Will Guest Mentors find a Star Among Idol Contenders?

News Type: Opinion — Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:00 AM EDT

Live Poll

Which mentor are you looking forward to the most?

Dolly Parton
16%
Mariah Carey
14%
Andrew Lloyd Webber
20%
Neil Diamond
39%
None (specify why)
10%
Other (please specify)
1%

Total Votes: 314

Finally, American Idol announced the Season 7 guest mentors on the Top 11 results show. Expect to see Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Neil Diamond mixing it up with the Top 10 over the next few weeks. No word yet on which show each mentor will appear.

So what do you think of this year's guest mentors? Do you think they are a good match for this year's contenders? Will these mentors bring out top-notch performances like some of the ones we saw during the first Lennon-McCartney night? Or are we in for more stale, mediocre performances like this week?

Too bad Amanda Overmyer is gone. Wouldn't you have liked to see her teaming up with Andrew Lloyd Webber? Which musical would you have like to see her chose a number from? The balladeers – Brooke White, David Archuleta and Ramiele Malubay – will shine Webber night.

Dolly Parton night should be a hoot. I hope it's soon before Kristy Lee Cook's luck finally runs out. Maybe Dolly can fine tune Kristy Lee's country influence in her songs. And what will Dolly do to help Chikezie with his bluegrass arrangements? Can Dolly trade Carly Smithson's Irish accent for a country twang?

I am dreading Mariah Carey night. Not because of the diva herself, but because we will be subjected to everyone trying to belt out her songs. No one does it as well as she does and we are left with a bunch of subpar performances.

Weren't we subjected to enough of these during the auditions and then we had a surge of her songs again during '80s week. Syesha Mercado is probably the only one who has half a chance and succeeding on Carey night.

On the other hand, I think Neil Diamond has the most potential. Neil has a host of hits that would be great choices for the contenders to customize to their benefit. I can see Jason Castro doing "I'm a Believer" and David Cook rocking to "America." Could Michael Johns finally find a song among Neil's hits that suits him? Who will sing "Sweet Caroline?"

So tell me which mentor are you looking forward to? And what songs do you hope to hear?

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5.6

{"commentId":1599252,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

So tell me which mentor are you looking forward to? And what songs do you hope to hear?

I think I'm looking forward to Neil Diamond the most because I think he has the library that can offer the most to the contestants. Although I think Dolly Parton will be a lively mentor.

{"commentId":1599252,"threadId":"237303","contentId":"1378394","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#1 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:05 AM EDT

{"commentId":1599289,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Scott Butki is offline for work, but texted me his comments:

Can you imagine Amanda singing Evita?

{"commentId":1599289,"threadId":"237303","contentId":"1378394","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#2 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:21 AM EDT

{"commentId":1601487,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}

Ben Josephs

I don't think they'll sing Mariah songs, could you imagine the horror?

{"commentId":1601487,"threadId":"237303","contentId":"1378394","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}

2 votes

#3 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":1601890,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Let's hope not. I know for some of the mentors in the past they only sang that mentor's songs. If they have that rule for Mariah, it's going to be a long night.

{"commentId":1601890,"threadId":"237303","contentId":"1378394","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":1615645,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Word is that Mariah will be on in April right after the release of her new album.

{"commentId":1615645,"threadId":"237303","contentId":"1378394","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#4 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":1650671,"authorDomain":"maan-sotelo"}

majestique

OMG! I would really... AS IN REALLY would love to hear David Cook Sing "My All" (emo version/ unplugged) for the Mariah Carey Night... I mean, he got a sexy voice and i think the song will suit him given his range. Could you just imagine him belting the lyrics "i give my all... to have your body next to mine..." ? I would literally melt...

{"commentId":1650671,"threadId":"237303","contentId":"1378394","authorDomain":"maan-sotelo"}

#5 - Thu Apr 3, 2008 8:50 AM EDT

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