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OK, people, it's the Top 12 on the big stage, baby!! Are we ready to rock? RAWRRRRRR! [Insert rock-on horned-finger salute here.]
Too bad if you are, because the Top 12 were ready to adult alternative. I mean, seriously, I know the Rolling Stones have gotten old, but if they can get up there on stage and avoid the muzak approach to their hot hits, so can a bunch of 20-something hipsters, right? I'm not even a Rolling Stones fan, and I felt bad for them. Keith Richards is probably rolling over in his vampire coffin.
Andrew Garcia on American Idol. Image courtesy Fox.
Let me explain...
1. Michael kicked off with a Michael Jackson-esque Miss You
The trouble with applying a MJ-inspired, The-Way-You-Make-Me-Feel vibe to a song is that you end up getting compared to Jackson, even if you're not singing a Jackson song. I thought Michael was good, and his falsetto is pretty good, but I wouldn't say he pulled that off 100 percent. I understood what Simon meant about the cheesy, desperate nature of it, and that's all because I didn't really feel any specific subtext of emotion running through this song. I've noticed Kara bringing up the "connection" factor more this season, and I'm glad. It's the difference between a singer and a star, and this Michael is still just a singer.
Bottom line: Don't get me wrong, he's a safe singer.
2. Didi sang Play with Fire (with which I was unfamiliar)
Didi did indeedy seem to lose her words, but she kept it together and acquitted herself admirably on this lesser-known (to me) track. The fumbles broke the spell a bit, but what she has going for her is that she sings with a sense of intrigue. She draws you in, rather than hitting you over the head. And I like that.
Bottom line: I think she'll be safe, but in a middle-of-the-road week, she didn't absolutely secure her position with a knockout performance.
3. Casey sang It's All Over Now
On the plus side, this was a good, on-target song choice for Casey. He works a country blues-rock vibe well, and this is probably his genre out in the real world. On the minus side, we saw a return of the vapid smile. I understand the song is about saying "I'll be fine without you, and you're going to want me back, but it will be too late." But his smile wasn't that specific at all. Also, he's a good guitar player, but it seemed like a distraction. Is he eventually going to put it down?
Bottom line: I think he's safe, but I'm hoping to see some variety and consistency from him soon.
4. Lacey sang Ruby Tuesday
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......huh, what? Oh, right, most boring performance of the night. Not sure Randy thought it was "interesting" unless it was opposite day, because I couldn't have been less interested. What. Was. The point?
Bottom line: No point, and not her best vocal. Gotta think she's at risk.
5. Andrew sang Gimme Shelter
Oh Andrew, I'm your biggest supporter, but this, I have to admit, was not your best. Andrew's chorus was very pitchy indeed, as though he could not hear himself well, and while he had some good performance moments, Kara was right that overall his intensity level was not sufficient for the song's requirements. And then to cap it all off with some aimlessly wandering back and forth with the mic stand in his hand, without direction or purpose? Not a good scene.
Bottom line: I really really love his vocal tone, but he absolutely needed to step up last night, and he really didn't. He's at risk because of it.
6. Katie sang Wild Horses
Of course there is precedent for a wistful female rendition of this song, and no, I don't mean Susan Boyle. I mean The Sundays, of course! (Just think back: The Buffy prom episode. Angel appears. We all swoon right along with Buffy.) I will say this about Katie, who is managing to get less annoying with every performance: She has a really, really beautiful vibrato. I have to give her props for that. It's perfect and even, not too wide, not too machine-gun, and no distracting chin or glottal shaking to go with it. Good technique, Katie, really. So, despite a too-low beginning, this was not totally appalling, even though I have tremendous positive associations with the other version of the song. I'd call that a win for Katie.
Bottom line: And I think it might actually save her.
7. Tim sang a reggae-inspired
