February 21, 2007
Ryan reminds us that THIS is American Idol and 40 brazillion people are gonna be watching these 12 lovely ladies tonight. But no pressure.
Then it’s high fives all around and oh-so-girly “luv” exchanges as Ryan breathlessly makes his way down the stairs. We are reminded of last night’s semi-disastrous beginning with the guys…
Rudy took us on a corny “Free Ride,” and Brandon and AJ try to “restart the party.” JL and Paul do not get much love for their ballads, while Sundance was like “dad at a wedding.” Chris Sligh was like “a weird student gig” which led to one of the Most Awkward Moments of AI history. (Teletubbies indeed.) Nick and Sanjaya try the soft and sweet routine but they “bore us with it.” Blake was sensitive and from this actual century! Chris R. impressed the judges but not me. And Phil “could not ask for more.”
So the gals come out and it honest to goodness looks more like a parade of beauty pageant contestants than a singing contest. EVERYONE is stunning.
Ryan calls the judges on the fact that they “talk out of both sides of their mouth” (as my granny used to say) which they deny. It is very true though – the judges tell the contestants to “Take risks! Get out of your comfort zone!” And then the very next night, it’s “WTH were you thinking stepping out of the box like that??”
Quick highlights of how the top 12 gals came to be and we are reminded that most of these ladies got little or no previous back-story. TIIC was too busy wasting time on crack babies, bush babies and cry babies.
First up, Stephanie, who tells us about her AI experience so far. You know, since we did not get to see ANY of it. She is very elegant, reminds me of Latoya London. I don’t know the name of the song she is singing but she does very well with it. Judges are like thank God, we are now finally in a SINGING competition, whew!
Ryan chats with the gals and some are more articulate than others. Melinda has definitely come out of her shell, which is a good sign.
Up next, Amy tells us about her journey. She is another one whose life story did not rate a montage. Amy is pretty but does not do a phenomenal job on Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” song. Judges are not wowed and none of us are expecting top 12 from this chick.
Leslie is next and yes she is another one that we are just now getting to know. She seems very energetic and entertaining but who knows how or why TIIC chooses what they show up front. Leslie is cute and has a good voice but she is not shining very bright on an old Aretha Franklin song. She has Julia Roberts’ boots from Pretty Woman, which is kinda weird. Judges say that the song was too big for her and Richard Gere is on the phone. Just kiddin’ about that last part.
Now we have Sabrina and I honest to heavens feel like I am being Repeat-O gal tonight, when I say yet AGAIN – we have just now met her. According to My Hubby, Sabrina is sexy and has the “IT” factor that the judges always talk about. She has an absolutely amazing voice and does a bluesy-sounding song with perfection. WOW she is GREAT, does not miss a note. Judges agree that she is “da one to beat” and Paula is tickled pink that Sabrina is a Valley Girl, like omigawd!
Antonella is next and we are reminded that she is only one half of the tag team match of the Jersey BFFs (heart sigh.) Oh man, she is cannon fodder. She tries to sing the Aerosmith song from the “Bruce Willis dies to save the world” movie. It is not only bad, it is sad. She is so beautiful (when her mouth is closed) and thank goodness she has that to fall back on. Judges tell her that she is lovely and bright and way not as skanky as her BFF. So it’s okay.
Gorgeous Jordin chats with Ryan on the red couch and even though I have mixed feelings about mere children being on the show, she seems very mature. We are reminded that she is “sugary sweet” which is just FINE with Jordin, so there! I love the Tracy Chapman song that she does, “Give Me One Reason,” it is one of my favorites. She does the low parts as well as the riffs and then makes great on the wailing. LOVE HER. My Kid likes her vamp nail polish, which I thought was so over, but what do I know? Judges like her and believe that she will go far; they just want her to “push herself.”
Ryan rags on the guys that the gals are way better than them, nah nah nah nah nah!
Now we have Nicole, number next in a long long line of “nice to finally meet you” chicks. In her clips, she reminds me of a farm girl for some reason, very girl-next-door. But tonight, she looks slicker and more polished. Unfortunately, the song that she is doing tonight is just ugh. Does not suit her voice at all and I can not understand a single word she is singing. Judges have mixed reviews and agree that she can sing, just didn’t think this was her vibe. Simon goes so far as to call it “indulgent” but Nicole does not seem to care very much what HE thinks.
Haley the Wedding Singer is up next and we are reminded that she is “a bit cabaret” and has great abs. Tonight, she sings “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” and I can’t help but chuckle as the memory of Katharine attempting to sing this with Meatloaf flashes through my head. Haley has the vibrato vibe going and sounds okay but in a Broadway fashion. Judges try to tell her that she looks and sounds older than she really is but she says hmmph she does not care what they think. She is comfortable with how she did and that’s all that counts. Oh yeah, and votes.
Ryan tells us that Fantasia!! will be on tomorrow’s results ep!!!
Finally, we get to my fave gal of this season so far, Melinda. She is adorable in her flashbacks and we remember back in the very days of old when she was just a shy thing. She is totally in her element now on the stage; she ROCKS. Right off the bat, she blows me away; she does not miss a single note. Melinda is a joy to watch and seems to be having a blast. Judges love her right to death, as they should.
Hey, I just noticed that there is a blue background behind the judges’ table this year. So we don’t have to watch heads bobbing behind them anymore. Guess they were tired of being hit by spitballs, tee hee.
For some reason, Mariah Carey is talking to Ryan. Wait, no. It is Alaina who chats with Ryan about what a diva she is, oh snap! Her clips remind us that she has been a singer for a while, trying to make it, blah blah blah. She tries to sing one of my very favorite songs of all time, “Brass in Pocket.” I guess the song should fit her, since everything else from hair to shoes to outfit screams “1980.” Alaina is not howling-dog bad; her performance is just meh. And NO WAY should any singing contestant EVER sing lyrics that say “I’m special, so special” over and over. Judges call her on that very fact and thank goodness she’s got her good looks. Very funny moment when Simon says to Ryan, “Are you trying to DATE this girl??”
Gina has the strategically placed Halloween hair dye going again tonight. Her montage reveals what we know by now, that she is “tired of auditioning for AI already!” She sings “All By Myself,” which is a Celine song by way of Eric Carmen. (Showing my age here by knowing this factoid.) Gina does GREAT on this, and I am very surprised. Was not expecting greatness from her. Judges tell her that she did terrific and they are surprised by her song choice. You can tell that some of her infatuation with Simon has worn off, or maybe she feels that she no longer has to play that card now that HIS vote doesn’t count.
Last but not least, we have LaKisha, who reminds us from her montage that she is a fantastic singer with a cute little girl. Tonight she is singing the song that Jennifer Hudson sang in Dreamgirls and I have to tell ya… when LaKisha says “and you and you and you! You’re gonna love me!” … you believe it. She does not miss a note; she is perfect on this song. Judges are overjoyed with her performance and Simon even says “I am very tempted to say to 23 people – book your plane tickets home.” LaKisha is humble and funny and it’s sweet when she tells us that her little girl’s birthday is today.
It’s a 3-way tie for me tonight for my favorite: I loved Sabrina, Melinda, and LaKisha. Oh, and I really liked Jordin and Stephanie, too. Actually nobody really super-sucked except for Overbite Girl.
During the recaps, My Kid says, “Is it me or do they all sound the same?” Gotta agree that a lot of them do. I predict that Antonella and Amy will be packing their Louis Vutton tomorrow night.
Time will tell…
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