Home > American Idol > Archives > 2007 > March > 21 > Entry
Who’s crying now?
As expected, the second week of the top 12 is far better than the first. Thenerves were shaken off and the contestants seemed more composed, more comfortable on the big stage. Overall, the contestants did a far better job on song choice, too. Even Sanjaya was possibly tolerable to some viewers out there - like that young girl in the audience.
I loved Jordin above all else. Ranks 2 to 7 are virtually indistinguishable to me. They were all excellent performances. Even the bottom three were passable though Sanjaya just had me (inadvertently) chuckling the whole time.
The bottom three? Gina Glocksen, Phil Stacey and Stephanie Edwards. Who’s going home? Stephanie, with vote splitting a greater issue and the fact she was on so early in the night, may be the next victim. I have Sanjaya ranked at the bottom but I bet he won’t even be in the bottom three!
1- Jordin Sparks (Shirley Bassey’s “I (Who Have Nothing)”) - She takes a dramatic song and imbues it with a maturity and emotion beyond her 17 years. As Justin Guarini said to me, she is the dark horse to win it all. Bravura! Randy: “That was a very tall order for you. Very controlled, great, great performance.” Paula: “A good singer is a good signer and you are also a wonderful performer.” Simon: “You sang it beautifully. But I feel like jumping off a bridge. It was so gloomy! I just want the sun to shine.” (Ryan notes: “I think Simon to get it, you have to experience love other than yourself.” Simon shockingly doesn’t respond.)
2- Blake Lewis (The Zombies “Time of the Season”) - He picked the perfect song to do a little beatboxing. He’s got Paula dancin’. He really doesn’t have the range or depth vocally of many of his rivals but he makes up for it in charisma, confidence and modernity, even a 40 year old song. Randy: “You put a cool vibey, edgy massive yo factor of a song. You made the song really current. Much props to you.” Paula: “This season is for Blake. You really raised the bar. I felt like I was at a concert. You could put that on your record.” Simon: “A million times better than last week. This week, you chose the right song and found a way without messing the melody to keep it contemporary.” Ryan tries to imitate Blake (dancing and singing) and we know quickly why he’s the host.
3- Chris Sligh (The Zombies’ “She’s Not There”) - Chris opts to go into the audience and he focuses on the camera. (Sign: “Bringing Chubby Back”) You even see Nigel Lythgoe dancing and clapping. With his glasses back, he sings with authority and sells the song. I’m not sure about that shirt but overall, a performance that will keep him around another week. Randy: “It’s like a concert in here dawg! it started off a little rough. You were ahead of the beat. You wound up good. It’s a good song for you.” Paula: “I think you’re dressing much nicer. I like the fact you’re working the audience… Your vocals were really good.” Simon: “I think you did your thing. I thought it was fun. It wasn’t the best vocal of the night but it was a good choice of song for you. You showed personality and did much better than last week.”
4- Haley Scarnato (The Exciters “Tell Him”) - Haley found a good song for her voice and her personality. I have never been a fan of hers, been predicting her departure since the first week of the top 24 and have been wrong four times now. I think this spirited, winning performance guaranteed her safety for another week. Randy: “It’s all about song choice. That is the perfect song for you. That was your best performance to date. That had the yo factor all over it.” Paula: “You had this girlish quality. The flirtation side of you was great.” Simon: “You naughty little thing. Different side of you. It was fun, young, a bit shrieky in the middle. I think people are going to be talking a lot more than your singing tonight. Just a hunch.” (I can’t believe I’m ranking her so high but this will likely be her pinnacle.)
5- Chris Richardson (Gerry & the Pacemakers’ “Don’t Let the Sun Get You Cryin’”) - Peter Noone said he hasn’t quite heard Chris’s voice. He clearly is not a big fan of the vibrato. If you like his breathy vibrato, he showcased it. It’s quite lovely and he caresses the camera, too. Randy: “I’m really excited about this show tonight. That was another great performance. It showed another side of you. When you don’t push it, it’s beautiful.” Paula: “You’re playing this game to win it. It was sexy and charming.” Simon: “I think that was your best performance ever. Control on the song was excellent. Most importantly, you didn’t make the song old fashioned. A little nasally but a very good performance.”
6- Melinda Doolittle (Oliver soundtrack’s “As Long As She Needs Me”) - Yawner of a song. And Melinda looks older with that haircut. She sings it well because she can sing anything well. She ends on a big note, too. But this wasn’t the best Melinda we’ve seen. It was, of course, good enough to get through. It helps that the producers gave her the final slot. Randy: “We could say tonight, we probably saved the best vocal for last. Another stunning performance. You have great relative pitch. You are a pro up there.” Paula: “You are in your own league, dear.” Simon: “I have to ask you a question. Are you really as nice as you seem? [I hope so, she says.]. It is a very boring song but you made the second part of the song absolutely sensational with an impeccable vocal.”
7- LaKisha Jones (Shirley Bassey’s “Diamonds Are Forever”) - Lulu tried to convince her to sing “You’re My World.” But she went for the bling bling, wearing $1 million worth of diamonds. She wears a green dress that shows off the pups and looks sexier than she has up to this point. And she tarts up the song, too, especially during the chorus. It’s a different side of LaKisha and she pulls it off. Randy: “It wasn’t my favorite performance. I didn’t feel enough LaKisha in it.” Paula: “I think you picked the right song.” Simon: “It’s evident you are a fantastic singer. However, this was LaKisha in 50 years time. I thought everything from the air, the dress, the mannerism, to your choice of song was like seeing you in 50 year’s time. It wasn’t my favorite performance.”
8- Stephanie Edwards (Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”) - Stephanie chose a song that Nadia Turner killed two years ago. Nadia had an intensity, an edge. Stephanie is good but she’s missing the ferocity that would take this song beyond good. Randy: “For me, it was a little pitchy. I feel like it’s hard when people sing uptempo songs. You get to ballad, it’s harder.” Paula: “Great news first: I love what you’re wearing. I think you did pick the right song. Minus a few notes that fell off, you’re a great singer. The only thing I want you do is have that fun. It might be drifting a bit.” Simon: “I think you are losing your edge. I thought it was a bit nightclubby. I think you’re losing your soul. It was a very good cabaret performance. I miss that passion, that rawness.” (When did she ever have a rawness?) She’s in trouble.
9- Phil Stacey (The Nashville Teens’ “Tobacco Road”) - He tries to rock it up but with his bald head, it makes you think of Chris Daughtry. And he’s not as compelling as Chris. Vocally, it fits his voice. He feels a bit nightclubby, as Simon might say. Randy: “It was a pretty good performance. In the end, I always like your upper registers.” Paula: “It was a good choice of song. I do feel there were some parts that were pitchy. But I liked to hear the various ranges of your voice.” SImon: “I wasn’t crazy about it. It was kind of a third-division bar band performance. I don’t feel it’s believable. You need grit in your voice.” I agree with Simon 100%.
10- Gina Glocksen (The Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black”) - This is another solid song choice for a gal trying to be “the rocker.” She’s dressed the part. Sadly, no matter what she does, I liked at least a couple of this past season’s “Rock Star: Supernova” ladies over Gina. Vocally, it was OK but ultimately I just don’t like her much. Something’s missing and I can’t finger it. Randy: “You’re the resident rocker. I don’t know if it was my favorite vocal. It was a little pitchy in spots.” Paula: “It was miles better than last week. Second of all, this is what you have fun doing.” Simon: “There were moments of complete torture in that vocal. It was just not very good. That for me was style over content.”
11- Sanjaya Malakar (The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”) - “He doesn’t have a lot of experience to sell you what he’s got,” Noone said. Although he looks more like a Herman’s Hermit, Noone said he should try the Kinks. Uh oh. Who is that girl on a crying jag? Is she in pain like the rest of us? With Sanjaya, he can’t sell a song. It’s just a big goof with him. I can’t take anything he does seriously. Oh, there’s that crying girl again! What’s up with that? She’s there a third time. What are the producers doing? Trying to distract us from Sanjaya. A fourth time! I just saw his sister in the audience (and her pups!). Cool! Randy: “You shocked me tonight. Usually, you’re reserved, mildly mid cool. Dude you came out of your shell tonight. Your best performance to date.” Paula: “I hope you had fun up there! Good for you!” Simon: “I think the little girl’s face says it all.” (I’m not sure if he meant that in a good way or bad way. I suspect a bad way.) Her name is Ashley. And she has braces! Awww…
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Comments
By Flsh
April 3, 2007 12:35 AM | Link to this
Melinda and Lakashia need to go, both boring singers. Lakisha is horrible singer and Melinda is like “Deer in the headlight” the ” Who me sing good? ” act is getting old. They are both sing same way week after week. Jordin will have a change to go all the way.Sanjaya is the Rebel this year’s American Idol so all the Rebels in America are voting for him.I see him staying on few more weeks.