It’s the week where they send the Final Three back to their hometowns and they each get to sing 3 songs, one picked by the producer, one picked by a judge and one picked by themselves. It’s always interesting to see which judge picked which Idol. I predict Paula/Blake, Randy/Melinda and Simon/Jordin. The judges look playful tonight, that’s weird. We get right to it, we have a lot to show tonight.
Jordin is back in Glendale, Arizona and the mayor gets a fax from Simon. Jordin will be singing, “Wishing on a Star” by Rose Royce. Is that who did Car Wash? Oooh, this is kind of a slow jam, I like it. She’s got some quiet upper register stuff and then she blows it open on the chorus and has a good ending. I wasn’t blown away, but it was definitely good. Randy says it was a great vocal, Paula says it was beautiful, Simon thought it was beautiful but didn’t like the jazz arrangement. I dug it, I’d give Jordin a B+.
Blake is up next, heading to Washington where the 19 yr old Mayor gets Paula’s choice for Blake (I was totally right about matching Idols and judges). Paula has chosen “Roxanne,” which I feel like will be a good song for Blake. Let’s find out…..hmmmmm. Has Blake ever heard this song before? He’s screwing with the rhythm and not in a good Blake kind of way. Yikes, this is horrible. For real, I’ve heard people karaoke this song better than this. It just seems so boring. And then Blake accidentally flings the mic offstage, which is hilarious. Randy says pretty good, gives him an A. WHAT? Paula says it was fantastic, changed phrasing around. Hmmm, I don’t think that’s what it was, Blake just couldn’t do the rhythm right. Simon says it was good, not great. I don’t even think it was that good, Simon. I give Blake a B-.
Now we are in Nashville with Melinda and Randy has chosen “I Believe in You and Me” by the great Ms. Houston herself. Wow, bold choice. Especially because every time somebody does a Whitney song, you take her out behind the woodshed. It starts out nice and slow and pretty, but then something weird happens. On a part where she goes higher, Perfect Melinda is (dare I say it?) PITCHY! What the hell? My world is all askew! Seriously, there are a few spots that are way off-key, what on earth? The big high note is not pretty. Yikes. The ending isn’t even great. Seriously, I am awarding the first round to Jordin. This was Melinda’s worst performance. The judges totally disagree with me, but it’s Melinda and they will never pan her. Just because it is difficult doesn’t mean you get a pass for when you’re pitchy. For real, it wasn’t great at all. B for Melinda. Round 1 goes to Jordin, in my opinion.
The song the producer chose for Jordin Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money.” Cool, I like this song. She looks great, in a pretty blue shirt and ajeans and heels. She is 12 ft tall. This is fun and upbeat, but I’m not getting much energy from Jordin. Use the fact that this is upbeat to dance around a little, girl! It’s Donna “Disco Will Never Die” Summer. The ending rules, Jordin ramps up her energy and has a great vocal moment. Randy loved it, Paula loved it, Simon thought it was very good. Jordin gets another B+, I still don’t think anybody’s given an A performance yet.
Blake’s producer-chosen song is “This Love” by Maroon 5. I love this song, I hope this goes well. It could be very good for Blake. Oooh, he starts off very well with a kicky little spin and stop for the first line. Maroon 5 stuff is perfect for Blake. He’s dancing all cute and sounding great. His vocal turntablism is back, but it totally fits this song, so I dig it (sorry Jerkwheat). The bridge…..gets away from him a bit, but the ending is nice. He goes loud and then brings it down nicely. I really dug that performance, actually. Randy says that’s exactly the kind of record Blake should do. For sure, I agree. Paula says in his element. Simon preferred it to the first one, it was good. B+ for Blake.
Melinda’s second song is Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits?” Is that what I hear? Nutbush? What in the world? It starts “Church house, Gin House, School House, Out house.” Huh. Did Dr. Seuss write this song? I do not know this song, can you tell? Well, she’s rockin her growly voice and carrying the mic stand, so that’s kinda fun. She actually does one great slide/squat with the mic stand is awesome. That was decent, actually. Man, round two is harder because I think they all did well. I would’ve liked to have seen more energy from the women, they were both too subdued to me. They need to be crankin’ it for the Top 3, so I might give round 2 to Blake. The judges loved Melinda, I’ll give it a B+.
Jordin’s last song is her favorite from the season, “I Who Have Nothing.” OH MY GOD, YES! She has a star in the mall she used to work at! So cute. I freakin’ love this song from British Invasion week. She looks beautiful, she’s wearing a blush-colored dress, wowie zowie. I still get goosebumps when she gets to the “I love you” part of this song. Her EMOTING on this song is palpable. It’s like I’m feeling her heartbreak through the TV. “WindowPAAAAANNNE, I LOVE YOU” is gorgeous. Wow. Absolutely stunning. Simon pans that a 17 yr old sang a 60 yr old song. Blech, shut up Simon! A+ for Jordin.
Blake is singing “When I Get You Alone,” by Robin Thicke but first he beatboxes with Sir Mix-a-Lot. HOLY SHIT, THAT IS AWESOME! Did Blake sing this song this season? There’s a great background “A 5th of Beethoven,” which I love. Hmmmm, I’ve never heard this song. It’s not bad though. It’s a very Blake song, so at least he knows what to pick for himself. That was cute. A very Blake performance of a very Blake song, so if you like that stuff, it was great. If you hate Blake and his stuff, you hated it. Randy preferred Maroon 5, as did I. Paula thought he gave 3 great performances and Simon actually really liked it. He praises his risk-taking and actually appears to be having fun. Totally. I give it a B+.
Melinda’s last song is “I’m a Woman.” Now, I love this song because, you know, Show Choir Camp shout-out. Hmmm, she totally screws the words right at first. She then drops her jacket that was flung over her shoulder, which I actually don’t like. It seems to stagey. She sounds great, of course. The judges go apeshit and Simon says she consistently delivers and therefore has earned her spot in the finals. Hmmmmm, maybe. I mean, that’s the way it SHOULD go, but I don’t know if that’s the way it will go. Honestly, I award round 3 to Jordin. By my count, I’ve got Jordin 2, Blake 1, Melinda 0. Seriously, I just wasn’t blown away by her tonight.
Recap: Jordin jazzing it up wishing on a star, getting a terrible clip of her second song, and then giving me chills again on her last song. Blake screwing “Roxanne,” then rocking Maroon 5, then doing a decent job on his third song if you like that sort of thing. Melinda not being able to carry off Whitney, degree of difficulty be damned, then rocking some Tina Turner, then rocking it out with her Lady Marmalade backup singers.
Who makes it? I have no idea. I think Melinda and Jordin SHOULD be in the final, but Blake gets a lot of teeny bopper votes, so I wouldn’t be terribly shocked if one of the girls goes home.
