American Idol's First Seven Contenders: Let's Declare Their Fates
Aaron Kelly: The sheltered 16-year-old crooner has lived his entire childhood in an air-conditioned puka shell. His rendition of "Angel" during Hollywood Week proves the acoustics in there must've been pitchy, because adopted-dawg sounded squawky and off. The memory of his first audition of "The Climb" still lingers, even if he's no JOE MCELDERRY TOUCH ME PLEASE.
Fate: Kelly's appeal is somewhere between the gawky, likable Alex Wagner-Trugman and the slightly more successful David Archuleta. I think he's secure for a Top 12 entry on appeal alone, though his voice will vault him to a 9th place finish at best. I hope he can get in at least one shout-out to his obvious influences LFO and the 1998 American Eagle catalog. Tears in my eyes already.
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Yes, Didi's "Hey Jude" was great. (So great it actually makes up for Kristy Lee Cook's "Eight Days a Week") However, her rendition of Kara's trifle was moot to me because I am terrified of song lyrics that contain shooting stars, hearts and clovers, lucky charms or anything else best left on a cereal box. And her Angel... did you hear your own clip? Listen to the "away" in "fly away from here" again. It is flat and out of tune. Simon's right. The girl is inconsistent.
As for Todrick? Yeesh. I think he's a little too current. He reminds me of Chris Brown. Another guy who isn't content to be young, talented and good looking, but rather angry as hell that the good Lord didn't make him straight. No one was happy to see him reemerge triumphantly through those doors.