American Idol 7 - Semi-Finals Round 2 - The Women - 2/27/08

We have another night of performances this time by the women. They too are stuck with songs of the 1970’s. A decade of songs to chose from and it will be interesting to see what they attempt. Hopefully the illnesses which hurt them last week have flown the coop as well.

Let the fun begin.

Carly Smithson

Carly was looking hot, loved the outfit. Carly chose “Crazy on You” and this was a good song choice for her. It started a little strange for me and she was looking straight up not at the audience. She did a fairly good job on the vocals, i.e. technically well but there was no true passion. I did not feel her connection to the song. Her dance movements were idiotic; she was not wearing a bra because her chest was bouncing up and down in a most distracting way. She hit the money note at the end. I liked her but I wasn’t wowed. She was much better than last week.

Randy – it was good towards the middle and end, the beginning was a little rough, you have to be careful because you have a big voice, singers with big voices have trouble with the lower notes because they can’t belt them, it was all right.

Paula – you are an amazing singer, glad you are healthy again

Simon – it was much better than last week, you are an incredible singer, the other women can’t touch you vocally but the problem is you haven’t found the one song to connect with, if you find that song and have your “moment” you would be untouchable.

Syesha Mercado

Syesha definitely had a hot outfit; it is unfortunate her performance did not match the heat. Syesha chose “Me and Mrs. Jones” changing it to “Mr. Jones”. This was a stupid song choice. The arrangement of the song totally sucked, it was dull. Syesha started out so tentative and restrained. It was totally bizarre. There was no emotion tied to the song and this is a song which is all about emotion. I don’t think she sold this song at all. Her voice was okay, there were some severe pitch and sharp notes but when she let it rip she has a powerful voice. She definitely didn’t wow me. It was a total step down from last week.

Randy – it was not a great song choice, when you had the soft moments it was like you were uninterested, they went no where, and you need to pick songs where you can belt

Paula – it was with the softer notes where you go off, you fall off pitch, with the power notes you are great. I liked the interpretation.

Simon – it was indulgent, I was put off when you started, and it was silly to do a song not written for a woman or designed for your voice

Brooke White

Oh how cute, she is a beauty school drop out (please hear the sarcasm in my voice). Brooke had on some killer boots. When Ryan announced before the break that Brooke was going to do some Carly Simon I screamed at the television, oh no, she is going to attempt “You’re So Vain” and surprisingly I was right. Brooke handled this performance sitting down and using her guitar. I thought it was a nice touch but she didn’t over do it and half way through she stopped playing and just sang which means she was listening to the judges when they were talking to Jason Castro. This performance was better than last week but there was no wow. Brooke did a pretty good job with the vocals although there were some sharp/pitchy notes during the chorus. My problem with this performance is once again she did not sale the number. Brooke is Miss Mary Sunshine and she was a very happy shiny person while singing this song. This is a song dripping with sarcasm and I didn’t hear it or feel it. Regardless of whether or not she was trying to sing to Simon about being vain, she did not sale the emotion of the number and don’t get me started on some of her enunciation or pronunciation of the words. It was just okay for me.

Randy – great song choice, you didn’t do anything different with it, just okay

Paula – it was the perfect song choice, it suits you, I liked what you brought to it, familiarity, loved it

Simon – I absolutely loved it, it was the perfect song and one of the rate times I thought the artist had genuinely chosen the song, you connected with it and you sang it well. This is the reason you made it to this point in the competition.

Ramiele Malubay

Ramiele had a great outfit and killer shoes but get the hair out of your eyes, it was *&(^ distracting. Ramiele has decided to go with “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, good heavens why are you picking a song with a title including leave, talk about being a jinx. For all those who know me well, disco is my favorite type of music. I probably have more disco albums, CD’s, etc. then anyone but it doesn’t mean everyone can tackle such songs. I don’t believe this was the right choice of song and the entire performance was appalling. I thought she had some incredibly off notes, some of her transitions were abrupt and the band was not helping her much. This was a train wreck, I thought some of her movements were cheesy and the energy of the number was off as well. Ramiele gave my favorite performance last week and now I get this. Where is the consistency?

Randy – it was a little rough, it just was okay, you can really sing but with so many choices of songs this was not my favorite choice

Paula – you are someone to beat, I agree with Randy about the vocals, you have an amazing voice but you weren’t able to perform your magic

Simon – astonishingly I agree with Paula, I have heard this song sung badly so many times, last week you stood out, this week you weren’t memorable, I think you are a terrific singer, one of the top 3 but this was not your best

Kristy Lee Cook

Kristy is next, I did like her outfit but it wasn’t as great as some of the others. Kristy goes with “You’re No Good”. I have to interject here, what are you thinking using a song with the words, you are no good, are you asking for trouble? Kristy’s performance was better than last week but there was no wow. It was just okay. Her vocals were better but there were still some painfully pitchy moments. She definitely has trouble with the lower register. I also didn’t see much personality coming out in the performance, it was robotic at best. Improved but not by much.

Randy – 100% improvement from last week, better song choice, there were no breakout notes, I liked it

Paula – you’re back, you’re back, you’re back

Simon – huge improvement, my trouble is I am not sure how to label you, I would focus on the country route which should let you make a statement, you have real potential.

Amanda Overmyer

What the hell is she thinking about? Amanda’s outfit was one of the worst I have seen in a long time; Cruella DeVille could have made that outfit with only one Dalmatian and saved herself some trouble. I don’t even know how to describe that hairdo, if it was in a tall bun she could star in a remake of “The Bride of Frankenstein”. Amanda decided to tackle “Carry on Wayward Son”, a band song! This performance was appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrendous, horrid, horrifying, lurid, monstrous, nightmarish, and terrible. There are not enough words to describe this train wreck. Amanda was in a different key then the band, she was sharp, pitchy, she seemed uncomfortable, it was awkward and what was up with all the screaming. Her words were unintelligible to say the least. I just don’t get her. Please put me out of my misery!

Randy – I don’t like the song choice, there were too many instrumental breaks, it has too much melody for a bluesy singer, it was pitchy

Paula – you can dance (oh Paula I don’t think so), you worried too much about not doing Janis Joplin but maybe you should, it suits you, you are a brilliant artist, this competition needs you

Simon – in the filmed introduction you seem natural, this was contrived, it was an indulgent song, terrible outfit and hair, and I didn’t get it

Alaina Whitaker

Alaina looked good in that dress, nice change of pace from the other contestants. Alaina though unfortunately has chosen “Hopelessly Devoted to You”. Given the song selection of the 70’s this was a totally uninspired choice. What are these contestants thinking? Alaina has a good voice but this song really didn’t give her a chance to shine. The power notes were totally off key and she couldn’t even deliver the final note at the end.

Randy – it wasn’t the right song, you were pitchy, you over shot some and were sharp

Paula – you did a very good job

Simon – I like you but this was like your grandmother prepared you for the performance including the dress, you could have been more current despite the theme, this performance was pageantry, you are the dark horse in this competition but you need to become relevant

Alexandrea Lushington

Give me a break, what the hell where you thinking Alexandrea when you put on that outfit, it sucked big time. Alexandrea chose “If You Leave Me Now”. Come on, another song with the word leave, contestants get a clue. I thought the arrangement of this song was wrong and the band was too loud. I could hardly hear her which wasn’t all bad because when I did it was painful; she was off key, pitchy and sharp. What was up with the strange facial movements? What is going on tonight? I was not impressed at all.

Randy – this was safe, you are one of my favorite performers but you need to challenge yourself

Paula – I think you really let go, doing your own arrangements, stretching yourself, I think you are relevant

Simon – I was a big, big fan but am struggling now, the song is stuck in its time period, you were inconsistent, in and out of tune, it was boring

Kady Malloy

I hated Kady’s dress but the shoes were killer. Kady went with “Magic Man”. If you want to know what I think about this performance go back and read what I indicated about Amanda, the same words describe this train wreck as well. Kady was both overpowered by the band plus she was not singing in the same key. I can’t even call it singing because I could not understand a single word she said. Kady just could not pull off or sale the emotion of this song, she was neither sexy nor sultry.
Randy – interesting song choice, you never found the pitch

Paula – you sounded great when you put power into the notes but not on the softer ones, you were off, you need to let your self go and find out who you are as an artist

Simon – I am struggling and frustrated, on film you are great but on stage you are impersonating someone, this time it appears to be Christina (the singing from the throat), there was no melody

Asia’h Epperson

I totally hated Asia’h’s outfit and look. Asia’s chose “All By Myself”; I love the original by Eric Carmen. I have the 45 of that song; yes I know it ages me that I have 45’s. I totally thought the arrangement sucked, what is up with the band tonight. Asia’h started way too low and she definitely has trouble with her lower register. She tried to reach for the high notes but couldn’t get there. I did not like the performance at all. While I understand she was sick who cares, you have to make it work; the show must go on so to speak. I don’t like Asia’h but she was much better last week compared to this one and they gave her the money spot. It was a disappointing end to a rather uneven night.

Randy – very difficult song to sing, you did a good job with it

Paula – you have trouble with the low notes but with the ending you brought it home

Simon – this is one of the diva songs of all time and you couldn’t pull it off, you nearly did it but the song was too big for you.

I don’t know what was up this week those who were good last week weren’t so hot this week and vice versa, it was the same with the guys. This was not a good night for the ladies. Quite frankly after tonight’s lackluster performances I wouldn’t care if they all went home.

I wasn’t much in the voting mood because the performances didn’t move me but I voted anyway. I got them all in less than an hour. I gave Carly 20 votes, Syesha and Brooke got 10, Ramiele got 15, and Kristy got 2 while Alaina and Alexandrea got 1 each.

There is no question in my mind that based on performance alone Kady and Amanda should be heading home.

I will predict Kady will be going home but the second choice is harder because of their various fan bases. Oh what the hell I hated them both equally so I will just go with Kady and Amanda.

Until tomorrow…