Kids go classic

Missed last week's results show due to a taping snafu... first show this year I've missed. Oh well, at least nothing unexpected happened, and my worst fears for Paris didn't come true.

Down to the magnificent (for the most part) seven... doing songs from the 'great American songbook', with the British rocker Rod Stewart. Who's apparently recently starting trying to do the classics (i.e. wow look at how successful Tony Bennett's been).

Odd choice, probably will be an odd night. Shows up to meet idols with his young fiancee and little baby, Alistair. They show a lot of clips of him rehearsing with the kids, guess they've got more time to fill now.

Chris first, What a Wonderful World. Ugh. Stewart is just here for commercial purposes, no real content from him so far, just says Chris is good. He comes out in black vest and pants, white sleeves rolled up, looks like a workman. Pretty good performance though, hard to mess up this song. Nothing so special, a bit schmaltzy actually... longer it goes on, dumber it seems. No passion, just a careful rendition. Would rather have heard the rocking out version of this. The song is so melodic and words are so great that you can't help but like it, but nothing distinctive about it, certainly nowhere near Satchmo's gravelly-edged performance. Randy is like you slayed it, showed the sensitive side and it was the bomb. Paula says you've shown you're in it to win it, outof any mold Simon put you in. Simon says you've listened to me, thought it was a great performance. Well, I disagree; it's seeming less and less to me like the judges are really judging, more and more I feel like they're trying to play a bigger role in the show.

Next, Paris, in very odd red pantsuit, totally like a little girl playing dress-up. Says she got an Easter backet from her mom, went dancing with her friends, and went roller-skating. Doing Foolish Things, Stewart says she has a touch of Billie Holiday. They show her mom crying as she listens to her practice, Rod says she's astounding for 17, has raw emotion. Wow, such a great voice... so controlled, has a great tone to it. And so cool, composed. Wow, it's like her best performance since that amazing first audition, crowd is like going nuts. Randy says it was her greatest night ever, the bomb, so great. Paula is like this is how we all fell in love with you at the audition. Simon is like so stylish, you talk like Minnie Mouse but sing great, thought it was terrific.

Taylor next, Ryan's talking to all of them beforehand now. They talk about Saturday Night Live parodying him, he says he fell out of his chair laughing. Which itself will now be parodied. You Send Me, by Sam Cook... show him with Rod having a great time. Rod says he thinks Taylor's a pretty good mover--from one white boy to another. In classic sportcoat; you know, it's really not that good. I still like Taylor, but feel like he hasn't grown or changed that much, still doing the same thing as from day one. If anything, lost some of his edge, or soulfulness. Just kindof boring, doesn't even dance much till the end, and then it's almost like here's the time when I let loose and dance weird. Randy's like my, my, my... all of you guys are in your element, started okay, liked the end. Paula says you're in that zone to go the distance, ending was superb. Simon says it started and he thought lame cabaret, and then, magic. I again disagree, everyone's got happy talk tonight.

Odd, there's a sign in the audience--Ryan, will you be our brother. Okay.... Elliott next, he's another one who's gone downhill; doing It Had to Be You. Says his mom used to be a professional singer. In black tux-ish, kindof doesn't matter how he does, he'll be out. It's again kindof boring; although Elliott sings it well, they've all been surprisingly well-fitted for this week's theme. Just no wow or anything. Randy says excellent song choice, very nice. Everyone's being so positive. Paula says so many people are capable of winning this year, you're one of them. Simon says it was a good vocal, but tonight more than any other night personality will play a key role, you lacked it so I'm concerned for you. As he should be, Elliott has such an odd, twisted expression on his face.

Kellie next, Rod says twice she has a lot of personality. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. Does she know what the words mean? :-) At the end he tells her congrats, she says well, you took a load off my chest, he says well... everyone laughs. Wow, she's good; in red stain gown, very classic look and again, she's surprisingly good. Very good tone, gets the song right and it's believable. She really has grown more than anyone else. Has such a earnest yet controlled quality. A bit thin in spots, end isn't great either, but last note is well-held. She definitely does more with less; Randy says you look like you know what I'm going to say, what am I going to say. She says I butchered it, puts her hands over her face. Randy's like, well, not quite, but not my favorite song choice, your voice was weak and you were ahead of music. Paula praises her clothes. Simon says it's almost like someone else picked it for you, it wasn't great. Kellie says she agrees, makes such a cute sad face, she'll probably get more votes than ever tonight.

Ace next, singing That's All, which he calls a fun political song. Huh? Kindof hard to understand him, for some reason. He says while he was singing he kept looking at Rod for approval, but he was blank-faced. At the end Rod says it was fantastic, nothing to say but it was brilliant. Yeah, Rod's so astute. Wow, he's got his hair pulled back, in classic suit. He's a bit over-eager, but sings the song well. Very smooth, throws in a falsetto toward the end that doesn't quite work, but he sells the song well. Final note is quavering and held. It's weird, not sure why more people don't like him, he's really not bad. Randy says he liked it at the start, a bit of problem in the middle, worked it out. Paula's like it's a whole new Ace in a different light. Simon says in a tone of surprise it wasn't bad, Ace goes nuts; a bit nasally in the middle, but a charming performance.

Finally, Katharine. Doing Someone to Watch Over Me. Rod says she's fantastic, imagines big things for her. In elegant black pantsuit, sitting on the edge of the stage. This totally is made for her, she's kindof cheesy, camera does some crazy extreme close-up, but her voice is in good form, makes it fell very intimate. Except she keeps breaking out into this oh-so-conscious smile. She needs to learn from Paris, and just perform without being so aware; her looks toward the camera are so unnatural. I think the technicians have a crush on her, they consistently do special things for her. It's nice to listen to, but all the little things detract for me. Randy says this is your element, it was excellent. Paula says she feels like she's watching for the first time, picked a good song. Simon's like you made the others look like good amateurs, it was in a different league, you look like a returning pro, it was great. Well, I totally disagree; Simon tends to over-praise her live, then ratchets down after he watches her on tape.

Overall, everyone was pretty good tonight. It all comes down to fan base at this point; not sure anyone made any new converts. Nice to have a good night after a few weeks of just bad singing.

Paris, 2
Katharine, 7
Kellie, 5
Ace, 6
Chris, 1
Taylor, 3
Elliott, 4

Photo of Ace by C. Gomez via Flikr.