American Idol 4, May 10 - The Game and How To Change It

Ryan welcomes us with a teasing, "How was your week? Lots of shock and outrage... That’s happens when you lose a guy like Scott Savol!" Oh, tricky Ryan! Oh my sides.

Intro the judges, thundering applause for the judges (especially for Paula, one presumes). Ryan tells the Idols via flashback (and us) the new themes will be a little city, and little country. Motown and Country week.

The families of the Idols send videos of support, and they are very sweet and not noteworthy. The Idols also do videos thanking their families and talking about what they miss from home. You can guess the answers. On to what you really want to know about!

First, country songs:

Carrie Underwood, "Sin Wagon"

Randy - "What I love about you, I know who you are... you are ready for the record charts today!"

Paula - "Randy said it all, we had fun, it’s a great record, Randy said it all."

Simon - "It would have been a shock if you hadn’t got this one right, wouldn’t it?... it was the equivalent of you singing in the shower, you do it effortlessly. Very, very good indeed. And, we saw personality!"

Sting7 - Judges are a little hyper tonight. Carrie’s twang was in full effect tonight! Performance was more about attitude, but I wasn’t a little concerned about the pitch in some places. Maybe it’s just me. Amy Adams did this last year, and so help me, Amy’s was better I think. Hmm.

Bo Bice, "It’s Great Day To Be Alive"

Randy - "You know you’re already in the dogpound, I did not love the song... you’re doing your thing man."

Paula - "We always say we love you, and we do... it’s time for you to pick songs that make you feel like even you rose to the challenge."

Simon - "It was very boring, lazy, uninspired performance, it looked like you were some sort of jam in a private club. It wasn’t very good." (Bo’s Grandma was behind Simon, and she looked like she wanted a pound of flesh!)

Sting7 - Okay, is something wrong with me? Bo sounded a little off-key, and the band was drowning him out. I think Simon was there, it was kind of a lazy, phoned in performance. Song too mellow? Not Bo’s first choice? I wasn’t feeling it. Just not.

Vonzell Solomon, "How Do I Live Without You?"

Randy - "It started a little rough... for once it felt a little slow, a little too slow... the thing I love about you, you always pick the most difficult song... you still did your thing in the end?"

Paula - "You’re beautiful performer, you wear your heart on you sleeve, and your grace and your dignity shows every night."

Simon - "You looked and sounded incredibly nervous tonight, and you’re very emotional. So, I think I’ll leave it there."

Sting7 - What in the world is wrong with Vonzell? Paula asked how she’s feeling, and Vonzell broke into tears! Performance wise, like Randy I thought it felt a little too slow and it was distracting to the ears, but like Randy, I think she brought it home. That last "ever survive" was amazing! Let’s hope she can pull it together later.

Anthony Fedorov, "I’m Already There"

Randy - "You know what, I gotta give you props, it was good dawg!"

Paula - "Good performance, start raising the stakes and pick songs that challenge you. It was a good performance, but I want you to stretch for it."

Simon - "On a positive note, it was good performance. But, tonight with all the film clips, it feels like Miss Universe! It felt a bit cynical that song – gooey. Syrupy."

Sting7 - Oh, NOW Paula gets critical. I always hate that critique in this part of the competition because it makes no sense. Anthony doing what he’s been doing has gotten him this far. He should stretch now so she can say "a little pitchy?" Ridiculous. I thought Anthony sounded great. In fact, I think he was the best of the night so far. Call me crazy. Even Simon’s "Miss Universe" comment didn’t have much to do with Anthony as it did the song choices tonight. Good for you, Anthony! Ignore Paula. Keep doing what got you here!

Before we start the next group of songs, we get a video clip of Gamble and Huff and their contribution to the music industry – the Sound of Philadelphia. And, they are there! Ryan asks who they have worked with? Oh, names like Patti Labelle, the Ojays, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, Phyllis Hyman. That’s all. They say they are excited that their music will be reaching a whole new generation.