Interesting week with “classic love songs” as the subject. Definitely not the strong suit for some of these folks. How will it go? We’ll just have to see.
Paris Bennett
The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand
Chris Daughtry
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? by Bryan Adams
Taylor Hicks
Just Once by James Ingram
Katharine McPhee
I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston
Kellie Pickler
Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers
Elliott Yamin
A Song for You by Donny Hathaway
I was impressed with Elliott Yamin this week, as he really showed his singing chops. Unfortunately, Elliott doesn’t have the personality that is so important to entertaining the audience, and you know how I like to be entertained. Taylor Hicks, meanwhile, showed that while he can entertain us, he may not have the singing talent, and for some reason he wants to abandon his personality. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the bottom half of the group this week.
While I was being wowed by Elliott, Chris Daughtry really stepped it up too. This was easily his best performance in weeks. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the finals, and I was starting to wonder if he’d get the boot before long. Now I think he might have found his stride again. He nearly went too far, but hopefully he’s found his sweet spot. I hope he can hang onto it, because Katharine McPhee knows hers (despite what the judges seemed to think).
And then there were Paris Bennett and Kellie Pickler. Huh. I’m amazed both of them are still here. Kellie has had two horrid weeks and Paris just seems lost as well, though next to Kellie she looks like a professional (heck, next to Kellie these last two weeks, I’d almost look like a professional). I’d expect to see these two with Taylor in the bottom three, and I really think we’ll see just one North Carolinian in the competition next week. Big shift from just a couple weeks ago when there were three of eight.
To the judges: I was really un-impressed with Paula Abdul this week, as she showed she’s just wacko. It was good, but it wasn’t that good. Get a life, Paula. What is your job on this show anyway? Sure, Simon complains, but at least he’s right most of the time.
Update: So there were only two in the bottom, but they were Kellie and Paris. I don’t think anyone should be surprised, nor do I feel surprised that Taylor was in the middle group, or that Katharine and Chris were the top vote-getters, or that Kellie went home.
Taylor needs to find his soul again, because he’s just lost it, and while he’s looking, maybe he can find some for Elliott. If they can’t, then this is all Chris and Katharine to the finals, and while I’d love Chris to give her a run for her money, it still looks like Kat’s race to lose.
