American Idol Season 8 - Week 7

"You gotta knock, knock...on wood...BABY...."

Ah, Disco night on American Idol. The week that everyone usually dreads, but I actually enjoy. I mean, the show is cheesy as is, and singing songs from the Disco era just makes it even cheesier. Gotta love it! As much as I love the 80's (I mean, it WAS the best decade ever), the late 70's were pretty righteous too. So I actually was looking forward to tonight. Plus, we're down to the final seven, and pretty much everyone can sing. Not to mention that it was a VERY rough day at work today, so I was looking forward to a fun, enjoyable night on Idol.

"I love the nightlife, I love to boogie, on the disco ROUND!! Oh yeah!!!"

First up is Lil Rounds. She jumps right into singing - we have no packages this week, no mentors, which is a good thing. I mean, we had Quentin Tarantino last week for movie week, maybe we could have had Perez Hilton this week to coach the Idols on Disco week, but he was too busy taking credit for knocking out Ms. California for sharing her opinion. I digress.

Lil Rounds - what are you doing? She sings "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan. Whenever I hear this song, I feel like I'm watching Oprah, or The View, or Jenny Jones (no wait, that was another song wasn't it? "Got To Be Real"? Anyway....) After Lil is done, I wonder why she chose this song, because she didn't do such a great job. It wasn't horrible, but it really didn't stand out. And if I were her, I would have picked something like "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston. She needs a song that really shows off her pipes, and the one she chose didn't do that. I really regret putting Lil Rounds as my #2 overall at the beginning of the season - she clearly isn't a better singer than the other female singer still left, Alison Iraheta. And I think it's getting pretty sad that every week she hears the same thing from the judges, but I happen to agree with them. Listen, she's not horrible, and she CAN sing. She's just not in the top half of the remaining singers. Randy didn't like it, and said it really didn't show us the type of artist she would be. Kara digs in a little deeper and says it wasn't worth the wait in hearing her sing someone like Chaka Khan. She does throw in a Paula moment when she compliments her on her looks. Paula tells the audience that Lil did great because she had no voice the previous night. Simon says Lil looks sad, and that she's going home. According to him, "It's the last week we're ever going to see you". Really? She's not even going on tour? She's going into hiding? C'mon Simon, you are just being mean. Anyway, not a good start to Disco night, but I still have faith!

"Shake Shake Shake....Shake Shake Shake....Shake your booty....shake your booooooty!!!"

Next up is Kris Allen, and he's singing "She Works Hard for the Money" by Donna Summer, who is definitely a "Disco" artist. The one problem is THIS IS NOT A DISCO SONG by a mile....c'mon, this isn't fair! It's a straight up 80's song that was played to death on MTV and Hot Hits K106. But it's not a song you pull out the bell bottoms for and go dancing. I think this isn't fair. However, onto his performance - and I think he's GREAT this week. This arrangement of this non-Disco song is done VERY well. Unlike his butchering of "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" a few weeks ago, I really enjoyed Kris' performance tonight. WAY better than Lil, and I think it will go down as one of his best. Kara said he took a risk with the arrangement, and it worked. Paula said it sounded like Santana, and said the following: "A lot of women are known to shop in the men's department, but there aren't many men that are willing to shop in the women's department..." WTF does that mean?!?!?!? OMG - please, Idol producers, get rid of this train wreck. She is truly AWFUL, and the fact Simon has to follow her up is embarrassing. Ugh. Simon says he needs a translator - then Paula says Simon shops in the women's department. Simon said it was original and well thought out (the song, not Paula's comments), and much better than Lil's performance. He could care less if Kris wears women's underwear. Randy loved him - he's "ready for the big time, DAWG..."

"Jive Talking, you're telling me lies....JIVE TALKIN'....you wear a disguise..."

Danny Gokey is up next, and he sings "September" by Earth Wind and Fire. It starts out in typical Danny fashion - kinda low and boring, but then the soulfulness of his voice kicks in, and here we go again. I wasn't blown away by it, but I will say it had moments that were brilliant, and the rest was very good. I still think Danny is going to the final 3. He does need some new moves, though. And Paula just has to stop standing up and dancing. It's really annoying. But I like Danny a lot and hope he goes far. The judges verdict? Randy said Danny turned the song into something that really worked for Danny. In other words, he "worked it out....worked it out..." Kara said he's an incredible vocalist, and his pitch is nearly perfect. Solid performance. Paula loves his vocal skills, and says he has one of the sexiest voices on the show. Simon agreed with everyone, although he didn't see star power in Danny's performance. A little awkward.

"Ah baby...my heart is full of love and desire for you...now come on down and do what you gotta do...."

Alison Iraheta is up next, singing "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer (unlike Kris, this IS a Disco song...a classic, no doubt...right up there with "Bad Girls"). So Allison absolutely does a phenomenal job in my opinion. Her voice is amazing - and she's only 16! I really love this girl, and hope she goes to the finals, or at least the top 3. I really underestimated her. She slowed the song down and I think it worked wonderfully. Randy didn't think the arrangement was great, but said she can definitely sing. Kara didn't like the arrangement (WRONG, but it's her opinion, so I can't fault her...did you hear that Perez?). But Kara agreed with Randy - she loves her voice. Paula loved everything about it, and said with the last note, Allison hit it off the charts. Simon said she was "brilliant"....right on Simon!

"First I was afraid, I was petrified...kept thinking I could never live without you by my side..."

Adam Lambert decides to take on one of my favorite songs from the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack...Yvonne Ellman's "If I Can't Have You". Adam can do NO wrong according to the judges. They loved his crappy version of "Ring of Fire" a while back and therefore I think they will love him no matter what. Ryan spends some time chatting with this seasons' winner, er...Adam Lambert. Ryan mentions that he already did "Play That Funky Music", and now he (Adam) wants to mix it up again with an extremely slow version of "If I Can't Have You". He turns it into a torch ballad, and I for one didn't care for it. Maybe it's because I love the original so much. About halfway through the song, he DOES show that he can sing really well, and his voice is pretty amazing (even when he's "off the rails..."). BUT I think Adam may be getting a little TOO much praise here. It was good, but to me, didn't really stand out. But the judges all love him - Paula looks like she's going to cry. Randy said the song showed Adam's range, and that he is "ready right now DUDE!" Kara proclaims Adam is "brilliant". Paula - "Adam, I've never questioned my visceral response when you perform...I felt your pain...it's as if you tore you heart out and put it on the stage...you're fascinating, your brilliant, you're awesome, and you will be in the finals". Guess everyone else should just pack it up - he's WON ALREADY. Simon enjoyed it - most importantly for the vocals and the fact that it was memorable. Ryan says Paula is in a "Pool of Abdul"...um.....nevermind.

"Once had love, and it was a gas...soon turned out, to be a heart of glass..."

The chosen one is followed by the saved one. Matt Giraud is singing the Bee Gee's classic, "Stayin' Alive" from the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (maybe they should have had the Idols just pick from this soundtrack, since you're guaranteed to hit a pretty good song). Matt comes out looking totally like Justin Timberlake. My wife mentions that he's probably wearing that hat low to hide the bump on his forehead. Anyway, I enjoyed the performance. I really do like Matt, although he's inconsistent. I think he was on this week, and other than a few ill-advised falsettos, he does a good job. But I can see where the judges may not like this - this is perhaps the most "Disco" of all the songs done so far tonight. Matt does a funk/disco thing, and they may not like it. I thought he was good, though. They show Matt's friends and family, and I don't see his large chested friend....hmmm.... Randy said he can REALLY sing, even though he didn't like the song. Kara said it was very Disco, and thought he was solid. Paula - "You pick songs like I bowl, sometimes I have gutter balls and other weeks I have strikes...this was a strike!" Simon didn't like it - said it was desperate and the vocals weren't that great either. He's not a huge fan. You know - it just hit me, Matt reminds me of Idol contestant Chris Richardson from Season 5. Look him up.

"Ah.....FREAK OUT!!! Le Freak, C'est Chic!"

Anoop Desai rounds out the evening with Donna Summer's "Dim All The Lights". Anoop is wearing a pink vest and a pink tie and has some scruff on the face. It's a little strange, but I thought he did a good job. It started out kinda boring, but he did his thing. And I think vocally, he had his moments. Wasn't my favorite of the night, but far from the worst. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if he goes this week, along with either Lil OR Matt. Randy loved the voice - didn't care for the song arrangement. He said this top 7 is very talented vocally. Kara said it was a great song choice, and she said he did a great job and it could be on the radio (which, by the way, is another Donna Summer song...). Paula says "Real men know how to wear pink" She liked it. Simon didn't care for it much. He said it was "mediocre, at best...". He even goes so far as to say it was his worst performance yet (no WAY Mr. Cowell....go back and watch some of his other performances...). Ryan then makes a crack about Noop's bushy eyebrows, comparing him to Groucho Marx. Nice, real nice Seacrest.

So that concludes this week - My top 3 tonight are Allison, Danny and Kris. I think Anoop was in the middle, along with Adam. And my bottom two are Matt (who don't get me wrong - I did like) and Lil, who I think may both be going home. Wouldn't it be funny if someone like Danny is in the bottom three, and somehow gets booted, and the judges realize they used the save a week too early? BTW, I tried to vote for Allison but the line was busy. I think her and Kris were clearly the best, but I think Allison may need my vote more.

Ok, see everyone next week. Maybe I'll start posting shorter reviews one of these days!