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‘American Idol’ 2010: Top 3 performances
They should just call this thing for Lee DeWyze right now, huh? The 24-year-old paint salesman from Mount Prospect, Illinois pretty much killed it Tuesday night on “American Idol” and the transparent and shamelessly over the top praise from the judges didn’t hurt either.
This is always a strange week for “Idol.” While each contestant is free to choose their own song, they are also forced to perform a second number chosen by the judges. This seems like an opportunity for the “Idol” makers to apply undue influence over the competition. What if Ellen picks a crummy song for Crystal Bowersox? Also, it puts the judges in an odd position … they’re not going to criticize their own choice, so the only real possibilities are that they will criticize the performer and defend the song choice for a bad performance, or just slobber love all over the whole shebang.
Based on this week’s performances, I am predicting a Casey James departure and a DeWyze/Bowersox face-off in the finals. And, while anything can happen at that point, DeWyze seems to be unstoppable.
Here’s how it went down:
Casey James
Own pick: “Okay, It’s Alright with Me” by Eric Hutchinson, C+
Judges’ pick: “Daughters” by John Mayer, C
Casey’s first pick was relatively obscure and kind of corny, so it probably won’t get him a lot of votes. And I think he really hurt himself by basically just doing a John Mayer impersonation on “Daughters.” I’m not sure who Casey is anymore, but I don’t think he’s the next American Idol.
Crystal Bowersox
Own pick: “Come to my Window” by Melissa Etheridge, B
Judges’ pick: “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney, A
Crystal had two solid performances tonight, but neither of them was set up to be a “moment.” “Come to My Window” was a smart song choice: recognizable and right in her folksy wheelhouse. And she changed it up enough to make it unique. “Maybe I’m Amazed” was an odd song choice, but it came from DeGeneres, so no surprise there. It’s not a song most “Idol” voters are likely to be familiar with (remember how the joke back in the ’70s was that kids called The Beatles “McCartney’s old back up band” then, after the success of Wings, didn’t even know who the Beatles were? Kids today don’t know who Wings were. Hell, most of them don’t know McCartney). Still, Crystal nailed it, appearing comfortable without her guitar and resisting the urge to banter too much with the judges.
Lee DeWyze
Own pick: “Simple Man” by Lynrd Skynrd, B+
Judges’ pick: “Hallejulah” by Leonard Cohen, A
Okay, Lee sang a Skynyrd song, but it was a good Skynyrd song and nicely done. Lee didn’t miss many notes tonight, even during the overblown grandeur of “Hallelujah,” complete with a choir. I’m telling you, if I never again hear that song come from another “Idol” contestant’s lips, I will be a happy man. Still, Lee did rasp it up and it was a much better version than we’ve heard on the show for a long time. The judges praised DeWyze (and Bowersox, for that matter) for the exact same thing they called James out on: being himself. Apparently it’s okay to come out and do your own thing if you’re a frontrunner, but also-rans need to think outside of the box.
Look out for ubiquitous teen idol Justin Bieber on tonight’s results show. Who do you think should go home? Who will take it all? Sound off in the comments, below.
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