Randy deems the performance okay. You mean mediocre? Compared to last week, she was so-so. The song choice was weird, he says, 'cause there are so many dope records that were out in the '70s. When Randy isn't eating up your cuteness with a spoon, you've got some work to do. Positive Paula thinks Ramiele's one to beat, and that her vocals are truly amazing. Paula doesn't think the song really allowed her to perform her magic. Paula loves going second in the judging panel cause she's not required to form an original opinion. Finally, Simon is astonished that he agrees with Paula. He feels like he's heard it so many times at "ghastly weddings" and she didn't stand out this week. He thinks she's one of the top three best in the competition, but she's not memorable with this performance. So that means Fetus, Carly and Ramiele are in Simon's top three?
Ramiele defends herself, explaining that she picked four different songs including two ballads, but was afraid she'd be called Ramiele Lullaby instead of Malubay. Seacrest even smothers a giggle and tells her not to second guess herself. I'm grateful that Ramiele is one of the few contestants who doesn't embarrass herself when trying to speak in public (Fetus and Jason Castro, I'm looking at you). I kinda just want to take her home and force her to play Mall Madness with me while sipping on Malibu and pineapple juice cocktails. And then we can go to Forever 21 and get matching outfits!
Kristy Lee Cook realizes that "Amazing Grace" was not written in the '70s and thinks to herself, "Well, sheee-it." She confesses that she's a tomboy, which...yawn. Girl, you suck at telling secrets. She proudly claims to do things that girls don't do, like outdoorsy things, as we get a shot of her straddling a log of wood. Yep. And that she can't walk in heels. I've seen dead people more interesting than this gal.
Manly men do this.
Kristy Lee Cook's outfit screams Dance Camp. She's got a plunging v-neck, sparkly silver shirt on and tacky blue velvet flared pants that have a grey sheen to them. I feel the strange urge to choreograph something to "Everybody Dance Now." Need I say more?
She belts "You're No Good" as an ode to her horrible pants. The song was most famously covered and made a #1 hit by Linda Ronstadt in '73. I love me some Ronstadt, but I grew up with her "Somewhere Out There" duet with James Ingram. The song's actually originally from the '60s, but hey, "Jailhouse Rock" was allowed last week. Kristy's slightly mannish strut reminds me of someone:
Kristy starts out confidently, but I just can't buy this performance. "Forget about your baby" is really screechy and out of tune, and her attempt to sound gravely and rough isn't quite believable. Maybe I just can't get over the huge mistake that is her outfit. A hint of country twang comes out in her interpretation, so maybe she'll veer back onto the country path that the producers and Simon want to steer her towards. She doesn't want to enter the Carrie Underwood clone wars yet, but she's just not a pop singer to me. However, it's significantly better than week's deathbed performance, and she won't be leaving us just yet. Plus, they faked her out last week during the results show so they won't do it again.
Randy graciously pronounces it 100% better than last week, that it was in tune for the most part but lacked breakout moments. Paula is glad that Kristy's back and says it's a good song choice. Eh. That doesn't say much. Simon can't remember what she sang last week and thinks this week is a huge improvement. La di da. However, he doesn't know how to label her, who is she really? He thinks it's easier for her to make a statement if she goes country, and reassures her that she has real potential. Kristy, who was on 5 antibiotics last week and couldn't even hear the judges, agrees about the country thing. On a frivolous note, her sassy head shake attempts don't hold a candle to Hanna Mantana's.
It's time for Amanda Overmeyer, who's the one contestant who you can't mistake for anyone else. She's a bitchin' nurse who loves her Harley, but did you know she's also a bookworm? Seacrest is afraid she's going to chomp his head off. Like David Cook, her "real rocker" counterpart, she enjoys intellectual pursuits such as reading the biographies of rock icons. And books on the music industry! I'm won over when she says that knowledge is power.
"You wanna get high?"
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Comments (16)
The fact that you referenced Butters in relation to Lushington's song choice means you're my best friend forever and ever!
1 of 16 | Posted by Izzyboy | Posted on February 29, 2008 6:27 AM
The fact that you referenced Butters in relation to Lushington's song choice means you're my best friend forever and ever!
2 of 16 | Posted by Izzyboy | Posted on February 29, 2008 6:28 AM
I love the music of the 80's. This new AI group, however, will continue to butcher every song they attempt.
Except, I guess, for Fetus. From all the breathless ass kissing I've seen, apparently he's been designated as Jesus Christ 2.0.
That is all.
3 of 16 | Posted by Snarky | Posted on February 29, 2008 7:15 AM
I noticed the scarfs, too. Are they prtecting their vocal cords?
I can't stand Amanda and hope she goes fast!
4 of 16 | Posted by menomor3 | Posted on February 29, 2008 7:25 AM
T.Vo, I'm not even through the recap yet, but I had to give you kudos for the Bill as Towlie screencap. That was so random and hilarious. LMAO!
5 of 16 | Posted by JasonR | Posted on February 29, 2008 8:15 AM
OK, I finished. Recap was absolutely hilarious. Double threat with the sarcastic recapping of song choice AND fashion choice. BTW, I recall once that in an interview in one of the past seasons that one of the finalists said that they get a budget from the show but the contestants do shop for and choose their own clothes, so you can rest easy in making fun of them for what they wear if you so choose.
6 of 16 | Posted by JasonR | Posted on February 29, 2008 8:31 AM
By the way T.Vo, I didn't mean to imply you were one of the ones slobbering all over Fetus. Everyone else seems to be.
You rock!
7 of 16 | Posted by Snarky | Posted on February 29, 2008 8:46 AM
Guess I'm the sole Lushington fan . . . she seems to be bringing subtle changes in melody that the others don't, Ramiele was thuddingly dull repeating the exact melody twice. Simon's never heard Magic Man, yet Hard songs have been on the show for seasons now . . . lame! He's so obvious in who he wants gone, F him!!!
Did we all hear about the wig!?
8 of 16 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on February 29, 2008 12:12 PM
What wig??? I heard some Bret Michaels-type wig jokes about Robbie Carrico. What gives juddfan?
9 of 16 | Posted by JasonR | Posted on February 29, 2008 12:38 PM
juddfan -- I actually liked Lushington (and okay, I had a soft spot for Butters' interpretation of the Chicago song) but I think this week's performance (while technically better than Amanda's/Kady's/etc, for sure) was really incongruous with who she is as a singer, or at least what the audience and judges were hoping for. I think we were all hoping for her to belt something big and vibrant. I did appreciate the subtlety of her interpretation more than Ramiele's song, which was slightly more memorable due to its upbeat tempo.
As for the wig, yes, I have heard the TMZ rumors that his locks are polyester and not from the Dolly Parton collection! DListed and MTV are also debating the wig's existence (they're no Drudge Report, though). Hit up Google.
10 of 16 | Posted by t.vo | Posted on February 29, 2008 2:43 PM
Thanks T.vo--I'm a huge dlisted fan, PP 4evah!!! I sometimes wonder if MK isn't on here somewhere, hiding under some psuedonym!!!! Weirdly, the wig came after the votes, so couldn't be considered in the later voting . . .
11 of 16 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on February 29, 2008 3:41 PM
I mean later results . . .
JasonR, Robbie faux rocker is rumored to be wearing a wig . . . talk about credibility!
12 of 16 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on February 29, 2008 3:43 PM
I, too, liked Lushington. She was my favorite! BOO HOO.
13 of 16 | Posted by dani2526 | Posted on March 1, 2008 11:52 AM
It's nice to see some Lusington luvin on this site. I couldn't understand any of the judges comments this week. I don't think Lush has a belter's voice but rather a very clear, nuanced voice - and that was on full display in her performance, which I really loved. I don't understand how that blond chick (the one with the guitar not the other 20 blond girls on stage - seriously I can't tell them apart just yet) could be praised for a boring, copy-cat version of 'You're So Vain'. Meanwhile Lush gives a IMHO wonderfully layered and subtle interpretation and is trashed for it.
My other favourite of the night, Syesha, got pummeled for the most ridiculous of reasons. I thought she did a very good rendition of "Me and Mr(s) Jones". Randy tells her she needs to pick a song where she can belt more. Um, Randy, if every note is belted out then there is no dramatic build-up to the big notes - which this performance certainly had. Then Simon criticises her for the most ridiculous of reasons: that the song was not originally written for a woman. WTF?!
I'm a fan but what the heck was up with Ramiele? Bad choice of song. Oh, and I thought the Irish lass did an bang up job on the Heart song.
14 of 16 | Posted by bdos88 | Posted on March 1, 2008 12:40 PM
I finally figured out who Simon reminds me of.
Those cranky old people who yell at the neighborhood kids to GET THE HELL off my lawn!
I've known:
- One old guy who hid in the bushes and hosed down the kids.
- One old lady who came outside with a shotgun if she saw the kids.
and
- One guy who sits in his garage where you can't see him and shoots kids with a paint ball gun.
I gotta admit, that is a pretty cool use of a paint ball gun.
Simon...you are gonna be the best cranky old guy, ever.
15 of 16 | Posted by rhoda | Posted on March 2, 2008 3:25 AM
What? How is Kady Malloy the resident hottie? I don't think she's hot by any stretch of the imagination. I like her, though. I'm quite dismayed by this week's results show.
I too disagreed with Simon's comments about SYESha. Made no fucking sense. Since when did people only sing songs that were originally written for their gender on this show? Or, you know, in life? Remember last year when hey all had to do Bee Gee's songs and Barry Gibb was shocked by every choice the women made because they were originally written for men?
16 of 16 | Posted by Rock Star | Posted on March 3, 2008 7:44 PM