Idol Gives Back and Jason Was Awesome

4.10.08 Video

Did anybody else notice they closed the deal last night singing “Shout to the Lord?” (Video here) Although I didn’t watch it last night, they did it again tonight. Shockingly, Michael Johns was sent packing.

The guy I’m rooting for, Jason Castro, tore it up with a cover of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Over the Rainbow.” Best performance of the night by far, and like when Jason covered Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah” which jumped into the iTunes top ten, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Over the Rainbow” is currently up to #7. This version of the song has been on various TV shows, and movies such as Meet Joe Black, Finding Forrester, and 50 First Dates.

There were some positive statements made about Jason by many AI observers this week:

E!Online:
We now have six finalists who’ve managed on at least one occasion to knock a performance so far out of the park that the press and fans alike deemed them a clear “front-runner.” Tonight, that guy for me was Jason Castro, whom my visiting mother declares is “so darn adorable, if you don’t like him you must be dead inside.” [Note: If you didn't like his "Somewhere over the Rainbow" rendition, you might want to schedule a CAT scan of your innards. Mom's advice.]

The Village Voice:
Jason Castro took on Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s breezy ukulele-driven version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which made for a really simple and pretty performance. Castro’s had a sort of tremulous Bright Eyes quaver in his voice early on, and when he got around to squeaking out a few R&B runs later in the song, they felt earned.

LA Times:
Castro honored the late, beloved Hawaiian crooner Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Iz for short) with a ukulele-powered version of “Over the Rainbow” that bathed that song’s pathos in sea-salt waves of hippie bliss.

Here is his kick ass performance:

Cheers.

12 Comments

Jonathan Brink

4.10.08

That’s one of my favorite songs and he actually did it justice. Nice.

Libby

4.10.08

Jason did a FANTABULOUS job with his ukelele and “Over the Rainbow!” I think I’ll be downloading that as well.

Was pleasantly shocked to hear “Shout to the Lord” on AI…and that they did it proper justice. It was weird hearing a familar worship song covered on AI…makes you sit back and just go, “hmmmm….” and ponder a bit!

Sandy

4.11.08

As they sang “Shout to the Lord”, I was overwhelmed with the thought that the Spirit of God was invading millions and millions of homes around the world.

Kacie

4.11.08

Nathan, I loved Jason as well. I have mixed feelings about him. I love his style but he’s pretty limited to it… I dunno how he’d do as an American Idol winner overall. Then again, I always hate the cds the winner puts out – too bubble-gum pop.

But he’s from right by where I live now, and I saw a couple of youtube videos of him helping lead worship at his church.

Shout to the Lord was …. strange to see on there. It was made to look like a church, and yet… clearly hardly anyone on there would hold to the message of the song. So it was weird.

On the other hand, I am thoroughly pissed that Michael Johns got kicked off. He was my favorite because I like his style and his voice…. and I think he was more consistent then most of the others. I cannot believe he was kicked off before the likes of Kristy Lee Cook. Crazy.

Nathan Gann

4.11.08

Libby,
I don’t know if you watched both nights, but the first night they changed the lyrics, and they didn’t mention “My Jesus.” The last night they sang the original lyrics. Wonder why they switched them?

Kacie,
I like Jason a lot, and his niche is not a bad one to be in. Some past contestants have not done well at all. Jason might be like a Jack Johnson, and although he does have that vibe and niche, Jack has no problem selling albums.

Somewhere on my blog I posted those church videos of Jason.

Michael Johns. What a shame. Kristy is not very good, and if you go to votefortheworst.com you’ll see why she is getting a lot of her votes. I actually thought Carly had more of a chance to go home, since Michael was never even in the bottom 3. Weird!

Cheers.

Steven

4.11.08

Watched Survivor instead of AI last night. (Watch the illusion of safety melt away when Jeff Probst tells Eliza at Tribal Council, “This is not the hiddden immunity idol.”)

bradley grinnen

4.11.08

its a comfort song for me. and he more than did it justice.

i can’t believe you’re making me into an AI fan. lol. say it isn’t so!

Kansas Bob

4.11.08

I think that jason is one of those singers that people arenot neutral about. I like him and have enjoyed most of his songs. I think he will make it into the top 5 but not sure after that – depends on how well he sings and what songs he picks.

If he makes it that far, which one of Neil diamond’s songs do you think he will sing? I suggest “Brooklyn Roads” – his voice would be suited to it.

Caleb

4.11.08

Of course, you know I’m no friend of American Idol, for all the obvious reasons. But, until recently, I had never even given it a real chance. A few nights ago, I came home and turned the TV on for some background noise while I worked on my PC. I wasn’t really paying attention to it, but it caught my attention when I heard that it was the “Songs of Dolly Parton” night on American Idol. Secretly, I’m somewhat of a fan of Dolly Parton. She’s pure-Americana to the core.

Anyway, the first song I heard was some guy singing “Jolene”. Now, this really caught my ear because I had recently downloaded The White Stripes cover of this song. Jack White’s version of this song is awesome; dark, stripped down, filled with angst. The American Idol version… not so awesome. To hear some pretty-boy doing a hack job version of such a cool song, especially one that The White Stripes did a kick-ass cover of, made me sick. I think I may have thrown up in my mouth a little.

In short, I gave American Idol a shot, and they, predictably, let me down.

Beth

4.12.08

Caleb – if you are secretly a dolly parton fan then I have to question your judgement overall!! hahahaha…. just kidding

Anyway, D.P. week wasn’t the best week ever. This past week, with the inspirational songs, was better and I loved, loved, loved Jason Castro. I correctly picked the bottom 3 but I didn’t pick them in the right order. I had picked syesha to go home, even though I really wish that Kristy Lee would hit the road.

Nathan Gann

4.12.08

Steven,
I have never watched Survivor. I guess I’m missing out?

Bradley,
Ha ha ha ha!!!

Bradley and Caleb,
I was never an idol fan. And then season four I watched for the first time ever. Mikalah Gordon was so hot, and got kicked off way too early because they screwed up her voting number, so I haven’t really watched until this year because of Jason.

Liz liked the show until Daughtry got on there who she thought was hot, and he got screwed and kicked off fourth. Now she doesn’t want to vote or get into it. Ha!

Kansas Bob,
Anything can happen after what happen last week. Way to go on the Lady Vols!

Beth,
Tivo execs also picked Syesha. Something is fishy, because they had picked the loser correctly for the last month based on playbacks and which performances were skipped and which were repeated. Michael was never in the bottom three, and according to Tivo should not have been kicked off. Who knows.

Cheers.

Becky

4.13.08

I like Jason the best. I love his style AND the songs he chooses. But I think David Cook will win. And actually he’s awesome too.

I’m excited for both of their CDs.

nathangann.com.

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Idol Gives Back and Jason Was Awesome

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