So, the moral of last night’s Dolly Parton-themed American Idol? One: what does it say about my relationship, that The Boy and I can only agree to watch American Idol together (while simultaneously kind of loathing it). Not that we opened a book or anything; there’s a metaphor for America in there somewhere…
Two: Dolly Parton rocks my world. Every world. She’s an amazing singer/songwriter with a deep soul, deep cleavage, and at age 62, she might just be your new sexual superhero. (Check out Ada Calhoun’s ode to Dolly, and her sexual proclivities, here.)
Three: Shouldn’t supposed, future American Idols be…um…a little better at singing? I don’t get it. And even the singers I think are fabulous (hello Carly Smithson) end up with the judges yawning their way through their reviews. (Or, with Simon critiquing her outfit. Dude hates a gal with curves.) But David Archuleta gets up there and the judges practically wet themselves. Maybe actually. Just a little.
I guess the moral of the tale: whatever you or I think of the singers, the shenanigans, or the show in general…at least this week will potentially give the proverbial “whole new generation” a taste of the genius that is Dolly Parton.
Check out all the finalists’ performances, after the jump.
Brook White sings “Joleen”:
David Cook sings “Little Sparrow”:
Ramiele Malubay sings “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?”:
Jason Castro sings “Travelin’ Through”:
Carly Smithson sings “Here You Come Again”:
David Archuleta sings "Smokey Mountain Memories":
Kristy Lee Cook sings “Coat of Many Colors”:
Syesha Mercado sings “I Will Always Love You”:
Michael Johns sings “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right”: