American Idol 2, February 25: Dying Flowers and Sinking Ships

Patrick Lake, "When I See You Smile"

Randy - "I don't think this was the right song to do... it's John Waite and he doesn't have the growl (Patrick says it was hard to do rock with just a piano to accompany, but he wanted to stay with that)... it didn't quite work."

Paula - "We got to enjoy you a cappella when you auditioned... it's difficult... refreshing."

Simon - "We made a mistake putting you here... if this were Rock N Roll Idol, you wouldn't have made it... I see a sheep in wolf's clothing." (Patrick really argues this point, saying rock and roll is in his heart. Randy applauds him. Simon's dig was a bit below the belt, I don't mind this defense so much. As Patrick walks away, steaming, Paula tells him he's great, Randy says he was good in his audition.)

Sting7 - I was really pulling for Patrick because he was such a maverick with his rockin' sensibilities. He did choose the wrong song, John Waite is not the guy to emulate when you want to show your rock chops. Foreigner! Why didn't you choose Foreigner? "I Wanna Know What Love Is"! I was praying you'd do that! But, he chose badly. Patrick just did not bring it tonight. Another Pick to Click down the tubes.

Nasheka "I Opened My Heart"

Randy - "Didn't feel anything from you... stoic... just standing there."

Paula - "When you auditioned before, I told you to work on your showmanship... have a real nice voice."

Simon - "When you auditioned before, I thought you were one of the better people we'd seen... I'm realizing what a great performer Tamyra Gray was, she could cope with a song like that, you can't... I'd like to see you do well in this competition, at the moment you are singing the wrong song... song is too old for you." (This is high praise from Simon, but all she heard was the negatives, "Tamyra and I have totally different voices!" Simon, annoyed, snaps, "I take it back, you were fantastic." She offers, "I think I was!")

Sting7 - So, are you happy now? What, Nasheka, did you accomplish? Hell, everyone under the sound of your voice knows you are several miles away from Tamyra. I liked her voice, her showmanship definitely needs improving, she spent more time looking at the ceiling than into the camera. But her attitude really put me off. What's interesting is the knock on Tamyra was that she was aloof and the audience didn't connect with her. Garbage, I say, but Nasheka looked aloof!

Joshua Gracin, "I'll Be"

Randy - "Finally, a good singer, singing a song that's right for him!"

Simon - Asks what Joshua will do if he's called to fight in the war, Joshua answers, "I joined the Marines to defend this country, I'm a Marine! That's how that goes!" "You just look right, feel right, sound right, standing over that spot that says 'American Idol'... consistent... hope you do well."

Paula - "Edwin McCain would be proud!"

Sting7 - Pick To Click, represent! I liked his performance. I think television loses something in the translation and there were a couple of notes he could have been more solid with, but there was passion and conviction in the performance that made up for those minor glitches. He absolutely earned my vote!

Ashley Hartman, "Touch Me In The Morning"

Randy - "Very beautiful... look amazing... Marilyn Monroe vibe... helium voice thing not working for me."

Paula - "Sexy vibe and girlish... seemed to be shouting in parts."

Simon - "The good news is you're beautiful, but you knew that... the first thought that came to my mind when you starting singing is that you sound like you should be singing on a cruise ship, then halfway through the ship started sinking!... Some people deserve to be here based on what they did before. Based on that performance, I'm afraid you don't."

Sting7 - That was so bad. It was so bad. I wanted to touch her with a machete. She is beautiful, no question. The singing seemed extremely amateurish, like she needs another two years of vocal training. She had no control, she sang in the completely wrong pitch (even the shots of her with the vocal coach showed a different pitch). Chalk this up.

Corey Clark, "Foolish Heart"

Paula - (standing ovation) "Unbelievable... you blew me away... different, unique, refreshing... you proved you are taking this competition seriously."

Randy - (Standing ovation) "Sensational... in tune!"

Simon - "You put me in a good mood... if you advance you will make this a more exciting competition than last year."

Sting7 - What a pleasant surprise! He sang one of my all-time favorite songs, from one of my all-time favorite singers (Steve Perry), and he did the song and the singer total justice. I wonder why more folks don't use the Steve Perry/Journey stuff! Once he did the run after the chorus (with the five chord changes), he actually gave me true to life goosebumps. I'm standing and applauding myself! And, he did his own ending... you go!

So, those were the performances. Time for a little handicapping. Who I think should advance:

1. Corey Clark

2. Joshua Gracin

Who I think will advance:

1. Corey Clark

2. Joshua Gracin

I think Patrick Lake will round out the top three, based on personality and the fact that he was put in a position to defend rock and roll, edging out the affable Chip Days. The rock-friendly crowd out there will vote for him. If Juanita is in the top three I will go on a murderous rampage!

That is the last group of eight. Two will go on to the Top Ten and only two deserve it based on tonight's performance. The producers of AI2 really wanted to get more males in the top ten this year, if it were possible. The ladies tonight helped with this process immeasurably. And the arguing. Juanita Barber should have taught everyone a valuable lesson.

Next week: The Wildcard show! Who will it be? Join me early next week when I predict my eight!

Sting7 can be reached at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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