The idols are standing on a backlit stage, and all are in suits (besides Allison). Fancy trampsy. THIS… is American Idol!

Ryan is explaining that there are now two phone numbers for each contestant, and then (to music) the judges are welcomed. I don’t know what the theme is yet, but from the sound of Ricky Minor and the boys it sounds like big band… nope, Ryan tells us it’s Standards from the Rat Pack Era. Cool. We welcome the top 5, see that Adam is wearing a platinum white suit, and we meet our mystery mentor. The idols are sitting around the mansion talking about how the rat pack is dead, and we welcome… finally… the surprise guest… Jamie Foxx! What’s the next best thing to an actual Rat from the Pack? Somebody that is associated with a previous American Idol of course! Actually, I really like Jamie Foxx and think he’s an immensely talented (and seemingly cool) guy.

Up first is Kris with a K, who is wearing the sister suit to Ryans. Kris is seriously looking like Ryan’s mini-me (doesn’t help that Kris with a K is actually shorter than Ryan, which makes him… what? 4’3”?). Kris is singing “The Way You Look Tonight” which is an awesome song. Jamie <3’s Kris with a K and says he would gladly do a record with him when all is said and done. Kris starts singing and teenagers everywhere collectively swoon. He’s doing a great job, and his voice & puppy dog eyes are truly suited to this type of music. The crowd goes nuts and the judges can’t even speak. Randy talks about inning it to winning it, and says this was his best performance. Kara says that Kris with a K set the technical standard incredibly high. She goes on to talk about diction, timing, phrasing, etc. Paula calls Kris sophisticated and a “contemporary crooner.” Simon loves the alliteration, and then says his performance was “wet…” (you can’t see my face right now, but it’s making dry-heave shapes). He liked it, but he didn’t… I don’t think anyone knows what he’s trying to say. He’s just being disagreeable.

Allison is up next and she looks very pretty tonight… almost like she used a mirror while getting dressed (which is different for Allison). She talks about being the only girl, turning 17, and she giggles with her smoker’s giggle. Jamie thinks she’s great for a 16 year old and before we know it, she’s on the stage and singing “Someone To Watch Over Me.” It’s more ballady than we’re used to with Allison, but she sounds really, really spot on good. Her voice totally works with this song and she finds a couple places to use her powerful pipes. Randy says she looks dope like Britney Murphy, sings like Pink, and that it was the bomb. Kara says she “ain’t nervous about her anymore” and that it was a way beyond her years rendition. Paula (who is wearing a raging pink lip gloss with a hooker red dress) loved it. Simon asks her if she thinks she could win the competition and then says that he doesn’t think she believes it. He liked it although he overshadows all of that by saying she could be in trouble tonight.

Matt Timberlake is up and he’s singin’ “My Funny Valentine.” He’s wearing a blue suit, blue shirt, red tie, and a fedora. Honestly, he looks like he just rolled in from the 50’s where he was selling life insurance door to door. J. Foxx says it’s a big song and that he should change the key of the song. It starts out kind of slow and rough. He sounds nervous, which there’s no time for nerves in the top 5. It’s a minute in now, and it still isn’t that good. This song is too much for dear ‘ol Matt. He finishes on a strong note, but that’s about all I liked in the whole performance. Randy says it was one of the hardest songs ever, a little pitchy (it was), and that it ends up a 6/10. Kara didn’t feel any emotional connection. Paula loves what he did with the song, but she’s nuts, so whatevs. Simon thinks it was the only believable, authentic song he heard tonight (interesting. I disagree, but interesting nonetheless).

Gokey is here and he’s singing “Come Rain or Come Shine.” Jamie invades Gokey’s personal space and his discomfort with another dude in his grill makes him sound better somehow.  He’s singing in a suit with too short of sleeves (cuffs are supposed to be exposed, but not by 5 inches). He sounds much better than Matt, but despite how good it sounds, I think it’s a little bit boring and forgettable… okay, nix what I just said. He just started going a little gravely & aggressive at the end there, and actually sounds amazing. The first half: lame. Second half: pretty awesome. I’ll be interested to see which half America crushes on. Randy says he could make an album of those types of songs and loves it. Kara brings up the “Rat Pack Swaggah,” while performing the most annoying head bob ever, and loved it. Paula says it was stellar, stellar, stellar. Simon says he came out to prove a point and that the vocal was the best he’s heard from him in weeks.

Last man standing, Adam Lambert in his angel suit. He’s singing “Feeling Good” (which is one of my favorite songs ever). Jamie loves it, and says Adam can sing with the best of them.  He struts down the red stairs in a white suit with the white light shining down on his black haired head. He sounds great (although I don’t love the way he’s signaling the cymbal hits with his hand). He has a raging note in the middle that he just nails, and it ends much sooner than I thought it would. Okay… this is weird. I like Adam and I love that song, but I didn’t like it as much as I thought I was going to. Don’t get me wrong here… Adam was really good… I just think that particular arrangement didn’t add much (if he wanted a funky & awesome arrangement, maybe he shoulda gone with my personal favorite by Wax Tailor). Randy thought it was too theatrical, but that it was another great performance. Kara says he’s shocking and confusing in a good way. She thinks she likes it. Paula says he makes her feel better than good, and compares him to Michael Phelps. Simon says that he clearly wants to win, to prove a point, and to entertain. He also says it was the best entrance we’ve had ever (yep).

So, I have some brutal choices here… this is a really good top 5 and I don’t know who to pick…

Best Contestant: Honestly, I think Allison’s was my favorite tonight.

Worst Contestant: Matt Timberlake and his insurance selling hat.

Ugliest Jacket: Gokey. Nice jacket, bad fit.

Bottom 3: Ugh… how do you pick this? Okay, Matt (of course), Allison (she seems to have the least amount of fans), and Adam. Yep, Adam. Not because he didn’t do well, or because he shouldn’t win this thing. It just seems that every year, the voter’s accidentally give one of best (if not the best) a scare about now that ends up propelling them into the top 2. I think this is that scare for Adam. People won’t feel like they need to vote for him and he’ll slip in the polls. Ultimately it’s a good thing though, so no worries. Not a chance he’s going home. That spot is reserved for…

Going home: Matt. Already voted off and he didn’t do great tonight. It’s a recipe for gonesville.

So, that’s it for tonight. What did you guys think? Am I off base with my predictions? Who did you think was best? Join the PMA AI community, and sound off in the comments.

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This article has been read 502 times since Wednesday, April 29th, 2009. It was posted on at 2:54 am by Jeff Lind and is filed under Live Music, Live Performances, TV Shows, YouTube. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.