American Idol: Ending On A High Note

I’m almost ready to throw an American Idol parade because this week’s Top 6 actually performed like America’s Top 6 “kind of, almost” Stars. After weeks of disappointment, I can say that no one really let me down and quite a few exceeded my expectations. And on Shania night of all nights! (I do love the singer-songwriter. My middle school dances would never have been the same without her.)

This week was meant to be the country week, I suppose, but there was very little twang during performance night. I don’t know if that’s because it was “Shania country”. You can take that up with all the country enthusiasts and “Shania ruined country” haters, but her songs are versatile and transcend genres, as she said so herself.

I still stand by my assertion that Shania could have filled the Paula Abdul role. Not that Ellen hasn’t grown into her judge’s chair, because she’s come very far from the rambling woman we met earlier this season. Her zingers have been, for the most part, to the point. Still, Shania’s bubbly and upbeat and sweet but knows what she’s talking about when she gets serious. How can you not appreciate that?

Now, let’s get down to it.

TOP 6
6. Aaron – “You’ve Got A Way” – I was left a little flabbergasted after Aaron’s judging. Every judge saw some huge turnaround in the high school student, but what I saw was the same type of song and the same hesitation. This week, he just happened to actually hit the right notes so he sounded more like his old, belting self. But he should be singing well at this point! Kara and Simon both saw a completely different contestant, and Randy felt that the song was in his “wheelhouse”. (His new, favorite critique.) I can’t argue that country is his route, but if this is what he’ll always bring to the stage then I’d rather chance hearing his songs on the radio and never watching him perform live. He’s just not entertaining enough for me yet.

5. Siobhan – “Any Man Of Mine” – Besides all of Shania’s most popular hits, this song really encapsulates the sassy, fierce pseudo-country woman with attitude. Siobhan started the songs in the completely wrong vain but picked it up very quickly. She tried to put the theatrics into her performance vocally, succeeding at the end, but I didn’t believe the story in her face or her movement or that last big note. While her voice was more pleasing to me this time, I still don’t really know what she’s about or what kind of artist she wants to be which keeps me at a distance.

4. Crystal – “No One Needs To Know” – There are usually no doubts of where Crystal will fall on the performance meter. But with everyone showing a little more gusto, I was sort of bored by the hippie crooner this week. Her voice was still pretty close to perfect, but her version of the song was a little humdrum. Randy did point out the things that I liked which were that she did it straight-up country with what he dubbed a Nickel Creek vibe and that she tried a new sound. (Last time I saw Nickel Creek, they sounded very much like bluegrass, which his what Crystal was going for, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.) What I didn’t like was seeing Crystal talk back to the judges who could barely give her constructive criticism.

3. Lee – “You’re Still The One” – I loved seeing Lee soft and vulnerable, especially now that he’s clearly more confidant and comfortable in his own skin on stage. All the judges liked his performance though no one raved over it besides Kara, who had to pull the “look how far [you’ve] come” line. But his biggest downfall was a hesitant start and pitch problems that stood out because of the simple arraignment. It’s his innovation, though, that’ll keep him ahead in this game.

2. Mike – “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing” – Earlier this season, I said that Mike could be the smartest guy in the competition. And this week, I revisit that statement. Many have maligned him for his ham and cheese factor, but he kept sailing through because he put on a show and, at least, woke people up in a relatively sleepy pool of contestants. As numbers dwindled, this became his downfall, but he’s quickly shifted gears to proving that he has the talent to go far in a singing contest. I really loved his voice on the song, and the judges loved his emotion and artistry, except for Simon who deemed it “wet.” (Which apparently correlates to being too musical-like and/or girly.)

1. Casey – “Don’t” – Don’t get a big head, Casey, now that you’ve finally had a performance to call mom about. After being kicked down last week, Casey realized he needed to change it up, and not replay the same record over and over again to stay in this competition. Just like “Heaven,” during the Top 24, seeing a real, vulnerable side of the perma-smiley axeman was a much needed treat. Plus, his voice fit perfectly with the song, turning his vocal flaws into appreciated nuances.

WRAP UP
Though this week was touted as country week, few contestants stepped up to that plate. This season has definitely taken its knocks, but there’s a solid four in the top six that I do like. Sure, this season is missing the Lambert factor, that contestant who really knocks your socks off. But in the end, I was really proud of Casey for letting the critiques finally set in and choosing to put himself out there when he could have taken the easy out and jammed on his guitar, blues-ing up one of Shania’s songs. Mike has also improved, closing in on the Crystal-Lee, sure bet, showdown. And as always, Lee and Crystal make me want to stop and listen, whether they’re good or less good (I refuse to equate the two with the word bad.)

IDOLS RETURN
It was a guest parade during results night. I still don’t get why, at this point, the show can’t be whittled down to 30 minutes. Instead, we get a little more overt advertising than usual and some behind-the-scenes footage of the contestants. Even with all the extra special guests, Idol still ran slightly under and had to be bulked up with asinine comments Q&As by Ryan. I did appreciate the backstage pass as it’s been hard to connect to our hopefuls this season.

We also got more fly-by performers. Rascal Flatts stopped in with “Unstoppable.” Carrie Underwood gave her endorsement to friends Sons of Sylvia. Lady Antebellum performed their hit “Need You Now”. Then, Rascal Flatts came back to help Shakira with her new song “Gypsy”, my favorite performance of the eve. Who knew that Shakira could play harmonica? The girl is a certifiable bag of tricks. While I love to shake my hips to the dance side of Shakira, her first album was more on the soft side, and I was reminded of it with this new song (that I want to download immediately).

CURTAIN CALL
There’s no denying I was sad to see Mike and Casey in the bottom three when they’d been my two favorites 24 hours prior. But when I look at Casey’s performance track record, he definitely doesn’t deserve it over Lee or Crystal it’s even debatable with Aaron. Mike, on the other hand, has progressed to the point where I believe in him more than Siobhan and Aaron, except we’ve already seen proof that America isn’t completely behind him. No save has ever lived far past their expiration date.

I did get excited by the idea that Siobhan could take the fall and spare my eardrums and free time, but then I thought about how long it took to get Turban out, and he was in the bottom three multiple times…until the final 4 minutes when I had resigned myself to the idea that Casey was going home. As if my own fairy godmother granted my wish, Siobhan exited, singing “Think” on her way out, and I didn’t see much to be missed, but I will say that the stylist finally got her dress, shoes, hair and accessories together for her final moment. Way to go out in style!

PARTING SHOT
“It was like you were giving birth up there. If you heard that note in isolation, you’d kind of think something else was going on there.” – Simon of the Siobhan Screech.

For another take on this episode, read The Shania Twain Has Left The Station by Erin Bigelow.

Season 9, Episodes 34 & 35: Top 6 Performance and Results (originally aired April 27 & 28, 2010)

For more on American Idol, click here.

Photographs courtesy of Fox Broadcasting Company and IMDbPro.