, with mentoring by Harry Connick Jr.It's not every day you walk into the "American Idol" studio and find Harry Connick Jr.
at the piano, but that's where the jazz legend was, dressed Monday casual in a baggy white button-down and loose black pants, walking Big Mike through his big-band arrangement -- one that Harry himself came up with -- and making sure the Top 5 contender was comfortable with the twists and turns of a Sinatra song. Judging from the fist bump at the end, it was all good.It's Ol' Blue Eyes week, which means it felt a little like a Christmas rom-com and a lot like "When Harry Met Sally" on Stage 36. Only this was when Harry met Lee, and Casey, Crystal and Aaron, along with the aforementioned Michael Lynche. Truth be told, Harry Connick is one heck of a multi-tasker. Not only did he orchestrate all the parts of each individual song, but he also played conductor, cheerleader and vocal coach.
The process, however, was pretty much the same. Each contestant got at least three run-throughs plus an instrumental to sing along to sans amplification, with musical director Rickey Minor looking on from the judges' table. The band, which includes nine string players, 13 brass and one drummer, looks like it was put together by HCJ. And as we previously reported, no one is allowed to play an instrument this week.
How did that pan out? Kind of nicely, I must admit. Without the weight and obstruction of a guitar, however minor, it seemed as though the Top 5 opened up vocally -- like they got more power, volume and reach with that little bit of extra air. Or maybe that's just confidence taking control. After all, it's been a couple of months of high-stress competition.
And how was Season 9's guitar golden boy Casey James handling the adjustment? "We'll see," he said with a hint of skepticism, then explained how he'd come to terms with what he "signed up for." Meaning, he's not driving this well-oiled machine. Nevertheless, Casey was pleasantly surprised by this new guitar-less sound. "Walking around sounds different," he enthused in a moment of self-discovery. Leave it to stage manager Debbie Williams to chime in with a very important message for Casey: "You know who we should fix you up with? Kellie Pickler
." As if Casey needs help in the dating department. Really, Debbie.We kid, but in all seriousness -- someone's gotta go every week. This is what Casey James was explaining after mentioning our shiva for Siobhan. That's right, the guy in the bottom two was trying to console me. I'm not sure if that meant he'd resigned himself to the possibility that Tuesday is his last night or whether Casey was just speaking the truth, but I liked the way he ended his thoughts: "Well, you have two more days to mourn." And: "What matters to me me is what happens after the show." He's wiser than he even realizes...
Speaking of smarts, Aaron Kelly's got some, otherwise how would he have made it to the Top 5? With his sleeves rolled up (as always) and his schoolwork out of the way, he was down to big-band business and what he does best: belt. Last week, I asked him about hitting the "money note" -- that big sustain at the end of every one of his performances. "It's not that I'm trying to show off," he explained, "it's what feels right for the song. Sometimes, I feel like it's gonna be boring if it doesn't have a big, grand ending." And going one step further in proving he's Season 9's David Archuleta
, little Aaron dutifully hugged everyone within arm's reach (Crystal, vocal coach Debra Byrd, Fox staffers etc.), vintage Archie style. No wonder he keeps getting all those votes! As for our front-runners, needless to say, Lee and Crystal handled their starring turns with aplomb, even if somewhat fidgety without their instruments. So instead of the strum, it was the snap, which seems all too appropriate considering the genre du jour. Lee was especially thumb-happy and also looking quite chummy with Mr. Connick, while Casey, who held onto his microphone for dear life, was simply starstruck. "I'm not even alive right now, it's like I'm in a dream," he said while watching Harry have his way with a Hammond organ.
To that end, expect a little New Orleans groove in Tuesday's episode (it is, after all, Harry Connick's hometown), as evidenced by Crystal and Rickey Minor's impromptu twirl at the base of the stage while Lee sang his heart out. Similarly, Lee and Casey both stood at attention while Crystal ran through her Sinatra number. But even with only 30-some people in the room, the show's last girl standing garnered the loudest applause from this influential focus group. Next stop: final four.
-- Shirley Halperin
L.A. Times, American Idol Tracker
Much has been said about Crystal's talent and I agree with it all. I want to add my humble opinion about her as a person. Being an observer of people, I have watched Crystal and her reactions to critcism, praise and the love she gets from the audience. She always takes each of those with class and dignity. I will never forget her reaction to Simon's praise of her rendition of "Me and Bobby McGee", after she was somewhat criticized by the 2 women on the panel, he told her he would not have her change a thing about her performance(Randy agreed), her eyes got wide and it looked as if she whispered "really", he then went on to say her performance was as good as the best he had heard from Pink, she got a wide-eyed look and blew her hair away from her face. To me that reaction was priceless. Also after her performance of the Shania Twain number, when Simon didn't like the performance, she told Simon she still loved him. It, in my opinion, reveals the type of person she is, even though she knows who she is as a performer and person, she still is in awe of what other folks think of her.
ReplyDeleteShe is quick to praise the people on the stage with her and not take all the credit. Another thing she is the only contestant(and I may be wrong about this) to not flash her number while Ryan is giving out the phone number to call and vote for her.
I am a 70 year old man, not that it has anything to do with anything, but I would be very proud to have her as a granddaughter and no matter what america does in the voting, she will always be a class act.
I personally think she is the best talent to appear on AI to date. I have watched AI off and on since the start, my favorite was Kelly Clarkson, along with Carrie Underwood. Beyond that I can't remember who the other winners were, after all as I said I am 70 years old.
My passion is music and not having any musical talent myself I pride myself in being open minded and love all kinds of music, including some rap. I did like Adam last year, but alas america is fickle when it comes to voting, it sometimes becomes a popularity contest rather than a talent contest.
I love what another of my favorite artists, Miranda Lambert says about Crystal, shows me she(Miranda) not only has talent but excellent taste. LOL.
To me she is already a success and I believe that Crystal will always retain her endearing qualities no matter what the final outcome of AI is. AI will not be the end of Crystal, she has to much talent and what to me is her best quality, very easy to love as a person!! That being said, I also want her to have commercial success and enjoy the perks that come along with that, mainly the financial part.
Here I go again..........I don't know what the judges were listening to last night while Crystal performed. She sang Summer Wind beautifully and only as Crystal can do. The judges, or the folks sitting at the table just drawing a paycheck, and their opinions are irrelevant at this point.
ReplyDeleteI would listen to Harry Connick Jr., he is an actual performer, way before I would listen to any of the things the folks sitting at the table, who I believe don't know what they want from the contestants, they had poor Siobhan(sp) so confused she didn't know what to do. Mr. Connick told Crystal "There's nothing I need to tell you, you know what's happening, and when you sang it, it was still you, even though it's not something you would normally sing". That says it all to me, just my opinion as the Englishman is fond of saying.
Well said Dave, no one can say it any better you took the words right out of mouth. She is the best!
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