Top Idol’s Song Suggestions for the American Idol Top 7

I’m a big fan of movie soundtracks. Good ones, that is. But since I have always believed music is one of the biggest factors in making a good movie. Too many films dial this shit in, especially ones choosing to use Ain’t No Mountain High Enough as a recurring motif (no surprise those involved include overrated superstars such as Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, i.e., Stepmom and Remember the Titans, respectively) or to provide audio backdrop to the climax (i.e., Bridget Jones’ Diary).

So I’m really hoping Ain’t No Mountain High Enough isn’t sung by say, Danny Gokey, because technically it is not an actual soundtrack song. It was not originally recorded for a film, but Idol did let him sing Stand By Me in Songs From Their Birth Year week so I’m sure it could happen.

Unfortunately, Scott MacIntyre is gone! Granted, he probably would not have done Through The Eyes of Love from 1978’s Ice Castles because Blind Guy had class and never talked about his “challenges” (I’m looking at you, Paula and the dumb bitch sitting on your right), but then again, the late-70s Melissa Manchester ballad has Scott MacIntyre written all over it.

Plus, you know he totally owns this compilation album (Ok, my original choice was a similar compilation put together a few years before this one called Secret Love, with the playful couple hanging out by the fire, had some Toni & Tennile songs, you know the one I’m talking about. Yeah, well it’s not on YouTube, dammit! It’s up there with Freedom Rock.)

Anyway, I’m sticking to the “rules”. I’m only using songs which we released on a soundtrack album, or written specifically for a film. These are my suggestions for what these progressively-boring group of yahoos should since this week. (Hopefully, these rules will be inacted because frankly, I really do not feel we should be forced to hear Lil Rounds garble her way through the umpteenth Idol cover of I Will Always Love You. Thankfully, this will also prevent Not-So-Lil-Ass from doing anything on the What’s Love Gotta Do With It soundtrack, although I have a feeling she learned she should never do Ms. Tina again.)

Adam Lambert
Moon River (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)

Screech McQueen is likely to go up-tempo again this week, since he seems to be alternating by week, but Moon River, from the 1963’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s would be the perfect choice. It’s not as if he has to worry whether or not he’s going to stick around, but Moon River will please his frau-base, as well as satisfying his love for the theatrical. And its not so much the Mancini-version I am suggesting, as Screech has the tendency to borrow or experiment with new arrangements of older music, Moon River has been done a few times since then…most notably by tortured troubador Morissey, an artist I would imagine Lambert greatly admires. Moz’s Moon River is also not known much outside of Moz fans, so if Screech busted this out on stage, it would be yet one more time people would cream themselves over this guy.

But seriously, watch this video. And if you disagree, then you’re just stupid. It would be the PERFECT song choice, even if he incurs the wrath of Moz, who probably would shit two bricks of tofu if he heard his music on American Idol.

Allison Iraheta
Bring Me To Life 

If La Princesa del Mariachi does an “older” song this week, I worry she will be criticized for not doing something “young”. After all, the most current song we’ve heard La Princesa do is No Doubt’s Don’t Speak. Since the judges are more predictable than the tides, I sense she is due to get her ass handed to her for not being “youthful” enough in the coming weeks, which has probably only been staved off because of her pink hair and post-modern Punky Brewster fashion sense.  

Anyway, this Evanescence song might be iffy, as it was not recorded for the Daredevil, although it was released on the film’s soundtrack before Evanescence released Fallen in early March 2003. So therefore, I’ll say it counts. La Princesa could definitely handle Amy Lee’s vocals, plus this a total La Princesa song with dark themes and a charging chorus she can really throw her vocals into. Plus, its only from 6 years ago. Hell, Don’t Speak is over a decade old now. It’s the perfect song for La Princesa to KILL. 

This is the ideal song choice for La Princesa. Plus, I think its time for La Pricesa to step up her game. 

Anoop Desai
Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)

No. I am not suggesting this because Anoop is Indian and someone needs to bring Bollywood to the Idol stage (although…that might be fun). I am suggesting this because it could keep Anoop around for another week and sadly, people are ignorant and something like this could really appeal to the American public. Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture, Best Original Score and Best Original Song at this year’s Academy Awards. It’s also been a consistent Top-selling album on iTunes for quite some time now. He might be able to pick up some votes, although I’m sure he never wants to hear those ignorant comparisons ever again (OMG HE IS INDIAN JUST LIKE IN THAT REALLY GOOD MOVIE AND HIS HAME IS ANOOPDAWG). Jai Ho isn’t a likely choice, but come on, it could be delightfully calculated measure. Granted, the poor kid probably wouldn’t lose the Anoopdog Millionaire monkier any time soon, and I’m sure some crazy fans have already speculated parallels between these ridiculous “cheating” allegations and the saga of Jamal Malik, so…

Yeah, it would be either completely stupid. Or totally brilliant. Hell, last season, blatant “nationalistic” pandering extended Kristy Lee Cook’s Idol stay.

(Hmmm…remember those shitty spoilers from last week’s Joe’s Place Blog? They claimed Anoop would be singing Who’s Johnny? from Short Circuit: 2 and Lil Rounds would be singing Let’s Hear it for the Boy from Footloose…I still don’t think they’re correct, but hell, it would be kind of amusing those we what those two went with.)

Danny Gokey
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

You know something? I’m going to use this one just because I can sooooo see him doing it. Even if it doesn’t stick to the “rules”. Because Gokey seems to find ways to bend the rules (see last week’s performance of “Mickey Gilley’s 1983 version of Stand By Me) to sing something he deems inspirational enough. I’m almost giddy with anticipation to see what Tarantino will say about this yahoo, because after checking out video from his stint as a guest judge on Season 3, this man probably offers more astute and relevant criticism than any of what the judge’s blow up these kids’ asses. 

But I do believe Idol might be a bit more lenient than the Academy in deeming what is an “original song” and will probably allow for schlock like this, especially if it means Gokey can over-sing and over-preach with all that soul he’s got in him. Ewwww. I started hearing Cougar From Hell DioGuardi’s voice in my head. Noooooo. But yes, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is a stereotypical Gokey song, full of gospel bombast and inspiration. It’s almost too easy of a choice, but naturally, his frau-base will proclaim it genius, heartfelt and as great as the Marvin Gaye original. I know this guy gets a lot of votes, however, the only thing he really inspires in me and countless others is intense hatred every time he pops up onto our television screens on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Kirs Allen
Falling Slowly (Once)

Yes, another Oscar-winning song, but Hot By Default might actually be able to pull off this song, especially with his guitar. It’s already “stripped down”, but it’s an incredible song. Hot By Default has had some very solid performances this season, excluding last week’s misstep coming off his excellent Ain’t No Sunshine. By doing Falling Slowly, he could definitely bring back the guitar and perform this gorgeous anthem of busker love in a even-more “stripped down” version not unlike his Grand Ole Opry week Garth Brooks performance.

Of course, it also gives the chance for obsessive Kradam fans to speculate that he’s really singing it to Lambert. Everybody wins.

Lil Rounds
Kissing You (Romeo & Juliet)

I have always loved the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack. So shoot me. It’s good! Desiree’s Kissing You isn’t one of my favorite tracks, but many people love it. Plus, it would allow Not-So-Lil-Ass to move out of her comfort zone with baby steps. The vocals may be a challenge, but if she could handle it, then she might get back into the pimpseat-alloted-for-female-R&B-contestant. But more importantly, Kissing You is a definite departure from the schlock she’s been singing these last few weeks, but it still has diva ballad written all over it. And it’s also more youthful, although the film did come out in 1996. (Jesus christ, I am getting old.)

Anyway, check it out. What do you think?

Matt Giraud
Night Fever (Saturday Night Fever)

Since Matt won’t get any love if he EVER AGAIN veers away from his “bluesy-soul vibe”, at this point, Mole Boy won’t be taking any chances. And what song would best show off that soulfulness / Poor Man’s Timberlake vibe? The Bee Gee’s Night Fever. It’s a classic, of course, but let’s not ever forget the Timberlake’s BRILLIANT Robin Gibb on The Barry Gibb Talk Show from SNL. It’s a win-win-win. And then Kara will cream herself and have another obvious Giraudgasm at the judges’ table and we call all laugh at her. The only person who really loses is the poor staff forced to scour the judge’s table once the Kodak Theatre empties on Tuesday night.

What songs do you think they should sing? Or what is your absolute favorite film song from all time and why? Me wants to know!