Oh Yay! Crystal was well enough to sing on Wednesday!!
I haven't been this seriously excited over a group of female contestants since Melinda in season six. To be honest, the guys this time around are damned lucky that they aren't already competing against the girls because not one of them would be close to measuring up to them. It's almost like watching 2 different competitions entirely, like a junior choir trying to compete against a college level show choir. It just doesn't end well. Randy seems to think otherwise... “I think a bunch of them are really trying to win this thing." Yeah, right dude. In what reality?
Crystal Bowersox (As Long As I See the Light by Creedence Clearwater Revival): Even with being rather sickly, she was better than ANY of the guys last night, hands down. The only things I would warn her on right now. Number one, this is two weeks with the guitar (not including the times used in Hollywood). Don't bring it out so often that the judges end up mentioning it. By the time they mention it, it's already been noticed by the voting public. It's great you play an instrument, but don't use it at a crutch. Number two, singing about comin' home and packing bags, not a good idea. Yes, you pulled it off but it's still one of those quirks that happens. When people sing those topics, they usually end up going home. That said, I saw a suggestion in one of the other blogs I read that maybe she should try and tackle Zombie by The Cranberries. That's a great group for her to attempt, but I'm personally thinking more along the lines of Linger or maybe something by The Corrs or even The Cardigans? Singing first didn't hurt her in the slightest this week. She's one of the few in this field that can get away with singing first and not be in danger due to the performance spot. Last week she won 3 states with a next to last singing position and this week she shot up to 11 states won. The question to ask, how many of those are sympathy votes and how many are because she's actually that talented?
Haeley Vaughn (The Climb by Miley Cyrus): This should have been perfect for her. It was better than last week, but damn. Definitely worthy to be the posterchild on that nefarious site. They must have really enjoyed themselves with this performance. All I can say is, can she please go home now? You're singing about the fact there's a lack of confidence, you feel lost and that you need to keep trying and you're smiling?? Kara, if Haeley needs another year to work her instrument.... then why in blue blazes did you guys put her through in the first place?? There were other girls, like Alex Nester who was cut with room number two, that were much more worthy of a spot in this contest. She went from a 1 state win to a 3 state win with no losses. Considering her status on that particular site, I don't think she's in any danger this week either. I suspect we may have at least one more week of her.
Lacey Brown (Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer): This wasn't bad, could have been alot better though. There was an improvement over last week's performance, but it still isn't showing the promise that she showed in the auditions and Hollywood. This should have been a good one for her, and it wasn't. If she makes it through this week, I'd suggest trying some Lily Allen on for size. With a strong showing from Crystal and the backing that Haeley's got, this pretty much puts Lacey in danger. There were others that came after that sang much better and others that were at least memorable. This was definitely not the week to be a wallflower. She had an increase of one state this week for a total of two. According to what I did with the boys' review, this puts her in danger of leaving this week.
Katie Stevens ( Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae): This was a cute choice for her. The lower notes were a tad rough but overall not too bad. We heard much worse, that's for sure. We're going to see what America thinks of her considering she's not in the pimp spot this time around. Was she memorable enough? If she makes it through this week might I make a suggestion? They want younger so go back into the earlier songs of some of today's more popular artists. Technically you're taking their advice. Some names to choose from (and a really good choice from each on the link) Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears (and this song would be aimed right at the judges, honey, or at least the title would be...) or Christina Aguilera (she was 19 when the cd this one is on was released so it counts!). Fun, bright, pop type songs that will still showcase those pipes. You can really see who got helped with the pimp spot last week. Usually the contestants have a bit of momentum from a spot like that and many times manage to last at least another week. However, Katie wasn't able to keep the momentum of that 14 state win last week (that I suspect was just carry over from the Hollywood Rounds) and crashed to a big ol goose egg this week. We may have a shocker this week, folks, as she was one of the Princess SUTAs in waiting since the beginning.
Didi Benami (Lean On Me by Bill Withers): Um. No. Might I suggest Carly Simon (although I don't think Simon would approve of the selection I made for you) or Carole King if you make it through this week? That's a big if, too, because the performance was so terribly unmemorable. This week she stayed even with last week with a 1 state win.
Michelle Delamore (Arms Wide Open by Creed): I'm not certain I liked it much, but she did attempt to do something different. She is in a tough spot though. Just think of it, the judges want original, different, something new to the already existing songs but then they point they don't know who she is as an artist. If she follows the other advice the judges tend to give which is to find her niche, then she runs the risk of them saying she's predictible. So which do you choose? Do you pick a song that was done by En Vogue, Destiny's Child or Aretha and stick the the R&B /Soul niche? Or do you take the chance she did, grab a rock song and place an R&B twist on it? Either way, you're screwed. She fell from a 2 state win to only 1 win this week.
Lilly Scott (A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke): I don't know what it is about her that I like. Maybe it's the confidence and sense of self that she seems to exude when she's on that stage. I am going to point out a couple things though. Number one, open your eyes... and connect with the audience. Definitely something you need to work on. Number two, I said this with Crystal and I'm going to say it here too... you run the risk of the judges saying that the instruments are becoming a crutch. Other than that, you're golden. Personal opinions aside, Lilly went from a one state win to a 2 state win this week. Improvement, yes. But considering the buffer I'm using this week, I hate to say it, but she could be in danger this week. I really don't think so, BUT there is that chance.
Katelyn Epperly (The Scientist by Coldplay): Ok. I like this much better than last week's performance. She really needs to start practicing in a mirror though because some of those facial expressions are a bit much. She also needs to work on completing some of those phrases better. The second of three that held even this week, she had a 1 state win. Working for her is that she's a bit more memorable than Didi. It still puts her in danger though.
Paige Miles (Walk Away by Kelly Clarkson): Ok, this was ballsy. Very, very ballsy to take on The First Idol's music. Paige has the right voice to handle Kelly's music, but I do not think this was the right Kelly song to try to do. There are so many other fine songs that she could have chosen and done so much better with. Considering that you're like Haeley and like to smile while singing may I suggest one of the following for a future performance? Stick with Kelly's stuff (although I suspect you'd do a good Christina Aguilera as well) and sing either My Life Would Suck Without You, Miss Independent (Done with a smirk instead of a full smile, naturally. Channel the cockiness of Todrick and Jermaine and you'll have it just right.) or Thankful. I'd suggest A Moment Like This, but we all know how some fans are about the coronation songs of their favorite Idols. Absolutely NOBODY does them better. This week Paige shot up from a goose egg to a 4 state win. Could it be from the sweet-spot, drafting position she had in the next to last singing position? Or is America deciding they really like her guts in attempting one of the harder Kelly Clarkson songs? In any case, I don't really see her going anywhere this week.
Siobhan Magnus (Think by Aretha Franklin): One word. Wow (gotta love those words that can be read either way...). She really is a quirky thing, isn't she. When off stage or at least not performing, she's a bit strange to talk to. The interviews are really... awkward. Almost like she has to slow herself down otherwise things will just come tumbling out of her in no particular order. Then she takes the stage and becomes a tigress. Ok, so the song was a bit large for her, but not by a whole lot, that's for sure. There aren't many on that stage this year that I could see taking on The Queen of Soul herself and managing to do a half-way decent job of it (not a completely awesome job, but really very close). Siobhan is the only one to lose any states this week, which is weird because the pimped one doesn't usually start losing states until later in the competition. Because she lost a state the one state gain she had for the week got negated and she broke even. That said, even Siobhan is in danger this week, Glory note and all.
So who goes?
Two of the following:
Lacey: The key is to be memorable, and she wasn't. A sick Crystal had a wonderful performance and sang first, Haeley was memorable for a not so good reason and you had at least 2-3 others that had performances that made the audience sit up and take notice. Pretty eyes and funky hair aren't going to get you too far in this competition. It's a real shame that she wasn't put through last year instead of Megan Joy, she may have had a better chance at getting farther.
Katie: Too little too late? A SUTA princess from Hollywood, she's finding that the judges can be a fickle lot, and now she's not so much a favorite. She was one of only 2 that had drops in states this week.
Didi: The chaff is being sifted out now. If this one goes, it's due to not being memorable enough. She was followed by a quirky Lilly, a piano playing Katelyn, a decent performance by Paige and a damned glory note from this week's pimped wonder. Didi who?
Michelle: She attempted something different which really should work for her, but like Chicago told me, we don't know who she is. That and Paige outsang her hands down... and we all know those two are splitting votes right now. With the guys, it's a 3 way split and they have better odds at advancing. She's only splitting with the one (remember, the other AAF is singing country and is pretty much in a voting dem of her own) and who are you going to remember? The pretty girl with the pretty voice or the pretty girl with the outstanding voice?
Lilly: Pretty Lilly with the unique look and sound. The question is is she interesting enough to keep around? That eye closing habit of yours, I know it's because you are so into your music but it shuts down the connection between you and the audience. Not a good thing, honey. It's possible that people are seeing that she really doesn't need this show and they're trying to get her off before she gets roped into a rather restrictive contract.
Katelyn: She had a nice performance, but not a great one. There was the potential for "a moment" with this week's song and she didn't take advantage of that. You need to WOW every single time you take the stage.
Siobhan: Her interviews are awkward and although she did a commendable job on her song, that last note isn't to everyone's tastes and may just be the thing that turned alot of the voting public OFF. Yes, it was awesome in a live performance. However picture, if you will, that note hit and hearing it on the radio or on the video station. Now picture if it goes into regular rotation and you're hearing it all the time. Yeah. That's what I thought.
Basically, if you're not Paige, Haeley or Crystal this week... you're fkd.
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