I know! I usually post the studio recording recap much earlier…but I got so caught up with Hometown! Visits! Papagate! that I kinda forgot!
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- David Cook - “Hungry Like the Wolf” - I was hoping for a recording of “Baba O’Riley” in order to get that payoff I felt I was denied when David performed the truncated version Tuesday night. Oh well. “Hungry Like the Wolf” is about SEX. David’s live performance lacked zip, and I’m not getting a sense of urgency from the recorded version either. ETA: It’s such a dumb song to begin with, it’s hard to take seriously. I hope David’s hometown visit re-energized him. He seemed way off track this past week.
- Syesha Mercado - “Proud Mary” - Zzzzz. Did I nod off? Sorry. I said this in my recap–if I never ever ever EVER hear this song again in my entire lifetime, it won’t be too soon. Tina Turner Syesha ain’t. She’s not even a Trenyce.
- Jason Castro - “Mr. Tambourine Man” - This was a perfect song choice for Jason. The arrangement is wisely kept to acoustic guitar, with a little bit of electric guitar and bass. Jason’s sweet, incomparable vocals bring the poetry in the song alive. My favorite of the four. Oh, how it could have been.
- David Archuleta - “Love Me Tender” - Hm. No. All the little twinkly Disney embellishments in the arrangement annoy me. And, it’s off to Never Never Land! Gah, I just hate what
David’s dadDavid has done with the melody. Give me Elvis’s tender, sexy version please. The recorded version is even more syrupy and denuded than the live version.
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I thought Syesha did a pretty decent job with proud mary. MUCH better than DA’s at least. And compared to how exciting “Hungry Like The Wolf” COULD have been……
I love Mr. Tambourine Man by Jason. Too bad he didn’t get a chance to showcase this last Tuesday night.
Jason’s are the only recordings I’ve ever bought. Seems like I bought wisely!
Oh gosh. Am I the only one who thinks the studio HLTW is pretty darn good? And sexy? OK OK, I think it’s HOT. It is when it’s cranked in my car! LOL! Of course I AM a David Cook fan, 100%. Or more, if possible. I also bought “Imagine” though and “It’s All Wrong.” So anyway, I did NOT like the Duran Duran song when it came out. I guess I just like anything David sings! I would’ve bought “Hallelujah” if they had issued video. Maybe I missed it. I think Jason is unique and I hope he continues to sing if that’s what he wants. He’s a sweetie.
Jason’s MTM is beautiful. *sob*
In happier news, I am very pleased w/DC’s HLTW. I know I’m in the vast minority, but I’m glad he recorded that one. I like the growling :)
There have been some great recordings by the other Idols, including David C. Actually, I like most of David’s recordings, with a few exceptions. This week being one of them.
2nd week in a row I wanted the *other* song DC sang as the studio cut…what the heck, powers that be?! That said, HLTW is pretty fun (lol at the whisper/growl) and I ended up buying it.
I love MTM. Jason’s voice sounds so beautiful. Man, am I going to miss him.
I think HLTW is pretty hot but could have been even hotter, especially the performance. Is he dialing it back because of the Idol audience? With that song you either do it all the way or don’t do it. He should go for it this week. Come on, Cook! Do it for us girls who have been through puberty.
I have gotten most if not all of David C’s stuff. Wish they had done Baba though but oh well. I have some of Brooke’s, a couple of MJ’s, a couple of David A’s, and one of Sayesha. But David C is my fave.
I wondered about that. He’s holding back, and maybe that’s why. The song is about predatory sex–not exactly a family friendly subject. LOL. It’s a pretty dumb song to begin with. I gotta say, I just hated this song choice.
No, you are not alone. The studio version made one of my ovaries explode.
I like HLTW, too. I thought I was the only one. Hmmm.
I have every single one of David C.’s songs ( and videos- I swore Idol would never get my money. Oops.)
I have become a fangirl.
Still want BOR, though.
I’m still sad about not getting All I Really Need is You.
Okay, this is a sign that I need to stop putting HLTW on repeat, stat.
I’d like to know how they decide which song gets the iTune treatment, since, it’s not the first week I’d have preferred the other song for some of them. That said, love Jason’s, like Cookie’s well enough (wanted Baba), and Archie’s I got for my friend, but she was hoping for SBM, instead of LMT. Skipped Syesha’s.
I also love HLTW, but then again, I no longer think coherently when it comes to DC.
Seriously though, it was a lot better than I expected, as was last week’s “I’m Alive”.
However, they seriously owe me “All I Really Need is You” and “Baba O’Riley”.
Since Friday, I’ve only been listening to “My Hero”. That’s also an iTunes must.
Gotta agree with you MJ–Jason’s MTM is just lovely. More, if you listen to the download of Daydream and them MTM, you can really hear how far he’s come in technique and professionalism, without losing that charm and sweetness! And you gotta wonder–if he got so far in 3 months, what will he be putting out in 3 years?
Gah, I agree. The other two are good, but I can only imagine of how amazing these two would have sounded recorded.
LOL, I’ve played it over 150 times already. I need to stop, but it’s like crack, really.
Jason’s MTM recording is fabulous. I love it.
Cookie’s HLTW is better than on TV. Still a weird choice for him, I think.
I didn’t bother with the others. Yawn.
ETA: I did listen to the others on youtube. Just wasn’t inspired to spend 99 cents on them.
‘Proud Mary’ is a fruitless exercise in vocal gymnastics. Voices are strained enough at this stage of the competition without songs like this unecessarily adding to the burden.
Don’t understand the resasoning behind HLTW.
I assume DaddyA picked Love Me Tender, and it was a terrible selection.
So Jason’s ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ wins by a landslide. Sounds better without the visual. Sounds like Dylan.
Consider that his brother is in the same age group I am and I was a huge Duran Duran fan back in the day, I can’t help but think this choice was a shout-out. Maybe this was a close as he could get to Depeche Mode.
Indeed. Sigh.
Love, love, love MTM. When I heard the recorded version, I went, “he can sound like that?!? dang.” ;)
Reposting for those who may want to listen to the full songs before purchasing…
Top 4 studio versions
;)
Thanks again, Purplesmile. I agree that Jason sounds much better in the studio recording although it’s about a minute too long imo. I still love HLTW (the original). What can I say, I’m an 80’s music kind of girl. I agree it probably wasn’t the best choice for David C, though. I can’t bring myself to listen to the other 2 songs.
It’s the entire song, the way Bob Dylan wrote it. I would not have wanted it abridged.
Hey, thanks for posting these! Wow, hard to believe that’s the same Jason on the studio recording as was on stage last week. He has a fine recorded voice, and has no reason to question or doubt his singing abilities. BTW, Daydream is not a studio recording, it is just the Top 24 night live performance. Would love to have a studio version of it, but they didn’t do studio til Top 12. I think getting the coaching with Byrd and the chance to do so many studio recordings has definitely helped Jason, and will hopefully show some indie labels what potential he has.
MTM definitely had Dylan’s sound to it, but better imo. Boy, that sure was a boatload of lyrics there, lol. I will certainly buy his album when it comes available…Very distinctive voice!
HLTW was a half-hearted effort by Cook, he can do better.
MTM has such a soothing vibe after the drama & tension of the live version and I love it.
Haven’t bothered about the other 2 but I did listen to them on PS’s link. Thanks, PS.
You’re welcome, peeps. :)
I didn’t like Cookie’s recording this week, either. Or last week’s. His recordings that I love are Little Sparrow, Innocent (so much better than the live performance), and Always Be My Baby, which is the track I do like to really crank up in the car. Heh. :p I like Eleanor Rigby, too, but the too loud band bothers me. I have not listened enough to his Music of The Night but I thought it was good when I heard it.
Speaking of ABMB, it’s gaining even more popularity in the Philippines. There are several radio stations playing it now, and it is the number 1 song in at least two of them and in the top 10 in about two others, I heard. At least one local “singer” has also already covered it (Cookie’s version) in a popular TV show here (I’d post the link here if only I weren’t ashamed and scared that some people might think all Filipino singers sound as bad as this guy, heh). ;)
I was just listening to Jason’s songs and thought that the closest to the vocal texture evident in his MTM recording is that in his Daydream performance. I just love both songs!
Purplesmile - thank you so much for posting those! I’ve just spent several minutes listening to Jason’s. Wow! I really do want to see him put out a CD now. I’m a 60’s-70’s era gal so I remember and relate to all those songs.
We’re a musical family (husband is musician) and we’ve been listening to a lot of jazz lately. This morning we were listening to Girl from Ipanema and I couldn’t help but think….would love to hear Jason do this version. Very cool jazz… (Stan Getz on saxaphone and João Gilberto singing in Portuguese ).
Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto - The Girl From Ipanema (1964). Hope the link to YouTube works.
I really wished we could have a version of “Baba O’Riley” only due to the live performance felt like a huge let down. Jordis Unger from the CBS Reality Show RockStar did an Amazing cover of the song with a lit of feeling and powerful vocals.
After hearding SO MANY versions of Proud Mary I don’t think anyone can make it sound original. I thought Syesha did a good job on the recording much better listening to it without having to see the Tina Tuner/Beoyance copycat moves.
I thought Jason Castro sounded nice and this was a better selection but I don’t think it was anything like the second coming. I still think is version of “Travlin Thru” is his personal best.
As for David Archuleta I refuse to listen to that song due to the theme of Songs that inspired Rock and Roll should not have a ballad such like this.
I so wish I could have heard Carly sing her choices of Bridge Over Troubled Water and Bohemine Rhapasody two songs that probably would have done her in due to them being giant risk takers but I think she would have sounded great singing them.
Brooke…..BH……hmmm…nah
BOTW…Yes
It’s an Elvis song. The song certainly inspired Rock and Roll, and many Rock and Roll performers that came after.
I am thinking that the reason we got LMT from David A is because of all the controversy of SBM with the changing of the words, ala Daddy A. With all the flack over what was done just when he sang it on the show I am thinking there is no way TPTB would have let that hit Itunes.
Yeah, that’s kind of all that needs to be said there.
I bought Jason’s and David C’s (but again, I’ve bought all of theirs). I absolutely love Jason’s MTM, and while I’m not a huge fan of HLTW I think David did a great job with it. It’s funny, back in the 80’s I was a pretty huge Duran Duran fan-girl, so I know I used to love this song. I’m not sure when I changed my mind. But, over the years, I’ve just come to believe it’s a pretty dumb song. So, it’s not David’s performance I have a problem with at all (although - I’m looking for that vibrant energy to come back this week too!), it’s just the stupid song.
I’ve heard all I need to hear out of Archie, and Syesha aint no Tina Turner, so I didn’t buy either of theirs.
This morning we were listening to Girl from Ipanema and I couldn’t help but think….would love to hear Jason do this version
I’d love to hear Jason do this song! Great choice. Unfortunately he won’t be there.
Dude, I’m so with you there. I can’t take it seriously when the video comes off like some MadTV spoof. It’s just so tacky and obvious and DC just seems more clever and subtle than that.
Makes a damn fine lullaby, doesn’t it? Oh wait, that wasn’t the point. =P
OT: Ha, my local news just did a piece on the pimpmercials and had interviews w/the Idols in their matador costumes. Some good snark from DC (”It was the only thing I had that wasn’t dirty,” “Where else would I get to wear a jacket like this?”).
I think there is the “Bob Dylan edge” in the studio cut, especially toward the beginning. I think Forever in Blue Jeans is more like Neil Diamond than Neil Diamond. He really nailed that song in the studio cut. Spenser, I love Travelin Thru too - why he didn’t get more praise for that song I don’t know. When he sings “Sweet Jesus if you’re listening, keep me ever close to you” I give thanks every time! Yes, I am I having withdrawals.
Out of all of this, I hope he realizes that he has a great voice. I hope there is something in the finale for him to get more confidence back. I hate that he went out without good words on air except from Paula.
I love all of Jason’s recordings and have bought them all. I do think his is the best this week and I also agree with StevenD - I think “Travlin’ Thru” is a fantastic recording and it is actually my favorite.
I listened to David C.’s HLTW and although he does sound much better recorded, I just hate the song too much to spend .99 cents on the download. This will be the first of David C.’s that I haven’t purchased.
Like others, I didn’t bother with the other two.
We should start taking a poll to see how many people bought DC’s and Jason’s but not the other 2. You can add me to that list.
Oh yes, “Travlin Thru” is a great recording as well. But, I’ll go on record with my huge dorkitude and say that my favorite Jason recording is “I Just Want to be your Everything”. Oh how I wish that was a full studio recording. I’m a big fan of the personal stamp David C puts on his songs, and I don’t mean to downplay the creativity in his arrangements, but I still say that Jason’s folkifying of that disco classic was the most creative moment of the season.
OK, I’m ready to finally buy some Itunes songs (mostly Jason, one MJ); I’ve never done this before. Can I use an Itunes download on an MP3 player? I do not have an Ipod. Do I have to download them and convert them to MP3 in order to use them on something other than an IPod? Can I purchase several songs in one order or do I have to buy them individually? I’m a CD buyer - never did this before. Thanks!
Not sure Calimari but Spenser, I haven’t bought IJWTBYE - but I will go check it out!
I have Regis and Kelly on - holding by breath for him!
…and me. Well, I actually bought Archie’s “Imagine”, and that pretty much spoke for all of his other studio versions. They’re all the same.
Well I was finally able to listen to MTM without tearing up this morning. Small steps.
The only non-Castro Itunes song I purchased this season was Michael John’s IAWBIA. I bought it as soon as it was released, and it cracked me up when I read last week it was Jason’s favorite performance by another idol. I guess we really do have the same taste in music.
I do not think that Jason’s MTM is “the second coming.” I just love, love it. For the record, my favorite Jason tune is also Travelin’ Thru. It’s a lovely song and the way Jason sang it is lovely. I also love its lyrics…I think the words suit Jason very well. ;)
A little story here…
My 18-year old, non-AI watching niece was just at my house visiting. When I started playing Jason’s SOTR in the background while we were chatting, she suddenly stopped and asked, “is that your (heh) Jason?” (She knows I’m a big fan and she has seen photos of Jason before but never showed any interest in him). When I said yes, she said, “oh, he has a lovely voice” and then asked to hear his other songs. After less than an hour of listening, she is now a fan and told me she would be stealing Jason’s songs from my PC for her mp3 player when she comes to visit again. Hah! That was quick work. (I never had real success with her involving Elliott. Pfft.) Heh. ;)
Has Rickey been tracking the popularity of the downloads for the last few weeks? I would venture to guess that Jason was the big winner this past week with MTM. I haven’t seen his charts posted here for a while. I’m too lazy to go to Rickey’s. LOL
Is it my imagination, or is no one mentioning the spike in popularity of mentors on iTunes anymore? Is the bloom off the rose? Did Neil Diamond tunes get a big surge? What about Duran Duran, or Tina Turner? Is it because the performances were lackluster that nothing translated well? It seems since Mariah Carey week the iTunes numbers aren’t getting the buzz they were earlier in the season. There certainly hasn’t been anything close to the “Billy Jean” factor or “Hallelujah” or “SOTR” in months.
“Travelin’ Thru” is also my favorite- I just love the lyrics. It’s the only one that I pre-ordered before hearing previews or reading reviews.
Nope. The iTunes sales this week are ranked as follows: Archuleta, Cook, Castro, and Syesha.
IJWTBYE was one of Jason’s most underrated performances. Sure, the vocals weren’t fantastic, but I love what he did with it (although going completely acoustic would have made it even better).
David A. had no business singing anything Elvis Presley, it just totally pissed me off when he sang it and totally bashed a great Elvis song. He has none of the deep soul like Elvis had and it was just wrong in every way! I’m glad they kicked his father out of rehearsals, maybe he’ll have to think on his own for a change.
I was so sorry to see Jason go, he and David C. have been my favorites all along and I wish they had the BOR single instead of HLAW, maybe they will add it later, I hope so anyway. Like alot of people on here I have only purchased Jason’s and David C. songs, and now that Jason is out I really hope David C. wins it. He has my votes, as usual.
:grin1_ee:BTW, my favorite Jason song is Somewhere Over the Rainbow, the studio version is just beautiful.
Maybe so but I find it too repetitive, Mj. I admit to not being a Dylan fan.