Top 5: Rat Pack Week

I admit: I am not old enough to know the Rat Pack.  So the videotaped history lesson would have been really helpful to me.  I’m not entirely sure what Jaime Foxx has to do with them, but he has certainly been a successful artist.

Kris Allen is in the bitch spot tonight, but if Jaime Foxx is right about his performance of “The Way You Look Tonight,” it won’t matter.  A smooth song even with the jazz kicking in after the first verse, this song is not a vocal stretch for Kris, but he nails every note, powering his voice up and then settling back down.  The last note was beautiful.  I’m not sure how I feel about the arrangement—having the jazz kick in and the tempo upswing for about 30 seconds made the song feel rushed in place.  But it was a very solid, quality performance, technically outstanding.  Simon is right that Kris’s low-key style is likely to not win him this competition, but I think he will be a successful recording artist—especially if Jaime is willing to do an album with him, as he mentioned.

Allison Iraheta, based on her appearance in the bottom 3 last week, needed the pimp spot most this week.  Instead she is up second.  Granted, at this point in the competition the bottom 3 represents more than half of the competition, but I am still worried.  She is singing “Someone To Watch Over Me.”  Allison has clearly taken Jamie’s advice to heart because she is singing the hell out of this song, with a lot of emotion behind her lyrics.  I would have loved to hear her use her upper range better; she powered through a lot of notes rather than lifting the note high.  Still, I don’t think anyone will have a problem voting her up high this week!  Allison has some real strengths in this competition: she can mix up a song to suit herself, she has a great, versatile voice, and she has excellent showmanship.  Now, Allison fans—GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND VOTE!

Matt Giraud, who is hopefully not the underdog this week, is smack in the middle of the pack.  This is a great week for him because, as he mentions, he is a jazzy type of artist.  He is singing “My Funny Valentine” tonight, and with any luck he’ll mix it up a bit.  I loved Jaime’s suggestion of raising the pitch a bit, but as he starts singing, I don’t think Matt has listened—and as I hear him miss one of his high notes, I think we know why he didn’t.  Matt has some really good moments, but the problem is that he also has some really BAD moments, and ultimately it was mediocre.  I do not know what Simon is smoking tonight, but I do not agree with him; I thought Matt’s performance was miles BELOW Kris’s and Allison’s.

Danny Gokey is going next.  Simon has predicted that Danny will be in the top two with Adam… let’s see.  Danny is not, admittedly, going to change up “Come Rain or Come Shine.”  Who is surprised?  Danny doesn’t change up anything.  Vocally, of course, this is a quality performance, because Danny’s vocals are great.  Still, up until he kicked in about 30 seconds from the end, this was Karaeoke Gokey at his best.  The last 30 seconds redeemed the boringness of the song, but Danny does need to step it up.  Yes, he is vocally great, but if he ends up in the top 2 against Adam, I will enjoy seeing him get killed by someone that knows how to mix up a song and make it original and contemporary.

Adam Lambert is up next to wipe away all my memories of Karaeoke Gokey.  Adam is singing the Muse cover of “Feeling Good,” and this is going to be awesome.  He adds a jazzy tone to it, but every note is perfect.  What is that last note?  How long did he hold it?  This is a sexy, powerful, wicked cool performance, excellent showmanship, excellent vocals, excuse me while I go vote on both his numbers.

Top performances of the night

1. Adam Lambert

2. Allison Iraheta

3. Kris Allen

4. Danny Gokey

5. Matt Giraud