American Idol: Top 11 Perform

(S07E22) In response to the huge excitement and interest in this season's batch of American Idol contestants, we'll be hosting a live chat during the live 8pm ET broadcast tonight. Watch the show and share your throughts with other Idol fans in real-time. Don't agree with what Simon said? Speak out and be heard! Tonight, the Top 11 continue last week's theme by performing songs from the John Lennon/Paul McCartney catalog of classic hits.

You can join the chat by following this link. Look for the full episode review right here later tonight.


Amanda Overmyer - "Back in the USSR"
She still looks bored or as if she feels terribly out of place up on stage. That said, this is an excellent song choice for Amanda. I think her voice fits this perfectly and she pretty much nailed the vocals requirements of it. Afterward, when advised to try a ballad, she knocked the whole idea, basically saying ballads are stupid. This was a terrible thing to say and could kill her chance at sticking around much longer. Nobody likes a one trick pony. Janis Joplin rocked her ass off and still had some heartbreaking moments. It's okay to do that.
Randy: "This is a perfect song choice for you ... It was just a little bit pitchy in the beginning. By the middle of the song ... you picked it up and it was really cool at the end. But just watch the pitches. For me, I've gotta give you a 7 out of 10 on that one. But it was good."
Paula: "It was a little sketchy at first because I felt, besides pitch, you weren't hearing the timing ... It was just a little ahead of the beat. But when you connect you are quintessential, authentic, who you are ... I'd love to see you do a vulnerable ballad at one point, but I love you."
Simon: "It was what it was. It was predictable ... a bit of a mess in parts ... It's just the same thing week after week after week ... i think you've got to, at least one week, do what David did a couple weeks ago with the Lionel Richie song, and actually do something which is a bit of a surprise. Otherwise, you are in danger of becoming a little bit boring."
Jason: "I agree that you could try to switch it up sometimes and maybe show a softer side. You can be mostly hard, but you'll get a wider acceptance with showcasing something more. That said, there were some parts, as the panel said, that were a little off, but the song suited you. I'd like to see you challenge yourself a bit more."

Kristy Lee Cook - "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
She picked this song by the title and had never heard it before. Kids these days! No musical culture! It's better than last week, but still not great. In fact, the further she got into it the worse it got. I can't help but think about how much better David Hernandez would be doing on this song ... or any song.
Randy: "That's one of my favorite Beatles songs ... It was an interesting arrangement ... The whole song should have been a little bit more emotional from you, and you could have gone there quicker ... It felt a little boring, a little safe."
Paula: "Sometimes ... it's safer to stick to the melody ... It was a little safe ... It was good. I agree with Randy on the high notes. If you could take those liberties a little more it'd be a little more interesting."
Simon: "I think you need something like or hypnosis or something because the problems is that your not a good performer. The last two seconds were okay ... It's like musical wallpaper ... You notice it, but you can't remember it ... You're making no impact, apart from when you were terrible last week ... You were better this week, I will grant you that."
Jason: "Simon is absolutely right. I'm sorry, Kristy, but your stage presence is just awful. You look like the drunk chick up on the table at the honky tonk who thinks she's the hottest thing in the world. And you are good looking. I don't know, whatever you're doing up there just isn't working at all. Now vocally, it was better this week than last. But still, through most of that, it wasn't good enough."

David Archuleta - "The Long and Winding Road"
Can I just say that the hand waving is annoying. David had an ear piece in his left ear; do they all get that? Vocally he was redeemed from last week. But he didn't move at all during his performance. I guarantee you there will be questions about the ear piece after last week's lyric forgetting debacle. A conspiracy to pump lyrics to him?
Randy: "David Archuleta's brought the hotness back to his game tonight with that right there ... That's the kind of song that you could have sung a couple runs and got by with it. So you played it a little safe. Take the liberties on joints like that. Very nice, though."
Paula: "This probably, for me, is the most exciting and wonderful performance because the purity of who you are and what your sound is is very identifiable. And the fact that you can rise above adversity, come back strong. That challenge doesn't build character, it reveals character, and you're wonderful."
Simon: "Last week was a complete mess. This week, I thought you were amazing. You made my point ... It is so important that you (A) sell a song and (B) that you remember a performance, and that was a master class."
Jason: "That was leaps and bounds above last week's performance. You're definitely a ballad singer, as we've seen that when you're out of your comfort zone you're vulnerable. Nicely done this week. I can't really criticize except that I would have liked to see a bit more in your performance."

Michael Johns - "A Day in the Life"
Overall this worked well but early on there was a note that turned into a raspy croak almost. As the song progressed he got more into it. This is one of those very stylized and unique Beatles songs, which he ultimately handled pretty well. He dedicated the song to his friend who passed on. Not to be callous, but sympathy votes?
Randy: "It wasn't one of your best performances ... I still don't think you've chosen the right song ... You've got to remember ... You've got that big old voice ... You can just sing and let your voice do your thing, but you haven't found that vehicle to do that yet. It wasn't one of your good ones, baby."
Paula: "(Paula mentions the monitor so they're hearing themselves and how it makes things different)." It turns out he wasn't wearing one so what's his excuse now. "You've got to raise the game," she corrected herself.
Simon: "The long and short if it was, it was a mess ... You didn't hit the right notes, the song went all over the place. It's a very complicated song ... You've got to start sorting yourself out. If you want to do well in this competition, you have got to nail the song ... That was not good enough."
Jason: "I kind of agree with the judges, but at the same time, it wasn't that different than the performances you've been giving us the past several weeks. It's nice, your voice is nice but for the most part it's pretty forgettable."

Brooke White - "Here Comes the Sun"
Brooke was hard-pressed to beat last week's amazing performance of "Let it Be." This week she sat on the steps to sing. She didn't do nearly as well as last week, which isn't to say that it was bad. Her voice hit the notes awkwardly for me at the beginning. Dancing is not Brooke's strong suit, and this actually turned out to be one of her worse performances.
Randy: "That performance was really awkward for me ... You were never really connected to that song for me. You were kind of moving awkward there ... It never quite gelled together for me. It was not hot."
Paula: "What was hot for me is that you can't help but smile when you watch you and listen to you sing .. What it did show is that you have really good low tones to your voice. And those low notes showed a different side of you ... I think ... it could have been a little more challenging."
Simon: "I just knew ... that you'd be dressed in yellow and the lighting would be yellow. I thought the performance was terrible. From the horrible dancing to the absolute lack of conviction ... It was wet. It was forgettable. That's what it's all about: song choice."
Jason: "You need to not talk so much while you're being critiqued, first of all. I think you know that didn't really work out, so I don't need to reiterate what was painfully obvious on the stage. Of course you couldn't match last week's performance, but I was hoping you could have at least matched the week before. This was one of your weaker nights yet."

David Cook - "Day Tripper"

Need more American Idol? Get an inside look at Season 7's contestants and think back to these scathing (and hilarious) Simon Cowell quotes. Also: Don't forget to choose your favorite Idol!!

He went with the Whitesnake '70s angle for more of a rock edge. And played his own guitar again. He sounded like a real rock singer, so I give him credit for that. He's every bit the authentic rocker Daughtry was a couple years ago. The little vocal trick was interesting, but how many people will get it? Very solid rock performance.
Randy: "You keep it interesting. It's like going to another song at a David Cook concert ... I don't know if it was your best performance but it was another solid [performance] for David Cook."
Paula: "There's really not much else anyone can say because you're ready to go sell records ... You chose using the voice box in a very cool way ... GEICO commercials are next." (At this point David told us he just learned how to use the voice box yesterday.)
Simon: "I don't think that was as good as you thought it was. You looked a bit smug throughout and I thought the [bit] in the middle was just stupid ... You've lost your element of surprise a little bi ... This, again, was a bit predictable and I didn't like that version."
Jason: "I thought that was great. Very professional level performance throughout. It is as if you're just making a guest appearance on the show for the benefit of our contestants. Just be careful you don't let this all go to your head too soon. Arrogance leads to early dismissal from the Idol. History has proven."

Carly Smithson - "Blackbird"
She picked it to tap into a softer side. I hate to say it, but the rose buds on her blouse kind of clashed with her tattoos, for me. And the damned hand waving sent me into another rage. I don't know that I cared for her arrangement of putting enormous "Idol Power Notes" into it. It took a bit away from the soft tenderness of it. I'd have much rather she did what Brooke did last week and just gently sang it. She explained the choice based on trying to get into the industry and getting beaten down and forging on ahead.
Randy: "Another great performance ... Very nice, very controlled ... Cooliosis!"
Paula: "You have an amazing tone to your voice ... The arrangement was beautiful ... All of you are challenging each other to be greater at what you do ... You stand right in there with a capital F for fantastic."
Simon: "I thought the song was indulgent. I didn't like the song at all--" He never really got to finish this critique as Carly interrupted him to explain her song choice and then Paula babbled on some more."
Jason: "This may sound weird, but I really wished you'd done ... less with the song. You've got a really nice tone to your voice and it's a really beautiful song. You could've really connected with it emotionally, which seems to be how you started it off. But then it turned into a diva performance, a bit, with big notes splashed in.

Jason Castro - "Michelle"
This is a very strange song choice as the Lennon/McCartney catalog is almost tailor-made for someone of Jason's particular vocal style and approach. But I guess he wanted to sing in French? I don't think this really worked for him. Maybe they shouldn't have to pushed their luck with a second week of Beatles tracks after all.
Randy: "A little interesting for me for you because it's very subdued ... I don't know if I really, really got it. It was just alright for me. I didn't feel like you were really connected with it."
Paula: "You have a very distinct charm about you. Having said that, I feel like you get a little disconnected when you're away from your guitar. It was a little uncomfortable for me. It was an intimate song that became more like a polka ... It was a little awkward for me .. .You've got to work a little on that."
Simon: "This is a very weird song tonight, and I'm not sure it was such a good idea doing Beatles again (Hey, I just said that--jh), because we had such a good memory from last week. This is all getting a little bit strange. Where you're lucky is this is a TV show and not a radio show, because your face sold that. What you have, Jason ... is that you're very charming and you're not obnoxious. And this kind of goofiness that makes it work."
Jason: "This wasn't your best performance, but I think you know that. Your money is the intimate connection you make with these songs, and it just wasn't there this time around. Parts of it were nice, but parts of it were just kind of uncomfortable to watch. And the smile felt insincere this time. I don't know. It was nice enough but definitely not up to your own standard."

Syesha Mercado - "Yesterday"
I'm not sure how Syesha pulled off nabbing one of the greatest of all Beatles tracks, but if there's anybody who needed to nail a performance tonight, it was her. Her family was there on set with her and she straightened out her hair, which created a very different look for her. She felt that her "Bottom Three" stint was good for her, giving her the inspiration she needed. She looked absolutely stunning tonight in a low cut summery dress, though the earrings were slightly enormous. Vocally, she was well connected with the emotion of the song. This was the most emotionally connected song of the night so far, so Syesha brought everything she had, as she needed to. She looks fabulously hot and did a good job.
Randy: "You took some liberties, you worked on the melody, changed some things around a little bit. In my estimation, very, very good performance tonight."
Paula: "It's great to see how you change and let yourself be very vulnerable ... That vulnerability is really where you need to be .. The only thing I would work on is connecting more with your eyes and really connecting with the audience. Other than that, you've got a beautiful instrument."
Simon: "I thought that was probably your best performance so far. It wasn't incredible, but you chose the best song. You chose the song Brooke should have song ... I thought you sold the song very, very well. I think that song and that performance should keep you in this competition."
Jason: "Well somebody cleans up nice. I like how you completely changed your look this week, and just as different was the power of your performance. That was far and away the strongest showing you've had yet. It was beautifully sung. I liked the minimalist approach you took with it. Very heartfelt and definitely it should be enough to keep you around awhile longer."

Chikezie - "I've Just Seen a Face"
Tonight, he performed on harmonica in accompaniment to his singing. After last week's breakout performance, Chikezie's star was on the rise. His vocals were really well done and he was good enough on harmonica. Speaking of harmonica, I bet Taylor Hicks is pissed instruments weren't allowed during his season. Chikezie had both a soulful tone to his voice early on and a thicker, guttural bluegrass vibe later. Very impressive range.
Randy: "It sounded like it could make a good country song. I liked it when it went to the fast part. The slow part I didn't quite get, but you need all that up-tempo stuff to use all that energy you got, so I like that. The harmonica was a very weird strange arrangement ... It was strange to me."
Paula: "I disagree. I think you're showing who you are ... When you sing it is so pure, on pitch, beautiful and then you show a whole different side of you ... I get a whole scope of who you are and I love it ... You did it again."
Simon: "It started off okay and then you played the harmonica which was, literally atrocious, and then it turned into "Achy Breaky Heart" at the end ... It was like a lot of different artists. I actually thought it was ... gimmicky."
Jason: "You know what, I liked that. I liked the diversity you just showed, like Paula indicated. No it wasn't as strong as last week, but you've really turned the corner on this show and that was another good performance. The harmonica bit was out of place, a bit. Just what you played on it didn't work for me. Still, great job."

Ramiele Malubay - "I Should Have Known Better"
Ramiele got the last slot of the night. She needed to make better use of it than Archuleta did last week as she's really fading in the rankings. She picked a more upbeat song because the judges said she bored them last week. I liked the hat and most of the outfit, but the corset was a strange fit. That said, despite all of it, the shoulder shimmys and shuffling across the stage wasn't enough. It remained kind of boring. She showcased her beautiful voice again but can't seem to pick a song that she can shine on. Ramiele's becoming a problem. You can see that she's got a really nice voice, but her performances keep not being as great as her voice.
Randy: "I wasn't jumping up and down ... You showed that confidence I know is in there ... You did your thing ... It was alright."
Paula: "Definitely better than last week ... There is something about your voice when you sing ballads that allows you to really show your range. I want very much for you to get back in that zone ... and show people what you got and pick the right song."
Simon: "It sounded like Chikezie was on the harmonica. Honestly, the problem was I like you a lot. You've got a fantastic personality. You're lots of fun. The track sounded terrible. It sounded very amateurish, the whole thing ... You chose the mediocre song and didn't show the best of your ability, so it is what it is."
Jason: "They pretty much summed it up. You're much better than that performance. I don't know what it is with you Ramiele, but you're not connecting with the audience. They can see that you have a great voice, but you're not making them want to see more of you. I'm not really sure what's going wrong, personally."

Best of the Night
David Archuleta, David Cook, Syesha Mercado

The Bottom Three
Amanda Overmyer, Kristy Lee Cook, Ramiele Malubay

Going Home
Kristy Lee Cook (Amanda?)