How come nobody noticed that Lee’s version of “The Letter” was, almost note for note, the Joe Cocker version?
I’m not familiar with the Joe Cocker version. I wasn’t that familiar with the Box Tops version, for that matter. I mainly associate Alex Chilton with Big Star (and the Replacements song about him.)
You don’t recall having that rad Tiger Beat poster (bordered with those sweet pink and teal hearts and stars) of Janis Joplin clutching a Jim Beam bottle?
It’s not a Janis song, it’s a Kris Kristofferson song. Janis sang it, but that doesn’t mean it’s a difficult song to sing. It isn’t.
I am almost certain Paige will be leaving tonight.
Last season, I think, I recall that Seacrest once let slip “…from their list of 60 songs…”
I don’t usually espouse the “absence is evidence” argument, but I see no other way to explain the absence of artists like U2, Prince, Muse, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Led Zeppelin, et al that would satisfy Simon’s endless blathering on about “relevancy” and “song choice”. Hell, not even Journey, which would be obvious just to pimp some Randy J love.
In my mind’s eye backstage I see poor Casey look to the song list, back to Ricky Minor and the Somnambulotones, back to the song list, back to the band, song list, band, list, band, list…and play it safe with some Huey Lewis.
FTR, Adam sang Led Zeppelin and the dreadlocked guy from a couple of years ago sang Bob Dylan. I think I remember somebody singing “Time in a Bottle,” and Prince himself did perform on Idol. As I understand it, they do get a list but can request a song not on the list, but have to practice it knowing that they might not get it cleared in time.
Hm… Casey doesn’t strike me as this really gutsy guy who wishes he could do something deeper. He strikes me as a guy who does listen to Bon Jovi and Huey Lewis.
I’m sure it’s the Gordon Lightfoot version of “Me and Bobby McGee” that makes it teen idol eligible.
I’m not much of a singer, and I can sing “Me and Bobby McGee” easily. I think Crystal really can sing; she just keeps singing the same song over and over - that’s what I mean when I say she isn’t challenging herself and she’s playing it safe. The contestants need to do songs they can handle (Paige proved that last night), but they also need to do something better (as someone speculated) than just playing the same songs that she has busked for a decade.
That’s it! I noticed it as soon as you said it. 
Perhaps the poor song/artist choices are simply generational ignorance? I mean, most of these kids are picking from their grandparent’s catalog of music at this point. This would be like me getting up on stage, and having to choose which Vera Lynn or Al Jolson song best represents my voice as a young artist.
“Safe Choice Night” on American Idol.
I was catching up on LOST with one TV and hearing the idols from the other TV. Crystal sounded great, Didi sounded awful, and apparently I wasn’t missing a whole lot.
A lot of Arrogant Chewing Gum from Miley Cyrus. When you’re hosting the show as a mentor and special guest and you have five cameras on you at every given opportunity, then maybe you shouldn’t chew gum when the contestants are singing?
Andrew Garcia looked absolutely devastated when Simon said that his moment might’ve been overrated. Before that, at least he had that moment. Seriously though, Andrew is worse than Paige overall, he’s been consistently bad for over a month now. Time to let him go.
If Crystal gets a bad rep for choosing a safe song, then at least she should get commended for pulling it off well. She was the best of the night. In comparison, Tim Urban picked an even easier song and looked like a jerk.
The judging is getting better, I think. Definitely better than last season or the start of this season. Ellen seems like a good fit and even Kara has shaped up and is on point most of the time.
Casey is a good guitarist. I also get the feeling that he really loves music and is pretty knowledgable of it.
The “easy song” meme is getting kind of dumb. I mean, most songs have about an octave in 'em for the vocalist, and it’s not Opera Idol. Crystal’s performances have shown her to have a pleasant voice and she sings in tune, with good feeling for the melody and the lyrics. She’s also consistently picked good songs, even if they aren’t technical showcases. She seems to care deeply about music, not just her own performances of it as a gateway to love and adulation. That already puts her in an echelon of contestant. The “easy song” thing has to stop, especially with the level of hysterical misogyny some people bring to it.
What makes me sad is, all those who weren’t chosen by the judges, were these people really better than them? I wonder…
I think they try to get a variety of personalities and styles and get rid of the crazy/difficult people, but basically do want good performers. A lot of the disastrous contestants WERE pretty good until they hit the finals.
Loved Crystal’s response to Ryan’s question about the conflicting advice she got.
Joe Jonas has nothing interesting to say.