Question: Do you think any one of the five remaining American Idol contestants have any idea who were in the original Rat Pack? Answer: Sure, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Demi Moore and Rob Lowe.
No, that was the Brat Pack. American Idol is honoring the original Rat Pack, which is actually not the Las Vegas Rat Pack. The Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop pack of the 1960's Sands Hotel was in fact an outgrowth of the Rat Pack that Humphrey Bogart and Sinatra first formed in the late 1940s.
Well, that's all ancient history now. The Idol producers are expecting the Final Five to do Sinatra, Martin and Davis music on Tuesday's show, and I have to wonder if they have any connection with that music at all. I'm not overly confident, so here are my suggestions:
Allison Iraheta: She's probably the most out of her depth with this song catalog than the other four, especially since all the Rat Pack members were guys. However, there is a loophole that Allison could employ. Shirley MacLaine was a Rat Pack sidekick, having appeared in a couple of movies with Frank and Dean. So, Allison could sing a Shirley MacLaine song, perhaps something from Sweet Charity, like "Hey, Big Spender" or "Where Am I Going?" Both songs would be showstoppers and give her a chance to hit the big notes like we know she can.
Kris Allen: Kris might find a kindred spirit in Dean Martin's laid back vocal style. He shouldn't do an ethnic song like "That's Amore," but he should go for a new take on "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime."
Matt Giraud: My fear is that Matt is going to veer into 1970's Sammy Davis Jr. territory and opt for "Mr. Bojangles" or "The Candy Man." Matt would be better served by Sammy from his early 1960's repertoire, songs like "Hey There" or "Teach Me Tonight."
Danny Gokey: Gokey's going to go all Sinatra. However, he shouldn't do any overdone Sinatra songs like "My Man" or "New York, New York." Danny needs to sing a ballad, something that shows his sensitive side, but better than cheesy material like "Endless Love." With Sinatra, there's so many great romantic songs that could suit Danny, like "I Fall In Love to Easily" or "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning."
Adam Lambert: If there's one contestant who can really adapt to a Rat Pack vibe, it's Adam. I see him in a tuxedo, hair slicked back, leaning on a grand piano and crooning this week. He could do Sinatra's "The Best Is Yet to Come," Sammy's "I Gotta Be Me," or Dean's "Ain't That A Kick in the Head" -- and make all of them work.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-25-2009 @ 3:35PM
MarcDom7 said...
I would say that of course every contestant would know who the damn Rat Pack was. Are you really that unimpressed with my generation?
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4-25-2009 @ 5:22PM
Stacie23 said...
I have to admit when I was quizzed to who the Rat Pack consisted of I forgot Peter Crawford, but anyone that wants to go into the music buisness better know who Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are, and even Sammy Davis Jr.
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4-26-2009 @ 10:04AM
Beth said...
Uh. Peter LAWFORD, not Crawford. He was married to one of the Kennedy sisters ( I think Ethel).
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4-25-2009 @ 5:57PM
JennieO said...
I would love Kris to sing Sinatra's "Lady is a Tramp". I think he'd just nail it.
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4-28-2009 @ 8:43AM
Nicole said...
I would LOVE Adam to sing I gotta be me. It has a great message, plus I think he could hit it out of the ballpark.
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4-26-2009 @ 12:58AM
anna said...
love the suggestions for adam! he is going to really do great! he always does!
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4-26-2009 @ 3:46AM
Danny Smith said...
Do you think they would allow one from Frank Jr cause I would like to hear one of them try "Wedding Vows In Vegas"
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4-26-2009 @ 8:30AM
PurpleSlog said...
Danny needs to break out and avoid a slow ballad.
Sinatra, Yes.
Slow, no.
I suggest anu of: a fast version of "Night and Day", "All of Me", "At Long Last Love", "Goody-Goody", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "I get a Kick Out Of You", "Sweet Loraine", or "Without a Song"
And yes, He should be Tux'd up.
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4-26-2009 @ 1:52PM
1iPete said...
Actually, Allison could easily do the punk version of My Way.
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4-26-2009 @ 4:51PM
Mary said...
i think that some of the songs should be:
Allison - The Way you look tonight
Volare
Fly me to the moon
Danny - Nice and Easy Does It
Mr Bojangles
Just Say I love her
Matt - Not a clue - not that it matters
Kris - The Wee Small Hours of the morning
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
I get a kick out of you
Adam - That's Life
Feeling Good
It Was a Very Good Year
Come Rain or Come Shine
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4-26-2009 @ 9:51PM
Jimmy said...
Hear hear!
Volare and Very Good Year would be my top choices as well.
4-27-2009 @ 8:14AM
nodoze said...
Peter Lawford was married to Pat Kennedy. Ethel was not a Kennedy sister but an in-law by virtue of her marriage to Robert Kennedy.
Anyway, I think the suggestions for Kris and Adam are spot on.
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4-27-2009 @ 8:38AM
Nate said...
I am 50 years old and even though I definitely know who the Rat Pack is, I really dont know a hell of a lot about their music. Especially Sinatra, who I hate because he was such a jerk, and I didnt like his style of music anyway. Rock and Roll was the big thing when I was growing up, and it had already begun to push the Rat Pack style of music into the background. Maybe the Idol contestants are somewhat familiar with this music from elevator music or old movies, but, with the possible exception of Matt and Adam, I dont think this is going to be a good category for them to choose good songs from.
Having said that, I could be wrong, because last year when they had Andrew Loyd Webber week I thought it was going to suck, but it actually turned out to be very interesting, at least to me. So hears hoping all the contestants find approriate songs and sing them very well. But please, no Candy Man or Mr. Bojangles!
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4-27-2009 @ 12:05PM
Rasha said...
Matt's gonna rock the world tomorrow!
I can't wait... I've been all giddy this whole week!
He HAS to make it into top4... everything lower than top 3 would be an insult to all of America...
VOTE LIKE CRAZY FOR HIM PEOPLE!!!
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4-27-2009 @ 1:39PM
Nate said...
Rasha
I am part of America, and I wont be at all insulted if Matt doesnt make it to the top 4. Express your opinions all you want, but please dont presume to speak for "all of America".
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4-27-2009 @ 10:41PM
SISSERS said...
Is it the Rat Pack songs, or Rat Pack Era songs? And do they get to sing with a cigarette in one hand, and a cocktail in the other while sitting on a bar stool??
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