recap: the american idol top 12 girls

kristy lee cook, 24 from selma, or
rescue me
not a memorable way to start the show. it was okay but her voice was not strong enough to carry the song. you could tell she was not on top of her game.

randy says he didn’t love it. it was rough around the edges.
paula says being sick and being first are tough. don’t ever let that get in the way of your shine. you’re a good performer. you did a good job.
simon says song didn’t suit her. performance was robotic. didn’t get anything from the performance.

joanne borgella, 25 from hoboken, nj
say a little prayer
she was a bit pitchy or off key, but she has a nice tone to her voice. i was hoping she would really deliver but she didn’t.

randy says the first part was weird. her voice was shaky, unsure.
paula says “you got to pull it together and enjoy it.” she liked it, but didn’t love it.
simon says didn’t like it at all. very average, cabaret version of a cabaret song. very sub-standard.

alaina whitaker, 16 from tulsa, ok
more today than yesterday
she picked the right song and really put it out there. she rocked it. she’s a fave now.

randy says season 7 is the year of the young ones. she sang with conviction and confidence.
paula says she nailed it. best ending she’s ever heard for that song.
simon says he thinks she’s every good. he hated the song but loved her performance. she is sailing through to the next round.

amanda overmyer, 23 from mulberry, in
song title ?
i loved her confidence and style. the song may not have been the best for showing range but she definitely showed off her style.

randy says pretty bluesy rocker chick. loved the scat vibe.
paula says she doesn’t deviate from who she is. she’s the real deal and she loved ever bit of it.
simon says really likes her. she’s authentic, stands out in the crowd. hopes she stays around. the song was a little all over the place but he likes her.

amy davis, 25 from lowell, in
where the boys are
just not good. she missed it big time. bad song choice and stylistically just wrong. the girls’ night version of moon river

randy says didn’t like it, pitch problems. wasn’t great.
paula says camera loves her. nerves got the best of her. not the most engaging song for her to sing.
simon says it was a boring song, boring arrangement, dull. she will struggle getting through.

brooke white, 24 from mesa, az
happy together
a good song for her voice but it was missing something. it needed a little more edge.

randy says started rough but she got her confidence back.
paula says the business is about originality and that’s what’s great about her. she has her own thing going.
simon says the right song. it was very her. happy and bright. she sang it well.

alexandrea lushington, 17 from douglasville, ga
spinning wheel
she worked it out. not her best performance but she brought freshness to the song and it was fun. she’s a keeper.

randy says she blew the doors off. she got it. it was hot.
paula says she took control of her performance. she saw the most confidence and she loved the interpretation of the song that could be heard on the radio
simon says didn’t get it. vocals not great. reminded of bad sixties musical.

kady malloy, 18 from houston, tx
groovy kind of love
great voice but she had some pitch problems and she seemed stiff

randy says it was okay but too restrained. she got lost in the song. lost her concentration.
paula says she wants to see more of the fun kady.
simon says he agrees with paula. she needs to lighten up and be herself.

asia’h epperson, 19 from joplin, mo
take another piece of my heart
not the right song for her stylistically. but she has a nice voice and managed to make it her own.

randy says he was impressed.
paula says she had some good moments in the song.
simon says she was his favorite of the night. she let loose with her vocals and had fun with it.

ramiele malubay, 20 from miramar, fl
you don’t have to say you love meshe can blow! she did nice job with a tough song.

randy says she took her time and built up the song. she was classy like a pro. she made it her own.
paula says she’s a force to be reckoned with. a really great performance.
simon says didn’t like her when he first saw her, but she has been the most consistent through hollywood week. tonight, she out-sung all the girls before her.

i would be so excited to see a filipino get into at least the top four, if not actually win.

syesha mercado, 21 from sarasota, fl
tobacco roadshe picked a good song for her voice and her style. she can probably sing anything. she’s in my top four fersure!

randy says not his favorite performance but she has been consistently good.
paula says it was joyful and fun.
simon says he agrees with randy. not her best performance but it doesn’t matter, she is one of the most talented girls in the competition. it was terrific.

carly smithson, 24 from san diego, ca (orig. from ireland)
the shadow of your smileshe closed the show on a high note. she rocked her song but i still expect better from her in the coming weeks.

randy says she has bronchitis and a cold but she pulled out the best vocal of the top 24.
paula says she is the lucky coin in the pocket. she didn’t need to power through the song because she has beautiful inflections.
simon says he didn’t get it. the song was too old fashioned. the performance was too cabaret.


my top four:
syesha mercado
ramiele malubay
carly smithson
amanda overmyer

my bottom four:
joanne borgella
brooke white
**first two voted off:
amy davis
kristy lee cook


pictures of the contestants [here].