Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Brian May and Adam Lambert during Queen’s performance at the 2019 Oscars. (ABC Photo)

Ugh! Just when I think American Idol has it all figured out in Season 17, here comes plans for the Top 8 show.

The good news: Adam Lambert will mentor the Top 8.

As I recall, Adam did great as a mentor in Season 10. And it’s nice for Idol to show appreciation for alumni who transformed their Idol start into a successful career.

The bad news part 1: All of the contestants will be singing Queen songs for their solo performances that night.

I’ve never been a fan of single-artist theme nights. I just don’t see a fair way to handle them.

Look, Queen has a deep catalog of hit songs. But every artist or band, no matter how great, has a few songs that stand out above all others.

So someone is going to get to sing “We Are the Champions” on Top 8 night, and seven other contestants aren’t? Someone is going to get to perform “We Will Rock You,” and seven other contestants aren’t?

Impressively, there are multiple contestants in the Season 17 cast who I think could handle “Bohemian Rhapsody” and do is justice. How do you decide Who gets a chance at creating that Idol moment?

In my mind, Idol themes are best when they’re as broad as possible, giving every contestant an equal chance to create one of those moments based on their song choice, their abilities and their willingness to take risks.

Now, bad news part 2: Top 8 night will also include duets, with cast members paired up to perform a classic movie duet.

Again, how do you do that fairly? Someone’s going to be paired with one of the show’s most popular contestants? Someone’s going to be paired with someone in danger of going home?

Some pairings will seem like natural fits musically. But nearly every time a show tries this there’s an odd couple, two singers who find themselves in a duet that doesn’t quite seem logical.

And on a competition show where the goal is to discover the most deserving winner, duets do little to enlighten fans at home.

I’ve always said the same about The Voice, which has long been more infatuated with duets than American Idol.

But I tend to be an optimist, so let’s look on the bright side.

Idol held a Queen night back in Season 5. Kellie Pickle bravely tackled “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It wasn’t brilliant; but it was fun and it was memorable. As in one of my all-time favorite Idol moments.

And when it comes to duets, what Idol fan can forget those great Season 10 performances by Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart?

So I’ll hold out hope that while the plan for the night is far from perfect, the music we get from this talented Top 8 will be.

For those who would like a trip down memory lane … I offer up the following …