American Idol Recap: Twelve Idols Compete 3/12/08 

Download this weeks performances on iTunes.com

“Twelve Idols Compete”

March 11, 2008

By Marcus

Tonight was “Lennon McCartney” song night for the remaining twelve idols hopefuls. First up was Syesha Mercado whose off the shoulder shimmering gold blouse got our attention, but her singing of “Got To Get You Into My Life” did not keep it. At best, this was an only a tepid performance with no sparkle. It like she was simply singing to herself while driving to work.

Next we had Chikezie singing “She’s a Woman.” He started with a Louisiana Cajun style and then morphed into rock with a manic gestation across the stage and ended with a forced falsetto. Nonetheless, he was entertaining.

And then we had Ramiele Malubay trying to sing “In My Life.” What happened to this powerful woman’s voice? Who stole it? Did she drop it backstage? Because tonight she was so timid that I did not recognize her. In fact, she was lulling us to sleep with a performance that can be summed up as a lackluster “yawn.” She is in trouble.

Jason Castro’s performance of “If I Fell” was light and airy. Somewhat like a balloon with no substance. He sang as if he was performing for a school talent school rather than performing in front of millions and millions of us. And what happened to his balloon on the last note of the song? It collapsed.

Finally after suffering through some rather humdrum performances, Carly Smithson woke us up with a spot on performance of “Come Together.” Her confident rendition with a little blues mixed in for a good stir was awakening. She is singing to win and she may be the contestant to beat. You can tell that she was having a good time on stage and we were thoroughly entertained. She is a very confident singer.

David Cook had large boots to fill singing “Eleanor Rigby” and he came up a few sizes short. However, he did display some rock ‘n roll talent. But “Eleanor Rigby” is such a sad melancholy song that after he was finished, I wanted an anti-depressant.

Brooke White sang “Let It Be.” This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. She accompanied herself by playing a grand piano and sang agreeably. But she just didn’t make a deep emotional connection to the song nor with us. I think that she is safe this week, but beyond that?

“I Saw Her Standing There” was song by David Hernandez who danced and pranced his way across the stage like a skittish pony. He seemed exhausted by his efforts and it was kind of like a T-bone steak left too long on grill, that is---overdone.

Amanda Overmyer stirred in a full cup of her rocker style zing into “You Can’t Do That” and served up a searing number with her Elvis lip sneers and Janis Joplin’s growls. She enjoyed herself on stage and we enjoyed her. She is definitely the “rocker chick” of American Idol.

At times flat, Michael Johns sang an unimaginative version of “Across the Universe.” It needed a good polish to give it a sparkle and a shine.

Kristy Lee Cook took a daring risk by changing “Eight Days A Week” into a country song. I thought she pulled it off rather nicely. Yet she has no stage presence as evidenced by her just standing there in the middle of the stage. Please, someone help her with the choreography.

The last singer was David Archuleta from whom we have come to expect much. But not tonight. Something must have been bothering him when he sang “We Can Work It Out.” He literally mumbled some of the lyrics, pronounced “wrong” as “whrong” and just was entirely uncertain of himself. This very young singer has a great talent and I hope that he returns next week.

And now the fate of the twelve depends upon you. Don’t forget to return here tomorrow night to learn who will be sent on that lonely rode home.

see also:

3/7/08 American Idol: Four More Go Home

3/6/08 Recap: Eight American Idol Women

3/5/08 Recap: Eight American Idol Men

2/29/08 American Idol: Adios to Four More

2/28/08 American Idol: Top Ten Women Sing

2/27/08 American Idol: Top Ten Men Sing

2/22/08 Four Chops on American Idol

2/21/08 The Twelve American Idol Women Compete

2/20/08 Twelve American Idol Men Sing

2/14/08 The Twenty Four American Idol Survivors

2/13/08 164 Hollywood Singers in a Grueling Hollywood Week

1/31/08 American Idol in Miami

1/30/08 American Idol in Omaha

1/24/08 American Idol in Charleston

1/23/08 American Idol in San Diego