It's a Girl Fight!

Before I get to the recap, I want to have a moment of silence for the passing of a legend of 80's film, Corey Haim.  Yes folks, one of of the dynamic duo, Corey (Feldman) & Corey (Haim) passed away of an apparent accidental drug overdose early this morning.  He will be missed.... 

It was like the Bizarro Jerry episode of Seinfeld (#137 or the 3rd episode of the 8th season for all you nerds out there) last night....Everything was all mixed up.  Let me explain. 

What was going on with Ryan?  In a very uncharacteristic move Ryan recycled his opening lines by repeating the rather blaise catch phrase of "So this is ladies night!"  Apparently he's been around Randy "Hand Full of Phrases" Jackson too long and it's starting to have an adverse effect on him.  Poor Ryan.  I just hope that he snaps out of it before he pulls a "Dunkleman."

Then there was Ellen sitting on Simon's lap, nuzzeling him as if his manly field of exposed chest hair and man boobs somehow turns her on.  What struck me as funny abouyt the whole thing was that Ellen was basically mocking Kara's behavior this season and Kara had no idea and thought it was all very funny!  And she's giving advice to singing contestants and attempting to "guide" them as they begin their careers?  Seems a bit bizarro to me.

Since the show was crammed into 1 hour (thank the Lord!) we were mercifully spared the indignity of slogging through more pointless video packages or uncomfortable interview segments and instead, we were launched straight into Sweeden's Yodeling Idol.  Or at least that's what it sounded like when Katie hit the stage.  Holly crap!  What has happened to Katie?  Well, the Judges happened that's what.  They have so thoroughly filled her head with contradictory and impossible to achieve advice that her head is close to exploding.  Of course she doesn't really know what kind of artist she wants to be yet and even if she did, artists are allowed to go outside their comfort zone and expected performances to try other things to broaden their abilities and song/performance catalogue.  Unfortunately for Katie, the Judges feel that a 17 year old girl who has never performed on a stage like Idol before is somwhow supposed to turn into Taylor Swift in a matter of weeks.  To quote the wise old sage Former President George Bush senior, "Not Gonna Do It!"

Katie decided to try and take the Judges advice and come off younger.  To achieve this Katie chose Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway."  Katie also dressed a bit younger but it was her vocals that needed to sell the transformation and she just didn't have it last night.  The song was pitchy and all over the place in parts.  None of the Judges really cared for it and neither did I.  It's really too bad because I think that she will one day be a star but her time is almost up on Idol after that performance.

From yodeling we quickly transition to a capella for Siobhan.  Yes folks, that "Funny Little Thing" was at it again.  This time she switched up the arrangement of The Animal's "House of the Rising Sun."  But before she sang a note Ryan visited with her to find out why she chose the song.  To add to her legend of weirdness, Siobhan dedicated the song, which for those who have never really listened to the lyrics - it's about a prostitute, to her Father because it's his favorite song and he used to sing it to her all the time.  How sweet!  What is in the water down there on the Cape?  Creepiness aside, Siobhan's rendition blew Janell Wheeler's out of the water.  For all the damage that the Judges have caused to Katie, they have had no effect on Siobhan.  As Randy pointed out, "Keep not listening to us! Because that was hot!"

Selecting Brandi Carlile's "The Story," Lacey launched the first blow to Katie's chances.  For all that she has done wrong up to this point in the competition, Lacey came out looking like the champ ready to defend her belt.  Sitting on the edge of the stage, Lacey gave her best performance at the most critical time.  Will it be enough?  I have no idea but she certainly reminded me of why I liked her to begin with.

Hot on her heels was Katelyn with her High School misic class performance of Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move."  Considering what's at stake I would not in a million years have choosen that song.  My notes state "this arrangement sucks and so does this performance."  I was actually hoping for the Earth to move and swallow up the band and her casio keyboard which I don't think was even plugged in.  If Katelyn has simply sat on the steps of the stage with someone accompanying her on the acoustic guitar it might have worked but her attempt to "not be so corny" turned out to be an over the top cheesefest.  Everything was a mess except the vocals.  But even the vocals couldn't save the performance.  Katelyn probably has enough fans as well as enough good feelings from last weeks "The Scientist" to get through but with Idol, one never knows.  I still feel that she deserves to make the Top 12 but if she does she needs to focus and make better song choices.

Delivering what could very well be the knockout punch to Katie's chances of making the Top 12, was Didi's performance of "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac.  To quote Ellen, "Yes in-Didi!"  Looking great and sounding great for the first time since her audition, Didi had the wow moment that she needed at the right time.  After being brutalized by the Judges last week she didn't let it mess with her head.  Instead she bounced back with a brilliant song choice and arrangement and then nailed the vocals. 

After Didi's brilliant performance I was all smiles until Paige took the stage and committed a homicide.  Now I know that the kids today use this term differently but when I say that Paige Killed it up on stage, I don't mean it in the good way.  I mean it exactly as it sounds - she absolutely killed the song.  It's dead and burried and should never be sung on Idol again.  At least not in the way that Paige decided to perfor it.  When the song you select to sing when your spot in the Top 12 is on the line is called "Smile" and you walk on stage dressed all in black with sorrow in your eyes and perform a funeral dirge you clearly have no idea what you are doing at your time on the show has come to a catastrophic and Hindenburg style end.  Simon summed it up perfectly "Horrible choice; 1974 Holiday Inn performance where people are sitting at the bar eating peanuts."  Okay, I didn't really get that last part either but it somehow seems to fit....

In a scene eerily reminiscent of how Adam Lamber owned the stage last season and made you forget what other songs ahd been sung, Crystal Bowersox not only onwed Tracey Chapman's "Just Give Me One Reason," she made the song better.  With her bluesy/smokey vibe and electric guitar, Crystal reinforced her position as a front runner to win the show.  Nobody else on the Girls side (Siobhan, Lilly and Katelyn have come close but aren't there yet) has been able to do what Crystal has done.  Or on the Guys side for that matter!  What's she's done is show everyone what she's all about and give then a glimpse of what type of album she would put out if she wins.  I can see why Simon is pimping her to the media because right now, she is the cream of the crop.

Closing out the show was Lilly with a very good version of Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces."  Sporting a tiny guitar (mandolin) Lilly showed off her vocal control with her funky version of Patsy's standard.  As Kara said, she somehow managed to make the song current and contemporary.  Lilly is another one who is comfortable with who she is has a clear vision of the type of artist she intends to be.  It also help that she has delivered strong vocals each week which is something that has been lacking from both the Guys and Girls.

So as I see it, Crystal, Lilly and Siobhan are a lock and will quickly take their place on one of the "safe stools" provided that's how they break out the Top 12 this season.  Didi, Lacey and Katelyn will have to sweat it out with Katie and Paige to see who makes up the final three for the Girls.  As this is Idol and anything can happen (see Ryan Starr, John Stevens, Scott Savol, Bucky Covington, Haley Scarnato, Sanjaya, Kristy Lee Cook, Ramiele Malubay, and Megan Joy) and sometimes the bizarre happens (if the previous list doesn't convince you then google Paula Abdul and American Idol and watch a few clips of her best moments).

The Guys hit the stage tonight at 8 so tune in and come back here tomorrow for the recap.

~E