MAKE A WISH, TAKE A CHANCE, MAKE A CHANGE: In a week in which there seemed to be no rules on song selection and the Amazing Idol Dual Camera returned in full effect, few chances were taken by the women during a largely competent, but only once-inspiring evening. Who delivered the goods? Duh.
Awesome
Crystal: Has now delivered the best two performances in the semifinals, male or female. Great, impassioned phrasing on "Give Me One Reason," and I loved every moment of it. (Which means that she won't win the whole thing, but pencil her in until May.)
Certainly Good Enough
Siobhan: "House of the Rising Sun" should never feel rushed like this, and her delivery felt a little safe -- there's a roughness one should hear in the vocals to this song which was missing. But, still, she's rightfully a lock. This is the performer Gina Glocksen wanted to be on Idol.
Katie: hit the notes of Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway," but as Ellen properly noted DeGarmoBot 2.0 lacked the passion to sell it. Still, over the course of the evening and especially when paired with last week, she's someone I want to see remain in the competition.
Played It Safe In An Unsafe Week
Katelyn: competent, but as Kara said not competing. As Dan Fienberg wrote, too much of this week was the musical equivalent of a prevent defense.
Lilly: It was ... I dunno. I don't get it. (Sepinwall does.) If she didn't look like that, would we care?
Didi: Oh, there was a bad note there in the middle of "Rhiannon" which made me cringe. Didi hasn't shown me enough, honestly, and between her and Katelyn I'd rather have the former.
Pack Your Bags, and Not in the "Tyra Says We're Going To Milan!" Way
Lacey: sharp and weird. Please stop looking at me like that.
Paige: "Smile" is a song that can be performed a lot of ways. Just not this one, and just like Gina Glocksen (and this was sub-Glocksen) (I'm almost over -- no more Glocksen references tonight) it'll make for an ironic farewell song tomorrow. Nothing Paige has shown us in three weeks suggests she should still be in this competition.
