The kids perform the Lennon/McCartney song book this week. Again. Too much of a good thing? Perhaps. Last week’s show exceeded expectations. The kids rose to the challenge, offering a mostly entertaining 2 hours of television. The songbook is vast–there should be no problem coming up with 12 more great songs. But…eh. The bloom is off the rose a bit, no?
An FYI. Starting with the Top 12, the iTunes downloads are studio recordings, rather than live performances. My favorites from last week: “Across the Universe” Micheal Johns - I was in the minority, I loved his performance. The studio recording is even better. “If I Fell” Jason Castro - I thought his performance was slight, but the recording mixes his vocals up front and center, highlighting his lovely phrasing. “Let it Be” Brooke White - Just as pretty and heartfelt as her performance. I’ve got links to all the audio and video available at iTunes here (and if you are planning to download, please support the site and click either the text links or iTunes banners. thnx!)
My half-hearted Top11 list is after the jump. Since there were songs from the post ‘66 songbook last week, I’m considering the entire catalog here.
- David Archuleta - “Penny Lane”
- Jason Castro - “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”
- David Cook - “I’ve Just Seen a Face”
- Kristy Lee Cook - “What Goes On”
- Chikezie - “I’m Down”
- Michael Johns - “Get Back”
- Amanda Overmyer - “Oh! Darling”
- Ramiele Malubay - “Yesterday”
- Syesha Mercado - “Drive My Car”
- Carly Smithson - “Can’t Buy Me Love”
- Brooke White - “For No One”
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I hope, since David A. is unfamiliar with the Beatles, that he picks one of the songs with few lyrics. Maybe he’ll be able to remember them this week. And I would love to hear David Cook sing “I’ve Just Seen a Face”!
I would love to hear Jason Castro do Blackbird. I think he would really be able to capture the emotion of the song.
Those are my top 3 favorites, too, and in the same order. It’s been almost a week and I still can’t stop listening to Michael’s Across The Universe. I need an intervention. LOL
I think the esteemed jusges are in a minority on this one.
Michael “Across the Universe’ has grown legs and is now walking on its own. Sounds better every time I listen.
Brooke - Blackbird
Michael - And Your Bird Can Sing
Amanda - Oh Darling
Jason - It’s Only Love or You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (it might be nice to see another acoustic guitar player on the stage with him)
Chikezie - The Word
DArch - Yesterday
DCook - love song plus slow arrangement plus acoustic guitar - bandzilla = love. I’d like to hear “Girl” or a slow arrangement of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
Who are the other four again? Eh, there’s nothing I particularly want to hear from them. I hope no one yodels this week.
Mine too! And in the same order as well.
I want to hear David C, Jason, Ramiele, and Carly do something…different from what they’ve been doing so far. Surprise me!
I am hoping that Jason or David A sings “Yesterday”. I hope that the other one sings “Hey Jude”. I love their voices and those two songs would showcase them very well, IMO. Honestly, I only knew three of the songs on MJ’s list and only two on Cheese’s list. *hides*
MJ and cheese, those are some great picks. Here are a few other options for my favorites:
David Cook: Hello Goodbye, I Feel Fine, I’m a Loser, I’m Looking through You, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Paperback Writer, Revolution, She Said She Said, What You’re Doing
Jason Castro: And I Love Her, Every Little Thing, Here There and Everywhere, I Call Your Name, I Will, I’ll Follow the Sun, I’m Only Sleeping, Julia, Norwegian Wood, You Won’t See Me
Michael Johns: A Day in the Life, Back in the USSR, Fixing a Hole, Long and Winding Road, Michelle, Things We Said Today, Two of Us, You’re Going to Lose That Girl
Brooke White: Fool on the Hill, Martha My Dear, Nowhere Man, She’s Leaving Home, When I’m 64
Amanda Overmyer: She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey, Helter Skelter
Carly Smithson: Hey Jude, Hold Me Tight, I’ve Got a Feeling, Lovely Rita
Chikezie Eze: Drive My Car, Get Back, Good Day Sunshine, Lady Madonna, No Reply, Tell Me Why, Ticket to Ride
David Cook’s studio recording of Eleanor Rigby is really good, too.
I hope someone will do Blackbird! Such a beautiful song. And please, I hope no one does Yesterday! I love the song, but I don’t think I can take anyone else singing it anymore… LOL How much do I wanna bet that my fav will sing it? *L*
I like Jason’s studio version ok, but I liked his live version better when he goes up into the falsetto on “was in vain”. I wish he would have done that at least once in the studio, too.
I’m confused about the repeat theme. Is it the same 25 songs they can choose from, or are there more this time? If so, why?
I would love to hear Brooke sing “Junk”. She has quite a talent for lyric interpretation, so it would be interesting to hear her take on a song that has a delicate melody with rather oblique lyrics.
I enjoyed Michael Johns’ “Across the Universe” too. I did not at all agree with Randy or Simon’s comments on the performance. I LOVE Brooke White, but thought her performance of “Let It Be” was kind of repetitive and boring — definitely my least favorite performance of hers so far. I am not a big fan of Chikezie overall, but I thought he had the best performance of the night. I thought David Cook’s performance of Eleanor Rigby was ok, but not as great as his prior three performances, which I thought were better than almost everyone else’s. I consider him to be one of the two front-runners so far. The other front-runner in my mind is Carly Smithson. That girl can flat-out SING. I wasn’t as crazy about her rendition of “Come Together,” which I do not consider to be a “singer’s song,” but I thought she sang it as well as anyone could have. But based on her performance in weeks 2 and 3, I have to agree with Simon that, over the long haul, there is only one person who can really challenge her for the win, and that’s David Cook. I think David Archuleta was pimped way too much, way too early. He’s a great singer and very talented, but it will be interesting to see whether he’s mature enough to withstand the pressure, the attention, and the expectations heaped upon him from week 1. And I really disliked his performance of “Imagine” in week 2. I thought he ruined the song and could not understand what the judges loved about it.
I would actually like to hear Jason sing “Strawberry Fields”. I just heard Ben Folds’ version from the “I Am Sam” soundtrack and I think Jason could do a good job with that song.
Good grief, taylordaman, you are totally reading my mind! I completely agree with every one of your takes!
I think Ramielle needs to pick something upbeat & not another ballad.
I’m sure it’s a new list that might include songs from last week that they didn’t do. It would probably be a mistake for someone to do a song that was done last week - not that I would mind, but I’m sure they’d get criticized.
We don’t know how long the list is. It might have 50 songs on it, for all we know.
I wasn’t around during the first season, but I did see a re-run of the finale with Justin and Kelly having a sing-off. They both did the exact same song. I LOVE that idea! That way you’re actually comparing apples to apples and judging the talents and abilities of each singer on an even playing field. I think they should bring that back. It was a great idea.
“Yellow Suberine” if they can..
opening shot of 4 guys in yellow raincoats and hats…cue music …they start swaying from one side to the other..they sing w/ goofy smiles..background picture of a yellow suberine..
It would be quite cheesy but I do like that song..
(hey diferent sence of humor)
Ahhhh, I agree. I’d so love it if he did this. Of course, I am really trying to prevent myself from getting fangirly over anyone this season. LOL. But he does need to change it up a little and do a ballad at some point, and I think this would be the week to do it.
And also, I have to say that it really astounds me how he’s gone from “OMG, wtf is up with his hair?” to almost handsome in such a short timespan. Such is the power of stylists, I guess. ;)
Anyway, I’m a little nervous for all of them because top 11 week has typically been a week where there have been some “star-making” and/or really memorable performances - Jordin’s “I Who Have Nothing”, Blake’s “Time of the Season”, Daughtry’s “I Walk the Line”, Paris’s “Fever”, Carrie’s “Alone”, Fantasia’s “You Were Always on My Mind”… etc.
I loved Michael’s performance too, MJ. Also the mp3. Good to know about Jason’s because I didn’t really like what he did with the song live but may check it out on iTunes. I think Get Back, Lady Maddona, or Back in the USSR would be good for Michael. He needs to do a fast song this week. I don’t have time to do the rest right now.
LOL. Remember when he had that pink shiz in his hair and I was calling him mini-Perez in chat? Much better now, David. :-)
I wonder who will get the pimp spot?
Amanda-Helter Skelter
Kristy Lee-Blackbird
Ramielle-Long and Winding Road
Carly-Here, There, and Everywhere
Brooke-Dear Prudence
Syesha-Hold Me Tight
David A-Oh, Darling
David C-I’ve Just Seen a Face
Michael-Hey Jude
Chikeze-Lady Madonna
Jason-Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Well I too am in the minority on many levels. One is that I too thought Michael did a fantastic job. It was even better if I listened from another room. As far as the Beatles two weeks in a row…bleh.
Yeah, but then you get the complaints of “person THEY Well, the song was clearly geared towards so-and-so’s style!!” Heh. Can you imagine Jason and David C. or Michael J. having a sing off with the same song? Maybe Jason and Brooke, but….
*Trying to imagine Jason singing “A Moment Like This”*
Next week, when the theme is Music by Artists Inspired by the Beatles, I hope Michael Johns will sing “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House and Jason Castro “Bed Spring Kiss” by Jellyfish.
Heh.
Actually, Jason reminds me of Andy Sturmer of L.E.O. and formerly of Jellyfish — and I mean that as very high praise.
BTW, George was the hottest. Just sayin’ /fangirl
Me too. Include me in the minority. Also his recording is absolutely awesome. Loved his voice on the mp3. He records great, his album would be something I would look forward. I hope he gets the chance to make one.
Anywyas, I think Michael should do a fast song too or a bit more uptempo.
I would love for him to tackle “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window”. Great sexy song to make an impression. He could show a strong soulful side of him too.JMHO.
I don’t think the Michael love is in the minority. His Across the Universe was brilliant. Plus, he is hot. I’ve listened to him on itunes and he sounds great.
After last week, I can’t help but root for Chikezie. If he can pull off one performance like that, he can pull off another.
I’m not feeling the DAvid Cook love. Maybe its because I puke a little bit in my mouth everytime I look at him.
Anyway, my picks:
Amanda-Back in the USSR
Kristy Lee-I’ve Just Seen A Face
Ramielle-Revolution
Carly-Can’t Buy Me Love
Brooke-Here Comes the Sun
Syesha-We CAn Work it OUt
David A-I Saw Her Standing There
David C-Rocky Racoon
Michael-A Day in the Life
Chikeze-She Came in Through the BAthroom Window
Jason- And Your Bird Can Sing
If you flip last week’s order, you have:
David A.
Kristy
Michael
Amanda
Brooke
David C.
Carly
Jason
Ramiele
Ckikezie
Syesha
Both Chikezie and Syesha had the pimp spot before (but of course, that doesn’t stop Archuleta from getting it twice…). And it doesn’t look like the producers are trying to save Syesha, So, to make the end of the show more interesting, I think either David C. or Michael will get it. David Cook getting the pimp spot is long overdue, I think.