American Idol Top 20: Girl’s Night (2/27/2008)

Another good show last night, and one with a lot more variation in quality than the guy’s night. Congratulations to Paula for being sober again and to Simon for wearing gray… again.

Once again, I have adopted the Olympic point system for my ratings. A “10” will get someone the crown in the season finale. Really good singing with a bad song choice will get a “9.” Everything better than a bad song with good singing will receive a decimal point between 9 and 10. If there was room for improvement for the vocals, will receive a “9” or less.

Carley Smithson

For me, it was a drastic fall from last week, and I didn’t really go bonkers over her then. It seemed like she was thinking about the words or trying to be anywhere but on that stage. Her eyes were empty and it made her performance suffer. Oh, and her last note sucked. I can do that much on a good day.

Simon says: Better than last week, but you have still not connected with the right song. None of the girls can touch you vocally, though.
Jesse’s grade: 8.4

Syesha Mercado

Simon is full of it. Carly can’t touch her vocally or on an album cover, I can tell you that right now. I can’t quite decide if she is my favorite girl over Asia’h, but they are my Top 2 girls, and she is already good enough for the finale. All she needed last night to get a perfect 10 from me was a more upbeat song.

Simon says: It was a bit indulgent of a song and it wasn’t written to be sung by a woman. It just wasn’t designed for you for that last note.
Jesse’s grade: 9.9

Brooke White

Clean-living Brooke busted out an acoustic guitar and aimed “You’re So Vain” right at Simon the whole song. It was quite humorous in that respect. Luckily, she backed it up with good vocals and perfect playing.

Simon says: I absolutely loved it. It connected, you sang it well, and “Yes,” I think it was about me.
Jesse’s grade: 9.5

Ramiele Malubay

The song had a nice tempo to it, and she had good vocals, but it fell just short of being a winner. Something was off that keeps it out of that upper 0.5 for me. She sounded beatable with that song.

Simon says: The problem with that song is that I’ve heard that song so many times at ghastly weddings. You’re a Top 3 singer, but that song was a bad choice.
Jesse’s grade: 9.4

Kristy Lee Cook

The tom boy farm girl looked spastic and awkward on the stage. She was all done up like Carrie Underwood, but the performance didn’t deliver what the package indicated. The vocals were ok, but there wasn’t any range to the song, and it was a bit disappointing for me.

Simon says: I can’t remember what you sang last week. I’m still not sure who you are, but maybe you can make an impression with Country.
Jesse’s grade: 8.6

Amanda Overmyer

She continues her fall from Hollywood glory from any number of things wrong with that number. Not to be critical, but the hair looked like a lion’s mane, her clothes weren’t working for her, her dancing was spastic (for a lack of better words), it looked and sounded like she was losing her voice, and the only thing to say about her last night is: “boooo.” Time to go home, babe. If you make it, be darn sure you act naturally, even if you sing a rock song.

Simon says: The film was good, and then the entire performance was contrived. I couldn’t wait for it to be finished.
Jesse’s grade: 7.5

Alaina Whitaker

What happened from last week?! She was one of my favorites, and I hate to do this to her, but it wasn’t good. The song was too slow to allow for that vocal performance. She completely fell apart in the quiet parts and screamed in the crescendos. Snore. Bad song choice with no delivery.

Simon says: It’s as if your grandmother picked it, chose the dress, told you how to stand, etc. I still think you are one of the dark horses of the competition, but that had too much pageantry.
Jesse’s grade: 8.3

Alexandrea Lushington

Another bad song from Lush. She wore stinking cargo shorts and an insulated hiking vest for 70s night! Where do you get that? It was too distracting, but even when I looked away, the vocals weren’t impressive. The last word/note really sucked.

Simon says: I think you’re struggling now. That song was stuck where and when it was made. It’s never been a hit outside of the 70s. You looked stretched and uncomfortable.
Jesse’s grade: 8.1

Kady Malloy

I didn’t understand a single word while she was on the stairs, and she looked like she was concentrating too hard on not tripping to sing. Even after that I didn’t understand much of her song. She sounded like she was falling apart when I just listened to the vocals, and when I looked up I was shocked at her awkard movements.

Simon says: I am frustrated. The films are fantastic, but the the stage act doesn’t go anywhere. That was 1 million percent the wrong song.
Jesse’s grade: 6.4

Asia’h Epperson

What a voice! What high notes! Her vocals are so powerful, but tonight she just missed a couple of notes that took her down from perfection more than Syesha.

Simon says: That is one of the diva songs of all time… and you almost pulled it off. Bad decision.
Jesse’s grade: 9.5

Voting prediction: Kady Malloy and Amanda Overmyer

Comments

  1. Tyronius Maximus says

    After last nights results, I’d like to make a bold prediction. And, Psquared, you’re not going to like it. But, (drumroll, please)

    Amanda Overmeyer will be in the top 8 of 2007 American Idol. Not girls, mind you. Top 8 overall. That’s right. Remember, you heard it here first. She will be the beneficiary of the “Sanjaya Affect.” Aptly named for the ponyhawked no-talent who made it to the top 6 overall in 2006. Votefortheworst.com will strike again. Here’s to hoping I’m wrong.

  2. Tyronius Maximus says

    After last nights results, I’d like to make a bold prediction. And, Psquared, you’re not going to like it. But, (drumroll, please)

    Amanda Overmeyer will be in the top 8 of 2007 American Idol. Not girls, mind you. Top 8 overall. That’s right. Remember, you heard it here first. She will be the beneficiary of the “Sanjaya Affect.” Aptly named for the ponyhawked no-talent who made it to the top 6 overall in 2006. Votefortheworst.com will strike again. Here’s to hoping I’m wrong.

  3. You’d better be wrong. votefortheworst.com is my supreme idol enemy. I despise their very existence, and I still insist that the voting for these shows needs to be changed to vote people OFF.

    I suppose it’s money thing, though, because people will vote more to keep someone on than they will to vote someone off, execpt in this case. I’d vote all ten times for these insulting excuses for singers.

    They… dang. This is turing into another post. I’m out. Read more later.

  4. You’d better be wrong. votefortheworst.com is my supreme idol enemy. I despise their very existence, and I still insist that the voting for these shows needs to be changed to vote people OFF.

    I suppose it’s money thing, though, because people will vote more to keep someone on than they will to vote someone off, execpt in this case. I’d vote all ten times for these insulting excuses for singers.

    They… dang. This is turing into another post. I’m out. Read more later.