Tossing Salt Is American Idol - May 18, 2011

Tossing Salt Is American Idol
May 18, 2011
Doug Maynard

And now we're down to the Final Three contestants on American Idol 2011. It's Haley, Lauren and Scotty fighting it out to see who will go to the finals next week in what I'm calling the American Idol Triple Threat Challenge. Each singer will perform three songs. The first will be one of their own choosing. The second number will be one selected by mega-superstar producer Jimmy Iovine. And for their final number of the night, the final three contestants will perform a song selected for them by Idol judges Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. Despite the shocking loss of future rock legend James Durbin last week, due to what I feel was some incredibly screwed up voting, it should be a great show. Let's do this.

I'm Doug and this is "Tossing Salt Is American Idol - The Triple Threat Challenge". Let's do this.

Beyonce is here to do some mentoring for Round 1, where the contestants pick their own songs.

Scotty sings first and his selection is "Amazed" by Lonestar. Beyonce says that Scotty has such a charm and seems so innocent. Scotty does a great job with the song and despite a few flat parts in the middle, really nailed the song and did it justice. J-Lo says that Scotty has grown so much and his performance is a great way to start the show. Randy called it a great song choice and said that it's money! Steven comments on how Scotty turned it up a notch and just gets better and better.

Lauren is next, doing "Wild One" by Faith Hill. In my opinion, it seems a little rushed and faster than I remember, but it wasn't bad. Wasn't great, but wasn't bad either. Beyonce tells Lauren that she could work on her confidence by creating a character for herself. J-LO said she attacked it and was very good. Steven remarked how she was having fun and owned the song. And Randy said it was a good song choice and very nice.

And Haley broke out with the classic metal (and her tather on stage playing guitar) as she covered Led Zeppelin's "What Is And What Should Never Be". I like it. It's a bit risky doing a song that most people might not ba familiar with, but she rocked it and rocked it hard. Beyonce says that Haley has conviction, is a risk taker and a real rock star. J-Lo said it was really great and a good round. Randy says that this is what it's all about and Haley is fearless and that it might be her best performance ever. Steven just said superb.

At the end of Round 1, all three judges said that Haley won the round. Randy said that Haley won, hands down. Jennifer said that the moment was created. And Steve said that Haley got her freak on.

And now it's on to Round 2 where the songs for each contestant were selected by Jimmy Iovine.

For Scotty, the song was "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?" by Thompson Square. And what can I say, but it was a great pick for Scotty and he just had fun up there and really rocked it out and slayed it. J-Lo said that this performance was full of moments and Scotty was in the zone. She wants him to shave his head before the finals so he'll look like he did at his audition. Steven said it was beautiful and great. Randy called it a good song that was perfect for him and said those famous words that Scotty is "in it to win it!"

Lauren was up next and Jimmy Iovine picked for her the song "If I Die Young" by Perry. It seemed kind of rushed at first, but as the song went along, Lauren got better and better and really did a good job. J-Lo talked about a screw-up in the middle and called it a beautiful and honest moment, saying that Lauren did a great job. Randy said it was a good song choice and Lauren was in it to win it. And Steven called it beautiful.

And here comes Haley, covering the song "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac. Haley missed a few spots and didn't really show the range that Stevie Nicks does on this song or that she's really capable of, but as the song went along, she got better and better. J-Lo called it a beautiful moment. Randy talked about how Haley cracked him up at what was apparently her relief at getting through the song. And Steven remarked how it was so beautiful that it reminded him of why he fell in love with Stevie Nicks the first time.

For Round 2, Steven thinks that Lauren won the round while Randy and Jennifer think it belongs to "Scotty, Scotty, Scotty!"

We get the thrill of the debut of a new video by Beyonce called "Run The World, Girls". It's okay if you like that kind of music, but pretty much all videos look alike to me these days. There hasn't been an "original" music video idea since 1991. Just saying...

And now, we go to Round 3, which is the Judges Pick... I wonder if they let Ryan help make these selections? Hmmmm..

Scotty starts the round by doing a cover of "She Believes In Me" by Kenny Rogers. And he does a fantastic job. Just amazing! J-Lo says that they were wondering how he'd do on the chorus, but he showed them. Steven called it over the top for him and loved it. And Randy says that it's all about stretching and was very nicely done.

Lauren is up next and does the song, "I Hope You Dance" by LeeAnn Womack. Why is she wearing a high school prom dress? It's a little pitchy in a few places in the middle, but Lauren keeps it together and does a great job. J-Lo says it gave her "goosies". Randy says she slayed it and sang great. Steven said that she came out there like she owned the Grand Old Opry and was so at ease. She sang it perfectly and he is so happy.

And finally, we get Haley back and the song picked for her is "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morrisette. A so so performance to a very hard song. Haley kept seeming to run out of breath during the verses, but she was awesome and redeemed herself with killer renditions of the chorus. J-Lo said she did a really good job. Steven called it amazing, incredible and beautiful. And Randy said she had amazing choruses and is in it to win it.

And for Round 3, the judges split the vote with Steven saying that Haley won, while J-Lo and Randy gave it to Lauren.

It was a good show. I think it might have been better if we had seen James or Casey up there and still in the competition, but I have no doubt that both men will do very well for themselves in the future so I won't complain.

As for tonight, there weren't any really bad performances. Everyone strutted their stuff and did their songs and no one has anything to be ashamed of. It is so hard to even try to pick out who will be going home tomorrow night. But I will.

I think Scotty is safe. I think his charm and "good old boy" charisma will be his saving factor and keep him alive. As for the ladies, Lauren is more consistent and is probably the safe choice. But I don't really see her ever being a mainstream artist or be able to handle the pressures that come with success. She's so young. And I can't see America picking two country artists as the final contestants for this year's Idol. So I'm looking long term and who I can see the most long range potential and biggest future for. And that being said, I think Lauren will be the one to go home.

The final two (in my opinion) will be Scotty and Haley.

And there you go with my Idol recap for the night. But before I close up this up, I have a question for everyone. Tonight's show was all about songs for the Final Three that were picked by others, at least for the last two rounds. So here's my question and you can answer in the comments section. If YOU could be the one who picked the songs for Haley, Scotty and Lauren to sing, what songs would you have picked. In other words, what songs would you like to hear Lauren, Scotty and Haley perform?

I thought about it as the show progressed and my own personal picks for each would be: For Haley, I'd like to hear her tackle "Dream On" by Aerosmith. I'd love to hear Lauren do the song "Fancy" by Reba. And as for Scotty, how about the Brad Paisley song "I'm Gonna Miss Her". Those are my picks. What are yours?

And on that, I'm out of here. See you tommorow night as three becomes two and we find out who is going home. I'm Doug and you're not.

Ubuntu!