American Idol 5, April 25: Just An Old-Fashioned Love Song

Welcome to American Idol! Ryan Seacrest points out that half of the top twelve are gone. Last week was “bad news for the ladies,” because the lovely Ace Young was sent home. Still, Ryan assures us, there are heartthrobs left- namely Randy, Paula, and Simon. And for everyone’s voting ease, all contestants will have two numbers for fans to call.

Tonight’s theme is love songs, and the Idols worked with Andrea Bocelli and producer David Foster. Andrea was born in Tuscany, Italy and became an international superstar. He’s the best selling classical artist of al time. His current album Amore includes duets with Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera. David Foster has written songs for Chaka Khan and Whitney Houston. He has won 14 Grammies. Andrea and David recently joined forces on stage for an elaborate concert in Las Vegas. The two met the Idols in Beverly Hills. Andrea runs them through vocal exercises. David and Andrea are not impressed at first. David says that if you can’t cut it, you’re gone. He sugarcoats nothing and is tough on the Idols. He says it’s vital to bring something new to each song.

Katharine McPhee is going to sing “I Have Nothing,” written by David Foster and made famous by Whitney Houston. She was very nervous working with Andrea and David – it was a lot of pressure. David gives her suggestions for how to sing the song, and she loves the changes. David thinks she has a great future. Andrea says she has a beautiful voice. He thinks she could possibly sing opera if she trained. The two of them sing a duet together. Andrea, who is blind, says that she is nice, beautiful, and young. David teases him, “How do you know all of this?”

Randy: Randy admits that he was worried about the theme. This was a good song choice, but it was too big for her. The audience disagrees. Randy says it’s a mistake to try to do Whitney. He’s answered by boos.

Paula: Paula is going to be serious and tough. There were pitch problems. Katharine pushed her vocals too much and over sang and was a little flat. This was a tough song to sing, and she is a star. She should know what she’s best at, which is intimate vocals.

Simon: Simon is impressed by Paula’s feedback. By choosing that song, it’s like Katharine is saying she’s as good as Whitney Houston, which she’s not. It was cabaret and just didn’t seem as good.

Betsy: Katharine is rocking some serious cleavage tonight. Her dad is teary-eyed in the audience again, which is sweet. I liked this performance a lot better than Paula, Simon, and Randy did. I’m not really excited by Whitney Houston songs. They’ve been done a million times, and they tend to bore me. That said, Katharine performed incredibly well, without a doubt. She avoided being karaoke, which made all the difference.

Ryan says that anyone who doesn’t have their volume up will give her votes, since she looks great in that dress. Katharine looks nervous as he gives her numbers.

Elliott is excited to sing “A Song for You” by Donnie Hathaway. It’s the first song he sang at his audition for the executive producers. He feels like enough time has elapsed for him to bring it to the big stage. He also wants to bring Hathaway’s music to the forefront. Background singer Kenya is one of Hathaway’s daughters. Ryan jokes that is a lot of pressure. Andrea thinks Elliott has performed the song often. David says it’s a very stylized song, which is a challenge. David had some changes that take Elliott a few attempts to get. David is pretty critical of him at times, but Elliott seems to really appreciate the feedback. David tells him to create his own sound, not use Donnie’s.

Randy: He hated the arrangement. It was way too confusing, but Elliott is “dope.” He should have sung it like the record. Considering how often the judges advise the singers to “make it your own,” this is confusing advice.

Paula: Paula has tears in her eyes. Elliott moves her- he’s a handsome, evolved performer, and he is an American Idol.

Simon: Simon is laughing at Paula. Seven weeks ago, he said Elliott was one of the best male vocalists ever on the show. Tonight was like a vocal master class. “It was superb.”

Betsy: I love what Elliott is wearing tonight. He really looks sharp. His voice sounds really beautiful and clear. This is exactly the kind of song Elliott should sing- it really shows off all of the best things about his voice. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Ryan jokes that Paula is crying like Mr. McPhee.

Upon prodding from Ryan, Kellie Pickler says she’s not dedicating her song to anyone else. “Thank you, Ryan, for reminding me that I do not have a boyfriend,” she says. She’s going to sing “Unchained Melody,” and wishes she had somebody to “play pottery with” like in Ghost. Andrea thinks the song is “sweet, like her voice.” David tells her she’s robotic. Kellie tries a falsetto at David’s urging. David loves it, but to me, it sounds like a dolphin in pain. David says the way she did it is impressive, which surprises her. David says that if the song is done without passion, it’s boring. Andrea correctly figures Kellie is a blonde. I suspect it’s easy to hear the blonde in her!

Randy: Kellie is scared of how he’s going to react. Randy thinks it was pitchy and strange, the wrong song for her.

Paula: It’s a tough competition, and Paula doesn’t think Kellie is raising the bar each week. She thinks America loves Kellie, but she doesn’t feel greatness.

Simon: “I think that song deserved tears, but for a different reason.” It was monotonous, bland, and robotic. There was no heart. The music comes on before Simon can finish, much to his chagrin.

Betsy: This song has been done a million times on Idol and for once, someone is doing something different with it. Kellie sings it much more simply, showing a real country influence. It is, as Andrea said, sweet and pretty. I like it far, far more than the judges do.