Digital Brainwaves

Neil Diamond week this week. This could be interesting, or it could be really weird, I’m not sure.

• As a friend of mine just told me, “ok, let’s see who can f*ck up this week and still survive.”
• Five left this week.
• “Very tight show this week,” Ryan says… I’m wagering we’re getting into two-performance-night weeks…
• Yep, I win.
  1. Jason Castro - “Forever In Blue Jeans” - Neil Diamond’s catalog seems to suit Jason pretty well. I don’t know if it’s his best performance, per se, but it’s definitely one of his better ones.
• Intereting… no judgements until the second performances tonight.
  2. David Cook - “I’m Alive” - An excellent showing from David as always. Rockin’ out the song… I can imagine that as a recorded single right now.
  3. Brooke White - “I’m A Believer” - I’m not sure she’s entirely on key, but she’s certainly having fun. I’m not sure this is her best performance, but it isn’t bad. Maybe didn’t need the guitar herself.
  4. David Archuleta - “Sweet Caroline” - I’m still thinking that the Davids are going to be the top two, and this reinforces that. This could be a pop recording right now, too.
  5. Syesha Mercado - “Hello Again” - Sour note in the middle, but a good performance. Doesn’t “wow” me, but it’s a decent showing.
• Not totally surprising — Paula’s lost.
• Around to the beginning again…
  1. Jason Castro - “September Morn” - Jason’s starting to sound like a one-trick pony — he can ballad, but that’s about it. This was okay, but it wasn’t spectacular.
  2. David Cook - “All I Really Need Is You” - The custom arrangement helps him here, and makes it seem like a totally new, fresher song. Excellent performance.
  3. Brooke White - “I Am… I Said” - At Diamond’s suggestion, she changed a lyric (”New York born-and-raised” to “Arizona”), and it totally works. Much better job than her first one.
  4. David Archuleta - “America” - I like his first perfomance a little better, but not by much. Great job overall tonight.
  5. Syesha Mercado - “Thank the Lord for the Night Time” - Not too bad, but it’s a little slower than the original version, so it feels like it’s dragging… which is what it’s doing to my impression of the song. She does well, I just wanted her to do it faster.

I’m voting for: David C. twice (2, 2), Brooke (3), David A. twice (4, 4) and Syesha (5).

Predictions
Bottom three: Jason, Brooke and Syesha
Bottom two: Jason and Brooke
Going home: Jason