Photo: Becker/FOX
Considering disco is making a comeback in everything from Lady Gaga’s album to the Black Eyed Peas’ new single, you’d think the phrase “American Idol’s disco week” wouldn’t inspire fear and loathing in our worried nation. But alas, last night’s Idol barely featured a skittering hi-hat. Instead, everyone tried to be David Cook, molding disco hits into something else — everyone but Lil Rounds and Danny Gokey, that is, who played it relatively straight and got pounded by the judges for it. But the night’s highlight was clearly the presence of one Mr. Vince Neil, who sat in the audience nodding his approval at appropriate moments.
Ones to Watch:
• Kris Allen took Donna Summer’s pumped-up synth anthem “She Works Hard for the Money” (a very recession-worthy topic) and gave it a “classy, Santana feel” (quoth the irrepaceable Paula) with acoustic guitar and bongos. Totally awesome, and not just because it allowed Paula to make a comment about men shopping in the women’s department. Somewhere Adam Lambert was smirking.
• Allison Iraheta gave Summer’s “Hot Stuff” bluesy bite, as electric guitar grinded out the lead line. She sounded great but looked insane. How did the judges not give her crap about that leather catsuit?
• Adam Lambert sang “If I Can’t Have You” (from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and not the new Kelly Clarkson album — that would have really been rad) and turned it into a heartfelt ballad. But what does Vince Neil think?
Meh:
• Matt Giraud pulled out all the Justin Timberlake stops for “Stayin’ Alive,” giving the Bee Gees’ classic an urban update, and dancing (not horribly).
• Anoop Desai did what can only be described as a Lionel Richie version of Summer’s “Dim All the Lights.” The tune started slow and built, but never really took off, and had the unfortunate honor of boasting the last worst last note ever. We have to assume Vince was bummed.
Ones to Wipe From Your Memory With Bleach:
• Danny Gokey’s voice is solid, but his Earth, Wind & Fire cover of “September” was wedding-worthy. Gokey nearly busted a vocal chord giving the tune a bit more melodic range, and Vince Neil approved, but Simon hit the nail on the head: Gokey lacks star power.
Thanks for the Memories:
• A moment, please, for Lil Rounds, a woman who is having perhaps the worst Idol experience in the show’s eight seasons. Rounds covered Chaka Khan’s empowerment anthem “I’m Every Woman” and clearly gave her best performance yet — in a black onesie, no less — but the judges couldn’t come up with a single compliment. Rounds bit her tongue during judging, perhaps because she was on vocal rest and couldn’t afford to talk back this week.

Email
Stumble
AIM
Del.icio.us
DiggThis
Fark It!

- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.