Is American Idol Back?
By Keith Boykin, in pop culture
Wednesday, March 21 2007, 2:30PM
Lakisha wore $1 million worth of Kwiat diamonds. Blake updated an old standard into a hip new tune. Melinda closed out the show with a hot finale. Even Sanjaya rocked the house and brought a little girl to tears! (See the video.) Last night was the best and most entertaining episode of American Idol this season.
Although some of the performances were uneven, the energy level was much higher last night than it has been anytime before as the 11 remaining finalists sang songs from the 1960s "British invasion." When I first heard the theme, I expected it would be a long boring night of overplayed Beatles songs. But instead I was pleasantly surprised by the range of music from Shirley Bassey to Dusty Springfield. Based on the performances last night, I expect Phil or Haley will go home tonight. But this is American Idol and anything can happen.
LaKisha belted out "Diamonds Are Forever." And Melinda and Jordin rounded out the top performances for the women. Stephanie was fine but not her best. And Gina struggled a bit but she should be fine in the voting this week.
On the men's side, Blake and the two Chrises were good. But I was expecting this to be Sanjaya's last hurrah. Instead, Sanjaya came out dressed to party, danced around the stage, walked through the audience and jumped on the platform behind the judges. It was definitely his best and most energetic performance to date, and he needed to do that to stay in the competition. It was also good to see him admit during the pre-performance interview that he was not the best singer in the contest.
I imagine it's not easy for Sanjaya. It must be very difficult for a 17-year-old kid to be thrust into an international spotlight where 30 million people are watching your every move every week. And it must be even harder when you're constantly criticized. With Antonella out of the competition, many of the attacks have now been directed at Sanjaya. In fact, when I signed onto America Online last night, the first thing I noticed was a photo of Sanjaya and a less than positive article about him. There's no escape from American Idol.
And there's no clear winner emerging yet. Unlike years before, I have no idea who's going to win the competition this year. Last year I predicted early on that it would come down to Katherine, Taylor or Chris. This year, I would say Melinda, Lakisha and Blake are the early favorites, but I'm just not sure. I voted last night and I'll watch tonight to see the results.
Comments conceal
blk_phd
March 21 2007, 3:58PM
That young man is too damn cute!! If he was a few years older....
Lito S
March 21 2007, 4:20PM
LaKisha was boring. Plus she misplaced her wig with a dirty mop. The woman has a great voice but she doesn't really seem to connect with the songs for me. After her amazing "And I Am telling You," everything else has been eh. Her God Bless the child was marred by a few lil runs: and it still is new-new-new-newsss. And she made a mistake last night by not following Lulu's advice. Also, have you noticed after focusing on her mom and auntie on that one episode, they haven't been back?? Did Kiki bar them after being embarassed(sp?).
cmoney
March 21 2007, 5:21PM
As for the crying girl, people often cry at funerals. His singing was somewhat akin to a death rattle. Or maybe she just got finished slicing some onions or had to pee really, really bad. First menstrual cycle? It can't be because she was so awestruck by Sanjaya!! Stanger things have happened. I mentioned a few weeks ago that people should keep an eye on him and unfortunately, we still have to listen to him. Oh well, at least he's cuter than that orange haired guy from last year that couldn't sing either.
vince![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
March 21 2007, 6:24PM
just before Chris Richardson performed, they showed Seacrest talking to that same girl, as if they were chatting during the commercial and were interrupted by the show coming back on the air.
and she seemed to be in tears then as well. maybe something traumatic happened to her? (besides being forced to speak to Seacrest, that is)
Kola Boof
March 21 2007, 6:44PM
Blake is my favorite. I'm voting for him.
Jake
March 21 2007, 7:52PM
Until they get rid of this Sanjaya kid, the rest of the singers who actually have talent will look bad, and what little credibility this show has for finding real talent will be mocked by those in the music biz. But, with teen girls the demographic that loves this show and the main ones who call in, Sanjaya will be around forever, just like Clay, they just love that androgynous look for some reason.
That said, go Blake :).
Mark
March 21 2007, 8:50PM
Sanjaya is going to win. Watch what I tell you. If he makes it to the final two, I am putting a million calls through for him. LOL, if not, then he will get picked up as a model or actor or something. He is too fine to go to waste.
cmoney
March 21 2007, 9:49PM
This show is a JOKE! They just got rid of Stephanie and kept Sanjaya! He wasn't even in the bottom 2! Mark, I'm starting to agree with you--me might win. Aiiiggh!
Mark#2
March 21 2007, 9:54PM
Sanjaya too "fine?" That's a good one, I guess that's why that girl was bawling last night, just too "fine!" This show is no longer about a singing "competition" since anyone who can sing is getting bounced, and some silly little boy who reminds me of Michael Jackson, non threatening to young boy shy girls, only without any sort of a voice for singing or talking, keeps getting through week in and week out with crying little girls calling in for him, what a crock! Maybe with this joke of a phone in system, this will be the end of this show, since its obvious that America is totally tone deaf this season. Next week, they'll bounce Lakisha at the rate they are going.
chicagoangel
March 22 2007, 12:46AM
This is funny. In a democracy where people have the right to vote and can use it freely, when people vote and it turns a different way people get sick.....American Idol has over 25 million viewers, its not going anywhere. Since people have the right to vote on who wins, don't complain if you dont vote.
soulbrotha
March 22 2007, 12:49AM
I hope that talentless kewpie doll Sanjaya wins. Then maybe that will be the death knell for this embarrassment of a show.
Kola Boof
March 22 2007, 1:06AM
I was really mad at Stephanie yesterday for her lifeless performance of my song--but I don't think she should have been let go. She's better than several acts on this show. And while I love Lakisha--she's so BORING. My God, how many times do you have to tell these big voiced black divas that having a mighty voice alone doesn't make one intriguing or interesting, which is exactly why Diana Ross was such a HUGE SUPERSTAR in the wake of Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle types, because people with HUGE voices tend to rely too much on that. In all honesty Lakisha could learn a thing from Sanjaya about "star quality" and developing CHARISMA. She does nothing to set herself apart from Jenny Hudson and those types. She's not a star, just BORING.
chicagoangel
March 22 2007, 1:26AM
Sanjaya gets all the respect in the world from me! He has the testicular fortitude to go on there every week and take the bashing they give him because he isn't as good as everyone else and he stands there still smiling and enjoying the moment in his life.
People will vote for the underdog! no matter what Sanjaya got the balls to do what he is doing in the midst of people greater than him!
psun
March 22 2007, 2:30AM
I think that the crying girl was staged. I mean think about it... the theme was the 60's british invasion. What would the 60's British invasion have been without the screaming crying little girls? She was randomly crying LONG before Sanjaya (aka Disney's Aladdin) came out.
eh... stephanie was whack the last two weeks. I was bored. I was suprised that the Justin Timberlake wannabe was in the last two. I actually liked his performance.
Joel
March 22 2007, 2:39AM
No one ever seems to talk about my girl jordin lol she is flying under the radar i mean she can belt those songs out......
Mark Norris
March 22 2007, 3:19AM
I agree with "chicagoangel" and "soulbrotha". I really, really hope and pray Sanjaya wins. And I am not going to be surprised if he does. The underdog thing is in full effect here. He knows how he rates with the other contestants.....but he also is aware of the effect his looks have too. You think that 7 yr. old was crying what about our 7 yr. old young gay boys. What what I say folks. If he doesn't win, he will be in the top two. Watch...............................now, I may be wrong, but to come this far says a lot.
Blue
March 22 2007, 10:27AM
I think they are all horrible personally - this is the first time in a while I have just been out and out uninterested in this show. I did watch like a half hour of the one with Diana Ross, and it was AWFUL! I had to turn it off. Thankfully, 2006 third runner up Elliot Yamin's album came out Tuesday. And it's good. He was my fav - I voted for tht boy every damn week. But as far as the sh ow, I am over it.
C. Baptiste-Williams
March 22 2007, 11:01AM
this show has outlived its usefulness... the past few seasons have produced absolutely nothing. If it wasnt for Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson it would have no credibility at all. But is 2 out of how many seasons enough?
Lois
March 22 2007, 11:20AM
While I don't watch this show, yes, there are some people who don't, I do find it rather interesting that more people will follow with it keen interest and vote for a singer than in local and national elections. But, maybe that's just me, I don't think I've ever even heard a song from any of them other than Jennifer Hudson singing at the Oscars.
Dele
March 29 2007, 7:16AM
Lekisha isn't boring...she is showing you want this show should be about vocal performance. Alas the show is not about singing....otherwise that young queen sanjay would have been voted off alongtime ago.
Simon Cowell never learns he was hard on The Mcdonald Brothers here in the Uk on X-Factor (they were bad singers) & like Sanjay they were kept in the show for weeks before the Uk came to their senses & voted the fartknockers off.
Please Melinda/Lekisha are the best singers followed by Jordan...........then blake, Chris(the chubby bro) & the bald bloke????
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