American Idol Top 7 Recap: All That Glitters Isn’t Gold…Unless You Are a Guy!
As Mariah Carey songs loomed in the distance I wondered if the night’s show would be boring and low key. Not that Mariah Carey songs were lame but most of her songs I can think of are soulful and well, slow. I had a feeling we wouldn’t be having anybody dancing around on the stage or crowd surfing. Besides that, I still couldn’t believe that Michael Johns was gone. It was painfully apparent when they showed the final 7 and Syesha was staring back at me instead of Michael Johns. The contestants better not have an “off” night tonight or another one of my favorites might end up having to go home! Most likely though a girl will get the boot when all is said and done…Mariah Carey is a hard act to reproduce and the ladies are destined to be compared.
As the show opened Ryan pointed out the obvious, that the crowd and we at home were still reeling over the loss of Michael Johns and that we had better all vote! Staring at the final 7 I noticed the girls looked amazing in their dresses but what was David Archuleta wearing?? Were those leather pants? Then Mariah Carey was introduced. She has sold a crazy 160 million albums and has had 18 number one hits!!! That girl is amazing. On a side night I found out on Oprah that she has a 3,000 square foot closet. Hello! I’m praying that maybe my HOUSE is that big when we purchase this fall. I just don’t know what to think about that. That is a big closet. For shoes. And clothes. My family of five would fit in there. With room to spare.
Then before David Archuleta took the stage Randy said he was looking for identity in the contestants as they try to tackle Mariah and Paula and Simon had really nothing to say. So with that we were off and running to hear everyone’s versions of Mariah’s big ol’ hits.
David picked the song “When You Believe” from the movie “Prince of Egypt”. I LOVE THAT SONG!!!!! Well, he was amazing and made it his own. It was David up there singing it and he certainly was not imitating Mariah. However, the song is so powerful I kind of wish he would have stuck to the melody because that melody is what was so moving about it. Randy said it was the bomb and he could sing anything. Paula said David must have made Mariah proud. Simon knew he would pick that song and thought it was very, very good and that he performed it very well. He also pointed out that he thought the girls were going to have a tougher time because they would be compared.
Next up was Carly Smithson who sang “Without You” and Mariah thought she would do it more than justice. Mariah loved her…now would Simon? Her outfit was lovely and very flattering too. I loved the lighting and her standing by the piano. The presentation was great. Carly has a great voice. She made the song sound different though and not different in a way I would like it. She changed the chorus somehow and I just didn’t get it…as Simon would say. Randy liked that she challenged herself with the song but thought her lower range wasn’t the best. It was just pretty good. Paula liked that she showed some vocal restraint and then soared and that she made it her own. Simon said he really wanted to hear her sing the song and then said she just didn’t pull it off. He thought she was capable of it but that she was holding back and that she was still too wound up and that it was just okay. I agreed that Carly could sing it well, she just didn’t do it as well as she could.
After Carly was Syesha Mercado who picked the song “Vanishing”. She looked gorgeous in her gown. I mean gorgeous! She looked very comfortable on stage too. She did awesome! Syesha more than likely just made it into the Top 6 with that performance. It was moving, it was heartfelt and I believed her. She just kicked Carly to the curb unfortunately. Randy liked that she was bold and picked tough songs week after week (something I can’t stand personally) but she did a really good job on the song. Paula told her she was extremely smart to pick a song not too many people knew so she wouldn’t be compared. Overall her performance was magical for her. Simon thought that once again technically it was very, very good indeed. Simon didn’t know though if she ran a risk picking a song people might not know but Randy and Paula disagreed and thought it was a smart move. I agreed with Randy and Paula. I didn’t know the song and I loved the performance. Simon then said that David Archuleta so far had the best performance of the night.
Following Syesha was Brooke White who sang “Hero”. Oh, a big Mariah Carey tune I think the whole world knows. Brooke took to the piano totally unplugged and what I loved about Brooke was her conviction. She had a few flubs on the piano toward the end but hey, I loved her anyway. Would it be the best of the night? No. But Brooke was Brooke and that in itself was a rare thing sometimes on the Idol stage. Paula pointed out that every part of her was truly authentic. Paula thought the unplugged version was brave of her to do. Simon didn’t think she had much choice in what to do with Mariah Carey tunes and what she did was really all she could do. Simon didn’t think her voice was strong enough for the song. Then he said it was like a hamburger without the meat. Ahhh!! Simon. It wasn’t THAT bad. Maybe it was missing some pickles and mayo like Randy and Paula chimed in but there definitely was some meat in there. As Ryan gave out her numbers I couldn’t help but think that Ryan and Brooke looked like they were going on a hot date with their totally matching outfits.
After Brooke’s sort of rocky performance Kristy Lee Cook was up and she chose to sing “Forever”. Mariah said she liked it better than her own version and that Kristy Lee Cook gave her chills. Wow! So Kristy Lee Cook took me back to prom I think with her performance. For some reason the way she sang it made me go slow dancing under the disco ball in my mind. She did a really, really great job. Maybe it was the little bit of country flare she gave it but I really liked her version a lot. It suited her quite well. I think Kristy Lee Cook is safe once again. Randy said she stepped it up toward the end but had some pitchy notes. Paula said she was super smart as she stepped it up, picked the right songs and basically Paula was blown away. Simon said that Kristy Lee Cook didn’t give him chills like she gave Mariah chills. Booooo Simon. I thought she did great. Poor Kristy Lee, she can’t even smile after Simon rained on her parade. In fact, I thought she might cry. What a big jerk! I think Kristy Lee Cook gets better and better each week and this week was no exception. What Simon needed to do was go back and listen to it again! Maybe he will apologize on the results show to her. He should!
Oh boy, next up was David Cook…oh what would he do with Mariah Carey?!! I always, always cannot wait to see what he does with a song each week. He chose “Always Be My Baby”. Oh man, that was good. Oh stand up and clap all ye people! That was hot, moving, chill making, inspiring kind of crazy. David Cook delivered. Randy said he was ready to make an album and that he had to stand up because it was the most brilliant performance all season. Whoa, standing “O” from the dawg! Paula said the song could be on a movie soundtrack and that David was IT!!! Simon said it was like coming out of karaoke hell into a breath of fresh air. It was original, it was daring, it stood out by a mile, and it was the sign of a great potential artist…someone who takes risk! Go David! Wow. David Cook is going to win American Idol me thinks. As Ryan gave out the numbers to vote he and David were dressed almost the same. How cute was that? Then David Cook was in tears after that song and assessment from the judges. His brother was in the audience too so I’m sure it was an emotional and gratifying night for him.
Finally my favorite from the beginning, Jason Castro sang “I Don’t Wanna Cry”. It was hot too. He just continues to be hot, hot, hot!!! He sticks to who he is, sings it with emotion and just keeps on keeping on!!! I love that he doesn’t stray from what he does best. Randy didn’t really love it. He felt like he was at a weird beach luau. Oh Randy, you were so wrong! Paula said she would love to be at the luau listening all night long. Hooray Paula! Can I come too? Simon agreed with Paula. He wanted to be at the luau with her. He said it wasn’t the best vocal but it identified with him and it was a very cool version and the guys completely won the night. So with that here were the night’s best performances (in my opinion of course).
1. David Cook
2. Jason Castro
3. David Archuleta
4. Syesha Mercado
5. Kristy Lee Cook
6. Carly Smithson
7. Brooke White
The men obviously did amazing but I did feel bad for the girls having to sing Mariah Carey. Now Idol needs to have a Josh Groban night or something so the guys can be compared instead of the girls having to measure up. With that being said Brooke flubbed through her song, Carly just didn’t connect and Kristy Lee got a bad review from Simon. The rest will more than likely be safe, but how can I even say that after Aussie Michael Johns hit the road packing last week! Anybody could go…even David Cook. That’s why I got out my phone and voted for David Cook and Jason a lot last night (which amazingly I got through, usually its busy signal after busy signal). Ryan’s warning put fear in my heart! I had to keep my beloved favorites safe. Well, I did my part, hopefully the rest of America did there’s. Sadly, I have a feeling Brooke White will be going home. I hope for her sake she gets at least one or two more weeks to make up for the fact that she missed her sister’s wedding. But if not, millions up on millions have seen her perform and have fallen in love with the lovely Brooke White. I think that it would be safe to say that an album deal will come her way and me, like many others who faithfully watch the show will buy her record or download her tunes. Brooke White will do just fine.
© Copyright 2007 Blindigo Magazine | Article written by Niki Tschirgi
