Clive the Creator

Clive Davis is a legend in the music industry. He moulded the careers of single-monikered artists (Bruce and Aretha), resurrected the careers of others (Santana), and started off other performers on the path of greatness (Whitney and Alicia Keys).

Without him, these people wouldn’t be the entertainers the world knows today.

From his ability to listen to a diamond in the rough, to the polish required to achieve the sheen of a platinum record, there is a reason why he is known in the recording industry for having the magic ear.

On Tuesday’s American Idol, the contestants sang three songs: one picked by Clive, one selected by one of the judges, and one of their own choosing.

Tonight, song selection was paramount. Three contestants would become two finalists, and in approximately one week, America will have a new idol.

Would their songs make the difference, or would this be a singing contest until the end?

Elliott
Open arms – Clive could’ve picked a more suited song to Elliott’s abilities. He sang the beginning quite well, but was off with the chorus (the lyrical switches were beyond my comprehension).
What you won’t do for love – White boy did soul and he did it well.
I believe to my soul – Elliott picked a song - that no one recognized - that fits the style of singing he’s most comfortable with, and immediately takes himself out of the competition.

Katherine
I believe I can fly – The beginning was good, then she began to sing, while forgetting the fact that doing runs for the rest of the song isn’t the same thing as singing (and don’t get me going on how she attempted to mimic Mariah with her hair and hand movements).
Over the rainbow – The cash cow of songs. If she didn’t hit this one (which she did), then I would’ve personally packed her bags and kicked her out of the Idol house myself.
I ain’t got nothing but the blues – She sings another song out of her range and thinks she's done well for herself... until the judges smack the smile off her face with their comments on her performance. She did the sad face, ensuring her place in next week's finale.

Taylor
Dancing in the dark – Although it was a second-rate version of the Boss classic, I still did the little dance at home.
You are so beautiful – A homerun of a performance that guarantees him in the final two.
Try a little tenderness – The equivalent of singing about babies and puppies and his fans ate it up like a malnourished female celebrities at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Since Taylor is an (inevitable) shoo-in for the final two, tonight’s show was about the future of Elliott and Katherine. Is it better to sing well on two unforgettable songs than singing badly on two memorable ones?

Who’ll rise? Who’ll fall? Who knows…