Garnet Greene

After watching both nights of Idol’s top twenty in one night – a lot of American Idol – I strongly believe that Lilly Scott is the voice to beat. A few others really own the stage – especially Crystal Bowersox, but I don’t see her style of music winning, though she is amazing. Overall I’m afraid this top twenty is pretty weak. I still can’t imagine a very promising top ten, but it’s early.

Unfortunately I’ve got no time for a big commentary today. Here’s how the Top Twenty did:

Boys are up first, the girls are switched to Wednesday due to Crystal Bowersox being ill.

The Best

Tim Urban

Song: Come On Get Higher

First Impression: Nicely done, heartfelt and emotional. The best performance of the night so far to me — great song choice by Tim.

Judges: Randy didn’t get it, didn’t hear anything special about it. Ellen didn’t like it, doesn’t feel any charisma, and once him to be an actor. Kara, liked the song choice, but felt he didn’t make it his own. Simon, thought it was a “marked improvement on last week” and that he was “more relevant tonight” than the other performers. Simon thought he did great.

Andrew Garcia

Song: You Give Me Something

First Impression: The first really emotional performance of the night. I didn’t love the vocals at every step, but he’s real, and he understands how to perform.

 Judges: Randy, felt it was “pitchy,” wants him to sing “singer-songwriter” songs. Ellen heard a few pitch problems, but really liked his performance. Kara, still waiting for a performance like Straight Up. Kara felt he played it too safe. Simon is frustrated by his song choices, wants him to be more original – and knows he can be.

 The Worst:

 Todrick Hall

 Song: What’s Love Got To Do With It?

 First Impression: I’m so over this song, it’s hard to care about this performance. Todrick does a very nice job with this, but I don’t care, and I don’t connect emotionally.

Judges: Randy doesn’t like the arrangement, still likes Todricks voice. Ellen thinks he should bring his dance moves, and choose a younger song. Kara doesn’t like his “all over the place” arrangements. Simon thinks he should go back to dancing.

Jermaine Sellers

 Song: What’s Going On

First Impression: Jermaine the Holiday Inn by the airport hopes you’ll be there in time for the late show. Just awful. Horrible arrangement, pitchy singing, and god help us, scatting.

Judges: Randy, “wasn’t a great performance.” Ellen, “loves his style,” but not the song. Kara felt there was too much going on. Simon, “you water down the songs,” did too much with the song, and it seemed old fashioned. Wanted him to just sing the song straight. 

Jermaine, btw, is depending on God to get him here next week.

Aaron Kelly

Song: My Girl

First Impression: This was pretty bad in many different ways. Aaron is simply too inexperienced to know what to do with his voice. He has potential, but not in the short-term.

Judges: Randy thought it was OK. Ellen didn’t like the song choice. Kara really liked it and she likes him. Simon didn’t like it and felt it was “all over the place,” “he needs to work out what kind of artist he wants to be.” Simon felt the song was old fashioned, but Kara disagreed.

The Rest:

 John Park 

Song: Gravity

First Impression: I like John and I think he delivered a solid performance, but I’m not sure his voice can go the distance.

Judges: Randy felt it was a bit flat and not interesting. Ellen thinks it’s a good song choice for him, would like it to have more emotion. Kara, missing the connection with the audience.  Simon thinks he’s in trouble.

Lee Dewyze

Song: Lips of An Angel

First Impression: I don’t believe he improved on the original in any way. Not memorable.

Judges: Randy liked that he’s trying to take chances – he liked it. Ellen, felt the passion in his singing. Kara thought it was “a big improvement” feels he’s a current, commercial performer. Simon feels he’s the best singer, but he has no confidence. He’s got to step up and connect totally with a song.

Michael Lynch

Song: This Is A Man’s World

First Impression: I loathe the song, “hey little ladies, we made the whole world, but despite all of our accomplishments, it’s nice to have you around.” Ugh. I won’t hold that against Michael, but he does not overwhelm me. Ultimately I think his voice falls short of having star wattage. It gets the job done, but it doesn’t have the tone or power that I wish it had.

Judges: Randy loves it and gives Mike a standing ovation, Ellen thinks he set the standard for the night, Kara hears “an artist” tonight. Simon, “from a pussycat to a lion,” and “his best performance so far.”

And the ladies: 

The Best:

Crystal Bowersox

Song: Long As I Can See The Light

First Impression: Boy can she sing. The problem is, it’s not 1968. I just don’t see her current relevance. She a throwback, and though it worked for Taylor Hicks, I can’t imagine it working for a girl.

Judges: Randy loves her truth. Ellen loves her “pure, raw natural talent.” Kara, “effortless, centered, and focused,” “you hit a new level.” Simon, “vocal was incredible,” “she’s a serious artist.”

Lilly Scott

Song: A Change is Gonna Come

First Impression: Unlike Crystal Bowersox, Lilly does a throwback vibe that feels fresh. This girl is the real deal, with an amazing original voice and she’s completely at ease on stage. My only critique would be that the guitar didn’t add anything to this performance.

Judges: All kinds of love from the judges. Simon feels she proves the judge’s points about making things relevant. Though he prefers the vocals of the other throwback tonight.

Katelyn Epperly

Song: I’m Going Back to The Start

First Impression: Katelyn really shined on this number. A nearly flawless vocal, and a nice take on a Coldplay favorite. She put her heart in this and I loved it.

Judges: Randy, “really liked it.” Ellen, she liked her piano playing, felt it was a little to slow, in her mind. Kara, “I kind of love you.” “You have an incredible instrument.” She’s switching around too much. “She’s got to figure out who she is.” Simon thought she was “a million times better than last week.” But he said she needed to work on not being “corny.”

The Worst:

Haeley Vaughn

Song: The Climb

First Impression: Hearing Haeley sing this song reminds me once again that I would like to hear a really good singer sing this song. Haeley didn’t belt it, and own it, and I don’t think Miley Cyrus ever does either. I think the song is better than either of these girls. Do you think Adam Lambert would be willing to stop by and sing it to me? Haeley’s performance was a pitchy, screechy and overall irritating. I’m losing my faith in her.

Judges: Randy, “excruciating” it was wrong for her. Ellen didn’t feel her connect to the song. Kara likes her stage performance, but needs a lot more training. Simon, “complete and utter mess.”

Michelle Delamor

Song: With Arms Wide Open

First Impression: This song didn’t suit her at all. She doesn’t have a big enough voice, and her arrangement was pretty bad. A painful performance to my ear.

Judges: Randy, felt she didn’t do enough with the song, but he liked her outfit. Ellen liked the outfit too and that she changed up the song. Kara, “my favorite performance of yours ever.”

Didi Benami

Song: Lean On Me – My initial response to hearing this song choice was to gag. Yuck.

First Impression: Oh, who cares? … Nothing new here.

Judges: Randy didn’t like this soul song for her, showed off her flaws not her strengths. Ellen, loves her voice, but didn’t like the song choice. Kara, “it wasn’t good,” “felt like a karaoke bar.” Simon didn’t like it on any level – “a wasted opportunity.”

The Rest:

Lacey Brown

Song: Kiss Me

First Impression: Whatever you want to say about her singing, this girl does have sparkly-eyed charisma. I think her song choice (or Kara’s choice) was very good for her, though in some of the quick sections she seemed to lose her breath a bit.

Judges: Randy, liked the song choice, didn’t feel it was special. Ellen, thought it was adorable and that she was great; the right song for her. Kara, liked it, but she didn’t push it, she needs to do more. Simon says she isn’t showcasing herself as an artist. She’s not having an impact.

Paige Myles

Song: Walk Away

First Impression: I didn’t care for her version of this song. It didn’t do anything for me. She can sing, but this song did not show off her voice.

Judges: Randy, “liked it but didn’t love it.” Didn’t like her song choice. Ellen though she did great, and really performed joyfully. Kara, liked it, but felt she missed the anger in the song. Simon felt she has “failed two weeks in a row” and has chosen bad songs. She has to come and nail a big song.

Katie Stevens

Song: Put Your Records On

First Impression: I’d call it a copycat version, but she can’t sing as well as the Corinne Bailey Rae. So it was a bad copy, with some pitchy moments. Overall forgettable. 

Judges: Randy, the performance had “some bright moments,” but not great. Ellen, still thinks she’s not singing a song that’s right for here age. Kara agrees that she needs a better song that’s right for her. Simon is also frustrated;  Katie’s not defining herself. Simon thinks she will stay around.

Siobhan Magnus

Song: Think

First Impression: She mostly delivered this song, but she didn’t make it her own: some strong moments, but overall forgettable.

Judges: Randy, “It was dope, you slayed it.” Ellen “loved it.” Kara loved it. Simon finds her unique and talented, thought her performance was mixed. They were all very impressed with the big note.

Boys are up first, the girls are switched to Wednesday due to Crystal Bowersox being ill.

The Best

Tim Urban

Song: Come On Get Higher

First Impression: Nicely done, heartfelt and emotional. The best performance of the night so far to me — great song choice by Lee.

Judges: Randy didn’t get it, didn’t hear anything special about it. Ellen didn’t like it, doesn’t feel any charisma, and once him to be an actor. Kara, liked the song choice, but felt he didn’t make it his own. Simon, thought it was a “marked improvement on last week” and that he was “more relevant tonight” than the other performers. Simon thought he did great.

Andrew Garcia

Song: You Give Me Something

First Impression: The first really emotional performance of the night. I didn’t love the vocals at every step, but he’s real, and he understands how to perform. 

Judges: Randy, felt it was “pitchy,” wants him to sing “singer-songwriter” songs. Ellen heard a few pitch problems, but really liked his performance. Kara, still waiting for a performance like Straight Up. Kara felt he played it too safe. Simon is frustrated by his song choices, wants him to be more original – and knows he can be.

The Worst

Todrick Hall

Song: What’s Love Got To Do With It?

First Impression: I’m so over this song, it’s hard to care about this performance. Todrick does a very nice job with this, but I don’t care, and I don’t connect emotionally.

Judges: Randy doesn’t like the arrangement, still likes Todricks voice. Ellen thinks he should bring his dance moves, and choose a younger song. Kara doesn’t like his “all over the place” arrangements. Simon thinks he should go back to dancing. 

Jermaine Sellers

Song: What’s Going On

First Impression: Jermaine the Holiday Inn by the airport hopes you’ll be there in time for the late show. Just awful. Horrible arrangement, pitchy singing, and god help us, scatting. 

Judges: Randy, “wasn’t a great performance.” Ellen, “loves his style,” but not the song. Kara felt there was too much going on. Simon, “you water down the songs,” did too much with the song, and it seemed old fashioned. Wanted him to just sing the song straight. 

 Jermaine, btw, is depending on God to get him here next week.

Aaron Kelly

Song: My Girl

First Impression: This was pretty bad in many different ways. Aaron is simply too inexperienced to know what to do with his voice. He has potential, but not in the short-term.

Judges: Randy thought it was OK. Ellen didn’t like the song choice. Kara really liked it and she likes him. Simon didn’t like it and felt it was “all over the place,” “he needs to work out what kind of artist he wants to be.” Simon felt the song was old fashioned, but Kara disagreed.

The Rest

John Park

Song: Gravity

First Impression: I like John and I think he delivered a solid performance, but I’m not sure his voice can go the distance.

Judges: Randy felt it was a bit flat and not interesting. Ellen thinks it’s a good song choice for him, would like it to have more emotion. Kara, missing the connection with the audience.  Simon thinks he’s in trouble.

Lee Dewyze

Song: Lips of An Angel

First Impression: I don’t believe he improved on the original in any way. Not memorable.

Judges: Randy liked that he’s trying to take chances – he liked it. Ellen, felt the passion in his singing. Kara thought it was “a big improvement” feels he’s a current, commercial performer. Simon feels he’s the best singer, but he has no confidence. He’s got to step up and connect totally with a song.

Michael Lynch

 

Song: This Is A Man’s World 

 

First Impression: I loathe the song, “hey little ladies, we made the whole world, but despite all of our accomplishments, it’s nice to have you around.” Ugh. I won’t hold that against Michael, but he does not overwhelm me. Ultimately I think his voice falls short of having star wattage. It gets the job done, but it doesn’t have the tone or power that I wish it had.

 

Judges: Randy loves it and gives Mike a standing ovation, Ellen thinks he set the standard for the night, Kara hears “an artist” tonight. Simon, “from a pussycat to a lion,” and “his best performance so far.”