By Justin Guarini
Fancast American Idol Correspondent
Host of Reality Chat: Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight,
TV Guide Network
Finally, there are two!!!!!!!!
Let’s just go ahead and start from the top shall we? They’re tired. They have to be. Kelly and I were and we didn’t have to work nearly as hard as these kids do. We had it tough…16 hour days during those last two weeks, but these guys have it tougher. They’ve been working 16hr days for the entire season. Months of giving their all, beating up their voices, and now praying for it to just be over. I know we were.
Once you make it to the top 2, and even the top 3 now, you’re pretty much set. As long as you put out a half decent product and are given support by the label, you can come in 3rd and still make a decent living. Hell, even if you do nothing with music after all is said and done you’ll make a killing on the AI tour, and invested wisely , that money will last for many years.
It was evident during the group song that they were just going through the motions. No pun intended. David was visibly reading the words from the teleprompter, and all three of them looked and sounded “over it”. I don’t blame them, or find any fault with them. The show is draining, especially at this point.
I remember that I had to have a cortisone shot in my rump (why it’s in the rump, considering it reduces swelling in the vocal chords, I don’t know) just to keep the ability to sing properly. All the recording that we did for the final song, all the rehearsing for the finale, all the waking up early to do press…really took its toll on me. I constantly felt like I was just going to break, curl up in a corner somewhere, and sleep for a few days.
The kids now…oh man. I don’t envy them.
David-
If you thought that he was a phony, I hope that the video packages showed you that he’s actually a really niiiiiiiice guy.
Syesha-
I really feel like she’s grown the most over the season. She’s make a mark for herself and will, I hope do very well in the music theater arena. She has come, from having no voice, to one of the greatest voices of the season.
David-
From a joke to a possible spot in the finale!?? Hilarious. When I say joke, I mean the fact that he had no intention to audition. It was a joke to him. Whoever the producer was who forced him to audition should be patting themselves on the back right now, because (of course) they will get no credit for having good instincts. David seems like he’s been quite the trooper.
The Results:
Well, can I say that anyone was shocked? No, not really. I think that all of them did so well, and should be commended for just keeping up. I think Tuesday’s show really showed how the judges hold sway over the audience; it was more obvious than ever this year. It’s the nature of the show, and no one was surprised at the outcome.
I do wonder where Syesha’s votes will go. Will they sway towards Archuleta like many others have? Or will they rail against the season’s obvious front-runner and march to the beat of the also very talented Cook?
Only time will tell…stay tuned tomorrow for a season recap installment of this blog tomorrow.
Also don’t forget to check out my brand-spanking new site opening at Midnight tonight at www.justinguarini.com
Until tomorrow…
Homepage photo credit: Matt Beard
Comments (5)
Hey Justin,
I have really enjoyed your comments throughout the season. I too was wondering where Syesha's votes will go. I'm thinking most of her votes were more mature voters, as opposed to tweens, and therefore her votes may go to the more mature contestant, David Cook. I agree that David A. has a beautiful voice, but he doesn't have the showmanship to go with it. I have become a little bored with him.
I think the winner will be determined by the song that is chosen for them to sing in the finale, if it's a ballad David A. wins because that's his stong suit and if it's uptempo then David C. is the winner.
I think it's whomever AI wants, they can manipulate the outcome and don't forget the judges comments have a huge effect on how the public votes.
Look forward to tomorrow's recap.
Posted by Stacie | May 15, 2008 6:53 PM
Posted on May 15, 2008 18:53
hi justin,
good blog and should be a fun finale. they did look really tired and i hope next season the show does not work them as hard since it takes away from their performances overall.
your new site at www.justinguarini.com looks great and i can't see it all only some of it on my webtv unit, so i'll go check it out on the library computer tomarrow. i had a question justin and i don't have a real computer just this dumb webtv unit i'm on right now. so..i can't download your new music. in fact, i've not heard any of your new songs since i'm not hooked up online to hear music or see video.
Will there be a way for me to Buy a Cd of some of your new songs ? i'm not sure really what to do about this delima i'm in..i have a Dvd fans made for me of your concert in NJ, so i've heard those songs which i really enjoyed 'missing you' and 'no matter what'! congrats on the new site it looks great and can't wait to check it out even more.
Posted by sharonjjsugar | May 16, 2008 1:30 AM
Posted on May 16, 2008 01:30
Completely disagree with the above comment in regards to the Archulator as boring and with Cook as being "set" if it's an uptempo set. Despite people's perception, if you'll go back and listen to Cook's performances, most of them are slow to mid-tempo rock songs/arrangements. That's where he is. When he tries to go "uptempo", he doesn't sound as good. Archuleta has the better voice. I was home visiting my parents and I flipped on Idol, and my mom said "Cook has a nice voice, but that kid [Archuleta] has an amazing voice."
There are a lot of singers who have a similar sound to David Cook, and in that vein, maybe he's better suited for the current music scene. But I Archuleta's got some soul in his voice (if not in his demeanor, being only 17), and that's the sound I like.
Posted by Mike | May 16, 2008 4:41 AM
Posted on May 16, 2008 04:41
I am going to miss your blogs; but, not the show. Your writing is far better intertainment than the show has been since you were on it.
I usually disagree with your take on how well they did or didn't do. I listen emotionally to music; was it a pretty voice that moved me, did they touch me emotionally in a good way, do I want more, etc. I think as a musician, you listen technically and hear something different than I do. For instance, when Carly held that note for so long, you were counting the seconds and swooning, while I was saying 'stop, you're giving me a headache'.
A singer doesn't have to be the best singer on the show for me to prefer them to others who are perhaps technically perfect. Make me want to listen again and you are the one I prefer. You, the 'master of leave them wanting more' should understand what I am saying.
I will be shocked if Cook wins. There have already been two big shockers on this show; you not winning and Michael getting booted when he should have been in the final with Cook. So if the best finally wins on this show, that will be the biggest shock of all.
Good luck in all you do and keep writing.
Love you,
Lee
Posted by Lee | May 16, 2008 8:40 AM
Posted on May 16, 2008 08:40
I don't agree that David A is the obvious frontrunner. I've felt for a long time that David C was above and beyond the others. David A is obviously a nice kid, with a nice voice, but I don't think he's mature enough in his vocal prowess to be "THE" Idol. I don't feel the songs when he sings. I just hear the words.
You know I love ya J, I just don't agree with that assessment. ;-)
Posted by KathyK | May 16, 2008 10:37 PM
Posted on May 16, 2008 22:37