The twelve female finalists made their big debut, battling it out for the public’s approval. With all four judges on panel, each contestant took the stage in hopes that the public would carry them through the week, and on to the next round.
Paige Miles kicked things off with “All Right Now,” but I wasn’t personally impressed. Her song choice was poor, and didn’t really showcase the talent she displayed during auditions. She performed well, despite being the first of the night, which definitely impressed the judges.
Ashley Rodriguez took the stage next, but her performance was clumsy. Again, her song choice didn’t really reflect on her ability, and Simon even noted he thought she was going backward instead of forward.
Janell Wheeler performed “What About Love” by Heart, but like both ladies before her, her song choice was poor. Her last performances in Hollywood were mind-blowing, but tonight she sounded off-key. Ellen thought she did great, but Randy, Kara and Simon weren’t impressed.
Lilly Scott sang The Beatles “Fixin’ a Hole.” Scott has a unique, jazzy style and voice, and has performed well since the very beginning. Ellen said it best when she noted that everything about Lilly is random and unique. Simon did note she needed to work on her star power just a little bit, but when compared to those who came before her, she was definitely the most original and impressive.
Upbeat Katelyn Epperly belted out a soulful song that Simon found to be brave, quirky and interesting, but Kara thought her image was overdone. While it may not seem important, appearance and presence are just as important as performance when it comes to forming superstars.
Haeley Vaughn added a dose of pop-quality to the Beatles “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” that reminded me of 80s icons Debbie Gibson and Tiffany. Kara pointed out her technical issues, but was impressed with Haeley’s ability to make the audience have fun. Her age gives her the edge she needs to grow as a performer, and that will work to her advantage.
Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” was probably not the best choice of song for Lacey Brown. Lacey has a very powerful voice, and her performance was lacking, adding to the list of ladies whose song choice greatly affected their first public opportunity to impress.
Michelle Delamor was technically one of the strongest performers of the night, but Ellen felt like Alicia Keyes “Fallen” was too easy for Michelle. Simon thought she was professional, but wasn’t wowed by her, noting she needed to take risks if she wanted to stand out a bit more.
Didi Benami performed “Take Me the Way I Am,” and while she did a good job with the song she was lacking star power. Simon said it was dull and missing the spark it needed; a criticism that seemed tailor-made for nearly every contestant who took the stage.
Siobhan Magnus’ rendiciont of “Wicked Game,” by Chris Isaak was chock-full-of personality. Even Simon was shocked by her versatility, and noted displaying her darker side was a bold move.
Crystal Bowersox is my favorite female contestant so far this season. Singing “Hand in My Pocket,” by Alanis Morrissette, her folksy approach to every song she sings makes her original and honest. Simon did note that she was a brilliant performer, but wanted to see her go beyond the “coffee house” performance, as Kara named it, and bring her personality into something unexpected.
Katie Stevens received criticism from Simon and Ellen, who felt she was dressed up like a doll in her mother’s clothing, performing way beyond her age. Her voice sounded great, but in order to stand out, Simon thought she should take advantage of her youth, and dazzle audiences with personality.
Wednesday night the men step into the spotlight. Here’s hoping their song choices are a little better! Thursday night the public results are revealed, so check back to find out who was eliminated from Tuesday’s competition.
Photo via FOX
