One American Idol contestant raises the bar impossibly high

There are only so many synonyms you toss about concerning the lackluster season American Idol has proven itself to be this year.

It’s been humdrum, wearisome, flat, uninteresting and — in many an episode — downright snooze-inducing.  And more. But amazingly, in a matter of three week’s time, the Idol Powers That Be have pulled out a couple episodes which have been downright engaging.

The first was the Harry Connick, Jr. mentored episode of a few weeks past. The second was this week’s airing, an episode which certainly delivered.

The contestants really needed to put it all out there in a battle to reach the Final Two next week. All three of them needed not only to give it all they had, but it was necessary to leave it all on the stage and walk away, confident they’d avoided elimination.  So, how’d they do?

The first part of the show saw the contestants getting the opportunity to pick the songs they wanted to do:

Casey James does Eric Hutchinson’s “Okay, It’s Alright With Me”:  Plain Vanilla Casey did justice to that moniker, didn’t he?  Not only was there little taste in the performance, Casey didn’t do anything at all with it worth propelling him into next week. Sadly, it was a wasted effort for him, doing nothing whatsoever to advance his case.

Crystal Bowersox does Melissa Ethridge’s “Come To My Window”:  She was vocally ‘off’ to begin with … a bit pushed and desperate sounding … and verging on the screechy. Sure, better than Casey before her … but not by much.

And then came Lee DeWyze doing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”: Have we seen this guy grow throughout the competition?  Have you noticed it?  Because I have. Lee has come into his own.  Not only has he grown more and more confident with each and every performance, he’s reached a point of engagement with what he’s singing. He’s no longer just going out there and shuffling through the motions. And he knows it. Lee picked this particular Skynyrd song, was happy with it and thoroughly enjoyed committing it. Ain’t it a kick when something like that shows as confidence in what you’re doing?

The second half of the show saw judges’ picks for the contestants:

Casey James does John Mayer’s “Daughters”: Holy Moly … what a difference a song makes. Casey did 100% better than he did with his first effort … but there was still vocal wavering and crazy monkey business singing within the arrangement. Despite the fact this tune was hand-picked by Kara Dio Guardi and Randy Jackson, it was just more proof Casey cannot go any further than where he is right this very moment.

Crystal Bowersox does Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed”: Sans guitar, Crystal started out sitting on atop a staircase, dramatically rising from her seat and finally descending. And that was all the drama I got out of her, much to my displeasure.  For me, it was a tad strange hearing her sing “… maybe I’m a man …”. But then, it was Ellen who chose the song for her.  And it showed.  Read into that what you will. (It seemed as if Crystal didn’t really want anything to do with the song by some of the reactions she displayed during the judges’ comments.) There were moments where her ‘shine’ came through, but it wasn’t anything fantastic.

And then came the topper of the evening.  One of the best performances (in my opinion) I’ve ever seen over the years on Idol.  Courtesy of Simon Cowell.

Lee DeWyze did Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”: Suffice to say, Lee blew the roof off the place. It was emotional, it was breath-taking and it was spiritual. (See the video below. Nothing I say can do justice to what Lee gave to the evening.)

Is there any doubt Crystal and Lee are headed for the final week of Idol, leaving Casey in their wake.  I don’t think so, Tim …

Clacked by Michael Noble
on May 19, 2010 @ 09:30 EST5EDT