Uncategorized - The Monitor’s American Idol Chat

HOW IT’LL GO: Jenny From The Block herself giving vocal tips? Right. Dance-themed nights always produce glorious, horrible trainwreck performance. Can’t wait.

“Heaven” (Los Lonely Boys) — The most white-bread song by a Latin band in the world i.e. perfect for Phil. Big, loud chorus.

“Como La Flor” (Selena) — Boots. Cowboy hat. Fringed leather jacket. Cleavage and legs, legs, legs. Could be a shining moment, though she’d probably do as well with one of Selena’s few horrid English ballads.

“Girl From Ipanema” (Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto) — PLEASE no Ricky Martin. Hardcore Latin choice might be considered admirable. He could do something interesting with the rhythm, or it could be death-knell boring.

“Escape” (Enrique Iglesias) — Very much in Chris’ boy-band vein. Attention to melody might make the song blossom.

English version of “Ojos Asi” (Shakira) —Dramatic, offbeat pick might give Melinda back her breathing room as frontrunner. Rapid-fire tempo would be a piece of cake.

“Cuts Both Ways” (Gloria Estefan) — The one exception to my Gloria Estefan ban. This tender ballad would go against the up-tempo theme, but could show some much-desired vulnerability in her personality. Or could be just invisible.

“Wherever, Whenever” (Shakira) — A major-key crossover hit with more hooks than a tackle box. Still would seem exotic coming from Jordin.

“La Isla Bonita” (Madonna) — I’ll leave it at that.

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Request Line: Standards Week

April 3rd, 2007, 12:39 pm by bgarcia

Please welcome Monitor copy editor Julie Vossler as she gives us her wish list for standards week on American Idol.

This week on Idol, the contestants have to sing standard songs. Most of America might be asking why, but I am jumping up and down since I love standards and spent most of high school locked in my bedroom listening to jazz and the like. Here are my picks for the top 9.

MELINDA DOOLITTLE – My Baby Just Cares for Me, Nina Simone

Unfortunately for Melinda, she’s done this theme week already. A lot. Remember “My Funny Valentine” and “I’m a Woman”? This week probably won’t give her much room to branch out. Lucky for Miranda, those were her best performances, so she gets to go back to that place where she roars through a song like she knows she’s all that and she’s not gonna be all “Aw shucks” when the judges give her high marks yet again at the end of her performance. I picked this song because it has a level of whimsy the other songs she’s sung have not, and I think that is what we need to see more of from Melinda. And Melinda, when you’re picking out your outfit this week, let the stylist pick.

LAKISHA JONES — At Last, Etta James

LaKisha absolutely shocked me with her performance when she sang “Diamonds Are Forever” a few weeks back. The knowing air with which she performed the song convinced me that she knew how to use her instrument and not just sing loud all the time. That’s why I picked “At Last..” The song will require a mature, nuanced reading, and if she brings it, she’s not going home for a long time.

GINA GLOCKSEN – A Fine Romance, Ella Fitzgerald I really embraced Gina as the next Joan Jett/Heart wannabe. So this week’s theme really stumped me. However, I think an uptempo version of this song will do the trick. She can have a little fun with her interpretation and maybe stop the show at the end. Didn’t we all believe in Kelly Clarkson a little bit more on that season’s standards week? This could be Gina’s time. She needs to prove that she’s more than just an emo/goth girl.

SANJAYA MALAKAR – But Not For Me, Harry Connick, Jr.

I need Sanjaya to stop being the dancing monkey. I keep reading about how his friends and family are saying America hasn’t seen the “real Sanjaya.” So, I think this song is the perfect chance for Sanjaya to spread his little wings and show us why he’s even on this show. Besides the fact that he changes his hairstyle more than the hairstylist that lives in my building.

BLAKE LEWIS — Mack the Knife, Bobby Darin

Note to you, Blake: DO NOT BEATBOX THIS WEEK. If you do, you will go home. However, this is a really fun song that invites Blake to put his own stamp on it and really wow the audience. It’s a good range for his voice, and if he takes the opportunity to prove he doesn’t need a gimmick, aka beatboxing, this week could really help him.

PHIL STACEY – Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, The Platters

This week could be a make or break for Phil. But, I think this song could be very good for Phil. It has a nice mellow feel that I think he does well with. He just needs to remember Diana’s advice to connect with the audience. If he doesn’t do that, he’ll go home.

JORDIN SPARKS — They Can’t Take That Away from Me, Billie Holiday

I wanna hear Jordin sing an uptempo song, since I mostly remember her singing slow songs. Plus, if she can add to Billie Holiday, I think that’s awesome. She has potential and this is how she can act on it.

CHRIS RICHARDSON – Chicago, Frank Sinatra

One of my problems with Chris is that he seems like a Blake clone, except that he doesn’t beatbox. Since we’re hoping Blake doesn’t beatbox this week, Chris needs to set himself apart and make himself stand out. This song could work, it could not. I don’t have high hopes for Chris R. this week. However, it’s a great song, so hopefully it works out for him.

HALEY SCARNATO –It’s Been a Long, Long Time, Keely Smith

Haley needs to prove to me that she knows how to support her voice with air. The out of breath panting I heard during British Invasion week was not cute. So, this showstopper that was Keely Smith’s signature will separate the woman from the girl, so to speak. There’s no way to sing this song but big, so take a deep breath and show us what you’ve got, Haley. Leave the pageant voice at home. Maybe bring the pageant hair.

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