Scott Savol
Scott Savol got his mom's advice on which song to choose this week.
She helped him select one of my favorite songs to play on the piano.
While Paula raved about Scott's rendition, Simon and Randy did not have the same kudos to offer. Randy admitted the level of difficulty that this song required. Paula called it "one of the most heartfelt songs sung in the competition."
In this family of five, sadly Scott did not receive one vote from us. We obviously didn't feel what Paula felt so close to the stage.
Constantine Maroulis
Constantine chose a song that Sting, in collaboration with Herbie Hancock, has also sung. Sting's version will be coming out in Japan on April 16th 2005 as the Theme Song for the Japanese Film Ashura. Sting's soundtrack was released exclusively in Japan on March 28th.
Right off the bat, Constantine's audience could tell that he has previously performed in musicals.
Confident Constantine wearing the flavor of "Valentine" sang Babes in Arms' My Funny Valentine.
Constantine called it real sexy. Certainly, the rendition he delivered was exactly that.
This was one performance we were glad to have TiVoed. Where others in past weeks have been muted, this one was played again, and again, and again.
All five of us voted for Constantine.
And the four girls in our family are in 100% agreement with Judge Paula Abdul. Like Paula, we are all falling in love with Mr. Maroulis.
Even my sister-in-law, Ellen in Washington D.C., found this jazzy, bluesy sound appealing. She said, "I am seeing Constantine in a whole new light tonight." Ellen called three hours before our family of five got to see American Idol IV's Top Nine perform.
Randy said:
Keepin' it most real for me, I didn't buy the rocker thing. This is the best you've ever sung. You should be doing musicals. I'm telling you man. I said, 'What?'
Paula admitted she was falling in love with Constantine. She called him the coolest of cool and told him she wishes she could go up on stage and hug him.
Simon turned to Paula when it was his turn and said, "But did you like it?"
Simon gave his vocal a "7," but his pouting a "9 1/2."
"Bar none," Simon said, "your pouting performance is the best."
When Ryan asked who the real Constantine is, he responded by saying "many flavors."
Ryan tried to get the camera to do the same 360-degree turn around Constantine as it did as he completed his performance.
Meanwhile, we were counting up five-out-of-five votes to send Constantine's way.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie belted out "Hello Young Lovers" from The King & I.
She wore a Marilyn Monroe-like robin's-egg blue halter dress.
Randy found her song choice boring, but he told her she was in tune, controlled and that she sung brilliantly.
"You looked simply stunning tonight," Paula said. "You're a well-oiled machine with your vocals."
Simon called the song mind-numbingly boring. He also called the performance too old-fashioned.
After listening to the song a million times over the past four days, she learned how to own it.
We thought Carrie's choice was appropriate for an old-fashioned kind of gal. It didn't blow our socks off but we weren't wearing socks anyway.
Carrie got four-out-of-five votes last night from this American family.
Vonzell Solomon
Vonzell sang "People" from Funny Girl which was originally sung by Barbra Streisand.
Randy called her performance "brilliant."
Paula said she sang the song as good if not better than Barbra. Paula complimented her for hitting E Flat, a note that Barbra doesn't even attempt to hit.
Paula said, "Barbra is Barbra, and Vonzell is now Vonzell."
Once again, Vonzell looked stunning.
And once again, the graphics person failed to deliver. Where previously they put up the wrong numbers, this time you'd think they worked for Cingular Wireless. The graphic showing the number to call was a huge distraction to the contestants' performances. At least he or she was consistent. All nine contestants had half their body covered up for the majority of their performance.
Anthony Fedorov
Anthony sang "Climb Any Mountain" from The Sound of Music.
Randy didn't care for his performance at all. Paula liked what he did with it. Simon used one word to describe it, "Hideous."
Nikko Smith
Nikko Smith sang "One Hand, One Heart" from West Side Story.
Nikko called it the perfect choice. Wearing a blue shirt, grey pants and vest, a stunning brown tie and fedora hat, Nikko looked very polished.
His performance was one of our favorites of the evening.
Randy said, "You know what I love about you, man, you keep it contemporary." Just like the signs in the audience, Paula said, "You are the comeback kid, Nikko."
Randy and Paula challenged Simon's comment that the beginning of the song was out of tune. We agree this time with Randy and Paula.
Anwar Robinson
Anwar chose "If Ever I Would Leave You" from Camelot.
Once again, Anwar gets our top marks for "best dressed, most rugged elegant."
He looked incredible wearing a velvet top and dark grey
Randy called him one of the best singers here.
"You seem very comfortable," is all Simon said.
Our nine year-old and my seven year-old said, "I'm voting for him."
Bob Bice
Bob selected "Corner of the Sky" from Pippin.
Wearing brown leather pants and a red wine colored shiny top, he looked uncomfortable with his song choice, but delivered a solid performance.
Randy said, "Once again, consistently great. You know I'm in your corner. You're one of the dawgs."
Paula called him a winner.
Simon said "personally you've had two bad weeks."
Nadia Turner
Nadia was the last to perform on American Idol IV
She chose as song from Oliver!. Her song: "As Long As He Needs Me."
She wore a long white, slinky gown.
Tim said, "She definitely gets Best-Dressed."
Nadia's performance is one that I would have paid to see.
The crowd was on its feet.
Randy called it a great performance.
Best-Dressed, Most Rugged Elegant of the Night
This week, Ryan Seacrest, Anwar, Vonzell and Nadia get our vote for "best-dressed, most rugged elegant." We also dug Constantine's tuxedo tails.
Major kudos to Ricky & The Band this week, and every week. We notice.
Inspire & Be Inspired.
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "musical" living!
~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC
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