This is going to be a VERY interesting Tuesday night on American Idol. Mentor Andrew Lloyd Weber is an absolutely brilliant songwriter, best known for his Broadway scores for “Phantom of the Opera”, “Cats”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Evita”, “Sunset Boulevard” and SO many more. Too bad Kady Malloy isn’t around to use her opera chops- this could have TOTALLY been her week!
Weber’s discography is massive, but many of his songs are just too challenging for some of the Idols. Loads of them will be impossible to edit down to 1 1/2 minutes! Lots of pissing and moaning out there right now because of the horrendous-to-stupendous potential. Nonetheless, here are a few of my Andrew Lloyd Weber song ideas for the Idols! Hit us up in the comments with YOUR ideas for which song you’d like to hear from them, and have fun listening!
David Archuletta: If he could man up, he could delight on Jesus Christ Superstar, a rock anthem that would be a big step out of ballads we’ve been hearing. This is Carl Anderson’s version from the 70’s. Don’t believe he could handle the Roger Daltrey version because it rocks HARD, but David Cook could tear that one UP. Memory from “Cats” may be tempting for Archie; Michael Ball’s version of With One Look from “Sunset Boulevard” could be a winner.
Carly Smithson: She may need to resist the temptation of Music of the Night because she can’t stop frowning! If she could soften her facial expressions, she could do an awesome job. Channel Sarah Brightman, Carly! Think “gorgeous diva”! She might deliver Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from “Evita” better, because it suits her usually serious performance look. This is French chanteuse Laura Fabian’s version that is FAB and amazing- it starts about 1 minute in. If Carly would step it up, stretch, and actually have fun, she could wow with Shakalaka Baby from “Bombay Dreams”!
David Cook: could twist up basically ANYTHING out of Weber’s discography and hit a home-run. I’d love to hear how HE would handle Music of the Night -here sung by Josh Groban- SO dark and haunting.
Ian Gillan’s version of Gesthemene from “Jesus Christ, Superstar” would surely kill. Heaven On Their Minds (another great Roger Daltrey version) from “Superstar” would be awesome as well. David will most certainly surprise- and likely delight with whatever he does… he’s probably having a grand time right now doing the Cooking.
Brooke White: I Don’t Know How To Love Him from Superstar would be perfect, because it would show off her lower register and fit her genre well. Tell Me On A Sunday from “Song and Dance” could also work for her. I think “Evita’s” You Must Love Me , Lea Salong’s spare piano version, could be really nice with Brooke on her piano.
Jason Castro: Love Changes Everything from “Aspects of Love”, Starlight Express from “Starlight Express”, or On This Night of A Thousand Stars from “Evita” could all be potential hits when worked with Jason’s indie style.
Syesha Mercado: Tell Me On A Sunday - this is Sarah Brightman’s version, ambitious but possible with Sye’s upper range. Shirley Bassey’s version of With One Look from Sunset Blvd could be awesome. If Sye can loosen up, she could really surprise with Shakalaka Baby too. Think Bollywood, Sye! She would have to REALLY get down, but it could show a side of her we haven’t seen yet. I think The Perfect Year -Dina Carroll’s updated version from “Sunset Blvd” is right up Syesha’s alley.
Who the heck knows what will happen on Tuesday! Fasten your seatbelts, babies- it could be a CRAZY night!
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Posted on: Monday, April 21, 2008
April 21st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Wow! It’s like we’re sympatico! This is the week I’ve been looking forward to all season. I picked almost the exact same songs for them, except for a few. Here are my choices:
BROOKE: I Don’t Know How To Love Him / Learn To Be Lonely (Phantom movie)
CARLY: Don’t Cry For Me Argentina / You Must Love Me / As If We Never Said G’Bye (sunset blvd)
ARCHIE: Memory
ROCKER: Gethsemane
SYESHA: With One Look / As If We Never Said G’Bye.
JASON: Any Dream Will Do (Joseph)
It was hardest to pick for Jason as this may not be his style. But I can picture him pulling off that song. I hope he kills it and Jason sticks around to next week!!!
April 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I think that you are wrong about david archuleta. He is for the most talented one on the show this year. Guess that is why they are trying to build David C. up with his step brother.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I don’t get the feeling like they need to build Cook. He’s doing it pretty well on his own. My money is still on Cook for this season.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:00 pm
oh, i love Jason too! listen to that “night of a thousand stars” and think of him on his guitar!
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:17 am
Katherine- we’re definitely on the same page!! Simpatico! My love for David Cook knows no bounds, but I adore Jason as well! He’s a Texas Aggie too- wonderful place that Texas A&M! Secret voting block! Any Dream Will Do would be done well by Jason, I agree. Ooooh but I can’t wait for the Cooking!
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
Had to pop in and mention one of my all time favorite Weber songs: the Pia Jesu from Requiem. Not a song for the idols, but if you’ve never heard it, you must. It sounds like it was written by a 15th century monk, and is hauntingly beautiful. I don’t think I can post a link, but Sarah Brightman’s amazing version is on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHTP-rKn98s&feature=related . Truly heavenly.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
David C totally outperformed everyone tonight!! he was AMAZIN…
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 am
David must have heard me! I SO wanted to hear him do “Music of the Night”. Fab,fab,fab. Brooke heard me too, but forgot her piano and the words. Carly actually had fun and smiled more than I can ever remember! Goofy happy! Syesha did an awesome job, IMO. Most personality and best performance I’ve seen out of her yet! Poor Jason. I can only hope that Brooke has saved him and will be the one leaving.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Not a single one of them listened to my suggestions!! Therefore, I hope they ALL go home! LOL!
No one should have sung a Phantom song. That’s just presumptuous and sacrilegious, IMHO. I really wanted DC to sing Gethsemane, darn it!!!
I actually agreed with Paula about Jason’s performance last night! I hate that song, but he was definitely channeling Joe Cocker [who I don't think is the greatest singer but has a unique and recognizable voice] when he sang MEMORY. I hope he’s safe cuz Brooke’s on VoteForTheWorst so she may be safe just cuz of that!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Haha, wow, I didn’t realize Brooke had made the VFTW now that KLC is gone, but I guess it’s not surprising.
I haven’t really been able to get too into Jason’s performances so last night wasn’t much different.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Erin, I’m surprised you know who Lea Salonga is!! Not too many know her unless you’re Filipina [like me ;-)]. I love musicals and I’ve been waiting for a Broadway-themed night on Idol probably since s1’s Big Band Week.
If only they’d had a choice of Broadway songs instead of just limited to Lord Andrew’s repertoire… but I guess that would have been disrespectful to him. Cuz there are so many other great musicals out there that ALW didn’t write and could have been showcased, like Miss Saigon, Les Miz, RENT, Chicago, Jekyll and Hyde, Scarlet Pimpernel, Wicked….
I think Carly has a big voice like Linda Eder so I would have loved it if she’d sung BRING ON THE MEN from Jekyll. It would have been fun and sassy and showed lots of personality. Maybe then she’d still be around…
April 26th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Lea Salonga has one of the most beautiful voices ever! I just realized my link to her above was linking to a different song and artist! Here’s Lea, she’s amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeF-wVWzVEs