American Idol S8 Extra Live & Swinging

Anoop could’ve killed with a little Dean Martin or Ol’ Blue Eyes. Oh, what might have been, kittens! And yet, I think Rat Pack Night could be oodles of fun. Adam is sure to serve it. Kris, I think, will do quite well. I have built a lot of faith in our sweet and sexy young thing since the start of the finals. Frikkin’ Gokey has a lovely voice and he could do well, but the smarm will kill me. And honestly, I think Matt could rock it tonight. In a tux with the bowtie undone, slightly disheveled and five o’clock shadow-y, tickling the ivories and with a glass of bourbon on the edge of the Baby Grand. Oh, my yes, darlings. The one I’m worried about is Allison. Not that she couldn’t do well with these songs. I mean, they’re not called classics for nothing, and she could certainly be the Shirley MacLaine to the boys Sammy and Dean. And she’s shown an ability with her take on Bonnie Raitt to connect on an emotional level with a song well beyond her years and experience. But the mush mouth pronunciation. Noodles, this will be an issue, no? Half of the beauty of great jazz and standards singing is in the phrasing and the enunciation, and she’s really kind of not so good at that. Let’s pray that the vocal coaches are on overdrive this week. You can’t go wrong with most of the Rat Pack songbook, but here’s what I’d most especially like the kids to tackle this evening. I limited myself to songs that appeared on actual live cast albums from Rat Pack performances, kittens. See how I sacrifice for you?

Adam

All the Way (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. - The Summit in Concert 1962) – He could bring back the tender, Tears of a Clown performer on a song like this. This is a hypothetical love song, y’all, and aren’t those always the best kind? Pau Pau would be in tears before the band finished the intro.

One for My Baby (Rat Pack: From Vegas to St. Louis: Sands Hotel Las Vegas Sept 6th 1963; St. Louis 1965) – I would like to see him turn this into a techno/dance rave up. I love this song and its bluesy, boozy air of regret. Tack a good dance beat onto this and I would be over the moon.

Call Me Irresponsible (Rat Pack: From Vegas to St. Louis: Sands Hotel Las Vegas Sept 6th 1963; St. Louis 1965) – “Call me unpredictable/Tell me I’m impractical/Rainbows, I’m inclined to pursue” Kittens, it’s like the theme song to Adam’s entire life!

Who am I kidding, noodles? Adam will be amazing and I will love whatever he does. Write that across the sky for eternity, kiddies.


Allison

Goody Goody (The Clan in Chicago, Live at the Villa Venice, Chicago 1962) – It’s a song made famous by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. Could there be a better fit for our Manic Panic chola? I think not. Ella Fitzgerald also did a spiffy version of this song that could provide the jazzier pattern to follow that is required on Rat Pack night. This song is young and fun and flirty and I think we need to see that from Allison after a couple of weeks of more ballad-y choices.

He’s Funny That Way (The Clan in Chicago, Live at the Villa Venice, Chicago 1962) – You cannot go wrong with Lady Day and Allison has the chops to pull this song off. And honestly, with the way the crack whores and angry trannys have been styling her, is there a more appropriate lyric than “Not much to look at/nothing to see”? I think not, noodles.

A Foggy Day (The Rat Pack Live at the Sands) – This is another upbeat, fun song that really swings. Basically, I just think Allison needs to find that nugget of fun, playfulness that the Rat Pack had in such abundance and really show us that side of herself. Keep it light, that’s the order for the evening.


Frikkin’ Gokey

The Lady Is a Tramp (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. - The Summit in Concert 1962) – No more dirges. No more songs that lend themselves to pointing up to the sky, to teary eyed post-song interviews, to the goddamn heart hand. This song certainly has the potential to be cheesy, but it’ll be a different kind of cheese, no? Dare I say that it has the potential to be Rat Pack-ian? Finger snapping, pointing at the audience, smarmy smile cheese, no? Not ghoulish, dead wife overshare cheese. That’s something, right kiddies?

The Birth of the Blues (The Clan in Chicago, Live at the Villa Venice, Chicago 1962) – I still believe that Frikkin’ Gokey has enough soul and talent in him to deliver a knock out performance, but he’s gonna need to step all the way out of his box. That means not really doing the Rat Pack/Sammy Davis, Jr./Frank Sinatra version. Think Bela Fleck. Think Chet Atkins. Think real jazz musicians. Now put a stripped down Gokey into that equation. No hopping around, no mugging, no heart hand gestures. (I can’t let it go, darlings. It’s so wrong! And now they are doing it in commercials. What is wrong with this world?) It could really work. He’d never do it.

I Have Dreamed (The Rat Pack Live at the Sands) – Probably more his speed and would allow for just the kind of smarm he looooves to bring by the truckload. But, at least it’s a beautiful song. And since it’s sung by a pair of star crossed lovers in The King and I doomed to be beaten and beheaded by the end of the play, I can contemplate Gokey’s all too timely demise to distract myself from the performance. What? I’m just wishing that he could be reunited with his wife so that they could make heavenly heart hand signals to all their friends and family.


Kris

I Can’t Give You anything but Love (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. - The Summit in Concert 1962) – This song is sexy and cheeky and playful, much like Kris. I like seeing him have fun and smile. He’s not really debauched enough to be a Rat Packer at their swinging, devil may care best, no? This is about the only mid-tempo number of theirs that I could see Kris taking on without being crushed under the weight of those teen angel good looks.

I Only Have Eyes for You (Ratpack: From Vegas to St. Louis: Sands Hotel Las Vegas Sept 6th 1963; St. Louis 1965) – I adore this song. The doo wop version is actually my favorite, and I think Kris could nail it and have the swaybots swooning in the pit. Judge #4 might just melt clean away. Double bonus!

I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Ratpack: From Vegas to St. Louis: Sands Hotel Las Vegas Sept 6th 1963; St. Louis 1965) – Bono proved that this song could sound completely contemporary and radio friendly for the 90’s. I’d love to see Kris work some of his re-arranging mojo and make it contemporary and radio friendly for the 00’s. He and Adam are the only two I trust to do almost anything with a song. (Kris gets an almost for the abomination that was All She Wants to Do Is Dance and that horrible semi-finals MJ. Never forget, kittens!)


Matt

She’s Funny That Way (The Clan in Chicago, Live at the Villa Venice, Chicago 1962) – I know I said I’d like to see Allison do this number, and that’s still true. But damn if I don’t think Matt could kill with a gender flipped version of this song. He could really let out some of that mack daddy swagger that’s always there, even when it’s unearned, on this tune. Tell us about how much your woman loves to work and slave for you, Matt. This song has a totally different resonance when sung from the male POV, not that I expect any of these kids to get that. Well, maybe Adam. But if Matt could get that and own that, well, this song could be fire.

King of the Road (Ratpack: From Vegas to St. Louis: Sands Hotel Las Vegas Sept 6th 1963; St. Louis 1965) – I expect that this is more up his alley, noodles. This is where the tux with the open shirt and undone bowtie comes in. And for the love of all that’s holy, leave the vibrato in the valise, pretty please? These songs were not meant to be riffed upon unless you have skills like Sarah Vaughn, which we already know Matt does not. I fear the attempts to scat which might occur should Matt get it into his head that he’s some kind of modern day Sammy Davis, Jr.

You Make Me Feel So Young (Ratpack: From Vegas to St. Louis: Sands Hotel Las Vegas Sept 6th 1963; St. Louis 1965) – This could be breezy fun. A nice, forgettable mid-pack number that would get him sent home. And isn’t that what we all want deep down, noodles? Because if it’s not him, you know it’s going to be Manic Panic. Gokey’s not going anywhere and Kris and Adam are too good. So let’s all hope for a clichéd song with clean but not overwhelming vocals from Goat Boy so that he can finally, finally go home. I do believe he’s all out of lives.