TVSquad

(S07E18) This '80s theme has been very good with the contestants this week as these past two episodes have been the most satisfying of the season so far. And other than a heavy leaning on Whitney Houston, I think the girls really stepped up their game this week. Honestly, the way it's looking, we may honestly be able to believe the hype that this could be the best Top 12 ever. Just get the vote right, America!

Theme: Songs from the '80s
Question: What is one of your most embarrassing moments?

Asia'h Epperson - "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)," Whitney Houston
She was an extra on a movie roller skating, trying to be cool with fancy footwork and ran into the big set light. A very cute video. Her outfit, on the other hand, was horribly unflattering to her figure. She opened the show up on the top of the stairs. She got Paula up but as always, it's so risky to take on the likes of Whitney. Still, Asia'h was leaps and bounds above her performance last week, and she's still adorable.
Randy: "I recorded that song with the great Whitney Houston ... It was a tall order for you to take on ... Guess what? You showed and proved tonight that you deserve to be here. That was hot!"
Paula: "I must admit that I wonder, 'Wow, she's picking big songs. Can she pull it off?' ... You nailed it. You really nailed it."
Simon: "I'm not quite so enthusiastic because ... last week it was Celine, this week it was Whitney. At best, it was second-rate Whitney Houston." At this point Asia'h said she'd take second-rate Whitney. "You did the Whitney version of a Whitney song, which you didn't sing as well and you couldn't hit the big notes at the end." Asia'h gave him a big smile, thumbs up and blown kiss. "I think that was good enough to make the Top 12."
Jason: "You're up and down a bit from week to week but you've got a great instrument there. It's good to see you well, and while I agree you didn't really do anything to make that song your own, you still sang the hell out of it. It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty damned solid. Good job."

Kady Malloy - "Who Wants to Live Forever," Queen
She ruined "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera in a ninth grade audition for the yearly talent show. Her music teacher hated it. Then Kady tripped over the microphone cord, the entire speaker system collapsed and made a horrible feedback sound. Before the results were delivered, Kady was sure she was going home (it was Alaina Whitaker instead who left). Kady really slowed her performance down and glammed up her look tremendously, which I think is a good move. Freddie Mercury is another one of those singers that's impossible to do justice to, but Kady mixed it up enough that you really didn't even recognize it as a Queen song, and did pretty well with it.
Randy: "Very interesting song choice ... You did a pretty good job of it ... You hit the big notes really well, some of the smaller notes ... you didn't support them well enough ... It was pretty good."
Paula: "This was your best performance ... I think the tenderness of your voice, the softness on your natural voice; that's where I feel like your magic is, for you, because it's really beautiful."
Simon: "It was definitely better than last week. I'm still having issues with your massive lack of personality, though. You're like a robot when you sing, I just can't get anything out of you ... I got no emotion out of this, so you may be in trouble."
Jason: "There is huge difference between the fun and silly girl we see on the video and the almost empty performances you give us on stage. However, your blank expressions during your songs reminds me hugely of Carrie Underwood still and she made out just fine. That said, vocally this was the best we've ever seen you just when you needed it. The question is, will the next six girls make the audience forget you?"

Amanda Overmyer - "I Hate Myself for Loving You," Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
A barbecue grill she kept on her deck caught fire, burned the deck and scorched half the pool. She was the last one there. Her stage presence started off a lot less impressive than in prior performances, as if she's feeling some pressure this week. She was a lot more subdued than what we've gotten used to. That said, a perfect song choice and vocal style for her. She sang it like a true lead vocalist, leading the band and owning the music.
Randy: "That's the Amanda that we loved when we first saw her. She's the bluesy rocker chick. That's the kind of songs she should be singing. That's who you really, really are. Well done."
Paula: "Your face is beautiful, I like your hair ... When you pick the right song, you've found your niche and this is who we fell in love with."
Simon: "If I'm being honest, I thought it was fantastic. I thought you absolutely nailed that song. It was the perfect song for you, and actually, in a way it was one of my favorite girl performances of the entire part of this competition ... It was great. Well done."
Jason: "There is not a better choice of song you could have made than that one. You looked a little uncomfortable up there, or you were just playing it a bit more subdued than we've gotten used to. Honestly, that may have been a smart move as you're trying to appeal to the widest audience possible to get into the Top 12. Your voice fit every note of that song, and you really shined on those power notes you sprinkled it with."
DOUBLEPLAY - It doesn't happen at all some weeks and sometimes it happens multiple times, but for the most part, it is rare that a performance is so good that I want to go back immediately (the joys of DVR) and watch it again.

Carly Smithson - "I Drove All Night," Roy Orbison
Went to the bar next door and got her leg caught in a railing. Her drunk friend greased up her leg with butter, oil and bathroom soap to set it free. She looked simple and classy in black. And I'm not sure what she did with her hair, but it framed her face well. She put on essentially a flawless performance but I feel the ending Idol power note was unnecessary.
Randy: "You keep smashing it every week ... I loved that, dude. Very, very good ... Another great performance."
Paula: "You are like the dependable dog ... I think that you are totally, totally into your niche ... And by the way, your singing, there aren't enough adjectives."
Simon: "Once again, I don't think you chose the right song ... I know that is the Celine Dion version of the song ... It's just not a great song, and it just doesn't give you what you deserve because you're a million times better than that song." To Paula: "She could sing the phone book."
Jason: "I know what Simon was trying to say. You have this amazing voice, with such power and range, and yet the only way you were able to show that range with that song selection was by artificially creating a big note at the end of your arrangement. Here's my advice. If you think the only way to showcase your range and ability is to shove in a big note like that then you've chosen the wrong song for you. For what you had to work with, and with the performances you've given in the past, you should be fine. And, on an unrelated note, this is the most beautiful we've ever seen you."

Kristy Lee Cook - "Faithfully," Journey
When she was little, she pretended to be a dog all the time. How is that embarrassing? It's a kid playing make-believe. From the first note, I have to give it to her that she picked a good song for her voice, though she jammed a bit more twang into it than she needed to. Each twang pulled me out of the performance a bit. But other than those annoying "country" vocal affectations, she sang it really well and showed a nice pure voice.

Randy: "Two things near and dear to my heart: dogs and Journey ... To me, no one will ever sing the song like Steve Perry, but what was cool is you put like a country kind of lilt to it ... It could work and be a big single, country ... So I actually liked it."
Paula: "I was going to say that could be a hit for you in country music. It would be amazing. You look great tonight and I have nothing but positivity. That's it. You were great."
Simon: "I think it was good that we heard a country influence ... I still think your problem is that you're forgettable ... At this stage, you're going to be battling with the bigger voices, the bigger personalities. So at the best I can see you coming tenth." Kristy says, "That's okay with me."
Jason: "I agree that you may struggle a bit to stand out, but hitting the country angle was probably a pretty smart thing to do because no one else tonight really taps into that demographic. Your vocals were clean and pretty, but nothing overly spectacular. If you go, it won't be because of what you did wrong, but because of what everyone else did more right."

Ramiele Malubay - "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)," Phil Collins
In 5th grade, she rode her bike to a boy's house she liked and dropped off a picture. Then she waited across the street to see if he would look at it. He came out with his mother and they laughed at it. She had a few off moments in the middle of that, but for the most part she was confident and strong. Ramiele has a beautiful voice and charming stage presence.
Randy: "Another big song ... We loved you when we first saw you and I'm happy to see you return to that ... I thought it was a pretty good vocal ... but find that confidence again. I feel, sometimes when I'm watching you sing I can hear you also thinking: should I sing this run, should I let this go. Just go for it. You've got mad vocals ... Just come on with it."
Paula: "You have such a beautiful face and there's such an innocent pure voice that comes out of you ... You have a lot of textures in your voice." At this point there was a long distraction about mutts and the audience and colors. Finally, Paula wrapped it up with: "You deserve to be in the Top 12."
Simon: "Because you're so little and cute, it was good. I actually thought it was actually very old-fashioned. I didn't hear that big money note I would have liked. I've heard a lot of performances like this over the year, so ... I thought it was a bit predictable ... I'm not jumping out of my chair on that."
Jason: "It seems that you have lost some of your confidence up there, which is a shame. You were my early favorite to go all the way and while you can still sing just as well as then you need to remember that and believe it yourself. But I did absolutely love the majority of that performance. I think you had one bum note in the middle there but for th rest of it you were dead on. You're a little powerhouse. And I loved how your big power note transformed midstream into a tender one. Brilliant. Now you need to believe in you again."

Idol's probably not going to like that Paula rolled her eyes during the iTunes plug.

Brooke White - "Love is a Battlefield," Pat Benatar
When she was 12 or 13, she ran out of church and threw her arms around her dad complaining that she was tired and hungry and ready to go home, only it wasn't her dad she was hanging on. Brooke went for sitting on the edge of the stage for this subdued performance. She stayed seated through the entire performance and gave a very soulful rendition of the song. It was a bold choice that paid off.
Randy: "Without the guitar doing your thing ... I liked it ... because it allowed me to focus on your voice and actually I really liked it. I don't know if you brought anything new to the song but it was definitely very interesting."
Paula: "For that, I thought it was a very wise choice that you did that. And I do love the fact that it was very, very pure. What I would have loved throughout is that you incorporated the band more to build ... I thought you did really beautifully."
Simon: "I think it worked purely for the reason that you didn't have the band with you, therefore you did an original take on the song. The song normally would never, ever suit you. You made it into a completely different type of song. And once again, two weeks running, you've done a great performance."
Jason: "Well, I guess we'll be seeing you in the Top 12. That was such a brave choice to make, sitting there vulnerable on the stage. It reminded me of Fantasia's unforgettable "Summertime" performance that cemented her as the favorite to win her season. It was heartfelt and a beautiful thing to behold. I think you just had the performance of the night."
DOUBLEPLAY - It doesn't happen at all some weeks and sometimes it happens multiple times, but for the most part, it is rare that a performance is so good that I want to go back immediately (the joys of DVR) and watch it again.

Syesha Mercado - "Saving All My Love for You," Marilyn McCoo
She wrote one of those classic "Do you like me Yes, No" notes in second grade with a piece of bubble gum in it. He told on her but kept the gum. Honestly, I'm not sure the entirety of the outfit worked for her tonight. From the waist up she looked elegant and beautiful but the velvet shorts just didn't work at all for me. Why, despite the judges constantly telling them not to, does everyone dip into the Whitney/Mariah pool over and over again for song selection. Whitney had a huge hit with this and it's so hard to separate that performance from anything else. Luckily, or not depending on what you want, Syesha pretty much gave us her version of Whitney's performance.
Randy: "Good. Good."
Paula: "Sophisticated. Lovely."
Simon: "Bit predictable, but good."
Jason: "Time must be running out. Luckily I don't have those kinds of restrictions. It was vocally very strong, but you brought absolutely nothing new to the song, which was disappointing. You have one of the strongest voices in the competition so I guess I wanted you to show me a little of what Syesha is all about as an artist. Not what Whitney is all about."

BEST OF THE NIGHT
Amanda Overmyer, Carly Smithson, Brooke White

SHOULD BE WORRIED
Kady Malloy, Kristy Lee Cook, Asia'h Epperson (maybe)

WHO'S GOING HOME
Last week I went 1-3 and you all went 2-2 (based on your votes to the review posts).
For the season so far I'm 3-5 and you all are 6-2 (I've got to catch up to you!)

Boys: Luke Menard, David Hernandez (I think the controversy will doom him.) -- Chikezie could sneak in as a surprise elimination
Girls: Kady Malloy, Kristy Lee Cook -- Amanda could sneak in as a surprise elimination