Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Well, week three with Idol’s leading ladies didn’t change my mind about who should go home Thursday night.

But it changed my mind about who will go home.

Here’s the link to the song by song grade blog.

And here’s the recap.

Best of the bunch:

Crystal Bowersox. Wow! Wow! Wow! That’s one wow for each great performance in the semifinals. Simon stated it simply: She’s the contestant to beat in season nine. Tuesday’s “Give Me One Reason” was the best we’ve heard yet from this singer/songwriter.

Meanwhile, Magnus was magnificent, wasn’t she. Gotta tell you, I thought last week’s big note was blown out of proportion. Tuesday night, Siobhan won me over with a beautifully controlled “House of the Rising Sun.” Great a cappella opening. And she still delivered another big note near the end.

Deserves to go home:

Paige Miles, first and foremost. On a night when she needed a strong performance, she turned in her pitchiest. And what is it with these young performers singing so many ballads? Especially, Paige, the bubbly former cheerleader. That wasn’t bubbly, Paige. That was borrrrrring. Bad song choice at a bad time.

Lacey Brown: Go ahead and boo. I understand. Look, Lucky Lacey bounced back with her best effort Tuesday night. But it wasn’t brilliant. And it doesn’t change the fact that she performed poorly the two weeks prior to that.

Please save her:

Katelyn Epperly: The judges’ criticism of Katelyn’s version of “I Feel the Earth Move” was accurate. But you’ve gotta love all those curls, right Simon. Way to steal a page from Paula’s book, doling out compliments on the way a contestant looks when you have nothing good to say. Well, I’ve got something good to say about Katelyn. She sang very well the first two weeks of the semifinals, certainly well enough to deserve a spot in the finals.

Baffled by the judges:

OK, Stevie Nicks has rocked “Rhiannon.” Stevie Nicks has performed plaintive piano versions of “Rhiannon.” Didi Benami sang “Rhiannon” on key Tuesday night. That’s the only good thing I can say about a performance that sucked the life out of the song. Yet it was one Simon and Kara raved over. Sorry, I didn’t get it. But the judges’ vote of confidence should boost Didi and her tears into the finals.

Best line of the night:

Simon to Paige: “I call these performances peanut performances because normally people are just at the bar eating peanuts while you’re singing a song like that, and no one’s paying any attention.” Paige, to her credit, did not burst into tears upon hearing that.

Prediction for Thursday night

Paige Miles heads home. I think the unanimous disapproval from the judges sealed her fate.

And, unfortunately, I have a feeling Katie Stevens will meet the same fate. She suffered the dual daggers of Idol death Tuesday: she was forced to sing first and she got no love from the judges. Shame. I thought young Katie outperformed Lacey when all three semifinal performances are considered.

Song by song grades:

Crystal Bowersox: A+
Siobhan Magnus: A
Lilly Scott: B
Lacey Brown: B-
Didi Benami: B-
Katelyn Epperly: C
Katie Stevens: C-
Paige Miles: D