I'm Starting To Believe This Is A Girl's Year...Top 10 Girls

Ok, ok, I've complained, but some girls really redeemed this season last night.  I mean really.  I think the judges are right, a girl just may win this year.

Crystal Bowersox "As Long As I See The Light"
I'm not gonna lie, Crystal is good.  She's incredibly musically talented.  Something about her just feels 10-15 years ago to me.  She would have fit well next to my Indigo Girls and Ani Difranco CDs when I was in college.  The problem with her being on Idol is that the indie scene won't take her seriously now...She sang this very well. Girl has pipes.  I'm very glad she was well enough to perform.  This season wouldn't be as interesting without her.

crystal 20 @ Yahoo! Video

Haeley Vaughn "The Climb"
Everytime one of the teenagers sings this season, I feel like I'm at a high school choir concert.  It's not easy to make Miley Cyrus look like a pop diva, and Haeley did.  This seems good on paper.  The beginning was ok, shaky, but not painful.  The end just got completely off key.  I don't think she could even hear that she was flat...

haeley 20 @ Yahoo! Video

Lacey Brown "Kiss Me"
So many of the people on this season would be so much better this season with vocal training.  Lacey doesn't have superb breath support and that hurts her.  She drops notes cuz she can't hold them.  Good breath support gets you through nerves.

lacey 20 @ Yahoo! Video

Katie Stevens "Put Your Records On"
Such pimping, not living up to it.  Call her Lil Rounds...This song did not work for Katie.  I wasn't a fan of Megan Joy last season, but she sang this song better than Katie. Katie's voice just didn't fit.  Like I said, high school choir concert, again...and somewhere towards the end was a giant voice crack.  I think, if they could get the rights, she should do a song from Spring Awakening...she obviously wants to be Lea Michele...

katie 20 @ Yahoo! Video

Didi Benami "Lean On Me"
This doesn't work in concept, and didn't work on stage.  Her voice just isn't big enough for a gospel song like this.  Plus, in what universe is this over-played song relevant?  It's starting to bug me how much she looks like Brooke White...plus you have to look up indulgent?  sigh

didi 20 @ Yahoo! Video

Brooke White


Didi Benami


Michelle Delamor "Arms Wide Open"
UGH UGH UGH!!!!! Creed?????!!!!! She may have just gotten herself voted off, just for song choice.  She sang it well.  She's too American Idol seasons 1-5 for me.  The game has changed since then.  I like that she made the song into a diva anthem, but it's still Creed.  Unforgivable. Her last note was closed off, so it wasn't as glorious as it should have been. I also can't figure out why EVERY song this season is super slow.

michelle 20 @ Yahoo! Video

Lilly Scott "A Change Is Gonna Come"
This version was so different from Adam's last season, you can't compare them...good for Lilly.  My mom thinks she is this season's Kris Allen.  She will have magical moments this season, I totally see it.  She doesn't perform.  She's so honest in her interpretations of songs.  She doesn't have the strongest voice, but is an amazing musician. She needs to raise the keys of her songs so she doesn't bottom out so often.  I actually like her more than Crystal...

lilly 20 @ Yahoo! Video

Katelyn Epperly "The Scientist"
Super, super talented!  She may be my favorite yet.  What a beautiful cover.  She's so confident behind the piano.  Her voice is so strong.  I thought this was anything but sleepy.  So haunting...



Paige Miles "Walk Away"
All Paige really did here was show what an amazing performer Miss Clarkson is.  Paige has potential, but isn't living up to it yet.  Her upper register isn't open enough.  She's just squeaking out the highest notes.  It kills me when these girls don't drop their jaws and think these big, gorgeous notes are gonna come out.  We saw Adam Lambert's tonsils a lot, but his high notes are glorious...



Siobhan Magnus "Think"
Brave girl, taking on Aretha.  She has the voice for it, though. She's so strange, but endearing.  Is she on something?  That note at the end was perfect.  She keeps her instrument open well and lets the notes resonate.

Here We Go!! Top 12 Girls...

What an unimpressive night...why do the girls always disappoint on this show? (Not looking at you Kelly Clarkson or Allison Iraheta :) )  Nerves and anxiety totally got the better of all 12 of these girls.  Alright, here we go...

Paige Miles "All Right Now"
It's hard to do a song justice that's already been done on the show.  This song was David Cook's second week song, the one that established him as the resident rocker.  Paige did a'ight as Randy would say.  I like her tone.  We've barely gotten to hear her sing up until this point, so I think she did herself justice, given she was nervous as hell. She got a little shouty, but showed off her big voice.  I think she's safe.


Ashley Rodriguez "Happy"
Ugh I do not like this song.  There are much better Leona Lewis songs if she wants to be labeled a wannabe...I don't get anything original off of her.  She hit some really bunky notes.  If she sticks around she definitely needs to follow the judges advice and figure out a way to stand out.


Janell Wheeler "What About Love"
This song was way too big for her.  All of these skinny blondes look and sound alike. I don't see how they won't cancel each other out, unless they have a stand apart performance.  This was not that, at all.


Lilly Scott "Fixing A Hole"
I was a little worried when she picked a Beatles song, but this was a good choice.  It's not a crazy famous Beatles song, so she could make it her own...and she did.  I like her voice. I think she stands out from the other blondes with guitars.  She needs to watch her lower range.  She doesn't feel comfortable down there.


Katelyn Epperly "Oh, Darling"
Holy too much make-up, Batman!  She looks terrible!  Is she going for the rock n roll flapper look?  I don't get it?  I liked the song.  I like her voice.  We haven't gotten to hear much from her, so I think this was a good first effort on the big stage.  I wish she could've pulled out her A Fine Frenzy cover and play the piano...


Haeley Vaughn "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"
Oh, Haeley...you're so cute....and you can't sing...poor thing...Simon says they want to find a Taylor Swift this season? Well, I think they found her.  And I think she's not gonna make it past this week.  That was a mess.  An off-pitch, shrill, breathy mess.



Lacey Brown "Landslide"
Oh, my! Another hot mess!  And I liked Lacey in Hollywood.  Her voice is so unique.  She needed a jazzy song to stand out, not Stevie Nicks. I see how they made her have a sing-off with Megan Joy last year.  They are very similar. I have a feeling it's bye, bye Lacey...



Michelle Delamor "Fallen"
Girl totally showed up Ashely Rodriguez tonight.  She has a much better tone and control.  I thought she did the song justice.  I mean, no one can sing Alicia Keys like Alicia Keys, so....but, how skinny is this girl.  Eat a sandwich, please!



Didi Benami "The Way I Am"
Seriously a copycat performance.  If I closed my eyes, I wouldn't know this wasn't Ingrid Michaelson.  Or Janell Wheeler (other than the fact that Didi can stay in key much better than Janell).  Boring.



Siobhan Magnus "Wicked Game"
What the hell was that?!  So they obviously did have the rights to this for Adam, and he never used them, so instead we get this?  She has find to herself, or she's gone.  Seriously a strange little girl.  She has a good voice, and a big voice, of which they are lacking this season. Her range is giant.  And to the stylists, this was the best you could do?



Crystal Bowersox "Hand In My Pocket"
Not a most original choice, but she handled it well.  Simon's right with the coffee house analogy...she needs to project bigger.  And thank God for teeth whiteners!  She's just a cool chick. She really sounds like the love child of Janis Joplin and Melissa Etheridge.



Katie Stevens, "Feeling Good"
I love Adam Lambert's cover of this.  I jam out to it all the time.  It's so theatrical, and has a driving beat...I know it's a cover of the Muse version, which I also love, so it's different from what Katie did.  But what's most different is that he sang it well.  Katie, did not.  She was sharp, and pageanty. It started out very throaty.  Nope, didn't like it.  She's blown her frontrunner status, now hasn't she?


Ok, boys, you better bring it tonight, or this season is just, well...sigh