21 Days to American Idol

“Every ounce of you is totally authentic to who you are.”

-- Paula Abdul, about Brooke White’s performance of “Hero,” by Mariah Carey, Season 7


First off, quintessential incoherent Paula comment. But beyond the redundancy, Paula captures the appeal of a contestant like Brooke.

I loved Brooke from the very beginning of Season 7, and momentarily, she was my favorite. She had little range and versatility, but like Paula said, she was possibly the most authentic contestant in American Idol’s seven seasons. Everything, from the tone of her voice to her look to her song choices, identified her as a quality folk musician. She stripped away the affectation, opting for simple arrangements that focused on the lyrics, infusing her songs with layers of meaning.

Brooke’s pursuit of the title derailed most when she tried to mix things up and do too much. She’s not, nor will she ever be a pop starlet. Instead, she’s a grown-up singer-songwriter. In the vein of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Sarah McLaughlin, her strength is in unplugged storytelling. She doesn’t need bombastic orchestration or back-up singers. Give her a guitar or piano and her voice, and she’ll be just fine.

“Let It Be” is one of my favorite AI performances for those very reasons.