TheAgitator.com
Idol Blogging
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008Tonight was the women’s turn to take a crack at the 70s.
Carly Smithson — Sang Heart’s “Crazy on You.” I liked it a lot. Huge improvement over last week. I think this is more her style than the torch song/lounge stuff. And when she rocks, she can break out the tattoo! The last note floundered a little, and I wanted more rock punch on the chorus, but I think this will help her quite a bit. Simon nailed it, though. Good as this was, she needs to work on phrasing, and in really feeling out a song, much the way Melinda Doolittle did so well last year. Once she gets that down, she’ll be at the head of the pack. Still, a strong, strong start. And I think she really redeemed herself from last week.
Syesha Mercado — Flipped the gender on Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Again, I’m not with the judges on this one. I thought it was a fabulous choice. And man can this chick take over a stage. The arrangement fell apart a bit when the tempo picked up just before the refrain. She and the band just didn’t quite sync. But I think she did fine. And I certainly can’t see her in any danger.
Brooke White — Would’ve been a crime if she didn’t sing Carly Simon or Carole King. She did fine, but I think she should’ve dropped the band and background singers and just sing with the guitar. The beginning, with just her voice, was really strong. Her voice lost some character–that raspy thing she’s got–when she had to start singing over the band. Simon loved it. Should be enough to cement her spot among the favorites.
Ramile Malubay — Sang “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” which was recorded by a couple of artists in the 70s. She’s got a great voice, but it didn’t blow me away. After the first three tonight, I think she comes off a little mediocre. The song was clunky. Just not a good choice for the format. I don’t see her going home any time soon.
Kristy Lee Cook — Sang “You’re No Good,” which was actually a 60s hit, later redone by the dreadful Linda Ronstadt. In the right hands, this would’ve been an ideal choice for Idol. But Cook is just boring. She looked really uncomfortable on stage. Her voice isn’t bad, but there’s just nothing interesting about her. I think it’ll be a fight for her to get through to next week.
Amanda Overmeyer — Whoa. Sang, unbelievably, “Carry On Wayward Son.” I thought at first she might pull it off. But after the first big refrain, she fell to pieces. She’s got a weird lisp that was really distracting. She was also completely out of tune. Just a big mess. For once, Randy said something fairly insightful — way too much melody, way too much band. She needs something with grit and a bit of soul. If she makes it to 80s week, she should sing Alana Miles’ “Black Velvet.”
Alaina Whitaker — Sang Olivia Newton John’s “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” Meh. So-so. She oversang a bit, inserting some runs where the song calls for restraint and a subtler shift in key. She’s young, pretty, and blonde, which may keep her in the competition longer than she deserves to be. I was iffy on her last week. This made me like her less.
Alexandrea Lushington — Another really weird song choice. Chicago? This girl’s got soul oozing out her pores . . . and she sent with Chicago. She was also out of tune. And it’s a song that gave her almost no opportunity to show any personality, which she’s also got all over the place. It’s not the kind of song that’s going to win many people over, either. I hate that “oooooh oooooh oooh” Peter Cetera does. Drives me nuts. I want to think she’ll stick around. But I wouldn’t be too surprised if she went home this week.
Kadie Malloy — Alright, so one of the young blondes has to go this week. She sang Heart’s “Magic Man.” Or at least tried to. She was buried by the band and background singers for most of the song. And she spoke a lot of it. She was off pretty much the whole time. Just a forgettable performance all around. She needs to loosen up, though she may not get the chance. If it’s between her and Whitaker, I think maybe she stays. She’ll benefit from the playful clips they’ve been showing of her before and after her performances.
Asia’h Epherson — Yikes. Another bomb. She was so good last week. She sang Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself” and she really didn’t pull it off. She completely blew a big note early on, and a tossed a couple of big notes at the end. I guess she’s sick, so we should cut her some slack. But it wasn’t a good night for her. She’s been strong enough so far, though, that she can probably afford it.
Frontrunners: Carly Smithson, Syesha Mercado, Brooke White.
Going home: Kristy Lee Cook and Alaina Whitaker.
In trouble: Kadie Malloy, Amanda Overmeyer, Alexandrea Lushington.
I think Overmeyer needs to go. She relied too much on the band and her head-banging, obvious ploys to cover up the fact that she was having trouble with that song.
And I agreed with Simon, the hair was horrible!!!
I agree with your reviews completely, but you’re totally wrong on who’s going home. It has to be Overmeyer and the chick who “sang” Magic Man.
Seriously. You’re losing street cred. Please stop Idol blogging.
I like Overmeyer, but she’s has already shown her hand. Nothing new will come from her. She needs a Southern Rock band or tribute band to pick her up. Not Idol material. Would fade faster than “Soul Patrol”….
Brooke is the new Carly Simon. Unfortunately, that means she’d be relegated to VH-1 Classic during the early Sunday morning hours. Love the song, though.
Ramile was swallowed whole by her song. She’d do well entering a National Karaoke Contest, but wouldn’t sell many records if recorded.
Carly & Syesha are about it in the talent pool. The rest will get skimmed.
Is it me, or is this batch of contestants just weak? They could easily go to 10 total from these last few days. Perhaps that should happen so Idol doesn’t roll too far into baseball season. First time we actually have no favorites and are rooting for nobody. Maybe America is just Idol’d out…
#3…
I had street cred?
I don’t give a damn what you blog about you will always have street cred with me.
Overmeyer very well may be the one to go. Her song choice was worse than terrible and her hair gave me nightmares. Even white trash has limits.
But as they say, keeping it real and being very honest with you, I am not very impressed with any of the Idols this year. There certainly is not a Carrie Underwood among them.
Radley, you have street cred and a ghetto pass. They’re given out by the Bureau of Antiquated Colloquialisms….
I think Overmeyer and Malloy are gone. It wouldn’t suprise me if Whitaker took Malloy’s place. Cook is too hot and will make it to final 12 and maybe final 6.
Why is it that so many people feel entitled to tell others what to put on their blogs? If you don’t like it, there are thousands of other blogs.
Bureau of Antiquated Colloquialisms…priceless!
Linda Ronstadt “dreadful”? Different strokes and all that, but c’mon — “dreadful”? Certainly you jest. Loved lots of her stuff in the latter 70s, even discounting the eye candy factor way back when . . .