American Idol: We’ve got our top 13

You kind of have to admire American Idol’s efficiency. I can’t believe we’re down to 12 already. Poof! It’s magic! I want to get to the big stage ahora! But alas, I have to remind myself to simmer down. I’ve only got one week, one tediously long results show, a wild card round and 12 more songs to go, and I’ll be so close! Let’s get this party started. It’s time for group three’s 15 minutes of fame.

THE GOOD

Von Smith kicks things off and when he’s done Randy says, “Welcome to Idol.” In rare form, Randy makes sense, and I agree. All this kid needed to do was not shout and try to annoy Simon as little as possible. He sang Marvin Gaye’s “You’re All I Need to Get By.” ::Sigh:: That song still makes me want to groove every time I hear it, and he does the song justice. He’s powerful but easy, and that basically means that he took Simon’s critique to heart. Smart boy.

Ju’not Joyner, I really don’t remember you at all, but I love you! A lot! “Hey There, Delilah” by The Plain White Ts never sounded so good. Smooth, easy, beautiful and safe, but I don’t care. Give me safe if that’s what it sounds like every time.

Felicia Barton is the girl the producers brought back when Joanna Pacitti was disqualified from the competition. I felt like she would have the hardest time out of everyone during this competition. I was wrong, so wrong. She sang “No One” by Alicia Keys and didn’t change the arrangement or the actual singing of it very much which brought out Simon’s smugness, but she is fantastic.  Kara said rightly, “I noticed you tonight for the first time. I noticed you!”

Every time I see Scott MacIntyre play the piano, I’m amazed and flabbergasted and inspired.  He sang “Mandolin Rain” by Bruce Hornsby. The crowd starts clapping which really irritates me. When do they ever do that? He commands the stage really well for someone who can’t see the audience at all. It’s actually really awesome to watch and to listen to. Randy says whenever he sings, “You can feel the passion.” There are some squeaks and missteps here and there, but you can’t help but watch it and love it. Anyone who says, “You need to give me a high five. I’m a stationary target,” to Ryan Seacrest has my vote!

Jorge Nunoz was not one of my favorites during the audition process and one of my least favorites to get through, but he definitely is more likable when you just get him sitting and talking in front of a camera. The minute he opens his mouth I’m entranced. The judges said he had pronunciation problems during his audition, but you couldn’t tell here. He sings Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” Could he be singing some voodoo magic mojo? I’ve never made an American Idol groupie 180 degree turn.

Lil Rounds tackled “Be Without You” by Mary J. Blige.  That’s is a big song to tackle.  I remember Lil as one of the top contenders so I’m intrigued. It’s a smart song choice though because it’s current, it’s popular and it’s strong. It helps carve out her niche in the music world a little more for us. She didn’t stray from the original, but it doesn’t hurt for America to see everyone in the audience on their feet. I even saw Simon bopping his head which I NEVER see so I knew he’d love her though.

THE BAD

Taylor Vaifanua has a memorable name, but her face…see I already forgot what she looks like. She sings “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys (repeat from Hollywood), a song a little too soulful for her voice in my opinion. She should have sang something more poppy. Plus, she’s flat and boring. The choir sounds good when she lets go, but I’m already too bored to care. Wouldn’t she fit into the Kardashian family like it was nothing. It kind of creeps me out a little.

Who’s cute as a button and doesn’t want to take it anymore? Arianna Afsar! Girl’s got some pipes but the judges think she picked a song that’s too down trodden for her cute, bubbly package. I still think she sang beautifully, but I did like her more when she sang her contemporary, upbeat auditions songs.

Kristen McNamara starts out pretty well, but Simon said it right, “It’s just figuring out who this girl is.” She reminds me of Jamie Presley’s little sister which makes me like her more, but not enough to pick up the phone and vote. I like her growl, but no matter how much she talks and what she says, I don’t get a sense that this girl knows who she is yet which makes her a little awkward and painful to watch.

Nathaniel Marshall sang “I Would Do Anything For Love” by Meatloaf. (Flashback to seventh grade.) I wish he would have picked another song because he has a good voice, but only Meatloaf should sing that song. By Randy took the words right out of my mouth when he said, “It’s hard for me to imagine as a recording artist what kind of record we would make with you.” P.S. – The judges must really like him to spend what feels like 50 minutes talking with him and his family afterwards.

Kendall Beard looks like a country star, all smiley and blond and perky. Martina McBride is one of my favorite country singers so when she starts singing “This One’s for the Girls,” I’m pumped up, but she just can’t hit those big notes and create those swells. She looks great and comfortable on stage so that’s a positive. Can her mother make the dress that she wore for me, though? I’ll pay.

THE UGLY

Alex Wagner-Trugman in his video is cute and sweet and dorky and funny, but on stage singing Elton John’s “I Guess That Why They Call It The Blues,” he’s gangly and awkward and floppy. He’s definitely the type of kid you can’t help but like for some reason which is exactly why Simon hates him so much.

Tonight was by far the best group. I mean check out how many uglies there were tonight. (Sorry Alex! I don’t mean to rub salt into the wound.) The pickings were great, but the competition was stiff. I took one night off to really think about my favorites, but it’s hard to guess what three America will love. Wildcards will predominantly come from this group no doubt unless the judges are plotting sabotage. “I have the sneaking suspicion we’re going to see you for many more lil rounds,” says Paula. Tee-hehe.

RESULTS AND THE WILDCARDS

I’m just going to come out and say it because tonight it’s almost impossible to predict who the top three will be. I’m thinking Felicia Barton, Scott MacIntyre and Lil Rounds. They’re all distinctly different, but all have figured out who they are as people and who they are as artists so they’re innately confident and comfortable. My choices aren’t too far off from the actual results with Jorge Nunoz taking Felicia’s place, and like I said earlier, there were so many good performances that a lot of others could just have easily made it as well.

I’m surprised when Ryan says that here and now the wildcard picks will be announced. Some contestants from the past shows have come back, and they join the rejects from tonight’s show in the Coke red room. Eight are chosen to sing one final time in a bid for one of three spots left.

This is weird. The clips are not polished. (Seriously, there’s a TV in the background so we get our own little picture within a picture.)  And there’s no phone numbers so that means more awkward banter and Simon bashing.

Jesse Langseth kicks off this unique episode of American Idol by singing “Tell Me Something Good.” It starts out bad and doesn’t get better from there. I think it’s a song that points out the flaws in her voice more than shows it off. Somehow the judges like it. Meh.

Matt Giraud is next. “Who’s Lovin You,” by the Jackson 5 isn’t particularly the most bluesy song., but if there’s someone who can make it bluesy and gritty, it’s Matt Giraud. Break it down boy! Now I remember you!

Meghan Joy Corkrey picks “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall. She’s so pretty. She’s got the type of classic beauty, you’d never expect to have a tattoo sleeve on her right arm. She’s still doing her little Telletubbie dance, but I’m okay with it. It’s her, and she doesn’t need to apologize for it. I agree with Kara when she says that we need her in the competition because she’s variety.

Von Smith sings “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”, and it’s starts out really shaky. It’s sounds like Von may cry. His voices sounds like its quivering. Is Von going to cry? I don’t see any tears, so I guess not. Towards the middle of the song, he remembers this is his last chance and finds his voice again, but sadly, it may be too late.

I remember sitting in my bedroom with a flashlight singing “Reflection” by Christina Aguilera. Oh the memories! But when Jasmine Murray sings it, I’m bored. Didn’t the judges tell her to do Rihanna or something? Poor choice because all I can think is sad, girl can’t hit it like Christina. The judges act like she killed it. Did I hear the same thing?

If Ricky Braddy can remember all his words, not go off pitch more than three time and change it up by picking an upbeat song, he can sail right through. He picks “Superstitious” and Maroon 5s up his wardrobe. Braddy’s looking kind of good right now. He voice is flawless. The ladies love it. Duh, but the boys think the song choice didn’t show off his voice. I think they’re crazy! And Randy and Simon, boys drool.

Tatiana Del Toro needs her own telenovella. She looks into the camera and says, “I’m ready to sing for you America.” It’s “Saving All My Love For You,” for like the bijillionth time. The judges realize she’s as crazy as I think she is because she has about 20 split personalities, but while she makes me want to puke a little, the judge just like to egg her on and escalate her craziness.

Anoop Desai sings “My Prerogative” again. All of a sudden he turns on the “I’m a chick magnet” switch, rolling his body and winking at the crowd, but his voice is killer, and that’s undeniable. He’s got stage presence, the crowd loves him, and he’s got the cutest southern accent ever!

There are a lot of guys already in the competition so me thinks that when the judges pick the final finalist at the end of the show, it will be mostly girls.

In the end, Jasmine Murray, Meghan Joy Corkrey and Matt Giraud make it. I’m a little disappointed; although Jasmine was one of my early favorites, my opinion of her has gone in the wrong direction. And Ricky Braddy was robbed, robbed, I tell you! But they make up for it when Simon throws another curveball. What’s 12 plus one? Thirteen baby, and from now on, it’s Anoop Desai’s new lucky number.

Looking at the top thirteen that’s been put together, I’m pretty impressed. This may be the most talent producing season yet!

Season 8, Episodes 16 & 17 & 18: Semifinals: Group C &  Results: Group C & Wildcard Group Special (originally aired March 4-6, 2009)

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Photographs courtesy of Fox Broadcasting Company