Canadian Idol - Episode 27

Top 4, with Anne Murray as guest mentor and her songbook as the source for round one material. Tonight is the first time the contestants will sing two solo numbers. Round 2 is contestant’s choice.

Mitch is first. In his session with Anne, she tells him to work on his breathing. Think of each breath as a thought, she says. “When you finish the thought, take the next breath.” It is the type of constructive, specific criticism I think the judges should always be striving for; too bad the judges don’t feel that way. Remember Shaun Francisco’s audition way back in the first episodes? Jake Goldman said he didn’t find him interesting and Shaun begged him to give him something specific. Goldman couldn’t come up with anything and lamely hissed, “When I see it I know it,” in a pissy kind of way that made it clear he wanted Shaun to shut up.

Mitch does Lightfoot’s Cotton Jinny. It is a pleasant performance of a nice song, improved by Anne’s advice which he does follow, and Mitch strums his guitar correctly throughout. Not dynamic enough for this late in the competition.

Earl picks a song that, yes, Anne recorded, but c’mon – Killing Me Softly will always be a Roberta Flack number. That said, though, it’s not a bad choice for Earl. And he really works on the eye contact, as Anne recommended – Sass even comments on it. He did look a little tighter than usual, though – possibly because he’s having to pay attention to performance issues as the competition narrows. Zack says he looked like he was, “Out meandering in the backyard.”

Anne tells Drew she notices he is bending his notes a lot, following the guitar playing. She tells him, “Simplify the guitar and focus on the vocals.” He takes her at her word and delivers his best vocal of the competition by far. His song is Hey Daddy, from Anne’s children’s album, Hippo in the Bathtub. Amazing that Anne spotted exactly the right item in her short time with him. The difference is subtle, but it makes him sound confident, compelling. Oh, and he’s lost that thin, sad beard and looks great with a Miami Vice scruff.

Anne’s advice for Theo is, “Fewer licks. I know you can do them. But make them tasty; make them count.” Again, she has gotten right to the heart of the performer’s weakness. 4 for 4. Theo does You Don’t Know Me, his first country tune of the competition, and plants a flag. Knocks me out. Zack thought it was flavourless but Jake got the 50s crooner thing Theo was going for, as did Farley.

Round 2, singer’s choice.

Mitch picks Eliot Smith’s Between the Bars. Not bad, but not compelling, either.

Earl does The Joker. Sass, perhaps inspired by Anne’s example, actually offers some constructive criticism of his singing technique (sliding up at the end of phrases). His finish is so precisely arranged it’s clear I’m not the only to have told him to pay attention to his endings.

Drew leaves the judges unimpressed by a bluesy Gravity. Ever notice these guys love blues in the auditions but not once they get to the final 10?

Theo finishes off with Gavin DeGraw’s Chariot. His goofy take on rock and roll as performance art betrays him again and he climbs on top of his piano singing a tune I could imagine Barry Manilow doing. Somebody help this guy, eh? He embarrasses himself every time he tries to be a showman. C’mon Theo – this is yours to lose. Hate to say it, but when you don't give me a lump in my throat I'm offended in a way that doesn't happen with the others. Guess I have a double standard- there's the standard you've set and then there's everybody else.

I say Mitch goes home. Talk at ‘cha tomorrow.