Digital Brainwaves

Finally, some variety. I like the Beatles, but two weeks running was overkill. Here we go…

• Is Paula borrowing her wardrobe from Michael Jackson? I mean, ’80s Michael?
• This week’s theme: “the year they were born.” For the majority of this crowd, that means the ’80s. Maybe Paula’s wardrobe is appropriate.
  1. Ramiele Malubay (9/6/87) - “Alone” - Big song. Sounds slightly sharp, but becomes wickedly flat when the band and backup singers come up behind her. Might have been too big a song for her.
• Some mild bickering already between Randy and Simon… heh.
  2. Jason Castro (3/25/87) - “Fragile” - Jason is singing on his birthday, ironically enough. One of his strongest performances, in my view. Stayed on key throughout, nice touch of Spanish in the middle.
  3. Syesha Mercado (1/2/87) - “If I Were Your Woman” - Lots of ‘87 babies in this crowd. I don’t know this song, but it sounds solid to me. Best performance of hers so far in this competition.
  4. Chikezie (9/11/85) - “If Only For One Night” - Another one I don’t know yet. Safe showing. Not spectacular, but not at all bad.
  5. Brooke White (6/2/83) - “Every Breath You Take” - Short stop at the beginning. I’m not sure about this arrangement. It makes a classic mistake with this song: it sounds romantic, but the song is about about a guy essentially stalking his ex. She sang the arrangement well enough, and she’s going to get my vote for it, but the arrangement didn’t really fit the song.
  6. Michael Johns (10/20/78) - “We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions” - Oldest of this crowd, if I remember right. Song fits him perfectly, and he does it right on. Awesome showing.
  7. Carly Smithson (9/12/83) - “Total Eclipse of the Heart” - I liked the song overall, though something felt a little weird about it. Maybe a smidge flat? Pretty good overall.
• I think Simon nailed what I was feeling about it. She seemed really tense during the song.
• Ryan does a good job of embarrassing the young lady sitting with David’s dad.
  8. David Archuleta (12/28/90) - “You’re The Voice” - I don’t know this one either. Pretty rockin’, though.
  9. Kristy Lee Cook (1/18/84) - “God Bless the U.S.A.” - Techically perfect, but didn’t add anything to it. It stayed pretty faithful to the Lee Greenwood original, and doing the same song over again add much value to it. Feeling better about it than Brooke’s arrangement, though.
  10. David Cook (12/20/82) - “Billie Jean” - Wow. Another extremely impressive Pearl Jam-esque cover. Undoubtedly the best show of the night, bar none.

I’m voting for: Jason (2), Syesha (3), Chikezie (4) Brooke (5), Michael twice (6, 6), Carly (7), David A. (8), Kristy (9) and David C three votes (it was that good) (10, 10, 10)

Predictions
Bottom three: Ramiele, Jason and Chikezie
Going home: Ramiele