Last week, I went 1 for 4 in my predictions again. I flipped a coin between Brandon and Jared and landed on the wrong side. I picked Antonella right and I was right in thinking that Haley was not going to go home. I also said that either Jordin, Sabrina, or Stephanie would probably go home, although I really thought Jordin was the weakest singer of that group. So it was shocking to see Sabrina go home, since she was one of the top three girls in my opinion. Not as shocking if say Lakisha went home, though. Actually seeing Sabrina go home was more shocking than seeing Sanjaya survive another week. He’s on borrowed time for sure, but he will probably last at least three more weeks because that is how things work on this show. Still I’m 6 for 12 on my predictions. That’s .500, which isn’t too bad if you play baseball.
Tonight we mix things together. The girls and guys sing for your votes. Only one person will get eliminated each week until we get to the final two. Can the girls keep showing up the guys or will they suck it up when they have to start singing the same types of songs like they have done in past seasons? Yes, things get interesting as we have “theme” nights. On with YOUR “Top 12″…
Tonight we have our first guest music mentor. It is Diana Ross. She teaches the finalists all about her style of singing. The theme for tonight is “Selections from the Diana Ross Songbook”. Everyone will sing a Diana Ross song. Well this will make it extremely easy to identify the songs. Thank you Ryan!
Brandon Rogers was up first. He sang “You Can’t Hurry Love”. This was a little messy. It started off slow, got better in the middle but was also “pitchy”, and then had an okay finish. Randy thought he started out as a “backup” singer, but the final two notes were great. Paula mouths something. Simon called it a letdown. Simon said it was predictable. What is even more predictable is the crowd? They boo, because they know the truth. Brandon admits that he forgot some of the words as well.
Melinda Doolittle was next. But before she sang, Ryan and Simon got into an AWESOME verbal sparring match. It starts with high heels and Ryan saying that Simon wears them. Simon takes that to the closet and how Ryan should “come out of it”. Ryan finishes it by saying “Simon wishes”. HA! Now on with the singing. It’s a song from The Wiz called “Hold”. I didn’t like the song, but she sung her heart out. Definitely pretty great. Randy said it wasn’t her best performance, but still fantastic. Paula is crying like a big baby for no reason! Simon called the song boring, but made it fantastic. He says she is a “young Gladys Knight”.
Chris Sligh and Diana have the same hair. He sang “Endless Love”. He sang it in a different arrangement, though. That sounds good on paper, and he almost pulled it off, but it just didn’t work as well as it could in the end. Randy, Paula, and Simon all agree. They didn’t like that version of the song. They tell him to stick to his personality and being himself. He’s a great singer, but the music didn’t allow his voice to shine through.
Gina Glocksen sang “Love Child”. I thought it was good, but not great. Randy thought it was slightly boring and not his favorite performance from her. Paula said she was “shouting” at times. She is better than that. Simon thought it wasn’t terrible, but not fantastic. The song fit her, but it was a forgettable performance.
Sanjaya Malakar sucked in front of Diana Ross and she called him out on it. He sang “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. He has a perm! No matter what song he sings, it’s the same sound. Always slightly boring and just not enough emotion. Although, I will say that it was better than past outings, but not saying much at all. Randy thought it sucked. In fact, he calls it “weak” and “unlistenable”. Paula calls him nice, but that’s it. Oh, and the hair. Randy says that he is the winner of “Hair Idol”. Simon thought that Diana Ross was probably screaming when she heard that. Nothing goes on inside of that head Ryan! Don’t ask him anything. That was painful.
Haley Scarnato sang “Missing You”. She didn’t do her best in the beginning and the middle. She came on strong at the end, but nothing “knockout” about it except for Haley, of course. I even think she forgot some of the words. Randy thought she gave it a try, but it was a “pitchy” all over the place. She was nervous. Paula can’t even speak, but what else is new. Simon didn’t think it was that bad. She looked like a star on stage. She almost cries. She said she feels bad because she forgot the words. Paula says that the crowd rarely notices that, if you don’t allow them to notice the mistake.
Phil Stacey sang “I’m Going To Make You Love Me”, which Diana sang with Marvin Gaye. That was good, on the verge of being great. Randy said the performance was boring, but his vocals were the best of the night so far. Simon thought it was a good song choice for him. He needs to limit the “shouting” when he is trying to hit the high notes. Simon said it was better than last week, which I don’t remember that at all, so that should tell you something.
Lakisha Jones sang “God Bless the Child”. Some may compare her to Fantasia, but to me she is more like a female version of Rueben Studdard from season two. Another great performance! Randy said it was “sensational”. She didn’t overdo the song, which should easily could have done with that “big” voice of hers. Simons says that you either “have it” or “don’t have it” and she has it. Simon says that she and Melinda are in a different league. She didn’t look nervous on the big stage like almost everyone else.
Blake Lewis sang “You Just Keep Me Hanging On”. He attempts to bring a song from the 60’s and make it more 2007ish. I’ve seen him perform better than that, but it still was okay. Randy says he doesn’t have to “Blake-ize” every song. Let the classic songs be classic. There was not enough vocals in that performance says Randy and Paula. Simon didn’t “get it”. He says Blake should be fine, but could do better.
Stephanie Edwards sang “Sweetest Hangover”. The problem with Stephanie is that she sings the exact same way as Lakisha and Melinda, but she is not as strong as them. So can she be forgettable. Randy, Paula, and Simon all agreed. Apparently there was a “good” part of the song that she was building up to, but never delivered. They were disappointed.
Chris Richardson sang “The Boss”. I thought he tried too hard at times, but it was good. Randy said it was “half good and half bad”. Paula thought he updated the song for today better than the other guys. Simon thought it was terrible, though. Without his charm and personality, the song sucks basically.
Jordin Sparks finished us off, unfortunately. She sang a song from the Land Before Time called “If We Hold On Together”. This was okay, but too boring for me. She is like Stephanie. She doesn’t compare to Lakisha and Melinda and she doesn’t bring anything different to the table. Big mistake. However, the judges differ with me. Randy actually says that she is in third place behind Lakisha and Melinda. Eh..I just don’t see that. Simon thought it was a little “gooey”, but thinks she could be in the finals as well. Totally disagree there.
This was a very odd night. Lots of nerves. Only two people really stood out for me, despite what the judges said. There was about three or four people at the bottom of the pile that didn’t do that well and are in danger of going home. And then, there is everyone else in the middle. About 6 or so people gave decent performances, but could do so much better. I blame it on Diana Ross and her songs! I wanted to divide up everyone into more groups, but I could only do three. As a whole, it wasn’t that great. Both the girls and guys didn’t do as well as they should have. Except for the very top and you should know who they are. If you don’t, take a look at my breakdown…
My Standings
(All-Stars)
1. Lakisha Jones
2. Melinda Doolittle
(Starters)
3. Phil Stacey
4. Chris Sligh
5. Gina Glocksen
6. Chris Richardson
7. Stephanie Edwards
8. Blake Lewis
9. Jordin Sparks
(Sitting on the Bench)
10. Haley Scarnato
11. Brandon Rogers
12. Sanjaya Malakar
Lakisha and Melinda are the early favorites, but keep in mind that there has NEVER been two people in the final two with the same singing styles. That’s a fact. So even though they are the two best singers, I really doubt we will see both of them at the very end. Now then, it’s tough to predict who will go home. I thought that Brandon and Haley didn’t do very good, but Haley will probably survive on her looks for a little bit. Despite the judges gushing over Jordin, I don’t think so. I will say this either her or Stephanie will get lost in the shuffle and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see one of them go home soon. That would “SHOCK” the judges, but not me. Honestly, Sanjaya should go home. He just doesn’t sing that well. He is nice, though, and we have seen time and time again that guys that are nice but suck at singing last for at least a few weeks in the finals. I’m really torn here. It should be Sanjaya, but I don’t see America voting that way. I think I’m going to predict Brandon to go home this week. It’s a tough one, but that seems to be the most logical choice by the way America votes! Find who goes home tomorow!
