The American Idol Top 6 hope to make the earth move on their covers of Carole King classics from the 60s and 70s. The finalists will also offer duets.
Follow live commentary on http://twitter.com/HowardCohenand return here later for a review of the show.
The durability of the Carole King canon withstood the Idol onslought tonight and made for one of the season's standout performance shows.
James Durbin delivered the season highlight with his beautifully nuanced reading of the tender Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? He opened King's moving examination of young love in 1960 and the repercussions of moving too fast with an uncharacteristic soft opening which showed off the pure tone of his voice. He then navigated up half keys effortlessly on the uptempo rock portion and stayed on point completely -- not an easy skill to pull off. Randy Jackson was so taken with the performance he not only uttered the "you can win this" prediction but he left his seat to hug the singer. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Yes, James. And at the finals when you deservedly win this whole thing.
Scotty McCreery is Idol's other big talent this season but Babyface's misguided arrangement of King's You've Got a Friend was all wrong for the song -- the lyric is a supportive ode to friendship in troubled times, not an excuse for a booty call -- and poor Scotty was left to fend for himself amid all sorts of aural goop. Scotty did the best he could but it was close to unlistenable. Though I didn't agree with Randy's love for that performance, I appreciated the return of judging on the Idol stage. Randy's positive analyses was thoughtful and genuine.
Babyface also had all the wrong ideas for Haley Reinhart when he suggested taking 1971's Beautiful at a languid tempo. Thankfully, she mostly listened to Jimmy Iovine and rendered the song somewhat closer to its more foreceful Tapestry roots and had one of her better performances of late. Can't imagine what producers were thinking when they booked Babyface, a banal early 90s hasbeen, as guest mentor with Iovine. Iovine does not need the help from the likes of sleep-inducing, out of touch Babyface.
Lauren Alaina, a marketable contemporary country star in the making, is still searching for her Idol Moment and Where You Lead didn't lead her anywhere close to where she needs to be at this stage. Her vocal was forced, missed a note, and lacked the energy and conviction necessary to make for anything memorable. The same could be said for her duet of Up on the Roof with Scotty. It was adequate and sweet but won't replace James Taylor's definitive 1979 version on too many iPods. Certainly not on mine. Our gifted country twosome fell well behind James at the top of my Idol chart for two weeks running.
Casey Abrams, meanwhile, plays like a Saturday Night Live skit gone awry with his "jazz" performances. Just because he's different doesn't mean he's good. That said, his growly take on Hi-De-Ho wasn't as rancid as his usual. Wish the same could be said for his duet, with Haley, on I Feel the Earth Move. I wish the earth would have moved to swallow up this caterwauling pair on that aspirin-required race through the piano pounding Tapestry hit. "Made me scalp itch, it was that good," Steven Tyler said of Casey's solo, as he itched the tattered nest atop his head. Try shampoo, Mr. Tyler.
This brings us to Jacob Lusk. Jacob will go home tomorrow night but mostly because his time is up. He'll be eliminated despite giving his best, liveliest and most engaging performances to date. His vocal on Oh No, Not My Baby hit a few off notes but he was invested in the melody, he moved around a bit -- certainly more than his usual potted plant style -- and despite fighting overloud backing singers, an overproduced arrangement and a louder jacket, he was fun. I can't recall typing the word "fun" and "Jacob" in the same sentence yet but I'll do so again to describe his surprising duet of I'm Into Something Good with James to close the show. They are an unlikely pair, two big voices and personalities vying for attention on the same stage, not to mention different tastes in music. Still, they were into something good on this over the top performance. It was, dare I say it again, fun.
Finally, the Idol oddities tonight: Ryan Seacrest kept trying to make a love connection between the duet partners -- stopping short at Jacob and James but probably only because the show was running long and they had to wrap by 9:30. It was awkward and odd. Concentrate on your own love life, Mr. Host.
Miley Cyrus turned up to offer advice to Lauren, but this only inspires me to borrow one of Scotty's raised eyebrows in disbelief. Lauren can outsing Miley any day of the week. The only lasting impression Miley made was the condition of her own speaking voice. She sounds huskier and raspier than Stevie Nicks who has more than 43 years on her. Lay off the bong, m'dear.
oy vey Carole King night?
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:01 PM
anyone here?
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:04 PM
I love Carol King. Is she MOT?
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Yay! Constantine sighting...woohoo, it's a good night already! :)
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:06 PM
I am posting for me and the Mr. tonight.
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Love Carol King too. she reminds me of camp. and the theme from Gilmore Girls
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:06 PM
MrE says Jacob looks like he is dressed as a member of Outkast. Hey ya!
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:07 PM
Only Pee Wee Herman could pull an outfit like Jacob;s off..
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:08 PM
MrE says: Something not right about blonde withe girls appearing in the horn section.
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:09 PM
I say: I am very happy that my man is seated right next to/behind Randy. :)
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:11 PM
is she MOT? Carole Klein!
can't spell Lusk without thinking sucks.
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:11 PM
I couldnt hear bc that outfit was so loud. but i think some was good. if steven tyler says 'beautiful' one more time i'd like to stuff his mouth with pages of kara dioguardi's tell all memoir..
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:11 PM
he's dressed like Urkel
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:12 PM
I thought so Lane but MrE wasn't convinved.
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:13 PM
"Did I do that?"
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:16 PM
Ugh, Miley Cyrus. Should she be doling out advice or a bong?
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:18 PM
The Gilmore Girls theme!
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:19 PM
nice backhanded compliment, Jimmy: "Lauren looks at Miley as a big star"
#burn
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Solar panels for earrings? Interesting...
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:19 PM
MrE has a major crush on the Gilmore mom, Lauren Graham.
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:20 PM
Taco flavored tears to her eyes?
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:21 PM
I love Lauren Graham! Do you guys watch Parenthood?
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:22 PM
No we don't but we've seen Bad Santa, lol!
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:24 PM
Evan Almighty is Mr. E's favorite movie
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Does Randy go to Rydell High with Sandy and Danny?
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:29 PM
LOL Lane!
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:30 PM
he's the one that we don't want
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Bad Santa is the best!
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Did you see the bit on the Soup last weekend with Casey's beard?
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:31 PM
was that the sequel to the new Scream flick? All I heard was screaming. Or was that my babies?
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:33 PM
do you think The Voice and X Factor will signal the end of this dreck show?
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:36 PM
it may. did you see they are rerunning an hour of last night's show tonight? it beat glee last night apparently
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:37 PM
We missed The Voice. Worth watching?
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:37 PM
No I didn't see that. I will tivo.
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:38 PM
You've Got a Friend*
*unless you're not white
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:39 PM
zzzzzzz
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:40 PM
There was some good singing on it. Adam Levine is one of my pet peeves but it's definitely worth watching
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:40 PM
LMAO!
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:40 PM
HAAHAHAH LANE!
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:41 PM
that was like sleepytime tea..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:41 PM
mmmm buttery tenor
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:41 PM
I thought this was a boring, forgettable performace.
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:42 PM
James should do a Sex Pistol "My Way" for this mofo
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:50 PM
did he forget the words in that bridge? Or just mumbly?
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:52 PM
I know y'all don't like him Mr and Mrs E, but I think Durbin is the best of the night
Posted by: Lesley | April 27, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Am I the only one that can't stand this poser DB?
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:53 PM
def best of the night so far
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:53 PM
Think he's the chosen one?
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:53 PM
you're Constantine's biggest fan. Means you lose the right to call someone a poser DB.
Posted by: Lane | April 27, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Oh no you didn't Lane...
Posted by: MrsEvans | April 27, 2011 at 08:56 PM