It's the Final Four and that can only mean one thing...MAY MADNESS! The remaining four Idols--James, Hailey, Scotty, and Lauren will be mentored by pop icon, Lady Gaga as they sing songs that inspire them as well as those written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller--a couple of guys born during FDR's administration...his FIRST one! According to Ryan, these guys wrote every song known to man...or words to that affect.
James was the first Idol to toe the boards and kicked off the night with a song of inspiration from Journey (and Glee) called "Don't Stop Believin'". As James sat casually on the Idol staircase at the back of the stage, he implored the audience to get into the song and gave a shout out to Randy for it was Mr. Jackson who played Bass on this '80's hit...about four-thousand times (according to The Dawg!). When all was said and done, James sounded like he was in concert and the crowd cheered him like they wanted an encore--which will have to wait about three more performances. The judges gave him praise...and this time there was no advice needed for St. James is essentially turning this season into a race for second.
Going second tonight was Hailey who chose to sing Michael Jackson's "Earth Song"--a moving song that Hailey hopes to move you to cast your vote her way. Hailey started out sitting on a mini staircase (three steps) on center stage bathed in a single spot with fog drifting around her. As she hit the chorus, Hailey was joined by a choir entering from the back of the stage and then she unleashed her inner Janis Joplin and gave it all she had. When she wrapped her performance, the audience gave a rousing round of applause and the judges sat motionless...and then J-Lo gave her a scolding. While J-Lo gave the tongue lashing, Hailey gave her (and Randy when he started his rant) the "WTF" stare...and then defended herself. Steven stepped in and essentially agreed with Hailey saying "they're (J-Lo and Randy) wrong!" Funny how the judges wait until the final four to finally start giving some constructive feedback...or at least their version. I say, sit back and let the Idols do their thing...aka "Shut the (blank) up, J-Lo!"
Scotty went next and sang Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When the World Stop Turning"--an ode to the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. Whether Scotty sings this song well or not, the judges would be committing professional suicide by saying anything negative about Scotty's performance...but I don't have to worry about that kind of backlash. The song is good and full of inspiration, but I didn't think Scotty did all that good tonight. What I want to know is why do they push the pop singers on Idol to go outside of their comfort zone, but they continue to give props to Scotty for singing the only genre he knows? I am SO OVER Scotty and the love affair the judges have going with him. I say challenge him to sing something that isn't a layup...even Carrie Underwood strayed from her Country roots a few times in route to being crowned Idol champ!
Rounding out the inspirational performances was Lauren who sang Martina McBride's "Build it Anyway"...a song she chose in dedication to her home area which has been devastated by tornadoes while she has been in Hollywood singing for your votes. Like Scotty, I doubt the judges will criticize anything about Lauren's performance and, I must admit, I liked it a lot better than Scotty's, but I still found it falling quite a bit short of James'. The judges all professed their love for Lauren--especially Steven who complimented everything about her right down to the buckles on her shoes.
And now for Round Two and the songs of Lieber and Stoller.
In a rare Idol twist, the Idol producers flipped the performance order and Hailey led off the second round. For her song choice she went with "I Who Have Nothing". As noted earlier, the Idols were mentored by none other than Lady Gaga who worked with Hailey to make the song and her performance special. Joined on stage by a full string section and looking ravishing in an off the shoulder number, Hailey employed the advice doled out by Gaga to hook the audience, but what about the judges. Oh SNAP! They gave her a Standing O! And before the crowd could settle down, J-Lo's screechy voice pierced the air and she basically took full credit for a very strong performance. Then Randy spent the next several minutes patting himself on the back, Hailey again gave the "WTF" stare. Where's Simon when you need him? Contrary to what you think, Randy and J-Lo, it's not about you.
Country boy Scotty selected "Young Blood" by the Coasters...WHAT?! A non-country tune?! Can this be happening? In his session with Gaga, she told him to "make love to the microphone"...oh DOUBLE SNAP! So what would Scotty do with Gaga's advice? Well, to start, he came out dressed like Howdy Doody and then he made his way through the crowd singing what amounted to a gimmick song. Can't wait to hear what the judges say about that lame-a$$ performance. Randy thought it completed two sides of a "Scotty Concert"--a show I will NOT be attending. What are these judges hearing that I'm not...I thought the song sucked, the performance was corny, and Scotty should be gone for picking such a terrible song at this point in the contest.
Singing in the penultimate position was Lauren who chose to sing "Trouble" as performed by Elvis back in the late '50s. I'm a huge Elvis fan, so I am looking forward to this performance. Looking like one of the Mandrell sisters at the Grand Ole Opry and surrounded by a couple of musicians on stage, Lauren started out strong, but then she got all funky...moving around the judges table and then back on the stage again. The judges again professed their love for the young Georgia native...and again, I was mystified because I thought it was underwhelming.
Before James could close the show, Ryan found Mike Stoller in the audience and chatted him up for a few minutes. Mike was thrilled to hear the songs he and his partner wrote being performed on TV's number one show.
Interview over and now it's time to watch James sing "Love Potion #9". While James was practicing his performance with Gaga, she stepped behind him and physically helped him wiggle his hips...what Gaga wants, Gaga gets! When it came time to perform for the audience (and your votes), it was obvious why the Idol producers messed with the order of performers. James absolutely crushed the song bringing out his inner Adam Lambert while moving around the stage and in the audience with pyrotechnics going off behind him. The judges praised him...I guess a broken clock is right two times a day, right?!
So who's going home tomorrow and who's going home to be honored by their hometowns this week? My prediction is Hailey is done for the season--I can't see her surviving J-Lo and Randy's harsh words...even though the worst performance of the night belongs to Scotty.
Tune in tomorrow to see who your votes save...until then, I will continue watching TV so you don't have to.
Charlie
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