Better Concerts and Music

Last night’s American Idol seemed to be channeling karaoke at the local bar down the street. The Billboard Top Hits theme combined with Miley Cyrus offering her surprisingly good advice was a good place to start. Despite the good theme and entertaining mentor, though, the American Idol last night, other than Crystal Bowersox singing Bobby McGee, really made me just want to have a few drinks. Friends that usually love the show started going online just to research same day payday loans just to pay for their drinks.

Crystal Bowersox channels Janis Joplin’s Bobby McGee

This week’s American Idol theme was any Billboard Number 1 hit. Most of the performers chose the safe songs just about anyone could sing along with. This could have gone well, but really only a few performers hit the amazing performances that such well-loved songs deserve. Crystal Bowersox of the American Idol Top 11 did exactly what everyone was hoping for. Her powerful voice and relaxed demeanor gave the bittersweet “Me and Bobby McGee” the feel of Janis Joplin. The version of “Me and Bobby McGee that Joplin recorded hit the charts after she died in 1970. The American Idol judges seemed to appreciate the gospel-ish version of Bobby McGee that Crystal Bowersox offered up, giving almost nothing but good reviews. Saying she didn’t feel there was “enough connection” with Crystal Bowersox, Ellen was the only judge that had something bad to say.

American Idol’s other Top 11 performances

As good as Crystal Bowersox’s Bobby McGee was, there were 10 other performances on American Idol last night. The judges seemed unusually harsh last night, with Randy channeling Simon to actually say that was terrible to Paige Miles. Even though Simon said the song was “too old”, Aaron Kelly sang an acceptable “Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” that was even more impressive, given his tonsillitis and laryngitis. Big Mike’s “Power of Love” bordered on loungey and corny, but he is most definitely safe for next week.Casey earned good words from the judges with his “The Power of Love” as well.”Superstitious” rendered with Siobahn’s signature screaming also earned good marks from the judges. The rest of the performers? Well, let’s just say that it seems they’re just trying to hold on long enough to get either installment loans for bad credit or on the American Idol tour next summer.

American Idol Top 11 mentored by Miley Cyrus

The “official mentor” of Crystal Bowersox and the other American Idol top 11, Miley Cyrus, got a chance to sign Crystal’s guitar. Surprisingly for most, Miley Cyrus actually offered decent mentoring for the American Idol Top 11. Miley actually managed to keep this otherwise boring episode interesting at parts, with her inside tidbits about the music industry.

Crystal Bowersox’s big plans

It’s very obvious that Crystal Bowersox will be safe on American Idol until next week, even to her. when Ellen said she didn’t have a connection to Crystal Bowersox, Crystal warned that she has “big plans for next week”. What, exactly, these plans might be could be just about anything – the theme for the Top 10 on American Idol next week will be “Teen Idols”. The producers of American Idol have not expanded on what exactly “Teen Idols” will mean, yet. To find out what big plans she has for next week, we will just have to tune in to watch Crystal Bowersox on American Idol.

Last night, Crystal Bowersox’s “Midnight Train to Georgia” performance on “American Idol” contained a few surprises for the fans and judges. However, certain elements of the Crystal Bowersox “Midnight Train to Georgia” rendition were quite predictable: She nailed it, the judges loved it, and the next day everyone was googling the video like crazy.

‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ sung by Crystal Bowersox

As soon as Ryan Seacrest announced on American Idol that Crystal Bowersox was to sing ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ to sing on R&B week, I knew it would be a great song for her. Earlier, Ryan Seacrest had announced the first surprise Crystal Bowersox had in store for the evening: She was wearing stiletto heels.

Her next surprise was revealed during Bowersox’s coaching session with Usher. Instead of her usual guitar, during “Midnight Train to Georgia,” Crystal Bowersox played the piano. Don’t worry, fans, she won’t need any credit repair for changing up her routine.

The many instruments of Crystal Bowersox

When she sat down in front of Usher to play “Midnight Train to Georgia,” Crystal Bowersox admitted that she hadn’t played the piano for a few years. Although Usher informed her she would do well, he also suggested she work on the piano a bit more. She probably can get away with spending cash now; her musical career seems to be already in the bag.

As she usually does, she did really great. Kara, Randy, and Ellen raved about the performance – mostly about her piano skills and high heels. Simon told her it was obvious that she was over thinking it while trying to play the piano and that she shouldn’t let the competition change her. As one might guess, he was not a huge fan of the heels and questioned whether Crystal Bowersox was going out of character. She told him she would never do anything that made her feel uncomfortable.