Five Idol-wannabes remain and they’ll be doing the songbook of Neil Diamond tonight. I don’t have anything extremely brilliant to say—American Idol does not lend itself to brilliance of any sort—so what I’ll do is pick songs for the contestants. Here we go.
David Archuleta: “September Morn” or “Until It’s Time for You to Go”
Jason Castro: “Song Sung Blue” or “Cracklin’ Rosie”
David Cook: “Brother Love’s Travelin’ Salvation Show” or “I Am…I Said”
Syesha Mercado: “Love on the Rocks” or “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”
Brooke White: “Heartlight” or “Play Me”
I’ve increased my odds by waffling and choosing two per contestant. I ought to get one or two right that way.
I think they’ll save “Sweet Caroline” for the group number on Wednesday. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” would be a good one for David Cook, but I don’t know if they’d use it because the Hollies recorded it first.
Tune in at 8:00 PM on Fox to see just how bad a song picker this Turkey really is!
Share this:
Discover more from The Nittany Turkey
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The Redhead says
Okay Turkey, here are some other songs we might also hear tonight:
I’m a Believer (David Cook could do something interesting with this).
Holly Holy which would be good for Jason.
Kentucky Woman might also be good for Jason.
Ditto, on Sweet Caroline as a group number…but also a possible is Coming to America.
We shall soon see!
The Redhead says
There’s also Thank the Lord for the Nighttime…and Red, Red Wine…and Solitary Man.
The Redhead says
And Cherry, Cherry.
The Nittany Turkey says
Soon.
The Nittany Turkey says
I dedicated Cherry Cherry to David Archuleta, who hasn’t yet lost his.
The Redhead says
HA!
The Nittany Turkey says
Neil has got to be closing in on 70.
The Redhead says
I saw the Dimond at the former O-Rena back in 1999. He put on a great show. His voice sounded great.
The Redhead says
Still using that black hair dye, I see.
The Redhead says
Make that Diamond.
The Nittany Turkey says
He borrowed a bottle of it from Archuleta.
The Nittany Turkey says
I think Jason will be awful with those two songs.
The Redhead says
Forever in Blue Jeans, not one of my favorites.
The Redhead says
You know, I kinda like this.
The Nittany Turkey says
I think it’s like college dorm sing-around night.
The Redhead says
I actually like this better than Neil’s version.
The Nittany Turkey says
This is a crappy song, which Diamond pulled off with his powerful delivery, which ain’t what Jason’s got.
The Redhead says
Nice job, kid.
The Nittany Turkey says
There we have it: total agreement! 🙂
The Redhead says
See I think the song needed the lighter touch–that’s why I liked Jason’s take on it. I never thought it fit the Diamond’s voice.
The Nittany Turkey says
I tolerated it because of Diamond’s voice.
The Redhead says
I don’t know about this song choice.
The Redhead says
What was your view on that Turkey?
Uh oh. Here comes Brooke.
The Nittany Turkey says
I slept through it.
The Nittany Turkey says
This is kinda like Julie Haggerty singing in “Airplane.”
The Redhead says
This totally sucks. If she doesn’t go home this week, I’m going to be pissed.
The Redhead says
(:
The Redhead says
🙂
The Redhead says
There–the smiley thing worked!
But actually, I’m crying after that awful performance.
The Nittany Turkey says
She has a nice smile. 😀
The Nittany Turkey says
So far, nobody has knocked my socks off.
The Nittany Turkey says
Or yours.
The Redhead says
Neil’s being kind.
The Nittany Turkey says
Yeah….well I felt it would be a tough night since these songs are all so much identified with Neil Diamond that it would be difficult to not be compared with him.
The Redhead says
This is going to suck.
The Nittany Turkey says
Now, these were supposed to be group numbers for tomorrow night.
The Redhead says
I bet the kids don’t even know some of these songs.
The Nittany Turkey says
He looks like a little Mexican kid singing big man’s song.
The Redhead says
Yeah, who knew?
What are they going to do? Cracklin’ Rosie?
The Nittany Turkey says
Soolaimon
The Redhead says
Sort of a cop-out way to end the song.
The Redhead says
Lame. That’s a good word for it.
The Redhead says
This is a good choice for her.
The Nittany Turkey says
She might do that one gospel style and it might work.
The Redhead says
Finally, she’s dropping that Whitney bit and just singing the song.
The Redhead says
I spoke too soon.
The Nittany Turkey says
The little forlorn girl singing to her boyfriend thing works. But the Whitney shit doesn’t.
The Redhead says
If she kept it at the level she stayed with at the beginning, it would have been so much stronger.
The Nittany Turkey says
No retching, though. She should have sung that like Streisand, not like Whitney.
The Nittany Turkey says
Did he sing two, Paula?
The Redhead says
WHAT??????? He hasn’t performed his second song for the TV audience yet!!!!!!!!
The Redhead says
Brooke WAS a nightmare. Good for Simon.
The Nittany Turkey says
RIGHT ON, Simon!
The Redhead says
I liked that Syesha did it the “old fashioned” way. He told Jordin that last season. He’s got a hang up about that.
The Nittany Turkey says
He cuts through the popularity contest crap and gets to the heart of the performances. Kudos to Simon.
The Nittany Turkey says
A hang up? No, an opinion. Opinions, as we know, are like assholes: we’ve all got one and they all stink! 😀
The Redhead says
Which comment was the one about David Cook?
The Redhead says
I missed what he said about Jason. Could you fill me in?
The Redhead says
Speak for yourself 🙂
The Nittany Turkey says
He said David Cook was just above average.
The Redhead says
And Jason?
The Nittany Turkey says
He said Jason was forgettable. David just above average. Brooke a nightmare. David Archuleta – amateurish.
The Redhead says
This is going to make the little girls swoon.
The Nittany Turkey says
This gonna suck.
The Nittany Turkey says
You mean the ones they pay to wave their arms in the mosh pit?
The Redhead says
I def. heard the Brooke part.
Well, I don’t mind Jason’s singing on this…but I don’t believe these sentiments coming from a kid this young. Especially one wearing dreads.
The Nittany Turkey says
It would help if he could sing on-key, but he sucks throughout. He’s so college dorm sing-along night tonight that he makes me want to go to the sandwich machine.
The Nittany Turkey says
This performance is rated IS
The Redhead says
Hey will you get me a ham and cheese?
The Nittany Turkey says
Yet, he’ll be second-best vote getter.
The Redhead says
Aw, give the kiddo a break. I thought he did it with feeling.
The Redhead says
This sucks.
The Redhead says
He’s boring me to death….well, not yet.
The Nittany Turkey says
I vote him the one most likely to evoke memories of Neil Diamond performances.
The Redhead says
I think he did the song from Phantom last week and now wants to stay in a similar mode.
He’s rocking it a bit now but I don’t like it at all.
The Nittany Turkey says
I thought Brother Love would have been a good choice for him.
The Redhead says
Sometimes The Diamond bores but sometimes he’s great.
The Redhead says
Maybe Bro Love will be the group song.
The Nittany Turkey says
Paula remains irrelevant.
The Redhead says
Wow. “Brilliant.” Maybe I just didn’t like the song.
The Nittany Turkey says
Yeah, it worked for me…and it worked for Simon, so I must be right.
The Nittany Turkey says
I have a hang up about Brooke.
The Redhead says
Aw, you got that modesty thing going 🙂
The Redhead says
What’s your “hang up” about Brooke?
The Redhead says
Guess Turkey’s at the sandwhich machine.
The Nittany Turkey says
I can’t stand her singing.
The Nittany Turkey says
This one will be a wet dream.
The Redhead says
I can’t believe she’s going to take on this song. What a dunce.
The Redhead says
Arizona and CA ain’t between two shores.
Stupid idea, Neil.
The Nittany Turkey says
Arizona’s fine but it ain’t home no morrrrrrrrrre….
(You goin’ back there soon, Brooke!)
The Redhead says
This isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
It probably was a good choice for her because she needs the drama so as to take attention away from her voice.
The Nittany Turkey says
In summation, Paula…
The Redhead says
Yeah, I agree with the panel on this one.
The Nittany Turkey says
So, a million times zero is what?
The Redhead says
I mean CA and AZ are between two oceans…but not like NY and Ca…you know what I mean.
This song is not working for David.
The Nittany Turkey says
I am so sick and tired of his voice and his mannerisms….AND AND AND….H I S F A C E!!!!
The Redhead says
He’s not giving the song enough emotion. He’s just repeating verses.
The Nittany Turkey says
It’s because he sings them all exactly the same way.
The Redhead says
Yeah, that earnest expression is starting to bug me.
The Nittany Turkey says
But he listened to Andrew Dice Clay about keeping his eyes open—mostly.
The Nittany Turkey says
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The Redhead says
Geez. Paula’s criticism is so pathetic.
I’m not on the page with Simon on this one.
The Redhead says
Okay. It’s almost snack time.
The Nittany Turkey says
He should of sang Comeen too Mexico, man.
The Nittany Turkey says
Yeah, let’s get done with Syesha so I can do some work.
The Nittany Turkey says
It’s the Aussie Victoria’s Secret model.
The Redhead says
I saw a news story today that Ryan’s days might be numbered on AI.
The Redhead says
Not bad.
The Nittany Turkey says
This will work if she doesn’t Whitneyfy it.
The Redhead says
You can tell she’s out of her Whitneysh element.
The Redhead says
Okay, she’s doing better now.
The Nittany Turkey says
This is probably the best of the night for me.
The Redhead says
Sexy!
The Redhead says
I do think Syesha has a nice sweetness to her voice when she wants to use it.
The Nittany Turkey says
SHUT UP PAULA!
The Redhead says
Way to end it Simon.
The Redhead says
Your verdict on her performance, Turkey?
The Nittany Turkey says
I liked it. However, Simon is right. She’ll be in trouble this week because she was in trouble last week.
The Redhead says
Okay, I see your comment on it now.
I liked it, too.
I think Jason should go home.
I think Brooke will make it another week.
The Nittany Turkey says
I’m a believer that Brooke has a following.
The Nittany Turkey says
Jason should go, but Syesha probably will.
The Redhead says
But I’m thinking that the producers might think I Am I Said would be a dramatic farewell song for Brooke.
The Redhead says
You are probably right. Simon might have jinxed her by closing the show with that particular comment.
The Nittany Turkey says
Yeah, the best of the night is between Cook and Syesha. But that ain’t the way the voting will necessarily go.
The Redhead says
I don’t have to work tomorrow night so I’ll be here on time.
The Nittany Turkey says
Ahh…Natasha Bedingfield tomorrow night.
The Redhead says
I’m betting little boring David is going to win this whole thing.
The Redhead says
Who is Natasha?
The Nittany Turkey says
Well, I’m outta here…seeya tomorrow for the big surprise vote-out!
The Nittany Turkey says
Natasha? She’s the English blonde who sang “Unwritten.”
The Redhead says
Ta Ta, Turkey!
The Nittany Turkey says
You know the one about the dirty window and the rest is still unspoken?
The Nittany Turkey says
Nighty-night! 🙂
The Nittany Turkey says
Or UNWRITTEN, I mean.