The winner takes it all (1)…

Ooo…I was so excited when I found out that the American Idol finalists were singing Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber this week but after the show, I must say I was not very impressed and in fact, somewhat quite disappointed.

Looking first at the ladies, Syesha Mercado has improved by leaps and bounds since she started…and her more recent performances have been very very good, but somehow, it seems she does not have a strong fan base…probably because she’s of the wrong colour or the wrong sex. The way things are going, it certainly looks like it’s going to be the guys’ year.

The Irish tattoo lady, Carly Smithson, was excellent with her rendition of “Jesus Christ Superstar” but she too, has not been very popular either all this while.  For one thing, she’s not very versatile and shines only when she’s doing rock or a fast number. Nevertheless, I did not, for a moment, expect her to be voted out. If anyone should go, it would have to be Brooke White…not just because of her faulty start which could have affected her performance, but I think she did not do a very good job with Madonna’s “You must love me” from “Evita”- the movie version…or maybe I was expecting too much for that is one of my all-time favourite songs and she, at best, was just so-so.

Jason Castro, singing “Memory” from “Cats”, was as Simon described him “beautiful” and someone reluctant but forced to sing grudgingly at a relative’s wedding, but his screaming fans would probably keep him around until the last three. I thought he was ok but David Cook seems to be the best singer among the three guys…

and his “Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera” was, I won’t say superb but very good. His forte has been more towards the rock genre, so much so that I was beginning to feel that he was a carbon copy of Chris Daughtry…but last night’s performance certainly showed his versatility. I would think he would be the one to emerge American Idol this year.

Finally, the sweet little kid, David Archuleta…

I have liked him since I heard him singing John Lennon’s “Imagine” and was hoping he would be the winner this year.  But somehow he does not seem to be very versatile…and would not do very well on the faster pop numbers. No doubt he has a good voice but he’s perfect only with slow Josh Groban-ish kind of songs. What a disappointment it was for me when he chose not to sing “Think of me” also from “The Phantom of the Opera” in its original theatrical/operatic form.  His voice would have been ideal for it, but no! He turned it into something that sounded like “More than words”, the Westlife version! Yucks!!!  Still with his charming, humble ways, he certainly seems very lovable…and maybe his hysterical girl-fans will vote him through.  One will never know with these reality shows. Somebody was commenting the other day that he resembles Alfred E Neuman of MAD Magazine…LOL!!! Poor thing! Anyway, I can’t wait till next week when they’ll sing Neil Diamond. I hope somebody will sing my faves, for instance, “Iam…I said” or “Play me” or “You don’t bring me flowers”.

Well, what about you? Who do YOU think will be the next American Idol?

Photos from www.americanidol.com