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‘American Idol’ week two: Top 10 women
So the big news on Wednesday’s “Idol” outing (Top 10 girls) was Crystal Bowersox’ return. She had been hospitalized with complications from diabetes (maybe she watched Aaron Kelly sing “My Girl” too many times) but returned to deliver a knockout punch of a Creedence Clearwater Revival tune.
“I know how sick you are over the past 24 hours. I completely misunderestimated you,” Simon said after her performance.
I think I overestimated Simon. Aren’t the Brits supposed to have a better handle on the English language than we American slugs? They invented it, after all.
Okay, enough pointless chatter … I’m beginning to sound like an “Idol” judge! Let’s get to the performances:
Crystal Bowersox
“Long As I Can See the Light”
Wow, I like Creedence and I really liked Crystal’s soulful version of this song. She is not only totally comfortable on stage, she’s almost oblivious to the goofy showbiz happening around her — she just steps on stage and goes into the zone. And she never misses a note. Not one.
What the judges said:
“I love that girl; that girl is hot!” Randy
“That is pure, raw, natural talent,” Ellen
“You completely recovered from last week,” Kara
“I think we’ve got a really serious artist with you. Congratulations,” Simon
My grade: A
Haeley Vaughn
“The Climb”
Hmm. Two strikes. It’s not that Haeley’s song choice was so bad, but her performance as horrible. And that’s a shame, because I really like Haeley. Maybe she just has one or two songs that she can sing well, and she used them up in auditions and during Hollywood week. This really ought to be the week that Haeley goes home.
What the judges said:
“It was excruciating,” Randy
“I did not feel you connected to the song,” Ellen
“You need about a year of really strengthening your instrument,” Kara
“It was a complete and utter mess,” Simon
My grade: D
Lacey Brown
“Kiss Me”
I’m afraid Lacey’s in trouble, too. I thought she did a great job with this song and that she let a lot of her personality shine through. Of course, she is doomed because she actually took the judges’ advice by singing the song they recommended she sing. Oh, Lacey … if you take their advice they’ll rip you for it. If you ignore their advice, they’ll rip you for it. It’s hard out there for an “Idol.” I think Lacey’s problem is that she just doesn’t seem to “fit,” somehow. Maybe she seems older than the other contestants, I don’t know. But I’ll be sad if she’s sent home.
What the judges said:
“You didn’t bring anything to it,” Randy
“I thought it was adorable,” Ellen
“You have to step it up from here,” Kara
“I think it was marginally better than last week,” Simon
My grade: B-
Katie Stevens
“Put Your Records On”
Okay, I know exactly what Katie’s problem is: she sounds old. Remember when the judges suggested she sing something “younger?” She can’t. Close your eyes and play this youthful song back: doesn’t Katie sound like she’s in her 30s or 40s? Katie could sing the “Barney & Friends” theme song and sound like some smokey jazzstress. It’s her blessing and her curse. But mostly, on this show, her curse.
What the judges said:
“There were some bright moments in there,” Randy
“I don’t want to hear something I would hear in my dentist’s office,” Ellen
“I’m still waiting for that moment for you,” Kara
“I think actually you’ll stay around for another week,” Simon
My grade: C+
Didi Benami
“Lean On Me”
I really thought Didi was unfairly criticized for that Ingrid Michaelson song she sang last week, but now I am starting to get it. In a week when just about everybody seemed to get better, Didi just kind of stayed the same. She’s got talent, but not a lot of soul — at least not Bill Wither’s-style soul — and I’m afraid she’s a little out of her league. But here’s my real question: what’s up with Seacrest? Did you notice that he had his skeevy mitts all over Didi? Taking her hand before her video, relentlessly pawing her during the judges comments, not only putting his arm around her but pulling her very close, which seemed to make Didi very uncomfortable. Dude, if you’re gonna’ do that, you might want to do it with everybody so it’s not so obvious. It was all so sordid. Maybe Randy should call Seacrest “dawg,” then take him to the vet and get him fixed.
What the judges said:
“I would just have not chosen a soul song like that,” Randy
“I don’t know that that was really the greatest song choice,” Ellen
“Didi, it wasn’t good. It really wasn’t good,” Kara
“It was all over the place, it was screeching,” Simon
“Mmmm … you smell really good,” Seacrest (okay, I made that one up)
My grade: C+
Michelle Delamor
“With Arms Wide Open”
Michelle can work the camera and the crowd without coming across as cheesy. Unfortunately, that can lend her performances a cool, calculated air of detached professionalism. Still, there’s no arguing with her soulful, on target vocals — especially on a Creed song — is there? I think if she’s around next week, though, she needs to change it up a little. She’s consistently good, but she’s also kinda’ boring.
What the judges said:
“You just didn’t do enough with it, man,” Randy
“I thought it was really good that you changed it up that much,” Ellen
“My favorite performance of yours ever,” Kara
“To be fair, we give a lot of contradictory advice,” Simon
My grade: B
Lilly Scott
“A Change Is Gonna Come”
Do y’all think Lilly’s wearing a wig? And not even, like, a real wig — more like a platinum blonde Halloween wig? It seems as if she ought to be wearing a French maid costume with that hair. Maybe it’s just me. Anyway, Lilly turned in another great performance, running this Sam Cooke number through her patented “Jazzfolkinator 3000®” and coming out with something wholly original, contemporary and completely captivating.
What the judges said:
“You’re definitely unique and you do your thing,” Randy
“I don’t know what ‘it’ is, but you have got ‘it’,” Ellen
“I was riveted; I couldn’t wait to see what you would do next,” Kara
“I thought it was good; I wasn’t crazy about it,” Simon
My grade: A-
Katelyn Epperly
“The Scientist”
The girls are really stepping it up this week. I liked Katelyn’s piano number a lot more than the judges did. I thought it was really good. I’m not a big Katelyn fan, but this was the kind of emotional performance that Brooke White was praised for last year, so it only seems fair to give Katie props. As the only contestant so far this year to sit on a piano bench, Katelyn stood out. Granted, it didn’t seem like what she was playing was extremely difficult, but it’s not a piano-playing competition and what she played was sparse, appropriate and effective. I’m surprised Seacrest wasn’t all over her after that.
What the judges said:
“It was great until the very last couple of notes,” Randy
“I fell kind of asleep; it was so slow,” Ellen
“I kind of love you; you’re seriously good,” Kara
“I think you may have put yourself back in the race here,” Simon
My grade: B+
Paige Miles
“Walk Away”
Paige, we hardly knew ye! I don’t know why the idea of Paige covering Kelly Clarkson strikes me as so unusual, but I thought it was a brilliant, unexpected choice and she did a great job with it. Kara gives her grief for not being angry enough (co-writer Kara intended the song to have an angry edge) but who cares? First off, it’s not about you, Kara. And, also, you’re always telling the contestants to bring their own interpretations to the songs they song, so back off.
What the judges said:
“I liked it; I wasn’t over the top in love with it,” Randy
“I loved it. You had fun, which is really important,” Ellen
“I could see you having a hit with that song,” Kara
“I’m afraid two weeks in a row you have failed to choose the right song,” Simon
My grade: B
Siobhan Magnus
“Think”
Seacrest said something to Siobhan about “not over thinking” her performances. Would it be mean to suggest that I’m not sure the songstress is really capable of over thinking anything? (Last week she didn’t know what the term “dark horse” meant). I think Siobhan is kind of naive and simple, but those seem to be assets in a cutthroat contest where the rest of your competition is constantly strategizing and obsessing over things like meaningless and contradictory judges’ comments. Like everyone else in the free world, I got a hurty feeling in my gut when they announced that Siobhan was taking on Aretha Franklin, but dang if she didn’t bring it. Pretty awesome stuff.
What the judges said:
“You are so bold and so fearless; it was dope!” Randy
“Most people would say don’t take on such a big song, but they also said don’t mix sleeves with a blanket and look at the Snuggie — it’s huge,” Ellen
“I don’t know how you hit that note,” Kara
“You are interesting and very, very talented,” Simon
My grade: A-
Should go: Haeley Vaughn, Didi Benami
Will go: Haeley Vaughn, Lacey Brown
Agree? Disagree? Sound off!
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