by Linda Holmes

No part of American Idol is as enjoyable and surprising as Group Performances Night. The contestants sort themselves into little groups of three or four, and they have a few hours to put together a performance of a song from a list they're given. Usually, they are awful. Occasionally, the choreography is excruciating. From time to time, something really interesting happens.

Last night was Group Performances Night.

To understand last night's happenings, you have to go back two seasons, to an audition from 2007, when beatboxer and eventual runner-up Blake Lewis and his group performed an unexpected rendition of the Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love." That's the clip up top.

See how cool that is, for something they put together in a couple of hours? It was considered very surprising at the time, because the rounds where the contestants sing in groups usually give you three or four people shuffling back and forth like the Brady Bunch kids, charmlessly trying to pull off awkward renditions with watery background accompaniment. Harmony, until this performance, was pretty rare, and competent harmony even more so. It's not Juilliard, but it demonstrates that you know something about music other than how to karaoke your way through "Love Shack."

Last night, there were two more good-to-excellent Hollywood group performances. One group, which called itself "White Chocolate," performed the Jackson 5 classic "I Want You Back" with a rap-infused intro and conclusion, and with harmony and rhythm and the definite suggestion of -- shocker -- actual talent. (Grading on a curve, of course where Step One of not blowing your audition is "Please remember the words to the song you are singing.")

For the moment, you can catch it here:

Another performed an a cappella rendition of Queen's "Somebody To Love," but I'm not finding that one at the moment, so you will have to trust me. There were two. Two performances suggesting actual talent, and both were certainly influenced by the "How Deep Is Your Love" bit. Suddenly, musicality is considered an asset. Even creativity is considered to be at least among your options.

What is the world coming to?

categories: Television

10:22 - February 5, 2009

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