The Girls: Week One

Ok, the twelve girls performed last night. Overall, they were fairly good, but not nearly as good as the guys. It sucks that the top 12 are going to be six guys and six girls, because i think some talented guys are going to get screwed. On with the show. . .

1. Vonzell Solomon: "Heat Wave" (Martha and the Vandellas): I like Vonzell. She seems spunky and overall she was pretty good, out of tune at times but she was a good performer. However, this song is so overplayed on American Idol. I was also highly amused by the background flame graphics, it looked like a Burger King commercial. Amusing bio note: Vonzell is a postal worker. (Note: there wasn't anything too amusing).

2. Amanda Avila: "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (Laura Branigan/Michael Bolton): Ok, apparently she's playing Jessie to Joseph Murena's Slater, second time on this song in two days. I think Amanda was better than Joseph, but it was still pretty dull. Technically good, but not overly entertaining. You know it's bad when Paula Abdul starts her critique with, "You looked very pretty tonight." Bio note: Nothing too interesting, except her favorite male artists are Elton John and John Mayer. I wonder if she, too, is scared of John Mayer's singing Muppet face.

3. Janay Castine: "I Wanna Love You Forever" (Jessica Simpson): This was a train wreck. She was shaky and had a look on her face like someone was killing her puppy in front of her. It was really uncomfortable to watch. The song? Not suited to her, but I've always been disturbed by one part of this song: "Pour yourself all over me, and I'll cherish every drop here on my knees." Ew. Bio note: Janay does not have a most embarrassing moment. You do now, Janay.


4. Carrie Underwood: "Could've Been" (Tiffany): Carrie Underwood, great song choice. It took me back to third grade, or a couple years ago when Tiffany performed at Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park. Carrie was the best performer of the night, she had a lot of power, and she performed Tiffany! Yay for Carrie. Bio note: Carrie thinks people would be surprised to learn that she can't buy underwear. Can't or won't, Carrie? Can't or won't?

5. Sarah Mather: "Get Ready" (The Temptations): I don't like her. She has bad wet-look hair, and dances like she needs to take a crap. She also (she wasn't the only one) did the creepy following the camera with her head thing that scares me. This performance was dull, she has no power to her voice and it wasn't a particularly difficult song. Bio note: Sarah is talented at "working with people." As opposed to chimps?

6. Melinda Lira: "The Power of Love" (Celine Dion): Overplayed song, not sung too badly but unexciting. However, let's concentrate on the presentation. Melinda's outfit made her look, according to my brother, like she was "shaped like a Christmas Tree." Christmas Tree's dance moves were disturbing. Once in a while, she'd make some sort of jerky hand motion or a quick knee bend that did not go at all with the song. I hate to see what she'd do for a faster song. Though she wasn't so impressive, O Christmas Tree needs to stay in so I can laugh at her dance moves some more. Bio note: Much like Travis Tucker, Melinda would like to be a magician if she wasn't a singer. David Blaine, watch your back.

7. Nadia Turner: "Power of Love" (Ashley Cleveland): I'd never heard that song before, but that's what the American Idol site said it was called. Ashley Cleveland is apparently some gospel singer. Nadia was one of the best of the night, she was actually a performer and moved around a lot, and it seemed natural to her. Very good. She also has fun hair. Bio note: Nadia's ritual before she performs is "prayer and an Altoid." No word on what kind of Altoid.

8. Celina Rae: "I Will Love Again" (Anastacia): I don't remember this too well, but she has really cute hair. As I recall, she started out kind of weak but improved a lot. Overall it was pretty dull though. Bio note: If Celina wasn't a singer, she'd like to be a ventriloquist. The hell?

9. Mikalah Gordon: "Young Hearts Run Free" (Candi Staton): I mostly remember this song from the Romeo & Juliet remake and the million times I've heard it on this show. New songs, please! Ok, Mikalah is, like Simon said, kind of polarizing: You either love her or you hate her. In the past I thought she was entertaining, but tonight she kind of sucked. Her moves were awkward, and her voice was kind of off. She also looked a little drag queenesque tonight. I think she's going to get old quick, but I think she'll be around for a while. Bio note: Mikalah's pre-performance ritual: "Say a prayer, call my ma, and go pee." I can relate to that, but I don't know that I'd put it on my bio.

10.Lindsey Cardinale: "Standing Right Next to Me" (Karla Bonoff): Another song I'd never heard before and had to look up. Another person that Paula Abdul told that she looked pretty. Another snoozer of a performance. Good voice, no personality. Bio note: People would be surprised to know that Lindsey loves to color. Did she think everyone thought she hated crayons?

11. Jessica Sierra: "Against All Odds" (Phil Collins): Jessica was surprisingly quite good. I love this song for some reason, maybe because up until a couple years ago I thought the line "the memory of your face" was "a man without a face." Anyway, it's a hard song, I imagine, and she really pulled it off. Bio note: Jessica's most embarrassing moment was in fifth grade when she let out a fart that cleared out the class.

12. Aloha Mischeaux: "Work It Out" (Beyonce): I liked Aloha. She was a train wreck fashionwise, but she's a great performer and she sang really well. Her name is crazy though. Bio note: Aloha's lucky charm is not a red balloon or a purple horseshoe, but the flower she always wears in her hair. It didn't work for that Hawaiian chick last year, I don't know if it will work with the chick with the Hawaiian name from Saint Louis.

Summing it up: Best: Carrie, Nadia, Aloha and Jessica. Worst: Janay, Sarah, and Mikalah.