The first week highlighted '60s songs, the second songs from the '70s. Unless the producers want to surprise us with country night or the songbook of Leonard Cohen (how awesome would that be ... David Archuleta on "Hallelujah" ... which would also work for '80s night!), it's safe to say this week will confront one of the more questionable decades of American music. For every glorious U2 gem, there's a one-hit wonder waiting to be rediscovered on the "Idol" stage.
I have a feeling when the ousted contestants complained about not being able to pick the right song, their consensus general grievance was with the high quality of the music being made during that 20 years (though it didn't stop Amanda from picking that hideous song last week). For the most part, '80s week should rectify that: Whitney Houston! Phil Collins! Bon Jovi! Journey! And if the artists choose to aim high, they may just murder a Prince or Madonna number.
Wouldn't it be interesting to see some of these artists go off the beaten cheesy rock and pop path and cover something unexpected? I have conflicted feelings about letting singers such as Luke Menard and Kristy Lee Cook take on songs that are dear to my heart. On one hand, it's great that a long-forgotten tune might get new life on iTunes following the show; the downside is that if the first time you heard a song was through the vocal stylings of Chikezie, there's a chance you'd never want to allow your ears such harm again.
But wouldn't it be cool to see one of the better vocalists tackle something other than the rote Mariah and Celine numbers? Carly Smithson with "Hounds of Love"? Michael Johns with "With or Without You" (or without it if he goes without his shirtless, as well). Amanda Overmyer, you must atone for the tonedeaf atrocities of '70s week by performing a tender and piercing version of the classic "Sweet Child O' Mine" (feel free to change that to "chile" as you're wont to do). And for David, why not offer this sexually ambiguous teen a number out of the Morrissey songbook such as "Charming Man" or "Hand in Glove"? I'd really like to see him do The Go-Betweens' "Bachelor Kisses," but that ain't happening.
I'm going to list some of my favorite songs from the decade in hopes they are either spotlighted with excellent vocals or, better yet, mercifully overlooked. Anyone have a favorite '80s tune they want to see a contestant perform (and one they hope is spared)?
TOP 10
1. "Running Up that Hill," Kate Bush
2. "With or Without You," U2 (I'm restricting the top 10 to one song by each artist, but pretty much anything by them I love)
3. "The Killing Moon," Echo and the Bunnymen
4. "Blue Monday," New Order
5. "There is a Light That Never Goes Out," The Smiths
6. "Bachelor Kisses," The Go-Betweens
7. "Sweet Child O' Mine," Guns N' Roses
8. "Cold Cold Ground," Tom Waits (prefer live version)
9. "Side of the Road," Lucinda Williams
10. "Head Like A Hole," Nine Inch Nails (Also, this is my hopeful top friend Poolerboy's choice for David A. to sing on Tuesday night, to be followed by a reality-check version of the equally great NIN song "Something I Can Never Have." If he indeed had a 9-inch nail, his chances would be better, but I'm afraid that would be a "Terrible Lie" to quote another song off "Pretty Hate Machine.")
HONORABLE MENTIONS ...
"Lately," Stevie Wonder (past "Idol" casualty)
"Blister in the Sun," Violent Femmes
"In Your Eyes," Peter Gabriel
"Eric's Trip," Sonic Youth
"1999," Prince
"Kid," The Pretenders
"Into the Groove," Madonna
"Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen
"Fall on Me," REM
"Detox Mansion," Warren Zevon
"Under the Milky Way," The Church
"What's Love Got to Do With It," Tina Turner
"Turning of the Tide," Richard Thompson
"Turning of the Tide," Richard Thompson
"Boys Don't Cry," The Cure
"Hong Kong Garden," Siouxsie and the Banshees
"The River," Bruce Springsteen"
"The River," Bruce Springsteen"
"Mad World," Tears and Fears
"Nick of Time," Bonnie Raitt
"Time After Time," Cyndi Lauper
MORE GREAT SONGS FROM ARTISTS ALREADY NOTED ...
"Where the Streets Have No Name," U2
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," U2
"Sunday Bloody Sunday," U2
"A Sort of Homecoming," U2
"The Unforgettable Fire," U2
"I Will Follow," U2
"11 O'Clock Tick Tock," U2
"Hounds of Love," Kate Bush
"Age of Consent," New Order
"Love Vigilantes," New Order
"Bizarre Love Triangle," New Order
"Hand in Glove," The Smiths
"Girlfriend in a Coma," The Smiths
"How Soon is Now," The Smiths
"The Back of Love," Echo and the Bunnymen
"The Cutter," Echo and the Bunnymen
"Welcome to the Jungle," Guns N' Roses
"Love Goes On," The Go-Betweens
"Unkind and Unwise," The Go-Betweens
"Apples in Bed," The Go-Betweens
"The Captain," Leonard Cohen
"First We Take Manhattan," Leonard Cohen
"Everybody Knows," Leonard Cohen
"Changed the Locks," Lucinda Williams
"Passionate Kisses," Lucinda Williams
"Did She Jump or Was She Pushed?" Linda and Richard Thompson
"Sign O the Times," Prince
"Pop Life," Prince
"Little Red Corvette," Prince
"Down In It," Nine Inch Nails
"Ringfinger," Nine Inch Nails
"Stand," REM
"The One I Love," REM
"Innocent When You Dream," Tom Waits
5 comments:
What about The B-52s? Or The Pretenders?
David should tackle some Bryan Adams again -perhaps more "Heaven" or a new take on "Summer Of 69"?
Oh, I forgot the Pretenders. I do love them. I saw them years ago in California live and Chrissie Hynde was great. "Stop Your Sobbing" would work for some of those whiners.
I don't care for the B-52s or Bryan Adams. True, David did elevate that cheesy song, but we've been there, done that (contestants should never sing something that's already aired on the show). I have a bad feeling he might pick a Bryan Adams song, but I'd rather hear Ryan Adams. That will have to wait till another theme night.
I'd want David to try some Cyndi Lauper and maybe perform my favorite song "Time After Time". I also prefer the NIN song "Something I Can Never Have" over "Head Like A Hole". The second one just doesn't seem like the kind of pitch and tempo David is used to. I think something like Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" or "You Can’t Hurry Love” (and without adding melisma!) would be something nicely paced that David could enhance. While I'm on the subject I hated how David butchered John Lennon's "Imagine" by adding melisma to it. The song is not made to sound like a cheesy national anthem goddamit! Anyway, if they get to '90s I'd like to see him sing Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You". I'm pretty sure he could hit the high note in chorus 3 with the steady, increasing pitch and all.
Oh and be expecting Danny Noriega to sing “Whether They Like It Or Not” by Boy George.
Pooler: "Time After Time" would have been a good choice. Great song. I am going to add it to my list, along with some Pretenders. I'm not a big Phil Collins' fan, though I do like "In the Air Tonight" and "Against All Odds." I don't care for "Another Day in Paradise," which is what he sang. So bonus points for getting the singer right. I'll comment more about that in my next blog post.
As far as "Imagine" goes, I have to disagree. I liked his take. You can't take a great song and try to re-create note for note. Especially with a stripped down song like that, it's just going to fall short of the masterful original. You have to add something to it. I thought it was affecting (though I wish he started with the first verse) and didn't think it went into over-the-top Whitney territory.
Speaking of which, he missed his chance on "I Will Always Love You." It's a 1970s song. I like it, but only that Dolly Parton original (she wrote it and originally recorded it). Whitney's power ballad remake strips it of its plaintiff longing and makes it an exercise in holding a note. Style over substance, like much of this show. I think he needs to take good material and tweak it in a way that fits his voice and message.
Post a Comment