Amanda Greever

It’s my blog and I’ll judge if I want to, judge if I want to, judge if I want to. You would judge, too if you had a blog, too!

So the American Idol judges have one save that they can use all season long. One teeny, weeny little get-out-of-jail free card that they can play to keep a contestant from being eliminated. So this week, the judges finally pull out their save to keep Matt Giraud, the man they call the next Justin Timberlake. That could be an insult or a compliment, depending on your preference.  

This week’s theme was music of the movies, featuring mentor Quentin Tarentino. Matt chose “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman,” a Bryan Adams hit from the Johnny Depp flick “Don Juan DeMarco.” The judges weren’t impressed with his performance or rather his re-working of the song. For me, Matt’s decent.  He’s not fabulously remarkable or anything. But here’s what baffles me, after the judges had deliberated on him, judge Simon Cowell actually admitted to our fearful contestant that he didn’t think he could win. Yet they use the save anyway? That makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? Oh well, next week that just means that two will have to go. My picks: Matt and Lil Rounds.

Speaking of Lil, they hated her version of “The Rose.” For me, it was a semi-solid performance. Lil can sing. She knows it, and we know it. This was probably my favorite Lil performance thus far because she actually took a chance and tried to shake things up a little, something the judges have been encouraging her to do all season. Maybe it was just the fact that she finally didn’t shout a song. Yes, there’s a difference between belting out a song and simply yelling it. Lil has yet to learn that difference. Also, what’s up with those wigs? If she hates her short hair so much, perhaps it was a mistake to cut her hair so short?

Hmm, might as well touch on some others while I’m being all judgemental.

Ah, Allison Iraheta. I’ve been a fan of hers since the beginning but I’m not sure she can actually pull out a win overall. Her version of “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” was lacking for me. I hate pulling out the youth card with her. Yes, she’s 16 but that doesn’t mean she can’t put feeling behind a song. However, with this one, there was no emotion in her performance at all. Really, Allison, is there no one you want to stay with in a moment forever? Could you not fake it?  The performance was sound but just OK for me.

Anoop Desai took a song I’ve loved for  years and tried to ruin it for me. “Another Bryan Adams track “Everything I Do (I Do It for You) from the Kevin Costner flick “Robin Hood.” Sigh, this is one of the most romantic songs I can remember from a movie soundtrack. Maybe it’s just because I was young and impressionable when it came out. The song was sweet and full of love. During their mentoring session, Quentin told Anoop he needed to roughen the song up. I’m not sure Anoop can do rough because his Idol performance came out whiny and a little pathetic. It didn’t come across as sentimental. Instead, it seemed Anoop was begging and trying to convince a woman of his feelings. Kind of kills the romance for me. The judges were wild about it, but I thought it was a weak performance.

Danny Gokey, I think I might love you. Maybe it’s just the glasses. I’ve always had a thing for men in glasses so I could be swayed by that. His choice for the night was “Endless Love.” Sigh, Danny is at his best when he pulls out a ballad.  There was no question that Danny was feeling strong feelings when he sang it. Yes, he was thinking of his late wife, and I defy anyone to say to me he’s using his wife’s death for publicity. As he looked upward to Heaven on his final notes, I couldn’t help but get a little teary right along with him. Even my best gal pal called it the best performance of the night and she’s a diehard Adam Lambert fan. 

Speaking of Adam, he truly was “Born to be Wild” as his song suggests. Adam is a performer that generally people love him or hate him. When he performs a ballad like “Tracks of My Tears,” he steals the show. But the problem is, Adam isn’t just a balladeer. He’s a performer, an artist. To get the ballads, you have to take the over-the-top theatrical performances that have flashing lights and ear-piercing falsettos. For the die-hard fans, those are all part of what makes Adam Adam. For me, they’re a bit much.  Yes, the man can sing, and yes, I believe AI is his to lose. He’s entertaining, if nothing else.

Last night but not least, we have Kris Allen. This cutie went with an obscure song from a slightly obscure movie: “Falling Slowly” from the movie “Once.” Kris consistently pulls off the sweetest performance of the night. I’m not sure if it’s just because he’s absolutely adorable or because his songs are cute. Come on, “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You” was sooo cute. His little blonde wife seems to fit him perfectly. This week’s performance was just OK for me though. It might have been its obscurity or perhaps the fact that it just wasn’t really the best song for Kris’ voice. I think Kris could go far in this competition.

Ah, if Simon or Paula ever get tired of judging AI, I hope they’ll look my way for a replacement.