I thought
Haley was the standout of the night. I've felt that her raunchy rasps at the end of every other lyric made her sound sleazy, and for a pretty girl she can also look a bit too 'bimbo porn star' if she doesn't have the right hairstyle. But in this song she matured a lot, and managed to separate those two slightly schizoid elements of her voice, singing the verses more sweetly and without the yodel, and then nailing the chorus with a rocker's raunch held throughout the entire lines. The remaining issue is her image, vocally she's kooky but her image doesn't match it, perhaps she needs to wear a hat, or some other prop.
Despite the judges all praising her, I wasn't impressed by
Lauren. So far everything about her seems cutesy and trivial, she's like a girl who gets up in a local bar to sing a few of her daddy's favourite numbers and nobody will tell her anything less than she's great. The only time she's impressed me was during the dramatic intro to last week's Motown song (but everything afterwards was forgettable). Countrifying Candle In The Wind just didn't work, and it felt like she was commercially vying for some of Carrie's market.
Casey did a lot better, pulling back on the power growl until the very end, and in the process revealing a better underlying tone to his voice, one he has greater control over. I would still like to see him use an instrument though, not entirely convinced this guy is a good enough singer in his own right, but add in some musicianship and he can entertain.
I'm usually a fan of
Jacob's scream crackers but this song just didn't work out. The arrangement was odd. He cannot handle sadness. You get the impression that in church he wouldn't be able to sing gospel unless it was the most happy clappy type. Happy Jacob is electrifying, sad Jacob is too maudlin and starts to wah wah. He's far better when he is full of playful exuberance like last week, which for me was the stand out performance of the series. Not quite from hero to zero, but I'm disappointed. Keep it happy and keep it snappy. No_more_sad_songs.
Naima made me smile. It didn't really work because the original speed of the song is too fast to fit all the lyrics into a lazy reggae tempo. Very cheeky of her.
Thia sang a forgettable version of
Daniel. I thought while watching that she's one of those singers you tend to think is more musical theatre than popular recording artist. You can't fault her, any more than you could Marie Osmond, but you couldn't eat a whole one.
James did very well, though his performance was helped along in the all important chorus by backing singers. That was revealed when they continued while he sang another part. He always gets into the groove of a song, and catches the melodies extremely well, and works the crowd.
Pia is really starting to bore me, and I began with her as my favourite. Another ballad, another dress. Every performance has been like a guest spot at the Oscars rather than her competing in Idol. Of course it's good, but so is a slice of cheesecake - and another, and another, and another. Eventually you get sick of cheesecake.
Stefano. It's a pity he isn't a hip hop artist, because with his short build, round face and haircut he looks the part. All that's missing is a singlet top and a neck chain and those daft hand gestures. As a conventional singer he's acceptable, but he's like the male version of Thia. Just imagine a duet!
Looks like Stefano may be halfway to the duet already, as this funny photo shows (love Casey's face!):
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...93900243983805
Scotty - let down only by the song, which isn't all that good apart from the line about a truck. Did alright, but not one of his better performances. He already seems 65 and now he's singing to his granny, who's probaby younger than him. Impressed with his guitar, none of the tuneless strumming delivered by the X Factor's winner.
Paul - knew this would be a disaster because his voice doesn't have the power to hit the higher parts. His voice isn't so much rocket man as lurve tunnel man.
) WTF?!? 
