Dolly Parton week starts tonight on “American Idol,” though apparently the definition has been stretched to include any song she has recorded, which results in quite a big list. Hopefully, they’ll keep it to songs she’s known for.
Two pre-show dramas are pretty obvious. First, who gets to sing “I Will Always Love You.” Does it go to producers’ pet David Archuleta? Does it go to Whitney Houston devotee Syesha Mercado? Does it go to someone unexpected? The second one: Will David Cook do “Jolene” in the style of the White Stripes? Will he continue his run of outsmarting the judges and much of the American public by following in the footsteps of various alt-rockers? (I’m gonna guess yes.)
So what should the Top 9 be singing tonight?
Dolly Parton, "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That" (what Carly should sing)
David Archuleta: It’s pretty clear you’ll get what you want, so take “I Will Always Love You” and run with it, playing it for all its dramatic worth. If you pull it off, you’ll regain your frontrunner status.
Jason Castro: Um, yeah. This won’t be his week and could end up being catastrophic if he doesn’t pick a likable song that gets the girls dialing. “Islands in the Stream” could work.
David Cook: Dude, please don’t sing “Jolene.” There’s a whole lot of people who want to get behind you as an inventive rocker, which won’t happen if you’re this predictable. You’d be way better off turning “9 to 5" into a bluesy protest song that Bruce Springsteen would be proud of.
Kristy Lee Cook: Last week’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” may go down as the smartest (and most jaded) song choice in “Idol” history, so why abandon that strategy now? Pretty much anything from Dolly’s “For God and Country” album will work, but “Brave Little Soldier” might be a bit much. “Red, White and Bluegrass” could be another good move.
Michael Johns: Dolly doesn’t really go for the big dramatic notes that Johns needs to make an impact, so he’s going to have to go into prevent defense and do something fun like “Two Doors Down,” which has some big notes in the bridge.
Ramiele Malubay: In an odd way, Dolly could be your guardian angel. You share that mix of cute and sass and pretty much any of her hits would work. “Here You Come Again” might be the bounce you’ve been waiting for.
Syesha Mercado: Yeah, losing “I Will Always Love You” will probably suck, but Dolly has a few soulful hits in her massive catalog. “Starting Over Again,” written by Donna Summer, might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Carly Smithson: Yeah, you’re drawn to the power of “I Will Always Love You,” but you need to not be so serious. Put some power behind one of Dolly’s playful songs – one of my favorites, “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That?” would be perfect – and your slump may be over.
Brooke White: This may be a tough week for the laid-back earth mama. Dolly’s all about flash and fun, so sticking with one of her easier songs may be a good call. Maybe tapping into the emotion of “Coat of Many Colors” will keep her safe.
Comments (1)
Dude, c'mon. Jason Castro is from Texas. If anyone (besides Kristy) can sing country, it is Jason. He auditioned with country music, but due to copyright issues it wasn't shown on AI. He has a fantastic voice, as the downloaded versions of his performances attest. He may not be as polished as some of the other more "commercial" contestants, but he (like Brooke) sings from the heart and it resonates with me and thousands of others.
CASTRO vote for Jason!!!