It’s anyone’s guess who will become the next American Idol. Although everyone who watches the twice-a-week vocal talent show probably has an opinion and a personal favorite, the performances are equally strong among the last “Lucky 7.”
Surprisingly, one of the top contenders up to this point in the season as well as the lone African American contestant, Jacob Lusk of Compton, Ca., received the most critical comments from the judges tonight. He may have been affected by TMZ’s recent report that he had to beg a judge to release him from probation for hopping on a train without paying and failing to appear in court on the charge so that he could compete on the show.
On tonight’s performance show, the contestants were interviewed humorously about each other. Lusk was characterized as being “loud,” “silly,” “diva-ish” and “full of yiggity-yeahs” (his signature run). Referring to a song Lusk performed in past weeks, Haley Reinhart, one of only two female contestants left said, “He left his mark on that bad boy [song].”
Looking quite handsome in a shiny, steel gray, ’60s-style suit, Lusk sang one of Luther Vandross’ final hits, “Dance With My Father Again,” with a slightly different twist at the end, making it his own and climbing the scales to his signature high range. He dedicated the song to everyone without fathers.
Lusk’s own father died when he was just 12 years old, and he was moved to tears during rehearsal. However, he was able to maintain his composure during the actual performance, and the two male judges agreed with J Lo that it was an “emotionally beautiful performance.” Steven Tyler called him “Luther Lusk” and said, “You remind me of why I love music.” Randy Jackson, on the other hand, said the performance was “good, but I wasn’t jumping up and down.” He implied that Lusk has become predictable. All of the judges cautioned him about “holding back.”
And that is the frustrating part about this year’s judges. They don’t seem to know what they want. On one show, they (usually Jackson) will tell a contestant to calm down, bring it in or not be so wild and emotional. When the contestant complies in a future performance, they (usually Jackson) will say, “You’re holding back! Bring the old person back! Give us more of you!”
What? Huh? Anyway, although he faces some real stiff competition, Lusk lasts, and we will be watching his career both on and off of American Idol. Whether he wins the title or not, he probably won’t ever have to hop a train again and maybe he should send the judge a thank-you card. –arnell pharr
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