AMERICAN IDOL Recap: 3-5-08

by Deb Porter-Jones

Tonight’s show begins with Asia’h Epperson, who performed “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston.  She was okay, but she kind of sounds like she needs to clear her throat. Randy thought it was “hot”, Paula thought she “nailed it” but Simon, who was super-mean to poor Asia’h last week, “wasn’t impressed, and said “she was a 2^nd rate Whitney”.  Simon has got a bug up his butt about this poor girl.  I give her a B-.

Kady Malloy sang “Who Wants to Live Forever” by Queen, a really obscure, sad song that I’ve never heard before.  It sounded okay: Randy thought it was “pretty good”, Paula thought it was her best performance and Simon was struck by her “massive lack of personality when she performs.”  Sorry, I agree with Simon.  Again, she’s an incredibly beautiful girl with tons of personality on tape but when she performs, it just falls flat.  C+

Amanda Overmyer sang “I Hate Myself for Loving You” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and she did a great job.  I’m telling you folks; this girl is the truth!  I love her decidedly rocker style; she’s not at all confused about what her niche is.  True, she sounds like an aging rocker who’s smoked three packs a day for 20 years, but her voice is so smoky and sexy and her style is definitely interesting and different.  All of the judges loved it (finally, they’re coming around to my way of thinking!).  Of course, I give Amanda an A+!

Carly Smithson sings “I Drove All Night” by Roy Orbison,  and she did a really good job.  I’m not crazy about her by any means, but she did justice to the song.  Randy and Paula loved her performance, but of course Simon felt that it was the wrong song for her.  I thought the song was good, but this girl is nothing to write home about.  If we heard the song in a karaoke bar, it would be just as memorable. B+ for her.

Kristy Lee Cook is a, beautiful girl with a country twang, and who stands as if she’s mounting a horse.  Kristy hit a couple of tough high notes with the song “Faithfully” by Journey, which she arranged with more of a country influence.  Everyone loved it, except Simon, of course. I agree with Randy and Paula. B-

Ramiele Malubay sang “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins, and she did a pretty good job.  Randy thought it was a “pretty good vocal”, Paula liked it and Simon thought it was “a bit predictable.”  I thought it was okay but, as always with Ramiele, it’s never fabulous.  Randy thought that vocally the song was fine, but that she had lost her confidence.  Paula thought her performance was good and Simon thought it was “very old-fashioned and predictable.”  I give her a B.

Brooke White sang “Love Is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar.  She sang it with only a guitar for accompaniment and she did a pretty good job.  The arrangement was a little different; slower and calmer than the actual song; but she did okay.  Randy thought it was good, Paula thought she did a great job with the slower arrangement. Simon thought it was really good.  A – for her.

Last but not least was Syesha Mercado, who sang “Saving All My Love for You” by Whitney Houston.  I thought she did an okay job; she could have done better hitting all the high notes that Whitney herself just kills, but Syesha’s rendition was okay.  All the judges thought it was just “good”, Simon felt it was a bit predictable, but good.  I guess from Simon it’s better than a resounding, “you suck!” so I guess Syesha did okay.  B-

Wrap Up

Who should be comfortable that they’ll be around at least another week?  Again, I say Amanda Overmyer, and possibly Syesha Mercado.  Who’s going to want to dust off her resume and prepare for the long slow journey back home after this week’s performances?  Probably Kady and Kristy Lee Cook.  We’ll see tomorrow night!

Similar Posts:

• American Idol Final Three Recap
• American Idol Recap: 3-18-2008
• AMERICAN IDOL Recap: 2-27-08
• Need Some Inspiration? – AMERICAN IDOL Recap: 4-7-08