 Sanjaya ends his run at seventh position. |
It was an American Idol night of highs and lows but someone has to go.My tribute to the guy whom some people love to dislike.
SANJAYA, thanks for the memories. High school student and Indian hopeful Sanjaya Malakar has finally ended his run in the American Idol Season 6. Certainly, he was one of the most controversial contestants as well as one of the most watched.
I guess it was only in the past few weeks that Sanjaya realised that he had generated such a massive following across Asia. It was as if “one of our boys” had suddenly became a serious contender.
When Sanjaya strutted on to centre stage and belted out Let’s Give Them Something To Talk About, it quickly became fairly obvious to all that country music wasn’t his thing.
Nevertheless, it was vintage Sanjaya with a red scarf wrapped around his head as he tried his best to have a good time. Not everybody can slip smoothly into a music genre that is unfamiliar to them.
If Sanjaya was uncomfortable with country music, he didn’t show it. But Randy laid it all out: “Honestly, it wasn’t good at all.” Paula threw in her verdict with “we are watching someone who loves adversity (or was it controversy?).
Simon Cowell put the final nail in the Idol coffin with “utterly horrendous”. I wouldn’t put Sanjaya in the same category as William Hung but I know his future will look pretty bright from now on.
The American Idol has just given Sanjaya the fame that will stay with him for a long time. I like Sanjaya because he was fun to watch and he was hugely entertaining. He doesn’t need good luck because he’s basically talented to have gotten so far.
There were three outstanding contestants on Wednesday evening. Without further ado, they were Phil Stacey, Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle (but frankly we don care about them or do we..).
But as with the past three weeks, many of us were preoccupied with the thought of who would be going out. On the night when the remaining seven performed, those who didn’t seem to make the cut were Chris Richardson, Lakisha and Sanjaya.
Chris had exhibited some weaknesses in his repertoire lately. His overall performance in the past two weeks has earned him at least one yellow card.
When Chris sang May Berry, those of us who watched him didn’t feel the quickening of pulse as a winning performance would surely generate. Randy Jackson was quick off the mark to say “I didn’t feel a sense of a connection from that song.”
Paula followed suit with “the joy and love didn’t come through”. And Simon slammed it painfully home “I heard a very nondescript, nasally twang. Honestly, it was very insignificant.”
Phil Stacey who looked pretty shaky last week, made a dramatic comeback with Where The Black Top Ends. Martina McBride, this week’s mentor, was pleased with Phil. So was I. Good for you, Phil. Namesake, you know.
Actually, I was taken aback with his excellent delivery. I honestly didn’t know he had it in him to squeeze so much goodness out of that number. I have to agree with Randy when he said: “You are going to have a career in country music.”
The best comment came from Simon. He said: “This is the only time since we met and in a long, long time when you have picked the right song.”
Phil truly deserved the remark “and America has voted, you are safe!”
Jordin Sparks came in as the second singer of the evening and raised the benchmark several notches higher. She belted out Broken Wing, originally sang by Martina McBride. At the end of her session with the country singer, I could almost read Martina’s thoughts: “This girl sings that song even better than me”.
Indeed, Jordin did just that. Her performance was nothing short of sensational. Judging from this week’s show alone, I can see Jordin making it to the last three.
Randy was obviously impressed: “This is one of the most difficult songs. You did it and it was a blast!” From Paula’s lips: “You did a fantastic job.” Simon gave the most telling opinion: “This is the first time since we met, based on that performance, I think you could win the American Idol title.”
In fact, Jordin did so well that even before the song ended, applause and a crescending roar of approval could be heard from the audience.
If you were to compare Lakisha Jones and Melinda Doolittle this week, Doolittle would have scored a technical knockout.
Lakisha bravely took on Jesus, Take The Wheel. It was last year’s Idol champion Carrie Underwood’s award winning song. I admit that Lakisha has the vocal range to carry the number but it just happens to be that kind of tune that demands a certain country passion to make it believable. Underwood has it, Lakisha didn’t, as simple as that.
The three judges were not complimentary with their remarks. Simon said it was like eating hamburger for breakfast. But then, he’s a Brit and the English breakfast, as we know, is quite different from what they have in America.
Doolittle came up with a relatively unknown song entitled “Trouble Is A Woman. From the expression on McBride’s face, one could tell that the country singer was completely sold on that song.
The way Doolittle performed it, it sounded and felt feet-tapping, body-moving hot. It reminded me of the time when I heard The Devil Went Down To Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band in that 1980 movie Urban Cowboy.
Boy, that was one rip-roaring country tune. Doolittle’s number had the same effect. Randy, Paula and Simon were unanimous in their opinions. It was a fantastic performance.
Randy acknowledged that it was “another solid performance from our resident pro.” You won’t get an argument out of me on that.
Blake Lewis was the last one on stage. He sang When The Stars Go Blue. At the risk of sounding just like Randy, it was just okay for me. Frankly, Chris and Blake sounded like also-rans on a night where two or three singers were several aural levels higher than them.
So it ended with six contestants racing to the Idol finishing line. Most of them must be thinking that next week could be their last. If anyone of them has a premonition, he or she is keeping it very personal.
The contestants are putting on their Sunday best every week, polishing up their vocals and diligently learning some vital moves to spice up their act.
The Sword of Damocles swings ever so close. This is no time to make any silly mistakes. Another five or six weeks, and it will be all over except for the one who will wear the crown. Stick around..
Althou its all over for Sanjaya Malakar..Adios..
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