All ends well

Astonishingly, it's already the final women-only show; boy, this season seems to have flown by. Odd watching this just one night after watching all of last week's shows. I expect Melissa and Kinnik to leave.

First up, Paris--in a green hippie-ish dress, hmm, thought she was supposed to look more modern... although maybe this is the in-look today? She says she's a tomboy in the pre-tape; singing Gloria Estefan, Feel the Heat. Hmm... song's a bit too fast for her. Really not her best performance, voice sounds a bit ragged and off, she performs and dances well, but energy is lacking. Not enthralled the way I usually am with her. Randy says you always pick interesting songs, not my favorite, but you can sing anything--maybe next week it'll be a ballad. Paula says she likes up-tempo, but it's a hard song. Simon says you did do a younger song, but thinks she was feeling the nerves tonight, see you next week--people love you. Hmm... she's beginning to remind me a bit of Nadia Turner, started out great but never grew. I hope she does.

Lisa Tucker, who plays electric guitar--wow. In stylish blue dress, singing a ballad. The song itself is only okay; she sings well, but not blowing me away. Definitely a big voice for a little girl, crowd gets into it. She's definitely very good, but so far her and Paris haven't put forth their best tonight. Randy says a bit older of a song, didn't slay him. Paula same, you're a seasoned performer, wish you'd sang something the audience could've gotten into more. Simon says these songs aren't believable for you so there's a disconnect, but you'll sail through too, we want you there because you're super-talented. She says afterwards the words were appropriate--yo, Lisa, nobody listens to the words or gets the underlying message nowadays, it's all about emotion and how something makes you feel.

Melissa McGhee says she loves fast cars; AI is just presenting them with their first names now, guess Mandisa started a trend. In black top, jeans--wow, perfect song choice, singing Heart's What About Love, goes great with her smoky voice. I didn't like her coming in, but she may have sung herself into the top 12. She can't sing that well, audience not toally into it, but judges seem to be bopping along. Randy says a good song for you, bit sharp at the end, but nice job. Paula says you're getting better, a powerhouse. Simon, interesting, says the last note booked you a plane ticket home, sounded like you shouted the song, and blew it. Hmm, he's really trying to program who gets into the final round, can see him yanking at the strings.

Back, Ryan talking to Katharine McPhee on the red couch. She says she's just trying to sing something fun, not worrying so much about what everyone wants her to sing. Ryan asks her to address rumors she's quiting the show, or pregnant, or involved with Kevin Covais. Kindof a weird few moments.

Kinnik Sky up, says she loves chitlins. In odd ripped skirt and flannelish top. Song is not great, swallowing her voice; also it's too slow, not enough energy. She's definitely going home. Randy says it started out great, but then was sharp. Good choice but didn't nail it. Paula says you look amazing, found your style--but were off, maybe you couldn't hear yourself with the band, rare for you. Silence; Simon fills by saying you just messed it up, it was appalling midway through. And you've also booked your ticket home. She says afterwards she did go sharp.

Katharine McPhee, who I think the AI folks have been trying to pump up since the get-go for some reason, fifth up. Says she went to Constantine's school, the Boston Conservatory. Weird cut to her in black top, jeans, very bouncy rendition of Freedom. Good choice for her voice and fits her to a T, comes across as fun and also lets her rip a few big notes. I think she's okay, doesn't do much for me but a good performance. She's a bit too much like Constantine, too conscious and purposefully bubbly. Randy says first time tonight someone nailed it. Paula says she likes seeing her have fun, different side. Simon looking glum, but says it was a risk that you pulled off, you'll sail through too.

Ayla Brown, talking about how she used to think her dad was Elvis. Very purposeful dance steps, in hip brown top and capris. Some mike problems or something, fades out a bit in middle, hmm, coming in and out. Total audio problems, but she smiles through and sings strong, lets go a bit more than before but things are still a bit robotic; ends great though, clear and melodic. Randy says it's not a great singer's song, five note ranges are cool but no wow factor. Paula says you fight for it all the time, interesting to hear a contemporary song that's on the charts, did well. Simon says that was pretty good actually, would love the young person from the film clips to be on stage rather than the 30-year-old she's trying to be, good but not fantastic. Says afterwards she felt she needed to take a risk, do something different and out of her comfort zone, wanted to do a performance song. Hmmm, she reminds me of Jodie Foster.

Mandisa says she sucked her thumb until she was 24 years old--wow, too much info. Doing Chaka Khan I'm Every Woman, in brown sweaterish and jeans. Nothing like last week, just okay although she has a good voice and shows off its range. Song is inherently limiting, just not that great of a piece. Crowd likes it though. Randy says you never know what's gonna happen on this show, you did great, the best female vocal this season, you just became the one to beat. Paula picks up on the enthusiasm, amazing, and all that. Simon is like everyone's gonna hate you cause you made everyone else appear ordinary. Eh, not sure that's right, but she definitely had more energy than the others. Again, I wonder if there's gamesmanship going on by the judges, pumping up someone who so isn't gonna win in order to make it seem more even and make the ones who will be there at the end--and their fans--sweat a little; and maybe push them to better performances.

Finally, Kellie Pickler, radiant in simple form-fitting black. She says she loves dogs. Singing Melissa Ethridge's I'm the Only One, a good song for her, again audio seems off. Wow, a nice and energetic performance, good song choice, she belts it out, seems totally confident. Randy says you've been very consistent every week, good song choice, great job. Paula says nice dancing, guys are in love with you, you keep getting better. Simon says he really, really likes her, you're what's known as a naughty little minx, she doesn't know what a minx is, he tells her it's like a good bad girl, and I really like you, even more than Carrie Underwood, people are like whoooh. She says 'I'm a mink', everyone bursts out laughing. Ryan is cracking up, asks her what she had this week that she never had before, she said she had a salmon, pronoucing the l. But it's all good-natured, she hasn't been as lucky as many of us, will catch up quickly though.

Hmm, at end just noticed they line up in the order that they sang. Man, what a great show; even when the performances are a bit off, it's still such fun to watch.

Kellie Pickler, 8
Paris Bennett, 1
Ayla Brown, 6
Mandisa, 7
Lisa Tucker, 2
Katharine McPhee, 5
Melissa McGhee, 3
Kinnik Sky, 4

Frame grab of Kellie Pickler by C. Gomez via Flickr.