American Idol 7 - 3/25/08 - The Top 10

“This … is American Idol! I totally love when I hear Ryan announce the opening of the show, it gets me psyched. I hope after last week’s abysmal entertainment the game will be stepped up since we no longer have to worry about song selection from the Lennon/McCartney song book.

Before I get started with my comments I just have to say what was up with Paula’s outfit? Give me a break? Is this a left over choice from her recent video shoot? I was laughing out loud with those fingerless black elbow length gloves and all the bling. Apparently her stylist was asleep at the wheel.

I can’t go another week without saying how much I hate the mosh pit and those screaming girls and how the producers get them to shout, wave, etc. It is distracting and totally unnecessary.

Our theme tonight is songs from the year the performer was born. These kids haven’t had must luck with song selection. I just have a bad feeling about this theme.

Ramiele Malubay – Born 1987

Good heavens what is this girl wearing? Ramiele looks ridiculous, what was she thinking. I even hate the boots especially with those stupid high waited shorts. Can the girl comb the hair out of her eyes?

Ramiele chose “Alone”. I have to digress here; this song needs to be removed from the selection list. It is overdone and usually not in a good way. These kids just don’t pay attention. This song will now always be compared to Carrie Underwood; this was the song which put her in front runner status. Never pick songs tied to former contestants or winners because you will be forever compared to them.

This performance was not good. The beginning was horrible and for a moment I thought Amanda was back because all I heard was mumbling. Ramiele was so soft you couldn’t hear her. It did not help with the band overpowering her. The transition to the chorus was my fingers now the chalkboard moment and what was with that shrieking. Oh yes she was trying to be heard above the band and backup singers. Ramiele really needed to pull one out of the hat and this performance was not good. It is sad because she does have a good voice but she has totally blown her chances.

Randy – I realize you are under the weather but it was not the right song choice for you, it was pitchy, all over the place

Paula – it is good we have heard how big your voice is, I give you credit because you are really sick, you are a big talent

Simon – it was not as bad as Randy indicated, the first part was okay, the middle was a little “shouty”; you were appalling last week and got through so this performance should get you through again

Jason Castro – Born 1987

Oh it is Jason’s birthday! Isn’t that special! Jason looked pretty good tonight and I see he is back to sitting with his guitar.

Jason has gone with “Fragile”. This performance was just okay, there was nothing special. It was way too safe and Jason really didn’t sell the song. I think he is way too young to really understand this song. The rather heavy handed guitar playing butchered how truly melodic and delicate this song is and there was a whine to Jason’s voice that irritated me. In addition his enunciation sucked as well. This was just the same old, same old.

Randy – I love this song and I think it was a good song choice for you. It didn’t do anything vocally for you; it was alright, pleasant, nice.

Paula – you are true to who you are, there was nothing different, no wow, it was a little safe

Simon – you have had two bad weeks and it is time you started taking this a little more seriously, it was like something you would hear outside of a subway station, clumsy and laid back. You have the potential to win but not if you keep performing like this.

Syesha Mercado – Born 1987

Syesha was looking hot, great outfit but I liked her hair in the video much better than that ratty afro.

Syesha has chosen “If I Were Your Woman”. Wow! That was one out of this world performance. Syesha showed the world what a powerful voice she truly has. Her vocals were crystal clear as was her enunciation. Her voice was passionate and very much textured. This performance gave me goose bumps and I actually stood up and clapped. Who knew she could sing this well?

Randy – good moment, it is the best I ever heard you sing including your audition, stellar, I am loving it, blazing hot

Paula – this is the moment where you became the dark horse to win, pitch perfect, brilliant, your upper register was beautiful, fantastic

Simon – best so far this evening, I don’t think the ending was as good as Randy thinks, I think this song stretched your limit. (This is one time I totally disagree with Simon – that number rocked!)

Chikezie – Born 1985

Chikeze’s outfit was good. Thankfully he has toned it down a bit. Chikeze has gone with “If Only For One Night”.

This performance was boring on the other hand except for losing his pitch in several spots I believe this was the first time where I really liked the vocals. What I believed help me is Chikeze was able to sell the emotion of the song. His delivery was very heartfelt. I think it was a good choice for him to do this ballad but it was very safe but after last week’s atrocious performance I think he needed this. I still haven’t had the moment where I go wow I understand why he is here.

Randy – Syesha’s song came across young, you were old school, I didn’t love it, not hip and cool, boring

Paula – I disagree, it was a good throw back, you upped the tempo, great job with texture of your vocals.

Simon – you sang it well but the performance was cheesy, you need to show originality not copy the original, I miss your personality

Brooke White – Born 1983

I see Brooke is back behind the piano tonight and what is up with that dress, it was totally unflattering to her, did you see her when the contestants came out at the beginning, oh my goodness.

Brooke chose “Every Breath You Take” and I totally hated this performance. I can give her the mess up at the beginning and starting over but what was up with that arrangement. It just did not work for me. It was better than last week but I think Brooke really has problems both singing and playing. The band coming in didn’t help. It wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t brilliant, it was just okay. Brooke can sing better than this.

I love this song but come on people this is a song about a stalker. The only time this song was ever used appropriately was when it was used in “All My Children” when Brooke English was held captive by a stalker. People just don’t get what this song is about but I digress.

Randy – interesting song choice, the front part was okay but the bridge and chorus didn’t work, the arrangement was off, it was okay, just alright

Paula – much better than last week, you are unique and you have your niche, you are consistent, great

Simon – better than last week, I totally agree with Randy, it would have been better if the band had not come in at all but good enough to give you another week.

Michael Johns – Born 1978

Michael went with a Queen medley of “We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions”. I was laughing when he started. I will give Michael kudos for performance, these songs are not really singing songs but they are arena rock songs to get the audience going and Michael definitely proved once and for all that he can perform and entertain. It was a totally awesome performance because he showed star power, he was confident and the tech show with the lights helped as well, you could see him in a stadium. Michael was hot. The vocals though weren’t that strong but at least he wasn’t shouting but let the power of his voice reach the money notes. Clearly the mosh pit loved him.

Randy – finally you believe in yourself and used your big voice, your best performance on the show

Paula – you found the right song, it was your shining moment, I am proud of you

Simon – this is the first time I have seen star potential, tonight you got it right, you were confident and performed well, the only memorable performance of the night so far

Carly Smithson – Born 1983

Carly’s outfit was much better tonight, thankfully. I am not sure I liked it but anything is better than that horrible outfit from last week, I am still having nightmares about it.

Carly has chosen “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. For me this was the perfect song choice. I thought Carly performed it brilliantly. I totally enjoyed the performance and I thought she showed vocal power, range and emotion. Even that horrible overwrought ending with the sharp notes worked because she didn’t let it affect her, she just performed. All singers mess up but the key is not to let it affect you and Carly showed this to perfection. Carly also for the first time really worked well with the band and the back up singers. It was like they had performed together for years. I was totally digging the whole thing.

Randy – I liked it but didn’t love it, I didn’t like the sharp note at the end

Paula – totally was disgusted with Randy, she loved the ending, it showed Carly is willing to stretch herself and try new things, you can do no wrong

Simon – something didn’t quite work for me, you were tense, uptight, part of it was very good but you need to lighten up

David Archuleta – Born 1990

David, David, David you are young that is very clear and those distracting yelling girls in the mosh pit have to go, they overpowered you more than the band.

David went with “You’re The Voice”. Interesting song choice, it was written by David Foster who was on a couple of weeks ago with Katherine McPhee. I love trivia. This is the type of song Celine Dion would sing.

I liked that David chose a song with an up-tempo beat but come on there were better song choices from 1990. The vocals were for the most part okay although he had a bit of trouble sustaining some of the notes outside of the last note, which was pure perfection. David needs some help with performance skills, his dancing was a bit distracting and don’t get me started on the crazy facial expressions but those girls in the mosh pit loved them. I think David could really blow us away if he could just pick the right songs.

Randy – it was a strange song choice but you can sing, very nice

Paula – you could sing the phone book and we would love you

Simon – you sang it well in parts but I didn’t like the performance, it was like one of those ghastly theme park performances with annoying little creatures running around, I don’t think you picked that song yourself, it wasn’t you.

Kristy Lee Cook – Born 1984

How disgusting I have been working for the same company longer than Kristy has been alive. Oh my!

Kristy Lee actually looked great tonight, I even enjoyed her outfit. Kristy is smarter than I give her credit as well, what a shamelessly great song choice when you know you are at the bottom of the heap. Kristy has chosen “God Bless the USA”.

I have to digress here. I am probably the only one who remembers that this was the big finale song from the Season 2 concert tour with Ruben and Clay along with Mr. Military Josh Gracin. I have never been a fan of this song and I thought it was a cheesy finale number than and it is a totally cheesy number to chose but it will so make Kristy safe this week, damn it.

Kristy’s performance wasn’t actually too bad, there were still parts which were a little flat but her pitch was better than usual, not perfect just better. It was a schmaltzy performance which will win her big fans. It was truly the best performance she has provided since the show began.

Randy – there were some pitchy spots but it was a very nice performance

Paula – it was a good song choice, very poignant, your voice sounded better but watch the pitch, you are growing as a performer

Simon – it was your best performance by a mile, it was the most clever song choice in years, it will keep you in the competition

David Cook – Born 1982

I graduated from college in 1981 so I have been out of school longer than he has been alive. These kids are making me feel old.

David has chosen “Billie Jean”. It was an interesting song choice as it was just the 25th anniversary of the “Thriller” album. This is the best song from that album and who would have thought it could be improved upon. I had never heard the cover they talked about but it doesn’t matter. David totally sold this song. The arrangement was great and I just found the song so hauntingly beautiful. The way David built to the money note was nothing short of total brilliance. I loved this and David proved he is an accomplished performer.

Randy – you are the most original, bold contestant we have ever had, you might be the one to win the whole thing, it was blazing, molten hot

Paula – you blew me away, it was smart, brave and you are willing to stretch the boundaries, brilliant

Simon – it was very brave, it could have been either insane or amazing, and that was amazing


This show was better than last week’s but only by a little. I grow ever more annoyed by the mosh pit and those swaying arms and constant screaming. Give it a rest!

Outside of David Cook, Michael Johns, Syesha, and Carly the performances were blah to bad.

I totally powered voted last night and managed to get in 435 votes. Carly in the bottom 3 last week scared me so she got 125 votes, David, Michael, and Syesha got 100 each and Brooke got 10 votes.

Given that we appear to be still in the personality versus talent contest picking a bottom 3 and who is being kicked out is getting harder.

I am going out on a limb and predict a bottom 3 of Ramiele, Chikezie, and Brooke. My prediction on who will be kicked off is Chikezie.

Until tomorrow….