Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox/PictureGroup
It’s telling that American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina’s first single was originally recorded by fellow countrified Idol contestant Kristy Lee Cook, since her performance of the song on Tuesday night (which included a guest appearance from Alaina’s actual mother, who had become something of a supporting star in her own right) was about as pandering as Kristy’s take on “God Bless the USA” back in the show’s seventh season. (Though apparently the stars and stripes are more bulletproof than mothers—Kristy was safe that week and Lauren lost out in the end.)
The silliness of the performance distracted from the song itself, which might have been a blessing. Even as far as inspirational country ballads go, “Like My Mother Does” is pretty paint-by-numbers, with all the nods to classic country (those fiddles, that banjo) tucked neatly behind walls of over-produced guitar so as not to upset the crossover potential.
Alaina’s voice is perfectly functional and pleasant, and she is able to carry the melody quite well, though that little bit of rasp that snuck into her performance on the show this week is deeply missed in the recorded version (country usually sounds better when soaked in whiskey and cigarettes, though Alaina isn’t old enough to buy either).
Alaina certainly has the potential to craft a lovely collection of modern country tunes, but “Like My Mother Does” doesn’t do her any favors, nor does it clearly play to her strengths the way rival Scotty McCreery’s “I Love You This Big” does. Really, “Like My Mother Does” is a lot like Alaina herself: Sweet but bland, pretty but forgettable. C+
Read more from EW.com:
Lauren Alaina backstage Q&A after the ‘American Idol’ finale: ‘I’m so ecstatic to have just even made it this far.’
‘American Idol’ season finale recap: Baby Lock Them Doors Because The Winner Needs Security
‘American Idol’: Scotty and Lauren duke it out in the Nokia, on the scene for the performance finale
It’s not the greatest song in the world. But I though she did a excellent job with it. Is it pandering, yes. But then Scotty’s single is pandering too. I figure they knew Scotty was going to win for weeks. And I tried to fit the song around his strengths. And with Lauren and her close relationship with her mother; it fit. And hoped maybe it would make the vote total closer. And it might have if Lauren’s voice had held up. I think Lauren has a lot of potential. She’s only 16. With the right songs; her stronger voice probably will do better in sales than Scotty who’s traditonal sound is good but doesn’t allow many different styles or range. But time will tell. No one knew how much of a power house Carrie Underwood be in both performance and signing when she left American Idol when she won!
Uhhhhh, anyone who saw even a few seconds of Carrie perform when she was a contestant knew she was a powerhouse singer. I don’t think anyone predicted that she would adopt the style of a 40-something Orange County divorcee in her mid-20s, however.
I agree, this song is okay. Not bad, not great but somewhat forgettable. However, I think it’s better than the singles they’ve had on Idol for the two finalists in the past. And though I thought he did a good job, I didn’t care for “I Love You This Big” at all.
I felt giving Lauren ‘Like my Mother Does” was the “Kiss of Death”. No guy would actually want to go out and buy a song like that and play it without getting beat up, let alone vote for her — not that they would vote for Scotty anyway. My guess is that most voters were female. Scotty is great—was great from the beginning. Let’s hope that early fame and fortune doesn’t ruin him with drugs and divorce.
Yeah, because so many Idol contestants have fallen victim to drugs and the dreaded divorce.
I completely disagree…this was a beautiful rendition of the song and I thought she did great!
You took the words right out of my heart!
I disagree, as well. I found the song beautiful and affecting, while Scotty’s was bland and affecTED.
The review is utter crap…it’s a wonderful song…guess the reviewer’s mama didn’t love them enough
HA I agree
You took those words right out of my heart!
Just because you think the song is wonderful doesn’t mean someone else’s opinion is crap simply on the basis that they don’t agree with you.
The review is utter Crap; get over it already!!!
I like this song better than the one they gave Scotty. But they’ll both do well in their careers, so I’m happy for both.
You took those words right out of my own heart!
I give the writer of this article a F!
She made me cry when she sang this, she is the real winner and will have an amazing career.
So did I! She has done this to me time and again. Before Lauren Alaina, I have never witnessed any singer that could affect my emotions like she does. It’s personally “incredible” to me!
I thought she did OK but it was so obvious that the producers were pimping her and so isn’t a first single. Maybeshe should have done it Mother’s Day.
To be honest, I didn’t want either of them to win, because I find them both to be as boring as watching a snail move or paint dry, but I actually like Lauren’s song over Scotty’s by a landslide. I mean, his song to me comes across as long, boring, and oddly paced, and he sounds completely lost in the chorus because I simply don’t think his voice is all that strong to make it work. At least Lauren’s song is well paced, cute, and her voice sounds great in it, I mean fine, she doesn’t sound like a 50 year old smoker who sings out of the hole on their neck, but she’s young so why should she sound old and rusty? So yeah, I’m sorry but I think Kyle’s review is completely off. I’ll take Lauren’s clean voice and her cute song over Scotty’s Kermit the Frog exaggerated voice and his lame attempt at country music any day of the week.
I have to agree about the quality of the songs. How can you think this song is silly and not think Scotty’s is utterly ridiculous? How can you not realize that both songs are bland and pandering? Weird.
I’m pretty sure I implied that both of them aren’t all that great but that I like hers the most because she makes it better than what it is. “Weird” that you didn’t catch that…
Why do people have to be mean when they make a comment. A simple I did not care for one over the other is sufficent. They are both very good singer and will go far both of them deserved to win.
She is not the best singer…has a lot of growing to do…Carrie Underwood had problems in trying to slow down and let Lauren ketch up with her on the song last night and she had to tone her own voice down as to not completely ovepower Lauren……You could tell it was not an easy performance for Carrie…….I give her kudos for being so thoughtful of a lesser singer..where as you could not tell the difference with Scotty and Tim McGraw.. That duet was flawless
Is it completely necessary for you to insult Lauren just because you clearly like Scotty better? I agree that his performance with Tim was flawless, but Carrie and Lauren were amazing together as well. And just an FYI, but Carrie wasn’t “toning down her voice.” She and Lauren were harmonizing together, and the whole point was for each girl to sing her own part and stay on key so that they blended together seamlessly. If they’d been singing the same note and trying to “out-power” each other, it wouldn’t have sounded as good because it would have been too much. Not to mention, Carrie told Lauren that they sounded “amazing” together and they should “take it on tour.” I highly doubt she would have done that if she considered Lauren to be a “lesser” singer.
Last but most certainly not least, ketch? Pretty sure neither Carrie nor Lauren was thinking about a sailing craft with two masts (i.e. a ketch) during their duet… Just saying.
Lannie- You nailed it. That’s exactly what happened…… What’s Carrie supposed to say afterwards? “Oh, btw, Lauren, you stink and I never want to hear from you again.” Come on. You can’t say that about a singer who graduated from the same show you did (into the same insular country market) even if you really believe it. I doubt Carrie thinks Lauren is all that special right now, but perhaps feels she could develop into a good singer over time.
Okay, I completely disagree. Yes Lauren’s song wasn’t the best they could have chosen for her, but it’s an okay song, and she performed it beautifully. The song they chose for Scotty was…ridiculous is the only word that comes to mind. I mean, come on. The lyrics are “I love you this big.” Did they give some pre-schoolers some crayons and ask them to write a song to save money?
I agree with you; she did perform it beautifully!
She is amazing!!! Her vocals are flawless! You rock Lauren!
I really wanted Lauren to win. I think the song they gave her was amazing and sang beautifully. I think she will have an amazing career in anything she does. Although I think her and Scotty make a cute couple and sing great together, I really wanted her to take the title.
I wanted Lauren to the too. I think she will go far also
Yeah, she’s going far all right. Next up, Lauren stars in Toddlers & Tiaras Teens, Fashion Crimes Against Humanity
Lauren’s song was great, what a lousy review!!!!!