And We're Live!!

Finally, We are live! The top 24 of American Idol is finally performing live and most importantly I have a say in the outcome. The voting begins! Let's cut through the clutter and find America's best and favorite new artist! I just love Idol, it's like a drug to me. All day on Tuesday, I was in this super excited mood. If something was going wrong...didn't matter. Idol is on. I'm running late, forgot my lunch, had a bad hair day.... doesn't matter. Idol is on. Starting now, I will be in a great mood every Tuesday and Wednesday through May.

The ladies kicked off the top 24 competition, and overall I wasn't impressed and thought they underperformed. I'm now just that much more excited for the men to sing tonight. Every year, I think we are finally going to get some clued in contestants, people that have actually watched the show and will learn from past contestants horrible song choices and mistakes. Every year I'm wrong. There are some very basic rules of Idol that these people need to abide: DON'T sing a song by the following artists: Mariah, Celine, Whitney, Christina. Don't Sing "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", it will always sound like a cheesy cheap rendition. It's Whitney's worst song and a terrible choice. Don't sing "All By Myself" unless you seriously think you can bring the house down LaToya London style (season 5).

Don't sing "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles (great song, don't sing it), don't sing Alicia Keys "Fallin'", don't sing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline. Don't sing anything by Elvis. You know "A Little Less Conversation". It will be awkard and I will feel uncomfortable. Don't sing anything by Al Green. Don't sing anything by Earth, Wind & Fire. Don't sing anything that people equate to Hotel lounge music. Basically 70's R&B should be off limits. If you sound like Janis Joplin, don't sing Janis Joplin. Be different, sing outside the box. Just don't be obvious. Nothing is worse than obvious. Don't sing a song that a former Idol winner has on one of their albums, especially one they've received Grammy's for. For example: LaKesha Jones singing "Jesus Take the Wheel". Danny Gokey singing "Jesus Take the Wheel". Everyone: Just don't sing "Jesus Take the Wheel". Watch the show: you will learn. Another: Lisa Tucker singing Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You".

Here's what you SHOULD do: Take a song that we know but forgot how much we like and make it your own. Remind us why that song was good. Make us go to iTunes and download it. For example: David Cook singing "Hello". Brooke White reminding us why "Love is a Battlefied" is such a great Pat Benatar song and teach us that an acoustic version could be pretty cool. If you take a Beatles song, be amazing (David Archuleta's "Imagine"). Season 9's Andrew Garcia already won me over with his acoustic rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up". It was brilliant and the other 23 contestants need to take notes. Here's the breakdown of the ladies on Tuesday:

Paige Miles (Song Choice: All Right Now)

I really liked Paige. She got zero air time during auditions, so you didn't get to know what she was like, a back-story on her, but she proved why she was there. She's gorgeous too, kind of a Kerry Washington look-a-like. I just absolutely hate the song "All Right Now" by Free. It's a crappy song and for some reason, it's an Idol favorite...but usually sung by a guy (wasn't even that impressed with David Cook's version during his early audition process). She has a cool voice and I liked her performance. I'm interested to see what she brings next week if she sticks around and survives the curse that who goes first. Could be a bottom 3 just based on that. But I'd agree with Simon that out of all the girls, she may have the best voice.

Ashley Rodriguez (Song Choice: Happy)

Gorgeous girl and I loved her in the auditions. Has the look and everything, sort of a Rosario Dawson look-a-like. She goes "Happy" by Leona Lewis, which is a big ballsy song to choose. Leona being Simon's girl and all. I give her credit for taking on a big song, but she may need to stay in her league a little more. Add Leona to my list of don't touch those artists.

Janell Wheeler (Song Choice: What About Love)

I've been a big fan of Janell in the early auditions when she sang the acoustic version of Estelle's American Boy. Love love loved it. I love that I didn't recognize what song it was right away. I had to keep listening and finally figured it out at the end. I love the raspiness in her voice and the originality. Then she chose to sing Heart (What About Love) on Tuesday, and just didn't deliver. She was super-pitchy. Now I have to admit: I love Heart. LOVE them. My rule for Idol: If you can sing Heart, you're IN mine. Ann Wilson is a rock goddess and if you can deliver those notes, you've won me over. But Janell was a little out of her league with that song, it was too big for her.

Best Heart moments on Idol: Carrie Underwood singing Alone (her Idol coming out party when she looked liked Jon Benet Ramsay but sounded perfect); Alison Iraheta singing Alone in last year's early auditions. She sealed her way into the top 12 with that performance. Crazy on You sung by Carly Smithson.

Hopefully America will keep her around for another week.

Lily Scott (Song Choice: Never Heard of It)

Now this girl is just a breath of fresh air. Everything about this girl is cool. The hair, the style, the peacock/dreamcatcher earrings, the voice. It's something different. While watcing with my friend, she and I have developed big expectations for Lilly. Her name is Lilly Scott. She's meant to be a musician, meant to be famous. She's cool, different, she showed her identity. Couldn't tell you the song she sang, but she sang it well. It may not be your cup of tea, but thank god for something new. I'd like to see what else she can sing.

Katelyn Epperly (Song Choice: Some Beatles song)

Love this girl. Hated her song choice. These words came to mind: lounge singer. wedding singer. lobby bar. And the feather didn't help. Come on girl, watch the show. Pick better songs. But I still like her and really want to show what else she can do. She does know her voice and has such a cool tone, hopefully she does something stronger next week. I'd like to see her go far. And I agree and disagreed with Kara's comments on her style.. I love that she's diverse and a bit of a chameleon with her style... soft and pretty, earthy then dark, hip.

Haeley Vaughn (Song choice: I Want To Hold Your Hand)

Sorry, I'm just not a fan. If she makes the top 12, she will get on everyone's nerves the first or second week. Her voice is grating. And I did not like this performance, it made me uncomfortable. I didn't know how I was suppose to feel. She should stop playing the guitar. She knows 4 notes.. (Another rule of Idol: Do not play an instrument if you don't play it well) When choosing her song "I Want To Hold Your Hand", I think her thought process went something like this: "I want to play the guitar in my performance. I only know 4 notes. What did I learn in guitar class? "I want to hold your hand". Great, I'll sing that." Beyond that, why would you choose that song?

Lacey Brown (Song Choice: Landslide)

Oh Lacey. You came so close last year and lost out to Megan Joy, so I was rooting for you. But this was just not a good performance. The nerves just got to her and she couldn't shake them off. I really wanted it to be over. Not much else to say here... beautiful girl with potential. Hopefully America will see that?

Michelle Delamor (Song Choice: Fallin')

Surprise, surprise. She sang Alicia Keys' "Fallin'". Seriously, every year the Syesha Mercado's of this competition come out and perform this song. It's so safe, so boring that I blogged about how boring it is while listening to it. Gorgeous girl, got the looks, got talent. Not sure about the personality. Lacking a little bit of charisma for me. It's a bit of a snooze-fest. She sounded okay, but there was no wow moment. It just kind of flatlined. Middle of the road and forgettable. People may not vote for middle of the road. Didi Benami (Song Choice: The Way I Am)

I've been a fan of this girl from early on when she sang the Kara Dioguardi's song "Terrified". She's a bit of an Avril Lavigne look-alike, sound-a-like. Didi sang "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson and sounded pretty good...and sounded Exactly the same as the original unfortunately. She was good, but safe and that won't get you votes. Crossing my fingers for Didi!! Cool tone to her voice, nice sweet girl. She has my vote.

Siobhan Magnus (Song Choice: Wicked Game)

Hey, Demi Lovato's twin sister tried out for Idol. A little Demi, a little Claire Danes. She's quirky and cool. I loved this performance. Wicked Game....Um, it was wicked GOOD. For me, this was the best of the night, the most original. What woman sings Wicked Game? Awesome, just awesome. A very smart choice for Siobhan. She stays. Her personality is a little wackines so hopefully America embraces that and can get past the pained faces she makes when she sings. However, I can't sing a lick and if I have to make ugly faces to have a beautiful voice, then so be it.

Crystal Bowersox (Song Choice: Hand in My Pocket)

This girl is just cool and one that America will pull for. She's different and unique and can hopefully think of herself as an American Idol and not an average coffee house singer. She is just the kind of singer that I would point out in a bar and after a few drinks, tell her how she should try out for Idol (this has been done before people). I really liked this performance, and I loved that he picked Alanis Morrissette. I would've picked a different song for her (maybe "That I Would Be Good"?), but I'm so glad she chose something other than the obvious Joplin or Etheridge song. Smart choice. Wish she laid off the harmonica a bit so we could hear her sing more.

Katie Stevens (Song Choice: Feeling Good)

This girl could be the winner. She's been an early early favorite. I thought she sounded great, but this song choice was more than predictable. Of course, she sang Feeling Good. It's the perfect song for her to sing, one she's probably practiced a million times in her room. And it's an Idol favorite, one that everyone has sung. Adam Lambert season 8. A.J. Tabaldo and Leslie Hunt in Season 6. AJ and Leslie who?? Exactly. It's a great song, but old fashioned for the Idol audience. My biggest criticism of Katie is her style. The prom dress from Deb or some other store in the mall. The cheap earrings from Target. She's 17 and dressed like she's 13. She'll make the top 12 and I can't wait for the make-over. She seems to have it all - the face, the chops, and maybe a new stylist. I'm cheering for the girl from the Nutmeg State.