TV Talk Discussion Group

Topic: AI Top 4 - (5/6)

THEME ~~Songs That Shaped/Inspired Rock n’ Roll

Selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum curatorial staff and a number of rock critics and historians, these 500 songs are some of rock and roll’s most popular and influential recordings. The songs cover a variety of musicians and genres illustrating the evolution of rock and roll over the last century. I have no idea how many were actually made available to the contestants or how many were cleared for performance. I guess just about anything would be better than last week’s speed-wreck.

ROUND 1

David Cook - ''Hungry Like The Wolf'' - I'm no authority on Duran Duran but my sense is that this performance is somewhat below par for him. With so many songs to choose from, I'm surprised that he couldn't find something better than this. My complaint is song choice, not his vocal.

Randy - just ok
Paula - gave her an 'appetite'
Simon - a little bit copycat

Syesha Mercado - ''Proud Mary'' - She's attempting to take on Tina Turner vocally and in dance! The pace of the song is too slow both vocally and in the dance segment. Tina is more than volume....Tina is on FIRE when she sings.....Syesha is not! Questionable song choice.

Randy - she's in the zone
Paula - magnetic voice and presence
Simon - a bad shrieky version of Tina Turner

Jason Castro - ''I Shot The Sheriff'' - They woke David up so he could sing! The only good thing I can say is that he has finished the song. Obviously, the stories about his wanting to go home are true!!! NEEDS TO LEAVE

Randy - karaoke
Paula - not crazy about the song or vocal
Simon - utterly atrocious (Simon is really angry)

David Archuleta -''Stand By Me'' - He does Ben E King proud and brings this song home! The vocal and interpretation are his best since ''Imagine''. He made a very wise song choice. LOVE it!

Randy - it was hot
Paula - delivered it
Simon - best performance so far

ROUND 2

David Cook -''Baba O'Reilly'' - I'm loving his vocal and interpretation of this song by 'The Who'. His stage presence is excellent and he sells the song, IMO. His performing arts background is obvious in this performance. LOVE it!!!!

Randy - great
Paula - she wants more
Simon - welcome back David Cook

Syesha Mercado - ''A Change Is Gonna Come'' - This song means a great deal to her..... so much so that she researched it before deciding to sing it. I'm loving her vocals and interpretation. Tonight, Syesha is very emotional and cries. Sam Cooke would be proud!! What a hauntingly beautiful performance!

Randy - disconnected
Paula - beautiful vocals
Simon - agrees with Paul

Jason Castro - ''Mr Tambourine Man'' - A mess both vocally and in interpretation. HE NEEDS TO GO

Randy - not in the zone
Paula - was in his niche
Simon - pack your suitcase

David Archuleta -''Love Me Tender'' (Norah Jones version) - He performs a lovely restrained interpretation, accompanied only by piano. There are some weak notes in the second half that the judges fail to 'note'. Usually, we hear the word 'pitchy', but not tonight with Little David. It's highly overrated by the judges, IMO.

Randy - great
Paula - a favorite of hers
Simon - crushed the competition

FAVORITE QUOTE~~ David A to Ryan...''Their faces scare me'' (referring to the judges--LOL)

COMMENTS~~ What is your definition of an AMERICAN IDOL? Mine is someone who, when given the platform, represents who they truly are and can convey it in a way that makes the audience want to know more.

RESULTS~~ Wednesday at 9:00 EDT

BEST: David C (round 2) - David A (round 1) - Syesha M (round 2)
ABYSMAL: Jason C (round 1 & 2)

Good-bye Jason.

Are the articles right? Is he trying less and less? It sure seemed so tonight. I'm not familiar with the Bob Marley version of "I Shot The Sheriff", but I still didn't recognize it until he was into it awhile and I knew ahead of time that he was going to sing this song. Jason's other song was slightly better but then he didn't remember the words. It didn't seem like it was a case of nerves as in Brooke's case. I'm not sure if Jason has any nerves, LOL, but it just seemed to me that he just didn't take the time to learn the words.

I go with the other three for the final three. It still seems like it will be down to the David's to me but I wouldn't mind a David C. and Syesha final two. I thought they both did well on both of their songs. David Cook's second song, although done well, didn't seem like a good song choice to me. Not in the fact of vocal range or anything like that but song choice in the fact that he needed more time with that song that they just aren't given. It was just building up to pick up the tempo and then stopped suddenly. I wanted to hear how David sang the uptempo part. Since the time allotted for songs didn't work with this song, he should have chosen something that did.

I liked both of Syesha's songs but did not like the way she decided to go the Tina route when Syesha, herself, said that "Proud Mary" had been covered by so many bands. Then why go with the obvious version? After we finally found out who Syesha really was, she went back to singing like the original instead of with the Syesha twist. What I did like about her performance was the way she performed it instead of just standing there like she used to do. Ever since ALW week, she knows that she can be more animated when she sings a song and I did enjoy that. Her second song was very moving. She just has to watch herself on those power notes and try to soften them so they aren't so harsh. I liked hearing that she actually researched the song, something that I don't think Jason ever does or even some previous contestants. What I didn't like is both Simon and Randy's opposite comments that can make her more confused again. Randy said of her Sam Cooke song that she should have sung it more like the original and he didn't like the way she changed it, yet Simon said of her first song that he didn't like that she sang it like Tina Turner. So who is right? We are back again to should they sing it like the original or not?

David A. did well on both of his songs. I really was surprised at the second song because when he said that it was very romantic, I wondered what he knew of romance. But he did a very good job on the song. I don't think he "crushed the competition" as Simon put it or was "da bomb" but did better than I thought he would on these songs.

Except for Jason, I thought the other three did well tonight.

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I don't want to discuss Jason any more other than to say that I look forward to his ''post AI'' interviews. Is there a reason we're unaware of for his odd behavior or is what we've been seeing the real Jason. Should be interesting. I preferred DC's 2nd song and didn't care for the 1st one. DA brought home an impressive ''Stand By Me''. However, the second half of ''Love Me Tender'' was pitchy (sorry) and the judges were mum about that. Syesha has blossomed since her encounter with ALW. I much preferred her Sam Cooke number and was THRILLED that she researched it and spoke about it. It should be a requirement for all of them. If you understand your song you will interpret it correctly and have less risk of hearing ''poor song choice''. As for the judges, they'll always disagree which is confusing to the contestants. Personally, I'd like to see Randy go. He adds nothing to the critiques. For me, the show was the usual.

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Posted by: newjersey
Date posted: Wed May 7 12:39:18 2008
Message:
i wish tiny tim, jr would just quit the show already. his laid back personality isn't funny anymore. he needs to go home and do what he does best, "smoking the cheif".david a. just irks the "ish" out of me. everytime i look at him, all i can think about is, sally field oscar speech "you really like me". am i the only one who thinks that if this kid doesn't win the whole thing, he will have to enter the witness protection program, (re: crazy ass father). david c has been the only consistent one, but it wouldn't surprise me if he got sent home tonight. remember tamayra gray,chris daughtry, and melinda dolittle.   

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Please, no surprises tonight. Perish the thought. I think DC isn't going anywhere but he doesn't need Idol. He'll get a record deal for sure. Syesha needs to look to the theatre, hopefully NYC. Jason is a mess.....nuff said. I'll be interested in what he has to say in his post AI interviews. Some past interviews by those voted off have been revealing. Jeff A is a nasty Dad, it seems. For many reasons, I hope DA wins. He needs the show more than DC and they will protect him from the Dad. /sb

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Posted by: Linds
Date posted: Wed May 7 11:44:58 2008
Message:
Hm. Well I liked book David Cook and David Archuleta's performances, they are both very talented and will probably (and hopefully be) the top 2 so enough said there so on to the other two. I have liked Jason from the beginning. He's cute and usually brings alot of emotions to his song choices. I don't know what has been up with him the last few weeks - although I haven't thought it was as bad as others - I didn't care for the Bob Marley song but I did think it was funny that his response was "It's Bob Marley" - his humor cracks me up... it's so clueless lol but I did like his second choice - the Bob Dylan song, although I don't have a musically trained ear... at all but I would guess that alot of America doesn't either. It's sad to me though that he is throwing it away because he has a huge following and I think he'd do reasonably well. At this point I don't think it matters though because either of the David's will probably be the next AI (and with due reasoning). The part of him throwing him away that troubles me most is putting Syesha in the top 3. I feel like this girl has fallen through the cracks as those better than her (Brooke at one point and Carly) either fell off the horse or were a mistaken sacrifice from voting. I don't think she deserves to be top 3 and I wish Carly were standing in her place because then I could definitely justify Jason - who is my favorite - going home in peace. Syesha's performances pissed me off last night. With the first one because I cannot help but think who does she think she is. I think she has taken on almost every big name singer and her second performance because I felt it was completely political. She was looking for a "certain vote" and I felt although the singer she chose may have been someone who was "rock and roll" that song was completely NOT rock & roll at all and it cheated the others that she picked a song that played so well to her voice, and seemed very outside the realm of rock & roll - more blue's type. I do realize that could be considered "clever" but it really irked me bad. Then upon receiving ONE bad critique, and not even from Simon (and none of them called her on the song choice) she bursts into tears! So Although Jason didn't do so well (and keep in mind I LIKED his second song) I am simply so irked by Syesha's performance that she is the one I want to leave!

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Re Jason, he really needs to go. I'll be eager to read his post AI interviews in the hopes that we learn what was happening with him. I certainly hope it's something more than missing a girlfriend or being homesick.. He's totally changed and become very ''flip'' and nonchalant. From what I've read already, he's become totally uncooperative. America should have voted him off when he first stated that he wanted to leave. It's sad watching him resort to stunts such as last evening to try to get voted off. Re Syesha and her 2nd song, if the others were cheated, it was their fault, not hers. The song was on the approved list so she had every right to perform it as did they. Obviously, she proved to be smarter than the others. You don't consider that song to be rock.....you consider it to be blues. The list was SONGS THAT SHAPED & INSPIRED rock n roll. I'm not being flip here, but you'd have to take your problem up with the Hall Of Fame. Btw, I wouldn't say that Syesha was 'clever'. I'd say she made a smart song choice which is something very rare on this show. /sb

I am not saying that Jason wasn't deserving of leaving but I do feel that Syesha has gotten very lucky in this competition due to others *giving up*. I just don't feel she is the most *talented* to be in the top 3. Anyways, that being said evidentally I have offended you in some way. Usually you seem very open minded but instead of just understanding where I was coming from (and I wasn't the only one who felt this way, everyone that I was watching it with did to) you write me in what I observed to be an angered response. Anyways, it wouldn't be the first time, I border on very unpolitically correct so I guess thats a risk I take. Just know I wasn't trying purposely to offend you, I just took you as the type that I could safely voice my real true opinion. Linds EOM

Linds, I'm sorry that I offended you. I DO apologize. Sometimes the written word just comes out wrong. My point was that Syesha shouldn't be ''faulted'' for being smarter than the others in choosing songs. They have access to the same lists and coaches as she does. As ALW said, some refuse to listen. In no way did she cheat the others. Rather, they cheated themselves with their song choices and interpretations. What would you have Syesha do.......quit???? Obviously, people are voting for her. You did not offend me in any way. I'm used to people having all sorts of opinions. Btw, I happen to think that her song was more ''bluesy'' BUT it's on the Hall Of Fame list so she was free to do it. Peace?? /sb

No, it's fine. I didn't realize they had *approved* song choices. Yeah, it is weird that song is considered rock n roll. Wish Carly was there that night . Yeah, Peace :-) Linds EOM

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Posted by: Elaine
Date posted: Wed May 7 11:26:33 2008
Message:

Hi Songbird.   Great review.  I didn't get to the nursing home last night as I am catching a spring cold and didn't want any of the patients to get it.  So, no funny review from my mil's roommate.

I did watch the show live for the first time in weeks.  I didn't like David Cook's first song, but for personal reasons, which are a bit off the wall.  In Anne Rule's book about Diane Downs, Small Sacrifices, (true story), a woman who tried to kill her three children, but failed with two, played this song, her own personal favorite, while she was shooting her kids.  I can't hear that song without thinking about those poor children and their NOT-insane mother.   She wanted to be with a guy she was obsessed with who didn't want to have children, so she tried to set up a fake car hijacking.  She even shot herself to make it look real.  One of her children lived to tell what happened.   So, the song is one I can't listen to. 

I did love his second song, but I wish it was much longer.   I really, really wish they sang full versions of these songs now.  

I liked David A, both his songs, but especially the first.  I think love is just not a concept he is familiar with and he has all the sex appeal of a choir boy, so his song choice lacked the emotion it needed.   He is no Elvis and never will be an Elvis.   Clay never made that mistake of singing songs where sex appeal was the number one perogative.   Bo sang songs specifically to bring the sex.  One reason I loved him so much!  :)

Syesha, well Trenyce did Proud Mary much better than she did.   Her second song was okay.  I also did not get the civil rights analogy. 

Jason - what a travesty.   Carly, Brooke, Michael - they all deserved the fourth spot over him.  He looks like a stoner and he acts like one.   I just can't stand his attitude.  Dylan is an icon, and he just trashed that song.   HATE him. 

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Elaine: I feel the same way about Hungry Like The Wolf for the exact same reason! I thought that I was the only one. eom Tricia

No nursing home?? I'm disappointed. I had shared your comments with several people who found it hysterical. Re DC......my word, I didn't realize that song was connected to Diane Downs. Well, that certainly puts a different spin on it, doesn't it? How depressing. I wonder if DC knew that when choosing the song. Interesting observations about DA. ''Love Me Tender'' is a beautiful song but not for him. Also, he was pitchy in the second half and not one judge even mentioned it. That speaks volumes to me as Randy always mentions ''pitchy''. Re the civil rights analogy, maybe we need to read up on Sam Cooke. I DO know that the song was released after his death. As for Jason, he wants to leave, he doesn't practice, he parties, and he should be ashamed that he took a spot that a deserving ''wannabe'' could have had. I, too, think he's smoking something. /sb

Wow, Tricia, that is amazing! I can't hear that song any longer without my stomach turning. That crime was unspeakable. I remember reading Ann Rule's book with some hope of learning this woman was mentally deranged or something like that. I am so glad the prosecuting attorney adopted her two children that lived. Songbird, I doubt David knew. This happened quite a few years ago. As for Sayesha, I will say I teared up myself when she started to cry. I saw a different side of Sayesha and that was gratifying. Elaine/eom

I saw the movie. That woman was a piece of work. Wasn't it wonderful that the DA adopted the 2 children who survived??? /sb

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Posted by: attylaura
Date posted: Wed May 7 10:10:31 2008
Message:

Jason is a hot mess. 

The only reason I'm not typing this in all caps to express my rage (other than the fact, of course, that I don't like it when people type in all caps. . . ) is b/c I can't necessarily say that Carly or Brooke or anyone else recently eliminated (other than Michael Johns of course) had any chance of beating one of the Davids.

That is, if we had say Lakesha or Melinda or Daughtery this season and they were ousted before Jason, I'd be over the top with anger.

Mind you, I am seething at him because while his at times his severely mellow persona and no-worries attitude is acceptable, last night it was disgusting b/c he failed to put any thought or originality into either performance. 

• Think about it.  What did he have his guitar during the Marley performance?!  There was a full band behind him, and we heard nothing from his guitar as he played it
• Also, as has been his trend in recent weeks, he is so laid back that he lets the back-up singers (whom I love) do most of the work for him
• And the ending of the Marley song was no ending at all
• As for the Dylan song, he was so casual and flippant about it that he forgot the fracking words people!
• Last night, he came across like a burn-out student who knows there's a big math exam but he is too lazy to study or put any preparation into it and decides to wake up on the day of said exam and just go with the flow and hope he passes
• Simon and Randy were right to call him out like they did; his nonchalant attitude was an insult to other performers who put their all into something
• The boy is coasting, and likely assuming (scarily so b/c he could be right!) that the young girls will keep him on

Enough about him. . . sorry for that rant. . .

David Cook is my favorite now that Johns is gone, but I was disappointed in his song choice of Hungry Like The Wolf.  Duran Duran is an okay choice, but I would have prefered "View to a Kill" or something.  As always though, he was professional enough to agree prior to his second song that he could have done more with the first.  As for the second, I loved it and it was my favorite of the night.

David A is clearly talented and I have nothing negative to say against him as a performer.  For me though, I did not like how he did an R & B version of Love Me Tender.  He did it very well mind you, but I didn't care for it.

As for Syesha, she took a risk choosing 2 Tina Turner songs (those of us who are true Tina disciples will remember that she did a version as well of "Long Time Coming") but I thought she did well.  The first song was not memorable, but she didn't botch it either.  If she wanted to do Tina, I would have loved to hear her sing "Private Dancer" or something.  As for the second song, I've always loved that song and I thought she was superb.  And I'm glad Paula and Simon said so.

As for Randy, he's so inconsistent week to week (dare I say it, he is pitchy?!).  I mean, one minute he's telling Syesha not to sing a song just like Whitney or Mariah, that she should change the song and make it her own, but then the next, like last nights 2nd song, he tells her she should not have changed the song and instead should have just sung it as written.

Upset prediction:  I will not be shocked if David A is in the bottom two this week only b/c with the judges calling him heads and shoulders the winner of the night, people may assume he's safe and then try to save Syesha and David C.

Once again, is there any question that if the voting system on Idol asked you to vote for who should go home, it would be Jason?!  I guess the current system is what makes it interesting though.

Jason must, and will, go.

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What makes me so angry is that Jason is taking up a spot that another person could have had, one who was interested in performing. It's been a BAD season. I did think that DA did a very good rendition of ''Stand By Me'' and Syesha did the same with ''A Change Is Gonna Come''. As for Jason, is he smoking something? He has wasted a spot on the show that someone more deserving should have had. He wants to leave......good. If he remains, something is REALLY wrong. I thought Simon was going to leap on stage and choke him. Please no UPSETS!!!!! Btw, I'd like to see Randy leave as well. All he thinks about is power singing and glory notes. Yuck! /sb

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Posted by: vh
Date posted: Wed May 7 6:23:07 2008
Message:

So, do we have two or one more week of this?  Sigh.

I was surprised at the list of the 500 most influential songs...surprised at what made it and alos how many songs and artists I've never heard.

What's up for next week?

 

David C-hungry-it was okay.  a little heavy with his voice, which is typical of him.

Jason-sheriff-terrible.  does he have any clue about this song or Bob Marley?  He sang it in a glam sort of way.  Sorely disappointing.

Sy-proud mary-she did okay, though I have never understood the fascination with this song, so perhaps that's why she seemed okay to me.

David A-stand by me-first time in a long time I didn't find him snoozworthy.  He somehow made this light and airy and it worked for me.  Hated his ending, though.  He is such a goober, though.

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David C-o'reilly-really not crazy about this song, and I cringed when he announced it, but he did a great job.

Jason-tamborine-well, i liked it better than I shot the sheriff, but wow, it wasnot good.  so disappointing a s I was counting on him to liven things up, not drag them down.  He so deserves to go, though I hate to see him leave.  (Assuming that he can still deliver.)  Also, does he know what the song is about?  Sometimes I care if they are true to the song meaning, sometimes I don't...

 Sy-change-I didn't like it.  Overblown where it should be softer and subtler.  She finally researches a song, then compares her experience on AI to civil rights issues?  She sang well, I just didn't like it.  I think she cried because Simon was nice, not because Randy was mean.  Did I mention that I hate Randy?  To copy Cynthia W, he must die.  ?Except that I agreed with him on this song.

David A-love me-okay, I liked it and I thought I wouldn't.  Disappointed to hear that it was somone else's (Nora) version.

 

Well, I thought David A did bring a little life into his performances, finally.  I he goes a little further next week, it won't be totally boring.

Depressing, really.

It might perk up my interest, though, if DA was booted tonight.  Ha ha.  It will never happen.

 

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vh.......unfortunately, we have 2 more weeks! Sorry about that!!! I'm not sure what's up for next week but we should be done with themes. Possibly the judges choose a song for each and the contestants also choose their own song. That's been done before. I agree with you about Round 1 and give it to David A. I thought Syesha's ''A Change Is Gonna Come'' was a highlight and I think she cried because she finally researched the song and understood what she was singing about. How about that...........researched a song, something that season 7 contestants haven't done. If you understand a song you interpret it better. Imagine!! David A's ''Love Me Tender'' was pitchy in the second half and guess what.........no judge mentioned that!!! Jason was abysmal and desperately wants to leave. I hope he finally gets his wish because Lord knows what he'll do next week to get voted off. /sb

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Posted by: Linda
Date posted: Wed May 7 0:51:32 2008
Message:

If you missed the show, like I did, and didn't tape it or just would like to see one of the performances again, go to the

Season 7 Top 4 Performance - Recap at

http://mjsbigblog.com/season-7-top-4-performance-recap.htm

You can click on the song and just see that or click on "Full clip" and see the interview, song, and judges comments. By sometime tomorrow there should be a written recap along with it at that same link.

If you want to see another written take on the show tonight, go to read Long Live Rock! at

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/American-Idol/American-Idol-Episode/800039075

Replies: (list all replies)

Linda, I see one question was answered.....out of 500 songs they had 50 to choose from. I humbly disagree with much of the TV Guide Blog critique.. Haven't read the other one yet. Thanks for putting the links up. /sb

sb--I didn't agree much either. It was a different person who did it again. Erin was off this time on a week's vacation. Hopefully she or Nina will be back to finish up the last couple of weeks. I haven't had a chance to read the other one either. Another busy day! LOL! ~ eom. Linda

Forgot to mention--I'm glad that we finally found out exactly how many songs they were given. I wonder if that was the same for each theme or just this one? ~ eom. Linda

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Posted by: lisa3
Date posted: Tue May 6 23:39:57 2008
Message:

Jason acted like the whole thing was a big joke. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seemed like he hadn't prepared worth anything and he didn't care. What an awful mess! The worst, by far. Actually, I think he may have been the worst of anyone all season. I'll say this for other singers who were eliminated much earlier; I pretty much always had the impression that they were trying, even if they didn't sound so good. Not so with Jason this week. Ugh!

I thought David C. was pretty good on the first song. Excellent on his second. Best of the night there.

Syesha did too much gyrating during song 1, though I thought she sounded really good through most of it. In parts she did seem more concerned about the amount of hip swaying she was doing, which irritated me. But I liked the vocal. Song 2: Well, it seemed awfully old-fashioned and outdated. She sang reasonably well but I didn't care for the whole package.

David A.: He was good. Consistent. Pleasant. I wasn't blown away like the judges were, but he was fine.

I feel like if anyone but JASON goes home, it will be very wrong. The others all tried and did something useful with their time onstage. He phoned it in.

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I'm in agreement with what you've said, but re: Syesha, what is wrong with old fashioned? That song must be taken in the context of the time.....the civil rights movement. I found it very ''touching'', not old fashioned. Jason has let it be known that he wants to leave yet America keeps him ''safe''. The result is what you saw last night. I'm not saying that I approve of his tactics (I don't), but since he's been so vocal about going, obviously many people are getting some perverse pleasure keeping him around to criticize or mock. JMO. /sb

Syesha's second song: I phrased my comment in a confusing way. I meant she sang and performed it in a very old-fashioned (in the sense of outdated and dull) way, not that the song itself was old-fashioned. Things like Syesha's hair and dress helped throw it off, for me. She looked like she was trying to be much older than she is and I think she needs to keep a younger, more consistent and contemporary issue. She was fun and young on the first song, then much more mature on the second one. I also thought she did a lot of shouting on song #2 and it was just kind of ''okay'' for me. Still MILES better than Jason, of course. Syesha definitely should stay this week. If she goes home instead of Jason, it will be a real disappointment. eom/lisa3

I happen to like her makeover. It seems to be working for her since her reviews have been much better. What we're seeing is a bit of the B/way Syesha. Simon and Paula like it, Randy doesn't, so she must be doing something right. Randy is Mr Power Note - Mr Glory Note. JMO. /sb

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