RockStar Week Five

No, I will not miss Brandon.

Didn't actually see the elimination show, but did see Tuesday's performances. What'd I think?

Suzie - Losing My Religion (REM)
In an attempt to stand out, Suzie rearranged this song (bye-bye mandolin) and made it (what else on this show?) harder and more guitar-driven. Opening it semi-a cappella was an interesting move, but overall she just kind of killed the song's charm with heaviness. The band liked it, but the audience will disagree, putting her in the bottom three.

MiG - All Right Now (Free)
I haven't liked MiG (and I despise holding down the caps lock button for that ridiculous capital 'G'), but he was excellent on this. Clear and strong vocals, and just the right amount of energy, never overwhelming the song.

J.D. - Crazy (Seal)
Is this really a rock song? Either way, J.D. (officially my most hated contestant--he just exudes arrogance, and not that typical loud reality show kind, but the quieter really narcissistic kind) just butchers the song, the harder arrangement kind of obliterating the melody, and the soul that was the original's strength nowhere to be found.

Jessica - Come as You Are (Nirvana)
Jessica (who ended up in the bottom three for this performance--again) keeps slipping by, but she's got to be out soon. She's very bland and her attempt to emote here involves some one-note screaming as opposed to any real emotion.

Jordis - Layla (Eric Clapton)
Her first dud performance, something about how the tune sat in her range just didn't work; it was a very perfunctory performance. She's built up enough headway for this not to hurt her too much though.

Brandon - It's All Over Now (Rolling Stones)
INXS hits the nail on the head when they say the bluesy-rock thing is all Brandon can do. He'll end up in the bottom three again and get kicked off when he drops lyrics to the INXS song in front of INXS. Not a good move, that.

Marty - Mr. Brightside (The Killers)
I didn't know the song, so am not sure how much of a risk it was to do acoustically. Either way, Marty accompanies himself on the guitar admirably and delivers a very good performance, emotional without being overwrought.

Deanna - Long Train Running (Dooby Brothers)
I love me some Doobies. Good rendition and a fine fit for her voice. The band is right, though, to ask her to do something mellower. One member (the oddly mustachioed one) even calls for an all-acoustic show for Week Six. That would be sweet.

Ty - No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley)
Easily the performance of the night. Remarkably soulful and beautifully sung, one of the show's highlights so far.

Until Whenever