fracas

For the boys, last night was the second attempt at staying in the American Idol game.  Again, I found it a little disappointing. A common thread seems to be that early in any American Idol competition, contestants tend to not know who they are musically, and choose songs based on what artist or what song they’ve “always wanted to perform” instead of what artist or song will actually showcase their own talents best. The smart ones learn this early and so who stays in and who goes home is as much about who is smart enough to know how to show their own particular talents best, as it is about who is the better talent.

I am fairly certain that without the panning over to his absolutely adorable son to save him, it’s fairly certain that Jason Yaeger will be going home. He looked awkward and didn’t sing well enough to help us overlook what Simon said looked like drunken dancing. I feel badly for him, because he can sing, but what’s becoming noticeable is that he’s no performer. He didn’t quite understand the advice given to him last week and went a little over the top, giving a bit of credence to Simon’s comments… harsh as they may have sounded. If Jason gets another opportunity to use his singing talents, he will probably do well. In this type of arena though, I think he’s just out of his league.

Deciding who the other cut would be was a little harder. Michael Johns gave a weak performance, but his previous performances will probably hold him over. He’s likeable and already has a fan base. So too, with Jason Castro. I think he already has a segment of the audience that appreciates his style and will recognize that he chose a song that just wasn’t him.

Once again, I’m listing Luke Menard as a possibility. I found his performance rather “squealy” and unbecoming. It wasn’t him. Had he done a better job last week, I might be saying that he just chose wrong, but I’m wondering if he even does know what he should be singing.  I am though, going to say that I honestly don’t know how to choose between Luke and Robbie Carrico for my second go-home vote.  The fact that this week, Randy also agreed with Simon’s previous comment about not being certain Robbie really is a “rocker.” Yeah, yeah…. Paula had a little come back with her line about how can anyone really know who he is but he, but haven’t we all come to understand that Paula isn’t really there for the value her comments bring to the show? She mainly repeats what Randy’s said… throws in a little tear and the occasional jumping to her feet followed by a never-ending shpeal about how everyone is so good.

So we have Robbie, who is frankly… annoying. I honestly don’t think he’s a rocker as much as he’s someone who thinks he’s a rocker. He does have vocal talent, for sure, but as Simon keeps trying to advise contestants, it’s about personality, charisma and ability to draw people in. Robbie has the personality of someone I’d like to spank. And not in that kinky-adult kind of spanking way but rather in that grow-up-you’re-making-an-ass-of-yourself kind of way. Yes, so he bragged about singing with Britney Spears. As Shania would say… that don’t impress me much. So we see he drag races. Again… that just tells me he really, really wants people to think he’s a “bad” rocker dude. I’ve always maintained that what we try really hard to convince others of, is really that which we’re using to try convince ourselves of. It’s like if you’re rich. You don’t have to tell people you are. If you’re a wanna-be rich guy who just happens to have a ton of credit debt, you’re probably the guy out there trying to convince everyone (including yourself) that you’re rich.

So Robbie….

Comb your damn hair. It doesn’t convince me you’re a hard knock rocker dude. Now David Cook… for all his coming out and dubbing himself a word nerd, David Cook sang like the rocker dude. His voice has it. Yours doesn’t. But Robbie… you can sing. Much as I don’t like you, I can hear that you can sing. If you’d sing what’s right for your voice and not try live out your childhood fantasy, you’d have a better chance of getting somewhere.

At which point, you could sing some rocker dude songs and probably get away with it. Like when Shania did some ACDC. Play the game better or you’ll be going home.

And that… was the boys. Everyone else was somewhere in the middle, in that safe for this week zone. Well except little David Archuleta. Simon is right. There must be 19 other really pissed off contestants, knowing they have to beat him.

David will be a star, with or without winning American Idol. It’s just something everyone already knows. Perhaps some producer should step in now and just give him a deal so that we can actually watch a competition?