'American Idol' Tracker: Titans of song battle Andrew Lloyd Webber

Since the cornerstones of the Idoldome were set, it has been written that one day, six singers must pass this way before the show could fulfill its destiny.

In taking on the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, "American Idol" came face to face with its spiritual creator, the man who elevated vocal performance to the level of spectacle.  History has been filled with singing competitions, but until Lord Webber transformed the stage, the idea of singing as single combat -- a combat to master one’s soul and to enslave an audience -- would have been impossible. 

But while "American Idol" may have been shaped in the passed-down image of the master, the show has needed time to work its way back to its creator, teaching its contestants to crawl before they can fly with pop tunes and songbook standards.

It is fitting then that now, seven years in, the strongest cast in "Idol" history should be chosen to fight this battle, gazing upon the unalloyed "Idol" text, opening the Arc of the Covenant and seeing whose heart is pure enough to stare into the face of creation.

And for this season, "Andrew Lloyd Webber night" will clearly mark the year’s definitional battle, the night which showed at last who is destined for "Idol" immortality (and the final three) and who has officially written a check their skills can’t pay.  Some who faltered tonight will survive to fight on, but having glimpsed the eternal and fallen short, they will never walk with the pride of the innocent again. 

As Lord Webber made clear, the challenge of tonight was not just to belt out “money notes,” but to connect with a song, with the character behind it and use it to tell a story.  Raw vocal talent has gotten them all this far, to the dizzying heights of Idoldom, but to make these last steps will call for something much more scarier -- emotional depth.

It was a night of pomp in the Idoldome, with the harp-equipped band set up on stage. Music director Rickie Minor walked the floor in formal wear and His Lordship Himself joined us in the audience.  As the evening turned out, His Lordship proved to be the greatest of Idol mentors. His Lordship actually worked with and shaped the contestants, to the point of demanding different songs, rather than merely dispensing good wishes as some previous mentors have contented themselves to do.

However, with the crowd near a fever pitch as the season enters the final stretch, tension hung in the air. The night opened with a rousing performance from Syesha Mercado -- enjoyable, and keeps her certainly alive, but ultimately, still lacking the intensity to take her all the way. 

Jason Castro and Brooke White both showed that they have risen to about where they belong.  Both had strong appeal in their niches and have won legions of admirers, but when this last push was demanded, it was a bridge too far.  Brooke in particular, seems to have the Idoldome on edge with concern for her, her fragility so nakedly on display.  After being upbraided by Paula for having to restart her version of "You Must Love Me," one could have heard a false eyelash drop clear in the bleachers.  Sadly, talented though she is, she gives the impression on coming undone in these recent weeks.

While challenges serve to bring some to their knees, they serve to bring out greatness in others.  For the front-runners -- the two Davids -- they once again managed to inhabit their songs to a supernatural degree.  But to the crowd, the night was a clear, unadulterated victory for this column’s candidate Carly Smithson, the most electrifying performer in "American Idol" history.  Tonight at last, with "Jesus Christ Superstar," everything fell into place for Carly, and it is fitting that Idol’s spiritual godfather should have warned her off a major false step and guided her to her greatest success. 

However, it must be said at this point that Carly cannot seem to get a break with the judges. Randy and Simon seem to be on a mission to deny her the just praise she deserves. Even on this night, while praising the brilliance of her work, their plaudits remained tempered, Randy claiming it wasn’t her best, and Simon delivering the very strange backhanded compliment that it was one of his favorites of the night (there had been all of four at this point). 

While I will not demand an investigation yet, and while I support the constitutional right of judges to their opinions, I demand some sort of system of instant replays, or bonus voting be instituted to recompense Carly for an undue damage done to her prospects.  But as ever, this column has complete faith in the wisdom of the electorate to make this right.

What is happening now to the contestants is that those who survive are completing the process of icon building. It is a source of fascination that in this era when fame is our ultimate commodity, the "Idol" stars draw more attention and fascination than any A-list screen actor.  I recently heard of a story of one of this season’s survivors visiting a local Westside mall -- a showbiz-friendly locale where Brad and Angelina could go underwear shopping attracting barely a raised eyebrow -- and that the "Idol" was mobbed and gawked at by seemingly the entire place.

In a recent New Yorker essay on the changing nature of stardom, David Denby discusses how stars of yore, before we knew every intimate detail of the every actor’s life, became vessels for the roles they inhabited.  He wrote: “At some point, however, an actor's looks and temperament would merge with a role that brought out, perhaps, an underlay of humor or menace, and the public would take notice, get excited, and the actor would become a star. The actor then imposed a unifying temperament on his characters; he became the characters, they became him, and any given performance offered a palimpsest of his past performances. Everything he had done since he assumed his ‘type’ trailed him like a ghost.”

In an era when we can recite more about our performers’ drunken debauchery then about what roles they have played, "American Idol" is the only star-making machine we have. It is the one place where those contestants, at least those savvy enough to feel their way through it, can -- on a stage that is at once public and yet controlled (not unlike the old studios) -- piece by piece, song by song, create personas for themselves as compelling to us today as the types inhabited by Bogart or Cary Grant in their time.   

Through rigorous song choices, performances on stage and in the filmed glimpses they offer into their families and homes, these singers can create characters that become bigger than their mortal shells. And each time they sing a number that touches the audience, that impact serves to make the persona grow and grow.

In confronting Lord Webber, the final six had their greatest opportunity yet to draw a richer, deeper shaper to their persona, and for those who rose to their challenge, they are on the cusp of a place where their stars are about to soar into the heavens to sit among the immortals evermore.

Special Note:  Please join me for an online chat tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon PDT at chat.latimes.com

--Richard Rushfield

(photo courtesy of Fox)

Comments

[Daniel]

Am I the only one that doesn't actually like Carly? Sure she has a good voice, but her face bugs the crap out of me. She always looks angry when she belts out a note. Also, except for last night, she always does that awkward stance with her legs more than shoulder-width apart swaying with the music. On another note, David A. finally opened his eyes for once. Jason's not the best vocalist but he's got more appeal than Carly or David A. as a solo artist. And finally, who ever made the comment about Carly being this season's Melinda Dolittle, they are partially right because Melinda also bugged the crap out of me. Her head was too big and had no neck, it was frightening to watch.

[Trisha]

I have a problem with the entire show this year as it places new talented amateurs such as Jason Castro against seasoned pros who have had record contracts prior to this competition. I honestly enjoyed the concept that American Idol was a search for previously undiscovered talent; ie: an amateur talent contest. However, this season, several of the contestants are professional singers who have already had recording contracts! Outrageous! For example,..."Under a different name, Smithson was an Irish singing sensation, signed to a six-record deal with MC records in 1999. In total, the label invested more than $2 million in her....Michael Johns, formerly a band front man named Michael Lee, had a record deal five years ago.... Kristi Lee Cook also signed a recording deal in 2001." I feel deceived by this and the show has lost my trust. I honestly believe people like Carly Smithson who already had a million dollar record deal, tarnishes the image of American Idol as a search for AMATEUR talent. What a fraud! I refuse to vote for these fake "amateurs" who have enjoyed their secret advantage. The fact that they have actually changed their names to sneak in as 'AMATEURS' is shameful.

[Trisha]

If American Idol is going to start pitting professionals against amateurs then they need to be up-front and honest about it so people can judge apples to apples instead of comparing a new, raw talent to experienced, seasoned professionals.

I don't condemn the concept, I am angry about the lie that disguised it.

[Sherry]

Thanks Richard, for an educated, enlightened view of American Idol fervor. Having been a performing musician myself, I find that, to its credit, AI has become an unequaled opportunity for talent to be discovered in a way that has gone beyond any other incarnation of "talent contests". It draws from the patchwork of American towns and cities, both small and large, and eventually narrows the playing field down to a dozen or so of some of the most uniquely appealing & talented young singers ... some of whom we might never get to hear otherwise.

That said, I wonder just how many of our current recording acts would survive such pressure and scrutiny every week in front of millions ... not to mention the judges' critcisms. Although we all have our favorite contestants, I applaud the notice you gave to Carly Smithson's exemplary vocals, as well as your mention of the judges harsh reactions to her recent performances. May the voting public keep Carly in the running regardless of the judges' negativity. She is a special and well deserving talent who we've gotten "to know" along with the other finalists. Regardless of the eventual "winner", I look forward to purchasing future recordings of hers and others that were in the original Top 12. All of the contestants still left standing have given it their all - and given us a chance to rise and fall with them ... from the emotional high of cheering them on - to feeling our hearts sink when they've hit the "bottom three". Not being a fan of reality shows, I have to admit this is one show that is a cross generational inspiration, if you can look past the marketing machinery that drives most current reality TV.

[lala]

You really are quite off base if you think Carly won the night with that screechy, yelly, off-key, hesitant, lyric-forgetting performance. I won't even get into the overwriting of this whole column.

[Ashtonian]

It's a good article because it details why the show is the big success that it is. I just think that there are few readers that would appreciate the good writing this article has, and some comments have proved this to be true. Those comments display the same mental capacity as Jason, who once again reverted to being a bit thick.

[Bozo]

Carly has a big voice but lacks sincerity and depth, so your paen surprised me. I cringed while she belted out Superstar as a loud, catchy dance tune, displaying zero understanding of the meaning and with no emotion. Superstar is not a song of slavish devotion. I have not seen one performance from her that has anything happening behind the eyes, as it were.

David Cook is the only remaining performer who consistently shows depth, intelligence and creativity. He doesn't thrill me, but give the man his due.

Oh, I do miss Melinda Doolittle. Now THAT was talent. Check out Funny Valentine on youtube and tell me if there is anyone this season who can touch that. The Idols this season have been embarrassing to watch, with only occasional flashes of excitement.

[brad]

The reason Carly shouldn't get good comments from the judges, let alone even be on the show, is because she had a multi-million dollar record deal prior to American Idol. For someone who has been into the business before (and only sold 300 records, mind you) to be accepted onto American Idol as a young, unknown talent is absolutely ludicrous.

[brad]

Also, David Cook's excuses for performances (half of which are actually previously made covers, a fact to which he does not give proper credit) are so sickeningly trendy and dripping with arrogance that my brain literally shuts down when I see his countenance.

[Jim]

Bye Brooke.

I would rather shove glass in my ears than hear another David A. vocal performance.
Ditto on Castro - easily the worst performer to ever be on any Idol season.

Carly needs to start using her talent, I think she is probably much better than the level she is performing at so far.

David Cook - Congratulations as the winner of this season.

[Mary]

"Definitional" geez, how about "defining" as in "defining moment"? Bigger words and/or a thesaurus in the lap don't make you sound smarter.

DavidA flubbed lyrics, Carly flubbed lyrics and just SCREAMED, she can't ever take it down a few notches to save her life. Brooke cracked and then was just was deer-in-the-headlights (as she should be...), her fake pouty pathetic Emo-act is just getting old, old, old. DavidC broke all the glasses in my kitchen with that great high note.

Sorry, with little exception, the only reason ALW 'enslaves an audience' is that they can't figure out how to chew their way through the restraints (Starlight Express...)

[Jeanie Borchelt]

David Archuleta should and will win American Idol. It is a singing contest and he has the purest and best voice of all the singers. He is only 17 and his voice will only get better. He needs and deserves American Idol to help him with his career. The other contestants will probably all get a recording contract of some sort and do not need to win American Idol.

[pifcat]

Richard,

Thanks for stating the not so obvious Carly Smithson as the most electrifying performer in "American Idol" history. She has the talent and qualities that AI needs to break their prior molds and gain a more sophisticated audience. This season has higher quality singers due to prior exposure or professional experience. If no one had it in their mind to be great and didn't do everything they possibly could to achieve it, AI would continue to crown mediocre winners. I believe this season will yield at least 3 to 4 commercial successes win or "lose".

[SoapFan57]

When is Sir Paul gonna make the date? Talk about a huge influence in music!

[Chuck]

It's interesting to listen to the perspective of someone who has drunk the Carly kool-aid.

I couldn't disagree more. She has proven herself dense throughout the competition. She's tone-deaf to constructive criticism, can't pick a decent song to save her life ("but i LOVE that song!"), shows zero respect for songwriters and just seems to worship at the altar of her own poweful voice. Sorry, but that's just not enough.

There is but one king this year, and that's David Cook. His smart choices, powerful voice and stylish delivery will take him all the way.

#2 is Archuleta. The little girls will make it so. And, face it, the kid can sing the paint off the walls.

#3 is most likely Jason Castro.

I don't think any of the three girls remaining deserve to stay a moment longer.

And, I agree...while this has been a solid year for talent, this is not a "best class ever" year.

But, I think the argument could be made that David Cook will sell as much product as Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood (whomever has sold more).

[George Kaplan]

And tonight was yet another baffling elimination.

No spoilers here, only to say the results become more irrelevant every week when worthy contestants are in the bottom vote totals and lesser talents continue on unscathed to the next week's competition.

I think we are just one week closer to this year's Taylor Hicks, while those who are let go will become the Daughtrys of 2008's class.

[Susan]

I honestly thought that American Idol was supposed to be a talent contest; but after tonight I find that it is merely a popularity contest. Anyone with any musical talent knows that the bottom two should have been Brooke and Jason. Neither of them have any where near as much talent as Carly and Syesha. America, are we really going to let popularity make us look like fools? We must start voting for the Idol with the best voice rather than who looks cutest or acts so pathetically hurt by the judges opinions.

[Jill]

I have bought a number of songs from this season's idol contestants on iTunes, and it is interesting to listen to them. David Archuleta's songs are boring and leaden, Carly has a gorgeous voice but on the show I couldn't stand her personality (angry and not likeable until this week - voted off anyway!!), David Cook's "Eleanor Rigby" is haunting and great, and Syesha singing "Yesterday" - I can't get it out of my head, it is one of my favorite songs right now. Jason is adorable, but can you say "Sanjaya?" The real test for these young singers is whether they can make it commercially, and I put my money on Syesha and David Cook, hands down. Listen to "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yesterday" if you don't agree.

[Bunnis]

American Idol has lost 3 dedicated viewers after tonight's vote. How disgusting!! This is a farce now. Who is voting????? I understand viewership is down from previous shows. I can understand why. When incredible talent is voted off, we are done watching.

[Daren]

I am no longer a American Idol fan after that bull$hitt vote that keep's Brook safe for another week. She was horrible. AI is now a joke.