For years, “American Idol” fans (okay, mostly me) have complained about the show not getting clearance for singers to perform enough contemporary hits during audition rounds, instead forcing them to fall back on the same handful of Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder chestnuts that guarantee a spectacular flameout. But on Wednesday night’s (February 10) group round in Hollywood, two acts chose to perform Lady Gaga’s current hit “Bad Romance,” with both opting to go a cappella.
The thing about Gaga is, thankfully, there is only one of her. (Could our brains really handle a second one?) She’s so unique, so way, way out there that you’d be a fool to try and cop her cultural Cuisinart pop art style. But both Team Neapolitan and (ugh) Destiny’s Wild were brave enough to give it a shot. We watched as the sassy members of Wild glared at their rivals, steamed that they’d seemingly stolen the idea of going music-less after watching Wild rehearse the twitchy song first that way hours earlier.
At first, it seemed like they had little to worry about, as Neapolitan lead-off singer Liz Rooney — the one with the old school Pink hairdo — called the dogs with a series of creaky bum notes. Heavyweight lover Thaddeus Johnson and Pussycat Doll wannabe Jessica Cunningham redeemed it with a finger snapping R&B flair as the quartet executed some barbershop quartet-worthy harmonies and basic ball-change choreography that impressed Simon.
With Wild catcalling from the audience that they’d stolen their thunder, Neapolitan were moved through. From group leader Jared Liewer’s monster claw theatrics to Todrick Hall’s gymnastic pass and backflip, Wild made it clear from the start that they were the more theatrical Gagaloonies.
Hall crooned some Chris Brown-worthy runs as the other three provided “love, love, love” harmonies and Theri threw in Aguilera-like melisma.
Liewer sounded a bit spazzy and showtune-y, while surprise breakout Siobhan Magnus gave the tune an edge with her shouty, gritty vocals and open mouth rock face. Unfortunately, the four ended the performance with a flat-as-a-pancake note that led Ellen DeGeneres to lament that the whole thing was “weird” and mock their Cirque du Soleil outfits. Remarkably, though, they also made it through.
The lesson? Jazz hands, backflips, backstabbing and “Bad Romance” are a winning combination.
Full Story Via MTV.com
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