Wednesday, March 19, 2008

David Archuleta has a "Long and winding road" to get back in my heart

It's funny how the Beatles stir up such sentiment in me, such nostalgia - especially since I wasn't alive during any of it. In fact, the Beatles were long broken up by the time I was born. But I think that's the key to the magic of their music. It transcends generations - I believe my children will grow up listening to the Beatles and I hope their children will, as well. Their music is timeless and revolutionary - it was such a large part of my childhood and it continues to be a source of great joy in my life. I'm just so excited that we get to hear a new generation explore this great era of music for another week - I'm hoping everyone does well, not just for their sakes, but for mine - I hope to thoroughly enjoy the next two hours.

Amanda Overmyer is up first and it looks like this week, we get to hear about the contestant's most memorable moment on "Idol" so far. Amanda's most memorable moment was playing on the big stage last week - she liked connecting with audience and feeding off their energy.

She sings "Back in the USSR," not really one of my favorite songs, but I can see why she chose it. It's got that rocker feeling to it, as close to it as the Beatles ever got, anyway. Well, it's not as good as last week, but it's still pretty good. She's a little behind the music in some spots and this week I find her very hard to understand - this is a song I don't know all the words to, so I was really listening for the lyrics and all I understood was "Back in the USSR." Having said that, though, I still find her very entertaining - I have yet to be bored by her. She picks great uptempo songs and really makes use of the stage, she moves around, gets into the performance. I am curious to see if she can take on a slow song at some point, but for right now, I love her choices, love her performances.

Randy says it's the perfect song choice for her, but that the beginning was a little pitchy. He says by the end, she was really good, but he only gave her a 7 out of 10 on that. Paula said she agrees with Randy - that in the beginning, it was a bit pitchy and she was a little ahead of the beat, but that she is authentic and unique. Simon says it was predictable, a bit of a mess in parts - that it's the same thing week after week after week. He tells her that she needs to switch it up because she may otherwise be in danger of becoming a bit boring.


Kristy Lee Cook is up next and her most memorable moment on "Idol" has been being the last man standing at almost every elimination. She says it's been very stressful being on stage with someone else, not knowing which one is going home. Well, maybe after this week, she won't ever have to go through that again. We can only hope.

She sings "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," a great song, but I'm not sure she can pull it off - the original has a very cool, mellow kind of vibe to it - her voice just isn't mellow, I don't think. Well, it only takes one line to confirm the fact that she's not going to do well with the song. She starts off a little bit out of tune and the vibrato in her voice doesn't even sound like vibrato - it sounds like nerves. She's actually in and out of tune throughout the entire performance and again, she's not really doing much up there - she walks around a bit and then does this weird thing with picking up her leg and stuff. It just wasn't good - I don't understand why she's still here this week, but I will be stunned if she's still here next week. But on a positive note, I do like her dress - not really with the cowboy boots, though.

Randy says it was an interesting arrangement, but that it felt kind of boring and safe and he wasn't sure if she was singing the melody or the chorus right. Paula says she looks gorgeous, the best she's ever looked, but that it was a little safe. Simon says he thinks she may need hypnosis because the problem is that she's not a good performer. He says the last two seconds were OK, but that it's like musical wallpaper, in that you notice it, but you can't remember it. He says that week after week, she's making no impact, apart from when she was terrible last week. But he does acknowledge that she was better this week. I actually disagree - her voice this week was completely off. While last week's arrangement was horrendous, her voice was actually very good - much better than tonight.

Kristy makes a pretty funny statement afterward about how she did the best she could with the Beatles, since it wasn't really her thing, but she hopes to stay through next week because as she says to Simon, "I can blow you out of your socks and you know it." I don't think any comment is necessary on that, so let's just move on... she did look appropriately embarrassed, though.


David Archuleta's most memorable moments include singing "Imagine," and of course, forgetting the words to "We Can Work It Out" last week with like 30 million people watching. Is it just me or has his whole innocent giggly thing gotten a bit old? Don't get me wrong, I'm still a fan, but I don't find it as endearing as I once did. If he keep it up another few weeks, I may eventually have to turn on him - we'll see.

He chooses "The Long and Winding Road" and thankfully, his past couple of weeks of yuck are over. He sounds great tonight, although I have to say, I feel like the past two weeks have taken a toll, in the sense that he's lost some steam - he's no longer on a roll. So, I feel like tonight, he's starting all over again. He sounds great - it's a terrific start, but he's going to have to do it again next week for me to start getting excited about him again. I mean, who's to say that he won't crack under the pressure again? I think we forget how young he is, plus there are reports all over the Web that his dad is crazy controlling and making him cry and stuff. I'm just not convinced that he has the staying power necessary to win this thing. Putting all that aside, though, when he's on, he does sing beautifully - there's a clarity to his voice that I really enjoy. And he picked a song that really suited him this week.

Randy says he brought the hotness back to his game, but he does mention that he thinks he played it a little safe and that next time, he should take some liberties. Paula says a some nonsense about how exciting and wonderful he is, something about purity and rising above adversity. I don't know, but she ends by saying he's wonderful. Simon says last week he was a mess, but that this week he was amazing. And oh boy, here comes the whole "Oh garsh, look at how cute and humble I am" act. I mean, maybe it's not an act, but I almost hope it is, because if that's really who he is all the time, he's just way too annoying to be around.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

As far as David Archuleta goes...He is a breath of fresh air with his humbleness...so many kids these days are complete snobs, thinking way too highly of themselves. To be as adorable as he is and incredibaly talented, it's awesome that he has his head on straight and shows true thankfullness for his success ! Some of the older contestants have visably let it go to their head when they get a compliment from the judges.Keep it up, David!Just believe in yourself and be confident.You have what it takes !! You are what kids these days need to see !And I've seen plenty of kids...I have 5 of my own !

Anonymous said...

I agree with you 100% that he cries on queue as do some of the others. The basic strategy is, if you cry, you get camera time. If you can't cry get next to someone who is crying.

Anonymous said...

Man I cant believe that Archuleta is only 17. He's voice blows me away.

Anonymous said...

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh david david david you are so cute ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Anonymous said...

I am 53 years old and remember when the Beatles first came to America! I also remember when the song, "The Long and Winding Road" came out originally. It was nice enough at the time, but I have never, never heard such a beautiful rendition of this song as Mr. Archuleta performed this week. I have heard this song thousands of times, but this is the first time I was moved to tears by it. Thank you David and good luck!

Anonymous said...

You get tired of somebody being nice? You find innocence and purity as annoying? Wow, you need to straighten your views, pal. Britney's partying or Lohan's rehabilitation is TIRING and ANNOYING, not David's fresh image. Geez.

Anonymous said...

pardon me to tell you this, but this is what people are nowdays.. they love violence, porn addiction, drugs and all the negative things that you can imagine.. david.a is doin a great job by bein humble eventhough he is oneof the best contestants in A.I. if bein good is a problem, what do you really teach your children to be?? bad?! vicious?!

Alicia said...

I've not been a big AI fan, but the first time I heard David A, I couldn't help but find myself smiling. What an amazing voice, and a nice kid! As a mom, it's refreshing to know there are still kids in entertainment that are humble and sincere. What a change from the spoiled brats we hear about most of the time. Getting tired of him? Please, I'm tired of hearing about the bad gals of Hollywood. To hear someone with such talent, THAT can never be boring. At least he isn't debating with the judges! As a fan of The Long and Winding Road, his version was the best I've heard. And each week I look forward to enjoying his performance and yes, I find myself smiling.

Anonymous said...

David Archuleta makes me wish that the world could be a better place and gives me hope that maybe it can.
It's not an act, watch his interviews, he's not faking it. This boy’s goodness and kindness come through so clearly – he talks about finding something to like in everyone. What he says about what he gets from the music and how his singing affects others, is very moving. Although shy, he stands his ground about the things he believes in, like helping those who have nothing – and does this in his brief chance to speak while being judged in front of millions.
I was deeply moved hearing David sing “Imagine” and “The Long and Winding Road”. He has remade those songs; there is an emotional intensity that was never there. (I'm a huge Beatles and Lennon fan from way back) I find myself thinking of other great songs I want to hear him perform.
Myself and these other parents that keep rushing to David's defense do it because he represents so much that has been lost. He seems much younger than most 17 year olds – there's a happy innocence there. His smile can light up a room. He reminds us of what we were like as kids before we were changed by societal pressure and our own stress and concerns. Reading the cynical things that some columnists and bloggers have said, kind of breaks my heart. We seem to have sunk so low that it's ok to attack an innocent kid. They speculate about his sexuality and seek to expose him as a phony. Do we have to tear down and destroy someone so good before he’s even allowed to grow up? Win or lose this competition, David will be successful. I sincerely hope he can stay true to his heart and not be negatively impacted by all that is sure to come. Sorry it's long but had to get it off my chest.