re: last week.... BRAVO, AMERICA! The right person went home last week, if you ask me, regardless of what the judges were trying to force.
If you told me back when I started my weekly recapping of Idol that Haley would be top 3 at worst, I would have laughed at you. The girl has turned it on over the course of the competition, choosing great songs, ripping into them like nobody's business. These last two weeks are typically very tough, since the judges give absolutely no help (less so than usual!).
These weekly Idol promo shots are humorous. Could they be wearing any more makeup? Or is it airbrushing? Either way... too much.
Anyhoo, onto the top 3!
Scotty
"Amazed" - Lonestar
As you know, I enjoy Scotty. I really do.... but his song choices are usually so damn boring. Like this one. This performance was probably the most comfortable Scotty has looked onstage doing a ballad. The song itself was cut very oddly, playing almost like a greatest hits of "Amazed" by Lonestar. Overall, a good performance, but nothing that we haven't seen from Scotty.
Lauren
"Wild One" - Faith Hill
First thought.... GREAT song choice. Like Scotty, Lauren has typically stuck to her particular genre... but she reaches a bit from time to time, doing different things within her style. This was a very interesting performance. Lauren hit and sounded great on all the money notes in the chorus.... but everything in between came off rather awkward, almost tentative. I like what Beyonce was helping her with, creating something of an alternate persona while performing; this performance was that of a 16 year old girl with a great voice, not so much a performance by Lauren Alaina, American Idol.
Haley
"What Is and What Should Never Be" - Led Zeppelin
You know, I'm starting to think that Haley could do this. So far tonight, Scotty and Lauren did more of what they've done on Idol. Haley does something completely out of left field and ROCKS the house. Great song choice, awesome vocals, working the stage, withstanding adversity, and bringing it home with confidence... everything you could possibly want at this stage in the competition. To quote the worst judge on the show... Haley's in it to win it!
Round 1.... EASILY Haley. No contest at all. Runner up, Lauren.
Scotty
"Are You Going to Kiss Me or Not?" - Thompson Square (Jimmy's Choice)
See my initial comments on Lauren's first song choice. Doing something different within the "home genre" if you will. This is the perfect song choice at this point in the competition for Scotty... shocker that it comes from Jimmy (not really... he's been a great addition to this show, even if he comes off super awkward on TV). A great performance by Scotty, easily one of his better ones so far. Also, I must pose a question I haven't asked in weeks: what's so wrong with instruments, Nigel?
Lauren
"If I Die Young" - The Band Perry
Ok, new rule: Jimmy chooses EVERY song. Not a perfect performance by Lauren, by any means, but good stuff nonetheless. I don't know the song so I don't know what she did in the middle wrong (obviously something)... but she kept on trucking like a champ. Very strong bounce back performance from Lauren
Haley
"Rhiannon" - Fleetwood Mac
I missed Haley's initial audition, so, if I may.... THEY TOLD HER NO LAST YEAR?!? Last year, easily the worst season in Idol history?!? *headdesk* Back to tonight.... another SOLID performance by Haley. JLo talked about how she thought Haley was going to go a little bit further... gotta agree. Strong performance, but I'll admit I wanted some more.
Round 2.... Scotty, followed by Haley. I don't know if I agree with Jimmy saying that he transformed into a country rock star performance, but he definitely did something we hadn't seen before. As for my runner up... I'll go with Haley. Also, Idol re-airing the original auditions before the second performance? GREAT idea. Good work, Nigel.
Scotty
"She Believes in Me" - Kenny Rogers
Ah, leave it to the judges to go back to the boring song choices. Pretty much more of the same here from Scotty. The judges went on and on about such a big chorus that we've never heard from Scotty... but yeah, we totally have, on a number of occasions. But, you know, details.
Lauren
"I Hope You Dance" - Leann Womack
Another obvious choice from the judges. Sigh. Not a terribly appropriate song for a 17 year old girl, but should be good, vocally... and it is. LOVED the little growl she added to one of the choruses to change it up a bit - but not a whole heck of a lot of connection to the lyrics of that song. The vocals were spot-on, however.
Haley
"You Outta Know" - Alanis Morrisette
Writing this during the commercial break (since I previously read the song choice).... this is, in theory, a strong choice by the judges. Big chorus, a song that Haley can really sink her teeth into, a song she should be able to connect with. BUT.... the chorus is such that it can easily be screamed. Given that the judges have slammed Haley in the past for just that, so this could be some sort of trap song for her. Post-song: YES. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Sure, the verses of the song we a bit weak, with the almost patter-like nature of them, but overall, fantastic. Haley brought her A game tonight.
Round 3... Haley. Then Lauren.
Wasting no time....
Winner of the Night: Haley. Haley, Haley, Haley. While Scotty gave us two performances we've seen on a regular basis and Lauren three of them, Haley defined "in it to win it" tonight. Who knew?!?
Loser of the Night: no real loser, since all 9 performances were quite strong. However, comparing the 3 contestants, gotta go with Lauren here.
Prediction: I'm going to have to go back on my initial prediction. I predicted Lauren winning the whole thing from the outset... but I can no longer see it. Lauren should probably be going home tomorrow, sadly. That's my prediction... a Scotty/Haley finale.
