Should I Be Inspired?

I don't know what American Idol considers inspirational, but moderately entertaining karaoke performances qualify for this evening's inspirational week.

To be honest, I'm just glad I have to only break down 7 performances instead of more, because I'm getting tired of this year's lack of talent, and I grow weary of having to write about Siobhan and Aaron and Casey and Tim, all of whom bring the same thing to the show, week after week after week.

First of all, never, ever take on Whitney Houston. I don't care if your Whitney's sister, or her vocal coach. Whitney is in a class all by herself, and when you take on a song she has sung, you're bound to pale in comparison. That's exactly what happened to Siobhan tonight. By the key change, she had already went bombs away on a song that, to be done with justice, has to be sung by someone who understands its meaning. When Siobhan started talking after the song was done, I think all of the producers as well as Ryan Secrest went "oh dear God. She's talking. Who let her talk?!? WHO LET HER TALK?!? Why are there such ridiculous pauses between words? WHAT IS THIS?!?" Siobhan makes a good example of what everyone is this season falls short of: being believable. I don't believe she's a dynamite, pack the house and stop what you're doing because she's performing type of singer.

Same goes for Mr. Roboto, who apparently was working with the same double A batteries that were put in him last week. Move left, look right, back away from the mic, play a guitar solo, come back to the mic, smile while it looks like leg hairs are being pulled from you, back look straight ahead at the camera, smile, back away for another guitar solo without feeling, and finish by making a big motion for the band to stop with you. Casey hasn't shown creativity, spark, personality, or emotion beyond a fake smile here and there and embarrassment over Kara. I'm so sick of seeing him do the same thing every week.

Aaron Kelly got back to familiar ways with a ballad, and the same hip motions, hand motions and eyes closed maneuvers that make it look like he's a blind 8th grade boy trying to pet a horse for the first time. It's just uncomfortable, and you really want to help him out by showing him how he looks. But you can't, because he's blind. Not only that, but singing an R Kelly song that's been sung by every bad, drunk singer in a bar on a Friday night was a mistake. And it reminds me of Space Jam. And Michael Jordan. And six Bulls championships. Oh, if only the Cubs didn't suck so much right now...

Big Mike sang a song he shouldn't have sung. Lee is the only one from this season that should have attempted that song, and with Big Mike singing it, it lost its grit. It lost the feeling. That song is not meant to be sung by a pretty, R&B voice like Mike's. Not unless you change up the arrangement, which Mike didn't do. If he had infused it with his own rhythm and style, it might have been different. Stripped it down, simplified it, and really let the words shine through. Instead, he tried to do a carbon copy of Kroger's, and it fell flat, because he wasn't able to put the same raw emotion into it. We got a staged, musical version of a song that deserved better.

Turban reminded everyone why he's the VFTW guy tonight. He attempted a song by a singer who would sing circles around him. Okay, okay...every original singer of each of these songs could sing circles around all the contestants. But still, Tim Urban was especially bad. He still has no emotion, no connection with the words, and honestly bored me 15 seconds into the song. Not one judge mentioned the fact that he couldn't find his notes for most of the song, and when he did, they fell flat and leveled off. Tim will still be around another week, because...well, what else would we expect from this season?

Lee was phenomenal. He took the Simon and Garfunkel song, slowed it down a little bit, and added his own little flair to it. Lee wasn't much different than other weeks, in that he played the guitar and had the familiar gruff, but in this season, that's more than anyone else can offer. The same for Lee is good, because his same is better than everyone else's same. I loved the choice of "The Boxer", because it showcased Lee as someone who can do Simon and Garfunkel, and not have to do it exactly like S&G did it.

Crystal, while not playing her guitar tonight, still didn't do much. The guitar limits you to the mic stand and to one place, and so without her guitar, I thought maybe she might move around a little. Turns out, didn't matter if she had her guitar or not. She didn't move from that mic stand, instead holding the mic the whole time, or standing very, very close to it. To criticize her stage presence is really the only thing left to criticize, because she's so much more vocally talented, and emotionally invested in her songs than anyone else. The judges pounced on the tears factor, saying she was the most inspirational of the whole night, and I guess I agree. Tears will always get the sympathy symphony going. In the end, Crystal did do the best job of conveying why it was inspirational songs night, as she felt it more than anyone else.

So there it is. Tonight's breakdown. I'm hoping Lee and Crystal end up being the final two, as they've been the most consistent in bringing interesting and praiseworthy performances each week. The rest, it's just trimming the fat till we get to them.

Tonight's Rankings: 1. Lee. 2. Crystal. 3-7: Tim, Aaron, Casey, Siobhan, Big Mike, in no particular order. They all just kind of mush together.

Tomorrow night's bottom 3: Big Mike, Aaron, and Turban. Going home: Big Mike. Who should go home: Doesn't matter. Any of those bottom 4 from tonight should go home. The only 2 that shouldn't go home till the finale is Lee and Crystal. The rest, get rid of 'em!

Whaddaya think?