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JESSE - I think Jesse has a great body and that outfit (perhaps minus the boots) was SMOKING. That's about all I can say that is positive. The performance was decent, but the vocal was atrocious. Seriously, she sounded WAY worse than last week. She really blew it.

MATT - I agree with Simon about the outfit. The hat and the scarf just made him look like he was trying too hard. He's not cool enough to pull something like that off and make it look effortless, so instead, it made him look a little sad. The singing, though, was damn good. I really like his voice and the smoky quality. He put an awful lot of embellishments into the song, but instead of making the performance ABOUT the vocal gymnastics he was doing, he focused on the song and let the riffs just come about. I never felt like he was faking it or "indulging" himself. The one part I hated was the falsetto wail, but otherwise, I say "Job well done".

MEGAN - Megan is beautiful. Megan seems to have a fun, almost nerdy personality. Megan has most of what it takes. She just isn't a very good singer. This time, at least, she showed a vocal quality that is interesting. She just has no idea how to harness it for a song. She seems completely inexperienced like she's just starting to sing (and maybe that is the case). Unfortunately, she is competing against people who are way more polished and seasoned than she appears to be. I disagree with Simon. I think this WAS karaoke. Yes, she has qualities that make her unique, but that just makes for distinctive karaoke. What she doesn't bring to the song is any sophisticated artistry that would make it feel like she is the one bringing it to life.

VON - I have actually come to feel sorry for Von. He is so insecure and so nervous and he wants this SOOOO bad (for good reason, as without this show, he probably won't get a lot of opportunities for mainstream success). Von is almost the opposite of Megan. He has TONS of performing experience, but that has given him a last-chance air of desperation that absolutely crippled him tonight. If he can't get over the nerves after all of his experience, then he probably never will. This just wasn't good enough.

JASMINE - That was a really smart audition. She chose the right song to give the judges what they asked for but also to prove a point to them and she delivered pretty well. It's great to see a girl on this show who actually knows how to deliver with her lower register. Then, at the end with the head voice she showed versatility and range. She looked stunning and classy and young all at the same time. In my book, she earned a spot.

RICKY - I liked Ricky so much better this time around. I agree with what Simon said about it being karaoke and kind of awkward, but that is also what made it endearing. Last time, Ricky was so internal that he became distant and impenetrable. This time, he was a real guy we can all relate to. Randy is out of his mind with HIS comment - Ricky's last performance was indulgent (something the dawg failed to point out), but this one was heartfelt. I don't think it was vocally all that special. I regularly listen to Bucky's version of "Superstition" on the Season 5 CD and Bucky OWNED Ricky in the vocals (despite the tepid responses the judges always gave Bucky) because Bucky has soul and grit and LIFE in his voice. Still, Ricky wasn't atrocious this time and that is a great improvement.

TATIANA - In the looong litany of things I hate about Tatiana, the fact that she is such a STUPID, STUPID bitch comes close to the top. What in the world could she possibly have been thinking in doing that song again? And doing it WORSE (her pitch problems were way more noticeable than any Jasmine had)?! Does she not pick up on ANY clues the judges give her? Please let us never have to see her again!

ANOOP - I thought his singing was really good. I thought his performance was really silly with the gestures and stuff. Silly is okay in a competition like this. It makes him winning. However, as an actual artist, he could never be convincing doing something like this. I'm a little confused that the judges expect most contestants to prove what they could legitimately do as an artist, but Anoop gets a pass. Still, he was perfectly enjoyable tonight.


Before I watch the results, here are my rankings:

1. Jasmine
2. Matt
3. Anoop
4. Ricky
5. Megan
6. Von
7. Jesse
8. Tatiana (she sang better than Jesse, but song choice and everything else dragged her down)


I've now watched the results and I say "Bravo" to the judges. Sure, Ricky was better than Megan, but in "casting" the show, Megan is a better addition to the group. I have to say that going into the semifinals, my three favorites were Danny, Jasmine and Matt. Jasmine and Matt blew it in group two and lost me, but I'm glad they pulled it together and made it in. I can't believe I'm three for three! Although this is far from the best group of finalists we've ever had, I think it is one of the more diverse groups and I like that.

And I'm probably going to Hell for this, but I laughed my ass off when the whole group moved to the stage to celebrate with Anoop, and poor blind Scott was left standing all alone at the stools. ☺