American Idol: Rat Pack Week
Ellen

It’s down to FIVE contestants on Idol and I can hardly believe it!  We’ve come a long way since auditions back in the fall, and I for one am in shock that there are only three weeks left.  This week was Rat Pack week with guest judge Jamie Foxx, who surprisingly gave the contestants good feedback and really helped a few come out of their shells.  

One of the five contestants will go home tonight, and I am having a hard time figuring out who it might be.  But I can tell you right off the bat who will make it through this round:

Danny Gokey!  He sang “come rain or shine” and he was FEELIN it! Kara loved that he got his swag on, getting in there with a raspy voice and letting his personality shine through.  Simon credited Foxx for Gokey’s undeniable confidence that won the entire audience over and called his performance outstanding.  Paula said he was “stellar.”  I don’t remember what Randy said, but it was all good baby!  Favorite!  Check out his performance below:

Kris Allen was Jamie Foxx’s number one out of all the contestants, who sang “The Way You Look Tonight.”  Kris, who is definitely easy on the eyes, got really enthusiastic feedback from the judges.  Randy said he had “nice vocals baby, nice.”  Kara said he’s the dark horse of the competition and praised his diction, technical phrasing and rhythms.  Paula called him a sophisticated gentleman whose “quiet confidence” makes him a “contemporary crooner.”  Ok… what?  Sometimes I think she talks just for the sake of talking, but on a positive note, she didn’t look like such a train wreck last night.  Way to go Paula!  Simon wasn’t quite as into singing Kris’ praises as the other judges, calling his performance a “little bit wet.”  Again… what?  No idea.  But he finished up with “it wasn’t incredible and I don’t think you can win the competition.”  Oh… ok.  Nevertheless, I’d put money on Kris Allen making it through this round.

On to “the only chick left in the competition” (Thanks Ryan Seacrest for pointing that out so eloquently): Allison Iraheta, who Jamie Foxx said was “leaps and bounds ahead of her time.”  Yea, no sh*t.  Even so, Simon thought the 17-year-old may be in trouble after this week and gave her performance a seven out of ten, but I really liked her!  She sang “Someone to Watch Over Me” and has such a pretty voice.  ”Like Pink but with nine more octaves” is how Randy described it.  Kara said this performance didn’t land her in the finals, then she didn’t know what would!    Paula said she was “alluring and very tender.”  Aww.  I don’t think she was going for alluring though because she was singing about her family’s love, but it’s still a nice thing to say.  I hope Simon’s wrong and she makes it through this week, but Allison’s been known to grace the bottom three… so we’ll see!

Adam Lambert went last and the judges weren’t crazy about his rendition of “Feelin Good.”  I wasn’t so crazy about that horrible pearlescent white suit thing he was wearing.  Horrible choice.  In fact it should probably be burned.  But he did what he does best in it – hit those ridiculous high notes for long periods of time.  It was a little too Broadway and theatrical for Randy.  Kara called it “sleazy, shocking and way over the top” – but she claimed to like it.  Paula said “it’s like watching the olympics and (Adam Lambert) is Michael Phelps.”  I wouldn’t go that far, but he was the same he’s been all along, so at least he’s consistent.  Simon said it was ridiculous that Randy complained about Lambert’s theatrics – “it’s like complaining that a cow moos.”  Well yea, at this point we definitely know who Adam Lambert is.  Now you just have to decide – do you want him to be your American Idol?

Matt Giraud was the most controversial in terms of the judges feedback.  He sang “My Funny Valentine.”  Randy and Kara didn’t love it – Randy gave him a six out of ten, and Kara didn’t feel he was “emotionally connected” to the song.  It’s no secret that Matt loves jazz and piano and the rat pack, so this feedback was somewhat surprising.  Foxx suggested he sing the song in his full voice, which he did, and I thought it really paid off!  So did Simon and Paula.  Simon called him “absolutely brilliant” and compared him to Nat King Kole.  Paula said that “pure and simple (he did an) excellent job.”  So based on judges feedback, it could go either way for Matt!  I hope he makes it through tonight – I love those hats he wears every week and the fact that he’s a dueling piano player by day.  Hope you vote for him!!!

Tune in tonight at 8pm on FOX to see who makes the cut and who goes home.  At this point, I’d rather it be Adam Lambert than anyone, but that’s just me!  

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