All right, girls. Let’s bring it, okay? Unlike the guys. Okay, Randy just said it doesn’t matter what you sing as long as you sing it, and that is NOT TRUE…the most common criticism is that people chose the wrong song. Randy is annoying me this year for some reason.

Stephanie Edwards
song: How Come You Don’t Call Me
original performer: Alicia Keys

Simon is confusing. At her audition: “I really like you, you’re like one of those ’30s or ’40s jazz singers.” Most of the time: “That was too old-fashioned, like something from thirty or forty years ago.” Maybe it’s a cyclical thing? Like the ’30s and ’40s are cool again, but the ’60s and ’70s are out? Wow, now THAT’S how you sing on American Idol. That was amazing.

Amy Krebs
song: I Can’t Make You Love Me
original performer: Bonnie Raitt

Not bad, but sort of boring. Her voice is good, but… The personality of a candle? Where did Simon get that analogy?

Leslie Hunt
song: Natural Woman
original performer: Aretha Franklin

Parts of that were pretty good, but other parts I thought were sorta off-pitch. I think I like her, but that performance was just okay.

Sabrina Sloan
song: I Never Loved a Man
original performer: Aretha Franklin

She was much better than I was expecting based on those audition clips. She really sold that song, and that’s what it takes. Awesome.

Antonella Barba
song: I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing
original performer: Aerosmith

I think she was nervous…her pitch was rough in several places. There were some good parts, but pretty mediocre. Uh-oh, Paula’s pulling the “you’re a beautiful girl” card. Not a good sign. Why did she pick Aerosmith? Honestly.

Jordin Sparks
song: Give Me One Reason
original performer: Tracy Chapman

The second half was quite good…I was starting to wonder if she was going to test out her upper range. I think she could be really really great. Wow, Ryan is really short. Jordin doesn’t look that tall…until she’s next to Ryan.

Nicole Tranquillo
song: Stay
original performer: Rufus feat. Chaka Khan

That was weird for me. I don’t think I liked it. Although I did sort of GO DEAF FROM THE YELLING, so I missed the end.

Haley Scarnato
song: It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
original performer: Celine Dion

Did Ryan say she’s doing Celine? I’m not sure that’s a good idea…for a number of reasons. But we’ll see. Okay, I take that back. She did that quite well. Even though I already really liked her, I wouldn’t have guessed that she had the range for Celine. Good on her for surprising me. Faint praise from Paula–and WE didn’t hear it during Hollywood week (that I remember), so there. I liked it. (See, whatever Simon is calling “cabaret” and whatever Randy is calling “Broadway” is exactly what I like.)

Melinda Doolittle
song: Since You’ve Been Gone
original performer: Aretha Franklin

We already knew she was incredible, and she didn’t disappoint one little bit. If anyone needs to be singing Aretha up there, it’s her. Awesome. The only downside is that everyone knows she’s awesome, so it’s going to be hard for her to wow or surprise us, because we’re expecting it, you know?

Alaina Alexander
song: Brass in Pocket
original performer: The Pretenders

Dude, there was someone in Hollywood dressed as Snow White, I swear. Sorry, back to the moment. I was…underwhelmed, actually. I’m still a little convinced that Simon put her through because he was crushing her. There’s a smoky quality in her voice that I like, but the song as a whole wasn’t great.

Gina Glocksen
song: All By Myself
original performer: Celine Dion

I’ve been spelling her name wrong all the time. Oh well. Wow, I was concerned about her doing Celine, too, but she totally pulled it off. Even the high note. Whatever Simon says.

LaKisha Jones
song: And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going
original performer: Jennifer Holliday

I wondered how long it would be before someone did this song. Not long. ;) And she did it great, as expected. I can’t say I was totally wowed by it; partially because I already knew she’d be able to handle it, and also because I just saw Dreamgirls like last week and Jennifer Hudson BROKE ME UP. But still, great performance.

Well. I think it’s definitely a girl’s competition, at least based on these opening shows. The guys are going to have to really bring it. The girls’ problem is going to be that there are about five really good girls who are all more or less the same “type,” and they’re going to split the vote. Who do you pick between LaKisha, Melinda, Jordin, Sabrina, and Stephanie? Not that they’re all the same, but they’re the same demographic, and they’re all highly talented.

Top Performances: LaKisha Jones, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Sabrina Sloan, Haley Scarnato, Gina Glocksen
Going Home: Amy Krebs, Nicole Tranquillo, possibly Alaina Alexander or Antonella Barba