I find it very, very interesting that American Idol contestants are singing Mariah Carey songs on the very day that Mariah Carey's new album, E=MC^2. Yeah, I'm still going to watch, but I won't be able to watch without reeling from the icky, product-placement-y overlay. And if David Archuleta sings "We Belong Together," I give up.
F Micelotta/Getty Images for Fox
Most Likely to Win
David Archuleta. Just barely though. The pasty, awkward, dulcet-toned teen from Utah fumbled over The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" his first night in the final 12, visibly taken aback when he realized he forgot some of the lyrics. But rebound he did last week with "The Long and Winding Road," the song he should have sung the first time. (Though I must admit I was betting on a Archuleta remix of "Hey Jude" the entire night.) But by showing he isn't completely infallible, David may have clinched his spot in the final three. Close Second: David Cook
Least Likely to Win
Kristy Lee Cook. Now that Amanda Overmyer and her skunk-tastic mane has been ousted, votefortheworst.com may have its latest champion in Cook, who hasn't not been in the bottom three since...forever. Sure, she's a nice and Paula loves her wardrobe, but when I can't audibly register her rendition of "Eight Days A Week," (It was like '80s carnival music, no?) then maybe a future in professional song titling (She picked "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," because it "sounds like a good title.") would be a better choice. Close Second: Chikezie
[There would be a photo from last night's show here, but Fox's press site wasn't acting up on me. Check for one later.]
Michael Johns, " You Can Go Your Own Way"
Not quite as strong as last week's "Light My Fire," it was a good, solid vocal that verged on safe. Grade: B
Jason Castro, "I Just Want to Be Your Everything"
If it ain't broke right? Wrong. Jason made a bad move taking the stage with a guitar again. It was nice -- not as good as last week's -- but he'd better be careful not create a gimmick this early on. Grade: B-
Luke Menard, "Killer Queen"
You went on tour with A capella group? To Hong Kong you say? Why doesn't this information convince me to not grow drowsy whenever Luke sings? Because he's still boring. Slightly less boring than last week, but still boring. Grade: C-
Robbie Carrico, "Hot Blooded"
I'm with the judges on this one: I don't buy Robbie as a "rocker" at all. I buy him as a fan of rock music, but not a rock vocalist, which would require some grit to his smooth voice. Grade: C+
David Noriega, "Superstar"
Oh all the songs. Like Simon mentioned with Luke, it's dangerous to pick songs with such original, powerful vocals because they only lend themselves to comparison, and David wasn't up to snuff. Grade: C+
David Hernandez, "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"
Either I missed something, or David's performance was outlandishly overrated. To put it simply, "I didn't get it." Grade: C+
Jason Yeager, "Long Train Runnin'"
Is it wrong of me to find Jason utterly annoying on all accounts? Probably, but I doubt many will debate that this song, was terrible. Grade: D
Chikeze Eze, "I Believe to My Soul"
Tons better than the suit-clad performance last week, but his glare into the camera was almost to intense -- I kept having to look away. Grade: B-
David Cook, "Alright Now"
A true performance all-around. The real "rocker" is so far the only one truly stepping up his game. Grade: B+
David Archuleta, "Imagine"
Never mind. This David is stepping up his game to all new level. Now if he could only come off a little less precious. Grade: A-
American Idol: Frank MIcelotta/Fox
Kristy Lee Cook, "Rescue Me"
A standard performance that, besides the occasional eye spasm it was otherwise a sedentary, mostly alright despite being down with the flu. Grade: C+
Joanne Borgella, "Say A Little Prayer For You"
Don't know if its was the flu, but Borgella's voice sounded oddly sedated. A better song for this "not diva," but it didn't really feel committed, or very engaging. Grade: C
Alaina Whitaker, "More Today Than Yesterday"
It started out a little slurred, but gained serious motion when the beat picked up. Plus, Whitaker, like the other younger contestants this season, had a naturalness that was refreshing. Grade: B+
Amanda Overmyer, "Baby, Please Don't Go"
The rocker nurse needs work on her enunciation, but was otherwise a sharp performer with a unique voice she knows how to use -- mostly. Grade: B
Amy Davis, "Where the Boys Are"
Sorry Paula, good looks won't make Davis sound any less droll-like. It was a flat, uninteresting number. Grade: C-
Brooke White, "Happy Together"
Definitely not as solid as David Cook's rendition last night, but was a noble performance that upheld White's name as the "good girl." Grade: C+
Alexandrea Lushington, "Spinning Wheel"
We'll ignore Lushington's attempt to look like Fefe Dobson because she did seem to do the best she could. Thing is, her best might not be great. Grade: C+
Kady Malloy, "Groovy Kind of Love"
Started out really strong, but fell into a typical, nonimpressive ballad. Had she picked a song a little more livelier, she may have faired better. Grade: C
Asia'h Epperson, "Piece of My Heart"
One of Hollywood's best performers knocked it out in a performance that was lively, powerful, and the first fun moment of this part of the competition. Grade: A-
Ramiele Malubay, "You Don't Say You Love Me"
Soulful, graceful -- just plain lovely. Grade: A-
Syesha Mercado, "Tobacco Road"
Consistent performance that was good, loud, but not spectacular. She's spunky, and she's perfectly personable, but a little off from the best. Grade: B
Carly Smithson, "The Shadow of Your Smile"
"The best vocal of the Top 24"? Close. But this "best," isn't entirely the best we've heard from Idol's past. Nonetheless, great job. Grade: B+
American Idol: Frank MIcelotta / FOX
Dave Hernandez, "In the Midnight Hour"
Simon wasn't kidding when he said that Dave would need to work harder -- as the first performer, he didn't really make for a memorable performance with an otherwise safe, if bland vocal that's hard to remember. Grade: C+
Chikezie Eze, "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday"
Smooth, controlled, if admittedly laid back old soul number that Simon hit right on -- it was cheesy, a little over the top, and just a little unnecessary. Grade: C
David Cook, "Happy Together"
One of the night's stronger performers, Cook is proving himself "worthy" without his guitar in hand. And forget what Randy says about needing a little shout for a rock edge -- shouting is merely a sign of working too hard. Grade: B
Jason Yeager, "Moonriver"
Turns out one of the more annoying contestants from the audition rounds are almost equally annoying come the Top 24. It was all too 1,000-watt small, too live-action Disney movie -- just a little too earnest. Grade: C
Robbie Carrico, "One (Is the Loneliest Number)"
Carrico obviously has a voice in him -- he toured with pre-crazy Britney Spears, remember -- but his "rock" take on Harry Nilsson seemed a little obvious, but a great performance nonetheless. Grade: B
David Archuleta, "Shop Around"
This kid is impressive. A very good choice of song that really set himself apart from the twee pop that he could have easily fallen into. Very awkward on stage, but that's why we like him. Grade: B+
David Noreiga, "Jailhouse Rock"
Future Mousekateer David Noreiga just nearly hit the right mark with his bold attempt at Elvis. Close, but even for a voice like his, this song was too big for him. Grade: B-
Luke Menard, "Everybody's Talkin'"
Predictable, boring, and completely forgettable. zzzzzzzzzz Grade: D
Colton Berry, "Suspicious Minds"
What's with these 18-year-olds looking so much like Disney Channel starlets? So far, Berry has the look and voice of one down -- and that's not a compliment. Grade: C-
Garrett Haley, "Breaking Up is Hard to Do"
He's got the look down, but Haley's performance would benefit from facial expression, or just movement in general. An alright song, but had he done more with it, could have been good. Grade: C+
Jason Castro, "Daydream"
It's all in the dreads. Not a blowout performance, but it proved much more consistent, enchanting, and modern than the performers before him. Grade: B+
Michael Johns, "Light My Fire"
Hollywood Week's best performer proved to be the night's best performer as well. Out of all last night's performances, his was the most original, engaging, and spirited. Grade: A-
Whether it's Lost or American Idol, Discovery Channel or Bravo, Watch with Intelligence is a television blog that filters through the good and bad to help guide you to smart TV.
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