American Idol 4, February 21: The Curse of Stevie Wonder

Ryan welcomes us. Twelve performances to get through tonight, so no time for extra-curriculars. Ryan introduces the contestants (the male ones tonight) and the judges and on with the show!

Nikko Smith, "Part-Time Lovers"

Randy - "I think you made Stevie proud, man... the bomb, best male performance I think I've ever seen!"

Paula - "Hard to be the first, but you started strong with an upbeat song... I think Stevie would be proud."

Simon - "It was okay. If I'm being honest I think the audience will forget about you after five or six singers... good but not spectacular. That was a background singer's performance."

Sting7 - I am impressed that Nikko was able to stay in that upper register so long, and so successfully. I think I heard a pitch moment or two, but for Pete's Sake, this is a competition, not a recital, and I don't judge on hitting every note perfectly. The overall performance is what matters, and Nikko did just fine.

Scott Savol, "You Are My Lady"

Randy - "Not the best song choice... not one of my favorites... a couple of pitch things, but okay"

Paula - "People won't expect that voice to come from you... that's what makes you special, a couple of pitchy things, but so what?"

Simon - "You don't look like an American Idol... but you have a good voice... it wasn't the best choice of song."

Sting7 - Judges were pretty tough on Scott tonight. Maybe things do sound differently in the confines of the studio because Scott was fantastic to me. I have not a single complaint. I liked his command of the song and his command of the stage. If he keeps his fool mouth shut, he just might win this thing.

Anthony Fedorov "Hold On To The Night"

Randy - "You hit a little stride toward the end... a little safe, a little boring... it was alright"

Paula - "I thought it was safe... looking forward to seeing you show us what you can do."

Simon - "I thought it was dull as dishwater... you are the difference between having a good voice, and being a star. That was not a star's performance."

Sting7 - This is a case when the song let Anthony down. Anthony vocals just overpowered this song, which was meant for someone with a weaker voice (like Richard Marx) and sonically it was just... wanting. Anthony shouldn't worry, he'll be back next week, no question.

Bo Bice, "Drift Away"

Randy - "I love singers who know who they are ... you came out here and rocked it! Loved it"

Paula - "You're a rocker who sings on pitch... like slipping on a pair of perfect fitting jeans."

Simon - "You did everything right... great recording voice... well done."

Sting7 - Easily top three of my favorite songs ever, and like no one will touch the original "Unchained Melody" for Simon, no one will touch Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" for me. So, I admit I'm judging on a sharp curve here. Bo was okay. Just okay. Not enough soul for me in there, but he did have grit, and that made it worthwhile, which more than I can say for Uncle Kracker. Just okay.

Travis Tucker, "My Cherie Amor"

Randy - "A very safe song... I was bored... be who you are!"

Paula - "Travis you are magical, this - I just want to come up there and shake you!"

Simon - "You were out of tune... not good enough for a hotel lobby!"

Sting7 - Judges were harder on him than he deserved. I think they are judging Travis on my "Drift Away" scale because he was far from horrible. He didn't like the room up necessarily, but he has stage presence, the camera eats him like candy, and my sister is saving an ovary for him. I think he's safe.

Constantine Maroulis, "Kiss From A Rose"

Randy - "I like the song on you... definitely out of tune... everytime you went for the big note you were sharp... that Ba-by!" (Constantine says "stick to the rapping, Randy")

Paula - "You have your own style, you stayed to it... I think you have a lot fans, good job."

Simon - "I have to put you and Bo in the same bracket... he outsung you, but you have more charisma."

Sting7 - I'm not sure who to blame for this. "Kiss From A Rose" is a tough song because was soft and hard alternately when he sang it, and if you're not Seal, you probably don't know what the hell the song is talking about. I admit, I don't. If you don't know what it's saying, it's hard to emote it. This was a sonic mess. Constantine seemed like he tried some effects he didn't rehearse, because the backup singers sounded confused. From the first line where he added a couple of words, it was just off.

David Brown, "Never Can Say Goodbye"

Randy - "I'm a fan of your voice... very safe, very pitchy tonight."

Paula - "I feel like we're being extra tough tonight... you fell into your groove about midway through and I'm proud of you for that."

Simon - "I think you'll watch this back and be disappointed, as we are, because we had high hopes for you... if this was the first time I saw you, I'd be 50-50."

Sting7 - If David Brown wins American Idol 4, he can say his first performance in front of an audience wasn't his best, but he rose above it. David is not my pick yet, I'll tell you when that happens, but tonight didn't hurt him. He'll be back next week.