Top 12

Idol Chat-The 12

After all the hype about the brand new set for Idol, I am not sure what I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is a really cool stage and I love the upper level where the band is, but I think you almost have to be there to appreciate it. The mosh pit and the lights did give the illusion of a real concert. I started wondering if they had cue cards for the mosh pit folks that said things like RAISE ARMS, or NOW WAVE THEM. We are told they received the go ahead to select songs from the Lennon/McCartney songbook for this week. Randy said these songs are some of the greatest in music history. Paula said these songs are full of melody. Ryan asks Simon if these songs are difficult and Simon says simply, "it depends on which one you choose". At this point we notice that Simon is, hold onto your hats, in a collared shirt. The contestants are asked to reintroduce themselves in the taped interview before they sing. Let’s talk about it:

SYESHA MERCADO "Got to Get You Into My Life"

Syesha reminds us that she is from Miami and that she was a student and a working actress before the Idol madness began. She looks a little nervous at the start of the song, but she delivers a pretty good performance and as always looks beautiful. She gave it a little bit of an R & B feel, and overall I thought it was a good song choice for her. Randy thought the first half was pitchy. It is always about pitch with this guy. He liked the Earth, Wind, and Fire type of arrangement, but thought she didn’t get on key until halfway through. Paula agreed. I think they are both nuts. Simon thought the song was good, but the performance was too stiff and she looked nervous. I think she is okay for another week.

CHICKEZIE "She’s a Woman"

Chikezie used to work security at LAX. He is dressed much younger, and in his pre-interview with Ryan he looks very comfortable and comes off very endearing. He starts sitting on the steps of the stage with members of the band in a very "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou" type of arrangement. Mid way through he totally rocks it out. I loved everything about it! This is like a completely different performer from last week. Randy thought it was thoroughly entertaining and that he smashed it. Paula said the reward paid off (?) Call me crazy, but Isn’t the reward actually the pay off? Simon said he agreed with the other two, that he commanded the stage and made himself stand out. This guy isn’t going down without a fight. If he can stay away from ballads, which make him look much older than his 22 years, he could be around for a long while!

RAMIELE MALUBAY "In My Life"

Ramiele talked about her family and said she was dedicating the song to some of the eliminated contestants that she forged close friendships with (read: Danny). She starts on the stairs and looks scared to death. She manages to sing on key very sweetly, but it is complete snoresville. It actually doesn’t even feel that sincere. She has a beautiful voice, but from her interview to her performance, I could have fast forwarded through the whole thing and not felt a bit bad about it. Randy concurs that it was pretty boring. Paula said she looked lovely but she played it safe. Simon said he was bored to tears and that at this stage of the competition she needs to better than that. Sorry.

JASON CASTRO "If I Fell"

Jason is doing a little better with the whole interview thing. He shares that he is a student at Texas A&M and that he actually failed a music class. He accompanies himself on the guitar, and while I am not as blown away as I was with his rendition of Hallelujah, I enjoy his performance and find myself connecting with him during the song. I feel like this kid really knows himself musically and it shows in every performance. Randy liked it but didn’t love it. Paula disagreed and felt his emotional connection to the song. Simon thought it was a bit like the student in the bedroom at midnight. I guess that is bad? I think this kid has got it and he has no worries after tonight.

CARLY SMITHSON "Come Together"

Carly looks great, has dynamic stage presence and best of all she sounds fantastic. Randy says it is a stellar performance, Paula says she is already watching a star. Simon says that she finally picked the right song and it reminded him of week one/season one, Kelly Clarkson. The way Carly is so tickled by the compliment ratchets her up a notch in my book. I think she has got the chops, but I don’t find myself as drawn to her as I do some of the other contestants, despite her talent. Hopefully she will be able to draw me in.

DAVID COOK- "Eleanor Rigby"

I am kind of a purest with this song, but David’s spin on it is one I would totally love to hear again. I love his rock vibe, his connection with the audience and the vocal is really solid. Randy says it was pitchy at the beginning, but he ended up loving the chorus. Paula starts a horse analogy that is just too tiresome to include here. Simon thought it was brilliant. David Cook is a competitor, and at halfway through the first night I am totally excited about the caliber of singers this year. So far even the worst performances (Ramiele or Syesha) were beautifully sung. I am so glad most of the youngsters were eliminated, as the contestants in their 20’s seem to deal with the critiques pretty well, and they all seem to be comfortable on that big stage. I actually watched this again.

BROOKE WHITE "Let It Be"

If I thought David’s was good, I was in no way prepared for Brooke. She accompanied herself on the piano and her performance was so raw and emotional and I found myself getting choked up. What a competition this is. Every time I think I have heard the best performance, someone trumps it. This was the best of the night for me. Randy didn’t think it was Brooke’s best, but thought it was heartfelt. Paula thought she made an emotional connection. Simon thought it was the best of the evening and that three weeks running she has made the right song choice. It was brilliant and believable. At this point Ryan brings Brooke her shoes and Simon reminds Ryan that the shoes belong to Brooke and he can’t have them. Lots of inside jokes with the panel and Ryan this evening. This girl has something special and I can’t wait to hear her again.

DAVID HERNANDEZ "I Saw Her Standing There"

David tells us that he used to work at a Pizza Bistro. I guess these are the new code words for Strip Joint. While he sings in key, this is so theatrical and corny that I almost start to fast forward. From the very white shoes, the dancing and the facial expressions, I just can’t take it. Randy says you’ve got a big voice but it was too much. Paula said you over did it (basically Paula re-words Randy’s comments when she can’t come up with something on her own). Simon said NO NO NO! It was corny verging on desperate. David is very classy about saying he will take this all in and hopefully do better next week. I hope you get a next week, David.

AMANDA OVERMYER "You Can’t Do That"

My first thought is that she looks very pretty with the extensions and the curl in her hair, and they have done a nice job with her make-up to make her look a little softer. Then I notice that she has been working hard with her voice coach, because she actually does some singing along with her yelling, and it sounds pretty good. It was a great song choice for her, and I am thinking that the Beatles were a perfect fit for the first week because everyone seems to be finding their song despite their chosen genres. Randy loved it. Paula was blown away. I wouldn’t go that far. Simon thought she was a breath of fresh air. At this point Paula interrupts him and he gets aggravated. Paula gets back at him by calling him a baby. Good Lord, could we just get on with the singing?

MICHAEL JOHNS "Across the Universe"

I thought Michael gave a very strong performance, and while I didn’t think he was the best of the night, I thought he was very good. The cue cards must have come out a little late, because the arm swaying is off rhythm and completely distracting me. Michael has charisma and a great voice, but he needs to be edgier because David Cook could come right up from behind him and push him out of line. Randy thought it was good but he was waiting for something big to happen and it didn’t. Paula thought it was heartfelt and disagreed with Randy. Simon thought he should have done something more with the song. I felt you Michael, but you are going to have to step it up because there is WAY TOO MUCH TALENT!

KRISTY LEE COOK- "8 Days a Week"

Oh my. Poor Kristy Lee. I think she took the whole thing that Simon said about her having a country quality in her voice, and turned into a huge risk with the wrong song. It was just plain bad. She is a darling girl with a pretty voice, but she needs to discover who she is as an artist before she can sell it to anyone else. Randy was torn, part of him liked it and part didn’t. Paula didn’t get it. Simon thought it was like Dolly Parton on helium. It was horrendous. I thought she handled the criticism with class and grace, but if there is any justice in the world this will be her last week. In past season’s this might have been enough to make it through, but not this year.

DAVID ARCHULETA "We Can Work it Out"

The golden boy falls. Hard. He tells us in the intro that he is not familiar with older music. He sang John Lennon a few weeks ago brilliantly, so I am not concerned when he mentions that he is very nervous. Unfortunately the nerves are completely obvious from the second he comes on stage. He forgets the lyrics, sings off key a few times and has some embarrassingly awkward runs that don’t work in the song. Maybe it is his age. He is the youngest in the competition, and maybe the pressure of being "the one to beat" became too much. In any event, if it weren’t for the earlier performances, I think he could be going home. It was clearly the worst performance of evening. Don't they usually try to end with the best? Randy thought he was not on point. Paula thought it wasn’t his best. Simon said it was a mess and his weakest performance. He has great talent and potential. Let’s hope he gets it back together for next week, because I do think he has enough of a fan base to make it through this. And yes, Chris, I agree that the lip licking needs to stop.

Overall the evening was extremely entertaining, and there wasn’t a clear winner for me. Definitely Brooke, Chikezie and David Cook were my favorites. I think that Kristy Lee and David Hernandez are in trouble. Ultimately, I think that Kristy Lee will go home. I am thrilled with the idea that this is anyone’s contest to win. Tune in tonight. I can only imagine what the group number will be.