Canadian Idol 6 - Episode 8

A top 24 showcase performance was taped last week and for the first results show of Canadian Idol 6, we get to see the performers in a small-group concert. This will be interesting.

Linsay Robins, Shaun, Paul and Martin do Have You Ever Seen the Rain? Exquisite. Great harmonies. I’m floored by what I’m hearing. Afterwards Ben asks Martin how the group came together and he says he, Shaun and Lindsay all wanted to work with Paul because they like his voice so much. High praise.

Adam and Lindsay Barr do Midnight Hour. He's on electric, she's on acoustic. The electric is right up front. Its tinny tone grates on you and the acoustic is nowhere to be found in the mix. A wasted opportunity.

Mookie, Earl, Mark and Jessica do Old Time Rock and Roll. The guitarists, Mookie and Earl, are at opposite ends of a four-person line and play as if they can’t hear each other; which is quite possible, considering the shitty mix we just finished listening to. Lots of enthusiasm, but the sloppy rhythm sabotages the number. The best part was when they stopped strumming and all 4 sang over handclaps.

Mitch, Amberly, Katelyn and Jesse do Yellow. Nice; real nice. For the last refrain they repeat the star line four times, bringing in the singers one line at a time until they do the last line in true four-part (nobody doubling up) and the blend of the four voices is extraordinary. The air shimmered, I swear.

Drew, Gary, and Omar do I Heard It Through The Grapevine. Just this side of transcendent. Unselfish harmony singers, all. But Gary does a Michael Bolton his-head-is-going-to-explode job on his solo lines and it keeps them bound to the earth.

Tatiana and the Pigotts on an amazingly intricate arrangement of Fly Like An Eagle. What is going on here? Does anybody know how the arrangements are determined for these group-sings? Are they coached or is it communal or what? Some of what we are hearing here tonight is outrageously good.

But now we are down to it. Bottom two from each night go home. Ben reads the names without any tricks. Tatiana and Lindsay Barr from Monday night, Lindsay Robins and Shaun Francisco from last night. Barr’s reaction was the best. She berates the crowd, “What’s up with the votes, eh?”

With 3 of the 9 women gone, it is now a 12/6 M-F ratio. Of the eliminated, who might we hear from in the future?