Stripped down

Watching American Idol live, for once. Cutting to 9; also down to an hour and change, so should be a breathless show. Ugh, music from No Doubt and stuff Gewn Stefani likes. Okay....

Not much padding not even the walkout; LaKisha Jones first--in brief vid Stefani says she should be asking her for advice. In stripey number, with crazy print dress, singing Donna Summers' Let's Dance. Eh, it's okay--not a great fan of the song, so I think it's okay. Actually a little bored by it; she's definitely not winning this thing, may not even make top three. Randy says nice up-tempo, good boots; Paula says a hard song but good job; Simon luvs the boots, much younger than last week; good classic LaKisha with great vocal. Hmm, her numbers must be slipping. Fast and almost rudimentary tonight.

Chris Sligh on the hot seat, puts on a whole little routine in a faux-gay voice. In ugly brown jacket and jeans. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, Gwen says he's off-tempo. That's about it for her comments; he clears his throats before singing, and my gosh, it's not very good. So B-karaoke. Swallows words, is breathless, and trying too hard. I don't know what it is about tonight--performance times may be a bit shorter too, just boring. Randy says good choice but band and your tempo didn't match; asks Chris to respond, he does, says he's never sang it before. Paula says yeah, big beat problems; Simon says it was a mess--all over the place, bad song, didn't feel right. Wants to go on, music cuts him off--he says, Not finished yet!, then very funnily--not the Oscars. Chris just says my bad to Ryan, it's pathetic.

Gina Glockson, who loves Gwen; I'm liking Gina more week after week, Gwen says perfect song choice for her voice, I'll Stand By You. Wow, she's good--in metallic tiny outfit, it really is a great song choice. Lyrics sound heartfelt, waves of cheering during it; they've definitly got shorter song slots this week, I wanted this one to go on. Big applause; Randy says great boots, one of best performances ever. I'll tell you right now she may be a darkhorse candidate. Paula likes it too, Simon's beaming--not one of your best, everyone boos; it was your best performance--everyone cheers. Knowing who you are, choosing the right song, what a transformation (chalk and cheese), best performance so far tonight.

Wow, Sanjaya Malakar next--with crazy mohawkish hair! I'm telling you, no matter what he is, the kid's not boring and definitely isn't just playing it safe. Unlike with Chris, who if he could would probably convene a focus group before doing anything. It'd be interesting if some rich kid got on the show one year and his parents paid for exactly that. So he's doing Bathwater, Stefani says he was a bit nervous, feels for him--will be difficult for him, a hard song, good luck. Man, his hair is totally crazy; cool leather outfit. Voice is a bit small, but melodic. Rushing it a bit; he's a bit diffident when he sings. But nods his head in time well; and as the song goes on, pushes it out a bit more. It's always half-cringe time when I watch him, but half smile when he nails it; I think he does pretty well tonight, actually. Randy is just cracking up, says he's speechless every time, hairdo was interesting; you actually can sing, just go put it out there; Paula is like if you had the ability to just go for it, then it would all fit, but when you don't go for it we're all like come on. Simon says I presume there was no mirror in your dressing room; and it doesn't matter anymore what we say, you're in your own universe, if people like you good luck. Wow, his hair is cool, it's like 7 ponytails instead of a true mohawk. Man, I hope he sticks around long enough to let loose.

Ugh, Haley Scarnato, who I didn't think I could like any less, doing True Colors--Gwen is like she's throwing in some unnecessary stuff, just tone it down. In black dress; I mean, I love this song, but to sing it on Idol is such a cop-out. It's like doing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Essentially you're saying I bring nothing, let a great, simply melodic song carry me. I can't see anyone being inspired to vote for her. Ending is like dogs howling; ugh. Randy is like just allright, didn't grab me; pitchy; Paula is like just sing the melody and be vulnerable, it wasn't quite right; Simon asks her how she thinks she did; sweet but forgettable, thousands can sing just like that. Too safe, you'll have to do better than that.

Phil 'weirdo' Stacey says in response to a question they're too busy to notice how much of an impact they're having on the country. Every Breath You Take, Gwen is surprised at how good it is; she's apparently counseling all of them to do nothing extra and just sing the melody well. Can't wait for her/Blake. He actually is good; believable singing this, wearing his little knit beret. A bit of Chris Daughtry in him, not as rich but he's improving. There's definitely a vacuum on the guys side, he's trying to step into it. Some pitch problems, but not bad. Randy says I actually kindof liked that, a solid performance; Paula says good choice, personality and color coming out in your voice when you get to chorus, verses are safe so work on that; Simon says I thought that was very good, good song choice, only time in the past few weeks I felt you were taking this seriously and trying to do well. Yeah, he's realizing he's got a shot at sticking around.

Melinda Doolittle, who Gwen says blew her away, you don't really need luck. In weird paisley blue outfit. Don't Take Your Love Away, effortless--I'm telling you, she's great, but she's waaaay too professional for this show, it's no fun when people who have already found their voice are week in and week out showing that they can sing. It's like Vegas, big show and everything. Randy says great, you're living the words not just singing; Paula says tons of charisma, good story-telling; Simon says not the greatest ever, but as usual vocally outstanding, hate the outfit.

Blake Lewis, in odd sweater; doing the Cure's Love Song. Think the song's only okay, his voice is per usual smooth and he's probably doing interesting things, but I just find it okay, low-energy and a bit odd. Randy not wild about song, but tender; Paula loved what he did with the song, he's looking at her stone faced, she gushes about him, says she'd love to see him in the finale; Simon says definitely the strongest guy--but you're in this Chris Daughtry zone where you have to be sure not to be too indulgent, and don't be boring.

Now my fave, Jordin Sparks. Gwen says she was shocked when she heard she was singing Hey Baby, but she's refreshing and brought a lot of energy. In chekered shirt; and tripey skirt. Wow, a total different side from her, like she's got some ghetto in her--and it's really good, actually; she's got enough attitude, with a good voice; and total stage presence. I'm telling you, she's got amazing range; song's a bit unmelodic, but totally fun. Audience loves her, Randy says risky, hard to do something stylized, but you can sing anything and that was brilliant; he's exactly right, hard to do stylized without sounding cliched; Paula loves her; Simon says you're the most improved contestant, another side to you, but a bit copycatish; she butts in, she really is growing. Wow, already through 9.

Chris Richardson closes the show, which has totally flown by. Doing Don't Speak, Gwen funnily says she knows he likes to do this verbal Olympics things, but that she doesn't think the song needs it. She's pretty smart, actually. Voice is off from the get-go; in dark jacketish and jeans; I feel like vocally he's really off. No real energy, almost like he's going mellow; or like he's too cool. Then energy comes, but in weird parts; I find the whole thing boring. Randy is like interesting thing, liked the R&B flavor, but not best vocal, good twist; Paula just says you're good, Chris, you're good, just good; Simon says better song choice, but vocal was just okay, struggled in the middle, need to pay a lot more attention to your vocals right now.

Overall, just an okay show tonight; no real surprises, except maybe that Gina's really grown on me. I still think FOX needs to do something to prevent the show from degenerating into a everyone-playing-it-safe, boring vocals adult fest--if we want that, we'll turn on the radio. Thank god for Sanjaya and Jordin.

Gina Glockson
Jordin Sparks
Phil Stacey
Melinda Doolittle
Sanjaya Malakar
Blake Lewis
LaKisha Jones
Chris Richardson
Haley Scarnato
Chris Sligh