Class ran late, so I’m running a bit late. Oh, well. So the guys actually brought it last night, and put themselves back into the competition. Let’s see if the girls do a reversal as well, and thus…suck. But I don’t think that’s going to happen. (Oh, no, what if I just jinxed them! Uh-oh…)

Gina Glocksen
song: Alone
original artist: Heart

She didn’t quite power that last note as much as it could’ve had, and beginning was a bit…um…where is this going…but the first entry into the rock part was very good. And yeah, the backup singer was impressive, too. ;)

Alaina Alexander
song: Not Ready to Make Nice
original artist: Dixie Chicks

I think that was a better song for her than last week’s–I’m still not convinced she sings as good as she looks. I agree with the judges, the beginning was good (I really liked what she was doing with the melody), but then it ran away from her a bit toward the end. Heh…she and Ryan do make a cute couple. ;)

LaKisha Jones
song: Midnight Train to Georgia
original artist: Gladys Knight

Awesome. She is so naturally good, it’s like she doesn’t even have to try. Some people are just born to do this, and she’s absolutely one of them.

Melinda Doolittle
song: My Funny Valentine
original artist: um. lots. Frank Sinatra sang it in the ’50s, but I think it’s from Rodgers & Hart’s 1940s show Pal Joey

I love this song! And she sang the pants off of it! Damn, it’s going to be quite the race between her and LaKisha, isn’t it? This is precisely why I love seeing what singers do with these old songs–the songs are actually better-written, IMO, than most songs now, but because they are, they provide a lot of freedom for people to change them up without it sounding like crap. Plus, the singers have to work really hard to do something that HASN’T been done before, so when they do? Frapping awesome. Like this.

Antonella Barba
song: Because You Loved Me
original artist: Celine Dion

I’m going to go out on a limb and say she won’t be able to do Celine. Let’s see… Well, it was better than last week. Of course, that’s not saying a helluva lot. The high notes were actually the best, interestingly. Dude, Antonella? There is NO COMPARING you to Jennifer Hudson. I’m sorry. There’s not.

Jordin Sparks
song: Reflection
original artist: Christina Aguilera

Very, very nice. Really good song for her voice. I don’t know that she’s quite AS good as Melinda and LaKisha, but I like her a whole lot, too. She’s got a bit more vulnerability than they do, which is attractive for me.

Stephanie Edwards
song: Dangerously in Love
original artist: Beyonce

She didn’t wow me as much as last week, but that’s probably just because she didn’t sing first. I tend to think that although she is very good, she’s not as memorable as some of the other singers that hit the same kind of demographic. But, judging by the judges, that may just be me.

Leslie Hunt
song: Feeling Good
original artist: Nina Simone

Why does this song sound so familiar? OH RIGHT, A.J. sang it last night. Yeah, I still don’t like the song. She was better than last week, though. I’m not sure how I feel about the scatting–sounded a bit forced (and overlong), but I mostly liked it. I do really like the tone of her voice, though. She’s growing on me.

Haley Scarnato
song: Queen of the Night
original artist: Whitney Houston

Very much not crazy about the song. If we get a choice between that and “cabaret” I think I’ll take cabaret. “Leaps and bounds” better than last week, Paula? I disagree. You couldn’t hear her voice! But then, I tend to diverge from most of humanity on that point. Damn, I sort of agree with Simon. The sky is falling!

Sabrina Sloan
song: All the Man That I Need
original artist: Whitney Houston

This girl can sing. There’s something about her I don’t care for, though…not sure what it is. I think she seems hard, or something. Not a vocal thing, because she’s very good vocally, but a personality thing.

Best Tonight: LaKisha Jones and Melinda Doolittle (I sense I will be typing those names for a LONG time to come). Also Jordin, Sabrina, and Leslie.
Going Home: Antonella and Alaina. Possibly Haley or Gina, but I hope not.