Katharine McPhee - "I Have Nothing". Again, the boobs take center stage. Hold on, let me move my TV to a different angle; I don't want to lose an eye. Choosing any Whitney Houston song is a big risk, especially "I Have Nothing," which has to be one of the most difficult pop songs to sing ever written. The good news is, Lisa Tucker didn't make it to this week, because if she had - she probably would've chosen this. The bad news is, Kat didn't do the song much justice either. You could hear her all-over-the-place pitch at the beginning of the song before she even GOT to the difficult notes. All the credibility she gained back last week just flew right out the window.
By the way...did anyone else notice her panty slip?
Grade: C-
Elliott Yamin - "A Song For You." No one who has ever been on this show in all of its four seasons can tackle a song like "A Song For You" like Elliott. The minute I heard he was singing this, I knew he would do it beautifully. And he did just that. After this performance, Elliott needs to win this show. Hands down. I agree with Randy in that he should have used the Donny Hathaway arrangement, but it was still a fantastic performance. I'll be right back, I have to go wipe the tears off of my face.
Grade: A
Kellie Pickler - "Unchained Melody." Don't really understand the "Kelly Clarkson in 'Walk Away'" hairstyle, but the outfit's decent. I understand that she's supposed to be doing the "LeAnn Rimes" version of the song, but I just can't help but think she lacks the soul for a song like this. Kellie is in no way the best vocalist in the competition, but what she does have is spunk and spirit. With that said, she needs to pick songs that reflect that from now on otherwise she's screwed.
Grade: C+
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Rene
Kellie Pickler sucks. I can't believe you have the gall to give her a C+. It was an F if ever there was one. She sounded awful. Her voice is to thin.
2 - jdanton2
i think Lisa Tucker would have done a great job on I Have Nothing . she performed it on Star Search and she was very good with it then.
3 - chantal stone
Something must be wrong with my ears because I thought Katharine sounded great, although I'm severely annoyed by that song.
But they could just end the competition today and crown Elliott the king. He was so incredibly fantastic last night...I nearly shed a tear too. And Chris, c'mon, you have to admit...the boy was looking gooood last night, huh?!?!?
Now Chris Daughtry...mmmm how can I keep this PG-13?? Chris, I read the version you wrote on BOFI...and yeah, my sentiments exactly...although we might have to fight over him.....or...uhh..share?? ;)
Either way....he sang his pretty little butt off, which is no surprise.
Seeing Elliott and Chris as the final two will, no doubt, be PORN for me.
4 - Mark Saleski
maybe it's just me, but i have never successfully downloaded any mp3's from the links in these articles.
5 - Jim
Your words about Elliott are true and meaningful. I worry that he may have suffered in the votes because everyone was rushing to "save" the bad singers and didn't vote as much for him. I hope that wasn't the show's plan. I hope they didn't praise him so highly so they can get rid of him tonight.
Did you know Donny Hathaway's CDs (or some of them) have gone way up on Amazon after Elliott's performance? Now THAT is a wow moment.
6 - Chris Evans
Uhhh...
Anyone who thinks Lisa Tucker can sing "I Have Nothing"....
I remind you of how she butchered 'Because of You'
7 - sal m
if chris had shown a little more versatility early on in the competition (try to imagine simon saying that word for effect) he would be the odds on favorite to win at this point, instead of fighting out of the bottom 3. hopefully he won back some fans, although it seems like his support is a mile wide but only an inch thick, which could be a problem.
he's good enough to win but i don't think he will.
and i'm sick of paula and randy...
8 - Paul Roy
Katherine will get voted off soon because most women voters are too jealous of her good looks, even though she is one of the best singers. Kelly Clarkson got alot of the "hey she is average looking just like me" housewife votes. I didn't think her vocals were nearly as bad as the judges, and you said. Elliot was awesome. I used to think that Taylor could win it, but his last few performances have really shown that he is not in the same league as the others vocally. Kelly really needs to go. Her stupid blond act is really starting to get annoying, and she can't sing anything other than a simple country song.
9 - Brian
And out goes Kelly...Come on this stupid blonde thing whether an act or not has to start turning people off. She was awful.
And why did Kelly Clarkson appeal to the housewives when she was on idol? The show was not what it is today. It was on during the summer and was not a big hit so the wardrobes, the hair, the make-up and the stage have been lifted up a few levels since then and the producers Im sure want sexy women on the show. Who hasn't shown some skin besides Mandesa?
10 - Judge Judi
I agree with almost all of the bloggers. Kelli HAS to go tonight. If not her, than it should be Taylor. Kelli has NEVER been in the same league as the others as far as singing goes. And yes, the top two SHOULD be Elliott and Chris. Both of them have tremendous voices ...
Now if America got REALLY smart, they would vote for anyone EXCEPT Katharine. And it's certainly NOT that I'm jealous of her. I'd rather be an average looking person with a great personality, than a great looking person who thinks they are God's gift to American Idol.
Oh, and another thing ... could they show ANOTHER shot of her dad crying when she sings??!! GEEZ, my dad cries when I sing too, and it's not because I sing good ... just because Mr. McPhee loves his daughter, it doesn't mean the rest of America does!!! I think "daddy" is a little blind to his daughter's ego!!
Did Katharine really think she was impressing Andrea by singing one of his songs to him? Oh please!? I'm really hoping that America is starting to see through her arrogance and smugness. Put her up against Elliott or Chris in the finals, and watch her drop like a rock!!
11 - Rachel
uhmmm lisa would have been awesome with i have nothing, her star search one was great, and she's obviously a lot better now so it would have been awesome...
12 - Judge Judi
Sorry about blogging twice ... guess I just wanted to state my opinion strongly!! ha ha
13 - Paris is ugly, stinky, and is Anne Nesby's grandbaby!!!!!!!
Please, America, for the love of God, can the fewest amount of votes this week go to PARIS???
SHE ABSOLUTELY **MUST** GO HOME NOW. This is getting f**king ridiculous!
I hope she is gone tonight.
14 - Chris Evans
Dude...Lisa Tucker does not have a belter's voice.
Just the little I heard of her singing "I Have Nothing" with Stevie Wonder at the piano was horrible.
15 - Anastasia
What is wrong with Katharine McPhee being so sexy and gorgeous??
She is a very good singer!!!
I agree with you about Elliot and Chris....
Gosh, I wish they will vote out Kelly!!!
Hate her!!!!!
She is getting worse every week!!!!!
16 - I hate Paris
Now that Kellie is off, out of the final 5, you have to be an idiot to think Paris is not the worst.
She is HORRID and has to go!!!!
17 - I hate Katherine
Hey "I hate Paris", I will help vote Paris off if you help me vote Katherine off, deal???
18 - Sizzlin
Oh Judge Judi, you are sooo right on!
I knew Kelli was leaving, she was darn right awful!
Elliott and Chris were near perfect, and is it me or is Elliott getting better looking each week. They were both fantastic and looked really hot, great song pic's too.
Katherine and her BOOBS MUST GO!!!
Paris and or Taylor will be gone next.
Leave Paula alone, so she is a little high strung and emotional, what TV personality isn't....
19 - Kim
Does anyone know what the top five will be singing next week?
20 - Mark Saleski
one from the year they were born and any song from this week’s Top 10 Billboard Charts
21 - gimme a break
Katharine McPhee is so sterile it's sickening. There's no substance to her voice or performance. She sounds like the average girl singer in a wedding or lounge band...except her pitch is worse...she reminds me of Cathie Lee Gifford!
Paris is still a kid and was probably raised listening to alot of old style singers and jazz. Musically, she's more advanced than some of the others but she's got some growing and work to do.
Kelly....Why? She'll get a gig doing soaps or something. (how Kelly made it this far and Mandissa - clearly the best female vocalist in the competition - got kicked off, I'll never understand why, in spite of Mandissa's poor choice of wardrobe and performance style on her last round)
Taylor really has a ton of charisma, which is really important but technically he's not as good as Elliot or Chris. He's another one with pitch problems. If he works on that he would probably do well.
Chris is an awesome performer and great singer, however he also has some pitch issues. He has tremendous potential and he is a star, no doubt.
Elliot I think is the best all around singer left in this competition. Technically he's great and he really has alot of depth as does Chris. I really hope he does win because I think he deserves it. The guy wears an insulin pump and is partially deaf and his pitch is still better than everyone else! I think both of these guys will get a decent shot at a successful career in the business. Clive Davis has already made it known that he is ready to sign Chris.
Hopefully, the winner will truly be the most deserving.
..and for the guy who made the ridiculous comment about housewives voting for Kelly Clarkson because she was the average looking girl?? Are you listening or jerking off with the sound off while your watching the show??? Kelly Clarkson, the average looking girl who won out of pity from the housewives has gone on to win several awards including a couple of grammys for her latest album, some of which she wrote herself. Unbelievable... She won because she was the most talented and deserved to win.
22 - Udona
Elliott should win this, that was awesome! His eyes are so expressive.
Chris did a great job as well.
23 - Judge Judi
To blogger # 21 (gimme a break) - Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! You seem to be the only one in America who recognizes that Katharine is a major ROBOT when she sings. I think her mom is coaching her on how to sing every note, how to look in the camera at a certain point, how to bat her eyes, blah, blah, blah.
I was trying to think how I would feel if Katharine really WON this thing! I don't think she'd sell many records because I don’t think people really like her! The producers better start thinking about THAT.
I’m fairly certain the judges know who will be kicked out before the show airs. And there’s no doubt in my mind that the Producers probably told Simon to apologize to Katharine on air since the votes showed she was in the top 2. Simon had to save face, so he apologized to Katharine (which made me puke even more, because then I had to look at Katharine’s smug face AGAIN!!)
Well, enough about Katharine. I pray that Elliott or Chris will sweep the rest of this competition, and that TRUE talent will win out!!! In my book, Chris and Elliott are the most talented, and I would cheer for either one of them!
24 - NR Davis
Blogger #21 isn't the only one. The McPheever leaves me ICE cold.
25 - Rene
I've gone back out of curiosity and downloaded all of Kelly Clarkson's performances for AI1 and she could sing circles around any of the current contestants.