Another week, another Jimmy Iovine rescue – at least, an attempt at one. Cut to last week: Lauren Alaina, faux meek, wilting in the face of Jimmy’s compliment that she sings better than Miley Cyrus. “What I was doing was motivating her,” Jimmy explained this week. “There are times where Lauren goes on stage and she pulls back – her fear of failing, I believe.”
A slight uptick in the ratings for “American Idol” reverses a trend and makes the show look increasingly like a cultural fixture. What’s the key?
Last week’s nudge worked only halfway, so this week, he had another go at her, bringing in Rock Mafia, who’ve produced several hits for Miley, and – again – watching Lauren shrivel up.
Lauren is this season’s cipher. Every other contestant – including goofy Stefano and his out-of-sync eyebrows – has thrived under the constant attention of Jimmy and his minions (even when inexplicably paired with, say, Jim Jonsin). Lauren, though, has retreated, never touching the pure confidence of her initial audition in front of the judges. Back then, she knew she was a good singer; now she fears she might be great.
“I do tend to hold back,” she said this week, “because I don’t really know what I can do as far as notes, ’cause all these people around me are singing all these crazy notes and I feel like I’m not and I don’t want to fall behind.” That’s probably why she chose a light, airy song this week – “Born to Fly,” by Sara Evans, which even as breezy Sara Evans songs go, requires little effort. And still she underdelivered. She’d have been better with “Cheatin’ ” or the current hit “A Little Bit Stronger.” Next week, Jimmy might have to resort to threats.
She could learn to take direction from the judges, who after last week’s lovefest appear to have gotten a talking-to. This was the night that this season’s permissive culture screeched to a halt. Randy, J. Lo, and even foulmouthed-vagabond Steven Tyler each tried to temper their praise with dashes of critique. Sometimes it was deserved – sorry, Haley. Sometimes they blanked and forgot to do it – Stefano’s Krav Maga dance moves elicited no barbs. And sometimes they misfired – poor Scotty delivered an awards-show worthy performance of LeAnn Rimes’s “Swingin’ ” only to be told he should stretch himself, which he emphatically should not.
More Jimmy Iovine Wisdom “I like the substance of it for you – some of the songs you’ve done is fluff” – to James, for choosing Muse’s “Uprising,” which he described as being about “a postapocalyptic protest.”“Everybody knows Jacob Lusk can sing by now, now they’re going to find out if he can feel” – about Jacob’s choice of Luther Vandross’s “Dance With My Father,” which he sang sublimely in his most controlled performance of the season.“Casey’s as stubborn as one of my sons. You’ve got to let Casey go, you’ve got to let him do his thing” – about Casey, whose thing apparently includes kissing J. Lo at the end of his performance. Take that, Adam Levine! #swag“He can move, this guy – what’s he doing stalking the stage pleading? He’s a great-looking guy, great-looking guys don’t plead for girls” – about Stefano, a completely misguided read, but redeemed with the coda, “I wasn’t one of those guys, I know – they were in my class.” Hath not a C.E.O. feelings?
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