Garnet Greene

Short Story: Overall a disaster. Just awful

Worse Story: The judges have apparently clued in to the disaster that this group of contestants are and are now trying to CTA by talking them up. Truly this week they seemed to me, to grossly exaggerate the success of some of these performances.

The Best:

Siobhan Magnus

Song: Paint it Black

First Impression: Well, I liked it because she used so much of the stage and went for the “Adam Lambert –Over-The-Top-Drama-Award.” She wasn’t perfect, but she certainly wasn’t boring.

 Judges: Randy: “that was hot!” Ellen: loved her “look and sound.” Kara: “having flashbacks of Adam Lambert.” Simon: “the standout performance of the night.”

 Aaron Kelly

Song: Angie

First Impression: I’m not an Aaron Kelly fan, but this week he surprised me. He picked a perfect song for his age and delivered a very connected, emotional performance.

Judges: Randy: “It was hot.” Ellen: “A great song choice.” “A standout performance.” Kara: felt him powerfully connect to the song. Simon: “one of your strongest performances.”

The Worst:

 Tim Urban

Song: Under My Thumb

First Impression: Seriously Tim, you should have song this song before you got neutered. This is a song full of menace and you have none. Awful. He’s extremely lucky he’s one of the cute ones. And the reggae arrangement – horrid. Bad, bad, bad.

 Judges: Randy: “I didn’t get it,” “it didn’t serve you or the song.” Ellen: “it didn’t wow.” Kara: “applaud you for doing something different…you made it your own.” Simon: “it didn’t work…a crazy decision.”

 The Rest:

 Michael Lynch

 Song: Miss You

 First Impression: Very Well done. He adapted the song to his style and ran with it. Impressive, though I didn’t feel any of Simon’s “moments.”

Judges:  Randy: Who’s in it to win it? Randy things the dawg  “slayed it.” Ellen: “what’s not to love about that?” Simon, “a tiny bit desperate.” He didn’t love his dancing.

Didi Benami

Song: Don’t Play With Fire

First Impression: Someone’s playing with fire, but it’s not Didi. Boring! Also, she thinks that by looking angry she puts meaning behind this song. I think this is a bad song choice for her anyways. She can’t deliver the menace behind this lyric.

 Judges: Randy does think she’s on fire. Huh? Ellen liked it too. Kara felt she had intensity. Simon agrees with them and he’s a fan: “solid, not brilliant.”

Casey James

 Song: All Over Now

 First Impression: Good but not memorable. The nice occasional growl in his voice.

 Judges: Randy: likes him in this vibe. He “loved it.” Ellen: “fantastic.” Kara, “tonight you are a rock star.” Simon, “like an audition” he didn’t “use the stage” to “do something incredible.”

Lacey Brown

 Song: Ruby Tuesday

 First Impression: I’m torn with Lacey, I can hear the complexity of her singing style, but it’s incredibly affected. Tonight she did not connect with the song emotionally.

 Judges: Randy: “Most interesting so far.” Ellen: thought her stage behavior was oddly timed, “it was a bit sleepy.” Kara: “50/50 for me.” Simon: thinks she’s overly staged and planned – she’s got to let go.

 Andrew Garcia

Song: Gimme Shelter

 First Impression: I just don’t think Idol is for Andrew. He’s not at home in this arena. He just looks awkward.

 Judges: Randy: “pitchy everywhere.” Ellen: thought it was “his best yet.” Kara: didn’t feel any emotion –missing the connection. Simon: lukewarm about him, hopes he’ll stay around.

Can you people stop talking about Straight Up????

Katie Stevens

 Song:  Wild Horse (tragic that the worst voice gets the best song)

 First Impression: She can hit the big notes, but anything requiring subtlety is a mess. To stay in she will need to stay with belting songs. This song is also way to old for her.

Judges: Randy: “a very strong performance.” Ellen: “started pitchy,” “sounded so good once she got into it.” Simon: “the only week where you have chosen a really strong song.” In the second half he thought she lost it, but overall “well done.”

Lee Dewyze

Song: Beast of Burden

First Impression: Good, but I didn’t find it interesting.

 Judges: Randy and Ellen liked it. Ellen wanted a bit more from him. Kara: “you’re growing faster than anyone…tremendous growth.” Simon: “not shining…chose a safe song.” Simon wants him to have a moment.

Paige Myles

Song: Honkytonk Woman

First Impression: Once again, so, so. She did work the stage nicely, and hit some big notes, but she also hit some bad notes.

Judges: Randy: “you did alright.” Ellen: thinks she has star quality on stage. Simon and Kara impressed with her performance since she has laryngitis.

Crystal Bowersox 

Song: You Can’t Always Get What You Want 

First Impression: I expected her to own this night. She was good of course, but she didn’t blow me away. I do hold her to a higher standard.

Judges: Randy: “not my favorite performance.” Ellen: “liked seeing her personality,” and felt her let go. Kara: liked her and felt she was so “easy to watch.” Simon: thought she was good as always but that Siobhan beat her tonight.