CRYSTAL BOWERSOX WILL BE PERFORMING TONIGHT. Per a tweet from Ryan Seacrest. Per the leaked performance order, she was set to go first.
Crystal Bowersox will perform first tonight. She tells Ryan, “I’m a tough cookie.” Randy rates the guys, “I think a bunch of them are really trying to win this thing.’ He hopes the girls are too. Ellen says song choice is everything, then makes a joke about “Who Lets the Dogs Out”. Kara swears she’s not getting cozy with Simon. Simon says it’s crucial that the girls “throw away” the nerves.
Crystal Bowersox – “As Long As I See The Light” by Creedence Clearwater Revival – She has a twin brother! She says he’s a square. She’s carries good luck trinkets with her when she performs. Ah, she took my advice! Singing a guys’ song. She’s got her guitar this week. She sounds great!
Awesome bluesy, gospel vocals from Crystal. Sing it girl, she is fabulous. What a way to start the show. Randy says, “You are the truth…I just love that you aren’t trying to be anybody else…I love that girl..that girl is hot.” Ellen says, “That is pure raw natural talent…I am so glad you’re here today…please stay healthy.” Kara says, “You completely recovered from last week…you are that Americana singer, raw….effortless, centered, focused. Tonight you hit a new level.” Simon says, “What’s great about you…you didn’t play the whole sympathy thing…I underestimated you last week. the vocal was incredible…this is like the moment with Kelly Clarkson, we realized we had a really serious artist here.” Crystal was very worried she wasn’t going to be here. 1-866-436-5701. Crystal tells her fans on facebook, “Don’t worry, my ‘beetus (diabetes) is under control. Thanks for all your well wishes, thanks to the boys, and the producers!! Can’t wait to perform tonight.” – VIDEO
Haeley Vaughn – “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus – She likes to make headbands and hair accessories. Aw, Haeley is cute as a button. Oh geez, this is totally the wrong song. Pitchy and plodding. This is sooooo bad. She smiles through the song like she doesn’t understand the lyrics. Ears bleeding now. Yikes. Haeley needs to pick fun songs that show off her personality and highlight her 5 note range. Randy says, “It didn’t work for me…it was excruciating…it was so pitchy and so not right for you, you had no connection to the song.” Ellen says, “you’re adorable…you didn’t connect to the song…it didn’t work out.” Kara says, “People are rooting for you at home, you’re real your smiling, unfortunately you need about a year of strengthening your instrument…pitch issues need to be worked out…you are such a great spirit on that stage.” Simon says, “It was a complete and utter mess…in theory it should have worked…” Ryan scolds Simon for harshing on Haeley. 1-866-436-5702. – VIDEO
Lacey Brown – “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer – Lacey felt bad for the guys, who had less rehearsal time. She loves referbishishing antiques. This is the song Kara suggested for her. She’s still a little pitchy. She’s got a really interesting voice. But, you can tell she’s not entirely comfortable on stage. Randy says, “I think it was a good song choice, but for most of the song, I was waiting for the words to flash across the screen.” Ellen says, “I thought it was adorable, I thought it was great…a good choice.” Kara says, “You have this very unique style, this song brought it back…but you have to step it up…you didn’t push it..step in the right direction.” Simon said, “Marginally better than last week…you are participating in a competition rather than showing us who you are.” Simon then compares her unfavorably to Crystal. Simon accuses her of doing the song to please the judges. Lacey said she’s wanted to do the song all along. – 1-866-436-5703 – VIDEO
Katie Stevens – “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae – She can say “Give me a kiss” in 6 languages. What a talent! I wonder if she’ll be called on doing a copycat version? It’s nice, but nothing special. She’s be a hit at her high school assembly, however. Oops. Didn’t quite hit that high note! Katie is a total pageant bot. Randy says, “There were some bright moments there…by the time you hit your sweet spot it was cool.” Ellen says, “I think you’ve got a good voice…it still feels like I want to see you younger…I don’t want to hear something I would hear in my dentist office.” Kara says, “it’s so frustrating…at the end you began to open up…you have to do that from the beginning…I’m still waiting for that moment from you.” Simon says, “If you came into my record label, I would tell you to get experience and I would ask you who you are as an artist.” Simon thinks she’ll be around another week. Katie doesn’t understand what the judges want. Kara suggest she sings a song about something she’s going through right now. Poor thing still seems confused. 1-866-436-5704 – VIDEO
Didi Benami – “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers – She prays and meows before she hits the stage. A surprising song pick, she’s bringing a nice soulful vibe to it. She’s another singer with a unique tone. Randy says, “I would not have chosen that soul song for you…not a great choice.” Ellen says, “I love your voice…I think you have a great presence…you tried to do stuff with it…not the greatest song choice.” Kara says, “It wasn’t good…it really wasn’t good…what I’m missing from you is consistency…it felt like a karaoke bar, we lost the uniqueness of your voice..it was all over the place…I’m still a fan of yours.” Simon says, “It was screeching, bad choice of song…it’s frustrating, you get this fantastic opportunity…and you do something generic.” Whoa. I did not think it was that bad. Didi is going to burst into tears the moment she walks off the stage. She must be very confused now. They asked her to change it up and do something unique, and still, they are criticizing her. 1-866-436-5705 – VIDEO
Michelle Delamore – “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed – Creed? The song pick is a little weird, a couple of pitch problems, but she’s doing a solid, if not fabulous job. Randy says, “A couple pitch problems…the outfit was hot…you didn’t do enough with the song. It fell flat to me.” Ellen says, “I felt like you did a lot with a song…for a few minutes I forgot it was a rock song, it almost worked, but not quite.” Kara says, “My favorite performance of yours ever..it may not have been technically perfect, but you felt it…you’re trying….you did something very different with the song, and I bought it.” Simon says, “I’m kind of with Kara on this, the first half was much stronger…you didn’t choose a safe song…You got 85% of it right.” Shout out to Vera Wang in the audience. Wow, Simon admitted that the judges give out contradictory advice sometimes. 1-866-436-5706 – VIDEO
Lilly Scott – “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke – Lilly is psyched that the judges get her. Lilly’s got her 12 string, and wow…this is really good! Even better than last week. She’s got beautiful phrasing. And unlike some of the other girls, she’s self-assured and absolutely knows who she is. Confidence makes all the difference, here. Randy loves that she’s so unique, “Dude you worked it out, my favorite of the night.” Ellen says, “You have IT…I forgot you were in a singing competition. By far the performance of the night.” Kara says, “You just had your first moment. You are going to change the game…good job girl.” Simon says, “This really makes the point..how you become relevant” He likes it but thought she oversang it a bit. He thought Crystal was stronger. – 1-866-436-5707 – VIDEO
Katelyn Epperly – “The Scientist” by Coldplay – Katelyn was studying to be a recording engineer. Playing the piano this week. Much better song pick than last week, I think. Interesting take on the song, a little bit too cabaretish for me, but I can’t ignore her rich, powerful voice. Randy says, “It was nice to hear you play piano, I really liked it.” Ellen says, “I fell kind of asleep, it was so slow…way to slow….” Kara says, “I understand what Randy and Ellen are saying, but I kind of love you. You could do a lot with that incredible instrument…figure out who you are.” Simon says, “It was a smart choice of song, you’ve become quite corny when you perform…a million times better than last week, you’re back in the race.” Yeah, I’m with Simon and Kara on this one. – 1-866-436-5708 – VIDEO
Paige Miles – “Walk Away” by Kelly Clarkson – Paige likes to color with crayons and coloring book. Poor Paige. She’s pretty good, but she’s had so little screen time, it’s hard to remember her. She’s got some impressive vocals. Her little vocal trick didn’t quite work, but she’s got something. I’d like to see her make it another week. Paige realizes that Kara wrote the song. Randy liked it, though he wasn’t in love with it. Randy’s critique is making no sense whatsoever. Ellen says, “I loved it…thought it was fantastic, you changed just enough to make it yours, you had fun, you have one of the best voices.” Kara says, “I could see you having a hit with that song…If you knew the guy I wrote that song about…I miss the anger..you wouldn’t have been smiling…but I liked it.” Simon says, “I’m afraid two weeks in a row you’ve failed to choose the right song…you have such a strong voice, you have to nail the song…it was forgettable.” – 1-866-436-5709 – VIDEO
Siobhan Magnus – “Think” by Aretha Franklin – She used to have a mohawk. She’s just the quirkiest thing ever, isn’t she? This song is a tiny bit too big for Siobhan. She doesn’t quite hit those high notes. I liked last week’s song, “Wicked Games”, much better. I really appreciate that she’s versatile, but the randomness of her song choice smacks of not knowing who she is as an artist. That huge note at the end didn’t quite cut it. Randy says, “You were so bold and so fearless, it was dope…I loved it.” Ellen says, “I loved it too, (insert snuggie joke here) Oh man that was good.” Kara says, “I can’t get over that note…” Siobhan says she figured out how to hit that note singing Kelly Clarkson in the shower. Simon says, “Once again, you are so strange…I thought there were parts of that song that were terrible….you are interesting and very very talented. – 1-866-436-5710 – VIDEO
There’s time left over! And now it’s time to kill extra time. The judges think the performances improved all overall. Simon thinks Crystal was the best. Ellen sees a potential winner. Ellen didn’t see any horrific performances. There’s even time to thank the band!
