Canadian Idol 6, August 18: Helter Skelter

This article kicks off with yet another trivia question. At this point, only one remaining contestant has yet to make an appearance in the bottom three. Who? The answer will appear somewhere near the end of this article.

In the audience tonight is one of our former Olympic medallists, figure skater Brian Orser. Brian is currently coaching top-ranked Yu-na Kim. If she can maintain her ranking over the next 19 months, in an ironic twist of fate, Brian will be attending the Vancouver Olympics… marching in under the South Korean flag! If that concept were any wackier, it would be on reality TV!

As usual, the show begins with a brief recap of the previous episode. Ben was very tricky when the trio called to center stage were identified as the safe ones! Amberly Thiessen ended up being the one sent packing.

Dapper series host Ben Mulroney welcomes us to the show and announces the theme of Beatles music. It’s also a judges’ choice night, so those struggling in that area will get some help tonight.

Ben next introduces the judges and inflicts BPRQs (Boring Predictable Response Questions) to each. He first asks judge Zack Werner why Beatles music is still relevant today. He jokes that it’s because we’re still waiting for the reunion! Zack’s more serious response is that the songs united those young at the time into a distinct generation.

Sass Jordan is asked how The Beatles influenced her career. Since she was pretty darn young at the time, she responds, “I remember standing in front of the mirror in the bedroom, singing into a hairbrush with my friends.”

Ben wants Jake Gold to comment on The Beatles’ impact on the business side of things. He relates how they were the first to have their image on a massive variety of things, from lunchboxes to bobble-heads. I’d add the formation of Apple Records, where for the first time performers took control of their own product.

Retreating to more traditional ground, Ben asks Farley Flex what voters should consider before they vote. I should look up how many times Farley’s answered that this season! This time, he suggests all the performers have improved and that instead of looking only at one night’s efforts, we should consider all the performances.

Ben cues the playing of an informational video about The Beatles. The bit that always floors me is that 73 million viewers saw them on The Ed Sullivan Show. By comparison, one of the highest rated shows in recent weeks is the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, which registered slightly less than half that audience despite a larger population!

Before the singing begins, Ben has video run of the Idols’ trip to Camp Oochigeas, a camp for children with cancer. The kids teach the Idols archery and climbing, and the Idols pay them back with an exhibition of diving and tons of autographs. The Idols think the kids are the real idols, because of their positive outlooks. This is really nice stuff. Ben tells us camp costs are covered by donations and volunteer efforts, and there is no cost to the kids’ families.

Tonight, each contestant’s performance is preceded by video of the judges expressing their opinions of that Idol’s strengths. So, the first time I recap their opinions is on tape and precedes the performance. I’ll then tell you what song they were assigned, along with my observations and opinions, and then conclude with the judges’ live comments.

I note that tonight, the keyboards and guitars are to my right and the bass, drums, and backup singers are all are to my left. I also see room has been left in some key areas, so I assume others will be added to the mix as the night progresses. Live, the band seems to be miked at a higher volume tonight, but as I’m relieved to learn later, the sound crew gets the mix right for TV.

Earl Stevenson - Age 23 - Lloydminster, AB

Jake feels that Earl is a stylist and needs a song with a lot of soul. Farley tells us his tone is recognizable, while Sass says he’s not self-conscious on stage and has “tons of natural rhythm.” Zack thinks Earl always convinces us he’s “comfortable in that moment.” Farley wraps it up by saying that the way he gets into his songs makes him “absolutely lovable.”

Earl will be singing the Joe Cocker version of “With a Little Help From My Friends.” Knowing that he can’t “out-Cocker” Cocker, with the exception of one splits jump at the end, he wisely cuts out the goofy dancing and concentrates on singing the song. Well done, Earl.

A widely smiling Jake first says that the band was “awesome.” He feels, “We were kinda right in picking that song for you!” Sass is speechless, but she’s impressed. Farley says that when a contestant performs well on judges’ choice night like this, it makes them proud. Zack feels that as far as his stage act, this “less is more” approach worked.