Kicking off American Idol's top twelve

American Idol season seven kicks off its finals... with a new, sleek graphical opening that looks very video gamish, a spiffed-up Ryan Seacrest, and--a new set. Uh, okay... who cares. It looks like a giant version of the CBS eye logo. There's crazy lighting, and the band is now perched above the stage. Simon's even got a new type of shirt.

And let's not forget our talent, says Ryan, as they then finally let the contestants out. Everyone's looking new and shiny--and young, very young.

Ah now, the music... the Beatles. Songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, to be more exact; maybe the kids'll sing songs they wrote for other groups. Hmm, didn't know they wrote more #1 songs than anyone else; makes sense.

Ryan hypes it up with the judges, Simon is pretty hostile right off the bat. Seven minutes in, and Syesha Mercado's video runs. She remembers a bunch of stuff, we'll see if America remembers her tonight, tough to be the first. Got to Get You Into My Life... in goldish top, black tights; bad song choice, I think--her voice is thin, it's not that melodic, very tricky runs. Some nice performance aspects, but it's pretty disjointed and a bit unsettling to listen to. They have a new 'mosh pit', people are just standing there. Randy says nice arrangement, started rough with pitch problems but smoothed out, be more fun/loose, allright; Paula says some pitch problems, but found your zone, and your big voice came through; Simon is grinning, says better than allright, a great choice of song, looked nervous but not bad.

Man, all the non-whites got early draws. Back with Chikezie, who's styling in a sweater vest, talks about how he used to work security at LAX and with helps from his friends got to search Paula all the time. Seems totally relaxed. Man, he's very likeable, big smile. So cute, family's super-cute. Doing She's a Woman, hmm, not sure about the choice. Starts out hanging out with the band, man, he's turning this into a blues/country song, it's pretty good actually. Big smile, good voice, people are really into it. Whoah, now he's going crazy as the song speeds up; voice is a bit thin, but energy is high, seems to be having a great time. I like it, audience is into it; good pick, a bit nuts but tons of fun to watch. Singing not really the spotlight here, it's more the ride. Wow, where's this guy been the whole time?! People give him a standing ovation, it's totally crazy. Randy is laughing, totally entertained, who knew?! Loved the arrangement, you smashed it; Paula loved it, big risk but you pulled it off; Simon is surprised that he agrees with Paula and Randy, Chikezie is just going wild, it's great to watch; Simon likes how he took over, changed his game to match the moment, terrific. Ryan encourages him to go nuts, it's hilarious as they both dance around the stage. Have never seen anything like this in seven years of Idol... feels like a Barack Obama rally, Ryan is out of breath.

Ramiele Malubay's gotta follow this up, she works at a sushi place. So cute as a kid, seems like a pretty tight family, she's gonna sing In My Life. Good pick I think; in black dress with white. Totally different from Chikezie, but has a great voice--I think it helps that she says she's singing this for her friends who have already left the show, it makes her connect a bit more with the emotion. She seems a bit out of breath, must be pretty nervous. Audience is swaying as one, man these two have really cast a spell over everyone tonight. She's swallowing some of the words, it's heartfelt though; not bad, and a huge ending. Randy says kind of pretty, but a bit boring, waiting for something special/interesting; Paula says you look nice, a safe pick but you can do much better, stop holding back; Simon says he was bored to tears, she looks so sad as he says it, calls it dreary, you're better than that. She keeps messing with her expressions, like she got a new face today or something.

Jason Castro next, very likeable guy, a bit of Kellie Pickler in him--his family's from Columbia, totally unexpected. Singing If I Fell; funny, second person to talk about Yesterday, but not sing it. Playing guitar, in white; hmm, good choice, does something interesting with it, plays with the syncopation. He has total control of the song, playing with the audience too. It's a total pro performance, vocally varied. Bit too much closing of the eyes, almost an affectation, but I enjoyed it, has a nice modern feel to it but true to the roots. Randy liked it, no love cause too much messing around with the melody; Paula disagrees, felt his heart in the way he rearranged the song, emotional connection carries through; Simon questions that, a bit too much student in a bedroom at midnight, boring--big fan, but not as good as last week, need better song choices. Ryan and Simon have a little back and forth, Simon tells Ryan to be careful after he plays off the whole student's room at midnight, implying otherwise tables are gonna get turned.

Carly Smithson, who I'm confident America will start to dislike the same way I have. In blue top, Ryan's chatting her up beforehand, asks her about how they've all got new apartments, her roomie is Amanda Overmeyer. See, why isn't that stuff televised?! They talk about her shopping list instead, for god's sake. Singing Come Together, which she says she sings every week at her bar. Okay.... I wonder if one of the rules with Sony BMG was they had to repeat the name of every song three times. Wow, she's pretty powerful, the song really drives--her voice is totally pushing out, almost an angry version. Hate how she does the chorus, this affected big voice part, then a preten quite voice part. Gosh, now she's just screeching. She seriously looks like she's freaking out, not sure people are gonna like it, it's so mannered. Crowd cheers for her, Randy likes how it was strong, confident, all in tune, stellar performance; Paula says she felt like she was watching a star; Simon says you've been choosing the wrong song, until now. Hmm, so her niche is angry screed? Simon says he's reminded of Kelly Clarkson from six years ago. I sense they're gonna try and push Carly on us, like Simon pushed Katherine McPhee two years ago.

David Cook, doing Eleanor Rigby--should be very interesting. Bartender, loved it but happy to be here. They show him smashing a guitar for publicity shots, kindof weird. In black leather jacket; man, he's totally turned this into a rock song, very up-tempo. He's totally authentic, again he's totally found a way to make an old song interesting; audience likes it. A bit boring, keep expecting him to bust out--and here it comes... it's pretty fun, audience is screaming, he is too, but it's actual singing, great ending too. Randy likes it, a bit pitchy at first, but you rocked; Paula says you're the darkhorse, loved it; Simon thought it was brilliant, Paula's right, if this show is about talent not popularity you could win the whole thing.

We've seen some really good performances tonight, Idol is definitely back. An almost unrecognizable Brooke White, she's lost all trace of hick girl. Singing Let It Be, another perfect song choice for her. Wow, she's really blossomed on the show; beautiful, husky start as she plays on the piano, chic gray dress, new hair. It's just nice to listen to, compelling, hushed at the right time. Randy's got a big smile on his face listening to it, audience is swaying back and forth. Builds to a big ending, she lets loose a bit. Randy says not your strongest performance, but loves the heartfelt aspect of it; Paula says this is your niche--Brooke is crying a bit; Simon says one of the best performances of the night, brilliant choice, it's believable. She's so happy talking to Ryan afterwards, he points out she's got bare feet, he goes to bring her her shoes, Randy and Simon start messing around with him for that.

David Hernandez, who with his professional cheesiness I predict is gonna fall flat tonight. Same hometown as Jordin Sparks, so far no strip club photos, he's pretending his job tie is to a pizza bistro. I Saw Her Standing There... sheesh. Dressed like a school, said he was going to work the stage--and totally is, lots of experience at it. Minces across the stage, I really don't like his style, like Disney. His voice sounds strained and just too smooth by half to me. Some pitch problems too. Randy says it was too overdone, Paula says you know I love your voice, he says I love you too, everyone laughs, scale it back, bit too much; Simon says no, no, no; corny verging on desperate, rabit in the headlights, just not very cool. Ryan says it's been stressful for you (ha!), did you overanalyze, he says nah, I'll hopefully do better next time.

I really don't understand why every ad on Idol isn't hip and aimed at teens--that's their core, crazy audience, so many of the ads are lame. Amanda Overmeyer, Ryan again asks her about behind-the-scenes... hmm, so why not show that? There's this invention called the camera.... Wearing striped black and white pants, black top. Hmm, she's actually not a nurse, more of a medical saleswoman. You Can't Do That; says she's never heard it before this week. Hmmm, good opening notes--but then so much mumbling, and attitude, and growling. Like Elvis doing the song; enunciation really is horrid. A bit too much flailing, and almost like she's bought her own kool-aid. I don't like it; you really can't understand her, can't just carry the audience through on energy/personality. Randy's chuckling, loved it, props for changing it up; Paula says you're a star, everyone's great tonight; Simon says not as good as last week, only understood 30% of what you sang, a lot of slurring and shouty, but--then Simon and Paula get into it--he continues you're like a breath of fresh air. Amanda's becoming a bit complacent, like she's so into her own world.

Michael 'Two First Names' Johns, after Ryan plugs iTunes again. Has held a lot of jobs, including as tennis coach, they show him kissing up to a client, it's funny. Across the Universe, says it helped him through some stuff. In black sportcoat, white shirt; he also looks angry. I guess people from Commonwealth countries often are. It's okay, kind of boring, almost like he's saying it more than singing at the start. His body language is a bit 'I'm a star, watch me and fawn'. Randy says not your best, waiting for something big--I think he started strong in the competition, has totally fallen off. Paula likes his inner strength, quiet confidence, standing there doing nothing but singing; Simon agrees with Randy, should've done more--like the Irish girl, whose name he can't remember--gotta let yourself go, still a big fan but frustrated we haven't heard big things from you yet. Ryan gives Paula another chance to lobby for him.

Kristy Lee Cook next, she looks a bit like Helen Hunt. Eight Days a Week, country-style, she hopes Simon likes her taking a risk; in sparkly silver top, jeans. The tempo is a bit too fast, it makes me feel frenetic and nervous. Yeah, this doesn't work, feel like she's just rushing, and not really in tune with the music. She's just trying to power through--it's just really off. And her voice is getting swallowed up, she's just trying to make it on personality but it's totally off. Randy is laughing, like the arrangement and the idea, but you were trying to force runs in, not that great; Paula didn't like it, is painfully slow trying to get it out, never really does, I just didn't get it; Simon calls it horrendous, like Dolly Parton on helium. Brave but foolish thing to do, just didn't work, like a ghastly country fair with a couple of banjo players. Ryan tries to pin it on Simon's advice, Simon very calmly responds, Ryan tries to get Paula to speak, the two of them battle, Ryan says when you're host you can run this thing; Paula doesn't really stick up for her despite Ryan's best efforts, says she has a fan base that's huge. So why was she nearly voted off last week?

David Archuleta closes. Mom's from Honduras, clips of her dancing are hilarious, dad is a jazz musician. Interesting that we have four Hispanics in the final twelve--I predicted it a year too early I guess. We Can Work It Out... not sure about the song choice, he should've gone with something classic. In black, a bit of attitude, I think he flubs some of the lyrics, is probably nervous. Forgets more words, and not connecting with the audience as a result; plus, swallowing some words. He'll be fine in the voting, but the competition is now officially wide-open. The Finals are a totally different beast than the early rounds, he's really struggling. Randy says you weren't on-point, forced, didn't quite work; Paula says not your best week, but you're still a front-runner, don't let forgetting the lyrics show on your face; Simon says that was a mess, lyrics, bad version, expect something incredible it was your weakest so far.

All in all, a great first week--three performances I and the judges really liked, plus I enjoyed Jason's and Ramiele's. It's anyone's competition, if as Simon says it turns out to really be about talent (and not who has a giant fan club, or who the judges are pushing on us).

Chikezie
Brooke White
David Cook
Jason Castro
Ramiele Malubay
Carly Smithson
David Archuleta
Amanda Overmeyer
Michael Johns
David Hernandez
Syesha Mercado
Kristy Lee Cook