The Top 12 Girls performed Wednesday night, and our Idol Experts are going to town with their recap and predictions!
 | Heart: YAY, Girls Night! It was much better than the guys, I thought, and I really think a girl will win this season. | |
 | Collins: You know, I was kind of let-down! |
 | Funk: I liked it, dude. Better than the guys, but only by a LITTLE. The girls are capable of better, I think, and they'll start bringin' it as the season goes on! |
| Collins: Some weak, some okay, some quite good...but no one really made me a fan for life. The frontrunners have a lot to live up to, because we hold them to a higher standard. They coasted, didn't really knock anything out of the park. This is good for the show, because it's not a runaway for anyone, just yet. It's bad for the early favorite singers, because they become commoners quickly. Next week, we had better see some REAL standout moments, though! Anyway, let's get started... |
THE IDOL EXPERTS ON...THE TOP 12 GIRLS
KristyLeeCook
Performed: "Rescue Me"
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| Heart: I loved her confidence and dancing, but I felt like it was kind of a safe song. She could have SHINED with a different song! And she's so sweet...I want her to stick around, and get her horse back! | |
| Collins: It was definitely kind of safe and same-y. Nothing special to it. Look, too many performances like this, and that horse is as good as glue. They answered the question of whether or not she can sing anything that isn't "Amazing Grace" early on in the night...but, sadly, the answer was "sort of." She was only mediocre, tonight. Not bad, not great, just middlish. Shame, I liked her early on. Didn't live up to her potential. |
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| Funk: I thought Kristy Lee was gonna hit the roof after the start she had with this song, but she tapered off and lost it. I didn't notice the pitch problems Randy did. I did notice the weird eyelid-popping she did throughout the song, though...get a hold of that and quit it, or I'll be annoyed by it soon! |
Joanna Borgella
Performed: "I Say a Little Prayer"
| Collins: 20 seconds into her backstory, and we'd already heard the phrase "plus-sized" twice. Ugh. I'd get over that quickly, dear. Make sure they know you for being good, not being fat. We're only proud of you for so long before we become annoyed. Anyway, her song was okay. She's not the greatest singer ever, so...fine, not spectacular. Joanne's voice was actually a bit sloppy at times...so, by process of elimination, she may well be one of the two going home, this week. |
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| Funk: Joanne was awful last night, man! She just got through saying she's "not a soul singer," and then what does she do? Sings a soul song! Were there pitch problems everywhere, or is it just me? Blegh. |
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| Heart: She has such an interesting voice and so much emotion when she sings...I think she was just nervous, and Simon was WAY too mean to her. | |
Alaina Whitaker
Performed: "More Today Than Yesterday"
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| Heart: I liked the slow start, and she has a bigger voice than I remember. I just noticed that she's slightly gap-toothed, not that that should matter...but she did do a really great job singing and Simon liked the song! He was tough to win over last night, so good for her! | |
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| Funk: I don't know, man...Alaina is every high school Junior I know. One of the dudes sang this Tuesday night, like Clyde said...but, you know what? She stumbled at the start, but pulled through by the end. Nice pipes! Best of the night so far. |
| Collins: Problem for HER is, the night got a LOT better after that! Ha ha. Anyway, she's got that big, belting kind of voice. Very pure, clean sound. Not a bad take on this song...again, not blown away, yet. The best so far, and something to help people recognize her. She did that "start slow, then bust out fast and loud" thing...it was good. They apparently forgot they'd just heard the song the night before from Chikezie, as Simon didn't recognize it at all. Maybe that's worse news for Mr. Eze than Ms. Whitaker, though... |
Amanda Overmyer
Performed: "Baby, Please Don't Go"
| Collins: I realized while watching the performance that she looks a bit like Kelly Clarkson's evil twin, for one thing. And she's exactly as unspectacular as Kelly is talented. Uncanny. Look, it was more nasal screaming from the Biker-Nurse, which is all we'll EVER hear from her. Exciting in the confines of Idol, but the scat was lousy, the guitarist overshadowed her, and she's going to have to get by on personality alone. She's authentic, alright. Kind of a fun, natural person...I just don't think she's that great a singer, and she'll be out of the picture, eventually. She'll survive this week's cuts, though. Lady Morgue is voting for her. And it's only a matter of time before we hear Overmyer cover Melissa Etheridge, I'm sure. |
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| Heart: I liked the song, but I don't really know if it showcased her voice well. She had lots of energy, but It was a little weird for me - I wanted to hear more...well, SINGING! | |
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| Funk: Ok. I get it. You're a rocker. Layin' it on a bit thick, tho, huh? Already. So, you can grunt and show attitude in your performance, but can you SING? You say you can...prove it, please. Soon. The fans like her and will keep her around, but she doesn't get my vote. |
Amy Davis
Performed: "Where the Boys Are"
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| Heart: Wow, she's gorgeous! It wasn't the best song for her, though...but I still love the lip-quiver! | |
| Collins: Well, Julie's in love...but, I'm not sure she's the best one to get attached to! Very weak start, kind of "wobbly"-sounding. She's most-likely headed home. Flat vocals, just not good. |
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| Funk: There were serious PITCH problems, and it was WAY too slow. Yuck. Say goodbye, chicky! |
Brooke White
Performed: "Happy Together"
| Collins: She's made a true fan out of me. This was tonight's Jason Castro performance, in that she came out of the audition stage as a bit of an enigma...and proved to be refreshingly unique. Her cover of The Turtles hit - which is only one song out of a vast and VARIED collection of music, by the way, look into them - was FOLK-Y, and she's a bit Stevie Nicks. I liked this a lot. Hers was MUCH better than David Cook's awful, shouted version, Tuesday night. The banjo made it a nice, clever cover. I liked her, she deserves to stick around for a long while, based on what we saw here. Forget Amanda Overmyer...Brooke's the original, here. |
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| Heart: I thought she sounded nervous early on, but she sounded better as the song went on. It was pretty good. | |
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| Funk: I wanted her to be good SO BAD...and she wasn't bad, thank goodness! It needed to be a bit more unique, I think. She's safe, but she needs to kick it up to make it further. |
| Collins: For the record, Artie, you tend to listen to slightly more Indie, piano-lady music than I do. You may be thinking she'll go in a different direction than I am...but, I thought she exceeded expectations, and gave herself an image that sets her apart from the others. I don't know if she'll win, because the big-voice girls tend to take the crown...but, I'm pulling for her, now. She's converted me, just as Kristy Lee Cook is pushing me away. |
Alexandrea Lushington
Performed: "Spinning Wheel"
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| Heart: This was the perfect song for her! She was confident, energetic, and made it sound current! She'll be here next week, no question. | |
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| Funk: You know what? I thought the vocal was off a bit here and there, but I loved the energy and song choice. Diggin' her so far! |
| Collins: Not terrific, actually! Very early '90s voice, I don't think she was nearly as good as the judges claimed. Just okay. Decent PERFORMANCE, not great singing. |
Kady Malloy
Performed: "Groovy Kind of Love"
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| Heart: Is this the "WOW VOCAL" Simon was waiting all night for? No! But, you have to admit, she has the control. It wasn't the best song choice, though. The judges need to start shutting up and moving on! Their bickering is getting REALLY old. | |
| Collins: A good vocal, until the end. She hit a few clams near the big finish, which is a SHAME. She's a fun personality, and I like her. I want her to stick around and show her fun side more in her singing. Simon was right in calling it "old," but it wasn't the worst. A bit forgettable, if anything. She'll be back. |
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| Funk: She's very "middle of the road." I think she should have busted out upbeat halfway through, and that would have been "her", I think. |
Asia'h Epperson
Performed: "Piece of My Heart"
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| Funk: She put some heart into it and it worked! Not sure I like the little GRUNTY thing she does sometimes, but I can get over that, personally. The judges don't seem to mind, so why should I? |
| Collins: She took on Janis, and completely schooled Biker-Nurse! She made it her own, and I as feeling her 'tude. Her voice has a lovely natural rasp, and she can "blow," as Randy says. Impressive. |
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| Heart: She really made the song her own, and she pulled off the impossible - impressing Simon! | |
Ramiele Malubay
Performed: "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"
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| Heart: I was surprised she picked this song...but I loved the buildup! Very professional. | |
| Collins: Smoky, slick...pretty good. Not a song that shows off someone's vocal range well, but not bad. I don't think she's cemented herself into our hearts and minds as a great talent for the ages, but she's cute and didn't screw up...so, she'll stick around. She can flirt with the camera, I know that. |
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| Funk: She was like...WOW, dogg! Huge! I really liked her...flawless victory! |
Syesha Mercado
Performed: "Tobacco Road"
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| Heart: I love this girl! I'm glad she picked a faster, upbeat song. Not her BEST performance, but still great. She IS the total package! | |
| Collins: Didn't recognize the song, but she did a pretty smokin' vocal on it. Syesha was as strong as she was expected to be, very nice. Compared to most of the others, great performance. Not her best, but one of the best of the night, if not THE best. |
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| Funk: I have a huge crush on this girl! Really...not her best, but it had its powerful moments, as usual. And Simon was right when he said it doesn't really matter, though, because she's a serious contender and her "worst performance so far" already has more than half of these other singers' best performances beaten, easily! |
Carly Smithson
Performed: "The Shadow of Your Smile"
| Collins: This show was STACKED. The last few singers were, clearly, the favorites. But, anyway...on tonight's Irish singer performance. Clearly, she's a seasoned pro with a good voice. But she's a bit Celine Dion at times, in a weird way. It was a little dull...but, overall, a solid performer and a strong vocal, despite illness. |
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| Heart: The singing was good, but the song choice WAS a little boring, like you were saying, Clyde. She really was sick, though...and pulled off a good vocal. That's impressive! | |
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| Funk: I watched this and was like, "Really?" She sung very well, but who cares about that song? The mic movement was distracting, too. But...a solid showing, nonetheless. |
| Collins: Of COURSE it was! That's to be expected. But, like I said with Michael Johns, Tuesday, we hold a few of them to higher standards, and they'd better live up to the hype! |
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| Heart: I thought the girls did SO much better. As I expected, I had a much harder time picking my Bottom 2! | |
| Collins: I was actually a bit disappointed, to be honest. I expected more, and really got no big surprises or revelations out of this show. It was, overall, kind of dull. |
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| Funk: I'm with Julie, KIND of. They were better than the guys, but only by a little. There were plenty of weak performances, and the girls that are really good didn't really step up. Overall, the female talent is better, but they didn't PROVE it. |
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| Heart: Interesting, guys. If we disagree on this, our predictions are probably pretty different. Let's get to the part we've all been waiting for! |
THE NIGHT'S BEST
| Collins: Asia'h Epperson was the night's best, because I wasn't in love with Syesha's song choice and Carly was boring. |
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| Funk: For me, it was Ramiele. She did that song so well that I don't think anyone else touched her spot-on performance all night...not even Carly! |
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| Heart: Ramiele Malubay was my favorite. She's adorable, and that big voice and her professionalism put her over the edge. I really liked Syesha, too, though. Tough call! | |
THE NIGHT'S WORST
| Collins: Amy Davis' performance was a sickening, offensive waste of my life. |
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| Funk: Amy Jean was not good. Nuff said... |
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| Heart: Amy Davis, to make this category a clean sweep for us! Hard to deny she was the worst. Kristy Lee Cook was weak, but I don't think she'll go home. | |
WHO'S GOING HOME THIS WEEK?
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| Funk: Yo, me first! Amy and Joanne, if it were up to me, would be packin' their seemingly tone-deaf and plus-sized bags, respectively. |
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| Heart: Amy, definitely. The other girl in the Bottom 2...hmm...Kristy Lee Cook, maybe? She wasn't very strong, and went in that awful first spot of the night. | |
| Collins: I think voters will be willing to give Kristy another chance, but you could be right, Julie. The first singers are always at a disadvantage. I think, however, that Amy Davis and Joanne Borgella should both go home. Quite simple, really. Honorable mention to Amanda Overmyer, who would be gone if I had my way. Her brand of "refreshing" is already quite tired. |
OVERALL STANDINGS
TOP GIRL/MOST LIKEY TO WIN RIGHT NOW
| Collins: Syesha, it's undeniable. She's the current frontrunner. I think this will change, or go back and forth as the season goes on, though. |
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| Heart: Syesha's the one to beat! It's tough, because so many are good. | |
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| Funk: Syesha and Carly seem to be judge favorites, and probably fan faves as well! |
GIRL ON THE RISE
| Collins: Brooke White, you're the ladies' Dark Horse. Ramiele Malubay, also, definitely made a lot of fans. I think those two are on the move, but I don't know if either can actually win it all. |
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| Funk: Alaina Whitaker kicked some SERIOUS butt, last night. HARD. She's movin' on up! |
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| Heart: Alexandrea Lushington and Asia'h Epperson both had strong nights, and I think exceeded expectations. We knew they were good, but...I think they stood out as two who could make serious runs at becoming this season's winner. | |
SLIPPING
| Collins: Amanda Overmyer, it's a matter of time. Also, Carly Smithson. I know she's great, but she's BORING so far, and, given her song choices from the start up to last night, she isn't going to do anything very different. I predict the mighty Carly will fall before this season ends. |
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| Funk: Kady needs to heed the "be yourself" advice and let her fun side show, especially with her future song choices. I hope we see more of her past this week! |
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| Heart: Amanda Overmyer is definitely slipping a bit. I thought Carly, a little bit, but she'll probably bounce back. Her performance was still good, but I think song choice was the real problem. It's obvious she's really good, still. | |
| Collins: That's all for this Top 12 Girls Recap. Leave your thoughts, predictions and comments...and we'll be back with our thoughts on who went home and how the show shapes up after the first 4 cuts! |
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| Heart: See ya'! | |
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| Funk: Peace out, peepz! |
***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
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