The music of the eighties is full of emotion. That’s why it wasn’t surprising that last night’s eighties theme on Canadian Idol was what separated the artists from the singers, the Idols from the contestants, and the potential winners of this competition from the rest. Each competitor gave their best tribute to this period of music history that remains unique for its upbeat and unforgettable tunes.

Amber Fleury was up first with Cher’s “Just Like Jesse James.” Fleury did well technically as always. However, she stuck to her trademark style of singing that sounds nice but gives the audience nothing new or exciting to recognize or admire. The judges felt Amber stayed within her comfort zone. Zack notably commented, telling Fleury the performance had potential but she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity.

Rex Goudie was next to perform, singing “Every Breath You Take” by the Police. While his song choice seemed as though it should be perfect, Rex was disappointing. He appeared nervous and distracted. While he had some good moments, the performance was not great. The judges felt the performance was OK, but were not overly impressed.

The third performance of the evening came from Casey LeBlanc. She sang Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” This song itself is mediocre, and LeBlanc proved a reflection of this. She sang better than she has in previous weeks, but her inability to connect to the meaning of a song has remained constant, and is perhaps her fatal flaw in the Idol competition. The judges didn’t like the performance, telling LeBlanc she didn’t “sell the song.”

Daryl Brunt gave a fabulous performance of “Tainted Love.” An excellent song choice, this selection gave Brunt the tools to shine and shine is what he did. He voice was pure and powerful, and his expressive movements were priceless. Brunt looked like he belonged in the eighties, and proved he has a shot at the Canadian Idol title. The judges, smiling and laughing, unanimously supported Brunt’s efforts.

Suzi Rawn was next to sing with Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker.” As strong as always, Suzi took control of the stage. She gave the performance every thing she had, dancing and singing with her trademark charisma. The judges loved the song. Full of compliments, Jake said, “Thank God someone wants to win this thing.”

“Workin’ for the Weekend” by Loverboy was Aaron Walpole’s eighties choice. With a mohawk hairstyle and enthusiastic dancing through the aisles, Aaron looked the part. However, the theatre sound of his voice was still audible. Sass expressed her constant dislike for Aaron’s voice, while the other judges thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

Josh Palmer was the seventh to sing with Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight.” Bursting with emotion, Palmer nailed this song. With his artsy interpretation and distinct sound, he comes across as professional and undeniably one of the most talented singers of the bunch. The judges raved in admiration, while Farley simply said, “You’re ready to be a recording artist.”

Last to sing was Melissa O’Neil with “Holding Out for a Hero.” Her delivery of the song seemed to emulate the meaning of the lyrics and give her an edge that is a rare quality among musicians. She gave the audience a glimmer of vocal excellence that the judges definitely appreciated. They praised her for her performance, and agreed that she was a highlight of the evening.

John Dore made an appearance in his bright red unitard and got the audience “jazzercising.” Sadly the show had to come to an end. As the recaps of the performances played, a wave of uncertainty hit. Who will be eliminated this week? While Casey LeBlanc is the obvious choice, she has escaped the bottom three for two consecutive weeks, and it seems unlikely that her fans will slip in their support. How did the calls tally up? Did the “jazzercise” get people running to their phones? Tune in Wednesday night for the results!






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