'80s Help Amanda Rocks Her Way to Security on American Idol

News Type: Opinion — Wed Mar 5, 2008 11:14 PM EST

vacelts

Live Poll

Who should be sent home

Asia'h Epperson
5%
Kady Malloy
48%
Amanda Overmyer
18%
Carly Smithson
2%
Kristy Lee Cook
9%
Ramiele Malubay
12%
Brooke White
2%
Syesha Mercado
4%

Total Votes: 474

The Top 8 ladies.

Amanda was in her element during '80s week.

American Idol is down to the final cut before the Top 12 and the ladies brought their A game to '80s night in a battle royale for the elusive six spots.

I thought I knew who the Top 6 women would be when I did my predictions for the Top 12, but the performances tonight have me reevaluating my thoughts. This evening was the best overall night of performances this season.

Although I've been a fan of Amanda Overmyer, I wrote her off as not appealing to the larger audience. But when Amanda is in her groove, she is dynamite. And tonight she was definitely in her element. Joan Jett was the perfect artist for her to pick for '80s week and she nailed "I hate Myself for Loving You" wonderfully and solidified herself a member of the Top 12.

Beautiful. That's the only way I can sum up Kristy Lee Cook's version of the Journey hit. She personalized "Faithfully" with the little country twang the judges have been asking for and the result took my breath.

Brooke White gets bonus points for customizing "Love is a Battlefield" to fit her personality. The song felt very intimate. But, that said, her version lacked the power that Pat Benatar gave the song. Brooke did an excellent job, but I prefer Benatar.

When Asia'h Epperson sang "I Want to Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" with so much energy, it made me want to get up and dance (although not like Paula). Simon called her a second rate Whitney Houston, but I think she did Whitney justice and secured her spot for next week.

As expected Syesha Mercado came out with another big song. She put in a solid performance with Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love for You." But these big songs are really a safety net for Syesha. I'd like to see her try a something a little different.

Carly Smithson is another one with a powerful voice. And she showcased it tonight with the Cyndi Lauper tune. "I Drove all Night" started out kind of weak, but she pulled out with a big finish. But I have to agree with Simon that the song just wasn't a good fit for her.

Can anyone really top Phil Collins? Ramiele Malubay gave it a try tonight with her performance of "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now). I think she might have overshot herself a little. It was a solid performance, but since the rest of the girls really came to play tonight it might not be enough to cinch a place for Ramiele.

Kady Malloy surprised me twice this evening. First by picking a Queen song. I'd never pegged her to sing Queen. Then by not slaughtering "Who Wants to Live Forever. While it was one her better performances, I'm not sure it'll be enough to save her.

Based on the performances tonight, I'd have to send home Ramiele and Kady. What do you think?

---------------
Here's a recap of the semifinals:

A Closer Look at the Top 12 Men

A Closer Look at the Top 12 Women

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6.0

1.0

{"commentId":1545795,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

What do you think? Who had the best night? Who should be sent packing?

{"commentId":1545795,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1 - Wed Mar 5, 2008 11:21 PM EST

{"commentId":1546598,"authorDomain":"evilgenius"}

evilgenius

Kady Malloy had the weakest vocals last night. Can we have a ban on Whitney Huston songs already? The only song of the whole week that I might of put on a mixed cd would have been the Brook White version of "Love is a Battlefield". I'm still waiting for a great preformance where the singer works the crowd and gets people moving. I'm finding the whole competition tired and uninspiring.

{"commentId":1546598,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"evilgenius"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Thu Mar 6, 2008 8:30 AM EST

{"commentId":1546656,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I'm finding the whole competition tired and uninspiring

That is my reaction for the season as a whole. But I love '80s music so that's probably why I was a little more excited about this week.

The only song of the whole week that I might of put on a mixed cd would have been the Brook White version of "Love is a Battlefield".

My would have been Kristy Lee's "Faithfully" and Amanda's "I Hate Myself for Loving You."

{"commentId":1546656,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Thu Mar 6, 2008 8:52 AM EST

{"commentId":1546939,"authorDomain":"anthopos"}

Perry O

While I thought Amanda did a good job, I'd go for the original version for a mix ~~tape~~ cd. For a second, I thought it was going to sound the way she always sounds, but then she pulled it off. I just wonder what was up with her afterwards. I even noticed during the next song, when the camera panned around and you could see the rest of women watching, she seemed a bit subdued. My suspicion is that her blood sugar dropped there at the end of the song.

I think I agree with evilgenius about Brooke White on a mix cd. I liked the way she changed it.

{"commentId":1546939,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"anthopos"}

1 vote

#1.3 - Thu Mar 6, 2008 10:09 AM EST

{"commentId":1547539,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I think Brooke took a big risk with her changes to the song and I admire her for that. But personally, I didn't like it. Guess I'm a minority.

{"commentId":1547539,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1.4 - Thu Mar 6, 2008 12:45 PM EST

{"commentId":1547850,"authorDomain":"LESLIEV"}

DAKOTAH01

AMANDA NEEDS TO GO HOME. SHE SOUNDS THE SAME EVERY WEEK.

KADY IS ACTUALLY VERY GOOD - SHE JUST NEEDS TO MAKE BETTER SONG CHOICES.

ASIDE FROM THAT I THINK ALL THE GIRLS CAN GO HOME AND WE CAN JUST LISTEN TO

THE GUYS.

JASON IS THE MOST UNIQUE AND HIS EYES AND FACE ARE MAGNIFICANT. HE IS DEFINATE

EYE CANDY

{"commentId":1547850,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"LESLIEV"}

#1.5 - Thu Mar 6, 2008 2:01 PM EST

{"commentId":1548127,"authorDomain":"ro2mur"}

sweetpea-248652

I am not very exited about this year's competion. My least favorite in the competition, though, is Amanda. I think she sounds like a mumbling drunk. She totally lacks personality. The judges were praising her (I don't know why), and she barely had the grace to say "thank you." Did you ever notice that she looks like the bride of Frankenstein?

{"commentId":1548127,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"ro2mur"}

#2 - Thu Mar 6, 2008 3:16 PM EST

{"commentId":1551110,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I really like it when someone does a major rework of a song – that's daring and more interesting to me than doing something close to the original; to me it's the difference between an original performance and karaoke.
Thus, yes I liked Brooke's cover – I thought it was the best song Wed nite and Tuesday I loved David Cook's reworking of Hello.

{"commentId":1551110,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#3 - Fri Mar 7, 2008 10:44 AM EST

{"commentId":1551485,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I think it takes a lot of guts to come forth with an original arrangement. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I think it worked for both Brooke and David this week.

{"commentId":1551485,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Fri Mar 7, 2008 12:02 PM EST

{"commentId":1560111,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

One thing I love about the open mic nite at my favorite coffeeshop is when some people do essentially what Brook and David did. Imagine, say, the theme song for the Grinch played acoustic or Modern English "Melt with you" on acoustic guitar. I think the oddest I've seen was u2's beautiful day with just a vocalist and an acordian.

{"commentId":1560111,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#3.2 - Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:21 AM EDT

{"commentId":1560676,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

An accordion? I bet that was different.

{"commentId":1560676,"threadId":"230053","contentId":"1346527","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#3.3 - Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:21 AM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"230053","isPrivate":false}

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'80s Help Amanda Rocks Her Way to Security on American Idol

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