'American Idol' Banter: Who are they really?

In the climactic moments of what should have been a thrill-inducing semifinal, the three most dutiful finalists ever to dominate "American Idol" fulfilled homeroom teacher Ryan Seacrest's opening descriptions so perfectly, one suspected the producers had slipped in animatronic replacements for the nervous wrecks we've seen the last couple of weeks.

Not that Seacrest's tags were that creative. He called David Archuleta "a high school student," Syesha Mercado "an actress," and David Cook "a bartender" -- that last one got a mortified guffaw from the Missouri rocker. But in a show devoted to song choices from the judges, the producers and the contestants themselves, the singers' most memorable performances mined the truth behind these simple labels.

Taking on Chris Brown's languidly anthemic "With You" as his personal song selection, Archuleta wobbled his hips like a duckling learning to mate and grinned with the glee of someone surprising himself. It was his least comfortable performance in weeks, full of vocal stumbles, and he did seem silly uttering the phrase "my boo" (It's an Afro-Caribbean term, popular in hip-hop songs, and our Mormon favorite is just not fly enough to pull it off.) But the song's awkward movements gave us something more important than his other two spot-on ballads could offer: a glimpse at a Pinocchio letting himself become a real boy, made of something other than beautifully polished wood.

That quick glimpse into the heart of goofy Archie -- who actually sees the girls screaming at his feet, and wants to touch their outstretched hands, and even steal a glance at one or two -- exposed a side different than this baby trouper projects when he's playing the balladeer. Chastised by the judges, Archuleta retreated behind his grown-up mask for his next number, a rigorously sincere version of Dan Fogelberg's wedding song, "Longer."

It takes years for some pop prodigies to get beyond craft and risk vulnerability; Mariah Carey, for example, didn't go there until she was nearly 30. Whether he wins "Idol" or gets booted off for this slip into joyful amateurism, Archuleta probably won't let that high school self through much; he's destined for a more Josh Groban-esque intergenerational appeal. Yet for all his musical gifts, he's going to have to go through many growing pains before he gains depth as an artist. And to grow, you have to start out young. (Ask Michael Jackson.)

Syesha Mercado's revelatory moment, also on her personal song choice, asserted showbiz artifice with as much earnestness as Archuleta showed trying to be a real teen. The judges slammed her for choosing the cabaret standard "Fever," but none of their reasons held up. Had Randy, Paula and Simon ever heard of Amy Winehouse, or seen Queen Latifah in "Chicago," they might realize that these days a retro style is as commercially viable as anything else.

Can those three tolerate even the slightest self-assertion on the part of their talent pool? They've given Syesha bad advice every step of the way, curbing her lounge-friendly, jazz-flirty tendencies and pushing her toward an overwrought "sincerity" that contradicts her strengths. Since her main talent is brainy interpretation, she's adapted to their suggestions, but lately she's realized that her instincts were right all along. She's been playing up her ability to transform, to use choreography and costume to assert herself instead of just aiming for big notes she can't own.

If she survives -- and the judges seemed desperate tonight to make sure she doesn't, dousing her in negativity while anointing the Davids -- Syesha will probably be even better next week. She's fulfilling that classic ingenue role, willing herself to stardom. All the debate about the value of amateurism that's haunted this season of "Idol" crumples under Syesha's shimmering stilettos. Unlike bashful David Archuleta and shoulder-shrugging David Cook, she acts like she was born to be on stage. And even if the judges' manipulations work and she's voted off before the final, she's not letting go of that spotlight anytime soon.

And what about the bartender? Cook's triumphs last night showed his mettle, too. Anyone in the rock world has known characters like him: talented and ambitious young men who aren't quite adventurous or weird enough to find a home in the underground, but who still believe in artistic integrity and the saving power of rock's grandiose noise. These guys often end up slinging mojitos for years as they figure out how to realize their dreams.

Watching Cook absorb the lessons that "Idol" has offered him has been one of the season's most edifying experiences. Though his loyalty to minor modern rock bands remains intact -- last night's song choice championed Switchfoot, a decent bunch of surfers who turned their Christian rock secular and had a hit or two a few years back -- Cook has lately been cultivating the pop-friendly glow of his more restrained vocal timbre. He's the rare contestant who has greatly improved under the judges' tutelage, and for that alone, he probably deserves to win.

Simon Cowell's selection for Cook this week was Ewan MacColl's time-stopping love song, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"; singing it, Cook harkened back to "Idol" mentor Andrew Lloyd Webber and let his inner drama club kid lead the way. Though not even close to the divine finesse of Roberta Flack's version, Cook's take was quietly gestural, not rock 'n' roll at all, but sexier and more beautiful because he curtailed the catharsis.

And he did get his explosive moment, on Diane Warren's genre-melting 1990s power ballad, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," made famous by Aerosmith. The rococo arrangement didn't do him any favors; this should have been his chance to whip out the scarves and invoke the skeletal fierceness of Steven Tyler. At the very end, though, he pulled the microphone from the stand, pushed every ounce of air out of his diaphragm and aimed for transcendence. I'd wager that Cook thinks the song is nowhere near as good as Switchfoot's.

-- Ann Powers

Photo courtesy of Fox

Comments

[Iron Cross]

If anyone can't see the way that the judges are trying to propel Archie to the winner's circle you must believe that pro wrestling is real too.

It isn't what the judges say about him.. in fact.. many times they say very little about him while criticism abounds for the others.

The pinocchio analogy was SPOT ON. The kid looks so uncomfortable (maybe because his walk to the center of the stage wasn't choreographed by his stage dad).

I personally wouldn't buy Archulettas disc and I am a fan of the old time crooners. I would buy Cook and Syesha's albums like I did Daughtry and Clarkson's. If Barry Manillow was topping the charts and getting airplay I'd say Archuletta represents a true American Idol... but Barry is nowhere to be found and thus Archie will have to wait until the next 'reality' star maker/finder show airs.... I hear AGT starts soon... or maybe he can be the next American Gladiator... I can just hear it now... Titan, Wolf, Justice, and ..... Pinocchio!!!

[smell-the-coffee]

smell the coffee people - the show is rigged, the voting is not audited, what you think is not relevant. it's all a fraud - so either see it as entertainment from a media mega-corporation (with it's own agenda) or don't watch. by reading about how many of you believe all ryan's garbage that 'america has voted' - gives one insight into the reasons why the politicians you vote for spend all our tax payers dollars making themselves and large corporations very wealthy and leave our children with massive national debt to pay off throughout their lives.

[Lee]

Liked your take on David Archuleta. One of his best performances was "Shop Around", in my opinion. He was upbeat & a little flirty & seemed 17. Even if his attempt at "With You" was kind of comic [baby ducks mating LOL!!], I enjoyed it. Beneath the stage persona, he still seems like a genuinely great kid & has a lot of appeal & could be very sensual & sexy if he were allowed to try it once in awhile. David has to grow up eventually to continue as a real artist, not just a prodigy. In my opinion, he possesses the intelligence & certainly the vocal ability to try other styles & branch out as a performer.

[Idol Fan]

To the last poster. I think you need to go back and watch the show again.

Dave Cook is the best performer this season (or the last couple of seasons for that matter), period. It's about time that someone with talent wins the show. David Archuletta needs to go work for Disney dressed as Goofy, and Syesha is destined for Broadway, not Idol stardom.

[Dwood]

I think Ms. Powers has chosen her favorite already!

[olliebug]

does anyone else think David A sounds like Kermit the frog when he talks?

[Melissa]

I will remember to skip all American Idol articles in the LA Times. This is slanderous and poorly written.

[Glenn]

Two points - "Christian rock" is an outdated label, and Switchfoot is preparing for another hit with "This is Home," the closing credits song to the upcoming film "Prince Caspian." Their most recent album, "Oh, Gravity!" peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200. Not exactly a one-hit wonder as you imply. Carry on...

[Renée LaRosse]

I thought all three were terrific last night. However, from the very first night, I've been impressed with David Archuletta. I don't know how anyone can resist him. His voice is right ON and he means every word he sings! I truly hope he is the next American Idol.

[RGW]

well last night was interesting..but in my opinion, the two Davids..may need to step aside for Syesha. She has all the "Idol" qualifications...DA will do well on his own..if his father will allow him to do so...and DC will join a band and do well too. All very talented, but the winner is Syesha

[Idol Fan]

David A's voice is on most of the time when he isn't forgetting the lyrics!

[ks]

I seriously don't get the hype around DA... He seems soooo awkward out there.. Its painful. His songs can't end soon enough for me. Is it because he appeals to little girls that they keep propping him up? My votes are for DC and Syesha without question.

[Quan]

David A. was boring. Syesha was hit-and-miss. I still think she may be the surprise winner.

I thought Simon's choice of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was brilliant. It showed the softer side of David Cook--perfect for getting those female tweeners to vote for him. I thought David conveyed the tender emotions of the lyrics quite well.

[Kgirl]

uh.......david a. is like a muppet in real life!

[Jeri]

Maybe the AI judges are doing Syesha a favor dismissing her week after week and engineering her 3rd place finish. If the winner is locked into some kind of contract that hasn't done many previous winners much good, then I don't think I want her to win. I want that gorgeous voice, and anyone who thinks she screeches and/or can't sing is totally tin-eared, on broadway or with writers and producers who know how to take advantage of her vocal ability.

I've alway thought that Archuleta has a thick, ugly , boring voice, I mean, he's no Rick Astley as an example of a male with an unusual voice. And his immediate future is going to be ballads because he just doesn't have the life experiences for anything else.

Let David Cook win. Does he have a future? Maybe. But he's better than Archuleta.

[Chris]

I'm not a fan of the show by any means, but got suckered into catching last night's episode. This has to be the worst group of semifinalists in the history of the American version. Whoever ends up winning is gonna require one heck of a lot of coaching to become a commercial success.

But hey, what the heck! They made Britney a success! And don't forget Jennifer Lopez who has to have THE worst voice in the history of modern music! Sorry John Mayer, Chad Kroeger, Michael Bolton, etc... there's a voice out there that has you beat as the WORST ever!

[Deborah Harrison]

American Idol is rigged people. Wake up and smell the insanity. The judges critique according to what the Producers tell them to do. Have you ever, ever heard Paula say, "it's not good enough to make it into the next round?" But that is exactly what she said to Syesha last night. Remember when she critiqued Jason's Castro second song when he had not even sung it yet? And Carly and Jason were told by Simon to "pack their bags." Carly was a threat to the 2 Davids as was Jason. Jason did not have the strongest voice but he had a HUGE fan base thereby threatening to cause the votes to be split between the 2 Davids, possibly causing an upset. Jason Castro had the highest number of votes of all one week. No, let's face it, it is all about MONEY. David Cook is just a wanna be rocker, he is talented but his personality stinks. He is so overly confident . And David Archuletta is Disney's answer to Hannah Montana money. Poor Syesha is only a pawn in the game and deep down inside she knows it. She is believing that maybe just maybe it could be fair. Delusional. Jason Castro was the only unique and refreshing Idol contestant since Kelly Clarkson. Brooke was also an original and Carly reminded me of the early days of Heart.
My eyes have been opened this year. I heard that this is the last season for Idol on Larry King Live. It's a good thing because people are on to them now.

[Michael in Vegas]

I am so glad to read other people are wearying of David Archuleta, also. He seems like a nice enough kid, so there's no reason to bash him personally, but has definite flaws that have been overlooked week after week by the judges. Ever since the contestants have had to sing two songs, it has become increasingly apparent that every selection sounds almost exactly alike. He has a limited range and sings everything within that comfort zone. And then there are the extended parts he sings through his nose.

I predict a David vs. David final. Syesha will have a solid career in musicals. I hope David Cook wins it all, but I fear the rampant teenybopper vote will carry Archuleta to victory. Of course, that was my fear last year when the ridiculous beat boxer made it all the way to the finals....

[Kimberly H]

I agree with tjswift. If American Idol were a singing competition, Archeleta wins hands down. But AI is no longer a singing contest but rather a popularity contest. Perhaps this explains the inconsistent results of the contestants' success. Winning doesn't necessarily guarantee the artist a spot on the record charts, and losing doesn't necessarily mean hope for a successful career in music is lost.

Based on what I'm reading today, Cook is the winner. His fans don't care whether or not he can sing on key (which he often does not). They are voting simply because they like him, and it has nothing to do with his talent. Too bad.

[yab]

In the end, it does not matter who wins. Chris Daughtry didn't win American Idol, and he has the best selling album out of all the seasons. David Cook is atleast as good as Chris Daughtry, and I am very certain that even if he does not win American Idol, he will surpass the other two by far in record sales. So vote for Syesha or the other David if you wish, it'll be a futile effort at any rate.