Words can't describe my relief when no "Idol" contestant attempted "their own spin" on The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" last night. With that said, having Mick and Co. be the first theme of "Idol" was a ballsy move, and it had predictably bad results. Here's how I scored last night (best to worst):
1. Siobhan Magnus. With Lilly Scott and Alex Lambert gone, I'm officially Team Siobhan. Aside from Crystal Bowersox (who is a very capable vocalist but does little to engage an audience), Siobhan is in a class of her own. Her (melo)dramatic rendition of "Paint It Black" was almost too Broadway for me, but the vocals were great-to-incredible (that last run was the highlight of the show) and Siobhan's confidence is becoming more apparent each week. At this point, she gets my vote because — besides obvious vocal talent — she's the most interesting contestant in all aspects.
2. Crystal Bowersox. Well of course Crystal closed out the show with "You Can't Always Get What You Want." I turned to my roommate and said, "She's going to kill this." But she didn't. It was merely good, with equal flashes of personality and timidity, but it still bored me. For Crystal to prove deserving of frontrunner status, she must take more chances in arrangement and song choice.
3. Katie Stevens. I had been missing a typical, big-voiced ballad all season, and Katie came the closest last night with "Wild Horses." I love her low range, but she refuses to lock into the right pitch for a considerable period. Still, she went for it and sounded great at times, particularly belting. A performance like this would be middle of the road in previous seasons, but for Season 9, its competency stood out. If that read like a backhanded compliment to Katie, well, then you may have read it right.
4. Aaron Kelly. It hit me last night that Aaron's lane is young country guy. (I'm probably late to this realization.) I haven't found much to like about Aaron but his interpretation of "Angie" endeared me enough last night. He may have the best pure voice out of the guys (not saying much). Also, the makeover worked well, too.
5. Casey James. He could have really shone this week (given the theme) but it was merely a just-OK cover with little artistic interpretation. Also, his guitar playing felt more like a crutch than a necessary component.
6. Paige Miles. There were flashes of that great voice the judges always talk about (but the audience hasn't heard much of), but I can't envision the type of artist Paige would/could/should be. Some might label her an enigma but she's not engrossing enough for it to fit. Her rendition of "Honky Tonk Woman" had a couple pitch issues but felt like her strongest performance thus far (despite claims of laryngitis). But remember, she probably should have been voted off last week.
7. Michael Lynche. It would have been extremely difficult to out-do himself, but Michael came up well short with his disco version of "Miss You." He was on point vocally but the whole performance lacked the WOW factor he had in his palm last week. Very meh.
8. Lee DeWyze. At least it wasn't Owl City or Hinder, right? His voice sounded too weak during the verses of "Beast of Burden" but he got into a pleasant, comfortable groove during the hook. He should be safe for another week.
9. Lacey Brown. The unique arrangement of her "Ruby Tuesday" had my hopes high from the start, but Lacey is a disappointment, both performing and vocally. Ellen hit it on the head: Why would she sit during the pumped-up chorus and get moving during the somber moments? Nothing adds up with Lacey, and her voice isn't good enough to hold my interest.
10. Didi Benami. There's an earnest, crying-on-the-kitchen-floor quality to Didi's voice that I admire, but she's a disservice to the competition at this point. Siobhan, Crystal and even Katie proved Didi and Lacey are hanging on for dear life. It's a shame since Didi had one of my favorite performance last week. Still, her frail voice and kinda-awkward stage presence just underline that she's been outclassed.
11. Tim Urban. Just like Didi, I was warming up to Tim after last week. This is no longer the case. His reggae abomination of "Under My Thumb" might sound good opening up for a second-rate Jack Johnson clone, but it was a very poor "Idol" decision. Tim continues to be a wild card, completely surprising me one week and then leaving me speechless and slightly horrified the next.
12. Andrew Garcia. He should have done "Straight Up" again. Just that one, over and over, because everything else just isn't working. His take on "Gimmie Shelter" wasn't even good karaoke, but rather a coherent version your buddy might do after a long night out. He needs to go. And if Andrew stays this week, I will be shocked because, really, how many chances can one person get?