Grand Ole Opry Night: "It Left Me Confused... And Kind of Happy."

Posted by Professor Chan on March 18th, 2009 at 2:50 AM
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Grand Ole Opry Night

I love how Idol shoots itself in the foot in it's mission to create viable pop stars by forcing them into ridiculous genres.  Although Grand Ole Opry turns into a de facto country night and not "Songs from established country stars of yesteryear like Hank Williams, Boxcar Willie or Binkly Brothers' Dixie Clodhoppers."  And really only Sarver and Grace sounded the least bit country.  It hurts my head to suffer through Simon and Randy making idiotic comments about "wrong song choice."  These buffoons don't know anything about country music, but yet they're paid untold millions to opine on it.  At one point Simon says: "There are millions and billions of songs you could have chosen."  Oh really?  Name one.  Yeah, exactly.  He couldn't.  

Apparently the Grand Ole Opry is limited to Garth Brooks, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood.  Oh, and Randy Travis showed up but nobody sang his music.  Randy T. was pleasant and amusing and has a new album coming out, which explains his hour-long participation with Idol.

I was pretty amused by the bad performances tonight.  
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Roughneck Michael Sarver - "Ain't Going Down (Until The Sun Comes Up) by Garth Brooks -- AKA Kara's Theme.

Mealy-mouthed Michael chooses a mile-a-minute song to sing.  I agree with Simon that I didn't understand one word Michael sang.  All of the judges compliment Michael on his "Lot of words to memorize" but I wasn't as impressed.  Michel doesn't sing badly, but he's completely paralyzed and awkward on-stage.  Gokey may have bad moves but Michael has no moves.  So he just exchanges the mic from hand to hand.  

Michael rightly defends himself against Simon's asinine comments, though.  Man, if he keeps talking back he'll become our worst.  Not really.  Simon gets pissy though, because he can't handle anybody correcting him on his stupidities.

GRADE: C  -- I actually downgraded Michael, thinking he started off the show well, but nearly everyone else after out-sang him on his favorite musical genre.  And he's probably going home.
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Allison Irehata -- "Blame It On Your Heart" by Patty Loveless

I'm not going to pretend to know this song.  I thought Allison did a decent job, showing once again that she's a strong performer.  But this performance didn't excite me.  Allison sounded good in parts and disconnected in others.  Kara opines: "You could sing the alphabet."  Actually, you mean phone book, Kara.  Everyone can sing the alphabet, they have a song for it.

My only question is, did a professional actually style Allison's hair and slather on the hooker make-up?  The girl is 16.  Lay off the eye-shadow and curlers, allegedly Professional Stylist Person.

GRADE: C+
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Kris Allen -- "To Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan, but attributed to Garth Brooks.

Kris sits on a stool and sings the song pleasantly, like a less country John Denver.  I agreed with Simon that we actually saw Kris' star power for the first time.  He's cute.  He sings pretty.  He can sing weepy songs.  I smell a winner.  Not an American Idol winner, but somebody that can do well in the competition.

Paula's on the heavy stuff tonight, like Southern Comfort and Horse Tranquilizers, because the poor woman can't. get. a. complete. thought out.  Jeff Conaway on "Celebrity Rehab" is more coherent.  Kara likes Kris' version because it sounded modern... leaving unsaid that "it didn't sound like all that Grand Ole Opry crap."  

GRADE: A
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Lil Rounds -- "Independence Day" by Martina McBride.  AKA Sean "Dillweed" Hannity's theme song.

Lil likes Randy Travis' selection to slow the song down.  Because "I get my licks and riffs in."  Randy complements Lil by saying, "She's got really, really great pipes.  I mean, really great pipes.  And I'm not talkin' about her voice, either."  

I thought Lil needed more licks and riffs, or something because this was pretty bad.  She was flat for the dreary first part of the song, and then when it got dramatic she wasn't really on-point or on-tempo either.  Simon blatantly insults Lil by refusing to say her name properly.  Hmm, the cracks are showing in the Lil Rounds express.  All you conspiracy theorists weigh in on Lil Rounds' fall from grace.

GRADE: FAIL -- I give Lil credit for trying something new, but Idol doesn't ever let you get out of your niche once you're in it.  And Lil's niche is good singing.  So she Fails this week.

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Adam Lambert -- "Ring of Fire" the Turkish Bath-house version.

This was just awesome.  When Adam told Randy Travis he was going with an Indian sitar version of the Johnny Cash standard I thought Travis' head was going to explode.  He wasn't amused.  The whole segment was awkward and unpleasant in the best-worst Idol tradition of awkward celebrity meet and greets.  

Adam's performance was on another world.  It was hysterically funny, what with his high-pitched (in-tune) keening, general suggestiveness and perversion of the classic song.  Kara said: "It left me confused, and kind of happy."  Because she's lustfully attracted to Adam, but can't understand how he doesn't like her... but happy because she feels she'll still bone him.  Simon calls it "trash" and Randy compared the performance to Nine Inch Nails and calls it "contemporary."  This just suggests to me that Randy is a big, fat idiot.  It sounds nothing like Nine Inch Nails, and I don't recall hearing too many NIN songs on the radio these days, dufus.

GRADE: A+ for Awesome.  And also brilliant.
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Blind Scott -- "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride, as sung by a young, blind Michael McDonald.

Kudos to the stylists for giving Blind Scott a rocking leather jacket for such a wussy song.  To his credit Scott defends himself and says he lost several coin flips to get stuck with this song.  Although it was slow, Christian and schmaltzy.  I assumed they were going to just plunk Scott down behind the piano to squawk and play nicely week after week.  But Paula wants Scott to ditch the piano, because she's an idiot.  Simon corrects her, and says he liked the performance.  Because Simon loves syrupy goop songs.  

GRADE: B- == -- Scott does his thing, and I thought he was pretty good.  It's tough going after Adam's awesomeness.  Ryan super-teases us and says: "Tune in next week to see what Scott does (whether or not he plays his piano.)"  That's actually the only reason to watch the Results show, to see if he falls off the stage in the group dance number.    
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Alexis Grace -- "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, the Enya arrangement.

Alexis does a "clean" performance tonight.  Actually I can't really tell when she's being nasty to be honest.  The arrangement was pretty awful, sounding new-agey as Alexis tried to play along and sing "country."  Well, she approximates blues-country, but she sounds pretty good.  Too bad she's going home soon.  I'm not sure who's picking her in the finals.  Now that the Finalists are developing their fan bases I don't know what base is out there for "Not very nasty nasty skank with the body of a 12 year old boy Fan Club."  

GRADE: B-
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Gokey -- "Jesus Takes The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood, of course.  What a pussy.

So Gokey won the lottery to win this suck up to Idol song.  Gokey is wearing a white dentist coat and sings terribly for the slow intro to the song.  He's out of key and just bad.  He gets into his raspiness during the dramatic crowd-pleasing chorus, but the damage was done.  The judges give him a slap on the wrist, but the crowd cheers (because they're coached to do this before the show.)

GRADE: D -- Maybe Gokey is ready for a tumble.  It would be funny to see him in the bottom this week.  Can we dream about him being sent home?  This awful performance warrants it.
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Anoop -- "Always on My Mind" by Elvis, but credited to Willie Nelson.  As sung by David Hasselhoff.  (Just kidding)
Anoop picks the absolute perfect song and does an awesome job.  He displays his nice control, sweet vocals and connection to the song.  See the dude isn't the least bit tongue in cheek.  He really loves this stuff.  If Anoop keeps singing like this I'll love him more, too.

GRADE: A -- Anoop goes from last place to maybe not going home.  I'm not convinced the fickle Idol voting blocks are ready for Anoop-Dawg to go far, but I'd like to hear more songs like this from him.

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Megan Joy Cock-Ring -- "Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline and numerous others.

What is it about these prehistoric songs that Megan's attracted to them?  She picks the oldest song of the night (1957) and does her awkward Megan dance, while consciously toning it down, which made it even more uncomfortable to watch.  Apparently she had the flu, as she snots all over the place after the song, but she sounded good to me.  Maybe not as hilarious as "Rockin' Robin" but not bad.

Paula and Kara compliment Megan's dress, but only because it's bright purple and makes her bosoms look ginormous.  

GRADE: B- ==-- No VFTW love tonight, but maybe she'll bring it next week.
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Matt Giraud -- "So Small" by Carrie Underwood, of course.

I'm torn.  On one hand Carrie Underwood and her gross Idol-produced songs have become the go to country artist on Idol.  On the other hand we didn't have to hear that goddamned Leann Rimes "How do I live."  So I guess it's a net gain for the viewers.

Matt gets the pimp slot.  Why can't Idol performers put together a solid 90 second performance.  The first part of the song was slow, boring, badly played on piano and generally dull, and then Matt kicks it into gear with the big dramatic chorus (yup sounds like an Idol produced song.)  I wasn't as impressed as the judges.  Kara horndogs: "There's nothing small about you, Matt."  Then there's awkward silence as everyone looks at each other with "how do I follow that up?" faces.  

GRADE: C -- Simon mumbled something about a "hot pisser" and I still have no idea what he was talking about.  
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Country week always amuses me.  Results shows never do, though.

Oh, and check out my blog where I handicap March Madness in my own special way.

http://mysteryclubadventures.blogspot.com/

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magicrob75
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 2:44am
Joined: 02 Apr 2008

Does anyone else see simon flip off the camera as he "scratches" his eye? Its been three weeks in a row! I love it! Simon rocks....Liked Gokey actually tonight...Kill me for saying it but he rocked...but i voted for fkn Megan till my fingers bled! PEACE!!

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spongegator
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 5:39am
Joined: 17 Apr 2008

LOL Chan, what I heard from Simon was "heart piercer," which makes even less sense.

DN4237107
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 5:53am
Joined: 18 Mar 2009

The conspriracy theorists say that Idol doesn't really count the vote and sends home whoever they want to go home......if that is true then look for Scott to go home this week so the Idol Summer tour doesn't have to be weighed down by trying to work out his "dance" routines.

darwin1981ph
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 6:31am
Joined: 24 Apr 2008

I wonder if Kara already slept with Matt G by saying nothing is SMALL on him. Maybe he already compared his thing to other guys he slept with?

deny it
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 6:45am
Joined: 17 Mar 2009

The three white chicks are last in Dial Idol, Alexis the lowest. Since she's one of the chosen ones, they could save her, but with this being the week that sets the 10 for touring, they can't, as that would complicate things with a double elimination next week, hmmmm....look for Scott (in 4th last on DI) to get booted so that they can keep four girls on the tour and don't have to worry about how they will deal with him on the tour. THE VOTES DON'T COUNT!!!

Shelby_A
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 6:46am
Joined: 04 Mar 2009

I'm more than disappointed by the song choices. There was so much potential for horrifying train wrecks this week, and yet there were none. Unless you count Adam, which I don't, cause he actually sang the song incredibly well. The performance and arrangement was just... wow. I can't decide whether I actually liked it or not. Oh well, all that matters is that he's fabulous. I think the reason Simon was saying those things to him is that they finally realized he is gay and the producers have decided that they can't have a homosexual on the show. He's still my favorite though, no matter what shocking thing he does next.

BTW- Am I the only one who saw his boyfriend in the audience? He's not as cute as he is in the pictures with Adam...

BuffyGroupie
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 6:47am
Joined: 23 Mar 2007

I think Scott's going home this week. Not just because he's super boring and a little scary looking - although he looked a little better this week without the Leo Sayer hair - but because he will be a huge liability on the tour. They don't want him falling off that stage during all the awkward group dance numbers.

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Beta17
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 6:51am
Joined: 26 Mar 2008

"Always On My Mind" was written by Willie Nelson. Not Elvis. So it was properly credited to Willie Nelson.

Do you have the internet? You often get song titles and credits wrong, Chan.

Love the column, though.

tantrum
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 7:03am
Joined: 29 Feb 2008

Just a correction. Sarver may look country but he always deludes himself to be an R&B/Soul type of white singer. Who the hell are voting for Lil Rounds? These must be aliens left by Jasmine. Adam was just ridiculous I was laughing out but he should be our VFTW in the top 5. Adam's "burning" might be from gonorrhea or ring of herpes.
Why would anybody take Scott's piano? That's his only strength as his voice is just mediocre. I'm just resigned that Jesus has already determined that Adam Gokey will win this whole thing. The pimping is incredible but I'm just happy for them (In a Taylor Hicks way). Megan is barely safe this week. What is their fascination with Matt Giraud? He's good but the falshitto is awful. He's probably an insurance just in case Hokey burns down. The rest are fodders (even monkey boy who is actually good).
Alas, Alexis will be walking in Memphis this week unless the judges use their save.

Moxie
Posted: March 18, 2009 - 7:04am
Joined: 10 May 2008

DialIdol tells us that AI voters are sexist. And since most of them are tween/frau females, clearly the American feminist movement has failed. I would not be surprised if they have Scott leave instead (as many have already commented) or, better yet, if they are forced to use their save or change the rules again and have 11 on the tour or some such BS.

About "heart piercing"...Paula said that when Matt sings it pierces her heart (which for her is a good thing), so Simon quipped something along the lines of "yeah, heart piercing" (which for him equals death). It wasn't funny, but I'm sure Simon thought it was. He should never try to make a joke out of Paula because she does too good a job of it herself.

I liked Adam's performance a lot. It made most of the audience and the judges uncomfortable. Super! I hope that each week he lets out a little more of his inner tranny diva so that he's really entertaining us by the finals.

And I agree professor, that Scott's hair was much better this week. I've never been one to like a perm on a man, however it seems to work for him. Unfortunately for him, the longer he stays in this competition, the more likely that he'll be forced to have his hair permed for the rest of his life. That would be truly sad.

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