Like last week, this week’s performance shows will be taped ahead–the guys yesterday and the girls today. This week’s theme is the 70’s. And next week’s theme? You’ll never guess! Yeah, the 80’s.
Just for the record, I hate themes for the semis. It takes away the element of surprise. That first song choice can make or break a contestant, often in a really spectacular way. Narrowing their choices down to a specific genre (and a very small list of songs–50, I’m hearing) neither gives a contestant the opportunity to shine or bomb in way that makes for good TV, or a good introduction to that contestant.
There’s been lots of speculation about why TPTB decided to use themes during the semis. Here is my favorite. The deal with iTunes dictated that contestants pick songs that would be cheap and easy to clear…
But I digress. The guys performed last night, and there are some spoilers floating around the net. I’ll grab what the peeps have been posting in comments and post…
…After the jump!
Spoilers:
David A goes last, gets a tongue bath (that’s not a spoiler) and sings “Imagine”. Here he is performing this same song on a TV show when he was 13.
Michael is first.
Jason sings second (I believe that is Castro)
Jason C and David C each play a guitar.
Danny and David A sing slow songs. Michael sings a semi-slow song. All the rest were uptempo.
About the judges comments:
Michael: Michael did good, but judges thought he picked wrong song and Simon thought it was weak
Jason C: Thought he was good, but the judges did not like it. Said that he shouldn’t have played the guitar twice in a row.
Danny: Judges said he did better this week
Chikezie: Chikeze improved a lot. Judges seemed pleased
David A: Incredible performance and the judges loved him
David H: Probably one of the best performances. Judges thought did really good
David C: Played guitar and rocked it out. Thought he did well, but cannot remember judge’s comments
Jason Y: Did not do good and the judges “bagged on him”. Judges told him he looked like a drunk guy dancing on stage
Robbie C: Thought he did good, but the judges said that he still wasnt proving to be rock
Luke: Pretty sure he did pretty good… [becca] loved it. Doesn’t remember what the judges said.
The spoilers come from IDF. A young poster there attended the taping as part of a school trip. She’s a big David Archuleta fan.
Check out pictures of the guys performing here.
thanks kirsten
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These are not the most detailed spoilers, but since I’ve been “jones-ing” for something..anything.. I’ll take it. Thanks for bringing them over, Kirsten. Hope we get more detail throughout the day.
Gah. I really detest this whole themes-for-the-semifinals business that’s going on. In the past, contestants have done some of their absolute best performances during the semifinals when they could perform songs they were comfortable with and had performed before. I think TPTB are going to end up regretting the change because, thus far, it’s resulted in lackluster performances…there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of excitement being generated for the Top 12. Hopefully, next week, the contestants will be able to pick whatever song they want. If not during the semis, hopefully in the finals…
The one who saw this went on a school trip to see the Top 10 guys perform, damn what kind of school she go to. I want to go to that school. Looking at these spoilers, it should be better than last week or I’m just getting my hopes up for nothing.
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deleted because of a crs moment
This is the first season.. that I can honestly say that Idol has the MOST professional contestants of all past competitions. They are all good although some of the last eliminated contestants didn’t have very good performances. The men are far better than the ladies IMHO. I haven’t been able to pick out my favorites yet. Too talented. So I suppose I will wait until I am charmed. These are NOT amateurs.
So Jason Castro’s using the guitar again? Hmmmm….I smell a one-trick pony.
My favorite David A gets a tongue bath? Is that a good or bad thing? I’ve never heard that phrase before.
Although the spoiler says the judges loved his performance I’m worried because that song is so well known but a bit boring how good could he really have been
I’m more afraid of David pulling all his ace cards too early.
(I’m refraining from making an Amanda sandwich comment because I’m a good girl.)
lol IGC. Amanda does seem to have the best seat in the house in that picture.
I suspect that the judges will say the same thing and some voters will buy into it, but how is it a “trick” for a singer/musician to play an instrument while they sing? It just doesn’t seem gimmicky to me at all. I guess Elton John is a one-trick pony because he always has that piano thingy.
It does seem a little odd at this point in the competition with one lone person on the stage with a guitar and Bandzilla blaring from the background. If they get to play instruments in the finals, I hope they also get the option of having the band in their vicinity on stage and spare arrangements that will allow viewers to actually hear them play. This, of course, will not happen.
Not to mention the fact that they loved it last time so they have to pan it this time like they do so many other instances. The contestants follow their advice only to get it thrown back in their face the next go around. But it makes good tv! We just have to be smarter.
I’m assuming that David A’s version of Imagine will be COMPLETELY different from Blake’s home run last year.
And speaking of pulling the ace cards too early, didn’t LaKisha do just that last year with And I Am Telling You? She never had another night like that one.
But personally, I’m stoked for tonight! And I’ve also got my Tennessee Vols vs Vanderbilt at 9:00, so it’s gonna be a late night! Go Vols!
Yep, it’s the old “Stay in your box!” “You need to get out of your box!” You should have stayed true to yourself - now get BACK IN YOUR BOX!”
The only legitimate criticism I could see of someone playing an instrument repeatedly is that you could make the argument that they may be using their guitar/keyboard, etc. as a security blanket because they are not comfortable alone on the stage. Simon will probably say something like that whether he believes it or not.
Someone really needs to take Jason Castro into a quiet corner and have a one-on-one talk with him about how this show chews you up and spits you out. Poor sweet guy, obviously never had a chance to watch the show (he was the only one in all of America that was surprised by how they booted poor Garrett) and probably honestly thinks the judges want him to use his guitar again because it went over so well last week.
I, of course, am willing to take one for the team and have that intimate little chat with open hearted, naive Jason C.
What’s with Jason Castro ? Is he allergic to performing with backup music or with a band behind him ?
as a few people above have noted, the idea that playing an instrument while one sings is somehow a negative thing seems ludicrous to me. for years, anti-AI types have derided the show for not allowing contestants to sing their own songs or play instruments, and now that the rules seem to be allowing for a small step toward, for lack of a better term, “musical legitimacy”, people are being criticized for playing an instrument?
if that’s the kind of attitude that judges and even fans of the show really have, no wonder so many people think AI is nothing but glorified karaoke! holy guac.
I wanna be sitting where Amanda is! Only I would be leaning to my right!
why the guys go first? That’s tonight and tomorrow I won’t have a VCR to tape the girls.
Yeah, at first they say they like the whole guitar vibe thing, and now they’re like you’re hiding behind it!
Like someone said above, when did playing the guitar while singing make you a one-trick pony? So I guess the show only allows contestants to play instruments…every other week.
SO MUCH WORD.
And I swear… if one person tonight says “OMG 17!!11!!1!1!1!1!!!” in ANY form or fashion, I am going to scream so loud they will hear me in the effing studio. And I live on the other side of the country.
I’m *almost* not wanting to watch this season if we’re going to be in for “ONLY 17!!!1!111!1!!11!!” for another year.
I knew they would probably say something to Jason if he used the guitar two weeks in a row. That’s how they operate.
Remember last year when the kids were instucted to make the songs their own one week and then blasted for daring to rearrange Diana Ross tunes the next? Oh, I’m sure the examples are endless. The judges are so predictable.
So generous.
Or how Randy told Blake that he should “always keep the beatboxing as a part of your thing” and then said “man, you don’t have to beatbox every song”…
We could go on, and on, and on…. :)
I guess Jason Castro is not TCO and doesn’t have the Hidden Immunity Idol either. How many times did they chastise Ruben for sounding like the same Ruben week after week or … ummmm …. some of the other guys too :-)
Heh — just trying to be helpful.
Now. Now. You are being overly harsh. That’s not how it works. It’s all a matter of context.
If you are cannon fodder who had great success playing your guitar one week, you will be roundly criticized the next week for doing the same. “One trick pony.” “Get out of your box.” “Security blanket.” “This is a singing competition.” “This isn’t the search for the next Guitar Idol” “You can’t get by on gimmicks.” “So, you can play the guitar, so what? Whoopee. I can find a million guys who can do that.” etc etc etc
If you are TCO, you would be praised like the second coming of The Beattles. “Wow, dude. It’s unreal how you can play and sing at the same time. It’s off the charts. Do you know how often you find a double threat like that? DAWG. You’re the real deal. 17!” “You have a real talent. Playing and singing. That’s painting with all the colours of the rainbow. Right in your back pocket.” “This is more than just a singing competition, and you just showed that. I can go into any Holiday Inn and find people who can sing, but being a musician makes you special. You just made everybody look like the karoake amatures they are.”
It’s a good thing. It means that he gets a lot of praise.
My hatred of the new theme weeks with the horrifying short list of songs has officially pissed me off.
The almighty Most Talented Group EVER(!!!!!!!) aren’t being seen because these lovely pimped ones are being made to either crash and burn, so in turn it is one of the most lackluster Semi finals ever. We aren’t seeing any shining stars, anyone to make us go “Oh my gosh, I have to vote for them!” because they are sometimes FORCED into picking a song they hate.
I just am so discouraged by the semis! I’m missing these breathtaking performances.
And as much as I kinda liked David Archuletta(how CONVENIENT he goes LAST these week and then has to sing Imagine(again how CONVENIENT he sang it before). I’m such a purist when it comes to Imagine….I don’t think ANYONE can convey the meaning to it that John Lennon has, and I just have horrid vision of Ruben singing it with these huge diamond earrings in his ear and with no meaning. Argh. I think David A is just to YOUNG to understand the meaning of this song.
Does anyone else think that some of the “pimped ones” last week are sorta being brought down this week (Michael, Jason C,) and some of the terrible ones ( minus Jason Y) are getting more praise. Basing this on my first spoilers, even though they are minimal, I love them all the same. Do they have any cotton pickin’ idea what the heck they want?
My frustration with this show IRKS me so much sometimes, and yet I tune in like a trainwreck every week with the same excitement hoping that someone inspires me.
The same poster at IDF that wrote the above spoilers recently posted this.
“okay everyone i remembered somehting!!!
chekeezie sang a song about his name and how everyone forgets his name
bohemian rhapsody by queen was sung by somebody but i forgot itfor sure wasnt jason c or david c.
and not david hernandez
i thin it could be michael john but not for sure so dont take my word for it”
Hmmmm. My antenna are really up now.
What discourages me the most is that it’s painfuly obvious that David A. is TCO…but how can AI retain any credibility with the CD buying public by turning out two teen Mickey Mouseketeers in a row??
I may not be stating my opinion in the best way….but after Taylor (wrongfully IMHO) being labelled as a semi-”failure”, and Jordin not exacty burning down the charts…(neither are their runners ups)…to even think about who the hell would buy enough of David’s CD’s would NOT be a good decision at all. I sure as hell won’t even consider listening to a pre-pubescent singing songs about puppy love or shit he hasn’t even experienced in life…..
I can’t believe that in the 100k people who try out every year, that THESE are the “BEST 24 EVAR!!”.
Hopefully Amanda and possibly Michael will show us some real artistry (whenever they are allowed to) and will be signed…otherwise the IBW’s & teenagers will drive this show further towards it’s demise….
Can’t wait to see David H and Chikezie!
I think the 70’s is the greatest decade evah for music, just wished the list of choices wasn’t so short. Anyway, sounds like a great show awaits.
So far, every song David A. has sung, he actually did sing on “Star Search.” I would like to see the young man challenged.
Jason Castro may not be TCO; however fans do have an amazing power. Look at the terrific Taylor Hicks, IMO. So, if he is really good, he still may end up in the Top Ten!
I have a secret crush on Jason Yeager. Yes, I know he’ll be going home, but I did like him a lot!
I called it yesterday!!!!11!!!ELEVENTY-ONE! Oh, please let that spoiler be true. I will be unbearable ;-)
Rapidly pages through songs of the 70’s to find that song. LOL. Go Chikezie. I can’t forget his name, but I sometimes mispelle it.
When reminded that she said Michael went first, she posted that he did NOT do BR - that it was one of the other guys. I tried to find a song about everybody forgetting my name but came up empty handed. If anyone can do it though, it’s Kirsten.
Here’s a youtube video of Luke and his group doing BR. Maybe it’s him who does it tonight? He sounds really good to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cS6-K_ujKc&eurl=http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=516965&st=4280
Surely, Michael Johns wouldn’t be so lame?
Seriously, I hope its not him because a part of me wants to like him. Good call, Kirsten.
ETA: Sounds now like it wasn’t MJ. Whoever sings it is taking a risk, so good on them.
I bet it is Luke. I think he is the lead singer on that song in Chapter 6.
Considering how much they liked Michael’s performance of BR in Hollywood, I doubt that they would have given him the comments they reportedly did if he sang it again. I’m crossing my fingers that it wasn’t his song choice.
We have big storms here tonight… I hope my power doesn’t go out.
I guess we’ll find out in about 10 minutes if it’s Michael (assuming the spoiler is correct that he goes first).
Supposedly Jason C’s vocal wasn’t criticized by the judges - just the use of the guitar FOR TWO WHOLE WEEKS IN A ROW!!!
I think I may have found it. It was later re-written as an 80s television theme song:
Sometimes I want to know
Why noone ever knows my name,
And why Nigel’s songs are all so lame
You wanna hear some decent songs,
We Idols are not to blame
I wanna know why noone ever knows
My name.
I call Castro a one-trick pony not simply because of the guitar but because his voice has an obvious limit to it…that he can only do a particular type of song well….HENCE the one-trick pony comment. The guitar obviously complements that type of singing.