American Idol Rock ‘n Roll Duets Night

It’s American Idol’s Rock ‘n Roll Duets night and we are down to the final four contestants, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Chris Allen and Danny Gokey.

T’was the first night there’s been no dress rehearsal because of a tower collapsing on the stage. Alas! The show must go on.

Slash, legendary lead guitarist from Guns and Roses is mentor for the night. I think he sees Adam as the best performer, but that was just a gut feeling like when you see something is good and you just know it.

Adam starts the night off incredibly, making it difficult for anyone to top his performance with a “Whole Lotta Love.” Well, if you’ve been reading my postings, you’ll know that I’m thinking Adam’s gonna win the show, (I could be wrong, of course.) Adam is it. Wow, a true artist, whose strength just might be rock ‘n roll. We shall see.

Randy Jackson loved Adam’s performance and said he’s a rock star tonight and that Adam and Slash should make an album together. Kara DioGuardi judges him “a rock star.” Paula Abdul calls Adam “a whole lotta perfect,” and Simon, jokingly called his performance “understated.” But we know Simon is only joking. Tongue in cheek. Adam, Simon states, has just performed one of his favourite performances that Adam had ever given. However, Simon says, the problem is, and there’s always a problem for Simon, that nobody can top Adam’s performance tonight. There, you have it, the night has started off rather well for Adam. With a great big bang, I should say.

Allison sings “Cry Baby”, but although I like this girl, I have to honestly say she didn’t give her best performance tonight. That’s my thought. Randy didn’t love it either. Kara thinks it’s not the right choice of song but believes Allison transforms when she gets on the stage. Paula foretells that if ever a movie is made about Janis Joplin, Allison would play the role of Janis, and so she should. I mean, who else could play that role? Most actresses can't belt out a song like Allison. Simon told Allison, he had seen her complete confidence on the stage, but she had picked the wrong song.

Chris Allen and Danny Gokey were up next to perform “Renegade,” together as a duet. Well, I didn’t like it. They are not rock ‘n rollers. It was sort of mundane. Banal. Mediocre. Randy liked the harmonies, Kara noticed pitchy moments, and Paula said “Good job.” (that means you made the effort but the results weren’t exactly as we had hoped). All Simon could say, was “who was better? Okay, Danny was better.” Could Simon have possibly been: not enthralled??? Was Simon feeling tired tonight?

Then it was Chris’ chance to sing his chosen version of the Beatles song, “Come Together.” Randy loved Chris’ guitar playing and enjoyed the song. Ho-hum… Ms Kara found Chris to be trying too hard and that it was not a great performance. Paula, always gentle in her judgment, judged the song a difficult one, but “you’re an artist,” and he needed a little more energy. Mr. Contrary (I mean, Simon) didn’t like it, comparing it to the experience of eating ice for lunch… “it will leave you with nothing to remember afterwards, a bit like eating ice for lunch”… Wilted salad… Disappointing. Let down.

Danny, next upm sung “Dream On.” Randy found it “alright”. Kara thought Danny had taken the advice to “get more swagger," a little too far… and it “wasn’t perfect”. Please don’t swagger, Danny. Not a tune I’ll be downloading. Simon, au contraire, found that he agreed with everyone and that Danny’s rendition of the last note was like watching a horror show; that Danny’s scream at the end was like a scream from Friday the 13th. Gawd! Wouldn’t ya just shrivel if you got these kind of comments? I would have.

So after that weak performance, the evening ended with a duet of Allison and Adam. Now, these two being my favourites, I sat on the couch, eagerly awaiting their performance. They performed perfectly together on the stage, their performance was great to watch – one could not be disappointed by their singing, their artistry, their moves, their swagger, all perfect.

Randy judged Adam and Allison to be the seasoned rock stars in the house. Kara said this is what is right in a duet, and that the two of them should do an album together. Paula, the symbolic mother, said the two of them should be married, artistically, of course. And Mr. Simon Cowell declares that in the battle of the duets on American Idol, these two win the show. And, Adam, says Simon, may have given Allison a chance to stay in the competition.