Ring-a-Ding-Ding, the American Idol 5 sing Sinatra

This year American Idol has presented to us several nights of music by unsurpassed music Icons.  We’ve had a Beatles Week, An Elvis Week, and tonight, Frank Sinatra Week. 

I don’t know about you, but I am still waiting for Slim Whitman and Nana Mouskouri to get their due!

Tonight, Harry Connick Jr., lends his considerable talents to the Idolators.  He arranges the songs for them, plays the piano for them on-stage, mentors them, and helps them sneak firearms into the Shrine Auditorium.  He does everything except buy alcohol for young Aaron, and putting Casey’s long locks into a ponytail.

I am a big fan of Harry’s and his first few albums are terrific.  Much better than the current “Harry Connick Jr.”, Michael Buble. 

He’s even funnier here than he was for 2 seasons on Will & Grace. 

So who better to help the Idolators with the tough task of singing Sinatra but Harry?  And who better to be present in the studio audience to watch than Frank’s daughters: Tina and some woman they ‘claim’ is Nancy Sinatra 

Nancy’s boots could’ve walked all over any man back in the day. 

 

Now she looks like a mutant cross between Penny Marshall, and Victoria Gotti, wearing Joey Ramone’s glasses.

 

         

Eek. 

Nancy’s boots couldn’t walk over Peter Lawford’s shoe-shine boy's grave, nowadays.

You think I'm kidding?  And think about it.  One week ago that same seat was privy to the lovely tush of Shania Twain.  Now that seat holds this:

YES, THIS IS A REAL PHOTO OF NANCY!

Tonight, Season 9’s Drat Pack of Lee, Big Mike, Aaron, Casey and Crystal meet the  try to have a modicum of success in reinterpreting the reinterpretations of Old Blue Eyes.

The first song played on the surface of the moon, “FLY ME TO THE MOON” has young Joey Bishop (Aaron Kelly) looking sharp, and hitting all the right notes.

Simon gives Aaron some lip about not having the swagger of Sinatra, as if some 17 year old from Sonestown, PA is going to have the stones of Frankie.  In fact, no one did.  They didn’t call him Chairman of the Board for nothing. 

And if you rubbed Frank the wrong way, you suddenly woke up next to a horse’s head.

Aaron’s Rating:  Robin and the 7 Hoods

           

Casey James (Dean Martin) performs the Irving Berlin classic “BLUE SKIES”.  Casey does a very unflattering job of the song, probably the worst I’ve ever heard.  And I’m comparing that to the version by Lt. Commander Data (yes, the Android for you non-Trekkers) on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Casey’s Rating:  Sergeants 3

Crystal Bobbysoxer (Shirley MacLaine) is the only broad left in the competition.  The dame looks nice, and we assume that Crystal was once a Sinatra fan when she was a young babe from Bayonne, Ohio.

Now, the judges didn’t like Ms Bowersox’s “SUMMER WIND” this week. But I did.  It reminded me of when Diane Keaton had her solo in “Annie Hall”.  It was endearing, and something real and forlorn about it.   I’d love to hear her sing, “SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME”, or “THE MAN I LOVE”.

Crystal’s Rating: Ocean’s Eleven

Big Mike – (Sammy Davis Jr, of course!) performs “THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT”.   I am still not convinced that the judges saved the right person.  He’s never wowed me, and I find him a tad plain.  Like a scallop that’s been cooked but not seasoned. 

Mike’s Rating: 4 for Texas

Lee is last and that usually is the best spot.  And Lee has a solid performance with “THAT’S LIFE”.  He’s growing as a performer but he’s still not there.  In my opinion, he’s the only one worthy of usurping the title from Crystal.

Lee’s Rating: The Cannonball Run

Lady Gaga is on tonight.

Would Sinatra have been GAGA over that dame?  Or would he think that LADY was a tramp?