This is the thread to talk about the Top 6 shows this week. USA Pace.

The Top 6 are:
Brooke White
Carly Smithson
David Archuleta
David Cook
Jason Castro
Syesha Mercado

Theme
Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber Songs

There are two shows this week:
Tuesday- Top 7 Perform (1 hour)
Wednesday- Top 7 Results (1 hour)

Rehearsal spoilers:

Syesha Mercado - “One Rock & Roll Too Many” from Starlight
- She looked beautiful. Red dress, sat on the piano. She danced with Ricky Minor. There is a huge orchestra on stage

Jason Castro - “Memory” from Cats
- He is very obviously sick, and seems in a bad mood. He’s wearing a white suit. The consensus is that he wasn’t very good.

David Archuleta - “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera - Very good, as he always is. Dressed in a Khaki Jacket and sneakers.

Brooke White - “You Must Love Me” from the film adaption of Evita - She is fantastic. “Blew me Away”. Really got what the song meant. Her dress is really ugly.

Carly Smithson - “Jesus Christ Superstar” - “Tore the Place Apart”. Very high energy. She was wearing a sixties-style dress.

David Cook - “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera - David has the pimp spot. He sounded “Wonderful” He’s wearing a suit jacket with a scarf flowing out of the back




Musicals is one of my favourite genre. Could not wait to post spoilers about the rehearsals from another forum before I go to bed.:yawn:

Obviously its from the eyes of the reporter-so take it with a pinch of salt.

Babeth

Brooke apparently missed her cue ....so had to start again

Jason was not his best

Yeah Brooke forgot her lyrics and stopped and asked to start again (the second time she's done this now). Also David A forgot his lyrics again but of course there was no mention of that from the judges

I worry for Jason this week ... totally out of his comfort zone, although I don't think he was as bad as the judges made out ... I'm biased of course because he's my favourite. Apparently he's been really sick since the weekend with a throat infection and I think it showed in his performance tonight.

A show which exposed the intelligence - or more often the lack of it - of the contestants and the judges.

Syesha - looked gorgeous, sang with verve, lit up the stage and pretty much brought the house down. Her best for a long time. Broadway here she comes!

Jason - what a dork to pick Memory. He came across in his little stage chat and in the VT with ALW as a total moron. Why producers let him pick this and didn't stop him could only because of some bet amongst themselves. A total misfire, he murdered it. Should he stay famous in later life this will be on a loop to humiliate him.

Brooke - intelligently picked the right song for her limited voice (You Must Love Me - written for Evita the movie, not the stage show, and specifically for Madonna's leaden 5 note range). Then sat on stage, forgot the second line, stopped the orchestra (jaws drop throughout Hollywood), started again weakly and gave the indentical delivery of Madonna in the film with about the same acting ability (haha) - after a VT of her Damascene moment supposedly 'getting it'. I used to love Brooke, I now find her self-indulgent and since she cocked up the opening (second time this series) she must be regarded as an AUTOMATIC FAIL.

David A - chose a perfect song for himself but failed to do as ALW suggested which was to keep his eyes open. He just couldn't for more than 4 lines. I didn't notice he forgot the lyric which apparently he did (second time in series) but I was furiously disappointed - he started so well on the haunting melody then failed to manage the complex time change on the last phrase. He then abandoned the melody and went into some supposedly 'better' version of a classic, which was bland and uninteresting, supposedly with money notes, well ok, they were worth about $5. Randy Jackson's comments only show he is not educated, this was third rate, bland forgettable stuff.

Carly. She's my favourite, she picked Superstar (ALW actually picked it) and hit it with huge energy and had a ball. Not remotely perfect, she could have been shouting it on an Irish beach in the wind, but in this line up, the best so far. However, it was more of what she's done before. I'd love her to sing a melody. She has never bettered her very first Top 24 appearance, she is a poor picker of songs, had she gone with her first choice she'd have flopped.

David C. Again produced the unexpected - this unexpected was a standard. He sang Music of the Night beautifully, carefully, with great attention to it and virtually no deviation from the original, he articulated every word of the lyric (first time ever), lovely voice, great feeling. Shame he rocked the second half of the last note. He put all the others to shame. He is the winner. And the most intelligent.

So bottom 3: My pick: Jason, David A, Brooke, Brooke to go home.

Actual: the girls. Brooke should go home but VFW are trying to keep her in, so likely Syesha, she sang first.

Aprart from Syesha, it was the worst show so far IMO. I bet Andrew prefers his Nancys!

Syesha: This is her niche and she didn't disappoint. For the first time I saw an appeal to her. She was sexy, sassy and it was fun to watch. Not only that, but it actually looked like she was having fun - instead of trying to be Whitney or Mariah she was just being herself. She is not the great 'diva' she seems to have been trying to prove she is, she is a musical actress and I really hope this has brought that home to her (Not an insult by the way, I love musicals and being really good at it is a real talent and not easy, as successive 'celebs' in London's Chicago have discovered to their cost!) If she ditches the ridiculous power ballads from now on and sticks to songs with more character, then she could yet win me over. I would never in a million years pay for an album of her singing ballads. I would, however, pay to see her on the stage in a heartbeat.

Jason: Ouch. Without doubt the worst of the night. He was completely out of his comfort zone and looked (and sounded) like he couldn't wait for the whole thing to be over!

Brooke: I didn't think it was as bad as the judges said, but she was definitely thrown by forgetting her lyrics. I do, however, think she was clever to pick that song. She doesn't have the range for musical theatre and this was ideal for her. Like Jason, though, she was far out of her comfort zone and it showed.

David A: Well, I'll give him props for being the only one who turned their song into something that could sell as a pop record. That said, it was bland, bland, bland, bland, bland. Simon was on the money when he said it was forgettable. Not to mention that the 'big voice' he is supposed to have was rather shown up by David Cook two performances later. Plus he forgot his lyrics. Not at all good, though still doubt he'll be anywhere near the bottom 3 with his fanbase.

Carly:Was nice to actually see her having fun for once! Not my fave performance of the night and she was definitely shouting in parts (the arrangement was too high for her range) but it was great fun to watch and like a breath of fresh air after David A.

David C: Boy, can he sing! A great showcase for his voice and I'm really glad he didn't rock it out. Kept it simple and clean and his vocals were incredible. Have to give him props too for embracing a genre that he must have been dreading! Somehow doubt we'll ever hear him singing musical theatre again though, unless it's Tommy!


Faves of the night were Syesha and David Cook.

My bottom three would be Jason, David A then Brooke. I think it would be huge shocker if Brooke and Jason weren't in the bottom three but stranger things have happened. Sadly I don't think David A will get the deserved third spot and it'll go to either Carly or Syesha. Too hard to call which to be honest and neither of them deserve it.

On last night's performance, Jason deserves to go home (I love him when he's doing his 'thing' but that was awful). I think, however, that it will be Brooke.

Jason & Brooke ought to be bottom two IMO.

Jason was really boring, and reduced that song to something very, very dull. No expression.

Brooke was poor. And unprofessional! Not a great song, it's very basic melody but she didn't even do that justice. Flat and emotionless

Neither is a winner so I don't really mind which one goes!

Carly was disappointing, that ought to have been better than it was, she muddled up the lyric and didn't quite do it for me, but it wasn't terrible.

David A was nice but a bit dull.

David C was a surprise, expected him to rock out , but I really liked it, very haunting.

Sayesha was great, think she's found her genre. She performed much more than usual, I really liked it.

This didn't really work as a theme, musical theatre is difficult to sing without any acting skills, most of them didn't really interpret the songs and they therefore sounded a bit lifeless. But it brought out the best in Sayesha.

But it made a nice change.

Both Brooke and Jason were under par but Brooke has had a string of bad performances recently so I think that she should be the one tp go. In addition Jason has a bigger fan base so I would be surprised if he went this week.
It is not impossible that Syesha or Carly are sent home as well, even if they don't deserve it.

Enjoyed that, perhaps because I knew more of the songs this week (only knew a couple last week)

Stand-out performances for me were Syesha - she looked hot too! and David Cook, I do like his voice and he showed a sensitive side this week.

David A showed so much promise when first selected but he just hasn't delivered, I thought it quite bland and forgettable this week

Brooke has been sooo patchy and continues to be so, no real consistency.

Carly gave a good performance but not outstanding, liked the dress though!

Jason, oh dear he doesn't do himself any favours. Surely by now he must have realised he has to up the tempo, get out of his shell or whatever to wow people. It was just plain mundane.

Brooke has a very mundane voice. Cannot see what the fuss is about. She cannot sing a song without making the duff notes.

Just got round to watching them

Syesha - bright, sassy and really good, the most I've liked her since Hollywood week - complete travisty if she's in the bottom three this week.

Jason - what on earth was he smoking when he picked that song, and why didn't someone stop him, started off just about okay and went rapidly downhill. I've no doubt his fan base will keep him there, but he should be bottom two.

Brooke - don't know what's happened, one of my favourites up until Dolly week, since then she seems to have lost confidence, the restart was cringey, and the whole thing was very, very flat, should, and probably will be bottom 2/3

David A - Sorry, but I find him so bland now, it's the same thing every week, I really liked him at Imagine, seen nothing else since, plus I think his actual stage presence is very weak.

Carly - not the best vocals, but I really liked it, she went for it, seemed to enjoy herself, and I thought she looked really lovely.

David C - Loved it, thought he was very smart playing it straight down the line, lovely vocal control, really good

Top two - David C and Syesha by a mile, both performed brilliantly.

Carly - not as good as the top two, but a good enjoyable performance.

David A - okay, but bland yet again.

Bottom two - Brooke and Jason, very poor from both, Jason's was an absolute car crash of a performance, but Brooke to go as it's been weeks since she's turned in a good performance, plus Jason has a stronger fanbase for votes.

The order according to Dial Idol:

I love musicals so for me it was a treat even if some of them were not up to par. Here we go:

Syesha Mercado - “One Rock & Roll Too Many” from Starlight

WHAT? I could see the headlines " Sassy Temptress Triumphs" This is the Syesha I always knew was there-its like they were looking for a Diva. It took ALW to bring it out-shame on them. I screamed and clapped so loud that I woke up the family. Well-they can get over it. Afterwards it was for 'One night only' if I can borrow my other favourite Jennifer Hudson's Dream Girl song. It was sexy, sassy, entertaining and fun. She reminds me of Diana Ross (I have been saying this all along) and some how Chicago the film/musical. I liked that she mixed in the performance with her dancing skills. She has a career as an entertainer/performer-in films/musicals and contemporary music. I can breathe now. Sadly, she may go home on this high note. But I am over the moon about that. There is so much to her than many people will ever know.

Jason Castro - “Memory”

What's not to like about Jason. Unfortunately it was not his night. I do not know Why the song 'Memory'. It did not suit him. But never mind he got through it. He did not seem himself-maybe flu. Some how I do not think he will go home.

David Archuleta - “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera -

What can I say about David. It was just good and heart felt. I want to see him dance a little. I was not out of my sit.:yawn:

Brooke White - “You Must Love Me” from the film adaptation of Evita -

Nerves got the better of her. She was fine in rehearsals. She is the real 'Diva'. Wow. She stopped Hollywood on its tracks to start again! It still did not work. But I do not think she is going anywhere.


Carly Smithson - “Jesus Christ Superstar” -

Apart from Syesha this was my second favourite of the evening. She was really energetic and seems to be having fun. Again it took ALW to bring it home to her what she should be doing. She is not going anywhere.


David Cook - “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera

Great performance. He is just his usual self. Nothing unusual. Turned a musical into an event. He will win this thing.

Who were the best? Syesha, Carly and David C
Who is in the bottom 3? Syesha, Jason, Brooke or surprise, surprise David A.
Who is going home? Syesha sadly-but happy.

Babeth

That's good to know sligorox - thanks for that

babeth - I wouldn't be so sure Syesha's going, I think that performance will have picked up a lot of the 'undecided' vote, she was so good and memorable enough to get passed the problem of going first, especially with Jason's performance next, which was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

It was so nice to see her not trying to be Whitney or Mariah and just be Syesha, really showed what she can do Best female of the night by a mile.

I wasn't looking forward to this week, however I was pleasantly surprised by the ALW's bluntness. While he was polite, he didn't shower any false praise on the contestants.

Syesha- Yeah! She does have personality! She's always been technically very good, but I never really warmed up to her until last night. And, thank heavens, she didn't pick 'Memory'. Now, if she could transfer that energy and perkiness to the remaining weeks, I'd say she's got a shot at winning.

Jason- He sounded surprised to hear that 'Memory' was sung by an old dying cat... which is actually what he sort of sounded like.

Brooke- She made a very smart song choice, I think, because it was hard to tell what was nerves vs. interpretation on her part. I think if the judges asked for a volunteer to go home at this point, she'd volunteer immediately. Poor girl looks miserably homesick up there.

David A-Thank you, ALW for telling him to keep his eyes open! Although that seemed to be hard for him to do. It was smart planning on somebody's to have him go after Jason and Brooke, because in contrast to them, he was utterly fantastic. If he'd been after Syesha, Carly or David C., it would be a totally different story.

Carly - Another thank you to ALW for suggesting to Carly that she switch songs. She looked like she was having fun and she sounded great. I only hope that they adjust the volume of those backup singers tho when they replayed the show.

David C. - I agree with duncann here-- he needed to just simply sing tonight which he did. I thought it was a good, but not outstanding performance.

Top Two:
Syesha
Carly

Middle Two:
David C.


{ big gap here in how they did }

David A.

Bottom Two:

Brooke
Jason

I don't care who the bottom three are tonight, so long as either Brooke or Jason go.

Better than I thought it would be....

Syesha - I agree with the judges...Broadway is the way to go for her.

Jason - Not good at all

Brooke - another "I can't watch" moment when she forgot the words. Thought it was actually pretty good, though

David A - Love him...but agree with Simon it was a bit boring. He forgot lyrics? I also thought he did a good job of keeping his eyes open...def. more than usual.

Carly - Man she rocked! I thought that was her best performance and that she was the best of the night.

David C - His smugness takes so much away from being able to enjoy. He was good...just wish he didn't think he was that great

Bottom: Jason, Syesha and Brooke. I'd say Syesha...but she's been surviving...so who knows.

I hope that Syesha won't go home after such a good performance. It should be Brooke, but Carly may be caught between votes for a favourite and votes to save the worst.

I wouldn't count on Syesha going home this week either, Babeth. Firstly she's the only one in her genre so isn't competing for votes, also she gave a good performance where others didn't so could catch some of the swing votes, and she's showing improvement where others (Brooke, Jason) are falling apart. I actually wouldn't be surprised now if Syesha was top female, and she could beat Jason too.

hmm ...if the boy girl trend of eliminated continues then a guy should go home this week

i really want Brooke to do a good performance

My top three are
1. Carly
2. Syesha (finally her thing)
3. David Cook

Poor old Jason, now knowing what his song choice was about. ALW was so funny with this.

Terrible night.. I thought Carly, David A and Sayesha were the only ones who did a good job.
I was disappointed David A forgot his lyrics again, but like someone said, I liked how he made it sound somewhat contempary unlike the other singers.

Seems to be general agreement on the TOP 3 and BOTTOM 3!

having watched them all on youtube thoughts as follows:
1st David Cook - very clever choice. no rock edge, no new arrangement just sang the song straight as it was written. who knew he had the vocal range?whole performance haunting and tender.
2nd - Syesha - at last she shines. did not know the song so well but she was polished and made for broadway.
3rd Carly - JCS really suited her vooce but she does tend to get shouty at times.
4th - David A - god this was dull. judges never seem to give him the criticism he deserves.
5th - Brooke - she forgot words and had to restart and improved a little but over the past few weeks she has looked less and less confident and the pout is annoying me now.
6th - Jason - really bad song choice - he doesn't have a voice strong enough for this kind of song. something quirkier from joseph would have worked better.
got to be brooke or jason for the chop this week?

David C - I thought it was a great choice, I was worried he would never be able to top last weeks performance, and so by doing something different it meant there was no direct comparison and it showed off a completely different side to him. This week was beat Archuleta at his own game week for me - David C showed that as well as being a more entertaining and intelligent performer, he also has the better voice. Bingo. If this guy doesn't win the whole thing I'll be mighty upset .

Carly - I thought she was good, and doesn't deserve to go home this week, although I worry that she might. It was a good choice of song and she was in her comfort zone. I like her doing big rock songs. Was a bit shouty though.

Syesha - For the first time, I thought she was rather good and I enjoyed watching her. I've always found her personality unlikable and her performances dull before now, but this week I think she did a great job. It *really* bugs me when she does that 'oh lo!' thing, arghh! If she stopped doing that, (and never did that baby cry again) I could actually like her.

David A - I was tempted to fast forward through, I thought it was pretty boring and bland.

Jason - Not a good choice, he showed lack of versatility and poor judgement. The dumb stoner thing is quite cute and appealing, but I dunno, the song is from the musical Cats yet he was surprised to hear it was sung by an old cat .

Brooke - I really liked her at the start but she's totally falling apart. Starting again (for the second time) was a big mistake and looked really unprofessional. It was uncomfortable to watch, and I kind of hope she is put out of her misery .