Kelly Clarkson Mentors
On Canadian Idol!
(and, oh, yeah, the top 5 perform)

The remaining five contestants on Canadian Idol performed the music of their own personal idols and got an extra special treat this week, as each got a one-on-one mentoring session with the original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson. Needless to say, Miss Clarkson was the most interesting part of the entire Tuesday night program (and she didn't even sing!). It also goes without saying that there's not a person in this bunch who came close to her talent and star power. In the show's opening video piece on Kelly Clarkson, she said that she didn't think she obtained success because she was special, but rather because she knew what she wanted. Anyone who has seen and heard her knows that she isn't quite right: she is a very special talent indeed. Standing next to these lackluster contestants only went on to prove even more just how special she is.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the CI5 Top 5: Personal Idols.
*Tammy has temporarily ceased her protesting of Canadian Idol due to Kelly Clarkson's mentoring appearance. She will resume her protest after Wednesday night's show.

Matt Rapley "Higher Ground"
Destiny: Good for Kelly Clarkson for calling out Matt Rapley on his lack of performance skills. While it seemed slightly like Matt did try to heed her advice, he still fell really flat with this performance. I don't know why the judges gave him such good marks. At this point, I'm just waiting for Matt to finally get eliminated.
Score: 5.0
Liza: I disagree. I think Matt did bring more into it performance-wise, although I do acknowledge that he does need to bring in more funk, like he did at the very end of the song. Matt gets praise from the judges and from me because he's absolute money when he incorporates the growly bluesy rock thing into his songs. I thought this sounded really cool and was a nice way to meld the Stevie and Chili Peppers versions of the song. And yes, Kelly was very perceptive with Matt's flaws and gave some great advice. On a side note, I wonder if there was any awkwardness with Zack and the singer he thinks is "shouting with tone". Heh.
Score: 8.25
Tammy: I do not understand why the judges were all over this performance, either. I thought that he struggled vocally throughout the song, sounding shaky more often than not. And that outfit? Come on! That's not even trying! It looked like he pulled it out of a pile of laundry off his bedroom floor.
Score: 6.0

Dwight D'Eon "Bed of Roses"
Destiny: First off, yes, Liza, a little interaction between Zack and Kelly would have been awkward but oh so interesting! It was nice of Dwight to start this off at the piano. It may have been more effective if he stayed there and did the whole thing in a more intimate, toned-down fashion. I agree, however, with Zack that this was probably about as good as Dwight gets overall (though he was his best on his unplugged "Every Breath You Take"). He is not my cup of tea, but he does what he does well.
Score: 8.0
Liza: Kelly said he was way better than she thought he would be? At first I was like, um, thanks? And then after Dwight finished, I understood where she was coming from because that might have been the best performance of this entire mediocre season (until about 30 minutes later, anyway). And Dwight is quite savvy, showing off his musical skills. He already pulled off a mean guitar solo last week, and now some piano. Good for him! And Dwight? Stop singing Rob Thomas and sing more of this, k? Thanks.
Score: 9.25
Tammy: I also thought the performance would probably have come across better if it was all done on the piano. But maybe we should just be thankful it wasn't another Matchbox 20 tune tonight. While he was more on pitch this week, that can't be said for when he tried to hit the 'nails' note and instead just went loud, hoping, perhaps, that no one would notice. Guess what? Houdini you are not, my friend. And I would be remiss if I did not remark upon how his Daughtry-ization is almost complete with the addition of the facial hair.
Score: 7.0

Jaydee Bixby "I Can't Stop Loving You"
Destiny: This would not have been my choice of an Elvis song for Jaydee. It was too mature. That being said, he did do a pretty good job with it. Like Farley, I appreciate that Jaydee seemed to care about the song and the lyrics, something he has lacked for quite awhile. I just wish he'd find the perfect fit. It's getting tiresome to endure with everyone's performance problems this season.
Score: 8.0
Liza: It's getting tiresome to endure Jaydee, PERIOD. Although he sounded better than he has in a long time, all it really was was an Elvis impersonation (with really off-tempo foot stomping and creepy hip thrusts). That is not what should be advancing on Canadian Idol. Maybe if they had a Canada's Got Talent. His talent is more suited for that show. I thought it was pretty hilarious that Kelly didn't have any advice for him. Because really ... what can you say to that?!
Score: 6.0
Tammy: Hee! I loved this. I love Jaydee's penchant for the classics. For me, it was the perfect fit. The whole scarf-draping episode I could have done without, but on the whole it was really entertaining.
Score: 8.8

Carly Rae Jepsen "Chuck E's In Love"
Destiny: I really like Carly Rae, but this performance was a little off for me in several ways. Her physical performance was odd, what was that set of blocks she first sat upon? Couldn't the show have provided something more stable and attractive? And she wandered around to too many locations after that. She didn't look comfortable with any of it. Her voice was not at its best, either. She didn't sell the song. The whole thing was kind of a mess.
Score: 7.0
Liza: I thought Carly Rae looked like a little girl playing dress-up in her big sister's prom dress, especially when she started prancing and twirling around off the stage. She sang it fairly well, I guess, but I really do not like the song and think it's kind of a snore-fest. She's been pretty good about picking modern songs most of the season, and on "Your Idol" night, after a few weeks of lingering in the bottom 3, she picks THIS?! Bye-bye, Carly Rae!
Score: 7.0
Tammy: Seriously. This performance was so awkward to watch, and the whole cutesy-pie persona still comes across as so F-A-K-E. And her voice continues to make me want to plunge sharp objects into my eardrum. She is just so average, and is lauded for being incredibly unique. Oh judges, you will say whatever you can to try and convince us that this season isn't a total bust, won't you?
Score: 5.0

Brian Melo "Kharma Police"
Destiny: Brian Melo just may be on the fast path to being the coolest Canadian Idol winner since Ryan Malcolm. And his journey isn't all that different from Mr. Malcolm's either. Almost missing making the top 10? Check. Consistent, cool performances with great vocals? Check. Artsy looks and a magnetic appeal? Check. Not one of the judges' early frontrunners? Check. I could go on. As Kelly and the judges said, this was a great showing by Brian. He's the best of the bunch by a long shot.
Score: 9.0
Liza: I concur. In my eyes, he's been the best overall since the first Top 22 show. I wonder if Brian had intended to try out for the now-defunct Rock Star instead of Canadian Idol this year. I love that he keeps picking from the Rock Star songbook, but I hope the less Idol-y song choices don't hurt him with the voters. If he keeps delivering like this, though, it shouldn't. Although I think the judges' tongue-bath will probably do more harm than Brian's song choice! Anyway, he gave an impassioned and REAL performance. Terrific.
Score: 9.5
Tammy: I'm not sure if Brian Melo is the coolest performer ever on Canadian Idol (and since when did that award get handed to Ryan Malcolm, of all people? Jacob Hoggard was home sick that day or something?), but it was a very strong performance, and his unique tone brought something new to the song. I think I still might prefer Toby Rand's Rockstar performance better, but Brian has nothing to be ashamed of, he was head and shoulders above the competition tonight.
Score: 9.2

Who Should Be Eliminated
Destiny: Matt
Liza: Jaydee
Tammy: Matt

Who Will Be Eliminated
Destiny: Matt
Liza: Carly Rae
Tammy: Matt

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