Recap and Predictions as Final Dozen of Top 36 Perform

After the last two weeks and 24 singers, I thought I could’ve already chosen my Top 12 for this season…but after last night’s performances, I’m now fearing for some of my favorites! The final dozen from the Top 36 sang their song choices from Billboard’s Hot 100 last night, and some very big voices were revealed.

Ryan Seacrest asked Simon Cowell a very good and relevant question…it was that there is so much criticism over song choice, ‘why don’t you just pick the songs?’ To which Simon answered, ok, ‘I will.’ He suggested there be a whole Simon Cowell week. Maybe it will happen, but I don’t think he really wants to take on that kind of responsibility if the performances are bad. There is a week when the judges choose songs for the contestants when there’s only 3 or 4 competitors left though, right?

However it plays out, the top three from last night will be joining Alexis “Cute Mom Lookin’ Like She Wants To Go Home” Grace, Michael “Little Bit Country, But I Wanna Be Rock‘n’Roll” Sarver, Danny “I Forgot He Was Here Without Producers Shoving His Sob Story Down My Throat” Gokey, Kris “Still Can’t Believe He Made It” Allen, Allison “Not A Natural Red Head” Iraheta, and Adam “He Kissed A Boy And He Like It” Lambert. An early prediction would be that, uh, we’ll be adding a little more, er, color (other than red, pink, and black hair dye) to this group!

Von Smith ~ "You're All I Need To Get By" by Marvin Gaye.
In Von's pre-performance interview, he remembered Simon's critique during Hollywood Week, calling his shouted a cappella song 'indulgent nonsense.' Promising to not blast our eardrums, Von took the stage, and even though usually contestants do the opposite of what they say in their interviews, Von did okay. He started in a very low range, has a terribly crooked haircut and must've borrowed his grandpa's best suit...but he didn't scream at us...much. The song was a definite improvement over any previous auditions we've seen of Von.

Randy: Thought 'this is the way to kick off a show' and that it was better than he remembered Von in Hollywood.
Kara: Told Von he's coming into his own and did a 'good job.'
Paula: Felt the need to remind everyone it's 'hard being first,' but commented that Von was 'quite the showman.'
Simon: Didn't hate it, though he thinks Von reminds him of a 'spicier Clay Aitken,' as he has the 'same dress sense,' even if he did 'look appalling' matching his red tee with red sneakers under gray suit; it was a 'much better song.'
I: Was distracted by Von's face and his obvious struggle to keep from screeching, but he was much better than Hollywood Week for sure! He really told a story with his song, and I felt he believed in his words.

Taylor Vaifanua ~ “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys.
I already knew going into tonight that there was another dark-haired, dark-eyed Alicia Keys sound-a-like (the Pacitti replacement), but was excited to see what 17yr old Taylor brought to the competition. And what she brought was a pair of kicka$$ black leather leggings on her towering Jordin Sparks body! The song was quite a dead-on Alicia Keys version, and while Taylor didn’t make it her own, her voice is very grown-up for her young age, and she was in tears (of joy) in front of the judges.

Kara: Thinks Taylor ‘has a voice,’ but she’s ‘still trying to figure out who you are,’ which is why, she said, ‘that song leaves me a bit cold.’ Kara tried to explain further, by saying she wants ‘to know what it’s like to go shopping with Taylor.’ Ooooookay.
Paula: Was ‘a little perplexed,’ (shocker, I know!) because the judges had heard Taylor sing this in Hollywood, while she thinks Taylor has a ‘beautiful instrument,’ this was her ‘chance to show us something new’ and just wish she would’ve ‘taken that chance.’
Simon: Didn’t ‘get the shopping thing,’ and belittled Kara by asking Taylor what kind of breakfast cereal she likes. He told Taylor he ‘genuinely couldn’t remember’ her, and now knows why ‘after hearing that.’ He said it ‘wasn’t terrible,’ was a little ‘bland,’ and ‘very generic,’ and that she, too, was ‘trying to be older.’
Randy: Told Taylor she ‘can sing,’ but didn’t tell us anything about her by singing that song, and was ‘kinda boring.’
I: Think she did tell us something about her…that she has a great voice and sounds like Alicia Keys…I know I’d like to be able to sing like that. Anyhow, this is a current song, so you can’t really get much “younger” than that, unless she was to pick a Taylor Swift song and hellooooo, we all know how that went! I’m also having a hard time with the judges contradictory comments…specifically the fact that Paula dissed Taylor for singing this a second time (even though AMERICA never saw/heard her sing it before last night), and yet Paula was clapping like a seal when Norman Gentle did his lame song for the THIRD TIME! *sigh*


Alex Wagner-Trugman ~ “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” by Elton John.
Alex explained during his pre-performance interview that he’s been in a long distance relationship for a long time…my guess is they met online, she’s doing hard time, and they’re waiting a few more years to begin conjugal visits. Okay, just kidding. Alex brings the dorky charm to the competition, and definitely tries to bring the funny…emphasis on TRIES! I thought the song would go okay, and groaned that he probably would get the Taylor Hick-ish votes, but thankfully Alex squashed that during this growling rendition filled with awkward “dance” moves (if you’d go so far as to call them that).

Paula: Could only stammer out, ‘you are certainly entertaining.’
Simon: ‘Had fun watching’ Alex, ‘just not listening’ to him. Then he used the funniest analogy of AI history…‘You’re like a little hamster trying to be a tiger,’ which was far more witty than calling him a cocker spaniel during Alex’s first audition. Simon closed by saying it ‘was a bit stupid,’ and it ‘just didn’t work.’
Randy: Agreed with Simon, proclaiming ‘the whole thing was crazy in a buck-wild sort of way,’ while dogging Alex’s “moves.”
Kara: Summed it all up with ‘At least you do you,’ and claimed ‘you can’t pay for that kind of choreography.’ No, Kara, we wouldn’t!
I: Didn’t think cocker spaniel was the correct dog sound description coming from Alex, it was more like Scooby Doo ate Kermit the Frog and he’s singing a duet from his tummy. Honestly, Norman Gentle has a better voice.

Arianna Afsar ~ “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA.
Receiving the award for the first (and probably last) ABBA song singer on the Idol stage, was 17yr old Arianna. Oh, Mamma Mia…she really did try to put her own spin on it, but all her riffs and awkwardly random high-pitched notes just came off as a pitchy performance.
Simon: Harshly retorted there’s a ‘certain irony to those lyrics after that performance.’ *scoff* He thought it was an ‘incredibly dreary arrangement,’ and was ‘like being at a funeral’ in the first ½. Simon thinks ‘everyone’s gone into a time machine,’ (referring to the song being too old for her) and described it as her ‘worst performance by a clear mile.’

Randy: Thought Arianna ‘tried to do more with it vocally than is really there,’ and that it ‘wasn’t the right song.’
Kara: Told her she wasn’t the ‘beam of sunshine’ they’d seen at her first audition, and told Arianna this was ‘too serious,’ and ‘gloomy.’ Her words of advice were ‘be young, touch people.’
Paula: Thought there were ‘some bright moments to the song,’ but sometimes it’s ‘better to stick to the melody.’
I: Can’t believe we just heard that from the queen of “you just didn’t make it your own.” See what I mean about the judges’ contradictions?! Ahhhh! Anyhow, Arianna hit some big notes and can really belt it out…She definitely did too much with the song, and I wish we’d heard something bigger from her.

Ju’Not Joyner ~ “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White Ts.
In the season of contestants who were adding/dropping third names (Brent Keith Smith and Megan Joy Corkrey), Ju’Not returned this year having just added an apostrophe to his name. His rendition slowed down this already mellow song, but he made it his own while keeping the harmony. He started low, but the volume (and my goosebumps) raised throughout the velvet-y smooth song.

Randy: ‘Loved it,’ thought it was ‘really cool’ and a ‘smart kinda choice.’
Kara: Liked Ju’Not’s spin on the song, describing it as ‘smooth, really, like, fluid,’ but hopes he’ll ‘kill it on the next song,’ cuz she knows he ‘has ridiculous pipes.’
Paula: Thinks the ‘liberties that you took paid off,’ and it was a ‘nice vocal.’
Simon: Told Ju’Not it was ‘actually better than I thought it was gonna be,’ and thought it was a ‘little bit safe.’
I: Loved it, too. The song built and became greater as it went on. I could’ve done without the “cortizone shot in the butt” image, due to asthma (does that make him a cheater?!), in his post-interview, but gushed all over his son again, and totally realated to not having him there cuz he would’ve wanted to touch everything. I think Ju’Not brought the funny after his performance, which will help America to remember to vote for him.

Kristen McNamara ~ “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman.
Introduced as a ‘karaoke host,’ I just can’t get that word outta my head when I hear Kristen sing…karaoke. She sang the song well, it wasn’t the worst part of the night, but her dress was.

Kara: Thinks she’s a ‘great singer’ but could see her ‘doing a little bit more rock edge, like Pink “So What,”’ and thinks she’s ‘gotta dial in on that outfit a little more.’
Paula: Reminded us she ‘sang a Kelly Clarkson song during Hollywood Week, “Because of You.” (A duet with Reba McEntire…a country song…hmmmm.) that showed us more range.’ She thought Kristen played it ‘a little more safe’ last night, and that she ‘has a hell of a range.’
Simon: Is ‘puzzled,’ and not quite sure who she is, and that she was ‘looking like your mum styled you.’
Randy: Told her that was ‘a good song for someone who has great vocals, like you,’ but that Kristen ‘tried to do too much with the song.’
I: Am just disturbed by Kristen. I guess you could say I’m weirded out by her. Having done a little research (okay, I just googled her, ha!), I knew she had already been on a similarly formatted singing show for country stars, and even had seen some of her performances and interviews on youtube…but her face is sort of Stepford Wives meets psycho soap opera murderer trying to keep it all together, especially in her awkward interviews. And her post-performance interview with Ryan Seacrest was much the same. She’s got a great voice, but she bothers me.

Nathaniel Marshall ~ “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” by Meatloaf.
Kristen’s partner-in-DRAMA from Hollywood Week was up next. Nathaniel started with a slow first verse then broke into a super upbeat tempo for the remainder of the song, and I’m not sure if it was the song/neon lights/odd jumping choreography, or the bright blue sweater/head band combo with yellow tee but while he was singing the upbeat parts, I flashed to an 80’s exercise video…like, somebody get that boy a jump rope, some yellow leggings and some back-up jumpropers and we’ll all burn a few calories together! Phew! Nathaniel did okay singing, but didn’t have enough grrrrr in his voice to carry the song.

Simon: Told Nathaniel ‘I think you probably would [do that],’ and after he said he was ‘just kidding,’ he described the performance as ‘verging on excruciating,’ with his ‘Olivia Newton-John headband’ but thinks ‘people are gonna remember you.’
Randy: Was curious about the song choice, and thought it ‘hard to imagine’ what Nathaniel would record…to which Simon retorted ‘a keep fit video.’
Kara: Thinks he’s ‘got a voice,’ but needs to ‘choose a more serious song,’ and that she just found her ‘karoke buddy.’
Paula: Must have taken her gingko yesterday, cuz she reminded us of Nathaniel’s “Disturbia” song he played the guitar with during Hollywood Week,, but she thought last night was like the ‘Boy George version of that song.’
I: Had forgotten how much I liked Nathaniel’s “Disturbia.” Maybe America will remember also and give him another shot. I thought his mom had been sprung from the hoosegow for his performance, but it turned out being his aunt sitting with his grandma in the audience. I thought it was corny and yet another producer ploy to get votes for Nathaniel when Ryan pulled him up to the judges table and tried to force him onto Simon’s lap. Nathaniel ended up on Paula’s lap while Ryan tried to slip the blue headband onto Simon’s head…who resisted, thankfully…(and what was that in Simon’s hand? A tape recorder?)

Felicia Barton ~ “No One” by Alicia Keys.
AS IF. I can NOT believe Felicia sang this song. It’s all over the internet and youtube. We already knew she sounded like Alicia Keys, darn it…and I wanted to hear something else! Of course she did it well, but is a tiny bit more raspy than Alicia.

Paula: Is happy ‘we brought you back,’ and thinks her talent/gift is ‘unbelievable.’
Simon: Thought the ‘first ½ was better than the 2nd,’ that it was ‘a bit copycat,’ and he’s ‘not as enthusiastic’ as Paula.
Randy: ‘Loved you when we first saw you,’ and thinks Felicia’s ‘amazing voice’ has ‘something a little different than Alicia,’ and to ‘go with that.’
Kara: Told Felicia she ‘had attitude,’ ‘had presence,’ thinks this was her ‘best look’ and she ‘noticed you for the first time.’
I: Agreed with Simon and am perturbed that if they all had so much love for Felicia, why she wasn’t here instead of say, Norman Gentle??! I would have went off on them for having been brought back as the Pacitti replacement! But I do heart her bangs.

Scott McIntyre ~ “Mandolin Rain” by Bruce Hornsby.
Being the first person to sing from a stool this season, vision-impaired Scott sang a song I couldn’t remember until he started singing. He sang with conviction, had some okay vocals, and definitely told the story while he sang.

Randy: Told Scott it ‘wasn’t the most perfect vocal, but the parts that were great were really, really great,’ and he ‘can feel the passion, man, just pouring outta you.’
Kara: Proclaimed to Scott ‘you move mountains when you step on that stage,’ and she wants America to see him ‘play [piano] and sing.’
Paula: Is ‘happy and proud’ he’s made it, thinks he’s a ‘genius at the piano,’ and he’s ‘one of our finest.’
Simon: ‘Wasn’t crazy about the song, particularly some of the lyrics,’ but thinks Scott is ‘starting to believe’ in himself and he’s growing on him. Simon will be ‘amazed’ if Scott doesn’t ‘sail through to the next round,’ even if ‘there’s better singers’ in the competition, he’s ‘got relevance in a sea of forgettable singers.’
I: Agree partly with Simon in that there’s better singers in this competition by far, and while I appreciate the struggle Scott has on a daily basis, I just don’t think this is the competition for him. I was touched by his song, particularly when the camera was not zoomed in on his face, because then I wasn’t focused on his eyes. I really do like him and wish him great success, and I’m not trying to be mean at all, but I think he could have gotten the same exposure and fans being on a talk show, not AI. There is SO much BIG talent this season that someone who sings fabulously is going to go home because Scott will probably receive…(dare I type it?)…the pity votes. He definitely scored points for the high-five joke on Ryan, though!!

Kendall Beard ~ “This One’s For The Girls” by Martina McBride.
Finally, we saw someone who knows who they are…this girl is country through and through, right down to the alligator dance her daddy does. Kendall did great with this song, but got borderline whiney by the end.

Kara: Thinks Kendall chose the ‘right lane, cuz you’re definitely a country girl,’ and ‘had issues’ with some of the notes falling ‘flat.’
Paula: Gave her the award for the ‘best outfit,’ and agreed she’s ‘definitely a country artist.’
Simon: Told Kendall that ‘½ way through, I couldn’t wait for it to end,’ but that she ‘probably did the right thing tonight, but was shrilly toward the end.’ Country’s just not his ‘cup of tea.’
Randy: ‘Loves country music,’ and thought that while it wasn’t Kendall’s ‘best vocal,’ it definitely told us ‘who you were and what you were.’
I: Agree with Simon…the Top 12 has yet to have a country singer (again, Michael Sarver is but doesn’t realize it yet), so I think she’ll get all the country music fan votes tonight, which might be enough to put her through.

Jorge Mendez ~ “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” by Elton John.
During his first audition in Puerto Rico, Kara DioGuardi had told him that there were some ‘pronunciation issues,’ and that she felt more connected to him when he sang in Spanish. So, poor Jorge comes to America, gets himself a dialect coach and sings like an English man and now the judges were like, “Aw, where’s the cute accent?” WHAT?! Jorge sang the song very well, went big with some of his notes, and even though he lost his ethnicity in the pronunciation of such words as “pictures” and “everything,” he does have an amazing voice.

Paula: Was ‘so proud’ that he took their advice and ‘works so hard to sound so good.’
Simon: Decided they ‘were wrong’ to say to him that he shouldn’t sing with an accent. He told Jorge he’s a ‘very good singer and should be who you are.’
Randy: Didn’t think it was the perfect vocal, but ‘it was really, really good, Dude.’
Kara: Told Jorge she thinks he has ‘a gift of touching people’ when he sings. Then she and Paula asked him to say something so America could hear his cute accent…and his voice lessons had sent his speaking voice (in my opinion) from Ricky Ricardo to PeeWee Herman. It wasn’t until he got emotional that he “can’t barely think in English and it comes out in Spanish” and the accent returned.
I: Once again, am so mad at the judges for their contradictions.

Lil Rounds ~ “Be Without You” by Mary J. Blige.
And Idol’s “Pimp Spot” (as it’s been called in online communities) was given to Lil Rounds last night…a spot previously filled by Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert during their weeks. I think someone must be standing with the contestants off-stage and the last advice they hear before starting to sing is “don’t forget to start really low so that when you get to your big notes, they sound even bigger”…because EVERYone starts their songs SO low! Lil has a power voice and did a great sound-a-like version of this song, changing up the last line to say “Call this show if you just can’t live without me, baby…”

Simon: Said he was gonna ‘keep this very brief…Brilliant!’ and then went on for another four minutes, okay, maybe 45 seconds, which included a little criticism that it ‘was too much like the original,’ but thinks she has ‘great, great prospects in this competition.’
Randy: Called Lil ‘definitely R&B flavorful current, but you definitely kept your swagger on.’
Kara: Described Lil as a ‘powerhouse.’
Paula: Punned we’re gonna see Lil Rounds ‘for many lil’ rounds.’
I: Agreed with Simon. We now know Lil Rounds sounds just like Mary J. Blige…but there is already a Mary J. Blige in music, so now I’d like to see some more originality from Lil.

My Predictions ~
Top Girl: Lil Rounds
Top Guy: I’d like to say Ju’Not Joyner, but think Scott Mcintyre might just beat him out of the votes.
Next Top Vote Getter: While I’d prefer to listen to Felicia Barton, I honestly think it’s a toss up between Kendall Beard getting the country votes and America’s sweetheart Jorge Nunez.

This has definitely been the most talent-filled dozen so far. There were far less bombs this week than the previous two…usually there’s only a good 5-6 from each week who could possibly fill the three spots, but this week there’s 9-10 of them. I can’t wait to see how it goes tonight and more importantly, to see how the Wild Card round is going to go tomorrow night and FINALLY, who the Season 8 Top 12 are!!!

And yes, I’m still hoping they bring back Anoopdogg in the Wild Card Round!!!
:o)