Idol Chatter: The Live Blog #12: The Top 4 (Movies).

[I wanted to do this last season, but I got the idea a few episodes too late. I do admit, I watch American Idol. I really didn't start until a couple years ago, though (my mom was a much bigger fan). Similar in style to the Live Survivor Blog over at Blog Cabins, Idol Chatter (pun and all) will be a play by play of the episodes and what I think of what's happening. For those that don't know, just continually refresh this page to get new updates as the show goes on.]

Whoo! It's "Songs of the Movies" tonight! I'm excited. I wonder if any of them are gonna sing that one song from the Kevin Costner Robin Hood since Crowe's Robin Hood comes out on Friday. I so hope not.

7:00: "This... is American Idol."

7:02: I was wondering how they were going to pad the hour. Ryan just said they would be singing their solos, but they'll also be paired up to do duets. I'm wondering why they haven't started having them sings 2 songs yet. I'm sure that'll be next week.

7:03: Because Jamie Foxx's music isn't annoying (that was sarcasm), they have him back for the second year in a row as a mentor.

7:04: Ha, that's awesome. Jamie Foxx challenged the contestants to a type of T-Shirt contest. He had 2 shirts, "Contestant" and "Artist," and they have to prove themselves to see which one they are, and he gives them that shirt.

7:05: Lee's up first! And he's doing... Kiss From A Rose by Seal from Batman. And Foxx is getting right into his face... he did that last season, too. He gives Lee an "Artist" shirt.

7:06: He was kinda rough at first until he got into the refrain, then it picked up. But he's still a bit rough. Not Lee's best so far. It was alright.

7:08: Randy didn't think he did anything with the song and it was just OK. I can agree with that. Ellen agrees, but still says he's so good. Kara thought it was rough, too, but still thinks Lee is great. Simon's with Randy, and calls him (of the T-Shirt thing) a "Contestant."

7:10: Oh Em Gee. Lee will be doing his duet with Crystal! That's gonna rock.

7:14: Big Mike's up. I wonder if he's gonna sing something like "I Believe I Can Fly" from Space Jam. Wait... or maybe "Hero" from Spider-Man. Wait...

7:15: He's singing "Will You Be There" by Michael Jackson from... Free Willy. Big Mike singing a song about a whale. Too easy... Anyway, Jamie Foxx wasn't impressed.

7:16: It's alright. It's... well, it was Mike. What else can be said? It wasn't a slow-tempo ballad. It was more mid-tempo... and it was alright.

7:18: Randy didn't love it and just thought it was alright. Ellen agreed. Kara agreed (she wanted goosebumps and didn't get them). Simon's never heard of Free Willy (Simon: "What's Free Willy about?" Mike: "Well, it's about a whale..." Simon: "I can't connect what you just did to a whale named Willy." Kara: "The song's not about a whale." Simon: "Is it about a willy?" LOL). No comment.

7:26: Holy crap! Crystal and Lee singing "Falling Slowly" from Once. This is effing epic. I just got goosebumps. This is the performance of the season right here. I'm downloading that immediately.

7:28: Randy loved it. Ellen loved it. Kara: "One of my favorite moments of the entire season." Simon: "I don't know if I'd call that a good song. I'd call that a fantastic song." Absolutely amazing.

7:33: Casey is singing "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon and Garfunkle from The Graduate. Jamie Foxx wants Casey to seduce him. Casey ends up with an "Artist" shirt.

7:35: Not bad. Of the solo performances, this one is the best thus far (sorry Lee). I've enjoyed it.

7:37: Randy wonders why he chose the song. Everybody points to Kara (who has been flirting with Casey all season). Funny. He thought it was a cool, laid back version of the song. Ellen wished he would have gone a bit further with the song, but enjoyed it. She then passes it to Mrs. Robinson (Kara). Kara says he's fighting to stay in the performance and likes it. Simon begs her to tell him what the movie's about (he knows, but he's teasing her). Simon thought the performance was a little lazy and didn't have the substance for this important night for him.

7:44: Crystal's up now. She's singing a song from Caddyshack. Uh huh. She's singing "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins. He gave her an "Artist" shirt, but I think just barely... strangely enough.

7:45: Has a kind of blues sound to it, just a bit. She's doing pretty well with it. This has taken over Casey's as the best solo performance, but I figured it would. I enjoyed it.

7:47: Randy liked how she switched it up. Ellen actually thinks she just made that song better. Kara agrees with Ellen. Simon's never heard of Caddyshack, either, apparently. But he says Crystal's back in the game.

NOTE: Ryan just said Casey and Big Mike's duet was to Bryan Adams... dear God, no... they're doing it. They're actually doing it. They're gonna have a skinny white guy and a large black man sing Robin Hood's "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" to each other. I think just the match-up of those two singing that to each other make it all forgivable, though.

7:52: And... alright, I guess not. They're singing "Have You Ever Loved A Woman?" from Don Juan Demarco. Damn. There went comedy gold. Anywho, this doesn't hold a candle to Lee and Crystal. This is good. Better than either of their solos. Yikes, that duel note there did not sound good, though.

7:55: Randy loved the guitar playing and, despite starting off with shaky vocals, he liked it. Ellen: "Well, as a matter of fact, yes I have loved a woman." LOL. Kara: "The duets tonight were incredible. They were better than all of the solo performances." I agree. Simon agrees, as well.

7:56: The Recap. Lee was... alright. Mike was... alright. Casey was... fun. Crystal was... really good. But the duets freakin' rocked. I'm still hyped about that "Falling Slowly" performance.

7:58: Jamie Foxx thought it was a great night and enjoyed it. I miss Harry Connick Jr.

Final Thoughts: I think the Bottom 2 will be Big Mike and Casey... who knows which will be going, though? Probably Big Mike.