AIV recap, Semi-Finalists, Gals x 8 (03/07)

Whew, now that Brenna and Heather are gone, we only need to get rid of Kinnik and Melissa and we’ll be good.

01 – Paris Bennett, Conga (Miami Sound Machine)
They included a little known fact in each intro this week and Paris’ was that she is a tomboy. Grew up with a bunch of brothers and cousins and loves wrestling and football. She was okay tonight. Vocally, she was okay (but pitchy in parts) and I thought the arrangement was boring. And there was dancing. I’m not a fan of too much distracting movement on the stage. I think she’s fine for now, but song choices like this may get her when the competition gets hotter. Randy said it wasn’t his favorite song choice. Paula prefers her uptempo songs, but was surprised by what she chose melodically. Simon called it vocally okay, but people like her and she’ll sail thru to the finals.

02 – Lisa Tucker, Here’s Where I Stand (Tiffany Taylor; Camp Soundtrack)
I had not heard this song before. I thought it was an older song, but then found out it was from Camp, a Fame-meets-Meatballs movie about a songwriter who works at a musical camp for young performers. Actually sounds like an interesting movie. It may make my queue on Netflix. Lisa’s little known fact (LKF) is that she loves Jimi Hendrix and learned to play the electric guitar because of him. She came out with the straight hair tonight, which made her look like her mom’s sister. I don’t know if her mom looks young enough to be her sister or if Lisa looks older and mature enough to be her mom’s sister. Either way, I think all parties involved are glad that she looks like her mom and not her bald, present day Michael Warren-looking father. You know Michael Warren. Played hoops at UCLA, but is probably best known for his portrayal of Bobby Hill on “Hill Street Blues.” Lisa wore a dress tonight that had a pattern on it that looked like a cornfield in Iowa after the aliens did their work on it. She’s so petite, like Jasmine Trias was a few years back. Didn’t know the song, but she sang it well. She’s got a big voice and tremendous performance skills, but I have yet to be completely wowed by her. I still think she’ll breeze thru to the finals, but it will take some better performances once the competition tightens up. Randy still called her song choice old and wanted to hear a song with more runs in it. Paula called her a seasoned performer but wants a song that we can get into. Simon called her super talented, but it sounds like her mum is choosing her songs.

03 – Melissa McGhee, What About Love (Heart)
Her LKF is that she’s a car freak. She came out with a total ‘80s look. Kinda Goth with the make up and earrings. Barracuda-washed jeans. A black leather mini shirt. Looked like the “fat man in a little coat” routine that Chris Farley made so famous. I like this song, but I think it’s been sung before in the competition (Carrie, last year?). And it has definitely been sung better. Randy called it a good song choice. Paula said she’s been improving every week and that she’s a powerhouse. Simon said her last note booked her ticket home and that he thought she shouted the song. Melissa should be gone Thursday night.

04 – Kinnik Sky, some Alicia Keys song
LKF: she loves chitlins (hog intestines), which is short for chitterlings. I really think she’s a female impersonator. I could see Tracy Morgan doing a Saturday Night Live skit portraying her. She really would make a handsome man. Again, I think Alicia Keys songs should be outlawed in this competition because they are stylized and hard to mix up and make it your own. Honestly, the person(s) who are helping them choose the songs should stop them and ask them to reconsider their choice. Kinnik did start a fashion show for UPS though. She’s one of three to wear brown tonight. It’s almost as if it was Project Runway where different designers were designing different outfits for the female UPS drivers. Randy said she loved the song choice. Said she started out amazing, but got sharp and didn’t nail it. Paula said she looked amazing (and you know when Paula goes immediately to the looks, you sucked), but was not on pitch. Simon got straight to it and said she messed it up and also booked her ticket home. Maybe she can get in the same row as Melissa. They should both be gone the night after next.

05 – Katharine McPhee, that “you better think/freedom” song
Before Kinnik’s performance, Ryan interviewed Katharine to squash the rumors that she was 1) going to quit the show and 2) was pregnant! Craziness. Someone did say that she reminded her of a chubby Katie Holmes. Her LKF was that she attended the same Boston Conservatory that Constantine did. And Seacrest gave her the “McPheeVer” moniker. Katharine sang well, performed well, shook her booty up on stage. She’s full-figured, but in a she-carries-it-well way. I really enjoy her reactions of unbridled giddiness after she’s done with her songs. She mentioned that she didn’t have much fun singing her song (ballad) last week and wanted to have fun again. Mission accomplished. Randy said to the dawg pound that they have a hot one. Paula said it was good to see her having fun again and that she has amazing control of her voice. Simon called it a risk, but she pulled it off effortlessly. I really like Katharine. I think she’s got an amazing voice and a fun, carefree, goofy personality. She should go far.

06 – Ayla Brown, Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
Again with the brown. She looked like an Amazon genie tonight. And she wore clamdigger pants that Sway would’ve had to cuff. Didn’t know the song. Started slow, but she picked it up and sang it well. She wanted to change it up and sing a fun song instead of a ballad. If she makes it through (I think she’ll be in the bottom 3, but don’t think she’ll go), I think she should go back to the ballads. Randy said the song was okay but it wasn’t a singer’s song because of its 5 note range. Paula said she likes her because she fights the fight every week. Whatever that means. Simon thought it was pretty good, just not fantastic. I really hope that Ayla makes it through to the finals. I think she’s (to take a March Madness term) on the bubble.

07 – Mandisa, I’m Every Woman (Chaka Khan)
Her LKF was that she sucked her thumb until she was 24. And she wore a brown Afghan. And how many denim trees did they have to cut down to make those pants? Did she do the Chaka Khan version or the Whitney Houston/Bodyguard version? I couldn’t tell. Randy called it the best vocal by a female this season. Paula said she took the song and owned it. Loved the arrangement and she sang her butt off. Whoa there. Let’s not go overboard. She did not sing her butt off. It’s still there. Simon said all the other girls are going to hate her because she made everyone else look ordinary. She was in a different league tonight. Mandisa finally sang a song that suited her. Those other rock songs weren’t her. She was in her element tonight. She’s very strong. She should go very far.

08 – Kellie Pickler, I’m The Only One (Melissa Etheridge)
Country-ed out Melissa’s rock song. It really worked for her. She looked more comfortable up on the stage tonight. She is so likeable. Her naivety seems genuine and I think the voting public is falling in love with her. Randy said she’s consistent every week and loved how she turned country into rock. Paula said she’s adorable and everyone is in love with her. She also mentioned her point and looking into the camera. I noticed it too, but it hasn’t annoyed me yet. Simon called her a naughty little minx, which completely confused her. And he said he thinks he prefers her to last year’s winner (called by some Carrie Underwhelm). She doesn’t have the best voice, but she’s got that likeability that may trump better voices. And she just had salmon for the first time last week. She should be safe to the finals.

I think the bottom 2 should be Kinnik and Melissa, with either Ayla or Paris rounding out the bottom 3.

There may or may not be a recap tomorrow night because I have a program for work and it depends on how late I get back and when I get done viewing it. But I can already tell you that Kevin should be off.