The Morning After: You Say It's Your Birth Year

I didn't think that Kristy Lee did half bad! I think she should be proud of herself - she looked engaged with the song and the audience, she seemed to be enjoying herself, and she let go with the vocals and really sold every line (rather than kind of watch them float by, like she usually does). I thought last nite was just kinda strange in general. I cringed when Michael started his song, remembering the downfall of Ace Young, but he pulled it off! David C did great, Syesha was good, Brooke was allright (but again, not extending her comfort zone much more than Jason has), Chikezie was allright, Ramielle was not good, and her immaturity is kinda grating on me at this point - "my voice just went bye-bye"??? WTF?

Carly sang great but looked way the hell too angry and intense. I think she is kinda freaking some people out with her angry facial expressions and her strange bobbing-dancing thing. Ohhh! And she was doing the Eddie Izzard bit about "confirming and denying" with her hands - he had this whole hilarious stand-up bit where he was talking about singing the national anthem, and how people don't have to know the words, as long as they make dramatic up-down and back-forth movements with their hands - "confirming and denying"! And Carly was totally channeling that, and Mr. Shara Says and I were completely cracking up.

About David A. - that song felt wayyyyy to grown-up for him. was Simon's comment that he was sure David didn't pick the song himself an acknowledgement of all the rumors that David A's dad is a wretched stage parent? That's what it sounded like he was saying, to me. The only other thing that would explain David A's song choices is that he might have a maturity and depth of political and/or spiritual conviction that do not come across in his interview packages.

Again, I really enjoyed Jason's performance. Even though I really liked the song (and thought it was a good choice for his voice) I thought that Simon's critique was fair - Jason has been at (or very near) the top of the idol power charts and polls since the first week of voting, he is likable and charming and "not obnoxious at all" - lots of potential, but that he doesn't seem to be making a serious attempt to keep the lead, and is therefore losing it.

Bottom 3: Chikeze, Ramielle, and Carly

Going further on Mrs. Tuned-In's thought...David A. even seemed uncomfortable addressing Ryan's prom questions and his "female friend" in the audience. Yikes - either the kid is totally shy or waiting for permission to comment on ANYTHING.

Carly is looking a little too desperate for approval and I'm worried she is going to pass out from exertion during one of her performances - but she definitely has the pipes.

My fav David Cook shows again not only voice talent, but great timing, emotion and everything else musical all wrapped into one - without going overboard.

@Lori and Shara: Yeah, I think you've talked me into Carly as a bottom-three likely for this week. America does not seem to care for her too much, and the whole business of her seeming to try to kill us with her eyes as she sings is getting a little frightening. Jason remains my upset pick, though, not that I think he's going home.

I didn't get home in time to watch and I didn't record it. I did get to see the last of David Cook's performace and the contestant review. Based on that, My feeling was that Kristy was going home. To be fair to her, I have heard Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA something like 500,000,000 gazillion times and have learned to absolutely hate it with a passion. Disclaimer: I do love the USA, I just hate the song.

I'd throw Jason into the bottom three.

@Keith - I hate that song with a fiery passion as well, and groaned and rolled my eyes when they announced that she was singing it. But (at least compared to the last several weeks) she did a good job with it, and at least showed that she has a good voice with range, and can hit high notes - I was surprised by how much I didn't entirely hate the performance! Not that that's any kind of glowing endorsement, but the girl has taken a lot of abuse so far with a smile, and I think she should get credit for drastic improvement.

@shara-I'll take your limited endorsement of Kristy since as I said, all I had to base any judgement on was the snippit review at the end.

I do think Kristy is talented and I do think she is the kind of package deal that Simon likes. She just seems so lackluster and does not come across well on stage. I think it will be her undoing.

This is the re-cap that I send my friends, I send it every week! I need a life!

Ramiele Malubay – Alone Heart (1987) – this does not seem like a good song choice for her, I don’t know if her voice can reach the Wilson sisters wide range. Starts out with David A’s breathiness – ugh. First, she needs to stop screaming at me, second, she was out sung by her back-up singers. Oh and personal pet peeve – can she stop speaking like a child? She is going to be 21 in a few months.

Jason Castro – Fragile – Sting (1987) – happy birthday Jason! This is a song that I do not remember ever hearing in 1987. His Spanish is better than his French…he is a good performer, I am sure that he will have a nice Jack Johnson-like career. This was a nice performance – not too risky.

Syesha Mercado – If I Were Your Woman – Stephanie Mills (1987) – this is one of my favorite songs – let’s see if she brings it! I like the calmer arrangement. She really does a good job on this song. She may not be making a big enough impression on the voters.

Chikezie – If Only for One Night – Luther Vandross (1985) – back to a ballad – although I enjoy his ballads, I think that he may be in trouble this week. His cool take on the Beatles was great and different. I think that this will set him back – too bad.

Brooke White – Every Breath You Take – The Police (1983) – did she mess up the beginning of the song? Good recovery. Basic Brooke – nothing too exciting. Her fans will love it and download it from iTunes tomorrow! I just cannot get excited about this young lady at all.

Michael Johns – We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions – Queen (1978) – I believe that he is the oldest contestant in the competition. More Queen from Michael - he sticks to his wheelhouse for sure! He is all over the place tonight – his Queen audition was better.

Carly Smithson – Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler (1983) – she seems like she is screaming this song. Not really the finesse that she typically brings to a song. Glory note at the end seemed silly to me.

David Archuleta – The Voice (1990) – I have never heard this song before. He was good in a musical theatre way – I guess! This is a creepy a$$ song.

Kristy Lee Cook – God Bless the USA – Lee Greenwood (1984) – well she just secured herself another week in the competition. America loves this song. Since I hate it – does that make me a communist? Gah – I hope not!!

David Cook – Billie Jean – Michael Jackson (1982) – singing Chris Cornell’s version! Very good song choice. Although I will not be downloading this performance – it is definitely my fave of the night and the most memorable!

Top 2
David Cook
Syesha Mercado

Bottom 3
Ramiele Malubay
Kristy Lee Cook
Chikezie

I am now almost entirely tuning out performances in the first few moments that bore me: Ramiele, Jason, Cheezy, David A, and even Brooke and Carly who still has a fantastic voice but seems too busy 'performing' to actually connect.

I was glad Kristy finally had a decent showing, it's hard to fail/and to watch her fail so deperately each week. And I think hitting the America note will hit with this audience. I was also glad that Syesha had a good night, I still think she has potential though not enough to win.

And Michael Johns finally showed what we saw earlier on in him, I still really like him. But that David Cook stole the show. That's the first time I've even considered downloading a song from itunes. He has the ability to make a song his own and actually be a guy who you might go see, as opposed to someone who can sing a good song.