American Idol 2, February 11: Jive Talkin'!

Last week, Simon called the performances "dismal." Despite this, Julia DeMato performed to expectation and Charles Grigsby shocked the world. They were both voted into the Top Ten. This week, the second group of eight semifinalists face the judges, the cameras, and America. Last week, Simon demanded the contestants "raise the game." Will anyone make him happy?

Ryan welcomes us back, same old stuff he always says. Well, plus he showed some old and quite embarrassing photos of Simon. Enough of that, time for the performances!

Clay Aiken, "Open Arms"

Paula - "A brilliant voice, magnificent... great whole vibe about you."

Randy - "Where does that voice come from?... Very nice."

Simon - "When I look at you, I don't think 'there is the American Idol,' but maybe the public will... you sang very well."

Sting7 - I continue to be astounded by that voice. "Open Arms" is a very, very ambitious choice, Steve Perry of Journey is among the greatest voices that have ever sung. He met the challenge and was excellent. One of my Picks to Click clicked!

Candice Coleman, "Take Another Piece of My Heart"

Paula - "A voice that's astonishing... unbelievable."

Randy - "Not sure I liked that song on you... it was alright."

Simon - "Sounded good... need to learn how to perform."

Sting7 - Her stage presence was awkward, sang a lot with her shoulders, visibly uncomfortable. Vocally, it just didn't do it for me, personally.

Rebecca Bond, "Rapture"

Simon - "Smokey, bluesy, cabaret kind of voice... I don't think you're right for this competition."

At this point, Rebecca respectfully begs to differ. She says she has studied voices like Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin, she feels her voice is memorable. Nice round of applause from the back. If only she would realize he didn't insult her, and her opinion of her own voice doesn't count for squat! For the last time, DO NOT ARGUE!

Paula - "You know how to perform, you know how to play to the camera... a little pitchy, and you didn't quite hit the high notes, but what a performer!"

Randy - "Voice has more a jazz vibe... chose the wrong song... wasn't your best performance."

Sting7 - She is gorgeous and looked absolutely at ease in front of the camera. I wasn't as thrown by the throatier elements of her voice as the judges, she did fine. I don't think it was enough to get her to the next round.

Jacob John (Smalley) "Anytime"

Paula - "Adorable… smooth voice... I like the choice of song, contemporary... so cute!"

Randy - "Seemed like you were always under the note... you've been much better."

Suddenly, the ghost of Marcus Coleman possesses Jacob John, and he actually says, "I appreciate that and I respect that and I need that to grow as a person and excel as an individual and as an artist--" Simon cuts him off with, "That's enough sucking up!"

Amen to that! What the hell? I have stripped Jacob John from Pick to Click status. I can't have my Picks inducing vomiting in me. I'm disgusted.

Simon - "(Annoyed tone) Look, you've got a good voice, girls will love you... performances tonight are just not good enough... if you walked into my record company and sang like that I would have thrown you out within 30 seconds."

Simon again implores the contestants to raise their games. He's crabby tonight!

Sting7 - I felt a bit let down by Jacob John. His voice is definitely boy band, but his charisma and his good looks should be enough to carry the day. But, tonight, he was, as Randy said, off-key, and that suck-up bit will kill him in the polls. I'm furious.

Hadas, "You Light Up My Life" (please, kill me now)

Paula - "Beautiful voice... original... you gave it your own twist."

Randy - "Good, not great... still not blown away... you're better than what we saw tonight."

Simon - "It's interesting, compared to some of the 'singers' (makes the quote symbol with his hands; somewhere in America, RJ Helton, Jim Verraros, and Nikki McKibbin are simultaneously feeling stinging sensations on their cheeks) we had in the top ten last year, you are a million times better, but I'm not sure if this was good enough."

Sting7 - Simon's right this time. Besides the curious resemblance to Sandra Bullock with a dash of Jennifer Lopez, Hadas has a beautiful, pure, clean voice. But, somehow not spectacular. Last year, she would have been top six. This year, the talent level is so blatantly superior, she will get lost in the mix. Maybe song choice was a factor. Does anyone alive look forward to hearing "You Light Up My Life?"

Ruben Studdard "Superstar"

Randy - "(Standing ovation) Finally! Somebody bringing it, singing with passion, singing with conviction, in tune...the way singing is supposed to happen!"

Paula - "Can I have a hug?... amazing performance, amazing... you are real."

Simon - "You are what this competition is all about... you are a star... everything about that performance was sensational."

Sting7 - Wow! Ruben was mesmerizing, the voice was like silk, the stage presence polished and confident. Outstanding, no complaints. The best that has performed this season! Frenchie finally has some competition. [Editor's Note: Breaking News is that Frenchie has actually been kicked out of the competition - check Foxes On Idol soon for more information.] And he's one of my Picks To Click!

Kimberley Locke "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"

Randy - "(Standing O) Sang amazingly... amazing amazing performance... it was like a master class in singing... I feel like the competition just started."

Paula - "Blown away... mesmerizing... brilliant, gorgeous."

Simon - "Not the buzz I got from Ruben... technically, the best we've heard so far... you'll be judged for your singing, but also for your personality, and while I would say Ruben's personality is a 10, I would give you 4 1/2 for personality."

Kimberley takes great exception to low personality mark, Paula and Randy encourage her to defend herself. Randy says, "What do you give his personality?"

"A zero! A well-deserved zero!" Okay, he had that coming. But, she continues with that old axiom about those who criticize. Simon takes it good-naturedly, "After this, I'd give a 5 1/2, at least you've got some spunk!"

Kimberley still isn't satisfied, "5 1/2? I would say thank you, but I just can't find it back there!" Paula and Randy are fairly hooting now! Paula puts her hand up for a high five, as does Simon.

Kimberley slaps the five on Paula, but for Simon, there is a bit more to be said, "I thought you were sexy?" Slap! "You suck!"

Simon continues to smile, and as Kimberley struts away, triumphant, Simon mutters, "Now she's at 6!"

Sting7 - Kimberley does have a powerful voice, and she knows how to control it. That is a gift. Too many contemporary singers want to pummel you with power (Patti Labelle) or run the scales in every song (Mariah Carey). Kimberley will realize that he didn't really insult her either. We've seen Kimberley sing 'Rainbow' twice now and it's clearly like an old shoe for her. She's sung it a zillion times in the shower, and can probably sing it in a coma. The point he was making was that not much Kimberley came through the textbook technique. She's also a Pick To Click, but no more arguing. It will get you, in the end.

Jennifer Fuentes, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"

Randy - "You were better when we first saw you... not really with it."

Paula - "A+ for picking a song that needed more than a piano."

Is that a compliment? Whatever it was, Jennifer cuts her off and defends herself with something lame about picking up-tempo songs getting her this far. What's with all of this talking to the judges this week?

Simon - "The sensible thing after hearing Ruben and Kimberley would have been to stay in the room!"

Paula slaps Simon's shoulder, she and Randy chide Simon for being mean, Randy says it wasn't good, but it wasn't terrible.

Sting7 - The one clunker of the night. Jennifer is cute as hell, and she's just oozing with personality. The song choice clearly did her in. We saw that she was struggling with deciding on a up-tempo song vs. the ballad. She chose wrong. It's too bad.

Who I think should advance:

1. Ruben Studdard

2. Clay Aiken

And, who I think will advance:

1. Ruben Studdard

2. Kimberley Locke

Making that call was tougher than last week! But Ruben, Kimberley, and Clay were the class of the field. If any of the three of them do not advance, I would surely expect to see them in the wildcard round! Last week, I was 0-2. Let's see how I do, and more importantly, who America chose, Wednesday!

Sting7 can be reached at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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