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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > February > 27
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
2/27: Top 10 gals recap. Blah city!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is a rare week where not a single performance deeply impressed me. I didn’t give anybody more than a B-plus. At least Ryan didn’t say this was the best group ever again because tonight, that certainly was NOT the case.
The best of a mediocre lot? I’m going to give it to Carly out of default, followed by Syesha, then Kristy Lee Cook. My favorite Asia’h I rank fourth. Brooke and Ramiele are fifth and sixth, followed by Alexandrea. Kady Malloy is someone I so want to like because she’s so entertaining in film, as Simon said, but her vocals are oh so bleh.
The two worst performances were Amanda Overmyer and Alaina Whitaker. Who will go home? It might just be those two. I’m not looking at dialidol.com or your comments. Those are just my gut instincts.
Carly Smithson (“Crazy on You” Heart) - She works at an Irish bar and is a homebody. She opts for a Heart classic. This is a good song pick for her. She feels comfortable and sings it competently. Is her voice ultra special? I’m not quite feeling that. So it was good enough. Randy: “It was good towards the end. Beginning was a little rough. The lower notes give you more problems.” Paula: “It takes a fine singer to sing those big notes. It’s great to hear you back healthy.” Simon: “I thought it was a much better performance than last year. I still don’t think yet you’ve connected with the right song. You are an incredible singer. What you have done is chosen that one song that will give you that absolute moment.” B-plus
Syesha Mercado (“Me & Mr. Jones” The Dramatics) - She’s an actress and they show one of her commercials. She also imitates a baby quite well. She’s got a sexy, caressing voice and she does this song like a pro. I enjoyed it. Randy: “I don’t think this was a great song for you. You got that big belting voice… pick songs you can do that on, everything sparkles.” Paula: “You fall out of pitch on the softer notes. I liked the interpretation.” Simon: “I thought it was a bit indulgent. The song was obviously not written for a girl. I was put off as soon as you started it. It’s not a song designed for you.” B-plus
Brooke White (“You’re So Vain” Carly Simon) She’s a hair stylist. Well, of course she’s going to do Carly Simon! Her voice isn’t quite as good as Carly, though. It doesn’t quite have level of depth. This song is ultimately venomous and she’s way too happy singing it. Randy: “It was a great song choice. I always felt you had that Carly Simon vibe. I don’t think you brought anything different to it.” Paula: “I feel this was a perfect song choice. It suits you. I liked what you did. You brought familiarity.” Simon: “I absolutely loved it. It absolutely connected. The song didn’t sound old fashioned.” B
Ramiele Malabay (“Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston) She used to Polynesian dance when she was young. (Sure beats Sanjaya doing it a year ago!). Good song choice for her silky voice. I don’t think she has the best stage presence. She should have moved around more. I enjoy listening to her more with my eyes closed. Not that she isn’t pretty but she lacks a vibrancy that, say, Asia’h, possesses. Randy: “This was just okay vocally. Song choice was weird.” Paula: “You powered through. It’s the same notes. I feel like you didn’t get to perform your magic.” Simon: “Astonishingly, I agree with Paula. Trouble with that song is I’ve heard it so many times at ghastly weddings.” She kept changing song choices. B
Kristy Lee Cook (“You’re No Good’ Linda Ronstadt) She’s a tomboy. She needs a serious comeback to stick around. What a strange walking style and stance! Nonetheless, this is her best vocal performance since “Amazing Grace.” Strange last note, too. Randy: “That’s 100% improvement over last week. Better song choice. I was waiting for a breakout moment that didn’t quite happen.” Paula: “You’re back!” Simon: “I couldn’t remember what you sang last week. My only worry is I don’t know what to label you. I think if you go country you’d make more of a statement. I’m not sure you did with that song.” B-plus
Amanda Overmyer (“Carry On My Wayward Son” Kansas) She’s a bookworm! Go education! She has such a gritty voice, it sounds like she has been smoking for 30 years. As we suspected, when she goes soft, she sounds really rough. Missed notes all over the place. She doesn’t even look all that comfortable. Randy: “It wasn’t the right song choice. Way too much melody. Too many instrumental breaks.” Paula: “You got some moves. You can dance! You got to do what fits right and not worry about anything else.” Simon: “I thought in your film, you came over as very natural, very cool. Nothing felt real. I couldn’t wait for it to finish.” C
Alaina Whitaker (“Hopelessly Devoted To You” Olivia Newton John) She has an OCD issue of ensuring her food doesn’t touch each other on the plate. The problem with her is we already have Carrie Underwood. It was okay but nothing to write home about. Randy: “I don’t think that was the right song. The verses were really pitchy.” Paula: “I thought you did such a good job.” Simon: “I like you. My problem is it’s almost as if your grandmother prepared you for this audition. Everything about you is old fashioned.” He sees her as a dark horse, though. C-plus/B-minus
Alexandrea Lushington (“If You Leave Me Now” Chicago) She sang every year for the Atlanta Fire Department. They show a video of her doing the National Anthem. I’ve always found this to be an exceedingly boring song and she does about as well with it as she could. It was solid but again, her upper registers aren’t as strong as her lower. It never hit the wow button. Randy: “It was so safe for you. You got mad vocal skills.” Paula: “I still feel that you did let go and do your own arrangement. You made it your own.” Simon: “I was a big big fan of yours in the early stages. It’s absolutely stuck in its time period and there’s nothing you can do with the song. You were inconsistent. You looked uncomfortable with it.” She admits being an underdog. B/B-minus
Kady Malloy (“Magic Man” Heart) She can sing opera. And she imitates Simon. Tough song. This is the one Amanda should have sung. Kady’s vocals are just a wee too mellow to take on such an edgy song. It was okay but no pop. Randy: “You never found the pitch.” Paula: “When you powered, you sounded great.” Simon: “I’m very frustrated because everything you do on film is fantastic. The opera was very good. Then you come out here like someone trying to impersonate Christina.” B-minus
Asia’h Epperson(“All By Myself” Eric Carmen) She was a cheerleader. Geez. What a boring song! She starts kind of slow, misses the first chorus but she does a nice ending. Randy: “I know you were sick. But I got to tell you. Very difficult song. Celine sang everything out of it. Highest degree of difficulty. You did a good job.” Paula: “It was great. You had problems in the low parts, low notes.” Simon: “You have got to be one heck of a singer to pull it off. Unfortunately, you’re not. You shouldn’t have attempted that song. You almost got away of it.” B-plus
