American Idol Results

Ruben Studdard, winner of season two, performed. He's going on tour with season two runner-up Clay Aiken this summer.

Usher performed his new single "OMG" with Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas.

Diddy also performed.

Katie, Didi, and Tim are in the bottom three. Katie and Tim are safe. Didi sang "Rhiannon" again for a shot at the judges' save. However, it wasn't good enough. Didi went home.

I'm disappointed. Tim definitely should have gone home. Enough is enough. He can smile, but he cannot compare to the other talented artists that are still remaining in the competition.

The theme next week is Lennon/McCartney.

Top 11 Results

Group performance returned this week with "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" by Wham!

Miley Cyrus sang "When I Look At You" from her new movie, The Last Song. The judges should have critiqued her. It was terrible as expected. Why does she feel the need to headbang to a ballad? She did the same thing last year with "The Climb."

Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato sang their new duet, "Make a Wave."

Paige, Tim, and Katie are the bottom three.

Paige Miles went home. Simon told her that singing for her life wouldn't help because it's the end of the road for her tonight.


Next week the theme is R&B/Soul, featuring Usher as the mentor.

American Idol Top 12

The theme this week is music from The Rolling Stones.

Michael Lynche sang “Miss You.” I wasn't captivated by his performance, but I wasn't bored either. Mike was dancing around the stage and clearly having a good time. It was a good performance. Randy said that Mike is a great performer. Ellen said Mike hasn't disappointed her yet. Kara said Mike had swagger and attitude like Mick Jagger. Simon said Mike is confident and sang well, but he thought his dancing was corny and desperate.

Didi Benami sang "Play with Fire." This was a new sound for Didi. She showed more power than we've heard. It was a great song choice for her, and she sang with emotion. Randy said Didi is on fire, and called this one of her best performances. Ellen said Didi has an amazing voice and is back in the competition. Kara liked the combination of Didi's sweet voice and the eeriness of the song. Simon said Didi is showing who she wants to be as an artist. He said it was a cool song choice and a solid performance.

Casey James sang “It’s All Over Now.” This performance was opposite from last week's performance, but Casey was still in his element. He picked the perfect song with a southern rock edge. I really enjoyed this performance. Randy said he loved it. Ellen said it was fantastic. Kara said Casey is a rock star and called it his best performance. She said the country/blues/soul vibe shows the best parts of his voice. Simon said Casey is a very good artist, but he hasn't done something incredible. He said Casey needs to push himself.

Lacey Brown sang “Ruby Tuesday.” I'm just not a fan of Lacey. There were some decent parts and some awful parts. I really just found the whole performance awkward. Randy said he was pleasantly surprised. He liked the string quartet arrangement as well. Ellen said it was sleepy. Kara said Lacey missed some notes, but she could have put more into it. Simon said Lacey performs like an actress. He said there's nothing wrong with her vocals, but she's over-thinking the performance.

Andrew Garcia sang “Gimme Shelter.” Once again, this wasn't a great performance but it wasn't bad either. It's almost like Andrew is trying too hard. Randy said it was pitchy everywhere. Ellen loved it and said this was Andrew's best performance yet. Kara said Andrew needed more passion because she didn't feel the intensity of the song. Simon said Andrew gave 100 percent, but something didn't quite connect.

Katie Stevens sang “Wild Horses.” I thought this was a good song choice; it showed off her vocals well. This was Katie's best performance. Randy said it was s strong performance. Ellen said Katie has a great voice. Kara said Katie made nice variations on the melody and is going in the right direction. Simon said this is the first time Katie has connected with a song.

Tim Urban sang “Under My Thumb.” I liked his performance, but it didn't blow me away. He put a Jason Mraz reggae spin on the song, but he sounded nervous. Randy didn't like the arrangement. Ellen said Tim sounded great, but he just didn't impress with that performance. Kara applauded Tim for making the song his own. Simon said it was a boring song to begin with and the arrangement just didn't work.

Siobahn Magnus sang “Paint It Black.” She's a great singer but just not my style. I'll say it again: She reminds me too much of Adam Lambert. However, she's got skills, and it was a good performance. Randy said Siobahn brought the drama to American Idol with her interpretation of the song. Ellen said Siobahn stands out. Kara said she had Adam Lambert flashbacks during that performance (told you so), and said it was the best interpretation of the night. Simon said it was the standout performance of the night.

Lee Dewyze sang “Beast of Burden.” I love his raspy voice. He is the one artist in this competition that has the potential to grow enough to knock the front-runners out of the lead. I loved his performance. He made a great song choice. Randy liked the singer-songwriter vibe and compared Lee to Rob Thomas and Dave Matthews. He said Lee's performance was "dope" and one of his better performances. Ellen said she was expecting more from Lee on Rolling Stones night, but it was still a great performance. Kara said the energy was a little low, but she believes that Lee is growing faster than anyone else in this competition. She complimented his confidence and ability to take risks. Simon said Lee doesn't shine and he picked a safe song. He said Lee has an incredibly good voice, but he still needs that "moment" to stamp his mark on the competition and to stop thinking others are better than him.

Paige Miles sang “Honky Tonk Woman.” This was Paige's best performance, and one of my favorites of the night. Why hasn't she done country before? She was dancing around and having fun, and she's been sick with laryngitis for the past week. Randy said he wanted more energy, but he liked Paige's performance. Ellen said Paige has great star quality, and commended her for using the stage. Kara said Paige hit some big notes in spite of her sickness. She said, "Paige is back." Simon said the song was generic and he thinks Paige can do better. He still thinks she hasn't quite connected yet, but he heard the big voice they loved back in Hollywood.

Aaron Kelly sang “Angie.” The one thing I can say is Aaron knows who he is an artist. He made a smart song choice by sticking to country. I thought it was a sweet and sincere vocal and much better than last week. Randy said Aaron was born to sing. He liked the tender moments in Aaron's voice. Ellen said Aaron made a great song choice. She ranked Aaron's performance second to Siobahn. Kara said Aaron connected to the song. Simon said Aaron chose the right song, and he sang the song within the limits of his vocals. He called is one of his strongest performances.

Crystal Bowersox sang “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” They saved the best for last. I thought this was the perfect song choice. Crystal was totally in her element with the southern blues vibe. I liked the arrangement. Crystal can sing. She definitely knows who she is. Randy said this wasn't Crystal's best performance, but he still loved it. He said Crystal is always great and he's always excited to see what she'll do. Ellen said Crystal sings with ease and she's born to be on stage. She said she finally saw Crystal's personality on stage this week. Kara agreed with Ellen. She said Crystal loosened up and was comfortable on stage. Simon said Crystal came out tonight as the clear favorite, but she was beat by Siobahn. He said she needs to stay on her toes and never think she's already won (which I don't think she does).

My favorites, once again, were Crystal, Casey, and surprisingly, Paige.

I think Lacey, Tim, and Katie will be the bottom three.

American Idol Results

John, Jermaine, Michelle, and Haeley went home tonight.

Danny Gokey performed his single, "My Best Days," from his debut album, which released this week.  I love this track.  It's perfect for Danny.  He said on Idol he was known as the guy with the tragedy, but the show gave him so much hope.  He also recently found out that the man who wrote "My Best Days" also lost his wife and wrote this song about that. 

I'm glad Didi is sticking around for another week, though based on last night's performance she should have gone home. I'm not sad to see Michelle leave. She's forgettable.

I guessed Lacey over Haeley, but again, I'm not surprised. There are about 5 girls in this competition that I do not care if they stay or go. Lacey really needs to step it up next week, or she'll be gone.

Next week will determine the Top 12. The contestants need to bring it.

American Idol Top 10 Girls

Crystal returned tonight, and Idol is back on track.

Crystal Bowersox sang “Long as I Can See the Light” by Creedance Clearwater Revival. This girl has got some serious soul. I loved the beginning without the guitar, but I also loved when the music got going. Crystal has an incredible voice, and I'm so glad she's back tonight. Randy said Crystal is true to herself, and he loved her performance. Ellen said Crystal has "pure, raw, natural talent." Kara said Crystal is focused and makes it look effortless. She said Crystal hit a new level tonight. Simon said it was a great song and he underestimated Crystal last week. He said she's a serious artist.

Haeley Vaughn sang “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. She wanted to try a serious song this week. She changed the melody a bit; some of the changes were good, some were not. I thought she did a good job with the first chorus, but when she hit the bridge the song fell apart. Randy said Haeley's performance was excruciating and pitchy. He said she had no connection with the song. Ellen said Haeley is adorable and told her to keep smiling, but she didn't feel a connection either. Kara believes people are rooting for Haeley because she's open and real, but she's inconsistent and needs more vocal training. Simon said the performance was a complete and utter mess. He said, in theory, the song choice should have worked, but it didn't. He also said it was ironic that Haeley sang a song about climbing when she actually fell off.

Lacey Brown sang “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. The first line was terrible, and the first verse wasn't great. However, the chorus was better. Overall I thought it was an okay performance, but Lacey needed to be great this week. She hasn't won me as a fan yet. Randy said it was a good song choice, but it sounded karaoke. He said there was nothing special about it. Ellen said Lacey is adorable, and she thought Lacey picked the right song and did great tonight. Kara said the song showed off Lacey's unique vocal tone, but she needs to step it up now. Simon said Lacey did better than last week, but he feels like she's trying to compete rather than trying to show off her artistry.

Katie Stevens sang “Put Your Record On” by Corinne Bailey Ray. Katie has a beautiful voice and tone. I thought the song suited her, but it's still not the "current" sound the judges want to hear. Randy said Katie's upper register (higher notes) was really good, but she didn't captivate him from the beginning. He said she needs to tackle bigger songs and show off her vocals. Ellen said Katie has a great voice, but she still wants to hear her sing a young, hip song. Kara agreed with Ellen. She said the ending was great, but the beginning was too low for Katie. She said Katie needs to make an impact. Simon said that Katie took the judges' advice, but she still needs to decide what kind of artist she wants to be. He said it wasn't a winning performance, but it was good enough to stick around.

Didi Benami sang “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. The key was way too low for her. She improved in the chorus but had no dynamics. The ending improvisation was not in tune. Randy said the song showed more of Didi's imperfections than her talents. Ellen said Didi has a great voice, but this was not the greatest song choice. Kara said this performance was just not good. She said Didi is lacking consistency. She said the song felt karaoke and Didi lost the uniqueness of her voice in her interpretation. Simon said the vocals were all over the place. He said Didi was screeching, and the song choice was generic.

Michelle Delamor sang “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed. I still don't know this girl's name. When Ryan said she was next, I said, "Who?" I thought the song was too airy; she needed to belt it out more. Randy said there were pitch problems and she didn't do enough with the song. Ellen said she appreciated how Michelle changed the song; she forgot for a moment that it was a rock song. She loved the song choice, but the performance wasn't quite right. Kara said this was her favorite performance of Michelle's because it was believable. She said it wasn't technically perfect, but Michelle took a risk. Simon agreed with Kara; Michelle attempted to make the song her own, and she got it 80% right.

Lilly Scott sang “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. Lilly was in her element tonight. This was a great song choice for her, and she had great stage presence. I really liked her performance. She has definitely improved. Randy said Lilly is unique and this was a tough song, but it was his favorite performance of the night. Ellen said Lilly has got the "it" factor. She said she forgot it was a singing competition; she just just a fan in a seat enjoying the performance. She also said this was the best of the night. Kara said Lilly just had her first "moment." Kara was riveted. She said Lilly is going to change the game for Idol because she's such a mismatch on the show, but she's doing so well. Simon thought Lilly's performance was good, but he said Crystal's performance was stronger.

Katelyn Epperly sang “The Scientist” by Coldplay. Katelyn played piano tonight, and it was cool to see that artistic side of her. The song was simple, but Katelyn has a beautiful and pure voice. I really like her. I feel that she connects to the music well. Randy said the song was slow, but it was nice to hear Katelyn on piano. He said it was a great performance until the last couple of notes. Ellen said it was too slow and sleepy. Kara said Katelyn has an incredible voice, but she needs to figure out who she is as an artist. Simon said it was a smart song choice, but Katelyn's performance was a little corny. However, he said she's contemporary and improved from last week.

Paige Miles sang “Walk Away” by Kelly Clarkson. I felt like Paige didn't know where to breathe during the verses, which made her changes in the melody awkward. The chorus was bridge were really strong. She has such a powerful voice. I liked this performance. Randy said Paige has a big voice, but he didn't like the song choice. He said he wants to hear her voice, not a bunch of choppy words. Ellen loved it. She said Paige changed it up just enough and had great energy on stage. Kara said she can hear Paige having a hit with that song. She likes the soul/pop/rock genre for Paige, but she said the song needed more angst. Simon said Paige got lost in the song. Once again, he said she has a strong voice, but it was a forgettable performance.

Siobahn Magnus sang “Think” by Aretha Franklin. At first I thought this performance was awkward. There were a few rough patches, but it was a strong vocal overall. That note at the end was sick. Randy said Siobahn made a bold and fearless choice tonight. He said her performance was "dope." Ellen said Siobahn took a risk in choosing such a big song, but it was really good. Kara said she was blown away by that high note. Simon said Siobahn is interesting and very talented. He said the high note was incredible, but there were parts of the song that weren't so good.

My favorites tonight were Crystal, Katie, and Katelyn. Lilly also killed it, but she's not my favorite style.

I think Didi and Lacey are going home.

American Idol Top 10 Boys

The girls were scheduled to perform tonight, but Crystal Bowersox experienced complications with her diabetes this morning and was taken to the hospital, so the boys performed instead. Don't worry, Crystal is expected to be back and ready to go tomorrow night.

Michael Lynche sang “This is a Man’s World” by James Brown. Big Mike brought the soul tonight. This was a good performance, definitely his style, but it didn't impress me. I want Mike to surprise me, to do something amazing. Randy gave Mike a standing ovation and said he's in it to win it. Ellen said Mike started the night off right with a performance to beat. Kara said Mike went from being a singer to a potentially great artist. Simon said it was like going from a pussycat to a lion in a week. He said it was the right song and Mike's best performance so far.

John Park sang “Gravity” by John Mayer. I found this performance slightly awkward, but John's vocals were decent. He had a few pitch problems, and I just don't see him doing well in this competition. Randy said John didn't bring anything new to the song. He said the performance was flat and pitchy. Kara said John was way better this week than last week, but he's still lacking that connection. She said he needs to let loose; he played it too safe tonight. Simon believes John is going home. He said the performance was better than last week, but forgettable.

Casey James sang “I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw. First of all, Casey has some sick guitar skills. He rocked out the song with his electric guitar. It was a fun performance, but he highlighted his guitar playing more than his voice. He also fell behind tempo a bit. Randy said Casey channeled Hendrix with that performance. He said it wasn't Casey's best vocal performance, but it was definitely the right niche for him. Ellen thought it was a great song and a great vocal, but she wants to see Casey move around and perform more. Kara said Casey took two steps back tonight. She said there were some pitch problems and that he's a great lead guitarist, but this is a singing competition. Simon said that last week Casey chose a standout song; this week it was just like a typical bar singer trying to be a rock star. He said Casey doesn't have the grit for that song.

Alex Lambert sang “Everybody Knows” by John Legend. I really liked this performance. Alex played guitar tonight, and he looked so much more comfortable on stage. He really made an impression tonight. The last note was flat, but I love his voice. I think he's going to grow during this competition. Randy said Alex improved this week and found his niche. Ellen said he's a ripened banana (see last week's post for this reference). She thought he was much better vocally and gained confidence. Kara said that Alex has a recordable voice and everyone is rooting for him. Simon said Alex was one million times better tonight. He said, "the only time you should be nervous is if you're useless." He said Alex needs a killer instinct to win and that he needs to believe he has a chance.

Todrick Hall sang “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” by Tina Turner. This was better than last week, but I'm still not impressed. The breakdown toward the end was great, but the ending run was terrible. Randy liked the falsetto run at the end, but he didn't like the performance over all. He thinks Todrick should stop trying so hard and just flat out sing a good song. Ellen said Todrick needs to play to his strengths by moving around more while he's singing. Kara said she misses Todrick's simple vocals with a unique spin from his audition. Simon said Todrick needs to stick with dancing. He said it was a corny version of a song with no relevance.

Jermaine Sellers sang “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye. This was a bad song choice and a rough vocal overall. Randy said Jermaine's performance was better than last week's, but it still was not great. Ellen didn't even know what to say, but she didn't like it. Kara said Jermaine tries to do too much. She said he needs to stop showing tricks and look at the meaning of the song because his emotional connection feels forced. Simon said he's frustrated and disappointed with Jermaine because he has talent but he's watering down great songs so that they lose importance and sound cabaret.

Andrew Garcia sang “You Give Me Something” by James Morrison. I thought this song suited his voice well, but his lack of vocal training really showed. There were pitch problems all throughout the song. Randy said it was pitchy all over the place. He said Andrew has soul, but he's not a soul singer. Ellen said she liked Andrew's performance despite the pitch problems. She likes that he takes chances, but he set the bar so high with his rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" back in Hollywood week that it's hard to live up to. Kara said Andrew has great potential, but he needs to surprise us. She said he played it safe this week. Simon said he's frustrated with Andrew as well because he picked the wrong song two weeks in a row. He said Andrew needs to do something original and stand out.

Aaron Kelly sang “My Girl” by The Temptations. He put a country-pop spin on the classic song. Aaron really loosened up on stage tonight. I thought the ending was a bit rough, but it was a good performance. He's definitely improving. Randy said the first half of Aaron's performance was brilliant, but the end was strange. Ellen thought the song might be forgettable, but she likes that Aaron used the stage and gained confidence this week. She said it was a good vocal overall. Kara really liked Aaron's performance. She likes his consistency with his country twang and vibrato. She also complimented his vocal control at such a young age. Simon didn't like Aaron's performance. He said the vocals were all over the place and called it old fashioned. He disagreed with Kara and said that Aaron needs to work out what kind of artist he wants to be.

Tim Urban sang “Come On Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson. Thank God. This is the Tim I love and adore. He played his guitar this week, and his performance was much more natural. He's not the best singer in this competition, but he's cute and improving. I want to see what he can do. Tim did a great job tonight. Randy didn't like this performance. He said it was karaoke and just not unique. Ellen said Tim lacks charisma and stage presence. She said he's cute, but singing is not his strong point. Kara liked Tim's song choice, but said that he didn't make it his own. She said he's not the whole package just yet. Simon disagreed with all three of them. He said Tim made a huge improvement this week and commended Tim for listening to the judges' criticism last week and taking it to heart. He chose a young song, went back to his guitar, and was more relevant than the other singers tonight. Simon was impressed with Tim's performance as well as his attitude and work ethic so far.

Lee Dewyze sang “Lips of Angel” by Hinder. I don't like this song, so honestly it was hard for me to pay attention. I thought Lee sounded too much like Hinder in the beginning, but it was a good performance. I like Lee a lot. Randy said Lee made a bold move tonight by leaving his guitar behind, but he liked the performance. Ellen said Lee had some pitch problems tonight, but thought he did a great job. She said he didn't perform, but he had passion. Kara said Lee made a big improvement from last week. She called him current and commercial. Simon said Lee is the best singer in the competition, but he needs to believe in himself. He called Lee the one to beat.

My favorites tonight were Alex, Casey, Lee, and Tim.

I think John and Jermaine are going home.


Tune in tomorrow night to watch the Top 10 girls perform!

American Idol Results

Last night Idol said goodbye to Janell, Ashley, Joe, and Tyler.

I was disappointed to see Joe leave.  No one really knew who he was before this week, so I think that contributed to his lack of votes.  I liked him though; I wanted to see more.

However, I think America was right on with Janell and Tyler.  Ashley was a bit of a surprise, but I'm not really disappointed to see her go at this point.


Alison Iraheta and Kris Allen both performed.  Kris Allen showed footage from his recent trip to Haiti.  All proceeds from his performance of "Let It Be" go to the Idol Gives Back Foundation for the United Nations Foundation's efforts for Haiti.

I just watched the results today because I went to Austin to see Jason Castro and Matt Hires.  I'll be updating later this weekend with photos, videos, and commentary on the concert.  Be looking out!

American Idol Top 12 Guys

The top 12 guys performed tonight. It was a rough night overall, just like it was for the girls. However, I think the guys came out on top. They had the two extremes--bad and really good--whereas the girls just had a bunch of mediocre performances.

Also, here's the deal with rumors of a Top 24 guy being replaced. Chris Golightly made the top 24, but apparently had signed a record deal and was therefore not eligible for the competition. He is denying that his contract was in existence as of his acceptance on to the show, but for whatever reason, Chris was replaced by Tim Urban in the Top 24.

Todrick Hall sang “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. He had a very interesting, funky take on the song. It didn't show off his voice very well, and the vocals were shaky. The second half of the song improved, but the arrangement was too risky. Ellen said Todrick is a great performer with good stage presence, and she liked that he took a chance, but the performance was rough. Randy said Todrick is talented, but he changed the song too much; it was a hit song for a reason. Kara agreed with Randy by saying that Todrick is a strong enough singer that he didn't need to change the song up so much, but she gave him props for creativity. Simon said Todrick looked like a dancer trying to sing, rather than a singer who can also dance. He said the arrangement didn't improve the song, and it was verging on stupid. (Harsh!)

Aaron Kelly sang “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascall Flatts. I thought it was a very smart song choice for him. His falsetto was a little weak, and he missed a few notes, but overall it was a good performance. Simon said Aaron lacks confidence and needs to take control of the song, but it was a good performance. Kara said she's excited to see Aaron improve throughout the show. She said he's a naturally good singer and the pop/country genre was a good choice for him. Randy said Aaron had a few pitchy moments, but he's a big fan. Ellen said she loves Aaron's humilty; he should gain confidence without changing who he is.

Jermaine Sellers sang “Get Here” by Oleta Adams. He has a very soft and sincere voice, but the vocals were all over the place. He was flat for most of the song, and the final note took forever to settle into the key. Ellen said Jermaine was performing instead of connecting. She thought he pushed his vocals and went off key. Randy said it was a weird song choice. He sees Jermaine doing more Maxwell or Ne-Yo. He said Jermaine tried to do too much vocally when he should have just sung the melody. Kara said the song was too old-fashioned, and Jermaine needs to make his runs meaningful. Simon said Jermaine oversang the song to the point of screaming. He said it was over the top and believes Jermaine blew his opportunity.

Tim Urban sang “Apologize” by OneRepublic. I was really rooting for Tim. Apparently someone left before the Top 24 was announced, so Tim made received a call from the producer asking him to join them. I love his voice, but tonight was not good. It was a terrible song choice. Tim doesn't have the falsetto to sing OneRepublic. Simon believes the judges made the right decision in not putting Tim through at first. He said the vocals were weak and just plain not good enough for this competition. Kara said the music overpowered him; he should have used his guitar. However, she thinks he's cute, likable, and current. Randy said it was the wrong song choice because Tim doesn't have the falsetto for it. Ellen said Tim is adorable and people will want to vote for him, but he's got to step it up.

Joe Munoz sang “You and I Both” by Jason Mraz. I didn't remember this guy, but I thought he did really well. I thought it was a good song choice, and he has a cute smile and a nice stage presence. Ellen said Joe looked comfortable on stage. Randy said it was not a perfect song choice, but he thinks Joe has a great voice. Kara said it was a surprising song choice and said it was the best performance thus far. Simon said the performance was okay, but it was safe, forgettable, and he believes Joe lacks star potential. (No photo available.)

Tyler Grady sang “American Woman” by The Guess Who. Of course. What else would he sing? I thought this was a terrible performance--the worst of the night. Tyler screamed the chorus, his voice cracked throughout the song, and his vocals were flat most of the time. Simon said people will remember Tyler's performance, but for the wrong reason. He said Tyler is trying to be a cliche rock star and called the performance unnatural and predictable. Kara said Tyler didn't add anything original to the song. Ellen said Tyler was lacking charisma and excitement. I would just like to point out that none of the judges ever said anything about his vocals. This is a singing competition. I expected them to tear him to pieces after they nearly made Tim cry. Tyler's performance was way worse, and all they talked about was his stupid 70's obsession. [rant over]

Lee Dewyze sang “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol. Lee played guitar and kept things simple for the most part. He changed the chorus up to show off his range, but the ending notes of each line went flat. Overall I liked what he was trying to do, but "Chasing Cars" is such a simple and beautiful song on it's own; I'm not sure he needed to do much with it. I really liked the ending, however. Ellen said it was a good song choice except Lee sounded like he was screaming in parts. She loves his tone of voice and said he has a distinct sound. Randy didn't like the song choice. He would have preferred a Kings of Leon song (which I think would have been awesome). Kara said the song has a small range, but by changing the melody Lee made it almost unrecognizable. She would have preferred Bad Company. Simon said it was the best performance of the night. He thinks Lee is authentic and a naturally good singer who can find a song and turn it into his own.

John Park sang “God Bless the Child” by Chicago. His voice surprises me every time. He's a bass, which is interesting. Basses don't tend to do very well in this competition because the pop market is geared toward tenors. I could not understand any of the words in the first verse. The chorus improved though, so I think the verses were just a bit too low for John. Simon said that Joe doesn't have the voice for that song. He said the vocals were flat and the performance was pointless and lacked emotion. Kara said John has a big voice, but he made no connection with the audience or the song. She said he sounded like a lounge singer. Randy said the runs in the bridge were good, but it was a bad song choice. Ellen liked the performance but said the song didn't show America who John is as an artist.

Michael Lynche sang “This Love” by Maroon 5. I'm really glad "Big Mike" is still on the show despite the controversy with his dad and the confidentiality agreement. Mike played guitar for this one. I thought it was a little choppy during the verses. It's hard to hear anyone but Adam Levine sing this song. Overall I thought it was a decent vocal, but he's capable of better. Ellen loves Mike's personality. She said there were a few pitch problems but thought it was a great song choice. Randy said Mike brought the energy up in the room with a fun performance. Kara said the performance was good but not great. She thinks Mike chose a comfortable song. Simon said the performance sounded like an opening act. He said Mike has a big heart, but he delivered little tonight.

Alex Lambert sang “Wonderful World” by James Morrison. I really like his voice. Alex took a while to settle into the song, but the chorus was good. I definitely want to hear more from him. Simon said it was the most uncomfortable performance of the night. He said Alex has a good voice, but he was too nervous. Kara said she loves Alex's thick, rich tone and thinks he has great potential in this competition. Ellen gave Alex props for holding on to the mullet. [I really wanted to cut his hair for him.] She compared him to an unripe banana by saying he just need to ripen more and gain confidence in himself.

Casey James sang “Heaven” by Bryan Adams. Finally, a great song choice. I love Casey. He played guitar and kept things simple. Casey has a great voice; he doesn't need gimmicks. This was my favorite performance of the night. Kara said it was a little pitchy, but Casey has heart and soul. She also said, "You're eye candy, but you're also ear candy." Randy said it was a great song choice and that he likes Casey's swagger. Simon said Casey chose the right song and said Casey is sincere and likable. He said it was Casey's best performance so far.

Andrew Garcia sang “Sugar, We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy. This is definitely the first time anyone has sung FOB on American Idol. I thought it was a brave song choice and arrangement. I enjoyed it, but I think he should have taken it down a half step. I love Andrew's voice though, and I'm excited to see him grow as an artist. Simon said he was disappointed. He thought the performance was too serious and not original enough. Kara liked that Andrew took a risk, but she said the rendition was just strange. Randy agreed with Kara and said Andrew tried too hard. Ellen said she's a big fan of Andrew's, but she wants to see more personality.

My favorites of the night were Casey, Lee, and Joe.
I think Tyler and John are going home.

The results show is tomorrow night. I probably won't be able to watch the results until Friday morning because I'm going to see Jason Castro tomorrow night. However, Kris Allen will be on the show performing live and premiering footage from his trip to Haiti, and Alison Iraheta will also be performing on the show.

All photos from www.americanidol.com.

American Idol Top 12 Girls

It's finally here. The Top 24 perform. The top 12 girls performed tonight, and the top 12 guys will perform tomorrow night. Results will be on Thursday.

For the next three weeks, the contestants will be singing songs from the Billboard charts (so basically, anything they want).

Paige Miles sang "It's Alright Now" by Bad Company. My initial reaction was that I was not impressed. The song was awkward and kind of all over the place vocally. She has a powerful voice, but I was confused by the whole performance. Simon said that Paige has the best voice out of all the girls, but she made a poor song choice tonight. Kara disagreed with Simon, saying Paige made a brilliant song choice. She said Paige put soul into a rock song with her impressive dynamics, but she struggled in the chorus a bit. Randy said it wasn't the right song, but it showed off her powerful voice.

Ashley Rodriguez sang “Happy” by Leona Lewis. I thought it was a good performance over all, possibly a little too low for her in the beginning, but good. That being said, I wasn't super impressed. Kara said there were great moments, but she wants to see Ashley do something different. Randy said diva songs will always be compared to the original, making it difficult to stand out. He said the song choice didn't define who Ashley is as an artist. Ellen said Ashley should take a risk. Simon said it was clumsy and lacked originality.

Janell Wheeler sang “What About Love” by Heart. She was really nervous, and it showed. Her hands were shaking, her voice was shaky, and the song only got worse as it went on. It wasn't a train wreck, but her nerves definitely got the best of her. Randy said the song choice didn't work, but he likes her voice. Ellen liked the song choice and said that Janell moved easily on the stage. Simon said Janell gave 100% effort, but only delivered 65%. Kara said the song was too big; it took away from the distinction of her voice.

Lilly Scott sang “Fix A Hole” by The Beatles. She played guitar. Lilly has such a unique voice. I'm definitely intrigued by her. I want to hear her do more. I thought the song choice was a bit strange, but fitting. Ellen said, "Now that's what we're talking about!" She thought it was a random song choice, but Lilly did a great job and has a very distinctive voice. Simon said it was the best performance thus far. He said the song portrayed Lilly as an artist, but he's not feeling much "star power" from her. Kara said that Lilly is believable; she sings from the heart. She thought Lilly looked at ease on stage and the performance was memorable. Randy said that Lilly is a real indie artist, and he likes her honesty.

Katelyn Epperly sang “Oh Darling” by The Beatles. This was my favorite performance of the night. She was genuine and caught my attention. Simon thought Katelyn screamed a bit and that it was a messy performance, but he likes her over all. He thinks she's quirky and interesting and made a brave song choice. Kara said that Katelyn knows her voice very well. She knows what she's doing, and she improved the song. Randy said that Katelyn paid attention to the tone and melody, instead of just trying to impress with runs. He believes she can go places. Ellen thought Katelyn has personality and made her want to pay attention.

Haeley Vaughn sang “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles. She also played guitar and put her own twist on the song. I liked it over all. I think she knows who she is as an artist, and she stayed true to that, but the dynamics were a little overwhelming. She's young, but she needs to learn better vocal control. Kara said there were technical issues, but Haeley had fun and everyone felt it. She said the performance was pure and from the heart. Randy said that Haeley made a bold song choice, but the high notes were "not pleasing." Ellen said that Haeley shines on stage, and she enjoyed the performance. Simon said it was verging on terrible and that she looked like "a wind up doll that never stopped smiling." He called her performance and "complete and utter mess."

Lacey Brown sang “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. It was a terrible song choice, an awful arrangement, and just a bad performance. I was really disappointed by Lacey because she's a Texas girl, so I was rooting for her. It was the worst of the night. Randy said it was terrible, pitchy, and the song didn't suit her voice. Ellen believes Lacy is better than that, and she's pulling for her. Simon said it was depressing, indulgent, and boring. He said she's trying to be an artist instead of just being an artist. Kara said she hopes America gives Lacey another shot because tonight was not an accurate portrayal of Lacey's talent. She thought Lacey should have sung Sixpence None The Richer's "Kiss Me."

Michelle Delamor sang “Falling” by Alicia Keys. She tried to make it her own and has a good voice, but the song didn't wow me. Ellen thought it was a fantastic performance, but believes Michelle played it safe tonight. Simon said the song was too close to the original (but not as good), but that it's enough to get her through to the next round. Kara said that Michelle is very commercial, but she needs to feel the song more. Randy said Michelle did a good job, but she has more in her and needs to take some risks.

Didi Benami sang “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson. I thought it was a great song choice. It's a difficult song, but Didi pulled it off. She has great vocal control, and she tweaked the song just enough to make it her own. Simon said that Didi is a good singer, but there are too many people on the show trying to sound like the same person (Adele, Lily Allen, etc.). He thought the song was dreary, dull, and indulgent. He said he's missing a spark from Didi. Kara said it was a good song, and she thought the changes Didi made showed off her creativity. However, she said the song was a bit pitchy. Randy said he's looking for the star factor in Didi and thought the song was sleepy. Ellen thought the song choice was too low key for a first impression on the show.

Siobahn Magnus sang “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak. I don't know what it is about this girl, but I'm not a fan. She has a weird tone and strikes me as overly dramatic. She kind of reminds me of Adam Lambert a little. But she does have a strong voice. Kara liked the song. She said Siobahn is quirky and nasally, but she sings in the moment and is real. Randy said Siobahn has a great voice, but she needs to reach for bigger things than this song. Ellen loved her performance. She thought it was entertaining and mysterious. Simon said tonight's performance was not as good as her Stevie Wonder audition from Hollywood and that it was a dark song. He didn't seem to know what to say.

Crystal Bowersox sang “Hand in my Pocket” by Alanis Morisette. She played guitar and harmonica. I thought it was a great song choice, but she should have showed her artistry more. I love Crystal. She knows who she is as an artist, and she stays true to herself. It was risky to take that harmonica solo when she could have been showing her vocal talent. Randy said Crystal is one of his favorites because she's original and honest. Ellen said Crystal adds something fresh to the show. Simon disagreed with Randy; he doesn't think Crystal is original at all. He said she performed a sound-alike song and suggested David Bowie instead, but he finds her refreshing. Kara said it was a good performance, but Crystal has the ability to be great.

Katie Stevens sang “Feeling Good” by Michael Bublé. Her voice still surprises me. She has such a full tonal quality at such a young age. She's a definite alto, so it will be interesting to see her compete with the divas of the show. I thought it was a good performance over all, and the ending was strong. Ellen said Katie has a powerful voice, but thought the song choice was too conservative for a 17-year-old. She wants to see Katie be young and current. Simon agreed with Ellen; he thinks Katie needs to become a young recording artist. He thought the performance was annoying and pageanty. Kara said the song was pitchy and all over the place, but Katie has a natural gift and "ridiculous chops." Randy said Katie was pushing so hard that the notes went sharp. He also agreed that the song was too old-fashioned for Katie.

My favorites of the night were Katelyn, Didi, and Crystal.
I think Lacey and Janell are going home.

Tune in tomorrow night to see the Top 12 guys perform!

All photos from http://www.americanidol.com