Idol 12 Performances

Yes! McCartney-Lennon songs! This should be interesting...

1. Syesha Mercado - "Got to Get You into My Life"
I wasn't impressed with her this week. The song didn't seem to fit her. Randy and Paula said she started off weak but got better; Simon liked it all. I disagree all around. I don't think she ever found her place. Still, I like her and don't want to see her go home just yet.

2. Chikezie - "She's a Woman"
Wow! I loved the way he started out. It kind of reminded me of O Brother, Where Art Thou?. (I did not steal that reference from Paula, either. I typed that before she said it.) Then he rocked! Great job! This proves right here why he beat Danny Noriega last week. If he keeps up with performances like this, he's solid on my list.

3. Ramiele Malubay - "In My Life"
Slow, but good. She's got a really good voice no matter what she sings. After Chikezie's performance, it's a little bit of a let down. I hope the remaining contestants liven things up a bit. I disagree with Simon and Randy that she might be gone next week.

4. Jason Castro - "If I Fell"
More acoustic guitar. It was okay. I didn't like the way his voice would go high, then back down for the next note. It was almost like he was going to change keys, and then decided against it. I still like him, though. He's got a great personality, kind of the boy-next-door type. I hope he doesn't use the guitar every week.

5. Carly Smithson - "Come Together"
She knocked it out! (She usually does.) She's a powerhouse! She hit all the notes and added a little extra in just the right places. Great job! Can you tell she's one of my favorites?

6. David Cook - "Eleanor Rigby"
Impressive, once again. He really does a good job of taking a song and bringing a little (or a lot of) rock to it. I liked the intensity of his voice. Simon said it was "brilliant" and called it when he said "if it remains a talent competition instead of a popularity contest". He's definitely got the talent.

7. Brooke White - "Let It Be"
Another great song from her. She made it her own while staying true to the original. I liked how she played the piano along with singing. She's done guitar, too. She's very musically gifted. I really like her performances, and the fact that she reminds me a little of Carly Simon works in her favor. She's solid near the top of my list.

8. David Hernandez - "I Saw Her Standing There"
To borrow Randy's sometime critique, "It was just okay for me." Billy said it looked like another cruise ship performance. Randy and Paula both described it as overdone. Simon called it "corny, verging on desperate". Yes, yes, and yes. His performance didn't seem to mesh well with everyone else's. Not in the same class.

9. Amanda Overmyer - "You Can't Do That"
First impression: don't like the hair (still) and don't like the striped pants. Did she add more blond streaks? Okay, on to her singing. I just don't like her voice. Yes, she sounds a little like Janis Joplin, but there are so many other better voices in this competition. And it's often hard to understand what she's saying. I want her to go home.

10. Michael Johns - "Across the Universe"
He did pretty good. For the most part, there wasn't really anything to set him apart from several others tonight. He's done better. I think he'll stay, but I hope he starts doing things to stand out or he won't be around much longer.

11. Kristy Lee Cook - "Eight Days a Week"
Oh, boy. She's taking it country... Didn't like it. At all. Especially the horrible ending. Her country is old style. Simon said it sounded like "Dolly Parton on helium". None of the judges liked it, and no one in my house did either.

12. David Archuleta - "We Can Work It Out"
Oops! He forgot the words! Not good! This was not a good song for him. Still, he's sticking around. He's got a great voice, just made a bad choice of song and had a bad night.

Best performances of the night: Chikezie
Runners up: Carly Smithson and David Cook

Worst: Kristy Lee Cook

My pick to go home: Kristy Lee Cook

Update: Sooooo close! She was in the bottom 2, but David Hernandez was a little less popular with the voting public. Could've been his cheesy performance, or it could've been the scandal... He's got a good voice, but he needs to work on his style and delivery.

Next week will bring us more McCartney-Lennon songs. Wonder how that will go... There are so many other options, I'm ready for something different now, myself.