Thursday, February 28, 2008

Ranking the American Idol Top 10 Girls: This is the Best Group of Finalists Ever?


Ok, what's going on in Idol-land? Is it just me, or did the girls kinda suck tonight?

I'm starting to get a little concerned that what a few weeks ago seemed like "the best group ever" is now looking like a big bust. I'm not giving up hope yet, and I still think the themes (the 70's?!?) are preventing the contestants from really showing us what they can do, but if they don't start stepping it up, and soon, we could be in for a rough couple of months.

Having said that, there was at least one stand-out performance this week. Here are my rankings of the Top 10 girls...


1. Carly Smithson
(Last Week: #1)
I know some of y'all hate this girl, or think she's a "ringer" or something, but I just love her. I mean, her voice is spectacular, and, though it's possible she's pulled the wool over my eyes, she comes across as extremely genuine to me. Amazing as she was, Simon is right -- she hasn't yet chosen the song that's given her the moment. But when she does...
Grade: A-


2. Brooke White
(Last Week: #4)
Who's surprised that Brooke chose a Carly Simon song during 70's week? Anyone? Anyone? I'm not sure "You're So Vain" showed anything in Brooke's voice that we haven't seen before, but by choosing this song she probably secured the Boomer vote, and likely bought herself at least a few more weeks in the competition. Now the big question -- if this girl went to beauty school, why is her hair always such a mess?
Grade: B


3. Syesha Mercado
(Last Week: #2)
This girl is gorgeous, and she's got the high notes, but her voice is not nearly rich enough to pull off a song like "Me and Mr. Jones." You need a Jennifer Hudson-esque instrument to really hit this one out of the park. Still, she's definitely got presence, and I'd be shocked if she doesn't make it to the Top 12.
Grade: B-


4. Alaina Whitaker
(Last Week: #5)
This girl has the potential to do real damage in this competition, but she's gotta learn to pick less cliched songs (and be a little screechy when performing). Is it a rule every teenage country singer has to perform this song? (Perhaps Carmen Rasmussen, who sang it back in Season 2, has the answer to that question.) Still, I think she's adorable, and she definitely has a strong voice -- if she chooses better songs, she could find herself going far in this competition.
Grade: B-


5. Asia'h Epperson
(Last Week: #6)
If you're gonna take on the song that Latoya London hit out of the ballpark back in Season 3 (Latoya's performance tops my lists of the Ten Best Semifinal Performances of All Time), you better bring it. Let's face it -- the song is all about the big note, and, despite what Randy and Paula said, Asia'h just didn't nail it tonight. On top of that, her voice actually disappeared at one point during the low notes early in the song. Definitely not the triumph Asia'h must've imagined she'd have. (And, as a side note, even if she had been 100% healthy, she still wouldn't have been able to pull this one off).
Grade: B-

Continue Reading for #'s 6 through 10

READ: Ranking the Top 10 Guys -- David Archuleta Wipes the Floor With the Competition

POLL: Which of the Top 10 Girls Was Your Favorite? Who's Going Home?

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