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By PopSavant | February 20, 2008 | 
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Hello again, and welcome to the second American Idol blog of the season. Tonight the top 24 continues, with the top 12 girls. Without further ado:
Kristy Lee Cook is first up singing In The Midnight Hour
, by Fontella Bass. An okay start to the night… but just okay. Randy thought it was “rough around the edges.” Simon thought it was a poor choice of songs, and there was nothing to really grab hold of.
Joanne Borgella informs us that she “just wants to touch peoples lives,” and her means of doing so is I Say A Little Prayer
by Dionne Warwick. I’d call her effort competent, but nothing special. Randy thought it was “Pretty good,” but seemed “shaky” and “unsure”.” Paula dispenses her usual sort of advice, saying “You’ve got to pull it together and shine through.” Simon “didn’t like it at all…. it was a very average version of a caberet song.” He doesn’t buy nerves as a factor at this point in the show, and thinks if the people on the show don’t take advantage of their opportunities they don’t deserve to win.
Alaina Whitaker, the birthday hottie with the Lauren Hutton teeth gives us More Today Than Yesterday
by Spiral Staircase. The song felt scripted, if that makes any sense, in that her enunciation was overpronounced and she occasionally had to wait for the music to catch up. Still, I give her very high marks… she’s got a good voice, with more depth to it that a lot of women her age seem to lack. Paula said she had the “best ending that I’ve heard on that song. Good Job.” Simon: “I think you’re very good,” but “hated” the song… thinks if she had a decent song she would be even better.
Amanda Overmeyer: Dig the hair… turns out that’s all I dig, unfortuately. She starts out with a little scat singing… that’s rarely a good sign in my opinion. Cab Calloway could do it, and precious few people since have pulled it off well. She launches into a scorching verson of Baby, Please Don’t Go, by Big Joe Williams (or, since this is the 1960s, probably the Van Morrison version) At least, the guitar is scorching… as for Amanda, she’s singing through her nose. I didn’t like this at all. If I’d walked into a bar in which she was singing, I’d check out the place next door. Randy: “liked it.” Paula: “like everything you do… authentic.” Paula’s clearly got a different idea about authentic than I do; I’d call her affected. Simon also thinks she’s authentic, but it wasn’t the best performance. Simon says he’s never heard the song before… that has to be a joke.
Amy Davis tells us she’s a “trade show model” … also known as a “booth babe” in common parlance, probably one of the ones who catch your attention then refer all your questions to someone else, but you forgive her ignorance in hopes you’ll see her in the hotel bar later that night. Coincidentally enough, she’s dressed for that hotel bar with a little black spaghetti strap top and jeans. She sings Where The Boys Are
by Connie Francis, which is an awful, awful song. It’s karaoke at a high level, but that’s all. Randy didn’t think it was the greatest, “keeping it real” and citing pitch problems. Paula thinks that the camera loves her, but it wasn’t an engaging song, and a little lackluster. Simon: “You looked great, but didn’t sound great,” and thought the arrangement wasn’t good – I’m sure the music director loves it when he says that.
Brooke White, who is a real live nanny, is next up. That’s okay, I saw a great movie about a singing nanny that flew around with an umbrella and hung out with Dick Van Dyke, so maybe she’ll be good. Her offering is the Turtles’ Happy Together
, which we heard last night from David Cook. I’d call her version… sloppy. If she was a seasoned pro, I’d accuse her of phoning it in. Her voice isn’t particularly pleasant, either. Randy thought “the front part of the song wasn’t good” but that back part of the song was good. Paula loves her originality, and says “you have your own thing” … which I don’t see at all. Simon says he feels like he’s in a commercial for “washing up liquid in the 1960s.”
Alexandrea Lushington doesn’t say a lot that’s very interesting, but it’s touching to see her great-grandmother. Sporting a cool outfit that actually looks more 1980s than 1960s, and a single peace-sign earring that does suit the night, she gives us Spinning Wheel
, by Blood, Sweat, & Tears. I always like this song, and I love this performance of it… nice energy, but it breaks down a bit when she goes for the high notes. It’s Randy thinks she “blew the doors off,” while Paula thought that the interpretation was great and that her clothes were “dope.” Simon: “I didn’t get it,” and compares it to a bad 1960’s musical, to vehement audience disagreement.
Kady Malloy tells us she’s ready to hit the stage, and gives us a bit of her Britney Spears impression… the good Britney, which is disappointing, ’cause what we really want to see is trainwreck Britney. Her song is Groovy Kind of Love
, made famous by the Mindbenders (among others.) The performance is lackluster, but you can tell there’s a voice worth hearing somewhere under it. Randy called it “okay for me,” but too “restrained and controlled.” Paula wants to see more life and fun. Simon agrees with Paula, saying the performance was like “Night of the Living Dead.” Kady looks like she’s about to cry. Ryan says Simon’s done a 180 in his opinion of Kady; Randy interrupts and says it’s more like a 360, which doesn’t make any sense at all. Paula tries to lighten up and tells Katy to “Just Be” (I wish she was trying to drop a hint that we’ll have a Tiesto night this season, but I’m betting not.)
Asia’h “Gratuitous Suffix” Epperson sings Piece of My Heart
, which is damn near impossible to sing without being compared to Janice; you do it at your own peril. If I were a female singer, I wouldn’t go within a mile of this song. Asia’h does it with a little more Rhythm and a little less Blues than did Janice, and in my opinion it’s “al’ight” as Randy would say. Randy was “impressed,” while Paula thought she “had fun up there,” and “had some really good moments.” Simon thought it was his favorite of the night.
Ramiele Malubay tells us that you have to “do what you have to do for yourself” … we’ll see what she does for herself here. Big keyboard opening leading into You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
, by Dusty Springfield. The look isn’t right for the song, and the performance is okay, but nothing special… gets better as it goes along, but there are no moments that really pop. Randy thought that she looked like “a pro.” Paula says she’s a “force to be reckoned with” and says she has great range. Simon says that she “outsung” everyone else.
Syesha Mercado gives her pre-singing interview kneeling on the couch, and she’s still taller than Seacrest. She tells us that she wants to “sing from her soul” … her vehicle to do it is Tobacco Road
, by the Nashville Teens. Someone did this a few seasons ago… Chris Daughty, maybe? Syesha’s version is good, and she’s the only one tonight to have the sense to go for a big finish, but it doesn’t feel real to me. Randy “all in all,” liked it. Paula says it’s “joyful and big,” and gives her a “way to go!” Simon says Syesha is probably one of the most talented girls in the competition and compliments her for “trying hard” … when does Simon give anyone credit for trying. Ryan asks him if she’s “got it,” to which Simon immediately responds “oh my God, yes.” Paula ends with some drivel about Syesha’s name including the word “Yes,” which causes even Syesha to roll her eyes.
Carly Smithson: tattoo artist and former recording artist, not to mention owner of a really odd accent tells us she’s not here to be a diva or prima donna. I just heard the first note of The Shadow of Your Smile
, by Tony Bennett and Babs Streisand among others, and I don’t need to hear any more, I can tell this vocal is miles above all the rest we’ve heard tonight. A little weak on the high note on the “…and so did I” lyric and again on the very last note, but otherwise dynamite start to finish, in terms of look, performance, and everything else. Randy tells us that Amy is suffering from bronchitis, which explains the weak highs. Paula says Carly is “the lucky coin in the pocket” and that she’s “reliable.” Simon says he “didn’t get it,” and that everything about it for him was a “letdown,” but then goes on to compare her to Kelly and Fantasia. I generally agree with Simon, but he’s just flat-out baked on this one. She was far and away the best of the night.
Bottom 2: tough call on a night with so few real blockbuster performances; everyone’s lumped together in the pack except for Carly. I’ll say Amanda Overmeyer and Amy Davis. What do you think?
We’ll see what America says tomorrow night. See you then.
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Topics: American Idol, TV | 2 Comments »
Comments
February 21st, 2008 at 9:27 am
I agree with you about Carly. Excellent vocal and she looked great. She’s a cut above I think.
Hey Im curious. Can anyone fill me in on the whole Ryan not saying Simons name and the end thing?
is it just me or is the pettiness getting bit stupid.
I do think that Simon was a bit more harsh with his analogies tonight and usually I agree with him. He’s always spot on. But it just seems like Ryan is either scrambling for attention himself or attempting to punish Simon for doing what he does best and what everyone basically loves him for. Or loves to hate him for… whatever…. everyone wants to know what Simon thinks.
No matter what Randy or Paula say, the singers all hold their breath and wait for Simons words because they know that he gets it and that he’s spot on.
Im in Bali so I dont see any media stuff about it but is there some little new war going on with Ryan towards Simon?
It just seemed a bit rude to do it a second night in a row whether Simon smiled and took it well or not.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:44 am
Hey neva, thanks for commenting. Interesting observation on Ryan vs. Simon, you may be right. Ryan’s always shot back, but so far this season he’s been the aggressor.