Top 12 Girls Perform on American Idol 9
|
Top 12 Girls Perform on American Idol 9
|
Posted by
Reality Rehash on February 24th  Leave a Comment
Listed under » American Idol
|
|
|
Tonight the Top 12 girls were up first to perform for the first time in front of a live audience. Only 6 girls and 6 guys will make up the Top 12
finalists, which will be determined over the next 3 weeks. The contestants will sing hits from the Billboard charts. Ryan went through the normal
intros and the judges gave the usual advice about being original and that this is their shot. Ryan asked Ellen why she isn’t sitting next to
Simon like she did during Hollywood Week and her response was that Simon wants her and that he has wandering hands! This was pretty funny, especially
because they made it look like he was hitting on her while showing a recording of a group performance in Hollywood Week.
Up first was Paige
Miles, the 24 year old preschool teacher from Naples, FL. She sang “It’s Alright Now” by Free, a song that I really love. I thought
it was an interesting song vhoice for her but it wasn’t bad. I kind of liked her voice and thought she was confident on stage. I personally
don’t think she has the strongest voice out of all the girls this year, but Simon totally disagreed with me and said that she as the BEST voice
out of all the girls. Surprising! He said that he wouldn’t have picked that song for her to sing because it’s a wedding singer type of a
song. Kara disagreed with Simon and liked the song. She thought she put her soul into the song, but could have changed up the chorus more. Randy
thinks the song is more of a group song to sing but liked that it showed off her big voice. Ellen said that she has a good look and sounded
fantastic.
Ashley Rodriguez was next. The 22 year old student from Chelsea, MA sang Leona Lewis’s “Happy” and I
didn’t like the song choice for her at all. I think she’s normally a good singer but tonight she sounded really off. She does have a
really cute look though! Kara thought that it was a big song to take on and had mixed feelings about it. She thought there were nice moments but also
not great moments throughout the song. She needs to choose songs that we wouldn’t expect her to sing. Randy said that it was good but
she’s always going to be compared to the big singers if she chooses songs like that. Ellen said she needs to pick something different so that
she’s taking risks. Simon said it was clumsy and that she’s going backwards in the competition rather than improving. He thinks she might
be in trouble after her performance and I think that she will be too.
Following Ashley was Janell Wheeler, who is 24 and works as a wine sales
representative in Orlando, FL. She chose to sing “What About Love” from Heart and I personally enjoyed her song choice. I did think the
song was a little big for her and she wasn’t strong throughout the entire performance. Randy said it wasn’t his favorite song choice and
that it’s hard to make it original, but likes her voice. Ellen did like her song choice, thought she was good on stage, and did mention she sang
some notes that were off. Simon said she sang off key but there were times when he liked her voice. He mentions that she needs to be original and pay
attention to song choice, which is again, directed to the entire group of girls as well. Simon thinks she’ll make it through to next week. Kara
also likes her but thought the song was too big for her.
Next on stage was 20 year old Lilly Scott from Littleton, CO. She had a random song
choice in “Fixing a Hole” by The Beatles, however I actually liked the quirkiness of it. I really liked her voice and she’s totally
unique. It was definitely my favorite performance so far of the night. Ellen said that it was a random song choice but she has a distinct voice and
loved it. Simon said it was the best so far, but isn’t feeling much of a star power vibe from her. Kara said she’s believable and that
people will remember her tonight. Randy said that he thought it was great and likes how she doesn’t sing what is necessarily in.
Katelyn
Epperly is a 19 year old student from West Des Moines, IA. She sang “Oh Darling” by The Beatles and I loved her big voice as well as the
song choice. I really thought she was soulful and sassy. Simon disagreed – he thought it was messy and that she screamed a little, but that he
likes her. Kara said that she knows her voice very well and likes that about her, but wasn’t a fan of her current look. She mentioned that she
prefers her more natural look that she’s had during earlier auditions. Randy said that he likes her vibe and that she pays attention to tone
when singing. Ellen also liked her a lot even though she thought it was a little forced.
The next girl to grace the stage was 16 year old
Haeley Vaughn from Fort Collins, CO. She chose to sing “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles and wow, this girl is interesting. I think
she shouted some of the song, but had some cute parts as well. Her voice is mostly annoying though. Kara said there were some clear technical issues
in her singing but that she makes up for it by her having fun on stage and being a pure singer. Randy likes that she’s unpredictable but she
needs to work on her high notes. Ellen likes that she’s only 16 and has so much stage presence already. She enjoyed the performance. Simon said
it was almost terrible, comparing it to a wind-up doll that never stopped smiling. Ugh, I’ll agree with Simon – this girl needs to go.
Lacey brown is 24 and from Amarillo, TX. I think this girl is just adorable. She sang “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac and I’m not
sure if that was the best song choice for her. I kind of like her random voice and I love her look. Randy said that it was terrible (something he
rarely says) and he didn’t like the song choice, but loved her look. Ellen said she thinks she’s better than that performance and likes
her. Simon thought it was depressing, indulgent and that she’s still trying to figure out who she is as an artist. He also said it was boring,
which is something she disagreed on. Kara said that she usually hits the high notes but tonight it felt forced. She does hope she has another chance
next week and so do I.
22 year old Michelle Delamor from Miani, FL sang “Fallen” by Alicia Keys. I wasn’t a fan of the
arrangement of the song but she has a decent voice and she’s a cute girl. Ellen thought it was fantastic but a little safe because she has more
in her. Simon thought she did very well sang it like a professional singer. He thought there was no wow factor present but that she did enough to make
it to next week. Kara said she’s very commercial looking and that moments in the song weren’t so great. She wants her to become more of a
believable singer. Randy said that it’s a tough song to sing but she did pretty good. He wants her to also take more risks.
Didi benami
is a 23 year old waitress from Knoxville, TN. She sang “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson and I thought she sounded close to the
original, in a good way. I liked her voice and thought it was one of the best vocals of the night. Simon said that she’s a good singer but there
are too many people trying to sing like Duffy and Adele tonight and that he could easily mix them up. There’s no spark of excitement there yet,
but he likes her. Kara said that she made some changes to the song which shows that she can be creative, while Simon interrupted and said that no one
will remember her. Randy said there’s no star factor even though she did sound good. Ellen said she has a great look but it wasn’t a great
first impression.
Following Didi was Siobhan Magnus, the 19 year old from Cape Cod, MA. She sang “Wicked Game” by Chris Issac. I
thought that she sang it beautifully and that she is definitely one of the strongest girls this year, but the song was too old for her. Kara kind of
liked her singing that song but reminded her that she’s nasally when she sings at times. She really likes that she gets in the moment and
performs a real performance. Randy said that it was a serious song but that she has a great voice. Ellen loved the mysteriousness of the song and
liked the song choice. Simon said that she’s a funny little thing because they don’t know what she’s going to do when she performs.
He liked the song but thought she did much better during Hollywood Week. I think she’s kind of a weird girl, so we’ll have to see what she
does next if she makes it past this week!
Next up was Crystal Bowersox, the 24 year old from Elliston, OH. She chose to sing “Hang in my
Pocket” by Alanis Morrisette and I just LOVE her voice and originality. She played the guitar AND the harmonica which was very cool. She was one
of my favorites of the night for sure. Randy said she was one of his favorites tonight but didn’t know if it was the right song for her. Ellen
said that she’s a fan and that she adds something fresh to the show. Simon said that she’s good and likes her, but his issue is that there
are thousands of singers just like her, so she needs to try and make things her own more. He does think she’s refreshing though. Kara said that
she did a good job tonight but she has greatness in her. She thinks there’s no doubt that she’ll be around next week and I completely
agree with Kara.
Last up for the nigtt was 17 year old Katie Stevens from Middlebury ,CT. She sang Michael Buble’s “Feeling
Good” and this little girl has a very big voice. I love this song and thought she was one of the best of the night. Ellen said that she has a
powerful voice but the performance was conservative. She wants to see her be 17 and be more current. Simon totally agreed and thought that he’s
heard that type of performance before. She needs to become a young recording artist. Kara thought she was pitchy but still has great vocals and hopes
she’ll come back next week. Randy thought she was pushing too hard with the song and making sharp vocals, but that she reminded him of Jordan
Sparks.
Whew! After a long night of performances, some cuts need to be made. My personal favorites of the night were Lilly, Katelyn, Didi and
Crystal. My least favorites were Ashley, Haeley and Lacey and I’d like to say that that’s the Bottom 3 this week, but I don’t really
believe it will be. Some of these girls have had a lot of camera time and have followings. Personally, I’d give Lacey another shot and send
Ashley and Haeley home. Tune in Thursday to see which girls make it through and tune in tomorrow night for the Top 12 boys to show us their
stuff!
Written By: Aubri Yeganegi
Written By:
|
|
Tags:
American Idol, Fox, Reality TV, Top 24, Females, Girls, Singing, Television, Ryan Seacreast, Kara, Randy Jackson, Ellen DeGeneres, Simon Cowell
|
|
|
|
