AI9: Top 8 Girls Perform

Tonight's show was crammed into an hour, so there were no color features on the contestants. At the opening, however, there was a little gimmick with Ryan sitting in Ellen's seat and Ellen sitting, essentially, in Simon's lap, apparently whispering sweet nothings into his ear. That's the second time I remember that they played up a flirtation between Simon and Ellen, which is just really weird to me. Are they trying to win over conservatives by implying that Ellen might not be gay? Oh, puh-leez.

Anyway, before we knew it, Katie Stevens was on stage and singing. Sort of. After two weeks of being told she was choosing songs that were too old for her, she picked Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway". It was a mistake. She didn't seem connected to the song at all. I couldn't feel any real emotion from her, and her delivery was oddly flat. Her pitch wasn't always accurate, and her voice was unsteady and weak. The judges didn't like it much, either. Randy thought the song was too big for her; it was almost like karaoke; he didn't get it. Ellen appreciated that she took their advice and sang a young song. But Katie didn't show enough personality. Kara said she has a great radio voice. She doesn't think Katie knows who she is yet as an artist. Simon agreed. "You kind of sucked..." he started, and I winced, thinking he was giving his opinion of her singing in an unnecessarily crude yet accurate manner. After a pause, though, he went on: "...the energy out of it a little bit and made it a little bit gloomy." But he gave her ten out of ten for trying.

Siobhan Magnus scored the only short interview of the evening; she told Ryan she was doing the Animals' "The House of the Rising Sun" for her dad, who used to play it on the piano for her when she was little. She was wearing a red dress and had white roses in her hair; I thought she looked elegant. She did the first verse a cappella, and she was right on key the whole time. Our Cape Cod girl is going to do us all proud! She's got a a maturity and professional quality already. I thought she was wonderful. She sang with her heart pouring out of her. Most of the judges liked it, but Simon, of course, had to throw a damper on it. He said she didn't do anything new with the song. I disagree. She changed up the final verse and, I thought, made it her own.

Crimson-haired Lacey Brown (still here after two bad weeks) chose "The Story" by Brandy Carlile, and gave her best performance since her audition. She sang out well on the higher notes, and managed to hold together for the lower ones, too. Randy thought it was a little boring, a little sleepy, but it was her best performance in a long time. Ellen agreed it was her best performance to date. Kara said performances like this are how she got here. Simon didn't love, love, (he used it twice) the song, but she sang it well. But he still hasn't heard the song connection he's waiting for from her. I expect that Lacey just sang herself into the Top 12.

Last week Katelyn Epperly won me over with Coldplay's "The Scientist." This week, she lost me again with Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move." She was playing a Wurlitzer - some kind of old keyboard. I thought Wurlitzer made organs. In any case, Katelyn didn't give a convincing performance. Her voice just didn't sound as strong and capable. The song overwhelmed her. She was off-key and weak. The judges didn't like it, either.

One of the two best performances of the evening was given by Didi Benami. She was stellar on Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon". She stripped it way down, using just her guitar for the first verse; a piano joined her on the second. She stayed on key and it was clear she knew and loved the song. She was as close to perfect as she's been since she did “Terrified” during Hollywood Week. I'm a fan again. Randy didn't feel a “wow” moment, but he thinks it was a lot better. Ellen said, “Yes indeedy, Didi.” She liked it. Kara said it was one of her favorite moments of the show so far this season. She compared it favorably to “Terrified”. Simon agreed with Kara. The best performance so far tonight. The wow moment was the whole performance.

Paige Miles, however, gave one of the worst performances of the evening, after doing so well at Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away" last week. She chose an old standard, "Smile", which Ryan said was by Charlie Chaplin (not somebody I associated with music), and her voice just wasn't up to it. Later, she said she'd chosen it because Michael Jackson had performed it, and she kept getting choked up while she was singing it. This was not the right week to perform that weakly. The judges agreed that it wasn't the right song choice. Randy said “It just didn't work, man.” Ellen thought it was sad and heavy, and we didn't get to see her personality. Simon described the arrangement as "Holiday Inn in 1974." He thought it was a shame, because she has so much potential.

And now for the second of the two best performances of the evening: Crystal Bowersox, of course. This week she chose Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason", and she was outstanding. She accompanied herself on electric guitar. She was wailing away, giving it her bluesy best, and she had the audience in the palm of her hand as usual. This one I want to download. Crystal's still my choice for Next American Idol. Randy loved everything about it. Ellen said it was the best performance of the night. Kara said great song choice. Simon is convinced (using Randy math, “one million billion percent”) she'll be in the top 12. Me, too.

Lilly Scott chose a country classic by Patsy Cline, “I Fall to Pieces”, which came out in 1961. She accompanied herself on a mandolin. Not her strongest song; she's done better. But she's gutsy, to do this old-fashioned definitely-not-pop song on American Idol. She was wearing earrings that looked like those loom pot holders we used to make. Randy said well done. Simon says she was very brave to choose it, but it didn't have the wow factor. It was cute and quirky, but could have been risky.

Best two performances of the evening: Crystal Bowersox and Didi Benami. Siobhan Magnus gets the first runner-up spot.

Choosing the worst two performances of the evening is a little harder. Paige Miles, I'm afraid, may have gotten herself voted off because she let her crush on Michael Jackson influence her song choice. And Katie Stevens just isn't ready for the big time, even though she's got a halfway decent voice.