American Idol 9 Top 24 – What Should The Idols Sing? (Plus Song Spoilers!)

OMGosh I am so ready for live shows!

Siobhan – It’s Raining Men? Might want to save that in case there is a disco week. That’s an interesting choice for a first impression. At least it’s not a ballad!

Ashley is appealing to Simon singing a Leona Lewis song. It’s a risky tactic tough if he choose to compare the two of them.

WTF Siobhan?

At least Tyler stays true to his seventies rock style, let’s see if he has enough charisma to pull of those songs.

Oh no Siobhan….though i am rooting for her, i don’t get It’s Raining men?????!! Isn’t it kinda a cabaret song to sing?? Let’s just hope she surprises us..

John Park singing at Last must be a way to show off his deep vocals and nice bass tone. Hope he pulls it off..

Ha..Ashley trying to be Leona? Not even close..

And why so many songs from the Beatles???

I really hope Didi sings “Keep Breathing” awesome song, Ingrid really fits her voice. I just know Tyler will be great.

Don’t know about Etta James for John Park, maybe he will change it up?

I really hope Siobhan changes up “It’s raining men” otherwise it won’t be a hit with the judges or with America. And Ashley faces some serious comparisons, unless she wows everyone.

Also, I think Katie is being smart by picking Michael Buble, hope she choses well and nails it.

I don’t really care for Alex Lambert … I think he’s got weak vocals. But if he brings out the ukelele and makes wonderful word like that hawaiian guy’s version he actually could do really well.

I love the Beatles! I would have loved to hear Adam sing “Yesterday.” I’m looking forward to seeing what this new group can do with the Beatle songs.

I had to go listen to “It’s Raining Men” again on Youtube. It always brings a smile to my face. That may be a good choice for Siobhan if she can perform it well, with energy and attitude!

If these spoilers are correct, yay on Didi’s choice!

I’m not sure I’ve heard Alex Lambert sing. Unless he’s one of the few who covered I’m Yours and didn’t sound very good at it?

I don’t really care for Alex Lambert … I think he’s got weak vocals. But if he brings out the ukelele and makes wonderful word like that hawaiian guy’s version he actually could do really well.

I think you got the wrong song there. If it’s by James Morrison, it’s this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbqhHdH9uCE&feature=related

OMG! I can’t wait to see tyler!
alex has the voice for the song, but can he charm us or put us to sleep?… ITS RAINING MEN!?… REALLY?
john, don’t do the beyonce version of at last PUH-LEASE!

Why pick old dated songs on a week when choices seem to be wide open to pick something current? The Beatles? It’s Raining Men? Etta James? WTF?

I loooove James Morrison, so WTG Alex Lambert. Ingrid Michaelson puts me to sleep, so I hope it’s at least one of her slightly more uptempo songs. Happy sucks even when Leona does it. And LOL at The Who/The Guess Who? Not exactly interchangeable. Maybe he’ll do an American Woman/Baba O’Riley mash up.

I’m not psyched.

I love Wonderful World and I think Alex is as cute as a basket of puppies, but boy hasn’t shown much in the vocals department, so we’ll see. I’m excited to hear Tyler, too.

“It’s Raining Men” is a song that judges give you to make you fail on Top 3 Night! WTF?!

And I LOVE “Oh, Darling”! It looks like they’ve really opened up the Beatles catalog.

It’s this list real or did someone just made it up? This isn’t not strictly enforcing the theme, it’s no theme at all. None of them were BB Hot 100 top 10 hits as far as I can tell. And as far as I know Oh Darling wasn’t even a single.

I think the songs suit the singers in general (although it’s WTF when I saw It’s Raining Men), but I hope the list is wrong.

Oh, MJ – I love you! Spoilers for songs! This is gonna be way too hard to stay away from week after week.

It’s Raining Men made me LMAO. Okkkk, could be interesting in a “She Works Hard for the Money” kinda way.

Singing modern songs like Leona Lewis is NOT smart – that’s like, Casey Carlson-level bad song choice. Just gonna come across as a weak immitation imo.

Beatles choices are smart – great music, and you get to do a unique interpretation of an old song. John Park’s choice is very very interesting, and could be quite unexpectedly good. I’m hoping for good things from him, because so far (from what little we’ve heard) he may be one of my fav guys (though that’s not saying much). And the fact that we didn’t hear anything from him at all during H-wood week means he either didn’t have much to show, or he’s good and the producers want to actually learn from past mistakes and not over-hype him.

“Oh Darling”??? When the heck did that ever get significant radio play? I like it, and I think it might be a good choice for somebody — known but not all that well known, something that could fairly easily be changed up and modernized successfully, etc — but whatever happened to the theme?

It’s this list real or did someone just made it up? This isn’t not strictly enforcing the theme, it’s no theme at all. None of them were BB Hot 100 top 10 hits as far as I can tell. As far as I know Oh Darling wasn’t even a single

LOL. Well, from past years, these Top 24 rounds are always a hodge podge of every random song ever. IMO the contestants have far too much free reign to pick anything, which really leaves some WTF song choice moments.

Then again, it’s also a good test of who can actually pick good songs for themselves, since, in years past, the best were able to rise to the challenge, while the cannon fodder quickly fell out of the running.

**does happy dance**

I’m so excited!

Half those spoiler suck. LOL

I want to know what Crystal Bowersox is singing. Bow-er-sox! Bow-er-sox.

It’s Raining Men should be a group song for the girls at the Finale. It’s not a song to be sung solo.

You know purplesmile I just realized that and came back here to check if someone had corrected me hahahhaa.

Now that I heard the song, I think I would have gone with the other song, lol. He could have done something more with the oldie. But like I said, I don’t care for him, *evil Mary Powers voice* “he’s the weakest link”. lol

I also can’t wait for Bowersox’s choice! But I know I will like whatever she does, she’s awesome!

Bow-er-sox!

Hmmm. Back to my usual process. Go to youtube. Search for “……” cover. Sara Bareilles has a kick ass
cover of Oh Darling. I could see Bowersox all over this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiUa2L3Axbc

You are so right justshootme! I totally forgot that Oh Darling has that bluesy quality to it that Bowersox would be incredible for!! Nice!

It’s also bluesy enough for Casey James to do something with it, though I am not his biggest fan!

Yay, spoilers. It’s raining men? Seriously now? LOL!

OK, here’s an accoustic It’s Raining Men. Not as kick ass, but the last minute or so is pretty good. Skip to around the 2:00 mark for the good part.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0XBRWS9iTc

Geri Halliwell has a cover also. DNW. Blech.

I can only see It’s Raining men working if she does something entirely different and cool with it … otherwise why bother? You are just buying an early ticket to elimination.

That was a pretty kickass version though! i liked it!

Really, Siobhan? I’m putting my points on you. And Ashley is falling right into the trap I knew she would…which I’m okay with, not a fan.

If someone gets up there and rocks “Oh, Darling” a la Across the Universe, I will freeeaakk, haha. Love that arrangement.

I think Tyler will be great, he’s such a showman. Alex chose a good song, but I don’t think he has the vocals to really shine against some of these guys.

I am so happy we’re finally to performances, I love song speculation and spoilers so much! Hehe.

LOL. Well, from past years, these Top 24 rounds are always a hodge podge of every random song ever.

I’m not sure if that is true. In general the songs chosen fit the theme, even if a degree of latitude is given – for example if the theme is songs of the 80s, a song from the 60s would be permitted if it had been covered in the 80s, or if it is originally released one decade but charted in another, etc.

There doesn’t appear to be any reason for the theme if none of the songs actually fit the theme. And I don’t think Michael Buble or Ingrid Michaelson ever had any Hot 100 top 10 hits, have they?

And the fact that we didn’t hear anything from him at all during H-wood week means he either didn’t have much to show, or he’s good and the producers want to actually learn from past mistakes and not over-hype him.

The producers want a girl to win so I’d be shocked if they pimp a guy over any of the girls. I look for the judges to pan them this year, particularly Randy who keeps saying in interviews that the girls are really bringing it! The show has been hyping the girls way more than the guys so far. Andrew Garcia has received the most screen time out of the guys, but its been girl, girl, girl, girl, girl.

I actually like the fact that Ashley Rodriguez picked a contemporary new song. The song is less than a year old! She’s obviously a risk taker and wants to be seen as current. It couldbackfire, but it could also propel her. I don’t particularly like the song Happy but I get what she’s trying to do.

John Park singing At Last intrigues me. I’ve never heard a man sing it before. lol

Alas, Siobhan and the girl with the brown teeth leave this week on American Idol.

You know purplesmile I just realized that and came back here to check if someone had corrected me hahahhaa.

I love James Morrison so I just had to react. Haha. (I love the Iz cover of the other wonderful world song, too, though.)

I want to know what Crystal is doing, too. And Lily Scott. And Casey James. Hee.

I won’t be surprised if these spoilers are wrong, though. It (fake spoiler list) certainly has happened before, I remember.

came across this on youtube on andrew garcia… what a talent. He is my early fav!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVQdwL8Jq8M&feature=related

John Park singing At Last intrigues me. I’ve never heard a man sing it before. lol

Jason Mraz usually opens his song Sleep All Day with a bit of At Last…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76bWyn3oIU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7MEy_IPJcQ

The spoilers are quite interesting. I’m loving seeing a lot of Beatles.

Robin Gibb’s ‘Oh Darling’ peaked at #15 on the Billboard charts. It was from the movie ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’

See his version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E28jPGAcLOk
Sara Barrieles does a beautiful version as well.

Siubhan may end up being the Kris Allen this year. Last year every week the spoilers came out people said ‘Kris Allen is singing WHAT???’ Then he’d kill it.

Joe Munoz

not surprised he is singing beetles as he is part of this beetles tribute show….he has a good voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJEBtIEPqGE

In general, I think most are really underestimating Siobhan. When she sang Living for the City, she tore the song up. I don’t forsee her flopping on the song. I really think she will use those BIG power notes of hers to become a frontrunner on AI. Let’s just wait and see.

Andrew Garcia

this channel has all of Andrew’s pre idol covers…over 30…some he sings alone …some with friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPVJWfcnG-k

In general, I think most are really underestimating Siobhan. When she sang Living for the City, she tore the song up. I don’t forsee her flopping on the song. I really think she will use those BIG power notes of hers to become a frontrunner on AI. Let’s just wait and see.

I just remembering someone singing that on a prior season and Simon going, I always hated that song. lol Maybe she will kill it, but I think its the song choice thats bad whether she sings it well or not.

this channel has all of Andrew’s pre idol covers…over 30…some he sings alone …some with friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPVJWfcnG-k

Most of those videos used to be in Andrew’s own channel (I used to check it a lot), which he apparently took down upon the start of American Idol.

I am a little nervous about Siobhan’s song choice, but I think she has fantastic vocals so it will probably go well. Can’t wait to hear Alex Lambert sing Jim Morrison either.

Singing modern songs like Leona Lewis is NOT smart – that’s like, Casey Carlson-level bad song choice. Just gonna come across as a weak immitation imo.

I think this depends what she does with it. She could pull out something interesting like when Kris did Heartless last year, she could fall flat like Casey Carlson and Matt Giraud (Viva La Vida). Will be interesting to see which way this goes.

Do they still pre-tape the semi-final performance shows or will these be live?

I’m intrigued by the John Park spoiler. I really liked his audition and could see him really impressing everyone with At Last.

Yeah you got me there purplesmile lol.

I really wanna know what Lilly is singing, I love her voice, but I worry since she is underground indie type of singer if she will pick an obscure song. She’s smart though, we’ll see.

Also this type of theme also ends up being a pain, cuz basically the contestants have a million songs to chose from, and we get a handful of bad choices. So far they seem to be keeping things interesting, so I think we are gonna have a pretty good show this week. The only worry-some choice so far is Siobhan’s, not because I don’t think she’s a great singer, I just think she has to do something different with it to stand out.

If they are going to try pulling off a Beatle’s song, they really need to turn it on its head. Something like this – Because.

It’s Raining Men? Who would pick that song. And who can sing it without sounding karaoke.

Tyler Grady mentioned Roger Daltrey as an influence so I’m hoping he’s singing a song by The Who & not The Guess Who.

Hey, Lispill, it happens. I, too, have surely often gotten things wrong. Heck, since I am not American and have only limited exposure to American (and international) music, almost half the time I would hear a song only for the first time when it’s sang by an Idol.

I really wanna know what Lilly is singing, I love her voice, but I worry since she is underground indie type of singer if she will pick an obscure song. She’s smart though, we’ll see.

I have faith in Lilly. Heh.

gaah i hope john won’t be a repeat of paul kim. at last has been done a bajillion times!

siobhan better rework the arrangement, otherwise she’s out, which is a shame ’cause she’s one of my favorites.

i’d be content if didi sang either “the way i am” or “keep breathing”. my guess is that she’ll sing the former, since keep breathing isn’t as popular.

i can already tell what the judges are going to say to ashley:
Randy: it was aight for me, a bit pitchy in parts. Ellen: you really know how to work the stage. (insert some funny comment). Kara: i felt a bit let down. Simon: that song was too big for you.

Yeah I am not american either! But I usually take pride in having a vast musical knowledge, lol. But yeah I am rooting for Lilly, I am hoping America will see past her “silver” hair and indie stylings.

I agree! I dont know that people are underestimating Siobhan, just that I haven’t seen much talk about her, but she hit some amazing notes in Hollywood from what we heard.

Ehhh there’s nothing current.bad move!!!

SOME SIMILARITIES WITH PAST FINALISTS ( Which means they are unlikely to win this season ) :

Lee Dewyze = Kris Allen 2.0 ( But we can only have one Kris)

Casey James = Bucky Covington 2.0

Ashley Rodriguez = Older version of Jordin Sparks ( even the mouth looks similar)

Katelyn Epperly = Kristy Lee Cook 2.0 ( Canon fodder )

Janel Wheeler = Haley Scarnato 2.0

Didi Benami = Brooke White 2.0

Lilly Scott looks like Daryl Hannah in the film BLADE RUNNER

Aaron Kelly = Anthony Federov 2.0

Haeley Vaughn = Jasmine Murray 2.0

Actually Andrew Garcia is more a Kris Allen than Lee Dewyze, in my opinion.

And I don’t think Didi Benami even resembles Brooke despite being blond and blue eyed.

I don’t understand contestants passing up the chance to sing recent songs when the opportunity presents itself in the semifinals rounds, unless they are going for a retro sort of appeal, like Bo or Taylor (but even he managed to sing a song from 2004 in the semis). Everybody and their grandmother has a guitar this year, so you have to wonder when the rearranging is just going to get old. I don’t have anything against updating songs, but when you become known for it, you risk developing a fanbase who only likes you for your rearranging skills, which leaves you SOL when it’s time to peddle your original music in the fall.

Love, love the choice of “Wonderful World”!

Do we know when the shows are being taped yet? Tonight fir the girls?

If Tyler Grady is singing Guess Who, I would love him to sing “American Woman”. “These Eyes” could work as well.

Oh, Siobhan, I want to like you (and I do), but how can I ever like that song choice? That’s such a dated song and such a terrible song in my opinion.

I want to hope she’d change it around and play with the arrangement, but she’s a belter, so I bet she’ll sing it straight.

Simon will hate it just by title alone. I remember Ellen saying they wanted her younger, I don’t think this song is going to do it.

I hope she doesn’t leave tomorrow, because there is something about Siobhan I like.

Lots of Beatles, that can be such a double edged sword….

Parabola:
02/22/2010 at 5:53 pm
I don’t understand contestants passing up the chance to sing recent songs when the opportunity presents itself in the semifinal rounds

Cuz everything on the radio now either a) is loaded with “Auto-Tune” and they don’t have that option (yet) on Idol or b) is just a sample of an older song anyway, or c) Both!

And why so many songs from the Beatles???

Probably because many of the Beatles songs are classics. They often bridge generations, and they are also easy to reinvent.

I also agree singing modern, current songs are a risk. Many contestants have failed doing this. The only exception is the opposite gender rule. Otherwise, there is a major risk for comparison.

Parabola:
02/22/2010 at 5:53 pm
I don’t understand contestants passing up the chance to sing recent songs when the opportunity presents itself in the semifinal rounds

AI has proven time and time again that choosing modern songs is NOT a smart move, unless it’s pretty different from your current style – otherwise it invariably sounds like a cheap copycat of the original. (example: about 90% of the Top 36 from last year)

I’m not sure if that is true. In general the songs chosen fit the theme, even if a degree of latitude is given – for example if the theme is songs of the 80s, a song from the 60s would be permitted if it had been covered in the 80s, or if it is originally released one decade but charted in another, etc.

IIRC – most of the Top 24/Top 36 “themes” fit my categorization of being very free – choose a “top billboard song”, for instance. It’s not till they get to Top 12 that there are definite themes (as in, 1980′s songs, as you mention, or disco, MJ week, etc.) That’s what I mean.

ETA: That’s why you had last year’s Top 36 performances essentially being anything under the sun – from classic rock to contemporary alternative, pop songs, 80′s songs, etc.

dcfan21:
02/22/2010 at 6:25 pm
If Tyler Grady is singing Guess Who, I would love him to sing “American Woman”. “These Eyes” could work as well.

Yes. Tyler would be sensational.

The person who picked “Happy” is just walking right into the fire. That is Leona’s song, so Simon will never like it sung by anyone else

I don’t understand contestants passing up the chance to sing recent songs when the opportunity presents itself in the semifinals rounds, unless they are going for a retro sort of appeal,

Because when you pick a contemporary song, it’s much much too easy to end up singing it *very* much in the same exact style in which the original performer sang it — because that performer and you are performing in the same era and most likely have certain major similarities in your style, compared to singers from another era. When that happens, you’re running a huge risk of being labeled “karaoke” *and* of producing a version that’s deemed too similar to the original and inferior to it.

If you sing an older song — or a contemporary song in a style that’s very very different from your own, like Kris and Heartless — then you have a chance to remake it in a contemporary style and you’re going to be less likely to be compared to the original performer because everybody won’t remember that person as well. Old stuff doesn’t have to have merely retro appeal. To see that you only need to compare Jamie Cullum and Diana Krall, for example, singing the jazz standards, in comparison to older or more cabaret-oriented singers doing the same songs. A contemporary singer who’s good and sure of his or her own style has a very good chance of remaking an older song in a very contemporary way, while when a contemporary singer tries to remake a contemporary song (in under a week, especially) the issue of karaoking it becomes very live and very dicey.

I actually like the fact that Ashley Rodriguez picked a contemporary new song. The song is less than a year old! She’s obviously a risk taker and wants to be seen as current. It couldbackfire, but it could also propel her. I don’t particularly like the song Happy but I get what she’s trying to do.

I’m not sure that singing a copycat version of a current song (which, make no mistake, is what will inevitably happen) is really all that daring.

I really wanna know what Lilly is singing, I love her voice, but I worry since she is underground indie type of singer if she will pick an obscure song. She’s smart though, we’ll see.

I’m hoping she does, actually. Admittedly, obscure numbers on Idol are a gambit, but not necessarily a bad one. But I’m just selfishly hoping for material that isn’t as blatantly obvious.

It’s Raining Men? Who would pick that song. And who can sing it without sounding karaoke.

Yeah, it’s a serious dud of a song. Bad history on Idol, too. It has an extremely tricky vocal line in it that maybe Siobhan, with her large pipes, can pull off, but considering that Kelly Clarkson (amongst others, but I recall it was being Kelly’s worst performance on the show) had issues with the song, so it seems to be an excessively bad idea.

Interesting on Didi’s choice; Ingrid seems a little obvious given her stylings, so Didi may end up looking copycat, but on the other hand it’s interesting material relative to Idol. And Katie gets points for picking something contemporary as well, even if I’m not particularly a Buble fan; it shows promise that she might be consciously avoiding the Celine Dion-type catalog we’ve heard all too often, which I had feared for her. I’m actually most interested in hearing what Crystal is going to choose; hoping she does something interesting, and even if she goes the way of copycat it’ll probably be on better material than her peers.

First week of semis tend to be a little poor in the song choice department, so I guess I can’t complain too much about any of the choices here.