On The Other Hand

I thought the girls did a quite pleasant job tonight, so I will actually take the brave step of ranking them. Here goes...

10) Haeley Vaughn

She chose a Miley Cyrus song. Nothing else matters. Automatic last place.

9) Lacey Brown

I hate this song, and I hated this performance of it. Randy was right (What? I haven't even been drinking!), this was total girls night out karaoke. It's so strange to me that the performances that got her here were exceptionally nuanced, and now she's decided she needs to sing "bigger" than that. Go figure. I think she'll go home tomorrow, considering I had to look up the performance order to remember she performed at all.

8) Michelle Delamor

I have to give her some props, because her Creed song made a better soul song than I would have imagined, although it was very strange, because it sounded like the band was still playing the crappy butt-rock version, while she was trying to sing a soul version. I also felt like it showed her voice isn't actually as big as she would like it to be. So, on the down side, I didn't think the vocal was amazing. Also, she picked Creed. All this horrible active rock sends a shiver down my spine.

7) Katie Stevens

She bores the snot out of me. She sounded fine. Bad high note. A lot like the originkhjjkhjgjg whoops, I was falling asleep at the keyboard just thinking about it. Moving on.

6) Didi Benami

I'll give her some props, because she actually displayed more vocal range than I thought she had, and the judges were a little too harsh, but it just wasn't the best arrangement. She could be in some trouble tomorrow because she was kind of forgettable, and most of the other girls she shares a similar style with performed far better tonight. Hopefully she can avoid falling through the cracks, and the terrible two will go home.

5) Paige Miles

It was pretty much just exactly what Kelly Clarkson does with this song, but not quite as good. Also, people smiling in songs when the lyrics are definitely not a smiling matter is a huge pet peeve of mine. But, she sang well tonight and does have a good voice. I just think she'll lack originality later on, but will probably get the obligatory Top 10 soul singer spot (unless my girl Siobhan takes it).

Speaking of...

4) Siobhan Magnus

If these rankings were for personality, Siobhan would be number 1 on my list by so much we could just end the season now. I laugh every time this girl appears in front of a camera. Her explanation of giving herself a mohawk? Amazing! Her response to Simon's "you are a strange person" comment? Priceless. The fact that she was apparently wearing a rag from a car wash as her headband? Take that, Haeley Vaughn! Siobhan designs badass headbands too!

But for all her hilarious and quirky quips, she sets all of that aside when she takes the stake. She just seems to be completely confident up there, and just owns her performance. Now, I couldn't put her on the top, because there were definitely a few notes off in her performance, and because, really, no one but Aretha can do Aretha justice. But I'm still pulling for our little glassblower to do well.

3) Katelyn Epperly

So, I'm going to take a few moments here to give myself some mad props, because way back in the way back I said I liked this girl, and I continued saying it even when the judges took it upon themselves to shat all over her performances last week/during Hollywood, and she's totally backed it up with two really good performances in a row. And, mad props because I am not a Coldplay fan, and I totally dug this performance. Yes, it was slow, but unlike so many of the other performances this season, I was engaged the whole time. I didn't want to take my eyes away from the screen while she was performing, unlike last night, when I kept finding myself inadvertently pushing back my cuticles while someone was performing. And damned if I can find those pitch problems Randy was talking about. This girl has an amazing voice and great control of it.

The one thing I did totally agree with was Simon's comment - girlfriend spends way too much time staring into the camera. She just needs to perform the songs and not worry about the cameras. I think ultimately she has the potential to go really far, though - she's got a great voice and a "commercial look" aka she's smokin' hot. Although that off-kilter shirt was kind of freaking me out. I just wanted to reach out and straighten it out.

2) Bow-er-sox

Well, this was actually probably the best performance. But this is my blog and I can do what I want. She obviously has a great voice, great control of it, a pitch-perfect performance, etc, etc, she's great, the judges love her, they really should just advance her to the finale now. I agree with all of these things. She is awesome. But I kind of expect that for her. Her challenge will be to continue surprising and impressing when people have such high expectations for her. But no complaints about this performance. It was amazing, and a great way to start the night.

1) And I Shall Dub Thee 'Feather'

Ok, I am officially disbursing 10,000 cool points for the fact that Lilly wore one single enormous feather earring. Because, I mean, why not? That is awesome. Also, she plays the melodica and the moog. That is awesome. I will put aside all of my holier-than-thou over-educated counter-culture snobbery and deign to vote for this silly reality show competition if, and only if, she busts out the Moog for a performance.*

But, really, I thought her arrangement of this song was cool and original, I thought her singing was great, and I appreciated the fact that she understands that a singer doesn't have to be belting to be good. I enjoyed the fact she was still conveying emotion and meaning in some of the subtler moments. And she was playing lots of barre chords on a 12-string guitar, which is not easy to do. Not to mention those things are a total bitch to tune. So, basically I thought this performance was an exemplary display of badassery. Mad props.

* I reserve the right to make other declarations of absurd things contestants can do to earn a vote from me

Last couple thoughts:

- A two hours show is way too long for 10 singers. When there's time to force awkward judge banter and thank the band, even though there's been 734 commercials, there's too much time. Shorten, please.

- Whilst writing this post one of my couch cushions became dislodged and I have been apparently just been sitting on the springs/fold-up mattress for the past 45+ minutes. The fact that it took me that long to notice this, is, I think, the most telling explanation of how hideously uncomfortable this couch is.

- Predictions for going home tomorrow: Jeremiah & John for the boys, Lacey & Haeley for the girls. I think Michelle, Didi, and every one of the boys should also be nervous. Though as last week has demonstrated, I'm not that good at this prediction game, though I believe selecting all of the guys as potential eliminees greatly improves my chances for this week.

- Mark promised me he would comment on this post. If he does not, we must all shun him.

That is all