Recap 2/21/06
I'm going to start off by saying some of the songs I'm not certain who the original artist was but I made my best effort to track it down. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me. Mandisa Song: "Never" by Heart I thought she gave a powerful performance but it was pitchy in parts. Judges' evaluations: Randy- good personality, a bit sharp in parts Paula- phenomenal, chose a challenging song Simon- unbelievable personality, he thinks we'll see her in the finals Kelly Song: "How Far" by Martina McBride To me she was a poor version of Carrie Underwood. Not as much power and confidence as Carrie. Judges' evaluations: Randy- not good on high notes, better at the end Paula- she's unpretentious, high likeability, weaker in verses Simon- thought she did better at end, performance was sincere Becky Song: "Because the Night" by 10, 000 Maniacs I thought she was out of tune a lot, paying more attention to her performance than to her singing, and she messed up the last note. Judges' evaluations: Randy- she was having a good time, had a few bad notes, did better than he thought she would Paula- there were notes off throughout the song, nervousness had something to do with it Simon- better than expected, visually a 10, voice a 6 and a half, last note was off Ayla Song: "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera She was very good, one of the best performances by the girls. Judges' evaluations: Randy- better than expected, cracked a bit Paula- very ambitious song, she made it her own Simon- hard worker, there's a limit to where her voice can go, saw some emotion, one of her better performances Paris Song: "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight & the Pips She had the cheesiest performance of the night. I watched the show a second time to finish my evaluations of the girls but couldn't watch Paris again while she sang. She was hopping around, making faces for the camera, had her eyes bugged out. I was embarrassed for her. She reminded me of Fantasia in an unflattering way. Judges' evaluations: Randy- we've got a hot one, he was blown away and thought she was amazing Paula- told Paris "you're my idol" and said she's a firecracker and a showman. She reminded Paula of Fantasia, too. Simon- didn't play it safe, confident, gave a memorable performance, showed the other performers what they should be doing Stevie Song: "To Where You Are" by Josh Groban She was mumbling her words, obviously nervous and shaky. Judges' evaluations: Randy- didn't capture his attention, not emotional Paula- she was brave to take the song on, it was different, not a popular choice Simon- completely messed it up, it was like a horrible Sunday lunch with a child getting up to sing out of tune Brenna Song: "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" by Stevie Wonder She was rough on the low notes, biggest attention whore ever. Judges' evaluations: Randy- safe song, no attitude except at the end, you need to be who you are always Paula- she showed a more sensitive side Simon- liked her better with her attitude, she was like a wild cat and someone put gloves on her for this performance Heather Song: "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" by Westlife. She had a very weak performance, out of tune and too quiet. Judges' evaluations: Randy- boring, pitchy, didn't really go for it Paula- started rough, not a great performance (Even Paula couldn't find something nice to say about her performance. That's really bad!) Simon- forgettable performance, no personality Melissa Song: "When the Lights Go Down" by Faith Hill She was mumbling the first verse and pitchy. Judges' evaluations: Randy- started rocky, got it together in the middle Paula- thought it was a shining moment for her, sexy, sultry, made the song her own Simon- before this performance she was not a memorable person, she's lifeless when she sings Lisa Song: "I Am Changing" by Jennifer Holliday I just didn't like the song. Her vocals were one of the best but she sounded like a bad cabaret act. She was overplaying her performance. Judges' evaluations: Randy- most ambitious song of the night, started rough but she worked it out Paula- poised, you're a precious little gift, you light my heart, she's a star Simon- she made girls older and more experienced than her look ordinary, this is the night we'll remember her Kinnik Song: "Get Here" by Alita Adams I thought she was pitchy and her low voice was very unattractive. Judges' evaluations: Randy- middle really rough, brought it at the end Paula- stunning, some sharp notes, powerful performance Simon- very cabaret performance, she's being overshadowed by younger, more powerful performers Katherine Song: "Since I Fell For You" by Lenny Welch. She attributed it to Barbra Streisand but Lenny Welch did it in 1964, way before Streisand. She was ok but forgettable. She did too much of the going up and down the scale instead of holding a note (Mariah Carey syndrome). This was one performance I totally disagreed with the judges on. Judges' evaluations: Randy- another hot one, natural talent, a few rough spots Paula- gave her all, owned the stage, thinks she'll go all the way Simon- there were four good vocalists tonight and she was the best
I'm going to start off by saying some of the songs I'm not certain who the original artist was but I made my best effort to track it down. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me. Mandisa Song: "Never" by Heart I thought she gave a powerful performance but it was pitchy in parts. Judges' evaluations: Randy- good personality, a bit sharp in parts Paula- phenomenal, chose a challenging song Simon- unbelievable personality, he thinks we'll see her in the finals Kelly Song: "How Far" by Martina McBride To me she was a poor version of Carrie Underwood. Not as much power and confidence as Carrie. Judges' evaluations: Randy- not good on high notes, better at the end Paula- she's unpretentious, high likeability, weaker in verses Simon- thought she did better at end, performance was sincere Becky Song: "Because the Night" by 10, 000 Maniacs I thought she was out of tune a lot, paying more attention to her performance than to her singing, and she messed up the last note. Judges' evaluations: Randy- she was having a good time, had a few bad notes, did better than he thought she would Paula- there were notes off throughout the song, nervousness had something to do with it Simon- better than expected, visually a 10, voice a 6 and a half, last note was off Ayla Song: "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera She was very good, one of the best performances by the girls. Judges' evaluations: Randy- better than expected, cracked a bit Paula- very ambitious song, she made it her own Simon- hard worker, there's a limit to where her voice can go, saw some emotion, one of her better performances Paris Song: "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight & the Pips She had the cheesiest performance of the night. I watched the show a second time to finish my evaluations of the girls but couldn't watch Paris again while she sang. She was hopping around, making faces for the camera, had her eyes bugged out. I was embarrassed for her. She reminded me of Fantasia in an unflattering way. Judges' evaluations: Randy- we've got a hot one, he was blown away and thought she was amazing Paula- told Paris "you're my idol" and said she's a firecracker and a showman. She reminded Paula of Fantasia, too. Simon- didn't play it safe, confident, gave a memorable performance, showed the other performers what they should be doing Stevie Song: "To Where You Are" by Josh Groban She was mumbling her words, obviously nervous and shaky. Judges' evaluations: Randy- didn't capture his attention, not emotional Paula- she was brave to take the song on, it was different, not a popular choice Simon- completely messed it up, it was like a horrible Sunday lunch with a child getting up to sing out of tune Brenna Song: "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" by Stevie Wonder She was rough on the low notes, biggest attention whore ever. Judges' evaluations: Randy- safe song, no attitude except at the end, you need to be who you are always Paula- she showed a more sensitive side Simon- liked her better with her attitude, she was like a wild cat and someone put gloves on her for this performance Heather Song: "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" by Westlife. She had a very weak performance, out of tune and too quiet. Judges' evaluations: Randy- boring, pitchy, didn't really go for it Paula- started rough, not a great performance (Even Paula couldn't find something nice to say about her performance. That's really bad!) Simon- forgettable performance, no personality Melissa Song: "When the Lights Go Down" by Faith Hill She was mumbling the first verse and pitchy. Judges' evaluations: Randy- started rocky, got it together in the middle Paula- thought it was a shining moment for her, sexy, sultry, made the song her own Simon- before this performance she was not a memorable person, she's lifeless when she sings Lisa Song: "I Am Changing" by Jennifer Holliday I just didn't like the song. Her vocals were one of the best but she sounded like a bad cabaret act. She was overplaying her performance. Judges' evaluations: Randy- most ambitious song of the night, started rough but she worked it out Paula- poised, you're a precious little gift, you light my heart, she's a star Simon- she made girls older and more experienced than her look ordinary, this is the night we'll remember her Kinnik Song: "Get Here" by Alita Adams I thought she was pitchy and her low voice was very unattractive. Judges' evaluations: Randy- middle really rough, brought it at the end Paula- stunning, some sharp notes, powerful performance Simon- very cabaret performance, she's being overshadowed by younger, more powerful performers Katherine Song: "Since I Fell For You" by Lenny Welch. She attributed it to Barbra Streisand but Lenny Welch did it in 1964, way before Streisand. She was ok but forgettable. She did too much of the going up and down the scale instead of holding a note (Mariah Carey syndrome). This was one performance I totally disagreed with the judges on. Judges' evaluations: Randy- another hot one, natural talent, a few rough spots Paula- gave her all, owned the stage, thinks she'll go all the way Simon- there were four good vocalists tonight and she was the best