American Idol (AI) makes a big deal out of choosing the 12 finalists, but this really has no bearing on the results of the competition. All it does is add four shows per season to the series and those also mean more exposure for the contestants, more suspense as the contest hits up and of course, added income in the form of advertising revenue.
I say this because what AI really wants to zero in every year are only the Top 10 finalists. These are those who, win or lose, will be on stage for the finals night and will join the Idol tour. That also means that aside from the chance to become the seventh American Idol, those who make the Top 10 will get more media exposure and will also be seen by more people, some of which might be music execs in search of talents. That was how it happened for Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler, non-winners who are now doing very well.
Those four episodes are now over and done with and aside from getting rid of two finalists, Amanda Overmayer and David Hernandez, those evenings also marked the first time that Beatles songs were used in the show. This is also the first time that hits by the same songwriters were used two weeks in a row. I can only deduce that this happened because the producers were probably so overjoyed at finally getting their hands on this valuable catalogue, they just had to maximize use of those songs.
Beatles songs are exceptionally meaningful, not only because of the sensitivity and unique imagination of those four lads from Liverpool but also because of the memory baggage each one carries. It takes an exceptional artist to pull off performing a Beatles song because the original always seems to sound better and it is all that people want to hear. Besides, how on earth can you sing something like I am a walrus or about this news from Lancashire and sound like you mean it? I heartily agree with what judge Simon Cowell said last week, “I am not sure it was a good idea doing Beatles songs again.” So although it is always nice to hear Beatles music, I am glad that that fuss is over and done with.
The 10 finalists who survived the Beatles ordeal are David Cook, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Brooke White, Syesha Mercado, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay, Carly Smithson, Chikezie Eze and Kristy Lee Cook. It is a good batch of what may be the youngest AI contestants ever. Archuleta is strong and should gain the show lots of following in the tween girls market. Carly is poised and sassy and has the vocal chops. The one who is emerging as most interesting though is Chikezie. Too bad he had to do that harmonica bit but his singing really raises the goose bumps.
Pinoys are glad that Ramiele is in the list and hopeful she will emerge as the winner. Forget that revealing photos episode. At a time when people are willing to spend billions of money in their quest for great looks, it is no surprise that some of those who already look good would be inclined to show themselves off. And where do you do that these days? In the Net, of course. Think Vanessa Ann Hudgens.
But back to Ramiele. This girl can certainly sing. She is a thousand times better than Jasmine Trias of Hawaii from the third season which we were all so eager to claim as our own when she made it to third place. Unlike Jasmine, Ramiele does not only have Pinoy blood, she lived for a while in the Philippines and also sings like a Pinoy. I could not help but notice shades of Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha in the way she performs. If she stays in this track, emulating our best, then she stands a very good chance of winning. Besides, if Pinoys in the US were able to keep Jasmine in competition almost up to the end, I do not see why it cannot happen to Ramiele.
I have not read any news regarding the theme for this Wednesday’s AI episode. All that we got last week was the announcement that mentors for this season will be country music great Dolly Parton, R&B diva Mariah Carey, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and pop music legend Neil Diamond. It is an interesting mix of hitmakers whose song choices will I hope do better for the contestants than the Beatles did.