You gotta hand it to the Cooks. They are the brainiest contestants left in this “American Idol” season.
David Cook’s version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” via Chris Cornell’s recent dirge-like cover showed that he’s going to continue to position himself as the risk-taker, the “edgier” candidate.
But Kristy Lee Cook’s decision to take on Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”? That was sheer genius. Appealing to the cross-section of country fans and all those red state voters with their fingers on the redial button was brilliant. She’s a better tactician than whoever was running Hillary Clinton campaign before. I was half-expecting a Drudge Report call-to-arms, but don’t worry I’m sure Kristy Lee will get one next week.
If she keeps positioning herself as traditional-values girl (over the intensely religious Brooke White, no less), she’s going to stick around for weeks to come. If only she could transform this gamesmanship into actual, you know, talent.
So what does this mean for the rest of the gang? Well, Chikezie and Ramiele should be worried. They may not deserve to go this week – especially not Ramiele, whose “Alone” was pretty strong – but Kristy’s power play will likely take one of them out.
Also, someone needs to help David Archuleta besides his stage dad, who Simon Cowell was clearly calling to the carpet this week. Poor lil’ David got saddled with an up-with-people-ish David Foster track instead of doing something popular or, well, entertaining. I’d say he should hire Kristy Lee, but she’s going to be around for a while.
David Cook, “Billie Jean”
Michael Johns, “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions”
Syesha Mercado, “If I Was Your Woman”
Carly Smithson, “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Ramiele Malubay, “Alone”
Brooke White, “Every Breath You Take”
David Archuleta, “You’re the Voice”
Chikezie, “If Only for One Night”
Jason Castro, “Fragile”
Kristy Lee Cook, “God Bless the U.S.A.”
BOTTOM THREE: Chikezie, Ramiele, Carly
WILL BE CUT: Chikezie
SHOULD BE CUT: Kristy
ACTUALLY CUT: Chikezie