American Idol to welcome Neil Diamond

Diamond is forever
By Jon Chattman

Next week, American Idol contestants will be coached by the one and only Neil Diamond. So far, this season’s guest instructors (or whatever you want to call them) have been sort of uneven. Whereas Dolly Parton helped Michael Johns reach new heights (a lot of good that did in the long run – tsk, tsk), Andrew Lloyd Webber couldn’t do much for Jason Castro. That said, there is no question Neil Diamond will be a perfect ten for the final five contestants. Diamond is a Greek God whose career credits are legendary. For starters, he’s score numerous hit songs for himself and others (somewhere UB40 is smiling- I stress “somewhere”), and the Jazz Singer artist is the only man alive who got Sir Laurence Olivier to wear a yarmulke. We could go on, but like Idol itself, this article is going to let the contestants shine. We all know song selection is important on the show, and with the contest winding down swiftly, never before has that been more true. So, since they asked (they really didn’t), I’m here to recommend song choices for each of the contestants for next week. My gut tells me each contestant will perform two songs (that’s how it’s been in the past on the show), so here’s my breakdown of who should perform what, and why.
Syesha Mercado:
Taking a page from Simon, I’m going to be honest here: Syesha isn’t winning this competition. She’s a great singer, has a good personality, but for whatever reason she just misses what Simon would call the “it factor.” Having said all that, she’s got a chance to outlive Brooke this week so here are my picks for Syesha. Since she has a whole theatrical thing going on (she’s an actress, too), I suggest “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” which would allow her to act out the song like she did in Webber week. For the other number, I’d love to see her do “Free Your Mind” from En Vogue, but that can’t be an option because Neil Diamond didn’t write that. So I suggest “Yesterday’s Songs” a somewhat up-tempo ballad that she can have some fun with.

Brooke White:
Brooke needs a big week this week, and may get it if she just returns to her piano/Carole King comfort zone. I suggest Brooke take a fast song, and strip it down. “Love on the Rocks” would be perfect for her, because it’s a slow song that starts fast. The next song that would work nicely is “Song Sung Blue” which could really play to her strengths, and well, make her not start and stop again.
David Cook:
As far as I’m concerned, he’s winning this contest if David Archuleta doesn’t. Keeping with his theme of taking songs and putting his own (or borrowing someone else’s) spin on them, I think Cook should perform “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon.” It would allow him to rock out, and sing some monotone as well. For his second number, I suggest “America.” I think Cook could do a pretty good job with this song, and get the crowd into it. On an unrelated note, he has bad hair.
Jason Castro:
I dig the whole Jack Johnson vibe, but Castro needs to mix it up a bit after that disastrous version of “Memory” which probably made Andrew Lloyd Webber die inside a little. My suggestion? Castro tries “Solitary Man,” which is a great song that likely nobody knows. For his second song, I suggest one of two Diamond tunes. Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer,” which I doubt anyone knows – and I think Castro with his signature approach could do wonders with this. If he wants to go with a less popular song since the oh-so-popular “Memory” stunk up the room, he may want to select “Cracklin’ Rosie,” which would allow him to have some real fun. So far, it just looks like he’s having fun before and after each performance.
David Archuleta:
I’m going to just come out and say it: Archuleta’s appeal is over for me. It never was there. I’m not a 12-year-old girl, and his humble Melinda Doolittle thing is annoying. Still, the boy can sing eventhough his haircut makes him look like a Muncheechee and his smile makes him look like he likes soup. My suggestion for young David this week is “Heartlight,” a cheesy song about “ET” which matches his cheesy demeanor, and “Cherry, Cherry,” a song that will force David to come out of his element a little bit. We’ll see. I still see him doing “America” and ruining it. Time will tell. He’s the one to beat in this whole competition soup or not.