Didi, you put me asleep like all the other girls! The notes you hit were breathy, and I hate breathy notes or when singers just start breathing mid-song. Kara, how was this one of your favorites? It was yucky. I did not like it. I was almost asleep, which is bad because one, I wasn’t not tired, and two, it was 7:30 at night! There is no reason why I should have been tired.
M: For the first time in a long time, I genuinely enjoyed Didi’s performance. I saw something in her that I haven’t seen before, and I’m happy to say that she deserved to make it through another week.
Her voice sounds sweet to my ear without being the cliché or average-sounding pop voice; her tone is unique without sounding alienating, which is necessary when you are aiming to gain votes from such a large audience. Having a polarizing sound, I think, was Adam Lambert’s downfall last year: While millions loved him, millions hated him, as well. There was no between.
Didi, in contrast, will probably never have this problem when she is on the show. Her voice may not be everyone’s favorite, but it’s not anyone’s complete least favorite, either. And just because of that, she just might be able to stick around. She wasn’t fantastic, but for a night that was pretty much the definition of “suck” up until then, she was good enough for me.
E: First off, her name and the song she picked rhyme! That was the most exciting thing out of all these performances!
Well, Paige, your song had already put me to sleep, and we were 20 seconds into this. Yay for you! I think you broke a record. Paige messed up badly for this song, and this was the wrong time to do that. Actually, any time is the wrong time to do a bad song. I can easily see Paige going home, but that is if people actually think about how bad she was. They might just give her that sympathy vote. Paige, I thought you were going to go into the Top 12, but I am afraid I was wrong.
M: Paige! Paige! Paige!
Sorry, but I had to say that; it may be the last time that I get to — not including this Thursday’s eliminations. Because after poor Paige, once so strong, came out on the “Idol” stage sounding so weak, she’s almost certainly heading back to her preschool classroom in Naples, Fla.
Because let’s face it: As much as I love Paige, her quirky personality and her big voice, “Smiles” was all over the place tonight. No matter how you slice it, there’s no getting around it. From the performance’s soft beginning to its boring middle and its muddled end, it was a mess. And it’s a shame, too; Paige has shown so much potential in the past few weeks. But unfortunately, all a contestant needs is one bad night to end it all.
Which is poor Paige’s situation at the moment. And I know that she deserves it after a performance like this, but I still like her as a performer all the same; not to mention, I seriously like the name Paige. I’ll miss hearing it on TV.
Crystal Bowersox, “Give me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman
E: I love you, Crystal! When I heard the words “electric guitar,” I thought that maybe I wouldn’t be put asleep. The electric guitar is used for loud, upbeat songs. I hope she wouldn’t let me down!
You had to be kidding me! Where had the pumpiness gone? I was going to be put to sleep soon!Yes!
There we go. Oh! Then she lost it. What was this?! A roller coaster. At least she has a powerful voice and a good stage presence. She knows what she’s doing, and I will be seeing her next week.
M: Can I just say, “finally?”
And in more than one way, too. I finally saw someone since David Cook get up on stage with an electric guitar and not make a fool of themselves; I finally saw Crystal continue to step out of her shell; and I FINALLY saw a girl’s performance on Tuesday that blew me away.
Because how couldn’t Crystal and her powerhouse vocals have blown you away? Crystal succeeded in every way that every contestant before her failed. She chose the right song, executed it flawlessly and,
most importantly, was able to prove to America that she was for what “Idol” is truly searching: an artist.
A pure, creative, genuine artist.
At first, I wondered how Crystal would be able to adjust to “Idol” and its Hollywood ways. After all, as a 24-year-old mother rocking dread locks and a piercing under her lip, Crystal Bowersox is not the spitting image of previous winners like Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood.
But guess what? That’s what makes her who she is. And I’m a fan.
Lilly Scott, “I Fall to Pieces” by Patsy Cline
E: Was this country, Lilly Scott? Why, it almost sounded like it. It suited her voice very well, and she didn’t put me to sleep, which was fabulous because pretty much everyone else had. Lilly, you had one of the best performances of the night. I will be seeing you in the Top 12 with your funky earrings, unique style and various instruments.
M: Can I just start off by saying that I want Lilly’s style sense? Her dress was gorgeous tonight, and I swear, if I could pull of the platinum blond locks the way she does, I’d try it in a heartbeat (Too bad I couldn’t). Her style is unique but also just undeniably Lilly; she, just like our other female front-runner, knows how to be herself.
That shows in her music, as well, particularly tonight: Although her rendition of “I Fall to Pieces” wasn’t my favorite out of what she’s done on the show thus far (I still love how she was bold enough to take on The Beatles in the Top 24), she proved to me that she could do what Adam was a pro at last season: tackling any genre and making it her own. If Lilly Scott and her bold fashion statements can make that country song current, then, well, what can’t she do?
Overall:
E: All the songs tonight were sleep-tastic. The girls could make an I-can’t-fall-asleep CD. Sadly, the first person who would be on the CD would put whoever asleep and none of the other girls would be heard. The judges keep saying that the girls are the most talented. Well, I HIGHLY DISAGREE. I have yet to see this star power/talent that the girls supposedly have. I think the boys have to talent, and they will be holding onto that for a while, even into the Top 12.
M: Tonight was just downright dissapointing. I thought that the first week without Haeley would be an instant success just because she wasn’t there, but now I’m starting to think the opposite. Hey, maybe Haeley being here actually made the other performers seem better just because she was so much worse — let’s just hope that they come around and redeem themselves come the Top 12.
E: Hits: Crystal and Lilly
Misses: Katie, Siobhan, Lacey, Katelyn, Didi
The Big Misses: Paige
M: Hits: Crystal, Lilly
Misses: Paige, Katie, Lacey
M: Who should go home: Paige, Lacey
Who will go home: Paige, Lacey
-Emmy Lindfors and Maddie Conway