced and the rock edge did not suit her well on “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. I totally 100% felt what the judges felt that something just didn’t jive. Maybe it was because Carly was in the bottom 3 last week that she tried too hard this week? I don’t know but hopefully she’ll have another week to prove herself. Then there was Kristy Lee Cook who did a fine job but we all know she won’t win the competition and Chikezie who two weeks ago blew me away and now this week just slightly breathed on me. His forgettable song choice that really had me quite bored may be the performance that sends him packing on results night.
So with that being said if you want to wear the Season 7 American Idol crown you have got to be unique, original, and you have got to bring it every single week. Yes David Cook is the dark horse and could easily win the competition but if he falters even one week and Jason Castro, David Archuleta, Michael Johns or Brooke White nails it? Well then they could be the one wearing the crown. As Randy says all quite often, you have to be great every time. It really is going to be about who is the best the most number of times and these contestants have got to bring it each and every week. They need to sing like it’s the finale even though they’ve got weeks and weeks to go and that person who sings like it’s their last time every time? Well, that person will be our next American Idol.
© Copyright 2007 Blindigo Magazine | Article written by Niki Tschirgi
