RIP American Idol

What a year to pick to blog the show.  Of course the most exciting season of Idol has to be followed up with the worst season of Idol.  Those eliminations definitely show who the voting block is...power-texting tweens (Tim Urban, Katie Stevens, Aaron Kelly) and frau (Casey James, Lee Dewyze).
When does X-Factor start?  (BTW, I'm soooo auditioning for X-Factor).

We'll miss you Alex Lambert, Katelyn Epperly, and Lilly Scott... :(

Biggest Night of Their Life? Top 8 Girls

I'm sick, I had to work during the show last night, so I'll blog it as I watch it...

Katie Stevens "Breakaway"

Wow, no intro packages.  Mmmm, that was not good.  She was just under pitch, a little behind the tempo, and her phrasing was atrocious.  There was no phrasing really.  It was Gokey phrasing 101.  Plus, her outfit made her look like a 35 year old soccer mom trying to dress trendy.  It was all very tired.

Siobhan Magnus "House of the Rising Sun"

I can't believe they put Siobhan second!  Someone doesn't want her in the Top 12...I love how she started this off acapella. It was absolutely gorgeous.  It also proves how well she really sings.  This was just beautiful.

Lacey Brown "The Story"

It bothers me how hyper-aware of the cameras she is.  This was nice.  I'm not running to buy it...It was definitely her best performance so far.  

Katelyn Epperly "I Feel the Earth Move"

Am I at a wedding?  She's good, but that was not amazing.  She really sounded like a wedding singer.  Why is this season so boring?  She's this season's Matt Giraud, I think.  She has good song choices about half the time, talented, but I feel she's gonna struggle with song choice and connection to the song.

Didi Benami "Rhiannon"

That is the first performance this season I've actually considered downloading.  Perfect song choice.  She's fighting.  She just reminded us of why she is in the semi-finals.  I don't see her winning the whole thing, but she'll definitely make the tour.  The flirting between her and Ryan is hilarious!

Paige Miles "Smile"

Holy goat vibrato! Are we in a piano lounge?  Her pitch was off, the arrangement was weird, and it wasn't in the right key for her.  She doesn't have a nice head voice, she needs to stay in her belt.  She has to be glad the  Worsters are voting for her, cuz otherwise she'd be gone.

Crystal Bowersox "Give Me One Reason"

I know she's the current front runner, and she's good, don't get me wrong.  But until she proves to me she's more modern than my 1996 CD collection, I'll give her more respect as a current recording artist.  I'm not sure where she would be placed on the radio.  Maybe she needs a jam band behind her, cuz I'm not buying the Indigo Girls' music anymore...

Lilly Scott "I Fall To Pieces"

I like the rockabilly vibe she put to this.  Vocally, Lilly is not as strong as Crystal.  She needs to stay away from her lower register, it's just not that controlled.  But, as a musician, she's just as strong, if not stronger than  Crystal.  She's also more modern than Crystal.  I'm not sure where Lilly would be played on the radio, college stations definitely, but she's gonna have a hard time getting spins on more commercial radio.  

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