4/4, "Best I Ever Had"

(Now with new, improved screencaps! Head over to Rickey.org for a great one we couldn't quite get, and enjoy some excellent writing, fun people, and many other worthwhile goodies.)

For a couple of weeks or so, Bucky's fans have been clamoring for a ballad. Something softer, something sweeter, a song a bit more like those haunting original compositions of his that have made believers out of the lot of us. Tonight we got it, and much, much more.

It would be interesting to hear all that Kenny Rogers, tonight's guest legend/coach, had to say about working with Bucky. The short snip of the interview that Idol showed included a mild warning about diction, just in case that somewhat subjective criticism hadn't been hammered home a million times by Paula, Simon, last week's results show clips, lazy newspaper reviewers, and 673 message-board parrots. He has an accent! We've got that! Move on, already! (Whoops, sorry--I got a little impatient, there.) Bucky gently laughed a little to himself as Kenny reminded him to overenunciate--which was rather endearing, actually. I get the feeling Kenny and Bucky might have been more in sync in some respects than the preview indicated.

Bucky had the coveted final performance spot of the night--a great time to make a lasting impression, and impress he did. Somewhere, someone at Idol must have realized that Bucky is an actual contestant in this thing--a charming, evolving performer with a growing and dedicated fan base--and tonight felt like the first time the show's presentation reflected that.

We had a beautiful opening shot, zooming in from slightly overhead and deftly solving the shadow-obscuring-the-face problem that cowboy hats, however splendid they look, tend to cause under stage lights. We had a slow, graceful walk down the ramp to the edge of the stage, and a natural-looking choreographed seated finish, with the camera angled from underneath to solve the same hat problem from the opposite direction. We had a truly stylish vintage-looking suede jacket and denim jeans, in soft colors that seemed to reflect the softness of the melody.

But most of all, what we had was a marvelously wistful, appropriately haunting, almost achingly sensitive Bucky Covington vocal--with a touch of growl for good measure--that perfectly fit the lyrics of this heartbroken-morning ballad. It might have been true that his nerves got to him for the first few words, but in a strange way, even that worked out fine in the context of the song.


Could it be that our raspy, rowdy Southern rocker has a subtle side that rivals that of the most romantic singer/songwriters out there? Well, that comes as no big revelation to those of us who've heard his original songs at Bucky Covington Online (and why do you think I keep sending you there, anyway--if you haven't been, go!), but it might have been a big surprise to the general Idol audience. For that, we're thankful that Bucky took the plunge and sang a ballad tonight.

Of course, subtle isn't exactly the first quality that comes to mind when you think of American Idol. I've wondered this whole season whether Idol was ready for someone who sounded as rootsy and real as Bucky does, with the soulful quirks and the unfiltered, authentic accent and all the rest of what his new fans love about him. It looks as though the show just might be ready, after all.

We can't end this without a tip of the cowboy hat to Bucky's newfound comfort in front of the camera. From the shy smiles of the first few weeks, to the steady, confident gaze during his performance tonight and that incredible last longing shot (we'll get that capped, we promise!), he's becoming a big-league professional right before our eyes.

I voted until my fingers went numb, and I hope you did, too--this is getting good, ya'll.

Buzz on the boards: Wow, that was kind of pretty...
Our take: (See above.)

Back later today with pre-show news and a recap of tonight's results. Take care!