Of course it had to start out with a lame "April Fool's" joke. Ryan talked about "squeezing" 9 performances in an hour. All they have to do is stop all the extraneous crap. Give each of the nine contestants 4 minutes. It would still leave 6 minutes for Ryan's useless prattling.
Dolly Parton was the mentor for tonight. Time and HD TV are not a good combination for Dolly...
Brooke White- "Jolene" - This is a very good song choice for her. She was able to play her guitar to benefit. The small ensemble behind her was a good touch. This was one of her best performances. Randy "It was alright" Paula - her usually blah and useless commentary. Simon "I thought you were busking your way through"
Grade A -
David Cook -"Little Sparrow" His pitch was good. A lot of upper register for him. The song was not very moving or really entertaining. The ending just seemed to stop. Randy "Hot consistent performance" Paula "I like your haircut." Simon "Not as good as last week."
Grade B
Ramiele Maluban - "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" She seemed lost. She was bouncing around without a seeming purpose to it. Her pitch was off a lot. Randy "Kinda all right". Paula "I'm proud of you". Simon "It was cute. It was forgettable." What song did she sing again?
Grade C
Jason Castro - "Traveling " This was not a bad song choice for him. This was just okay for me. To steal a phrase from Simon - It reminded me of a busker in the subway. I would not pay for a recording. Randy "Started a little rough" Paula "One of your strongest performances." Simon "I didn't like that at all."
Carly Smithson - "Here You Come Again" This was definitely a good song choice. It allowed her to show her range of pitch and dynamics. She made a great ending to it. Randy "I believe that will be one of the best performances of the night" Paula "Oh my God!" Simon "I thought it was good."
Grade A
David Archuleta - "Smokey Mountain Memories" He sang the words but I got no emotion from them. He sang about the "old folks back home" like he had no idea of who they were. His pitch and timing was just okay. Randy "That was the best performance of the night" Paula gave her usual useless commentary. Simon liked the song choice.
Grade B
Kristy Lee Cook - "Coat of Many Colors" Some have thought that Country music was her niche. Guess not. Her pitch was off. The singing was unemotional. She was pretty. Randy "This is your wheelhouse" Paula "Your best performance" Simon "Pleasant but forgettable"
Grade C
Syesha Mercado - "I Will Always Love You" She started out quietly then tried to transition to Whitney. She did arouse the crowd with her ending. Randy "I think you did pretty good" Paula "That color looks good on you" Simon "Good not fantastic"
Grade B -
Michael John - "It's All Wrong" - The title tells the story for me. He seemed to be screaming half the time. He looked like he was really in physical pain as he sang. Randy liked it. Paula liked how he looked. Simon thought it was his best. That may be true but remember, best IS a relative term.
They wasted so much time that Michael John got the bums rush at the end because they were in a hurry. HEY GUYS - it is a SINGING competition. LET THEM SING MORE.
The early line on going home is Ramiele Malubay at 48%. Kristy Lee Cook is second at 25%. Syesha trails at 7.5%. If things go as they have been, it means Kristy will go home. Either would be fine with me but I think Ramiele should have gone before Chikezie.
