American Idol Recap: Who's Leaving the Building?

6. Tim Urban, "Can't Help Falling in Love With You"

Are you catching on yet? Tim Urban is a genius producer's plant who will make the Top 5 and outlast a klatch of more competitive players. That's what this show is all about: Pursuing your dreams and realizing that a muscular dude with a McFly haircut deserves it more. This underdog story is finally culminating with the judges' new-found optimism in TIm, which is an abrasive reality. Well, actually, if we want to talk abrasive: Season Eight's 10th-place finisher Michael Sarver's slow-dancing with Ryan Seacrest throughout Tim's performance was more jarring than the life's work of Louis Pasteur. (Get it?)

5. Casey James, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"

After a killer, yet unassuming version of "Jealous Guy" during Lennon/McCartney week, the Nickelback-coiffed singer fell back into a cloudy-midday-Sunday trance. Elvis certainly wouldn't have stood to applaud this middle-of-the-pack production. That's a shame, because it would've saved his life.

4. Michael Lynche, "In the Ghetto"

Michael's previous rendezvous with taste issues have produced stompy stage actions and goofy falsettos. But here, all knobs were turned defiantly counterclockwise: "In the Ghetto" isn't a dynamic song per se, but it allowed Michael ample space to uncover a single iota of Tracy Chapman-esque restraint. A revelation, indeed. Next week, watch as he turns water into wine.

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Comments

  • Mike says:

    I think last night was one of Idol's more interesting episodes this season. Proven contestants like Crystal, Casey, and Lee continued to perform, but the more interesting surprise was Tim and Katie - who I think both gave really solid performances. Looks like Andrew, Michael, and Aaron should be nervous tonight. http://thesmogger.com/2010/04/14/idol-hangover-the-still-top-9-perform/

  • Jasmin says:

    I'll dispute Lee's performance as the "best of the night." I never understood the enthusiasm for this guy. People say Siobhan screeches (and sometimes that's true--end of Paint it Black) but Lee SHOUTS entire songs, adding growls in every now and then. I know he's going for this 'gruff rocker' vibe, but the whole thing feels so...forced. When singing in front of Adam, Lee had a lot less of the growl and shout, and to me that was a million times better than his performance. It seemed a lot more natural for him.
    That's the exact same reason I haven't liked Mike as of late. He's not...him. He came into the competition strumming an acoustic guitar and singing Jason Mraz. THAT'S what he wanted to do. But ever since he ventured into R&B, the judges have loved him. So now he does the stereotypical big-black-guy-singing-R&B-and-soul thing, and I don't appreciate that.
    I think sometimes that Idol kind of ruins these people. The judges are so desperate to label them that the contestants lose what made them individuals.
    That's why I like Crystal and Siobhan. They stick to their guns.