Before I tear into the mediocre performances from last night, I have to give special props to the mentor this week, Jenny from the Block herself, Jennifer Lopez. I was very impressed with her skill as a vocal and performance coach. I was partly expecting her to be a little detached and not provide much advice, just like Gwen Stefani two weeks ago. I was actually pleasantly surprised. She did great as a mentor and showed to be a very knowledgeable musician and performer, offering tips on what notes to sing and how to move while singing. She was very involved and enthusiastic.
Unfortunately, most of the praise ends there. "Latin Night" was chockful of disappointments. First we had Melinda Doolittle, who, once again, chose a song that's more than half a century old, "Sway." Granted, it has been covered these days by Michael Bublé and the Pussycat Dolls. But I don't know why she can't for once chose something more modern. At least, this season's undeniable front-runner delivered the song with her usual technical proficiency. However, it was charming guest mentor Jennifer Lopez who articulated Mindy's main problem— an inability to infuse the flirty number with any kind of sex appeal. I'm not talking about Mindy's oft-maligned physical appearance, either, but rather that internal meek mouse that she brings to the stage every week, the one that needs to be trapped, snapped, and tossed in the trash. In her pre-interview, she said, "I'm so not sexy," which became a self-fulfilling prophecy, reverberating in an emotional disconnect Mindy with the song.
I knew deep down that somebody was gonna trot out Miami Sound Machine's "Conga," but I'd never have paired it with the season's sauciest contestant, LaKisha Jones, even though I should've seen it coming. I mean, every other week, she breaks my heart by choosing a played-out song or a truly frightful outfit. However, last night, as she worked the stage in that plunging, red and black tie-dyed number, I actually found the urge to get up and shake my body and do the conga beat! Kiki's full-throttle growl upgraded "Conga" to something unexpectedly more contemporary and fun. So why did Paula and Simon have to go and tell her that she'd taken the safe route by choosing what's essentially "not a singer's song"? They were completely off base with that assessment. She took a huge risk and I think it paid off well.
I also found it odd that Paula made no comment on the Jordin Spark's vocals, only some nonsense starting with "You're so authentic, and you're you," after her performance of "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" (a song I love by the way). Again, it was a case of a dopey number performed with winning doses of power and personality. Bonus points for Jordin's little hand-in-the-air spin during the drum breakdown, and that undeniable final note. Goooo Jordin!
The best of the night had to be Blake Lewis. He was almost totally on key during his performance of "I Need to Know." Also, I liked his red tuxedo shirt. I agree with the judges who named him "best of the night." He had the perfect song choice and he followed J. Lo's advice on how to sing the song like he meant it. I see him gaining more and more momentum each week. One whose Idol chances cracked as much as his voice did is Phil Stacey. He might go home after an emotionally empty take on "Maria Maria." Which is a shame, because I still think that Phil's instrument is as good as or better than that of any other man in the competition. It's just that, as J. Lo pointed out, nobody's gonna get goose pimples if Phil's not concentrating on the lyrics and telling the audience a story. Or if he's wearing a peach shirt and a black jacket with metal appliqués on one lapel.
Oh my Haley! Your perfomance of Gloria Estefan's cover of Vickie Sue Robinson's "Turn the Beat Around" was muy caliente! You looked smoking hot and commanded that stage like a pro. Sure, you were a little drowned out by the music at times but I still think you are a very strong singer and deserve more that Simon's "you better keep wearing less and less clothes" comment. One that I was torn on was Chris Richardson's cover of "Smooth." I guess you could say Chris gets points for originality for reinterpreting the Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas hit in such an atonal way, and for ignoring J. Lo's advice on the correct pronunciation of "muñequita," but after two pretty solid weeks, this was a pretty weak showing.
As for Sanjaya, well, let's just say my emotional vehicle for him has no name. No, that doesn't make any sense, but neither did the judges' praise of his lackadaisical cover of "Bésame Mucho." Okay, I'll give him this — it was mostly on key, but the performance had no excitement or power, the end of every other line dissolved into a whisper, and his attempts at making sexyface into the camera were downright scary. Even Sanjaya's new hairstyle and goatee lacked the "Wha?" factor of the seven-ponytail fauxhawk. Now I'm just bored, but if the kid outlasts Kiki, that could easily turn to rage.
All in all, I'm losing hope in this season. No one has yet to wow me. We'll see next week what happens. Oh and my bottom 3 will be Haley, Phil, and I'm thinking this week may be a surprise so probably Lakisha?
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