American Idol Recap - Neil Diamond Week

I was really excited about this week because I loves me some Neil Diamond! He has such a fantastic repertoire that I thought everyone had a good chance. The night turned out to be so-so.

I'm going to comment in the order they performed, scoring each performance then getting the average of the two scores.

Jason - Forever in Blue Jeans - I love this song, although I will confess that for years while growing up I thought the name of the song was "Reverend Blue Jeans"! Anyway, Jason started off a bit shaky but he progressed nicely; it's a good song for him but it was an unexpected choice; he seemed nervous - I'm worried about him. Score: 6

David Cook - I'm Alive - I'd never heard this song, so I don;t know if he changed the arrangement or not but I loved it! He looked and sounded great; excellent song choice; great performance. Score: 10

Brooke - I'm a Believer - Great song, bad performance; she was singing too low for her voice so it was all over the place; she didn't look comfortable, she didn't look pretty - too much makeup; it didn't work for me. Score - 5

David Archuleta - Sweet Caroline - OHMYGOD! WTH? This child has taken a classic song and mangled it! The arrangement didn't "make it his own", it messed up a great song. AND it wasn't even that good a vocal from him. Why are the judges trying so hard to sell us this dorky kid? My knee-jerk score last night was *1*, but since he didn't forget the words or fall down...Score - 3

Syesha - Hello Again - A beautiful, beautiful song and she started it off beautifully. She looked great and sang the song softly and sweetly; sadly about half way through she became possessed by the Whitney/Mariah/Celine poltergeist and she started shrieking what is supposed to be a contemplative song about a relationship gone astray; then she ended it OK. Score - 5

Half Time Commentary - Paula was high as an Afghan kite. She commented on Jason's *second* performance, before it happened. She said it was "forgettable" - DUH! maybe because it never happened! Dumbazz - why does she have a job?

Moving on to Part 2

Jason - September Morn' - Very, very nice; beautiful song and his voice is perfect for it; he's usally cute, but this time he was romantic - made me a little swoony...; he looked beautiful; good performance; may have saved himself but I'm still worried. Score - 8

David Cook - All I Really Need Is You - I don't know this song; I'm not liking this as much as the first one, but it picked up int he middle when it went uptempo; the mellower parts didn't work as well; still good though. Score - 8

Brooke - I Am I Said - one of my favorite Neil Diamond songs; much, much better than the first performance; this is her element; wonderful choice for her; her voice was beautiful and her performance honest; may have saved her. Score - 9

Archuleta - America - OK, I was going to hate the performance of this song, regardless of who sang it - so of course, who sings it? My own personal Sanjaya of course! The song is beyond cheesy and gimmicky and annoying - as is Archuleta; to me it's shameless pandering and I'm not buying it; his voice was better on this one than the first one, but no. Score - 4

Syesha - Thank the Lord for the Night Time - I didn't know this song but she made me like it; perfect song for her; brings out the performer/singer in her as Simon said; she owned the stage, she seemed comfortable, like she was enjoying it; she totally sold the song. Score - 9

Combined Average Score "in no particular order" (ooops, that's another show! BWAHAHAHA!)

Jason - 7

David Cook - 9

Brooke - 7

Archuleta - 3.5

Syesha - 7

Wishes:
My Bottom Two - David Archuleta and Syesha
Who do I want to see leave? - David Archuleta

Predictions:
Their Bottom Two - Jason and Syesha
Who will leave? Syesha