American Idol 7: Top 12 Women - 2/20/08 - Semi-Finals

The women are up tonight and if we have to be told the worst flu/bronchitis has been running through the group it must mean we are headed for a train wreck. I was worried from the beginning but the show must go on and I am ready to vote again.

The filler that Fox comes up with to fill two hours is amazing. There are more commercials for Fox’s new shows then there is actual performance time but I digress.

We open with the montage of how the women reached this moment.

Once again Ryan announces that this season the level of talent is higher and the competition is fiercer. Can we stop saying this which just puts more pressure on the contestants? There were a couple of men so far I think showed this higher level of talent but so far I can’t say this season is so much fiercer. Perhaps the women will be putting on their best!

The women are stuck with songs from the 60’s as well.

Kristie Lee Cook – 24

Kristie looked hot and I loved her bracelet. The shoes were killer too. Kristie chose “Rescue Me”. I don’t think it was a good song choice and we learn Kristie is one of the sick contestants. I thought the tempo was totally wrong for the song and unfortunately the band and background singers’ way overpowered poor Kristie but perhaps that was related to her illness. What was up with those stupid head and eye movements, it was scary. The other thing which totally bugged me was the strumming of her fingers on the microphone, it annoyed me when Trenyce did it constantly during season 2 and it was totally distracting last night. I hope she loses that habit but fast. I think the vocals were okay but this performance certainly didn’t make me say wow!

Randy – this was not your best performance, it was rough around the edges.

Paula – Kristy is sick but you can’t let that get in the way of your shine or performance because you are a good performer.

Simon – this is an important time in the show because we get to see what you are made of and you didn’t show much. The song choice was not good, it didn’t suit you, the performance was robotic and she can’t blame everything on her illness, you didn’t make an impression.

JoAnne Borgella – 25

JoAnne looked great, loved the outfit, it totally worked for her. JoAnne went with “I Say A Little Prayer”. First of all the band and the backup singers were totally overpowering JoAnne, I could hardly hear her. She appeared to be on pitch but she had severe problems with her lower register and don’t get me started on the breathing issues and enunciation. I wasn’t wowed by this performance either.

Randy - it was pretty good, you were nervous, the first part was kind of weird but you worked it out, your voice was very shaky

Paula – this is nerve wracking but you have got to pull it together, I liked it but didn’t love it

Simon – I didn’t like it at all, everyone needs to be nailing the songs, it was very average and cabaret, I disagree with Randy the second half was worst then the first part, there was no confidence, and it was substandard.

Alaina Whitaker – 16

We learn that Thursday, the elimination day is Alaina’s birthday and she doesn’t want to go home on her birthday and all I thought is you have to be better then the other two contestants so far or I will vote to insure you do go home (yeah I know I have no heart). I totally loved the ensemble and especially the killer shoes.

Alaina chooses “More Today then Yesterday” oh my the same song Chikeze went with. Wow this song started out great, I loved how she started slow in her lower register and the seamless transition to a higher register was fantastic. Alaina definitely kicked Chikeze’s butt on this number. Why I adored the vocals Alaina needs to be more energetic in her performance skills, she didn’t move much but thankfully her great vocals shined through.

Randy – the beginning was a little rough but you sang with so much conviction and once you got into it, it was good.

Paula – this is a feel good song and it was joyful, you nailed it, the best ending, it was amazing.

Simon – I think you are very good but I hate the song (Randy pipes in with that’s because it is about love), there was no nerves showing through, if you can make a bad song sound good you will be great with a good song. You should sail through to the next round.

Amanda Overmyer – 23

Oh my, what is up with that outfit, Amanda looked horrible, the hairdo didn’t work, and the Goth look has to go along with the tacky jewelry. Amanda went with “Baby Please Don’t Go”. When this performance started all I could think was what the &*^$! The performance was totally too frenetic, the music was overpowering I could hardly hear her voice which didn’t matter because I couldn’t understand a single friggin word she was singing or shall we say shouting. This is a singing competition, songs have lyrics, and I want to hear the words. This was a total disaster from start to finish. I didn’t like anything about it, nothing worked including the scatting. It was a waste of my time.

Randy – loved it, loved it, you blew, the trousers are cool

Paula – I love everything you do, you are authentic, and you are not a one trick pony

Simon – I liked it, you are genuine and authentic, you stand out in a crowd, it wasn’t the best performance and then the judge’s banter about scatting and whether or not Simon knows the song, Simon finishes by saying you need to prove that you can sing well because the song was all over the place.

I am not sure what the judges were listening to but I totally disagree, this was a train wreck of a performance and the worst of the evening so far.

Amy Davis – 25

Amy looked ghastly, what was up with the extreme eye make up, I hated how she looked except for the shoes. Amy went with “Where the Boys Are” Poor Amy, you know where the boys are, they are running from you as fast as they can because the performance sucked, and you bored them to death. This has got to be one of the most boring performances of an Idol season yet, I actually yawned. The vocals were ghastly, I don’t think she was ever on pitch, there was absolutely no emotion shown.

Randy – this was not great, when you sing a song where the vocal sweeps into the notes you have to be perfect, there were pitch problems.

Paula – the camera loves you, nerves got you, and it was not engaging, very lackluster

Simon – you look good but didn’t sound good, the song was boring, the performance was cabaret, you don’t have the country twang necessary to make the song work, it felt like the song went on for 10 minutes, the arrangement wasn’t good, it was not you.

Brooke White – 24

Our resident good girl is next. Brooke what is up with the hair, get it out of your face. Brooke goes with “Happy Together”, a song which David Cook performed really well. Come on producers we have 10 years worth of songs to choose from and we can’t avoid duplicates, this is ridiculous. Brooke is definitely Miss Mary Sunshine which helps her sell the song but what is with that constantly grabbing her hair was she trying to hold herself up? She went with the more traditional arrangement and she did pretty well with the vocals but I wasn’t wowed but I was engaged. She needs to improve her performance skills though.

Randy – it started rough but by the middle you got your confidence back, good, the song doesn’t matter as long as the singer slays it.

Paula – the competition is about originality and that is what I love about you, you picked the right song, you did good.

Simon – you did choose the right song but I felt like I was in a 60’s commercial for “washing-up liquid” because of the blondness and the whole sunny and happy vibe, the performance was very you but not my cup of tea, you are going to remain this nice throughout the competition.

Alexandrea Lushington – 17

Alexandrea what is up with the extreme eye make-up and the hairdo, it wasn’t working, you are lucky I liked the performance. She goes with “Spinning Wheel”. This was an inspired choice and the band was hot, I loved the arrangement, they gave it a very nice modern funk sound. Alex started on the stairs and when she hit the stage she commanded it with great confidence, there was energy, she connected with the audience, and she sold the number. The vocals were good but she has a very weak upper register and there were some off notes but like a great performer she didn’t let it stop her, she was there to entertain us and she did. My favorite performance of the evening at this point.

Randy – you blew the doors off the song, you stayed on the notes, and you have it.

Paula – you took control of your entrance as well as every moment of the performance, you wore a dope outfit (what?), you have shown more confidence then any other contestant tonight, your interpretation could be on the radio, you are relevant.

Simon – “I didn’t get it”, I don’t think the vocals were great and it reminded me of an awful musical from the 60’s. You look good but the vocals are not great. I am not sure what Paula is listening to on the radio. Then the judges argue about Alexandrea being relevant. (I don’t often disagree with Simon but I think he was totally off regarding this performance).

Kady Malloy – 18

Once again the ladies showed some flair with the outfit and the shoes, the dress was definitely a change of pace from all the pants. She looked wonderful. Kady chose “A Groovy Kind of Love”. I am not sure it was the right song choice but she did well with it. Kady started the performance sitting. I thought her vocals were good overall even with a few pitch issues. What Kady was able to do was to sell the emotion of the song, it isn’t the best song in the world but she made the song real to her and sold it to the audience.

Randy – okay for me, the performance was too controlled and restrained, you got lost, like her concentration was gone.

Paula – you look pretty, we fell in love with your personality and we didn’t really see it tonight, where is the life of you, the fun

Simon – I agree with Paula, it was like “Night of the Living Dead”, you came across as 80, and you need to lighten up

Once again I totally disagree with the judges.

Asia’h Epperson – 19

Asia’h irritates me, first with the ridiculous name and I still can’t get over her selfishness regarding her audition vs. her father’s death, I am jaded over that and it probably will color my interpretation of her performances just putting that out right away. I liked Asia’h’s outfit, purple is a good color for her but her make-up was way too extreme.

Asia’h chooses “Piece of My Heart”. I did not like the vocals at all. I don’t think her voice was right for the song and what was up with the jerky body movements. I will however give Asia’h credit for her overall performance skill, she worked exceedingly well with the band and the backup singers, she had confidence and great energy. She provided a fun performance which helped her sell the song because her vocals weren’t going to do it. I do wish she would learn to enunciate better, much of the end of the words were lost.

Randy – you did your thing, I was impressed

Paula – you had fun, there were good moments for you

Simon – this was my favorite of the night, you let go, had fun, good voice; you are likable and did not take yourself too seriously.

Ramiele Malubay – 20

I wasn’t feeling the outfit, kinda of boring except for the shoes. Ramiele had way too extreme eye make-up as well, come on what is wrong with those make-up artists and don’t even get me started on the hair in the eyes, give me a break!

Ramiele went with “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”. I totally loved this performance. The girl can sing and has pretty good performance skills as well. Her voice is very pure, great tone, she was totally pitch perfect and she built the intensity of the number. She sold the emotion of the song and I understood each and every word which totally earns extra points from me. This now officially becomes my favorite performance of the night so far!

Randy – loved it, started slow and built up to show your voice, you did not dress it up too much, and it was very classy, like a pro.

Paula – you are a force to be reckoned with, you have a beautiful range, right on

Simon – I didn’t like you at first but tonight you out sang every single person here

Syesha Mercado – 21

Syesha, another child stuck with a stupid name but the girl looked hot, great outfit, killer shoes and her make-up was not too extreme. Syesha chose “Tobacco Road” and she nailed this performance. She can sing. The band was a bit overpowering but Syesha tore through it. She had energy and what a great personality which shined through during the performance. She sold the song and once again I heard every single word. There was the wow factor here.

Randy – you can sing, there were some pitchy moments, but I liked it, you are consistent.

Paula – you are consistent, it was joyful, fun, loved it.

Simon – it wasn’t your best performance but it doesn’t matter because you are one of the most talented girls in the competition, you have attitude and you try hard, this was terrific, you have the whole package.

Carly Smithson – 24

Carly gets the money spot, the last contestant. Carly goes with “The Shadow of Your Smile”. This performance was just okay for me. I am not sure it was the best song choice and for having the anchor spot she should have blown us away but I wasn’t that impressed. I realize she was ill but I wanted and expected more. I thought it started really rough and she shouted a lot (perhaps because of her illness) which always turns me off. Her enunciation was good. There wasn’t much razzle dazzle to her performance. It was just okay but nothing to write home about. I think she has talent but was taken down by the song choice.

Randy – this is what the show is all about, best vocal of the top 24 (what the *&^$) hot, blazing hot

Paula – you are reliable

Simon – I don’t get the hype, the song was too old-fashioned for you and your mike technique was cabaret, the whole thing was a let down, if this was the first time I heard you I wouldn’t be too excited.

I am not sure the women pulled it out of the hat tonight, illness or not. Outside of their better ability to dress and accessorize along with all the killer shoes this was a very lackluster night at best. There were some outstanding performances and Ramiele’s was my favorite of the night with Syesha a close second with Alexandrea, Alaina, Kady, and Brooke right behind them.

It was so lackluster that I didn’t even vote for two hours. I voted for about 45 minutes and trust me the lines weren’t too busy. Ramiele and Syesha got 15 votes from me, Alaina, Alexandrea and Kady got ten. Brooke and Carly got 5 each. I was even kind hearted and gave Asia’h 1 vote.

My prediction for elimination is a little easier with the women. I believe Amy will definitely be going home with Joanne taking the second spot. Kristy might take Joanne’s place but for performance alone Amanda should be shown the door.

I won’t be watching the results show live because I am going to be watching “The Big Rock Show”, a local theater production. I hate those hour result shows anyway but I will be taping it. It will then only take me about 5 minutes to fast forward to the results.

Until tomorrow…