Top 4 perform songs from the 'Anne Murray Songbook'

Updated Thu. Aug. 28 2008 3:00 PM ET

Sheri Block, CTV.ca

Canadian Idol's Top 4 took the stage singing songs from the 'Anne Murray Songbook,' after mentoring with the legendary songstress this week.

Murray has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and was the first Canadian female to have a hit in the U.S.

"Quite simply, she is a national treasure," said host Ben Mulroney, about Murray, who will take the stage during the Top 4 Results Show.

Ben wanted to hear from Farley Flex what impact Murray has had on the Canadian music scene.

"When you think of Canadian divas, the names like Shania and Celine and k.d. lang and certainly Sarah McLachlan come to mind but it all started with Anne Murray. Fifty million records sold at a time when you can't even imagine selling those kinds of numbers. It all started with Anne Murray. She's the Canadian songbird, no question about it," said Flex.

Ben asked Jake Gold how singing two songs will affect how the Idols prepare for the show.

"I think they should prepare the same way they always prepare. Like I've said before, every performance should be like it's your last performance. This isn't an opening act and a closer," said Gold. "Leave it all on the stage."

Ben asked Sass Jordan what her take on 'four dudes doing Anne Murray songs' was.

"Well a great song is a great song because it speaks to the heart and the heart has no gender. It encompasses men and women and actually the entire world," said Sass.

Ben asked Zack Werner whether the audience is seeing what he's seeing at this point.

"I think now that Hillary's not running," joked Werner, "I really think it's important for people at home, now we've got a lot of undecided voters and I think people got to do what you do at a train stop before they vote. You've got to stop, look and listen to these guys before you decide who you're going to vote for."

The Idols first sang songs from the 'Anne Murray Songbook.'

Up first was Mitch MacDonald from Port Hood, N.S.

Before he sang, we saw a taped segment of his mentoring session with Murray.

"He has that 'aw shucks boy next door' thing happening, which is very endearing to young girls and also to old girls," said Murray with a laugh.

She gave him some advice on breathing.

"What you're doing is you're going for notes and the breath isn't there so you run out of steam and we can't have a guy from Port Hood running out of steam."

"Working with Anne today was definitely just an eye-opener of the hard work that it takes to make it in the music industry. She got me up on the piano, teaching me how to breathe properly so I need to focus on that because there's a few parts of the song I really need to hit hard," said Mitch.

Back on stage, Mitch did his rendition of Murray's "Cotton Jenny."

"Mitch, you look really comfortable sitting on the stool playing your guitar, it's a very natural thing for you. I have to say though off the top I just felt you were a little flat," said Jake.

"I agree," said Mitch.

"I think the last three weeks I've noticed that about you off the top and then you eventually kick it in and it gets good but you've got to figure out how you're going to find your note," continued Jake.

Sass agreed with Anne Murray about the breathing and she thought he totally heeded her advice.

"I think without a question you always exude comfort, you've come off like you're really comfortable singing the song and this type of stuff was perfect for you. I'd still like to see a little more edge. I know it's tough with certain songs but a little more edge and a little more angst I guess," said Farley.

Zack said when the judges talk about comfortable, it reminded him of Perry Como sleeping on a couch in a sweater.

"There was nothing wrong with it per se but when I'm down to the final four I don't think I want to look like I'm appearing in some 1960s TV show like 'Mitch MacDonald and the Cape Breton step dancers,'" added Zack.

Earl Stevenson from Lloydminster, Alta., was up next.

Before he sang, we saw a taped segment from his mentoring session with Murray.

"He has a kind of innocence about him and I also love that he's got a very unusual, unique sounding voice," said Murray.

"I saw you do 'With a Little Help From my Friends' and I know you were right into the song but you have to remember there's an audience there and I know you were right into the song but you have to remember there's an audience there and eyeball them, look at them," Murray told Earl.

"It's cool to meet someone like that who has stood the test of time and who's always pushing forward, it just inspires you and makes you want to keep going," said Earl.

"I hope to see you around in 40 years Earl," said Murray.

Back on stage, Earl did his rendition of Murray's "Killing Me Softly."

"I didn't know you had such nice eyes," said Sass. "You absolutely took the advice and I thought you just did, you and Mitch, you did a really good job with that."

Farley said it was wicked that he sang a soulful version of the song.

"For me personally I couldn't tell where you were coming from, like who you were singing that song, I didn't get the emotional context of how you felt about this girl, what was going on, and I still think that while your movement was more direct to the audience it still seemed like you were just kind of aimlessly out for a meander in the backyard," said Zack.

Jake said while he knows what Zack is talking about, for him it worked the exact opposite. He said he's the kind of artist that draws people in and forces them to watch what he's doing. He thought the singing was good, but the performance was great.

Up next was Drew Wright from Collingwood, Ont.

Before he sang, we saw a taped segment from his mentoring session with Murray.

"This guitar, this is a part of you, isn't it?" Murray asked Drew. "You play it very well by the way. But I'm hearing a lot of bending of notes ... your vocals were going with the guitar. Make the guitar playing a little bit simpler and you just focus on that vocal first and foremost."

"He's so musical, he's trying to do it all, he's trying to do too much but I think he should concentrate on his vocals and make those the best they can be," said Murray.

Back on stage, Drew did his rendition of "Hey Daddy (Hippo in My Tub)" from a children's album Murray recorded in 1977.

"I gotta tell you Drew, I thought vocally that was your best performance yet. You were so clear, so concise, a really good song choice, and you looked really comfortable. The advice you were given you took it to heart. Really, really nice performance," said Farley.

Zack thought he turned a huge corner the last two weeks because he's singing songs with strong melody and therefore he sounds great.    

"By far the best singing you've ever done on this show by a mile, good work," said Jake.

Sass said she loves Anne Murray and wondered if anyone ever told him he's a really good singer.

Up next was Theo Tams from Lethbridge, Alta.

Before he sang, we saw a taped segment from his mentoring session with Murray.

"I think out of all the workshops that we've done this is the one that I was most exited for," said Theo.

"When you hear her voice you know exactly who it is right away, that's the type of artist that I want to be."

"Well I've seen you do a few things because I've been watching religiously. I would like you to do fewer licks in your songs, I know you can do them and you do them great, but make them tasty, make them count," Murray told Theo.

"Theo is very good and if he's willing to work hard and I think he is, the sky's the limit for him," said Murray.

Back on stage, Theo did his rendition of "You Don't Know Me."

"I would like to replace everything that I've said on this show with what Anne Murray has to say because she's bang on with what she's saying about everyone. She's killing it. The second thing I would say is, to be honest; I thought that was radically flavourless. I just didn't know what genre or what vibe the hell that thing was," said Zack.

Jake said the performance reminded him of a very 'matinee' kind of Idol, late 50s kind of thing. He thought he really put his heart and soul into that song and sang it great like he always does.

"Theo I think besides your pitch and the timing, in other words those two things are superb, but your phrasing is outstandingly great. It just gets the point across," said Sass.

Farley said Theo has become part of the song and he did a good job.

For the second half of the show, the Idols sang songs they chose themselves.

Mitch MacDonald was up next with "Between the Bars" by Elliot Smith.

"So again you weren't flat off the top, which was good, but you were sharp, you've got to work on finding that note, you really do because I've noticed that every week. The other thing is I think I know what Farley was saying on the last performance and I haven't been able to put my finger on it until right now. I think it's a dynamic issue. And I really think for me that there's just not enough dynamics in the way you sing," said Jake. "You sing really nice you have a unique voice and it's different but you've got to be more dynamic in your delivery."

Sass said what really appealed to her was the contrast between the dark material of the song and the glorious gentle charmingness that comes out of him. She thought it was a beautiful thing to watch.

"I can appreciate what Sass is saying. For me it's edge. That's a dark song like Sass says but you've got to have more angst, I'm going to use that word again. You've got to push and make people feel it and dynamic is how you do that. Jake is absolutely right," said Farley.

Zack said what was abundantly apparent to him from the song choice and the performance is that Mitch has no clue how to win Canadian Idol.

Earl Stevenson was up next with "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band.

"I liked the ending of that. You've seemed to develop this kind of tick in your singing in the past month where you end phrases where you go 'whoop' all the time but it actually worked in that song for me. I think that's the best time I've heard you do it," said Sass.

Farley said he didn't enjoy the beginning as much as the middle and the end. He thought he could've made it a little more Earl.

"Personally I liked the creative vibe and that you had your own flavour to it but for me what's going on tonight it just seems like you're not being full of the joie de vivre of the moment and if you stop for a few seconds and really let people know, 'I'm loving this' then maybe they'll love it as much, too. It seemed a bit like a throw away, which is certainly what you aren't," said Zack.

Jake said he doesn't know what it is but he actually felt for a moment Earl didn't want to be there.

Earl replied with no, that's not it.

Drew Wright was up next with John Mayer's "Gravity."

"Drew I appreciated that vocal. It came off as a little lighter shade of the blues in terms of the intensity but I thought you did a good job vocally based on what you normally do so it was really cool and obviously with the guitar you always make it happen so that was a reasonably good performance," said Farley.

Zack said the world can change with one song but not with that one.

"I thought playing a blues number, ah you know, we've seen it kind of before. I do want to say I like you without the beard better. I think it's a good look for you and you're actually dressing way better since I made that comment about your dress a while back. I'm glad you're listening. But the other thing is there was a moment there where I thought you sounded a lot like Jim Cuddy and by the way, that's a really good thing," said Jake.

Sass said she loved the blues lick at the end and thought he pulled it off great.

Theo had the last performance of the night with his rendition of Gavin DeGraw's "Chariot."

"I'm always thrilled to see a man who's unashamed to flaunt his body all over the stage. Two, I think that song was one of your two best things. Like when you did the Sarah Slean song, that's right exactly where you come from. No question it was the performance of the night and that means something," said Zack.

Jake agreed it was the performance of the night, he's so consistent and he's the one that really laid it down.

"Theo you got on your horse of choice and rode straight to victory. Good job my brother," said Sass.

Farley said the song hasn't been one of his favourites in auditions, but Theo just made it a song to him and that it was a really good performance.

Don't miss the Top 4 Results Show to see who makes it into the Top 3, as well as performances from Anne Murray and Jordin Sparks Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 8 pm ET/PT!