AI4 recap, Semi-Finalists, Gals x 8 (03/08)

I think it was a first last night that I got all the songs right and also the correct artists.

And by the way, I’m a Scorpio.

Let’s get to it.

01 – Amanda Avila (Gemini), River Deep Mountain High (Tina Turner)
It seemed as though she was having trouble with her mic. Like it was too sensitive and it was registering all the time that she tapped the mic when she was singing. Really upbeat song though and had the crowd going. She looked wonderful tonight, as always. Put it this way. I’m voting for her every night unless she’s embarrassingly horrible. And she was adequate tonight. Not even resembling horrible. I was the same way with Jasmine last year. I voted for her regardless, until the talent differential was clearly evident. I’m not ashamed to admit that. Randy said it was good, nice and okay. Paula said it was good and she’s sure that Amanda has enough fans out there to put her into the finals (ya think?). Simon said that she looked great, but didn’t come close to the Tina Turner version. He called her an average singer, but a good performer. I’ve said it before and will say it again. She’s Christina Christian all over again. But she’s a stronger singer than Christina. If Amanda is voted off tomorrow night, I will stop writing these things.

02 – Janay Castine (Libra), Dreaming of You (Selena)
That was Selena, the one who was tragically murdered by an obsessed fan and portrayed by Jennifer Lopez in one of her first roles, not Celena Rae. She was horrible tonight. She changed her game plan tonight. Going for a slower, less contemporary hip-hop song. I appreciated the change, but not the execution. She was WAY flat (even my tone deaf ears could hear that). She seriously shakes when she performs and she sounds like a goat. Randy called her pitchy and only 5 or 6 notes were in tune. Paula called the song choice ambitious (have you noticed when they say “ambitious,” it usually means they didn’t pull it off?), but pitchy. Simon clowned her by going with the whole astrology theme and saw in her future a suitcase and plane travel. The problem with the judges ganging up on a performer is that sometimes they get pity votes (see last year: JPL and Finchy). By the way, my wife played Bunco tonight and had to watch it TiVo-ed and she said that she could’ve done without seeing that performance tonight. My feelings exactly. If she’s not gone tomorrow night, I will stop writing these things (just kidding, because crazier things have happened when America votes).

03 – Carrie Underwood (Pisces)
Sorry, wasn’t familiar with the song (was it Because You Love Me?). She was had this peach-colored top on that sparkly things over her bosom and around the bottom. I actually thought she was only wearing a bra because the top looked flesh-colored. She’s got a very strong voice, but was a bit off tonight. She is such a pretty girl that she needs a serious makeover. If they can work with Kimberly Locke, they can make her Miss America. Randy said it wasn’t her best. The performance was a bit pitchy and she seemed scared. But he’s still a fan of her voice. Paula wishes that she would get back to the happy-go-lucky girl they saw in Hollywood, but the vocals are still there. Simon said she was looking a bit old-fashioned and is waiting for her to connect with a good song. But he did say that she sounds fantastic in whatever she sings. I think she’ll make it through to the finals.

04 – Vonzell Solomon (Pisces), Respect (Aretha Franklin)
Interesting. She came out with a white cowboy had and white cowboy boots with tassels. Didn’t really fit the song. She had fun with the performance though and she still reminds me of Vivica A. Fox. By the way, is there another Vivica Fox that she has to add the middle initial? A friend asked last week when submitting a pick for my golf pool, is there another Jose Olazabal that he has to include the Maria? Randy said she was having fun and he saw glimpse of what could be great. Paula called her great and likes that she takes risks. Simon said it was an okay performance, but that the outfit didn’t fit the song. Then she admitted that she’s alone out in California and her daddy brought her the hat and boots and she wanted to wear them. So, she gets a pass from me. Just no more Alicia Keys songs, Vonzell.

05 – Nadia Turner (Capricorn), Try a Little Tenderness (Otis Redding)
Nadia is growing on me. She’s way more talented than Amanda, but she’s quickly becoming my 2nd favorite behind Amanda. She’s pulled into a tie with Carrie. Nadia came out in a black tank top and a black mini-poodle skirt (is that possible?). She’s got a real cool fashion sense. She does remind me of Holly Robinson-Peete, back when she was just Holly Robinson, minus the twins, circa 21 Jump Street. Remember that show? With Johnny Depp, Peter DeLuise, Richard Grieco (for a few seasons) and Dustin Nguyen? Did they really look like high schoolers? Then again, the O.C. was just made fun of in a recent episode of “Will and Grace” for having 25 year old high school students with 35 year old parents. And only David Silver and Donna Martin looked like teenagers in 90210. So I guess it’s not that much of a stretch. Nadia also reminds me a bit of Joie Lee, Spike’s sister. Her filmography includes just about every Spike Lee joint. Kinda like John Turturro, but he gets other work. How funny was his character in “He Got Game?” Anyway, Nadia gave an unbelievable performance of this song. It was a tad better than Duckie’s lip-synch in “Pretty in Pink.” I think one of the more underrated performances in that movie was Annie Potts’. Andrew “Dice” Clay made a cameo in that movie too, as the bouncer at the club who would never let the Duck Man in. Randy loves watching her perform and digs her outfits. Says she has that star potential. Paula said she has a knack for picking the right song for her, although my wife would disagree and say that ANY song is good for her. She makes it her own and has her own unique style. Paula said she is the whole package and has the X factor (which Randy corrected to call it the “it” factor). Simon called it amazing and reminded her of a young (and stick thin) Tina Turner. She took a risk and it will pay off with a trip to the finals. Again, I’m becoming a huge fan of Nadia’s.

06 – Lindsey Cardinale (Aquarius), I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing (Aerosmith, Armageddon soundtrack)
First off, I have to qualify the fact that I loved this movie (yes, I know it was sappy and predictable and had Ben Affleck in it, but sue me). And I loved this song in this movie. So Lindsey had me at “I could spend my life…” She wasn’t great with this song, but given what has just been written, I was okay with it. She came out with a teal top and some funky black Capri-type pants. Made her look like I Dream of Jeannie. She did show off her husky voice again, but it didn’t really match the song all that well. Randy said that she came back and the husky tone has returned. Not the bomb, but good. Paula said she’s a fan of her voice, but not a fan of the songs that she picks. Simon called her the musical equivalent of Seacrest. Look the part, but leave them disappointed. Then Seacrest threw water on him and ran back to the stage to stay out of harms way. I voted for Lindsey tonight, but won’t be crushed if she doesn’t make through.

07 – Mikalah Gordon (Capricorn), Somewhere (Barbra Streisand, West Side Story soundtrack)
Mikalah now officially bugs me. She’s too young. She’s kooky, then she acts all grown up. Being wacky was way too much for me, but being reserved is just a façade. No grey area with her. She came out with some kind of black leotard thing that was probably meant to be slimming, but it really wasn’t. This song was okay, but considering LaToya London brought the house down with it last year, Mikalah’s version was quite “ambitious.” Randy called it a very interesting song choice. Shaky at the beginning, pitchy in parts but nailed a few high notes. But her called her fearless; a risk taker. Paula said she tackled a tough song and was shaky at the start but nailed it at the end. Simon called the first part hideous and the last part was fine. He thinks she went into an aging machine and is not fun anymore. All of her songs have been safe. I agree that she needs to show more personality in her song choices, but then again, I’m not a fan of her personality, so I hope she’s gone soon. Mikalah and Janay are just too young for this competition.

08 – Jessica Sierra (Scorpio), (The Boys Are) Back In Town (various country artists)
Jessica came out in a green velvet thing that surely accentuated her, um, things that set girls apart from boys. It reminded me of something out of Camelot, like what Lady Guenevere would wear. Did a good job with the song. She said in her pre-song thing that she didn’t make the cut last year, but tried out again and is now in the top 16. She’ll be in the top 12 for sure. Randy likes her blues, soul, country, rock sound and calls her in control. Paula said she found her niche. Simon said that with that outfit, she couldn’t have picked a better song title. Easy Simon, this is a family show. She’s good. She’ll be through to the finals.

I voted once for everyone except Janay and Mikalah. I think Janay, Mikalah and Lindsey are on the bubble. Vonzell too maybe.

It’s amazing how much stronger the guys are than the girls. The way they set it up this year with exactly 6 guys and 6 girls making it to the final 12 will hurt some of the guys, as it could easily be 8 guys and 4 girls.

Until next week…