American Idol 3, February 24: Things Can Only Get Better

Let’s put things in perspective. Things last week were very, very bad. There were some horrid performances, and even the best of last week was nowhere near the quality of Group 1. The judges were unhappy, and the viewers were uninterested, as we saw from the sagging ratings of last Wednesday’s result show.

Many people were downright furious, some questioning why Group 2 was even in the Top 32. I won’t go that far. I think what Group 2 showed us is that this is a competition, and it is pressure-packed, and not everyone is going to shine. I’m not going to say that the Roman brothers didn’t deserve to be in the Top 32, because they had to sing and sing and sing to get there. I don’t believe they pulled some elaborate hoax just to suck in the Top 32. They got nervous, they got stuck, and they got eliminated, deservedly so. This show is real, people. And real people are in it, and real people do not always rise to the occasion. The end.

When it’s all said and done, Camile Velasco and Matt Rogers advanced to the Top 12. I have no problem with either of them being there. But both will have to step it up if they are going to get any further.

For the sake of mankind, Group 3 must be better. They just must. Will they be?

Ryan welcomes us and immediately makes a veiled apology for last week, saying tonight will have truly great performances, “unless the nerves creep in like they did last week.” He also makes the valid point that having 30 million people watching is terrifying.

Intro the judges, crack on Simon’s hair that left him looking genuinely stunned for a moment.

Intro the contestants, looking composed and confident. This could be a good sign. Up first, Elizabeth LeTendre, who says she is a dance instructor who wanted to show she is fun and spunky, and also poised and classy. Simon doesn’t buy the classy part.

Elizabeth LeTendre, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”

Randy - “I didn’t know you had all those performing skills... that was hot... already better than last week!”

Paula - “ Vocals were spot-on... took a difficult song and flipped it.”

Simon - “Good singing, cheap performance... not good enough for this competition.”

Sting7 - What I liked about Elizabeth’s performance was that she took some liberties with “Dance” to make some runs for herself. She took the opportunity to make it work for her. Smart. That said, do we have to hear this song again? A good performance, season one she would have been Top 5. Last year she would have left before Vanessa. It somehow left me a little bit cold. Nothing wrong with it, just didn’t thrill me.

And now, Eric Yoder. He’s a commercial pilot, and doesn’t think he has much in common with Clay. The wardrobe director instructed him against certain outfits that are “very Clay.” He says this performance will show his own personality.

Eric Yoder, “In the Still of the Night”

Randy - “Performance was cool... a little rough at the start... you brought it home.”

Paula - “You have a nice voice... started slow... nice change, going to the higher octave.”

Simon - “You have a good voice... I say you are like Clay Aiken without the personality... just a good voice, I can’t see anything else.”

Sting7 - This song is such a yawner. I can’t imagine he thought he would show personality. As for his performance, it was hot-cold-hot-cold-hot-cold, good runs, bad runs, good runs. It made me dizzy. This won’t be enough to advance. He did have moments where he sounded eerily like Clay. Brrr!

Next at bat, Amy Adams. She says she watched last season “like a stalker.” She also believes it is not possible to avoid being a little nervous, but in the end you have to let “you be you.”

Amy Adams, “Power of Love”

Randy - “Got personality... I was impressed that you started without the band... that was very ambitious.”

Paula - “You’re phenomenal... love the personality, love the stage presence, I have since I first saw you.”

Simon - “No question you sang very well, my only problem is... I see Cabaret Idol, not American Idol.”

Sting7 - I agree with Randy that it was gutsy to start without the band, and I’m not so sure it paid off. The nerves closed her throat off and she sounded a little choked for the first five seconds or so. Then she sang, note for note, phrase for phrase, run for run, just like Celine Dion. Just not as well. That will hurt her, she opened the door to be compared and she didn’t measure up. Good, not great.