A souvenir from another eventful AI season

American Idol Season 5 Encores, Various Artists

19 Recordings/RCA/BMG, 2006

Even as the country girds to witness the inaugural Pinoy Idol search, enough American Idol inertia and mania is left to assure this new album of brisk sales. Indeed, the franchise can look back to a history of profit and widespread patronage.

The first four AI compilations have sold a total of 2.4 million copies; and if you add the sales of all the contestants who have released albums since, the total ups to 19 million albums and 4.5 million singles.

Well, expect millions more to be added to these numbers. The day this album hit the shelves locally two weeks back, CDs were steadily marched to the counter by eager music fans.

Truth be told, there was (again) quite a lot of controversy to go around in the fifth season of the talent search – inevitably helping drive American Idol ratings through the roof. Aside from the usual Simon Cowell insults and karaoke analogies, AI judge Paula Abdul reportedly went to work (and on cam) inebriated at least once.

And, gasp, there was an apology from Simon to Katharine McPhee and eventual winner Taylor Hicks for the Brit’s over-the-top comments.

Speaking of winners, quite a lot were shocked by the early exit of early favorite Chris Daughtry in favor of "McPhee-ver." Even more were disappointed and outraged (this writer included) that the amazing Elliott Yamin was passed over for Katharine. McPhee and her family then proceeded to complete a hat trick of infamy when they jubilated unabashedly on cam as the announcement was made that Yamin had the lowest number of votes among the three in the penultimate week.

Melissa McGhee, who was promptly booted out after miffing her lines early in the finals, opens the compilation quite weakly with the Heart hit What About Love.

Bucky Covington does justice to Stevie Wonder’s Superstition with his high-energy rendition by way of Stevie Ray Vaugn and Double Trouble’s version. Bucky’s raspy drawl imbibes his unique stamp on the classic.

For all the tremendous vocal chops of Mandisa "Man-Diva" Hundley (especially highlighted via the Whitney Houston classic I’m Every Woman on the American Idol stage), her version in the album suffers from overproduction. Guilty parties could have better showcased the vocals that propelled Mandisa to stardom with a mix that pushed her voice up front.

Chris Daughtry chooses a Bon Jovi track, Wanted Dead or Alive, to get his fix and, inevitably, make a case for a rocker’s perennial relevance to the competition.

Boy toy Ace Young is up next with George Michael’s Father Figure, which he renders in his trademark sultry, boy-band vocal. Unfortunately, bereft of his puppy dog eyes staring into the telly, Ace comes up short – delivering a whiney performance that is out of place in a compilation like this. Whatever Paula Abdul may have been thinking, Ace is best seen, not heard. So there.

Funnily enough, Idol winner Taylor Hicks comes up next to show Ace up. Now that’s what we’re talking about! Taylor glides through the Doobie Brothers’ Takin’ it to the Streets. While many of us think Elliot should have been the winner (a show of hands, please), Taylor is still a worthy champion – a total package of confident, if manic, energy and passion for music.

Lisa Tucker’s interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) showcases the crystal-clear vocals of the youngster, yet fails in energy and impact. Not surprisingly, Lisa was in the bottom three the week she sang the song.

Enter Kellie Pickler, bestowed the ultimate compliment by Simon Cowell himself by suggesting that she’s better than Carrie Underwood. Truth to tell, the Southern belle has good chops, and a self-effacing attitude that makes her entertaining both as a singer and a TV personality. Think Rufa Mae Quinto. But the Patsy Cline original Walkin’ After Midnight is, sadly, not the best vehicle for Kellie’s considerable vocal power, and her choices in low-watt songs such as these coupled with uncharacteristic foul-ups eventually did Kellie in. But we expect a movie career for her ahead.

James Moody’s Mood for Love cemented Elliott Yamin into the consciousness of American Idol viewers worldwide as arguably the best male vocalist the contest has seen. My girlfriend Joyce and I overheard an American lady looking at the American Idol CD say to her husband: "Oh, good! Elliott’s here! I wouldn’t buy it otherwise." That Elliott even dared to tackle the difficult song showed the mettle of the underdog who nonetheless shone the brightest. Elliott shares that he prays and takes deep breaths every time he performs, and was worried he would be going home after the Hollywood Round auditions as he forgot the lyrics in the beginning of his song. What a tragedy that would have been.

When juxtaposed against Elliott’s opus, Katharine McPhee’s rendition of the great Aretha Franklin’s Think becomes, in the words of Simon, a karaoke effort. It certainly is not amateur night, but there is enough reason to think whether McPhee finished high up in the standings because of her looks and the cinematic gamut of come-hither emotions she displayed on stage (read: overacting).

Young Paris Bennett finished fifth, but not before amassing a big base of believers with her mature, solid singing. Taking on Gladys Knight’s Midnight Train to Georgia, Paris does the classic song justice.

You decide if Simon is to be believed that Kevin "Chicken Little" Covais commanded the "granny votes." But Kevin must indeed be commended for reaching this far – whether through his geek-next-door appeal or his passable singing. Nonetheless, it must be said that of all the youngsters in the Top 12 (Lisa is 16, Paris 17), Kevin, 16, is the one that actually sounds his age. A reviewer pointed out (not without sarcasm, I’m sure) that Kevin would be perfect for the next Disney movie soundtrack. Oh, well. Cock-a-doodle doo!

As a souvenir album, Season 5 more than holds its own against past AI releases. It has a few misses (which doesn’t?), but scores big with the likes of Elliott and Taylor. The nagging doubt thus lingers: was Elliott cheated of (at least) a Final Two finish? Well, take American Idol Season 5 Encores for a spin and decide for yourself.