AI 9 3-9-10 Elimination Round 3 - the Women

Eight girls, one dream, tonight they fight to get into the top 12 – tonight is ladies night and this is AMERICAN IDOL!

On a night when we have eight singers and one hour we have to waste time with a fake Ellen and Simon make-out session – PLEASE give me a break! I can buy much but certainly not a married lesbian and a newly engaged man, producers what are you thinking?

It is time to dish the dirt so to speak.

Katie Stevens – “Breakaway”

I guess Katie did not learn from Paige’s dismissal attempt at performing another Idol’s song. It is very irritating these contestants do not understand the rules. This performance was horrible. Katie was off key, flat, off the beat and she struggled immensely with her lower register (something Kelly excels with). There was no artistry at all in the performance. The arrangement and singing was so slow I almost nodded off. Katie I want to breakaway all right if only to avoid listening to you. I must also add I hated her outfit.

Randy – Kelly is one of the greatest contestants on this show and this paled in comparison. It was like karaoke. It did not work.

Ellen – I like you took our advice and chose a younger song. I like the song choice and you have a great voice. I did not feel the words, like taking a risk and breaking away. I did not see any personality.

Kara – You have a good radio voice. There are people in this competition who know who they are but you are not one of them. You do not know yourself as an artist. Your voice is almost years older than you are but you need more experience. The singing needed to be perfect tonight to stand out and it was not sweetie. You stumbled but I cannot deny your talent.

Simon – You took our advice but you have not figured out what kind of artist you want to be. The second half of the song did not go right. You sucked the energy out of the song and made it gloomy. I give you 10 out of 10 for trying.

Siobhan Magnus – “House of the Rising Sun”

Siobhan is going to be a contestant to reckon with. This was a brilliant song choice, which plays to the strength of her voice. The choice of starting a cappella worked perfectly as she drew us in simply with the power and strength of her voice. Siobhan commands our attention while on the stage. She was technically flawless hitting every note and she even changed it up enough to make it her own. This was a gorgeous, beautiful vocal. I loved her outfit too. My only sour moment was when she told Ryan her father “teach me” to sing.

Randy – What I like about you is you take every risk, every chance and surprise us. I do not think you listen to us at all but keep doing that because this was hot.

Ellen – You are why I love music because it is suppose to move you like you just moved me. You captivate me. You were spectacular.

Kara – Starting a capella was a brilliant choice. You are unique and different and every week you surprise me.

Simon – I was not as impressed. I thought everything about you tonight the performance, your chat with Ryan and your clothes were all weird. If I had not seen, you perform before I would be worried. You did not have a big moment this week like last week. (Simon I have no idea what you were listening to but this was a freaking great vocal performance).

Lacey Brown – “The Story”

Lacey sitting on the stage singing a slow, boring song this is not a way to win votes my dear. To borrow from the judges I thought this song was too big for Lacey’s whispery squeaky voice. The entire performance was not bad it was just okay and for a singing competition okay is not good enough. The entire performance was forgettable and I was happy it was over.

Randy – What is cool is even though the song was boring and sleepy this was your best performance in a long time.

Ellen – This was your best performance to date. You have a very distinctive voice.

Kara – Performances like this are why you got here. You made it effortless going in and out of your register and it was a brilliant choice of song. You should be making this type of record.

Simon – I did not love the song but you sang it well. I like how you know where to look at the camera. It is as if you have been doing this for a long time. I still have not heard the right song connection from you yet.

Katelyn Epperly – “I Feel the Earth Move”

Katelyn I certainly did not feel anything about this performance. There was no fire or passion in this performance. The vocals were fine but this was just a safe and boring choice. Katelyn did not bring anything to the performance. I hated her outfit and the hair was just a ridiculous choice.

Randy – The positive is I like the keyboard and the hair. I do not feel the right connection, there was nothing special, and it just seemed “put on”.

Ellen – I am not sure this was the right song choice to wow the audience and make them want to vote for you. You have a great voice and are adorable.

Kara – I did not feel like you were competing. I felt like you were going through the motions. I do not know what happened between last week and this week.

Simon – I like your hair. This was like request night at a restaurant on Friday night. You chose a simple song and did not do anything special with it.

Didi Benami – “Rhiannon”

Oh no please not another sleepy, slow folksy performance. I personally believe this was a poor song choice because the entire time I was comparing her to Stevie Nicks and Didi left me cold. There was nothing special about this performance at all. Didi also does not know how to dress; I hated her outfit too.

Randy – You were better than last week but there was no wow moment here.

Ellen – You pulled yourself together this week. Your song choice was good and I like what you did with it. Someone, no matter what you do, will always tear you apart but you just have to get past it. Good job.

Kara – This is one of my favorite moments all season (Are you nuts?). I did not think the song choice was going to work out but you surprised us by bringing something unique and making it yours.

Simon – I agree with Kara. This was better than anything else we have heard tonight (better than poor performances does not mean it is great). This is the first time you have proven yourself. The entire performance was a “wow” moment.

Paige Miles – “Smile”

I simply cannot believe the stupid song choice Paige made. On top of it, the entire performance sucked. The arrangement murdered the melody and Paige’s vocals finished the job on the song. Vocally Paige was all over the map, flat, sharp, and she was also off the beat. Paige looked nervous and it appeared she was shaking. This performance was my fingernail down the chalkboard moment and I certainly was not smiling. Paige’s outfit was horrendous.

Randy – This is one of my favorite songs and this just did not work for me. We lost the melody. You were not in the game.

Ellen – This song is supposed to be inspiring and uplifting but you made it sad and heavy. There was no personality. It was not the right song choice.

Kara – I have nothing more to add. This was all wrong.

Simon – The arrangement was awful. This was a “peanut performance”. You are singing in a bar and the patrons are eating peanuts ignoring you. You do not know what kind of artist you want to be. You have made some bad decisions and I think this is going to be the end of the road for you.

Crystal Bowersox – “Give Me One Reason”

This is a great song choice and Crystal provides a stunning vocal. Crystal knows how to command the stage and plays her guitar flawlessly but I still found this to be very safe song choice. There was no real excitement in the performance.

Randy – I love the song, I love you. I love your humility and honesty in performing.

Ellen – I need new adjectives for you because I am sick and tired of saying amazing. This was the best performance of the evening.

Kara – You are a performer who knows who they are and what to do. This was a great song choice.

Simon – You are one million billion percent going to be in top 12. You have shown the most improvement because you now have confidence in what you can accomplish. This is your competition to lose.

Lilly Scott – “I Fall to Pieces”

First, I like Lilly’s outfit but those stupid earrings must be destroyed and quick. Second, I was very much disappointed in this performance especially after last week. Lilly was sharp at the very beginning and she was doing something with her voice which annoyed me. Lilly worked it out by the end. I like her but this entire performance was lacking in power and excitement.

Randy – I like the mandolin. You are hot and in the zone.

Ellen – I like your voice and originality.

Kara – I do not know how you did it but you kind of made Patsy Cline current.

Simon – I think you were very brave to choose this song tonight. I did not feel the performance had the wow factor, which you really needed given you, had the final spot. The performance was cute and quirky but it may not be enough.

The one great thing about tonight’s one-hour program is we did not have to watch those ridiculous video introductions but on the other hand, there was absolutely no excitement during the program. Why oh why did these young, contemporary contestants choose such slow songs? Where is the excitement in performing?

I wish I had watched this episode last week when I was having trouble sleeping because tonight I would have had no issues in falling asleep. I found the entire episode boring which is not a good thing if the producers want me to vote. In fact, I was more interested in watching the repeat “Glee” episode than American Idol.

Siobhan and Crystal were my only favorites with Siobhan beating Crystal but a pinch. Outside of Lilly these were the only other contestants I casted votes for. I did manage to get in 287 votes but this is only because I waited to vote until after “Glee” was over.

Katie and Paige gave the worst performances and they are my predictions for elimination on Thursday night.

I am attending an orchestra concert tonight so I will be watching the men via tape but after the women’s poor showing, this might be best for my blood pressure and my ears.

Until tomorrow…