recap: the american idol top 10

the american idol top 10

tonight’s theme is the year they were born.

ramiele malubay
september 6, 1987 in dubai, saudi Arabia
good lord they are so filipino, they said “dehboo”; translation “debut”

heart, alone
hmm. it was lackluster.

randy says it wasn’t the right song choice. it was pitcy all over the place
paula says shes glad America gets to see how big her voice is and it was brave to do the song considering she is sick
simon says it wasn’t as bad as randy said. if she managed to get through with last week’s performance, she should be back next week.

jason castro
march 25, 1987 in dallas, texas
awww! happy birthday to him.

sting, fragile
a great song choice for him. he has such a subtle confidence. ooooh he made me melt like buttah!!!!!!!!

randy says good choice of song. he liked the spanish touch. not special vocally but it was nice.
paula says he’s staying true to he is. it wasn’t anything different that made us go “wow. it was on the safe side.
simon says he had two bad weeks and its time to take that he takes it more seriously. it was the equivalent of a subway street performer. too laid back and in his own world.

syesha mercado
january 2, 1987 in bridgeport, connecticut

if i were your woman, gladys knight/alicia keys
she finally shows us superstar.

randy says that was a good moment for her. the best he’s heard her sing. stellar. unbelievable. he’s shocked.
paula says what’s great is that this will be the moment where she flipped the competition and became the dark horse to win it.
simon says it was the best so far but the end wasn’t as great as rany thinks. her voice was hitting it’s limit.

chikezie eze
september 11, 1985 in los angeles, california

if only for one night, luther vandross
it was a nice rendition and his voice suits the luther vandross vibe, but so did ruben studdard’s...and where is he now?

randy says it was interesting to follow up syesha with another old school song. it was kinda boring compared to what syesha did.
paula says that by upping the tempo he did a great voice and used the textures of his vocals.
simon says he sang it well but the performance was cheesy. he needs to show some originality. he missed his personality.

brooke white
june 2, 1983 in mesa, arizona

police, every breath you take
i like her voice but i don’t know if what she did with the arrangement was right. something was just a bit off.

randy says interesting song choice. he didn’t like the arrangement with the bridge when the band joined in. it would have been better with just her on the piano.
paula says that she enjoyed this performance much better than last week. she has a niche and her voice is recognizable in one note. she is consistent.
simon says he agrees with randy. the minute it picked up tempo and the band joined in it became old-fashioned. it’s good enough to get into next week.

michael johns
october 20, 1978 in perth , australia

queen, rock you/we are the champions medley

a good choice for him to show some range in his vocals and it worked. he finally rocked it out.

randy says he finally believed in himself and used his big voice. the best
paula says he finally found the right song. it was his shining moment.
simon says it was the first time he saw star potential. he looked like he finally got it right.



carly smithson
sept 12, 1983 in dublin, ireland

bonnie tyler, total eclipse of the heart
she totally picked the right song but i think she tried to oversing the song.
randy says it was an interesting song choice. he didn’t like the rock vibe he liked it but didn’t love it. the note at the end didn’t work.
paula says she could probably take any song she doesn’t like and make her run out and buy it.
simon says she was too tense and uptight during the performance. something didn’t quite work.

david archuleta
december 28, 1990 in miami,florida

john farnham, you’re the voice
i didn’t like this performance at all. the vocals were a bit muddled. and considering the song is called you’re the voice, it needed to be cleaner. and i just didn’t like the pseudo-inspirational vibe. very christian revival.

randy says it was a strange song choice, but it proves that if you can really sing you can sing whatever.
paula says he can sing the phone book and we would fall in love with it.
simon says he sang it well in some parts but didn’t like the performance at all. it was reminiscent of a theme park show.

kristy lee cook
january 18, 1984 in seattle, washington

lee greenwood, god bless the u.s.a.
ugh! trying to pull at the heartstrings of america for the votes!?! i just changed the channel for two minutes...

randy says great song choice. some pitch problems but the performance was good.
paula says it was a good choice for her voice even though she’s seen better performances.
simon says it was her best performance ever and it was the most clever song choice.

david cook
december 20, 1982 in blue springs, missouri

billy jean, chris cornell version
mmmmmmmm...dreamy! i loved what david cook did with this version. i love the rocker twists he puts on the song choices he’s been making. he is my new favorite.

randy says he is the most original and most bold contestant ever. with that performance he could be tho one that wins it all.
paula says he is brilliant. he pushes it too the limit without taking it over the edge.
simon says that it was brave. it could have been insane or amazing and it was amazing.



there were only two performances that really seemed spot on: david cook and michael johns. but david blew that song apart and is now the one to beat.

so that leaves so many of the rest that could be in the hot seat. here is my bottom three: ramiele, chikezie, and jason.

but i would also put david archuleta and kristy lee cook as alternates. tonight was the night that the playing it safe group needed to put it all out there. the competition is on!

but before you leave, let me remind you...

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.”

-Oscar Wilde

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