[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: American Idol - 5 Finalists

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
American Idol - 5 Finalists
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1209521235.shtml


   After a smashing week of Dancing With the Stars, what a huge letdown
   to watch American Idol this week. Both shows have entered the two
   performances each mode, but Dancing gave it the 90 minutes needed.
   There was no concealing how rushed Idol was.
   On the other hand, maybe this was a good week to roll the credits and
   run, on Neil Diamond week.
   Jason Castro and Brooke White have already overstayed our welcome, and
   tonight's four numbers all fit that motif. I'll say right now that
   Brooke White is going home tomorrow night.
   A bit surprisingly to me was that David Cook wasn't in top form.
   Neither song really suited him, but his vocal skills made the second
   ("All I Really Need Is You") still very enjoyable. I can't give him
   the high marks the judges did, though.
   David Archuleta finally became human, missing a few notes in his first
   song, "Sweet Caroline." I probably can't blame him, given the third
   rate arrangement underneath. He did better with "America" but like
   some other Idol contestants, his youth only let him hit the notes, not
   the soul of this classic. But - a big finish, and enough to give him
   second place this week.
   For Syesha Mercado took the week handily I thought. My girl, my girl,
   my girl, I'm talkin' 'bout my girl! She did a simple number to start
   ("Hello Again") and it was a good decision. Less was more here. She
   was a little pitchy in spots though.
   But her "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" finish was a clever Motown
   cover of classic Neil Diamond, and well done even if the judges didn't
   seem enthusiastic. Why Simon thinks she's at risk for the number is
   totally beyond me, but he really has never liked her to date. She does
   seem to have trouble ringing the phones, that is true. She doesn't
   have the teenage girls fawning over the Davids or the 21-35 males
   ogling Brooke. I decided to vote for her, but got nothing but busy
   signals.
   With Carly leaving unexpectedly last week, anything can happen this
   week.