Round 1: The Girls

Here’s how the night went for the 12 girls competing to be the next American Idol.  Simon believes that this will be the girls’ year.  And Ellen claims that Simon wants her and he has wondering hands.  Hehe!

The 2 girls and the 2 guys with the least amount of votes will be cut.

Paige Miles – It’s Alright Now by Free

• Simon – “Out of all the girls, you have the best voice.”  “I wouldn’t have chose that song.”
• Kara – “I disagree with Simon.”  “You really got to put your soul into it, and that’s what you’ve got, a lot of soul.” “You got a ridiculous voice, girl.”
• Randy – “Great job.”
• Ellen – “You were so there, you were so present.”

Ashley Rodriquez – Happy by Leona Lewis

• Simon – “It was clumsy…I didn’t like the arrangement.”  “I don’t feel you as a contemporary recording artist just someone who sings other peoples songs not very well.”
• Kara – “I gotta give you credit for taking on such a big song but there were definitely moments that were not great.”  “I wanna see you take on songs that we wouldn’t think you’d sing and do something different with them.”
• Randy – “I couldn’t really see you in there.”
• Ellen – “It’s predictable.”

Janell Wheeler - What About Love by Heart

• Simon – “You gave it 100% effort and probably delivered 65%.”  “There were moments in the song that I do like your voice.”  “I think you are going to survive this week.”
• Kara – “The song was way too big for you.”
• Randy -  “The choice just didn’t work for me.”  “I like your voice.”
• Ellen – “I like that song and I thought you sang it very well.”  “I like you.”

Lilly Scott – Fixing a Hole by The Beatles

• Simon – “Definitely the better we’ve had so far.”  “I’m still not feeling much star power from you.”
• Kara -  “You’re believable, you come from the heart.”  “Everyone is going to remember you tonight.”
• Randy – “I love the honesty, I thought it was great.”
• Ellen – “You have such a distinctive voice and you stand out because you’re not like everyone else.”

Katelyn Epperly - Oh! Darling by The Beatles

• Simon – “There were elements of that song where you were beginning to scream the song, um, and it was very messy, I actually like you.”
• Kara – “You know your voice very, very well.”  “I don’t think the make over is helping you, I liked you natural.”
• Randy – “You pay attention to the tone.”  “I just like your whole vibe.”  “I think you can go places and do stuff.”
• Ellen – “It was interesting to me and made me want to pay attention to you.”  “I felt like it was pushed.”

Haeley Vaughn – I Wanna Hold Your Hand by The Beatles

• Simon – “It was verging on terrible.”  “You were like a wind-up doll that never stops smiling.”  “It was a complete and utter mess.”
• Kara – “From a technical standpoint, there were some issues with that performance.”  “You come and you have fun and everyone around you feels that.”
• Randy – “I think there are great possibilities with you because you are so bold but just try to get it all together in one package next time.”
• Ellen – “You just shine.”  “I enjoyed it.”

Lacey Brown – Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

• Simon – “After about 15 seconds I was working out how much longer we’ve gotta listen to it for.”  “It was just boring.”  “You’ve got nice eyes.”
• Kara – “It felt more forced.”
• Randy – “I thought that was terrible.”  “It just didn’t suit your voice.”
• Ellen – “I know you’re better than that.”

Michelle Delamor – Fallen by Alicia Keys

• Simon – “You did very well.”  “There wasn’t one moment in the performance that I thought, wow!”
• Kara – “When you hit it right, it sounds great but there were moments that it wasn’t great.”
• Randy – “You did a pretty good job.”  “Take some risks.”
• Ellen – “That was fantastic.”  “It seemed easy.”  “I know you can do better than that but it was still amazing.”

Didi Benami - The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

• Simon – “A bit indulgent, I thought the song was dreary.”  “I do like you and I think you have a good voice.”
• Kara – “You, at least, made some changes to the original recording.”  “It was a bit pitchy.”
• Randy – “Where’s the star factor?”  “You sounded great.”  “It was so sleepy for me.”
• Ellen – “It was just a little low-key, but you’re great.”

Siobhan Magnus – Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

• Simon – “You might be a very dark person, I don’t know.”
• Kara – “Kinda like you on that song.”  “It feels real and I can feel that connection.”  “I’d say pretty good.”
• Randy – “You gotta great voice.”
• Ellen – “I loved it.”  “I thought it was a great song choice.” “I really liked it a lot.”

Crystal Bowersox – Hand in My Pocket by Alanis Morissette   (by the way!…Her teeth look a lot better!)

• Simon – “You’re doing a sound-a-like.”  “I really, really like you.  I think you’re refreshing.”
• Kara -  “You have greatness in you.”  “You have the ability to take us on a journey.”
• Randy – “You’re one of my favorites.”  “I love your originality.”
• Ellen – “You add something fresh to the show.”

Katie Stevens -  Feeling Good by Michael Buble

• Simon – “It started to become annoying.”  “Very pageanty.”
• Kara – “You were kinda all over the place.”  “You have a natural gift.  You have ridiculous chops.”
• Randy – “You have a big voice.”  “It was just too old for you.”
• Ellen – “It was very conservative.”  “It was a little old for you.”  “You’re great.”