Jacob Lusk tried to take the American Idol judge's advice resulting in confusion and his elimination at the 5th position - Fox photo

American Idol's in-house mentor Jimmy Iovine - Angela George photo

Video Beat EXTRA Part 1 - AMERICAN IDOL JUDGES CONFLICTING ADVICE

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

American Idol's in-house mentor Jimmy Iovine disagrees with the American Idol judges critiques of the contestants. Iovine is the only person involved with the show that can sign contestants to a recording deal since he is the Chairman of Interscope Records which is part of Universal Music Group that replaced Sony Music Entertainment as Idol's official partner record label - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday, May 08, 2011

SAY WHAT!!!???

American Idol's in-house mentor Jimmy Iovine said on this past weeks performance show, "If you say to someone be true to yourself and then (say) try other things, that's an oxymoron, It's a contradiction."

Iovine was spot on with his with his criticism of the American Idol judges as he is the only person on the show that can sign a contestant to a recording contract since he is the Chairman of Interscope Records which is part of Universal Music Group that replaced Sony Music Entertainment as Idol's official partner record label. If there is someone to please it is Iovine. Iovine's remarks follow numerous critiques by the judges that are intended to help the contestants on their way to win the Idol title.

The result has been that several contestants made every effort to please the judges and then failed and eliminated. Pia Toscano who was the last girl to be eliminated at the 9th position took Randy Jackson's advice to sing an up tempo song. When she did her world came apart as she was eliminated after never having been in the Bottom 3. The judges were in shock as Toscano has one of the four best quality voices in the contest along with Scott McCreery, Lauren Alaina and Jacob Lusk.

Lusk was eliminated this past week at the 5th spot. His downfall was not his voice but his not knowing who he is as a performer and trying to please the judge's suggestions as to what type as song he should sing. Early on in the competition Lusk was praised by Jackson after Lusk sang God Bless This Child. "Your performance of God Bless This Child is the best performance EVER on American Idol."

Given that Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest are the only two of the shows cast that have been with the program since its inception it is apparent that he has the most valid opinion of the judges on that subject. Lusk proved that he can sing and possesses an outstanding voice but in truth he doesn't know who he is as an artist.

A true talent knows who they are before entering the contest. The best example is David Cook the winner of Season 7 (2008). Cook will never be associated with having a great voice but he demonstrated that he has talent. His strength was taking a song and making it is own or doing it his way.

Cook rejected the judge's criticisms and stuck to his style to win the contest over David Archuleta who has a better quality voice. Cook also knows who he is as a person or man when he took on then judge Simon Cowell's negative critiques. After a negative critique Cook told Cowell that he didn't care what he thought. He added that he only cares about what America thought. A flustered Cowell swallowed his tongue and seemed somewhat embarrassed and Cook made his point when he won the Idol title.

As this season progressed Lusk demonstrated that he is immature, unsure of himself and lacking the ability to follow instructions. On a show he claimed that he too over 60 takes to get it right (singing a song) in rehearsal with Iovine. Overall Lusk got caught up in trying to please too many people too much.

The show in which decided Lusk's fate the five remaining contestants sang two songs. Lusk's first choice was singing a song No Air that was recorded by Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown. Lusk sang both female and male parts resulting in a scorching criticism from Jackson who pointed out, "Your voice is way bigger than those people you covered tonight." He also noted that he shouldn't have chosen a song requiring him to sing both parts.

"Your voice is one of the best ever on this stage," said Jennifer Lopez after his performance but added that she isn't sure what type of singer he wants to be.

Tyler said that Lusk should find songs that are 100% him and to try to find his own identity.

Jackson feels that Lusk has a Luther Vandross type voice and should stay in that lane (style).

If those comments weren't confusing enough, Lusk got another ear full advice from both Iovine and Jackson. Prior to singing Love Hurts as suggested by Iovine in what would turn out to be his last on a performance show the mentor felt that Lusk would get into trouble if he sang another Vandross song. "He's got to spread his audience," Iovine noted.

The irony is that despite Iovine's concern Lusk only sang one Vandross song since the Top 13 performances began. That occurred during the Top 7 week with the themes being Songs from the 21st Century and Lusk chirped Vandross's "Dance with My Father." The result was he was in the Bottom 3 for the first time.

Hey dog... are you confused? Apparently Lusk was as he defended his song choices to Jackson. "I must do different things to stay relevant," he said.

The bottom line is Lusk proved that although his voice is tremendous he lacks self confidence in who he is as a talent.

The flip side of that is McCreery has been praised by Iovine in sticking to is guns and his love for country music and singing in his style. He never altered his style. The only suggestion that he took was to sing an up-tempo song. McCreery's results are strong as he has never been in the bottom 3 or 2.

Part 2 - The Final Four (4)

ELIMINATED

# 5 - Jacob Lusk

# 6 - Casey Abrams

# 7 - Stefano Langone - Review canceled due to lack of interest

# 8 - Paul McDonald - Review canceled due to lack of interest

# 9 - PIA TOSCANO

# 11 & 10 - THAI MEGIA & NAIMA ADEDAPO

# 11 - CASEY ABRAMS SAVED

# 12 - KAREN RODRIGUEZ

# 13 - ASHTHON JONES

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