The Very Best of Katharine McPhee
Although she didn’t technically win American Idol–I’d argue runner up Katharine McPhee is still quite the winner. Considering her reported offer from KFC, calls from Steven Spielberg, an album in the works with RCA overlooked by Clive Davis, and an image that couldn’t be more marketable if it wanted to–Ms. McPhee seems to be in a pretty sweet spot despite her “loser” status.
As Simon Cowell said to her (which Katharine mentioned in her interview on Larry King Live), where her career goes now is heavily dependent upon choosing the right songs. And no one knows that better than the original, most successful, and most respected idol (who Katharine has been compared to on occasion) Kelly Clarkson. Here’s to hoping Kat goes Clay Aiken on us and not Bo Bice.
I’ve compiled Katharine’s best performances from this Idol season, that all make it pretty clear why she made it to the finals–and why she’ll continue to have a good career with the right guidance.
I’ve also compiled the comments I’ve made on her performances throughout the show’s run in my “Idol Watch” column.
***
“Over The Rainbow“. Wow. What an asbolutely magical performance. Going in as the underdog tonight, Katharine had a lot to prove. Especially after booting out favorite Chris Daughtry. But boy did she deliver. Poised, slow and steady–Kat returned to the woman we fell in love with back at the beginning of the competition who knew how to kill ‘em with the quiet moments.
Grade: A+
This was truly a “goosebumps” moment, and the closest thing season 5 had to a showstopper (unfortunately it never really had one). I hope Katharine somehow finds a way to mesh the beautiful talent she has for the standards with the bluesy sound of her voice and incorporate those things into the pop songs she’ll be singing on her record.
I wish she hadn’t sung this at the finale–as the moment had already passed and it was a perfect opportunity for Kat to remind America of the fantastic performances she had early on in the competition. She definitely needed some damage control after booting out favorite Chris Daughtry and beloved underdog Elliott Yamin.
***
“Black House and the Cherry Tree” Great song choice? Yes. Great performance? Yes. But why, Katharine, are you straddling the floor and crawling and bopping around like an unruly child at daycare? The world may never know. Good to see her return to her soulful roots and depart from the Mariah/Whitney power ballads that she’s not too great at.
Grade: A
This performance–mostly known for her on-the-floor bobbling around was one of Katharine’s best and to me–is the kind of song she should sing on her records. Again–this should not have been chosen for the finale–as Simon said “this night is bigger than that song”, but for the week of the Top 5, it was great.
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“Someone To Watch Over Me” What’s with the Celine-Dion-belts-it-out-on-the-deck-of-the-Titanic necklace? I feel like I’m watching Divas Live (the original–not the new crap where somehow plastic-thin voiced Ashanti is invited). I agree with Rod’s assertion that Katharine’s genre of choice should be the standards–she’s got great instincts and knows how to put a story into a song. I don’t agree with Simon however, that she made the others look like amateurs. If anyone stood apart from the others tonight it was Paris or Taylor. But with that said, Kat was still great.
Grade: A-
As Rod Stewart said “Katharine was born to sing the standards”. This performance was just beautiful. It’s a testament to what can happen on American Idol without the crazy melisma and glory notes.
***
“Come Rain Or Come Shine”. Katharine looks so incredibly stunning tonight. Just as good as last week. I just wish there weren’t those little floppy flaps under the armpit of the dress. And that her last name was not tragically “McPhee”–as in the Nanny. This woman surely knows how to work the stage and the camera.
I can’t say enough about her performance skills–she SELLS the song like no other female singer in the competition. And vocally tonight, she was amazing, yet again. Her rendition of “Come Rain or Come Shine” was truly incredible. I still like last week’s “Until You Come Back To Me” better, but it was great nonetheless. Which brings me to the problem with Katharine. As Randy said, she’s been so good in the past few weeks, that this wasn’t her best performance. Katharine’s been so consistent, that it’s almost difficult for her to out-do herself. She is in essence, her own worst enemy. Let’s hope she keeps finding ways to re-invent her performances and she stays around for many, many weeks.
Grade: A
I can’t even count how many times I’ve played this performance back in my basement and strutted around with a water bottle pretending I’m singing it myself. There was such attitude–so much presence–I really felt like I was watching a star. And apparentl Simon did too. “Katharine, something happened tonight. Which is that I think tonight you turn into a star.”
***
“Until You Come Back To Me”. Katharine McPhee looks great tonight. She looks very Martina McBride meets old Hollywood. I love her. Yes, honey. Finally someone’s on pitch. Oh, she sounds great. Stevie’s right, this girl has a lot of potential. This rendition of “‘Til You Come Back To Me” is beautiful. The great thing about Katharine is she knows how to make a performance magical even with the quiet moments. YES! Wow. Simon just compared Katharine to Kelly Clarkson. What a huge compliment.
Grade: A
This still–to date–is my favorite performance of Katharine’s. It embodies the heart of her performance skills. It’s not a generic power belting ballad (see “I Have Nothing”)–it’s not some shrilly shout-fest (see “Who Wants To Live Forever”)–it’s just simple soul. And that’s what makes Katharine McPhee a great singer. Let’s not mention the odd maternity-looking nature of the dress.
Will Katharine be successful post Idol? Will Taylor be successful post Idol? Only time will tell. But both of these singers have undeniable talent and that usually counts for something right?
The “materinity dress” was a throwback to the era of the song she was singing. People don’t like it because they aren’t making that connection. She was actually “in constume.”
Awesome feature though… I preferred the original Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.
Kat was indeed born to sing the standards.
I agree with all of those, I also really loved Katharine’s I Have Nothing performance. Katharine is a star.
Excellent choices. Personally I would have included Since I Fell For You which was what got me infected with the McPheever.
Watching the earlier videos, I noticed that her voice was much stronger during the earlier part of the competition. Towards the end, her voice just got weaker and resulted in low confidence and inconsistent performances. The boys, Taylor and Elliott, did not suffer as much from this since they already had a hoarse quality and it even added to the texture of their voices. I believe that if the audience was able to rewatch these earlier performances of Kat that you put up here, it would have put her over the top.
Thanks Julia. I WAS gonna put “Since I Fell For You” up here, but I didn’t start the Idol Watch column until the Top 12, which is the only reason I didn’t include it.
AND…yes, that was the whole reason I decided to do it. So that people could see how great she was early in the competition.
Kat is an obnoxious snob who tried to hog the limelite at every interview. She thinks Taylor is a Jerk. It certainly takes one to know one.
She will soon just be a blurb, Katherine Who? when talking about past idols. I certainly hope that Katherine as well as her family reads these comments!
Bev,
It shows a lot about your character…attacking Katharine. Everything that I have read about people who actually know her personally say that Katharine is the most genuine, kind, talented, and good person anyone could ever be fortunate enough to call friend.
Yep, these are all my top Kat picks, too. Except, I do agree with Simon about “Someone to Watch Over Me.” My two hopes for her this season was that she would do Judy Garland (finally did with “Rainbow”) and that she’d do Gershwin, because I knew she would do them perfectly, and she proved me right. (My other hope was for a Broadway-themed night. Grr.) I would throw in all three pre-Top 12 performances, if you were doing those as well.
Bev, a) when Kat called Taylor a jerk, she was so obviously kidding, and b) it’s KathArine, not KathErine, a mistake I MIGHT understand if her name weren’t in this post a million times spelled correctly.
Lmao, Jandy.
Well Jandy, I completely agree with you, and Bev, if anyone is a jerk, you are. And back to what I liked the most. I found she did an awesome performance for “Hound Dog, All Shook Up”. I thought I should just say this though, I think the finale of ‘Idol’ should’ve been Katharine, and Chris.
Heather
katharine was wonderful with “I Have Nothing” the judges no nothing!!! she is wonderfully enchanting!! simon cowell doesn’t know nothing he just wants money!!
bev,
by saying that it takes one to know one, are you agreeing that taylor is truly a jerk?
to be back on topic, i agree that I Have Nothing was a good performance as well, contrary to what the judges thought. i actually felt her version was better than whitney’s. that’s my personal view of course
[...] The Very Best of Katharine McPhee [...]
I am a 65 yr old retired due to health reasons. I have been a music fan all my life. I can’t count the number of concerts I’ve been to. I have seen the careers of many superstars going back to the early 50’s, but I am convinced after following Katharine McPhee on American Idol, and hearing her new cd scheduled for release next week that in all my years, she is TOPS from all that I have ever listened to and enjoyed.As you probably know, there have been many singers do a rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, but no one comes close to this. She has such a tremendous voice range, and needless to say the looks and personality to be a superstar legend. I predict a record in platinum records for her to compare with the all time greats. Thank you
bob in ny
I completely agree with you Bob, and all the non-haters. Kat is fabulous, and though I don’t think there’s any need for them to compete anymore, I think it’s quite obvious with these comments of late from biggees like David Foster, that Kat is going to be a huge success. It may take some time for her to get rid of the Idol-haters, but she’s got some major staying power-not just musically, but in film and television as well, IMO. I think we’re going to see nothing but great things for Kat, and people can think otherwise all they want, but they’re wrong.
this girl is just wonderful, what a class act, she sure does not belong on idol!
I am a composer/arranger who has been working in the entertainment industry for most of my life. The emergence of a superstar is such a rare event, but that is what we may be seeing with Katharine McPhee! I’m sure that under the direction of Clive Davis and David Foster some of the best minds in the business are helping to assemble her debut album. And even if it does not sell 3 or 4 million copies, she has the talent to follow it with a blues album or a Christmas album or a broadway album. That is truely a rare combination. She should be around for a longlong time.
It was so fun re-watching those clips. What a brilliant reminder of what a stunning talent Katharine McPhee is!
Wow. I agree with your choices, though I WOULD add “I have Nothing”, and “Since I fell for you” (I understand what you meant though).
Thank you for your insight, and almost completely agreed. It was fun to see the performances, and it’s just a privilege to be able to follow such a talented, and diverse singer such as Kat.
This was the first season I had a favorite, and the first season I bothered to vote…2 full hours too.
This girl won’t fade away..that’s for sure. I see a bright, and great future for her. Here’s hoping she breaks the idol mold with her debut album, and takes the music world by storm.