Tom Jones Coaches Canadian Idol Contestants

08/05/08 5:05pm

by Michelle Singerman (CHARTattack)

The lucky number seven wasn't so lucky on Monday night's episode of Canadian Idol. The surviving Idol contestants were a letdown once again while performing "hits from the U.K." with help from Sir Tom Jones. The Welsh superstar joined the Idol wannabes for quality one-on-one time over the past week, but it didn't help their acts. But I guess it wouldn't be a true Idol episode if it wasn't painful to watch.

The show's Broadway baby, Mark Day, was up first singing Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love." Before the performance, Jones told the camera that Day has a "very honest-sounding voice." I agree with him on that point, and with the judges who praised his effort. Jake Gold thought Day was "really strong" and Zack Werner went so far as to say it was Day's "most grown-up performance." I don't know what it is, but I just can't take Day seriously. Put him in Seussical, and then we'll talk.

Mitch MacDonald was next with Gavin DeGraw's version of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy." I knew even before he started singing that the song would be butchered. I was right. Judge Sass Jordan called him consistent, because she never seems to know what to say when she's the first to adjudicate. The other judges were tougher. Gold thought MacDonald took the sentiment out of the song, and I totally agree. It's not that I don't like when people attempt to cover Lennon, but this was a very bad attempt at capturing something good.

Drew Wright came out with a slightly improved performance, singing Radiohead's "Creep." It's not that he was bad, but his performances are becoming a bit repetitive. There really isn't anything that wows you. He has a nice voice, but he's starting to lose his appeal. He needs to start bringing something different to the stage if he's to keep getting Canada's votes.

Another dulling star, Theo Tams, came out singing Joss Stone's "You Had Me." First off, he's way more impressive when he sticks to instrument-playing. Secondly, this act is getting old. I wanted to close my eyes until it was over, but the judges once again had a very different interpretation. Werner said Tams "threw it down in a serious way," and Gold seemed to think it was an Idol-worthy performance.

The first OK performance was Mookie Morris singing The Kinks' "Lola." Jones was impressed by Morris' forwardness, saying this little rocker was the only one to look Jones in the eye while in rehearsal. Gold thought the performance was one of the best he'd seen all season.

The lone female, Amberly Thiessen, gave what I thought was a terrible performance of Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On." This quiet and soulful song wasn't delivered that way. Thiessen was too gruff and the chorus was loud instead of delicate, as it was meant to sound. Once again, though, the judges and I had polar opposite views. Jordan thought Thiessen had a "silky" vibe, and Flex said she's appealing to listen to. I still hope she goes.

At least Earl Stevenson ended the show on the right note. He came out with a predictably good rendition of Eric Clapton's "Change The World." I think his strongest moments were in the chorus, but it was a fairly impressive cover overall. The judges can never praise Stevenson enough, and my favourite was Jordan labelling his dance style as a cross between Quasimodo and Dave Matthews.

Tune in for a round of eliminations, and a performance by Jones, on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT.