American Idol 4, April 12: They Were Just Babies Then!

I’ve been away for a bit, and it seems there is plenty to talk about. So, I will.

There has been plenty of discussion about Scott Savol and the domestic abuse charge. He was charged with it at one point, so some people want to make him a domestic abuser. I’ve read some recaps where folks blatantly called him that. I hope they have lawyers, because they are committing slander. Scott was never convicted of domestic abuse, he was convicted of disturbing the peace.

What went on in that house, only he, his ex-girlfriend, and the big man upstairs know for sure. I personally don’t see the point in judging a man based on a website that makes its living finding nasty, dirty little secrets, gleefully publishing their mugshots, and openly admitting reality stars are its favorite targets. I wonder how many of them have arrest records, or things they regret and would rather the world didn’t know? I also don’t think any man can be defined by one single event. And, let’s not forget, it’s none of my business. Or yours. His ex-girlfriend has forgiven him. She didn’t even want him arrested. Why should I carry a grudge that she isn’t?

If it feels like I’m taking the high road, I’m not. The road is rather low – I don’t care. I want to hear the contestants sing. Sing well, show that star quality and charisma, you get a record contract. You don’t get to be president, nanny, my employee, my friend – you get a record contract. Scott would not be the only entertainer with an arrest on his record. Far, far... far from it.

That’s what I think. On with the show.

Ryan welcomes us in an eerily quiet auditorium. He says there are eight contestants left and, "tonight, it’s gonna get personal." Hmmm. What does that mean? Flashback to last Wednesday when he told the Idols this week’s theme. He teases them with adorable baby pictures of Constantine (smoldering, even then), Vonzell, and Carrie. The gang will be singing songs from the year they were born!

Interesting! I like it! We’re sure to get some ‘80s music now! The contestants tell more amusing anecdotes I’m sure you don’t really care about, so let’s get on with the singing, shall we? Up first...

Nadia Turner, "When I Dream"

Randy - "Wow, a year’s worth of song and you picked that one... it was just an okay performance... I didn’t love it."

Paula - "You look outrageously stunning... I am not crazy about the song choice... I was kind of like mmh."

Simon - "That was like the musical equivalent of wallpaper – you see the wallpaper but you won’t remember it. It was an appalling choice of song and you could go home for that."

Sting7 - Judges are waaay to hard on Nadia here. I think it was her best vocal performance in a few weeks, and though it’s not a song I know all that well, she performed it very well. Isn’t that what they are supposed to be judging? I would be dead-shocked if Nadia goes home tomorrow. I was impressed!

Bo Bice, "Free Bird"

Randy - "I love that song, I’m one of your biggest fan... you could have a hit with that song again, man!... excellent dude excellent!"

Paula - "See you at the finals, Bo, see you at the finals!"

Simon - "I’m going to disagree with Paula... I think a huge part of the audience is going to say, "what the hell is that?"... if you walk across the stage and sing a sacred song like that, I don’t think you’re gonna get many votes." (Paula and Randy are stridently disagreeing.)

Sting7 - I’m leaning closer to Simon here. There was just something kind of effortless and lazy about Bo’s performance. I didn’t feel him feeling anything about the song. He just sort of paced around, hoping to get a few screams. It’s as disconnected as I’ve ever seen him. Big time disappointed.

Anwar Robinson, "I’ll Never Love This Way Again"

Randy - "Technically I think you’re the best singer in the competition... I’m proud of you tonight."

Paula - "Your consistency is great... the openness of your voice is mesmerizing."

Simon - "One of your best performances in weeks... you are the equivalent of a blanketing – just comforting and safe, aren’t you?"

Sting7 - Anwar’s rendition adjusted the key a bit more to suit his voice, and it was a smart choice. It was the best I’ve heard Anwar sound in weeks. I still think it’s risky for a man to sing a woman’s song, but Anwar pulled it off. Good for him.

Hey, there’s Hall and Oates! What the –? They don’t look much older than they did 20 years ago, and that’s saying something. Ryan says Scott will be performing "She’s Gone" later, then he incorrectly adds that Daryl Hall wrote the next song for Paul Young (he didn’t, Paul Young covered the song – it was an older Hall and Oates album). Anyway, right now...

Anthony Fedorov, "Everytime You Go Away"

Randy - "I was wondering how that was gonna turn out... you did your thing, I was surprised."

Paula - "Much better from last week... I’m proud of you."

Simon - "Last week was a low point... this week I think you were very good."

Sting7 - Finally! I am not part of the Anthony-hating faction. I never thought he was all that bad. Personally, I was expecting Simon to make one his half-hearted apologies Wednesday night. Daryl Hall is an excellent match for Anthony’s voice. I’m glad to see Anthony getting some props. He’s been due for a while. I’m not saying he’ll win, but he deserves his spot.

Vonzell Solomon, "Let’s Hear It For The Boy"

Randy - "This is crazy, another great performance from you... very good, excellent!"

Paula - "You’re just adorable up there... I think you even sang an octave higher than Deniece Williams."

Simon - "Perfect choice of song... if you asked three weeks ago who was going to go home first between you and Nadia, I would have said you. After that performance I would say Nadia. That is a performance that makes someone pick up a phone."

Sting7 - Vonzell is coming on, folks. Don’t count her out. I heard a few pitch moments, but you know I don’t care about that. The performance was electrifying, fun song, the smile on her face is just charming. She just might win this thing. Don’t be surprised. I really hate this song, from my favorite musical year, but Vonzell made it bearable, even enjoyable. I can’t give her better praise than that.

Scott Savol, "She’s Gone"

Randy - "You got it started man, them low notes in the first and second verse were a little pitchy, but when you hit the chorus, man – (Paula interjects, "You try to hit those low notes with Hall and Oates in the audience!") I wouldn’t be doing it, but I’d get those low notes in tune! A good singer knows his mistakes! But, you brought it home at the end!"

Paula - "I got to give it up to you – that was nerve-wracking!... you did awesome Scott!"

Simon - "Look. Scott. You’re a nice guy, however (audience groans) there were more bum notes than good ones (audience boos). I’m trying to keep this real! So, on the whole, that wasn’t very good."

(Scott says what’s real is that there are millions of people who didn’t have the nerve get up there and do that, and he thinks he rocked it, which earns him a fatherly-approving nod from John Oates. Ryan asks Hall and Oates for their opinion. They appear pleased. But they can’t save him. Do. Not. Openly. Dismiss. The. Judges. Come on, Scott! Nobody was riding a wave of momentum and adulation like Justin Guarini, but he got a bit too big for his britches, he was standing in the bottom too looking like he ate a barrel of bad kelp! Scott, I think you’ll get a mulligan for this one, since you were primed by Ryan and exultant in Hall and Oates’ open praise, but don’t do it again!)

Sting7 - Guts! That was gutsy. To take a Hall and Oates classic, to put your own spin on it in front of Hall and Oates? How can I cheer for Scott? That’s how I can! Scott definitely had some pitch moments, but the way he emotionally commits to a song – you have to feel it, he makes you feel it with him. That is an artist. I love how he always takes a moment to thank the band too. That’s a professional. There are plenty of people who want to make him a domestic abuser, these people in glass houses casting stones, and hey, you can vote for whoever you want to. Some of us know not to believe everything we hear. Just because it’s in print, doesn’t make it necessarily true. I don’t watch this show to pass judgment on the mistakes they may have made in their lives, I just want to hear them sing. I say go Scott! Nice one! Just keep your trap shut. Shades of Scary Scott are starting to surface, and that’s the LAST thing you need right now!

Carrie Underwood, "Love Is A Battlefield"

Randy - "Carrie rocks out... there were some pitchy notes, the high notes were a little sharp... you messed up some of the words... I’m not sure I’m loving the rocked-out Carrie, I love the country girl, but it was alright."

Paula - "I thought you rocked it!"

Simon - "You probably needed to do that after last week, but it was like watching a kitten who wants to be tiger."

Sting7 - Yikes, that performance was a battlefield! What folks don’t know is that Pat Benatar is operatically trained. Many a karaoke starlet has been slain trying to tackle this song. The way Pat shifted easily from key to key and layer to layer makes this song seem pretty easy and fun. Nah! Let Carrie tell you. She found a key that worked for her and stayed in it the whole song! Not that it was appropriate, but it’s a method. I was left as exhausted as she was. It was almost painful. Shake it off, Carrie, but don’t be surprised if you are in the bottom three.

Constantine Maroulis, "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Randy - "Showmanship, I give you a ten, singing, I give you a seven."

Paula - "Awesome, I think you’ve now proven you’re the one to beat in this competition... he’s grown so much, I love it, I love the competitive edge, I love it!"

Simon - "That was astonishing."

Sting7 - Paula may be crazy – okay, she is definitely crazy, but she may be right! Do not count out Constantine! As Donna Reynolds has warned you, avoid eye-contact, or you’ll be sucked into his evil vortex, but that was awesome! He outrocked Bo again! Stayed away from the parody-ish operatic call and return everyone knows, stuck to the rock elements of the song. A classic that talks about shooting a man in the head. That may disturb some parents, the ones who don’t want to admit what they listened to and loved in 1975... like THAT. What a ridiculous week this has been!

Good choice of category. I had a ball!

Here’s how I think the voting should go this week:

1. Constantine
2. Vonzell
3. Anwar
4. Anthony
5. Scott
6. Nadia
7. Bo
8. Carrie

Here’s how I think the voting will go this week:

1. Constantine
2. Vonzell
3. Anwar
4. Anthony
5. Scott
6. Carrie
7. Bo
8. Nadia

Yeah, I said it! Carrie. Bo. Nadia! I would hate – hate! – to see Nadia go tomorrow. But, beautiful and blonde Carrie with the momentum she’s been building in the last few weeks, can’t see her going home. Nadia is caught in the crossfire. The ratings keep going up, and many people are seeing her for the first time, which means they haven’t seen her at her best. They saw the mohawk and the "Time After Time," of which all footage should be burned unceremoniously.

It’s really too bad.

Am I wrong? Please make me wrong! Let’s find out tomorrow!

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for many years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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