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‘American Idol’ week three: Top 8 girls
Well, no medical dramas this week and the ladies went on as scheduled. Overall, the result was about what you’d expect. Some of the contestants slipped a little bit and there were some odd song choices, but it’s really becoming apparent how the final field is shaping up on the girls’ side. It’s getting to the point where we can tell who’s going to go and who’s going to stay based on the reaction of the studio audience. Katie Stevens and Paige Miles gave equally poor performances, but the audience loudly booed the judges’ critique of Katie, while Paige’s trouncing was greeted with an eerie silence.
One other note: it was really annoying how Kara kept throwing it back to the contestants … it seems kind of cruel to trash someone’s performance and then turn around and ask them how they feel about it. That’s Seacrest’s job (well, that and manhandling Didi Benami).
Okay, here’s this week’s roundup:
“Breakaway”
Okay, I know Katie’s not going anywhere, but she really needs to be sent packing. C’mon, America, I know she’s cute, in a precocious, “Legally Blonde” Reese Witherspoonish kind of way, but she is also completely evil, in a precocious, “Election” Reese Witherspoonish kind of way. And she has no idea what songs to choose. She was way off key tonight and her voice sounded uncharacteristically thin and weak. Send her home, please. Matthew Broderick will thank you. The producers put her in the lead off spot, so maybe she had a better rehearsal. As Katie’s peers would say, whatEVER.
What the judges said:
“It was almost like karaoke to me” Randy
“You were singing, but you weren’t feeling,” Ellen
“I don’t think you know who you are yet as an artist,” Kara
“You kind of sucked the energy out of it,” Simon
My grade: D
“House of the Rising Sun”
Siobhan brings it again; I’m calling her now as a dark horse. I was kind of sorry that they skipped the little introduction videos tonight, because each week I look forward to learning something new and totally weird about Siobhan. When they announced her song choice, I was like, “Hmm … really?” But it only took a split second for my fear to switch to extreme interest in what she would do with it and confidence that it would be something cool. It wasn’t as out there as I’d hoped it would be, but it was still really good, starting with a near a capella vibe, building into some nice power belting and then coming back down to a soulful, smokey croon. Well played, Ms. Magnus.
What the judges said:
“You take every risk, every chance” Randy
“You are why I love music; I was captivated,” Ellen
“Week to week I’m surprised by you,” Kara
“It was all a bit weird,” Simon
My grade: B
“The Story”
Well, that was Lacey’s best performance since Hollywood week, and I liked her last week, too. Lacey picked the perfect song for her voice and she really had fun with it. She seemed completely comfortable and totally in control. She was sweet and seductive and didn’t miss a single note. But I’m afraid that “Idol” voters might see it as too little, too late; I’m not sure she’s connected with America, but I hope so. So far, I think I would be more inclined to actually purchase music Lacey had recorded than that of any other contestant.
What the judges said:
“It’s your best performance for me in a long time,” Randy
“That song sounded like something that was written for you,” Ellen
“Effortless singing; I thought it was a brilliant choice,” Kara
“You sang it really, really well,” Simon
My grade: A-
“I Feel the Earth Move”
Remember Beatlemania — not the phenomenon, but the tribute band/Broadway show that toured the nation years ago? “It’s not the Beatles, but an incredible simulation!” the ads blared from my television. That was Katelyn tonight, except it was more like “Kingmania!” Katelyn sounded and looked like Carole King, which would have been great had this been a celebrity impersonating contest. I thought she did great last week, but this was definitely a step backwards.
What the judges said:
“It all kind of felt very put on for me,” Randy
“It just wasn’t enough,” Ellen
“I didn’t feel like you were competing tonight on that stage,” Kara
“It was kind of like request night on a Friday night in a restaurant,” Simon
My grade: C-
“Rhiannon”
I cringed upon learning that Didi was going to be covering Stevie Nicks (that hasn’t proved to be a particularly wise choice this season). But damn if she didn’t bring it. When Didi is on, she’s on, and she’s really got one of the most unique voices in the competition. She probably upped her game just so that Seacrest couldn’t lay his skeevy mitts all over her in the guise of consolation. I think Didi just saved herself from Ryan and America.
What the judges said:
“That’s the person we fell in love with in the first place,” Randy
“I thought that was a lovely performance,” Ellen
“One of my favorite moments of the show so far this season,” Kara
“Head and shoulders above anything else we’ve heard tonight,” Simon
“Don’t worry, I got the court order and will stay two feet away from you,” Seacrest (okay, I made that one up)
My grade: B
“Smile”
Ouch. Paige, oh, Paige … why would you choose that song at this point in the competition? It was just bad. It didn’t sound current at all, your vocals were all over the place. I think the judges’ common criticism this season that the contestants don’t know what kind of singer they want to be particularly applies to Paige. unfortunately, I don’t think she’ll get another chance to make an inexplicable, bad song choice.
What the judges said:
“It just didn’t work, man,” Randy
“That song is supposed to be inspiring; it was just sad and heavy,” Ellen
“It was all wrong, it really was,” Kara
“I think this could be the end of the road,” Simon
My grade: D
“Give Me One Reason”
I thought this was one of Crystal’s weaker performances, which still puts her far ahead of the rest of this pack. It was a little hokey for me; she seemed like a poseur with that electric guitar she barely played. The vocals were spot on, and she changed it up a little, giving it a really bluesy edge that was absent in Tracy Chapman’s oddly mechanical original.
What the judges said:
“Love that, love you, love the song” Randy
“I need new adjectives for you; best performance of the night,” Ellen
“That’s a great song choice,” Kara
“You are the one everyone has to beat; it’s yours to lose,” Simon
My grade: B+
“I Fall To Pieces”
I didn’t get that at all. Here’s what bothers me about the “Idol” judges … if anybody else had given that performance, they would have torn the contestant apart — complaining about how she should have been more current and relevant, blah blah blah. But the judges love Lilly because she’s “quirky.” Meh. The vocals were okay, but the quirk is starting to annoy me; I can’t see anybody buying that song. Plus, she is like a giant, so I initially thought that the mandolin she was playing was a full-size guitar her Amazonian body was just dwarfing, which distracted me.
What the judges said:
“I think you’re in the zone right now,” Randy
“Loved it, love you,” Ellen
“You kind of made Patsy Cline seem current,” Kara
“That didn’t have the wow factor,” Simon
My grade: C+
Should go: Katie Stevens, Paige Miles
Will go: Paige Miles, Lacey Brown
Agree? Disagree? Sound off!
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Comments
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By gdub
March 11, 2010 3:44 AM | Link to this
I thought this night was about 50/50...four did good and four made me hit the fast-forward button (Katie, Katelyn, Paige and Lilly)...I was really scared when I realized Lacey was singing The Story, but she did OK...Lilly must have had Patsy rolling over in her grave...
and then we had the guys tonight...the best may not have been equal to the best of the girls...but the worst guys were better than the worst girls...