Although most people can see no connection between Broadway
plays and a bunch of kids trying to become America’s next pop star, the famous
Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber was the guest mentor Tuesday night on
American Idol.
Surprisingly, Webber actually got really involved in the
project, proving to be a very patient and enthusiastic coach, as well as a
great guest judge.
So, America’s favorite boys, David A. and David. C., both
chose selections from “The Phantom of the Opera.”
Archuleta picked “Think of Me” and managed to completely
reinvent the song, which brought him the usual admiration of the judges, not to
mention the admiration of his continually screaming fans.
"You put your own personality into it," Randy Jackson
said. "This boy is the one to beat."
But Webber probably made the best comment of the night when
he scolded Archuleta for keeping his eyes closed all the time, to add more
drama while singing his inspirational songs.
"Little David has a real musical soul to him but ... he
must keep his eyes open. I can't watch someone who keeps his eyes closed all
the time," Lloyd Webber said, awakening our admiration for finally speaking out what everyone secretly believed.
Cook added a few rock notes to “The Music of the Night,”
which he found quite uncomfortable to sing, especially after Webber demanded
that he sang it to him as if he, Lloyd Webber, was a "gorgeous 17-year-old
from the chorus line." He managed to get some praises from Jackson, who
appreciated his “amazing vocal performance.”
Carly Smithson was very inspired when she decided to listen
to her mentor’s advice and choose “Jesus Christ Superstar” instead of a ballad.
The performance was certainly successful, powerful, and managed to impress the
judges. Even Simon concluded it was one of his favourite performances of the
night.
After making the mistake of singing a well-known song
performed by a past American Idol winner some time ago, Syesha Mercado chose a
song that nobody heard of, “One Rock & Roll Too Many" from
"Starlight Express." Her singing was quite good, but Simon probably
called the performance “very sexy” because of Syesha’s perfect red dress.
Jason Castro had no idea the song he chose, “Memory,” was
sung by a cat. He was aware that the song was very popular though. Webber also
expressed his surprise, as he had never thought he would see a man with
dreadlocks singing “Memory.”
Well, Castro pretty much ruined the very popular song that
everybody so much wanted to hear, failing to play the role of “an extremely old
glamour puss," as Webber described the “Cats” character that originally
performed the song.
Both Randy and Paula called the performance “a train wreck,”
while Simon said Jason looked like a kid who had been forced by his parents to
sing at a wedding.
Before Brooke White started to sing “You Must Think of Me”
from “Evita,” Webber informed her about the character’s condition, so she could
interpret it well. “She's dying and she knows it," Lloyd Webber explained.
Following the indications, Brooke succeeding in making puppy
eyes and biting her lower lip, but she forgot the song’s lyrics and had to
start it all over again. You can’t have it all, can you?
Paula was the only one with a harsh attitude, telling Brooke
it was completely wrong to stop and start over.
"You must never start and stop," she admonished
Brooke, while the men all considered it was so brave of her to stop and begin
again.
This is the second time on the show that Brooke stopped a
performance and then restarted it, and this might cost her dearly.