<p>Duke, what do you mean by “interview packages”? And the calling base? Sorry, just a rookie fan here, haven’t really been involved in any online message boards regarding AI. I just love the show.</p>
<p>Jason should go after this week, which means he probably won’t. So happy to see Brooke have a good night with praise from the judges after the second song. I think Syesha is improving over the last few weeks. Still think it will come down to the two Davids and just hope like all get out that David Cook wins. David A is way too programmed.</p>
<p>This is my first season to ever watch AI. I wanted to know what all the fuss was about.</p>
<p>Did you hear Jason C. say that he “threw up a little” right before his song? Yuk…thanks for sharing.</p>
<p>When there are strange results, it has to be because some of the contestants have a fan base. Jason, for example, went to Texas A&M. There is a lot of support for him on facebook sites of students there.</p>
<p>David A.? Well, the teeny-boppers are his fan base. He has a beautiful voice, but I’m tired of him, too. I thought his song choices were terrible tonight…too familiar.</p>
<p>I think I heard that Brooke and Kristy Lee were both Mormons. Maybe the Mormons are voting as a block? That would explain Kristy Lee. I thought she’d be gone the first week. She did that weird squinty thing when she sang. She did get better over time, though.</p>
<p>Early in the season, I thought the winner would be Syesha. She has a lot of charisma; I love that smile!</p>
<p>David C. is great. I’m not much of a rock music fan, but he is just talented.</p>
<p>The “interview packages” are the little vignettes they do before the performer actually sings. Shows the contestant at home, working with the mentor,etc. Unfortunately, Syesha’s claim to fame in these is being able to do a really good replica of an extremely annoying baby cry :)</p>
<p>For calling base - contestants pick up fans as they go along who are more connected to the person than the performance. I think Randy alluded to it last week with respect to the idea that Carly and Syesha had top-notch performances but found themselves in the bottom two. Taylor Hicks’ win is often credited to the strength of the “soul patrol” as opposed to, say, vocal talent (full disclosure - I was a huge Elliott fan that year so if I come off as biased. I was).</p>
<p>There have been many memorable moments in the years of AI. A few that come to mind are Jennifer Hudson singing The Circle of Life, Clay Aiken singing Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Melinda Doolittle singing My Funny Valentine or I Got Rhythm, Anwar Robinson singing What a Wonderful World, Katharine McPhee singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. And if you really want to see a fabulous performance by probably the best vocalist that AI has ever had, search on youtube for Tamyra Gray singing A House is Not a Home.</p>
<p>The kids this year cannot compare, unfortunately. This year, for me, the only ones which have come remotely close were David Cook’s Billie Jean, David A.'s Imagine and Jason’s Hallelujah.</p>
<p>Paula reached a new zenith of ditziness tonight. How could she not know there had only been one song? She really needs to return to the planet. I think Jason’s still on because 13 and 14 year old girls are voting for him in droves. I think he has a bit of the Sanjaya factor going for him. He seemed way too relaxed tonight, like he was performing for a group of friends. I wish David C. would do something with his hair. I just really find it hard to take him seriously with the hair plastered onto his forehead and sticking up at various angles. I know it makes me sound old and stodgy but my 13 year old feels the same way. It takes away from being able to focus on his singing.</p>
<p>David C.'s hair was…different. Maybe “rocker goth-ish” is a style?</p>
<p>Yeah - Paula’s “…your second song” after everyone had only sung one was quite bizarre. And confusing David C. with Jason? Given the aforementioned hair styles? Woof.</p>
<p>I have to offer my two cents on Neil Diamond. I saw him in the late 70’s & he was amazing. I think some of his music is wonderful, and I was so disappointed in the way the singers performed tonight. No one was as charismatic as Neil was way back when. Just no “sparkle.” I was hoping someone would blow me away with Weekend in New England … when I saw Neil, that song was new, and I loved it. Gosh, that was a long time ago!</p>
<p>I think Neil Diamond’s music is SO much rooted in who he is and what he’s accomplished that it would be terrifically hard for the top 5 to “get it.” I mean, I thought it was cute that he told Brooke to change New York to Arizona (even if it blew the coastal comparison) but… David A. singing “America?” Erm… Let’s just say he’s no Yussel Rabinovitch.</p>
<p>I have to wonder if bringing in all these ‘older’ (or been around much longer) musicians is not part of the strategy. It would be much easier for the contestants to relate to more contemporary musicians and their music than the not so newer ones. It takes much more talent than just singing to win this contest. They need to be able to appreciate different arrangements, to challenge themselves with music they’re not familiar with, to do some reflecting on the story behind the song, and sell it when it’s not their first choice of genre.</p>
<p>Jason’s Hallelujah did not even come close to Jeff Buckley’s version IMO. That was our first dance at our wedding BTW :-D</p>
<p>[Video</a> Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Live) - music, jeff, buckley, singer, hallelujah - Dailymotion Share Your Videos](<a href=“http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xq1sm_jeff-buckley-hallelujah-live]Video”>http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xq1sm_jeff-buckley-hallelujah-live)</p>
<p>He’s amazing. I saw him in concert in the 90’s. He drowned at 27 I believe. So tragic.</p>
<p>I think my favorite version of Hallelujah is [kd</a> lang’s](<a href=“http://youtube.com/watch?v=pJlFAcSaoSY&feature=related]kd”>http://youtube.com/watch?v=pJlFAcSaoSY&feature=related), but the Buckley version is also amazing. Which means two of Jason’s big scores have been for versions of songs from the prematurely departed (the other I can think of being Iz’ version of Over the Rainbow). Both died in 1997…</p>
<p>Jason bombed tonight. Sounds like he has no confidence. Timid voice. Facial distortions are also very distracting. He’s next to go.</p>
<p>Syesha needs to be right behind Jason. She will make a great broadway or stage show; but as an opening act doing concerts and CD’s, she’s just plain boring.</p>
<p>Personally; I would get rid of David A. Next after that. He’s a great teenie bopper trying to be grown up. When he’s not singing, I totally can’t handle listening to him. He’s 17; you can tell he’s 17; and unless it’s the teenie bopper crowd they want him to go after, he’s not ready for this. He should definitely get a record deal and go after the teen crowd. Then as he matures, he can bring the 18-20’s crowd into his following. Right now; he’s good for the 14 and under crowd.</p>
<p>After that; it’s Brooke’s turn to leave. Her and David C. definitely have the most talent of the 5 that are left. They are easy to listen too. Easy to look at. Can see practically you give to them. Brooke just won’t have the same kind of fan appeal that David C. has. Brooke would/will be a great country star.</p>
<p>Then there’s David C. He by far has more talent than anyone else there. The only other one that was close, was the one who got screwed during American Idol Gives Back when everyone though there would be a reprieve like last year and they wouldn’t kick anyone off that night. Unfortunately, this year they did kick off someone, and it was Michael. David and Michael by far are the 2 most talented contestants in probably the top 20. </p>
<p>Anyway, tomorrow it should be interesting.</p>
<p>I thought David A butchered Sweet Caroline tonight.</p>
<p>I loved Syesha but I love musical theatre</p>
<p>David C is the bombdigitty as my D would say :)</p>
<p>Jason went to Texas A&M…seriously? He got into a college? he comes across an uneducated and culturally illiterate, as well as a dim bulb. I am amazed he went to college. I wonder if he flunked out? Or perhaps they just cut his tapes to emphasize a certain simplicity??</p>
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<p>kelsmom, that concert must have been a loooong time ago. Isn’t Weekend in NE a Barry Manilow song?</p>
<p>I loved how Randy jumped in and tried to coverup for Paula’s drug induced confusion. The looks on the faces of Ryan and the contestants was priceless. Now I know why Simon often has his arm over the back of her chair. He’s probably ready to pull her up before she falls flat on her face. </p>
<p>Although I love Jason I have to admit he didn’t do a great job last night. I think he or Brooke should go this week, but it will probably be Syesha. For whatever reason she doesn’t have the fan base others seem to have.</p>
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<p>primetimemom, not sure if you’re referring to my comment or not but I wasn’t implying that Jason’s cover of the song was in any way comparable to Jeff Buckley’s, or k.d. lang’s, or even Rufus Wainwright’s, for that matter! I was simply comparing this season’s ‘memorable’ moments, for me, with previous seasons. I’m a big Buckley fan and was happy when after Jason performed the song, it charted on Billboard as a result of iTune downloads. It was the first time any of Buckley’s songs have charted as #1. </p>
<p>youdon’tsay, yes, Weekend in NE is definitely a Barry Manilow song, not Neil Diamond.</p>