Countrified

Ryan opens, in a spiffy suit for country night; Simon gets booed in the intro.... Wow, Kenny Rogers will be working with them! Hopefully they sing some of his songs. Talks to them about storytelling; Bucky looks right at home, strumming on the guitar.

Taylor first, doing Take Me Home, Country Roads. Rogers is very straightforward in his advice. Wearing all black sportcoat; seems tentative, all shackled up--no energy really. And isn't quite in sync with the band. Ugh, not good at all, totally out of his comfort zone and it shows; ending is best part. Randy says vocal just okay, no personality. Paula says no life, just sang it straight. Simon--safe, boring, lazy, sounded like song just chosen with no rehearsal. Very odd and subdued for Soul Patrol man.

Mandisa next, doing Any Man of Mine. Lots of words in the song, Kenny says--articulation will be key, good spirit. In crazy kente-ish colored top and jeans. Just too many words, it's okay. Unfortunate wardrobe choice, arms look like sausages. Quite poor song choice; chorus is the best part. Randy says it's gonna be another interesting night... didn't like song choice, ending was better but not good. Paula says you can sing whatever; not sure about song, voice is good. Simon thought song was horrible; cutesy and was happy when song was over.

Elliott next, Kenny says he oversings, he has great skills--tells him to be simple, you're not trying to impress people, you're trying to make them cry. In dark brown shirt, jeans; he's pretty good, but does oversing. Audience swaying to the song. None of these guys so far have the sense of timing you need for country songs; Elliott's the best of the three, but he's still a little too much with it. Randy says that was hot, good job. Paula gushes over him as usual, gets lost in a tangle of praise. Simon says good song choice, not great vocal, safe and a bit hesitant, bit nervous--Eliott says I was--Simon says do better in the future.

Paris next, in brown vest, cowboy boots and jeans, good look--and a new hairstyle. How Do I Live Without You--is that a country song? Big song, should be good; Kenny says she's very believable when she sings, powerful. She's totally classic, no way Fantasia could do this. As she said before, just feeling chill tonight. Anticipating big chorus... So smooth, and effortless. Big ending... wow, she hits it, crowd stands. Randy says tough song for you, front part bad, middle better, just allright. Paula struggles with her comments, not feeling like you connected with the song, not the emotion as usual--and gets booed. Simon disagrees with a big grin, crowd goes wild; thought it was very good, excellent choice of song... hmm, suspicious, hopefully her vote totals aren't down.

Ace is passionate and sings with his heart, Kenny says. I wish these kids would listen more to Kenny, he's very astute. Tonight I Wanna Cry; whoah, Ace is very good--all black; nice and slow and soulful. Wow, he's quite good, it just rolls out of him, so relaxed and soulful. And he's got the timing totally down. Hits the falsetto at the end, that was really good. Randy not feeling it, odd, says boring; liked just the end. Paula says she totally disagree, good song choice. Simon says you chose the right song, very good. Ryan says he's officially single.

Kellie, who should knock this outof the park. In hot red top, black. Ryan says some say you're just acting naive, what's up--she says nah, it's the real me. Shows her running up and hugging Kenny; he says she is who she is, wonderful charm. Singing Fancy, starts out in crowd. Swallows the words a bit. But very powerful once she gets on stage, so easy for her but a bit hard to understand. And chorus of the song isn't that great. She's good herself, not a home run though. Randy says it was great, song choice was very good, it's your night. Paula of course loves her. Simon says if you hadn't done well it'd have been a shock--I hated the song, but thought your performance was really good.

Whoopi Goldberg, oddly enough, in the crowd, I thought I saw her at the beginning. Oddly enough, Chris Rock too. Idol's Chris says his family all listens to country; Kenny says he'll be good, cares enough in his heart. Sitting on stool, and wow, he's good. Slow and soulful, in dark denimish shirt and jeans. He's really quite good, has the right crack in his voice. Definitely doing something different this week, very nice to listen to. Randy is like wow, really enjoyed it. Paula is like good job. Simon says it was nice to listen to, but contestants as a whole have chosen bad songs two weeks in a row now, people at home deserve better.

Katharine next, Kenny says good song choice, it's more sultry. Big beginning, and she sings well, camelish top, jeans. Has got that robotic look on her face again, but voice is pretty good, and fun. Brassy song, she belts it out. I don't like her, but didn't dislike the performance. Randy says good job. Paula says in your niche, cool. Simon says such a peculiar song, Katharine says you just don't like country music, it's okay, say it.

Bucky last. Kenny says 'interesting' song choice... hmm, why not do something normal Bucky. In cowboy hat, nice and slow, it's okay. Kindof mumbles the words, no idea really what he's singing about. He almost seems to be so caught up in the song he forgets about us. It's Not So Bad--and it isn't, not that great either though. He may be out, if he couldn't knock it out of the park tonight.... Randy says it was allright, bit pitchy. Paula just says it's your element. Simon says it sounded okay to him.

Ace, 5
Chris, 7
Elliott, 3
Paris, 4
Kellie, 6
Katharine, 8
Mandisa, 2
Bucky, 9
Taylor, 1

Photo of Mandisa by by C. Gomez via Flikr.