American Idol - The Top 7 - "Inspiration"

I have to admit I'm slightly influenced, in two ways, this week. Firstly, I've been listening to Casey James all week. I just found his performance of "Jealous Guy" on my mind repeatedly, and had to listen to it. And when I did, I decided to listen to a few more performances. But "Jealous Guy" and "Heaven" are definitely my favorites. I don't know what the American Idol production did with "The Power of Love," but although I liked that one on the live show, the studio version sounds very weird. I almost thought I'd gotten the Huey Lewis version by accident until I realized I still could understand the "change a hawk to a little white dove" line, which I never could with the original. It's also strange that they kept the cheesy bridge exactly the same!

I have to be clear, however, that I have never done that before. Even though I thought Adam Lambert was amazing last year and theoretically would have listened to him, I didn't actually do it. I think I planned to listen to "Mad World," but just didn't. This year I felt compelled to hear Casey James's "Jealous Guy," had to or I'd go crazy. I hope that's a good portent for him. And it's been fairly addictive. Oddly, it also triggered some immediate Stevie Ray Vaughn hankering, even though I don't feel like they connect as directly as it sometimes seems. I can definitely sense a semblance in sound and performance, but I think in some respects the almost antisocial-appearing kind of performance stance that worked really well for Stevie Ray Vaughn works against Casey James. Especially matched with the sort of nervous smiling. He's got to pick the cooler, totally into the guitar attitude of Stevie or come out more and share more of himself with the audience in a relaxed and open way. I think the latter is a better choice for him, because the cool guitar god attitude has to be naturally produced, like a diamond, and I don't think it comes naturally to him. An open friendliness definitely would, if he got over his nerves and any doubts about himself.

Another influence was that I saw a few tiny bits of other recaps of the show before I got to write mine. I had to get the numbers to vote, because the voting opened before I got to start the show! But I tried to block it all out and not be influenced in my own take on the show. Turns out I didn't really agree with the little bits I saw, anyway. In fact, I'm surprised at some of them. I saw two reviewers praising Lee and suggesting Casey was in danger---I think that's crazy, but it shows how people are influenced by the judges.

My take? Here we go, in order of rank, not appearance;

• Crystal Bowersox, singing "People Get Ready," is ever-unwilling to ditch her hippieness. The a cappella part was gutsy and well-done, and ah, blessed be, no guitar! No instrument at all! Her voice is truly beautiful, and she uses it well. The crying seemed slightly. . . I know exactly how that works, because that happens to me a lot when I'm singing, especially since I like to sing when I'm emotional. I think it really had more to do with her father than the song, but that's fine, and she handled it charmingly.
• Casey James, singing "Don't Stop," has more vibrato than I like in his voice again, and while his voice sounds amazing apart from that, and the guitar is enthralling, he has that slightly nervous shakey head, blinky, a little too smiley delivery again. He really has to get away from that. I thought he was getting away from it, and even worried he might be getting cocky, but he seemed more nervous again, and then when he heard the judges' opinions, he looked really shredded. As he should have been! They were really mean. I agree it would have been better had he mixed up the song a bit, but I do think the song is an inspiring one and he sang it as though he was inspired and that was a joyous thing, not necessarily as though he's trying to inspire others by prodding them.  He's just a glow that you can feel shining. I think that's why he's so good to hear. His voice sounds honest and just plain good, so whether it's happy or serious, it's appealing.
• Aaron Kelly, singing "I Believe I Can Fly." I feel really bad for Aaron, because I think without even factoring performances, he's in danger this week, just by the way people are voting. And I'm sorry, Aaron, but with no saves left, I cannot use my Casey votes on you, because I have to make sure Casey isn't eliminated, since at this point I think it should be Casey or Crystal for the win. But Aaron has honest talent. I think this was a crappy song choice, though. It was too obvious and a little too big for him. But he did a good job feeling it and selling it, in spite of getting off in a few parts. He truly deserves to stay, and I hope he does. I voted for him last week (along with Casey and Katie), so I hope there are others out there voting for him as I'm trapped in a loop of frenetically redialing for Casey. I hope the fact that the judges are rather sweet and loving toward him indicate the treatment he'll get from viewers. Go Aaron! Good luck.
• Lee DeWyze, singing "The Boxer," was okay. But his voice doesn't really stay on key, and he gets strained and sometimes nasal on the passionate parts of songs. I also just don't believe he really feels and knows what he's feeling as he sings. He seems more concerned with putting out his rough wail voice, and it comes across contrived. But the biggest problem is the non-key singing. I think Kara was psychotic to say this was his "moment" performance. Simon's comments were borderline disgusting: he's never really liked The Boxer? Well, he's already an idiot, then. As for comparing Lee's performance to Casey's the way he did, he obviously doesn't understand there are different ways to be inspired and be inspiring. I think it's far more inspiring to sound beautiful and sincerely happy (Casey) than faux-trodden and clearly arrogant (Lee).
• Siobhan Magnus, singing "When You Believe," sounded okay at first in the audition, but her so-called "money" spot sounded off-key to me. But maybe you had to be there. In the performance, it was right. I was also pleased that she limited her nasal ice cream weirdness, but her voice sounded a little more wobbly than usual. But she's just not getting to the truly heartfelt and professional performances she had nearer the start. It's a pity, but she doesn't seem like a vocal artist, although I recognize she may be an incredibly inspired glass artist. Her explanation that the song inspired her doesn't change the fact that I didn't feel that while she sang the song, which is when I should feel it. She can say whatever she wants, but she's not delivering.
• Michael Lynche, singing "Hero," had a pretty interesting start to his performance, but almost immediately went into a performance that highlighted the weaknesses in his vocal ability. The song was a bad choice, way too singsongy and not melodic enough. He sounded like someone singing at a fair or amusement park festival stage. What is wrong with Simon, though? Is he purposely being stupid? The song is not "about Spider-Man." More and more, I think Simon is screwing around in his last season of American Idol so people feel less attached to him. It's working for me in the short term, but I know how valuable he is and have a hard time seeing how the show will be as successful without him.
• Tim Urban, singing "Better Days," sounded good in the auditions, but much weaker in the real performance, showing once again that he has no control of his voice. I think he does have good ideas of where to go with melody, but unfortunately he isn't capable of reliably delivering those sounds. It was a nice arrangement, but a poor performance, all over the place, with large sections of flat and monotone.
  

Who should go? I'd hope Tim would go, but I just can't depend on that happening anymore. He should go. Then Michael Lynche just barely pulls ahead of Siobhan in terms of who "deserves" to go, in my opinion. That's mostly based upon how strong Siobhan was when she started, and the ability she has under however much confusion she piles upon it. 

Unfortunately, who I think should go doesn't matter at all. I could hope that Michael's stay of execution last week was due to the eliminated/saved bounceback effect, and that he is eliminated this week. I don't know, though. He may have staying power. I don't know if Siobhan could be in danger, since she never has been before. I think people do recognize her raw ability. So I'm really worried for Aaron. I know the teen girls who think Tim is so cute are also the girls who are the right age to like Aaron, and I think undertalented Tim is stealing the fire (or at least the votes) of truly-talented Aaron. It's a real shame.

At this point, it really seems unfair that Tim keeps making it! Who am I kidding? It's been at that point for a long time. Beyond that point. I hope hope hope that justice is finally done this week. Tim is so much worse than any of the other contestants, it's just insulting to have any more of them go instead of him.

This post is dedicated to my sister, who voted for Casey James for two solid hours straight, including six votes in the last minute alone. ;)