American Idol Season 2 Love Songs: What The World Needs Now ....

We're here live in the Epinions Music Category, reviewing the newest album from the powerhouse called American Idol. The new album is entitled Season 2 All Time Classic American Love Songs. With me tonight are the judges. Give it up for Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and my favorite special guest host, Lionel Ritchie*. The first song is a group song by the top 10 Idol contestants (they recorded it after Charles Grigsby was eliminated) for season 2 and it's Burt Bacharach's What The World Needs Now Is Love. Clay Aiken sings the lead on this song, followed by Miss Trenyce who is the only idol contestant with only one name. I guess after that shoplifting charge, she wanted to be less conspicuous. As if we haven't heard this song enough lately from the Austin Powers trilogy, it opens up the album. The song starts to take it to the next level when Big Rube Studdard jumps in, but then takes a back seat as Kimberly Caldwell follows him. Let's take it to the judges.

Randy: Dawgs, that was tight man. Dudes, ya'll brought it to the table. Nice way to kick off the show.
Paula: You all made it your own song. I didn't even remember that this song was played out recently with the Austin Powers Trilogy.
Simon: This was absolutely dreadful. When you're on live television, you need to bring your A game, and none of you did.
Lionel: Outrageous!

Our second song is Ruben Studdard's version of Superstar. Big Rube Studdard always brings his game to the table. Rube's version is very good, but when you don't get to see him actually perform, you lose a little because he's so good live with his facial expressions and his demeanor.

Randy: Rube, dude, that was fantastic. When we looked across America for the new star, you're who we were looking for. Standing "O" ya'll.
Paula: Ruben, you look like a big teddy bear. I just want to squeeze you.
Simon: Ruben, that was fantastic, it wasn't dreary at all.
Lionel: I have two words for you Ruben. Out rageous.

Next is Clay Aiken with On The Wings Of Love originally written by Jeffrey Osborne. Clay has that type of voice that just projects power and grace. He's great here. It's a really nice song, and he sounds really good. My only qualm with him is that with his voice, he doesn't do R&B all that great because his voice isn't soulful like Ruben's. It's more broadway than anything else. But it doesn't take anything away from him. I think Smokey Robinson said it. The man can sang.

Randy: Dude, that was awesome. Dawg, I can't believe that voice comes out of your body.
Paula: Clay, ever since you changed your look, you sound and now look like an American Idol.
Simon: If I'm being serious, I'd hesitate to say that was as good as the others say it was. I like you better with my eyes closed if I'm being serious.
Lionel: I have three words for you Clay. Out ra geous.

Julia DeMatto is next with the great Etta James' At Last. I have a problem with her singing this song. It's a tough song to sing and Julia in my opinion doesn't have the pipes to sing it. She was one of the worst vocalists that made it on the show and it surprises me she would sing this song here. This should've been done by someone like Kimberly Locke, not DeMatto. And it's not that she does a bad job. It's fine. But she doesn't have the pipes to cover Etta.

Randy: Dude....
Paula: Randy, she's not a dude, she's a girl.
Randy: Dude, get off my back, let me talk to my dawg. Julia, it was ok. It wasn't your best. It was just ok to me.
Paula: Julia, it wasn't your best like Randy said. You just need to let yourself be free.
Simon: Paula, are you drunk? What are you talking about? Oh, gosh. Um, Julia, your version of that song was just dreary.
Lionel: It's so hard to get up there and sing in front of an audience, Julia. You were on the cusp of outrageousness.

Joshua Gracin is singing one of Lionel's favorites with Three Times A Lady. This is actually one of my favorite times hearing Josh sing. I think thus far in the competition, he's simply been outperformed. He has a good country voice, but this isn't Nashville Star, and he can do ballads decently well. But his game is not pop music. Here, he has the right voice for Lionel's song and he shines.

Randy: Dude, you were a little pitchy, but I ain't mad.
Paula: Josh, I think you've grown so much here. It was one of your better performances.
Simon: If I'm being honest, you have the look of the American Idol, but you don't sound like the American Idol. Are you going to sing country, or are you going to sing pop? You need to make up your mind.
Lionel: Wow, it took me twenty takes to get that song right and you sing it in one. Outrageous.

The one named Trenyce sings Al Green's Let's Stay Together. In one of the classic show moments, Al himself said she moved him during her song, even though his body language looked like he was ok with the performance, but wasn't knocked dead. Trenyce has a very nice voice, but when compared to Kim Locke, it's not as strong. She took a chance in doing Al, but it comes off as pretty good. Obviously, the voice isn't as powerful as Al's but it's still good work.

Randy: Dude, I'm feelin' it. It wasn't your best performance, but you took a chance and that's what this competition is about.
Paula: Trenyce, you're so beautiful. You made it your own and you had the crowd in your hand.
Simon: Why do you do that with your mouth? If I'm being serious, you wear a mask when you perform. I don't know anything about you.
Lionel: Trenyce darling, that was absolutely incredible. Wait, let me think of a better word. That was outrageous.

Brian McKnight Jr. himself, Ricky Smith sings (surprise) a Brian McKnight song here with Back At One. I have never been a Ricky Smith fan until he lost and then I saw how much he brought to the show. He always had a smile on his face and you can see that he had the time of his life. His performance here doesn't really distinguish himself. It's simply a Brian McKnight cover where he doesn't do anything else different. It's not bad, but if I want to hear his rendition or Brian's rendition, I'll listen to Brian's rendition.

Randy: Dawg, it's so hard to sing Brian McKnight, but you pulled it off.
Paula: Ricky, your face brings so much joy to my day. Your smile shows that you love being here.
Simon: Paula, you have such a way with the English language. Ricky, if I'm going to be honest here, it sounded like a karaoke version of Brian McKnight.
Lionel: Ricky, you did your thing. I can't think of an adjective. Wait, it was outrageous.

Kimberly Caldwell takes a chance to expand musically with Killing Me Softly. Her style is not suited to sing in the same style of Roberta Flack or even Lauryn Hill for that matter. But she doesn't try to match their style which is a good thing. Great song, and since she didn't try to match Roberta or Lauryn, she did a pretty good job.

Randy: Kimberly, what up dawg? I just want to tell you that every show you look better. Last week you looked good, but this week you look better, you know what I mean? Oh yah, nice performance.
Paula: Kimberly, you look beautiful tonight. You looked like you had fun. And I think the real Kimberly is the fun Kimberly.
Simon: Can someone please check Paula's blood alcohol level? Kimberly, I'm being serious here just so you know, and other than looking beautiful, I honestly believe you needed to bring your best performance. I expected better.
Lionel: You look outrageous!

The black sheep of the family, Corey Clark is next with Open Arms which is the song that pushed him into the next level. I'm actually surprised he's on this album as he's been black balled from everything else having to do with the show. Just last night, they performed What The World Needs Now on live TV with Burt playing the piano and who's the only one not there to sing even though he's listed in the credits as a singer? You guessed it. Corey Clark. If I was going to attend a live showing of American Idol, I'd bring a sign that said, "Free Corey Clark". Ok, back to the song. I wasn't a big fan of the performance when he won. And didn't Mariah Carey cover this not too long ago? I became a bigger fan after he was selected for the show, rather than because of this song.

Randy: Yo, yo, yo, dawg. How you livin'? Dude, I really liked your performance. You went into your upper register and pulled it out. Nice job.
Paula: Corey, you look fantastic. I loved your performance and because I can't think of something original, I'll just say that you went into your upper register and pulled it out. Nice job.
Simon: I thought the performance was barbaric. Simply and utterly pitiful.
Lionel: I dig your hair man. It's outrageous.

Carmen Rasmussen, the young eighteen year old phenom who was surprisingly selected as Simon's wildcard is next with How Do I Live. It's a nice rendition. I actually like it when she yodels. It's original and none of the other singers do it. But here, she plays it straight, and it's simply lacking a special quality.

Randy: Carmen, it was ok dude. I wasn't really feeling it tonight from you.
Paula: You didn't own it and make it yours.
Simon: If I can be serious for once, it reminded me of a child singing too loudly with her parent telling her to shut up.
Lionel: I'll agree with Paula, but you didn't own it and make it yours outrageously.

Kimberly Locke who wasn't always a lock to stay on this long, has been my darkhorse for most of the show. Here, she sings Over The Rainbow. She does a beautiful job. Her voice is one that I'd love to hear more of, even more so than Ruben's or Clay's. And this song is a family favorite which makes me like her even more because she has good taste in songs. Great job.

Randy: Kim, dude what's up dawg? The song was right for you and you made it your own dude.
Paula: It was sultry, but understated.
Simon: Ever since you started dressing nicer and fixing your hair, you've started sounding better. Sensational.
Lionel: I couldn't wait to find Toto. Outrageous.

Good old Charlie Grigsby sings a song that's near and dear to my heart. He performs Overjoyed by Stevie Wonder. It's the only time on the show that he sounded really good, but it's hard to redo Wonder. I think he did a commendable job, but perfecting a genius is impossible.

Randy: Yo dude, Stevie is hard to do, but you did your thang man.
Paula: Charles, you give me joy when you sing. I see magic in your face and uh, can I be forever your girl?
Simon: Bartender, cut this one off here to my right please. Charles, I'm going to be serious with you here, but you did a tough song from a universal artist and it was only okay. It was just okay.
Lionel: I think Simon is tough on you man, outrageously tough. Good job.

The last song on this CD is the bonus track, God Bless The USA which is climbing up the charts as a single. I heard the original, but since it was country, I didn't hear it alot. This single is fine and it showcases Josh where he's at his best. This one as well was recorded after Charles was already eliminated.

* Obviously, I made up everything Randy, Paula, Simon, and Lionel said. And although I may have gone a little over the top, it wasn't that far away from what they say on the show anyway.

3 stars