American Idol 7 - The Top 12 Perform - 3/11/08

We are finally here, the Top 12 are performing and one of them will be the next American Idol. I really liked the new opening credits. I am not sure about the set itself, although I do like ultra modern. I am sure it will grow on me except for the mosh pit. The one thing I really liked is the band’s new space over the stage.

Was it just me or was there a technical glitch when they were opening the American Idol sign for the top 12 to come through, it was awfully slow and noticed the contestants were somewhat hesitant to come through it.

I am stoked for tonight’s performances along with the songs of Lennon and McCartney which are some of the best. The one’s they used in “Across the Universe” were sung well by that cast and let’s hope we don’t see a lot of butchering of these great melodies. Song choice will be key!

Syesha Mercado

Syesha was looking hot tonight. I was digging the whole ensemble including those kicking boots. I adored the hair do and accessories.

Syesha chose “Got To Get You Into My Life” which is a weak song choice for her. Oh my god, her first note was atrocious. That was a very rough start, she was soft and tentative. It must be nerves. At the time she reached the chorus she seemed to work it out but she seemed to be holding back. I don’t think she was having much fun. It was barely okay for me. This is not a good start. Nerves may yet be the killer tonight.

Randy – nice arrangement, reminds me of Earth, Wind & Fire, it started out rough, pitchy but by the middle you were better, this is a fun song, you are thinking too much when you sing, just before the big note you were off pitch, you need to loosen up

Paula – you are a very good singer, there were pitch problems but mid-way through you found your zone

Simon – it was better than alright, great choice of song, you looked very nervous, better then last week.

Chikezie

Oh no, what is up with that outfit, he totally cannot pull off that look, did he steal Blake Lewis’s sweater when he was there last week. The tie so clashed with the rest of the outfit.

Chikezie went with “She’s A Woman”. He starts off sitting with three members of the band who had a banjo, fiddle and tambourine. I did not like the start of this song but after he got up and the band kicked it for a funkier beat I warmed up to the performance. I think Chikezie had to shout quite a bit to be heard over the band but for the first time I saw some real joy and energy in his performance. Chikezie was selling the song. I have never been a fan of Chikezie but I will give him credit for taking a risk and for the most part making it work. This was probably my favorite performance he has given. On the other hand, he has to stop with the crazy Taylor Hicks type dance moves. Those were just silly.

Randy – I was thoroughly entertained, loved the arrangement, who knew you had that falsetto, you “smashed it”.

Paula – this is what I meant at the beginning of the show, risk taking that worked, it started with an “O Brother Where Art Thou” vibe meets rock and the reward paid off

Simon – I am surprised to say I agree with Randy and Paula, you looked drunk when you were dancing but you changed within a week, you took control of the stage and were unique, terrific.

Ramiele Malubay

Will the girl get the hair out of her eyes; it is just ticking me off. That has got to be the most stupid dress I have seen in awhile, I hated it and it wasn’t doing much for her either.

Ramiele chose “In My Life” which is a beautiful song. I thought the arrangement was way too plodding, this was like watching a murder in slow motion. Vocally Ramiele was excellent, she had a clear pure tone, she was on pitch but that stupid arrangement was killing the melody. Ramiele also seemed to be somewhat tentative in her vocals and performance; I didn’t see a lot of joy. She is falling from grace very quickly.

Randy – it was kinda of pretty but also kinda boring, it just laid there

Paula – you look lovely, it was a pretty safe song, you are an amazing singer and you need to take advantage of it, just go with the melody, you were holding back

Simon – I was bored to tears through the whole thing, it was a dreary song choice, it was forgettable, I expected a lot better because you are better

Jason Castro

Jason, Jason, Jason please do not become a one trick pony. There is poor Jason sitting on the stage with his guitar. Jason has chosen “If I Fell”. I was not fond of this performance at all. It was weak, it was hard to hear him and his breathing and facial expressions were a killer. When Jason realizes he didn’t get a note right, watch his face, it looked like he was trying to pass a gall stone. Jason couldn’t reach for the high notes and the back up singers were really doing the lead vocals and he playing harmony. This is not a good choice as a singer and this was not a good choice of song. This was really a let down for me.

Randy – it liked it, I didn’t love it, I love the song but didn’t like the switching of the melody

Paula – I disagree with Randy, you are special, unique, I feel your heart as does the audience feel the connection, you don’t need riffs/runs because of the emotional connection to the music

Simon – last week you were incredible, this performance was like a student in his bedroom at midnight, it was boring, I am a big fan but you need to choose brilliant songs, good enough to stay not to win

Carly Smithson

Carly was hot tonight. I loved her outfit, the toned down makeup worked and even her tattoo was not distracting to me.

Carly went with “Come Together” which was a perfect song choice. I totally loved this performance. Carly has great control. She was pitch perfect and hit every note. Carly had energy and she had the audience in the palm of her hand. This was by far my favorite performance of the evening so far.

Randy – I loved it, loved your strength and confidence, stellar performance

Paula – it was like watching someone who was already a star, amazing

Simon – week after week you’ve chosen the wrong song until now, this was like 6 years ago in the same week when Kelly Clarkson surged to the top of the pack.

David Cook

David looked great in that outfit, loved the jacket. I wonder where I could find one like it. David chose “Eleanor Rigsby”, interesting song choice.

I have to say I hated the video background and those lights were way too bright. David started off very rough, that first note was a killer and not in a good way, he mumbled a bit but about a third of the way in it started working, each note built on the next. I totally loved the arrangement and the twist he had on the song. There was true raw rock appeal in that performance. The ending notes were totally soaring. David took command of the stage and he sold the number.

Randy – you can definitely rock out on Idol, it started rough, pitch issues but by the chorus you were rocking, you let go

Paula – you are the dark house, a thoroughbred horse, fantastic, like a front man

Simon – I thought it was brilliant, Paula is right, if this remains a talent contest vs. a popularity contest you could win

Brooke White

I hated Brooke’s outfit, please. Brooke has gone with “Let It Be”. Brooke is playing the piano and singing. I am not sure it worked. I would have liked it better if she had just sung. I thought her voice sounded scratchy or strained. I didn’t feel this at all. Watching Brooke it appeared she was having trouble singing and playing at the same time and then trying to decide where she should be looking. She was on key thankfully and clearly the song was moving her so she was able to sell the song. I think what I wanted was a big finish; it should have started out slow and then built to a big ending. This was just performed on one level. It was pretty good karaoke.

Randy – not your best performance but you have conviction, it was a heart felt performance, this dawg is a fan

Paula – you have found your niche, you feel it in your heart, the emotional connection

Simon – again one of the best performances of the night, it was a brilliant choice of song, you are believable, great

David Hernandez

Oh my, what is David thinking, his outfit was just a little too 1980’s for me. David goes for “I Saw Her Standing There” which is a pretty good fun song.

David started the performance up behind the judges and then jumped down and ran for the stage. This didn’t work for me. What is going on here? David’s performance is way to maniac and what is up with those eyes and stiff movements, for someone who is a stripper you would think they could move a little bit more gracefully but I digress. I thought David’s vocals were off; he couldn’t hit the high notes and left it to the back up singers. I just didn’t see any fun in the performance. It was not good.

Randy – you’ve got a big voice but this was too over done, you lost me at the jump

Paula – I love your voice but agrees with Randy you over did it, you need to scale back, you are a brilliant singer

Simon – no, no, no, it was corny, verging on desperate, it was a little bit like a rabbit in the headlights, not a strong performance.

Amanda Overmyer

Good heavens, what is up with that outfit and the overpowering beads, come on? This is getting repetitive and boring. At least they toned down the make up.

Amanda goes with “You Can’t Do That” which was a surprising song choice but as usual was Miss One Wrong Note. I am not sure what world Amanda was in but she was not in the same place as the band, she tried to catch up but didn’t. She was friggin’ mumbling so I couldn’t understand what she was saying but on the other hand she was screaming so loud I didn’t really care. I don’t get her, I don’t like her and she needs to go but quick.

Randy – it was a great Southern rock version of the song, loved it

Paula – you were smiling and having fun, I was blown away

Simon – not as good as last week, I couldn’t understand 30% of what you were saying as you were slurring your words, it was a bit “shouty”, it is a good thing you are in the competition, you are a breath of fresh air (given me a *&^% break)

Michael Johns

Michael went with “Across the Universe”. I love this song. Now I don’t quite think it was the right song choice and it doesn’t measure up to either the original or how it was done in the recent movie of the same name, loved that version of this song. It is on my IPod; however, Michael still was in good voice, there was a note about half way through that was very sharp but overall he was selling the emotion of the song. Clearly his personal reason for the song selection was motivating his performance. It was a strong vocal performance but there was nothing wowing me about it. He is going to have to show more because he can’t win on the eye candy vote for long.

Randy – not your best performance, good, okay, a little sleepy

Paula – I disagree with Randy, it takes inner strength and confidence to just sing and you sang it brilliantly

Simon – I agree with Randy, it was a little monotonous, it was solid, good, I am still a big fan but I am frustrated because we haven’t heard what you are capable of

Kristy Lee Cook

Kristy looked ridiculous in those shredded jeans and that sparking top, this isn’t a disco my girl. Kristy is going with “8 days a week”. I kinda of liked the arrangement but unfortunately the tempo was too fast for Kristy, she was not keeping up with the band and it was causing her to be flat, flat, flat. Kristy was giving it her all but she is just not vocally capable of making this work. One other note of criticism, stop tapping the mike, it irritates me to no end. I want to be able to support my home state contestant but this performance has got to be the worst so far tonight.

Randy – I liked parts of it and the idea of it but vocally you forced some runs that didn’t work, I am torn, half and half

Paula – I didn’t enjoy it, I didn’t get it, don’t take our advice literally (oh my god this has to have been really bad for Paula to be so blunt)

Simon – it was horrendous, you sounded like Dolly Parton on helium, it was very brave but foolish, it was like being at a ghastly country fair

David Archuleta

I realize he is young but he doesn’t like the Beatles because they are old, he should be shot for that comment alone. Okay he is a kid I will let it roll off my back but what he needs is a good kick in the rear.

David really couldn’t choose a song until he heard “We Can Work It Out” because he remembered the Stevie Wonder version. And Stevie is new music? At least he is not playing an instrument.

Poor David, he looks like he could faint while he was walking down those stairs, his nerves are really getting to him. Oh no, he forgot the lyrics and couldn’t cover (I guess he is sorry he mentioned his embarrassing moment of forgetting the song and his mother had to come to his rescue). Well that threw David off, he doesn’t know what to do, and he is wondering all over the place and then forgets more of the lyrics. Now I am feeling bad about my earlier comments. This performance is just a mess but I can see all those grandmothers and young girls trying to help him out. David is a great singer; he just chose the wrong song and being so young totally choked up. This was by far his worst performance. David at least found some of the melody, when he was on it was okay.

Overall the show wasn’t a total train wreck but I wasn’t totally impressed either. Carly and David Cook were my favorites of the night with most of the others falling in the middle while Kristy, David Hernandez, and especially Amanda were in the bottom.

I did take to the phones to vote because I have to get rid of Amanda. The lines were pretty busy but I was a voting fool between my hotel phone and my cell phone. I was able to vote until 12:10 a.m. I got in a total of 347 votes. Carly and David Cook got 75 each, Michael got 50 as did David Archuleta (okay I am a softie), Brooke, Ramiele and Syesha got 25 each, David Hernandez got 10 as did Jason Cook and I gave Chikezie 2 votes.

My predictions for the bottom 3 are Kristy Lee Cook, David Hernandez and Syesha. There is no doubt in my mind that Kristy will be the first contestant to hear the new goodbye song by Ruben.

Tonight’s elimination round should be interesting as we were teased with an announcement of who the mentors will be this season. In addition my girl Katherine will be singing!

I am totally pumped for the rest of the season!