American Idol: The Top 12

(S06E20) The Top 12 has been decided, and it's time for the competition to heat up. The show has moved to a bigger stage, and has a bigger band, and a bigger (and louder) crowd. Ryan is yelling, as if to prove that things really are more exciting now.

The guys and girls compete on the same night for the first time since the contest began. The judges all agree that the girls are ahead of the guys so far, but believe anything can happen at this stage.

However, besides being better singers, the girls get a lucky break. It seems logical that the girls will have an easier time than the boys singing the music of Diana Ross and The Supremes. There's also a lot of "old-fashioned belters" in the women's group, and they know how to sell a classic Motown song. The boys, on the other hand, with their hipper, more contemporary singing styles, have a harder time interpreting these classics. The ladies own the night, with Jordin, Melinda, and LaKisha giving the three best performances.

Before the competition begins, we get an overview of Diana Ross' amazing forty-year career. She's had about a million (yes, a million) hits, which is why Billboard named her the "Female Entertainer of the Century."

Diana points out that she had great mentors, including her mother and Berry Gordy. As far as mentoring the contestants, she enjoyed the experience. And like a parent, she wants only the best for each of them.

Before recapping the performances, let's acknowledge Simon and Ryan's "playful gay banter" of the week, involving Melinda's discomfort with high heels.

Ryan: "Simon, any advice on the heels?"
Simon: "You would know, Ryan."
Ryan: "Stay out of my closet."
Simon: "Well, come out."
Ryan: "This is about the Top 12, okay, not your wishes."

It was all lighthearted banter, and nobody seemed angry. But why, I wonder, do they continue to tease each other about being gay? Either they are or they aren't. Who cares? Not me. But why make it into a running joke for six seasons?

Okay, now back to the show.

Before each performance, we get a behind-the-scenes peek at the mentoring session. Diana Ross gives some sage advice, and we get to see if the contestants took this advice to heart or not.

1. BRANDON is excited to meet Diana, and even more excited that she likes him. Diana advises him to go to his center, to deal with the nerves. He sings "You Can't Hurry Love." As usual, I'm not blown away by his performance. But he really is the best-looking guy in the competition. His voice cracks like Peter Brady midway through the song, and he adds in a hip swivel, almost showing some personality. Randy thinks Brandon "reverted to a background singer," and "needs to be a lot better." Paula says "we don't need to tell you what you did wrong, there are many things you do right." Simon calls it a "complete letdown," as well as "predictable," and "unoriginal." Simon also hated the dancing, and thought Brandon showed "no star quality." It didn't help that Brandon forgot the words. Is this Brandon's final performance?

2. MELINDA is a big fan of Diana Ross, and it's mutual. Diana says Melinda gives her "goosebumps." Melinda sings "Home" from The Wiz. I'm distracted a bit by the wrinkled dress, and the shaking of the head throughout the performance, but as usual Melinda's voice is divine. Randy says "that was hot, baby." Paula can barely talk, because she is weeping. Then Melinda starts to cry. And for some reason, Simon can't stop laughing. Simon says "you made a very boring song, fantastic. " And she reminds him of a "young Gladys Knight."

3. CHRIS SLIGH meets Diana Ross, and comments that their hair is very similar. Diana advises Chris to find the melody, and hold onto it. She believes the hook will help him sell the song, as well as himself. He takes on the classic love song, "Endless Love." But he comes out without his glasses which throws me off, as does the new arrangement of the song, which I actually find a bit boring. And he looks sad singing it. I'm not sure what to make of the arrangement, but Randy nails it by saying the song sounded like Coldplay's "Clocks" (note: not "Speed of Sound" as Randy said, and I should have known that because I was singing it in my car today). Randy calls it "a mess." Paula worries that Chris is trying too hard to be "ultra hip and cool." Simon says Chris "murdered" the song, calling his arrangement, "unemotional," and "uninspiring," He also suggests that Chris should keep his glasses on. And I have to agree.

4. GINA is starstruck by Diana, who advises Gina to "enunciate" every word. Gina sings "Love Child." How much weight has Gina lost in the last couple of weeks? She looks a lot thinner. Randy calls the performance "pitchy" and "boring." Paula thinks Gina is much better than how she did tonight, but says at times, Gina was shouting. Simon says Gina chose the right song, stayed in her image, but it was "a little bit forgettable." Could Gina be going home?

5. SANJAYA -- Diana says she cares about Sanjaya. She thinks he has a "winning ingredient," but it isn't in his hair. Sanj sings "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." He comes out with Justin Guarini curls, but only has 10% of Guarini's self-confidence and cockiness. It IS NOT good. Randy calls it "unlistenable" and "really weak." But, he thinks the hair is "rockin'." Paula calls Sanjaya "the sweetest soul." But she thinks it's time to "explode with his vocals." Simon says "When you hear a wail in Beverly Hills that is where Diana Ross is watching this show." Simon thinks the only similarity Sanj showed to Diana Ross was in the hairstyle. On a positive note, Simon calls Sanjaya "very brave." Each week, I think Sanjaya should get the "so bad, it's good" award. Yes, he should probably go home after this, but will he? It is doubtful.

6. HALEY -- Diana thinks Haley's voice is too much "inside," and advises her to "have thoughts behind the song" so the audience will read it. Haley sings "Missing You," which Diana recorded after Marvin Gaye's death. Haley reminds me of Katharine McPhee tonight (I think it's the hair), but I have to say I hate her dress. The wide belt around the thighs looks really strange. She forgets the words BIG TIME and Randy tells her "you gave it a valiant effort." Paula says she looks lovely, but "forgetting the words is never a great thing to do." Paula also criticizes her pitch. Surprisingly, Simon didn't think it was that bad. He gives Haley credit, and he thinks she showed real stage presence, despite her nerves getting the best of her. And he actually liked moments of her vocals. I had a feeling that Haley would do all right with a Diana Ross song, and if she hadn't messed up the words, I would have been really impressed.

7. PHIL -- Diana's advice to Phil: Look at the audience. He sings "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me." His eyebrows look pointier than usual. Overall, I still think he's the freakiest-looking finalist, and I'm not trying to be mean by saying this. In fact, I've shown a lot of restraint, especially since I've heard him compared to Gollum and Nosferatu. I just don't think he "looks like an American Idol." Randy says the "performance was boring," but the vocals "were hot." Paula also thinks his vocals sound really good, but says the song should have been more up-tempo. Simon disagrees with Paula about the up-tempo part. He says, it was a good song choice for Phil, but "wasn't outstanding . . . wasn't awful." While better than last week, Simon thinks Phil has a tendency to shout his bigger notes.

8. LaKISHA -- Diana advises "Kiki" to wear something long, and simple. LaKisha sings a Billie Holiday song, "God Bless the Child." Randy says, "perfect song choice." He loves the outfit, and thinks her voice was "unbelievable" and her performance was "sensational." Paula calls her a "beautiful performer and beautiful girl." Simon tells LaKisha "you got it." He thinks Melinda and LaKisha are in a totally different league from the other contestants. And he likes that LaKisha was not intimidated on the big stage, and gave a very controlled performance. He says she performed "like a star." I agree that Melinda and LaKisha stand out again tonight, but wonder how they will do with the music of Bon Jovi or Martina McBride. Should be interesting.

9. BLAKE -- Diana likes that Blake took a song from the 60s and is trying to make it fresh. He sings "You Keep Me Hangin' On." Randy says there was some good things about it, but warns him that he doesn't have to "Blake-a-size" every song. Randy says, "let the classics be the classics." Paula thinks Blake could have a hit with his version. Simon "didn't get it at all." While he understands why Blake put his own take on it, he just didn't think it worked. The judges all agree that the contestants don't need to change Motown. I thought Blake had an interesting interpretation, but could have shown a little more emotion. Few of the guys seem to be connecting with the music, despite Diana's advice about feeling the words.

10. STEPHANIE says she "is in love" with Diana Ross. Diana advises Stephanie to deliver the song with a sexier quality. Stephanie sings "Love Hangover." She also has trouble remembering the lyrics. Randy thought it was a "good vocal," but not her best, and he was waiting for the up-tempo part of the song to start. Paula says Stephanie has "strong vocals" but needs to "strive for better." Simon says it was a strange arrangement, because she teased with the opening, but didn't deliver. He says, "basically what you sung was an intro." He also thinks she chose the wrong song, and needs to make a bigger impact at this point, because Melinda and LaKisha both out-sung her tonight.

11. CHRIS R is actually worried about completely butchering Diana's song in front of her. Diana advises him to find the hook and work the audience to sell the song. He sings "The Boss," and moves around quite a bit, trying his best to sell it. Randy says that Chris R is "kinda holding the line for the boys" but he "overdid the runs a bit." Randy calls it "half good, half bad." Paula thinks he brought the contemporary into it, and did a great job. Simon says if you take out the charm and personality, the vocals were "dreadful." I also didn't care for this song, or performance, and am not really all that charmed by Chris R's personality. I have yet to be convinced that he is as wonderful as the judges usually proclaim him to be.

12. JORDIN -- Diana advises Jordin to project the song, look at audience, and "really believe and own the words of the song." Diana thinks that Jordin has an "inner light." Jordin shows her softer side, singing "If We Hold On Together." To me, it's her best performance to date. Randy is so impressed that he thinks she's made it "a three girl race." Paula calls her a "natural gift." And while not overly-familiar with the song, Paula felt drawn into the performance. Simon thinks it was a bit "gooey," but totally agrees, it was a "very, very good vocal." He thinks she's given herself a shot at the finals.

Who's safe? Definitely Melinda, LaKisha, and Jordin. Probably, Blake, Phil, Chris R, Chris S, Stephanie, and Haley.

Who's going home? Brandon? Sanjaya? Gina?

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?

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Tomorrow: The Live Results Show. And Diana Ross sings!