American Idol 4, April 19: Sing, Sing a (Disco) Song!

Ryan welcomes us in industrial-strength dramatic fashion, telling us the date, for some reason, and reminding us that we are in "complete control." He also reminds us that Nadia is no longer with us – "your fault! – and promises, based on the soundcheck, the most energetic night of performances ever!

That’s a lot to live up to.

Ryan flashes us back to last Wednesday night when he told the remaining Idols that the theme tonight is ‘70s dance music. This oughta be interesting!

No judges intro tonight, but we get Constantine showing a few dance moves and what he thinks the ‘70s were like (since he was mere toddler as they were happening), "lots of finger-pointing, and face, and glamour!" We won’t mention the energy crisis, Nixon, government cheese, or any of that. The other Idols will also be humiliating themselves with their own interpretations of ‘70s dancing, but I’ll spare you the commentary. On with the show!

Constantine Maroulis, "Nights On Broadway"

Randy - "That was a good choice... I still feel like I’m watching a great Las Vegas performance... I don’t see originality... it was good job, it just wasn’t ohmygod!, but it was alright."

Paula - "Everything about you in the past few weeks is ohmygod! You have a habit of picking the right song for you... you have stage presence beyond – whatever happens, you will be selling lots of records."

Simon - "You’re definitely on a roll, Constantine, but I think that if I’d watched this is in isolation... I think the performance was akin to waiter in a ghastly Spanish nightclub."

Sting7 - I’m done trying to deny Constantine’s charisma, but what is surprising is how much his vocals have improved from week to week! This isn’t my favorite Constantine moment, the cheese factor was definitely in evidence tonight, but there is no denying the kid has star quality.

Carrie Underwood, "MacArthur Park"

Randy - "I have to give you an official welcome to the dawg pound, you are definitely one of the best singers in this competition. Brilliant! That was beautiful, man, excellent! Excellent!"

Paula - "I gotta tell you wow! on that last note… I think that was the longest held note ever in an Idol competition – Simon turned 53 on that note! Bravo! Bravo bravo bravo!"

Simon - "You sang it very well. If I may... the styling. We must discuss this look. It’s like Barbie meets the Stepford Wives. It is very old-fashioned. And you’re too old to look like that! Leave that to Paula."

Sting7 - Yes, indeed, that last note was something to behold. The control was tenuous at times, but she held on to it! Goosebump moment, and I have to admit, there have been few of those this season. The phrasing Carrie used was odd to me, and, please, the song is not "MacArthur’s Park." Every time she sang that, I winced. But, that’s really picking on the hairs of a pig’s chin. She sang wonderfully. That "never find the recipe again... oh no" line was beyond what I thought she could do! Well, excuuuuse me!

Scott Savol, "Everlasting Love"

Randy - "You know what I’m impressed by, man? The last three weeks, you come out here, you pick just the right song. That song fit your voice great, dude, I ain’t have no problems, man, it was hot!"

Paula - "You do have a knack for picking the right song, you had fun up there, you seemed to be on pitch tonight – I think Simon was snapping!"

Simon - "Scott, look, I’ve been figuring out why you are still in this competition, and I think... you are ordinary guy who is doing quite well. But at the same time, ordinary guys can get up in a karaoke bar and sort of entertain an audience. I’m just trying to keep it real, I’m probably failing, I know, but I think it was similar to that. I just wasn’t that excited." (Scott makes a point of thanking Simon for his comments.)

Sting7 - For Scott’s slow looping vibrato, I think he will always have a challenge finding songs that will be sonically pleasing. Unlike Leah Labelle, Camile Velasco, and Mikalah Gordon before him, he seems to have it down! I was sure he would toss up some Teddy Pendergrass, but he knows what works for him. No pitch problems tonight, he was absolutely in the pocket.

Hey, there’s Alex Trebek! Alex does some Jeopardy schtick for us. If you missed it, be glad.

Anthony Fedorov, "Don’t Take Away The Music"

Randy - "I’m sure people every week are waiting – this might the week Anthony falls down whatever whatever... he didn’t do it this week! I gotta give you your props man, you were good!"

Paula - "You picked the right song, it was soothing in the right range and you sounded great! You were in tune, you danced a little. This was probably your best week."

Simon - "I don’t think it was your best week, it was certainly not your worst week. It was pleasant, safe, and a little insipid. So it’s sort of a compliment."

Sting7 - Anthony tells Ryan that his confidence is growing and he’s feeling more comfortable. It is showing! First, I am damned impressed that he did a Tavares number, a group that never got the credit they deserved. Secondly, the way he made the Tavares number into an Anthony number was just masterful! He’s in pitch, and anyone, I don’t care who they are, anyone who says Anthony can’t sing is a tone deaf hack. He’s gaining steam. Watch out.