Tuesday, April 07, 2009

American Idol - The Top Eight Sing

Jackie's TV Blog, American Idol

Tonight the final eight sang songs from the year of their birth.

Gosh, I feel old.

Overall, I totally agree with the judges about Lil Rounds version of "What's Love Got to Do With It." She was imitating Tina Turner rather than anything else -- down to the outfit, the heels, and the moves. I think she's going to be in trouble.

I think it could be time for Scott MacIntyre to go if Lil doesn't. For me, he's the same week in and week out whether he has a guitar or a piano. Kris Allen also had a weak performance tonight, but I think it will be between Lil and Scott going home. Anoop rebounded.

The best performances of the night came from Allison Iraheta, Matt Giraurd, and (sigh, it pains me to say this) Adam Lambert. I was truly impressed with Matt, in particular. However, Adam's performance was very theatrical and we know he's not going anywhere but to the finals even though I don't like a lot of what he does. He did do a good job on the record-selling performance side of things and that's what it's all about. Danny Gokey was good tonight, but more middle of the road.

I looked around for songs from my birth year that I would sing if I could sing. Although the date says the next year, this was actually released and a hit in my birth year:



I remember singing this one in the car with my brothers and father. My father could really sing it well. The other song I'd want to sing from that year would be "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash if only for the line "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die."

Is there a song from your birth year you'd sing (if you could sing)? I just Googled my "songs from" and my year of birth. Because ... obviously I was too young to remember them.

23 comments:

meb said...

I agree with everything y ou said Jackie. Scott I like, but he really is the same ole, same ole,every song he doesw.

Loved Allison and liked her change of hair and wardrobe. Guess she listens when the judges tell her things, unlike Lil Rounds. Lil really was not that good tonight.

Song released my birthyear... I'll See You In My Dreams... Actually it was released on November 10 and my bd is November 11. How much closer can you get.

Anonymous said...

Lots of Elvis from the year of my birth! Including Love Me Tender, Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog and Don't be Cruel. Never been much of an Elvis fan myself...
I missed Idol tonight. Thanks for the recap Jackie!

Donna from FL

dla said...

meb, my sister shares your birthday! What a great day!

I have not seen the show on the West Coast, but love the recap. I will actually watch The Biggest Loser and DVR AI to watch later. (maybe)

Songs from my year of birth:

Chances Are - Johnny Mathis

You Send Me - Sam Cooke

Lots of Elvis for me, too. And Debbie Reynolds, Pat Boone, and Paul Anka! lol

joy n said...

I'm feeling your pain about Adam, Jackie.

PDX Granny said...

I'm still watching the show, so don't have a lot of comments yet. Although I must say I'm not overly impressed with Anoop. The judges liked him tonight and I thought he was a yawn.

It was fun taking a look at the top pop artists and songs of my year. I have names like Dinah Shore, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. And songs like All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, The Woody Woodpecker Song, Buttons & Bows and last, but not least, I'm My Own Grandpa.

SueGee said...

PDX Granny - we must be sharing the same birth year! I saw one of my all time favorites "All I Want For Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth" and I was down memory lane.

I wonder what the idols would do with songs of that era ROFL! Some really good jobs tonight (Allison can sing!) and some getting by and definately some seem to be ready to go home!

Sue

Jennasmom said...

Jackie & Donna in FL, we must be the same age! Those songs were on my list, too. Looking over the list from my year, I'd probably sing The Wayward Wind (Gogi Grant). That looked like the only one I'd be able to do. If only I'd been born a year later. Patsy Cline starting hitting the charts - I still sing Patsy Cline in the shower! Love her!

~~Silk said...

I was surprised by some on the 1944 list:
Twilight Time
I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts
All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
New York, New York (On the Town)
Sentimental Journey
This Land Is Your Land
You Always Hurt the One You Love

[My verification word is "belie" - which fits these songs and my age!]

lynn1 said...

Jackie, I am 100% in agreement with your take on last night's show.
I really enjoyed Allison and Matt. I was OK with Danny and Anoop.
I am not a fan of Adam but I have to give him props for a great performance and vocal.
When Lil was singing I said What is she doing??? A Tina turner imitation?
I agree with MEB that Scott is the same week after week. He has talent but he never wows me.
Chris was kind of lame last night. He suffered from his song choice I think.
I did think that with so many good performances last night it was one of the best American Idols I have seen in a while.

I checked out songs from my birth year. I am in with the group that had "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."
I did a little more research on songs that were released in that year and came up with "I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts"
Since I can't sing or even carry a tune this would be something I could probably fake! LOL

Bet said...

It was fun looking up the songs from our birth years....I may be the oldest here but these were some of the songs I found: I'll never Smile Again, Taking A Chance On Love, You are my Sunshine and When You Wish Upon A Star.....I have always loved the older songs...especially the ballads.

lynn1 said...

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" and "I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts" must have been really popular songs.

~~Silk found them listed for 1944 and I found them for 1949. I guess since they are novelty songs they are timeless.
I know I heard "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" during the holidays this past year.

RBennie said...

I was very disappointed in Lil last night. I think this is her week to go home. She just doesn't seem able to pick songs that suit her voice. I also think it's time for Scott to go. There is just nothing at all special about his voice. I liked Danny's performance, but it certainly wasn't his best. Poor song choice for Chris also. He always seems to play his guitar on the weirdest songs! I thought Matt was good, but not as great as the judges carried on. I think he got a little too carried away with the riffing. Adam was phenomenal. He, hands down, has the best voice of the season and possibly of any AI season ever. My problem with him is that I don't think I would ever actually buy any record he would record because his preferred genre is just not my cup of tea. But his talent cannot be denied. I thought Allison was very good and I don't understand why she's in the bottom three so much. My money is on either Lil or Scott going home tonight.

RBennie said...

Oops, I almost forgot about Anoop. I thought he did a very good job last night. As much as he wants to be an Usher or Michael Jackson type R&B singer, he truly shines when he sticks to ballads.

Margo said...

My songs are Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones, Down Town by Petula Clark, My Girls by the Temptations,
and Wolly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Wow what a great year! :)

I was very upset that Adam didn't sing until 8pm. I always tape for and extra 5 min and almost missed the performance. I've since changed to an extra 10 minutes.

Margo

Anonymous said...

Just for the record, TV Squad says Adam sang Gary Jules version of Mad World last night. That version was released in Jan. of 2002. It was not a style that Adam thought up. It was an exact copy of Gary's version. Lil shouldn't have been given so much flak for the same thing.

RBennie said...

A lot of good songs came out the year of my birth (1961) - Tossin and Turnin, Cryin, Dedicated to the one I love, Where the Boys are, Hit the Road Jack, Shop Around, Runaround Sue, Stand by Me and Are you Lonesome Tonight to name a few. The funniest one has to be Does your chewing gum lose its flavor (on the bedpost overnight) by Lonnie Donegan - ROFL. Does anyone remember that one? I sure don't.

Anonymous said...

Rbennie said: :Does your chewing gum lose its flavor (on the bedpost overnight) by Lonnie Donegan - ROFL. Does anyone remember that one? I sure don't."

***

Yes I do! There was a time I could have said (not sung) the lyrics for you. Does anyone remember Hit Parade? I don't know what year it went off, but I seem to remember this being a song they did. Hit Parade was very early music videos.

Tessa said...

Looking up songs from my birth year was fun.

From 1968:

Harper Valley PTA
Born To Be Wild
Say A Little Prayer for You
Mony, Mony
Mrs. Robinson
Hey Jude

SueGee said...

Here is the Chorus:

Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?
If your mother says don't chew it, do you swallow it in spite?
Can you catch it on your tonsils, can you heave it left & right?
Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

ROFLMFAO I think I remember singing it in about Jr High

Sue

Tessa said...

That gum song is hilarious. It should have been sung by the 1910 Fruitgum Company. They had a couple of hits in 1968. I've never heard of them.

Anonymous said...

Song from the year of my birth REO Speedwagon take it on the run, or Rick Springfields Jessies Girl..f

Caroline said...

Count me in the group that doesn't understand why Alison is always in the Bottom 3. She's clearly one of the most vocally talented this season.

Songs from my birthyear I would sing:
Heartache Tonight - Eagles
Against the Wind - Bob Seger
On The Radio - Donna Summer
Heartbreaker - Pat Benatar

Anonymous said...

I think Allison doesn't have as big a following as the top runners. She's too much like Kellie Clarkson and we've already been there, done that. I wish she would change her hair, it's much too harsh. I like pink hair but it's just not working for her.

I will need to reset my dvr as well. This is getting ridiculous with the run overs and there's not even a game on beforehand to be the root of the problem. Adam's lucky he has such a huge following and people that were voting for him anyways but what if one of the others were singing in his spot and didn't get the same amount of tv time as the first singers. Is that fair? How can we vote without watching all the performances.