Feeling their way into it

Blogged live from Katharine on, tape for the rest.

So it's Ryan at the big show; crowd is pumped, same old opening music and graphics but has a totally different feel to it. Very bright and glitzy. Ryan plugs bigger stage, more lights, better sound system for band. Ok.... Tape shows the top 12 from the beginning. This will be espeically cool when we see all their makeovers. It's a nice intro if you haven't been watching at all, fun trip down memory lane for those of us who've watched every minute so far.

Back live, one by one they walk out--wow, Kellie Pickler totally looks good; Melissa McGhee very different, and Lisa Tucker looks like a new person; wow. Rest pretty much look the same. Paula says it's the most unique, diverse (huh?!) and most-talked-about top 12 ever. Randy says the entire audience is his dog pound; Simon says theme shows will make or break you.

And it's Stevie Wonder tonight. Hmm, has won 24 Grammys, more than any other solo artist. Tape of his career is cool, then they show 12 meeting him, several crying, including Elliott Yammin.

Ace Young up first. Singing I do, I do, says he's not just battling blindness, but also life, breaks down talking about it, wow--says he's overjoyed, overwhelmed, as of today totally satisfied with his life. Hmmm, he's a good guy. But song is a mess from the beginning, too much of a strain, voice isn't up to it. He actually looks pretty much the same, black top, jeans. Voice just isn't big enough, and he's swallowing the words, almost breathless. A total mess. Plus song is not at all melodic. They didn't show Stevie talking about him, maybe cause nothing good to say. Good energy, but shaking hands at end. Randy says it's hard to sing Stevie, and you weren't quite up to it; Paula says she disagrees, good spirit and entertaining. Simon says luckily for you audience is very easily pleased. Not a great vocal, a bit manic. After Ace says he was definitely nervous beforehand; he's really a nice guy, but in over his head.

Wow, Kellie looking very blond with black dress, almost a Hollywood quality to her--bit like Carrie Underwood's transformation too. Back, Ryan's coaching a member of the audience about something. Kellie says she's not that familiar with his music, singing Blame it on the Sun. Stevie says she'll have the right kind of spirit; a bit lazy of a feel to her delivery, she says she has no idea what she's doing with this genre of music. Good luck, Kellie! Hmm, she turns it into a country song. Sounds flat right off the bat, you can tell she's nervous, doesn't really belt it out--just kindof passively and slowly sings it.

Oh well, people aren't voting for her based on her voice; and she has a few nice moments but it's too slow a pick for her too I think, too much of a chance to be nervous and her voice is too exposed. But as always it's an enjoyable performance. Randy says odd song choice, a non-event; what happened to all the spark, vocally low. She asys sorrry in response to Randy's critiques, he says likes her (red) shoes, she's like I got it on sale. Paula says a bit too safe, out of your comfort zone, no razzle-dazzle but you look great. Simon says pretty much everything went wrong--so boring, went on forever, look like you've gone to Dolly Parton school--safe, old and boring, your worst performance so far, and she apologizes again. Long walk over to Ryan; talks about her fake eyelashes, Ryan asks if she's arachnophobic, she says yeah, scared of bugs--my guess is they talked about this already.

Elliott says Stevie is one of his idols; he apparently sings for Stevie first egged on by the group, still crying, it's amazing--he says he'll carry it with him forever. They show him singing for Stevie, he's pretty good; Wonder says he was impressed by him, you should choose this as a profession. Knocks Me Off My feet; in white sportcoat, jeans. Hmm, he's off tonight, still nice vocal tone, but not great like he's been in past. He's gonna get voted out pretty quickly if he doesn't rediscover that magic voice--is the theater too big for it? It's a pretty flat performance, no sense of emotion or anything like he usually brings. And last note is just biffed. Randy says not your best, but still good, and also liked how he hit final note. Paula says she likes how he wasn't afraid to show Stevie how moved he was by him. Nothing about this performance tonight, though. Simon says best so far but no wow factor, you were nervous but need to start showing some originality.

Mandisa next, in black. Ryan talks to her beforehand, says she's not comfortable--feet are killing her; Ryan offers to take her shoes off for her, so crazy. Doubt this is helping her with the voters. Mandisa says meeting him was one of the greatest moments of her life, singing for her she was more nervous than she's ever been. He says she got right into it, right on the pitch; was really really impressed--she can sing anything. Don't You Worry About a Thing, not sure about these song choices, why not just pick the sure-fire melodies. She's in bare feet, hilarious; performance again is missing something--well, for first half, then she opens it up, belts it and it's good. She can really sing, crowd cheers a few times throughout. Randy says not as great as last week, but these songs are so hard to sing--best so far, though. Paula says as Stevie says, you can sing anything. Simon says best so far, now we have a competition. Ryan throws her shoes out into crowd, can't throw very far though.

Bucky Covington next, says stuff like this doesn't happen every day. Says he's never owned a Wonder album or really listened to it--but this week heard Superstitious and wants to go buy all his albums. Says he'll take Wonder's advice to heart about watching intonation when he gets nervous. Comes out in black top, jeans, perm, looking like Bo. Can't perform like him though; and doesn't sing that well either, as Stevie says loses intonation. He's just out there on bowed legs, no real performance aspect. He'll be one of the lowest vote-getters this week, it was just boring and repetitive--song choice not the greatest. Hmm, totally not getting into this at all. Randy says good choice, wasn't the greatest vocal but really enjoyed watching him get into it. Paula laughingly says she enjoyed it too, it's different--wish he'd gotten out of comfort zone a bit more then. Simon says it was one of your best performances so far, but critiques his Jessica Simpson hairstyle; then says wrapping up performance was fine. Afterwards Ryan laughs about what Simon's doing, but since camera's don't show us....

Scrappy Melissa next, all dolled up in low-cut black dress held together with a horizontal strap. Says her voice has been a little rough; she's pretty genuine actually, gotta be tough to survive. She talks about messing up the lyrics in front of Stevie, it's funny--he's a taskmaster, but in a funny way. Singing Lately--first time she's ever worn a dress on the show she says. And from get-go it just isn't there, her voice is all scratchy, and she actually screws up a lyric; then she swallows words, it's a train wreck. Doesn't help that she's sitting on a stool, so no energy at all. She stands up in second half, but it's too late; is just totally straining and flat, hard to listen to. Wow, it's really bad. Simon will play off lyric and make some joke about it's time to say good-bye. Randy points out, after Melissa says it, that she forgot lyrics; ended strong though, you can sing. Paula says you look nice--who cares if you mess up lyrics, voice is soothing and a breath of fresh air. Simon... wow, in a shocker says it was your best performance so far--edgy, contemporary. Insane, he's obviously trying to keep her on the show. She apologizes again at end to Mr. Wonder, hmm, she's actually very likeable at the moment.

Very adult-looking Lisa, she should totally nail this performance. Just sobbing as she meets Stevie, says she was so nervous; and that Stevie put her at her ease, picking up on her nervousness. Signed, Sealed and Delivered. In close-fitting white tope with blakc leather mini-jacket and gray tightish--definitely younger-looking. Hmm, trying a bit too hard on song, it's rushed, almost like band has trouble keeping up. Not very melodic, not sure it's a good fit for her voice at all. Very nice ending, though. Randy says end really hottest part, a bit boring otherwise. Paula says she could tell she's a bit nervous tonight, ad libs were the best part. Simon says somebody finally took control of the stage, one of the best performances tonight; need something extra, It or X factor; it was great, loved it. So weird, Simon must be trying to influence vote totals.

My gosh, what's happened to Kevin Covais? He looks totally nerdy, white gauzy button-up shirt, jeans, odd hair. Girls from audience come up giving him a sign, he hugs them--they're like 10 and 8 or something. He's just babbling talking to Ryan beforehand, clearly nervous. Says he was awestruck meeting Stevie, Wonder says Kevin, relax yourself. Part-Time Lover. Stevie says he has an interesting voice--great sense of fun to the song, then in falsetto says 'little Kevin!' And then it's a train wreck--just wrong song, not at all convincing. His movements are funny, and he's dressed so unfashionably. Man, this might be it for Kevin, it's like he's messing around up there, so jerky in his movements, almost like a parody. And his voice is off tonight. Randy is just cracking up, says he surprisingly sang it good and in tune; and you're wearing makeup! Definitely enjoyable; Paula echoes Randy, notes his strange dance steps, hard song to sing and stay in time and you were in time. Simon says Stevie probably turned down the volume, it was apalling. Kevin shoots back, it's okay, wasn't expecting much from him anyway--he's got a bit of an edge, that's cool. Playing off a sign that says Kevin is my heaven, Ryan says Simon is my hell. Kev says you're not the only one. Heh heh, gotta move up his performance because of his comments.

Katharine McPhee, who talks about how she was in awe when Wonder walked in. Stevie says she has a lot of potential.... Back, Ryan is speaking into the mike with the control room for some reason. Strolls in singing in odd long dress, bit 60s; Till You Come Back To Me. Voice feels like it's being forced out, no sense of flow; also tone isn't that pleasant to listen to, and it's all very disjointed. Not sure I even like what the stylist did to her. Randy really liked it, says it was the bomb and he loved everything about it. Paula says it was great, best performance ever. Simon says you're good, beginning to remind me of Kelly Clarkson. I totally disagree with all of them, still find it weird that they're trying to pump her up. Really don't like the way she acts afterwards talking to Ryan, it's like someone famous trying to come across as nice, which is ridiculous in her case.

Yaay, get to watch both Tayor and Paris live. Says as a kid he tried to play harmonica like Stevie. Singing Living in the City, Stevie says he has feeling, he thinks it comes from the soul. Taylor gets praise from Stevie, as he says it's a pleasure, an honor. Out comes Taylor in a nice suit, good makeover. It's not that melodic of a song, makes it a bit harder to enjoy--but he's his usual soulful self, except for middle part, where there are no words; then he does some weird circle dance, so not much singing at all the last part. I like Taylor so I always like what he does, but this wasn't amazing for me, although audience loves it and keeps applauding for him, he's a phenomenom. Randy loves it, says he was fearless. Paula, besides herself with happiness, says even the band has a big smile on their face. Funny, he's holding a harmonica, wish he'd played it.... Simon tries to compliment him, you're like every dad who's gotten drunk at a wedding, difference is you can sing. I see it as Simon's attempt to remind viewers he looks old....

Paris next, says like a little girl she was nervous to meet Stevie--wow, she's crying while she's singing for him, but says something about his presence let her just sing. Stevie says she reminds her of the excitement of Fantasia, she's so happy to have met him, and gives him a big hug, says she never in a million years thought she'd be here and be in his presence, it's amazing to watch. All I Do, in pink top and blue skirt, curly hairstyle.

Oh my gosh, she belts it out slowly and powerfully at the start. It's a good song choice for her, gets people on their feet. Very confident, adult performance. It's good, but not great, for some reason it doesn't grab me. Not sure if it's me tonight, or them; she's slipping a bit too close to Fantasia mannerisms and attitude for me.... Randy laughs, says it's like when we first saw you, just unbelievable tonight, effortless, fearless. Paula says it's like you're a seasoned veteran. Simon says it's another one of the brilliant performances in the second half of tonight's show, very good, compares her to a performing doll--wind you up, and off you go. Then she sings a little a capella, in response to a couple of Ryan's questions; then he pretends to sing, it's pretty funny.

Final performer, Chris Daughtry. He says he was worried not finding the right song for himself. Stevie says he likes the clear yet raspiness of his voice, and that he sounds sincere. Higher Ground, Red Hot Chili Peppers mixed with Stevie. Wow, he rocks the stage--striped shirt and jeans. It's like an actual rock performance, lights and fog and everything, plus he just rocks the song, looks so at hope out there. Voice is a bit off, though. So hard to judge this against the others, but in terms of its own performance, it rocked. Randy says you always make every performance your own, loved it. He is kindof one-dimensional though... Paula says you're fantastic. Simon says this was the only real-world performance, can imagine him having a hit with that record; best tonight, by a mile. Afterwards talking to Ryan it's a little weird, doesn't quite go anywhere, than odd Ryan/Simon thing with Ryan telling Simon 'you're done...' when he interjects something.

McGhee desperately mugging for the camera next to Ryan at end--whoah, they say Stevie Wonder's gonna sing tomorrow! Totally looking forward to that; and my guess is next week, now that they're used to the stage, you're gonna see some real singing from the contestants too.

Chris, 12
Paris, 11
Mandisa, 4
Taylor, 10
Kellie, 2
Lisa, 7
Elliott, 3
Katharine, 9
Kevin, 8
Bucky, 5
Ace, 1
Melissa, 6

Photo of Chris Daughtry from FOX via MSNBC.com