We're down to the final three and it's any body's game...and I have just one question for you: Who is going to win? Will it be the NFL star in whom the judges see no wrong? Will it be the TV star who defies the look and age of a ballroom dancer? Or will it be the Disney star who has broken all of the rules all season?
Wait a minute...wrong show!
The three remaining Idols...actually Idol wannabes are: Scotty the Body (Drink!), Georgia Peach Lauren, and Growling Hailey. And because it is the final three, they get to sing three times to win your votes.
Tonight the Idols will sing a song of their own choosing (and be mentored by pop superstar, movie star, and all around fashion mogul, Beyonce), they will a song chosen by Jimmy Iovine, and the always popular judge's choice.
Before getting into the singing, is it me or is this the most anti-climatic final three in Idol history? With that as the backdrop, here's how Round 1 went:
Scotty went first and surprise, surprise he choice a country tune to sing! While you pick yourself up off the floor I'll tell you the song was Lonestar's "Amazed". As usual, Scotty sounded good, but I am so bored with him that I just about fell asleep during the performance. The judges...who cares?! They slobbered all over him and pumped him full of lame complements. J-Lo, of course, took full credit for how he has grown (her words) throughout the competition. About the only remotely interesting thing any of the judges said was when Randy pulled out the brag book and said he produced that very song for Boyz to Men many moons ago.
As I was made aware of after last week's show, Idol has officially Gone Country! And in keeping with that theme, Lauren choice to do Faith Hill's "Wild One" an up tempo number that I predict the judges will think was the perfect choice and that she just slayed. When Lauren hit the stage dressed in a red and white frock, flowers hanging from her ears, and white cowboy boots with black leggings tucked into them, she was surrounded by a few musicians and she did her thing. I didn't care for the song or the performance and felt the ending was really odd--it seemed like she wasn't ready for the song to end. The judges, as assumed, gushed like it was Faith on the stage and not an Idol contestant.
Idol dark horse, Hailey was the last to go in Round 1 and flipped the script by selecting Led Zepplin's "What Is & What Should Never Be"...a risk for sure. But to help ease the pain I'm quite sure the judges will put her through, Hailey will have her daddy nearby because he joined her on stage playing guitar (an Idol first!)...oops! As Hailey was making her way back to the stage after a spin around the judge's table and the catwalk, she tripped on the stage steps and crashed! But in true "the show must go on" mode, Hailey picked herself up and continued singing and dancing...and in the end she may have actually won the judges over. Randy gave her mad props calling it maybe "your best performance yet!" Steven told her it "isn't how many times you fall down, it's how many times you get back up". J-Lo, as usual, inserted herself in the mix by stepping on Steven's words and telling Hailey that everyone--including Beyonce, fall on stage.
With Round 1 in the bag, I have to give it to Hailey! She was the only one to take any chance amongst the three. The judges agreed with me...as much as it obviously pained them.
Round 2 and song chosen by Jimmy Iovene.
For Scotty, Jimmy picked "Are You Going to Kiss Me or Not" by Thompson Square...another Country song. We get it, Scotty can sing Country. But he's boring as H-E-double hockey sticks! There really isn't anything else to write about Scotty, the performance, or the judges. Nothing changes with this kid. I say give him the boot (Cowboy Boot!) and let him go record for RCA Nashville...and let's get someone back who can actually give us something fresh...talk about a lack of imagination.
Let's see what song Jimmy selects for the other Idol Gone Country contestant, Lauren. Well, shock of all shocks Jimmy went with a Country song!..."If I Die Young" by The Band Perry. Unlike Scotty, Lauren actually made the song entertaining...by forgetting the lyrics before the final push! Classic! Let's see if the judges point that out or if they chose to ignore the obvious mistake...oh snap! J-Lo just called the lyric slip "getting caught up in an honest moment". Randy and Steven piled on and actually complemented her for f-ing up! Amazing!
Bringing up the rear in Round 2, Hailey took the stage to sing "Rianna" by Fleetwood Mac and sung by Stevie Nicks. For the first time in Round 2, we actually have the opportunity to hear someone sing something interesting. Hailey started the song slow and when she hit the first chorus, not only did the tempo pick up, but the Idol fan started blowing give Hailey the look of an Angel flying through the Idol sky giving the voters something to consider that isn't all formula and boring. So what would the judges find to criticize? Randy thought it was a somber moment--what is this guy smoking?! Somber? That was one of the greatest songs ever (kind of like the Led Zepplin song she sang in Round 1) and I thought Hailey nailed it! J-Lo expressed disappointment that Hailey didn't take it further. Are these idiots listening to the songs or are they so in love with the Country Cousins that they can't see talent?
So when pressed for they choice to pick the winner of Round 2, Steven picked Lauren and J-Lo and Randy picked Scotty. That's just crazy!
Round 3 was delayed while Idol premiered to the world Beyonce's new music video...which I FF'ed through to get to the Idols.
In this round, the Idols will sing songs selected by the judges. For Scotty, the judges picked a...gasp! Country song! This time Scotty get's to channel his inner Kenny Rogers (pre-plastic surgery) on "She Believes in Me". Scotty, again, sang well, but there is just no magic in hearing him sing everything the same. Aren't you all tired of having Scotty dropped the same needle on the same groove every time out? Well I am...or maybe you hadn't noticed. And it should come as no surprise that the judges just loved it...and why wouldn't they?--they picked the song and they believe he can do no wrong.
Lauren's judge's song was "I Hope You Dance" by LeeAnn Womack. Dressed in what can only be described as a rejected prom or bridesmaid dress the color of daiquiri ice and looking much older than her teen aged years, Lauren did a passable job of performing what is a very nice song. But I wonder what the judges are thinking having these Country Bumpkins sing two relatively downer songs. As with Scotty the judges fell all over themselves complementing Lauren...J-Lo gave Lauren Round 3 even before Hailey had a chance to screw up. BTW: Randy said he loved the color of the dress...agree to disagree!
In a final effort to curry favor from the judges and you the voters, Hailey was given "You Ought to Know" by Alain Morrisette. Of the three judge's song selections, this was the only one that asked any of the contestants to show any vocal range whatsoever. Hailey lent her signature growl to the song and hit is out of the park! She even found time to work the stage, the audience, and the judges--especially when she go right in their faces and screamed the chorus! The judges begrudgingly gave her credit for doing an OK job...you could tell that J-Lo, especially, struggled to give Hailey any positive feedback. J-Lo is quickly becoming the Carrie Ann of Idol (second DWTS reference!).
So with three rounds in the can, it's in your hands. Who you gonna vote for? Or better, who are you going to ignore and send home tomorrow? My guess is Hailey is going home...she doesn't deserve to go--in my opinion she is the only one of the three remaining Idol wannabes that holds my interest. But that's just me...
Tune in tomorrow to see which semi-finalist is going to fall just one week short of participating in the finals. Until then, I will continue watching TV so you don't have to...
Charlie
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