Beatles’ Night on Idol
My anticipation for American Idol Beatles’ Night had been building up for over a week. I grew up listening to some of the Beatles’ big hits after an accidental channel switch led me to watch a Fab Four documentary one lazy afternoon when I was about ten years old. Recently adding fuel to the fire was the movie musical "Across the Universe", which I tragically missed in theatres but thanks to my uber-thoughtful BFF i was able to get on DVD for my birthday.
That said, here were my favorites last night…
Jason Castro, because I’m heavily infatuated with him. It took tremendous amounts of maturity to prevent myself from saying I LUUURRVVV him. It’s that whole no-way-you-think-im-cool? schtick that totally gets me. And the nuances in his voice, the way it cracks just when it should, these things set him apart from the traditional Idol contestant. Granted, his "If I Fell" wasn’t the most spectacular of the night, but it was a simple song to begin with, a song that is powerful in its simplicity. It suited his voice and personality perfectly. But then I guess you could argue that he could’ve sung Kumbaya and I still woulda loved it. And you would be right.
Brooke White, because she is the female Jason Castro. Hahaha. She gives off this Carole King folksy vibe, it’s lucky she’s been consistently able to find songs that complement her image well. "Let It Be" never fails to give me the shivers, it’s uncanny. And again, there’s something in the way her voice cracks and falters at all the right places, it just made the song sound all the more pure, all the more sincere. Kudos, White girl.
Carly Smithson, because her "Come Together" was sooo bad-ass. She definitely has the confidence of a professional (probably cause she already was?), and confidence is the key ingredient to doing this song without sounding like a lame growling rocker wannabe.
These guys were not as bad as the judges said they were…
Michael Johns, because "Across the Universe" is the one of the best songs ever written and he did an okay job with it. When he was singing that first verse with his earnest Aussie eyes looking straight at me (yes, me) I felt actual ripples under my skin. Ripples, people! But his chorus was pretty average. Then again there’s only so much you can do with "Nothing’s gonna change my world" repeated four times, unless you’re…um, the Beatles. Or Fiona Apple. I liked her version too.
Ramiele Malubay, because her voice was amazing in "In My Life". Simple, clear, and controlled to every last inflection. (David Hernandez you should really take notes) If it had been Pinoy Idol or some other lame third-world imitation she woulda won the whole thing there. But since this IS American Idol and ADHD is an epidemic over there, I get how they could’ve been bored by that. I seriously wanted to kick Randy Jackson when he hesitated on whether our homegirl was good enough to survive elimination, though.
And these people, they needed to go, like yesterday.
Kristy Lee Cook. WTF??? Where are the one-toothed, banjo-playing cousins in denim overalls? Why didn’t she do the jig? How the hell was that a Lennon/McCartney song? Are you high, girl? Sniff too much hay?
Amanda Overmyer. Because every song she sings sounds the same as the last ones (like she’s choking on something), and the blond streaks are nas-ty! And why is she wearing the same outfit over and over again? If they really need a token rocker, keep David Cook instead. Sure he has some irritating hair preferences too, but he can at least sing.
David Hernandez, because he’s too pretty and they miss him at the strip club. And he has an awfully old-fashioned way of belting out big songs.
Everyone else, I forgot. But the judges are right, this is shaping up to be the best AI Season ever. Here’s hoping they sing "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Hey Jude" tonight.
