American Idol Top Ten Finalist: Amanda Overmyer leaves Idol for home

There were hits and misses but after the votes were counted, the Harley Davidson nurse called it a day. PHILIP LIM follows the trail of the music.

KRISTY Lee Cook looked all set to go home on results night but Amanda Overmyer beat her to the exit door. It came as a bit of a shock to see two interesting personalities at the bottom three.
Together with Kristy and Amanda was Cathy Smithson who many didn’t expect to be in the “danger zone”. So it was indeed a surprise to see this former MCA Records artiste among the potential departees.
Amanda, the nurse who rides a Harley Davidson, can take consolation in the fact that she has made an impression on many people as the one who dared to make a difference. Presumably, her career prospects will now be brighter no matter which profession she eventually chooses.
Her rendition of Back In The USSR was nice but not great. Simon Cowell’s assessment was telling when he said that she was in danger of becoming a bit boring. Perhaps TV viewers took the cue from him.
Syesha Mercado was easily the best of the 11 contestants on Wednesday night. Her pick of the long list of Beatles’ hit songs, Yesterday, was decisive and Syesha captured the essence of the song and turned it into a jewel.
She was relaxed, maybe even a bit reflective because of the lyrics. Her voice soared across the crowded hall and filled the air. It delighted the audience and thrilled the judges.
Long after the applause had died down, Randy Jackson remarked that it was “a very, very, very good performance”. His sentiments were echoed by colleagues Paula Abdul and Simon.
Simon in one of his rare moments of verbal generosity said: “I thought that was probably your best performance so far.”

All of us who heard her couldn’t agree more.
Syesha was the ninth contestant of the evening. Joining her in that very small circle of contestants who were complimented by the three judges were 17-year-old David Archuleta and David Cook, 25.
Archuleta who fumbled with his opening lines last week redeemed himself with The Long and Winding Road. This memorable 1969 hit when sung by non-professionals would either be a miss or a hit.
It was undeniably Archuleta’s night when he nailed it with his deep and forceful vocals that brought adoring looks from his female fans in front of the stage.
A boyish face and an infectious smile can only be a formidable combination when that person is David Archuleta. Randy happily gave him the thumbs-up for his fine performance. This was followed by Paula who touched on Archuleta’s purity which she said would help him rise above adversity.
Paula’s words were a bit cryptic but most of the audience who heard her got the point.
Simon, who can be quite merciless when a singer’s delivery drops below par, looked Archuleta straight in the eye and said: “Last week was a complete mess. This week you are amazing. That was a master class.”
Archuleta is one of those lucky guys who always gets the “ahh” from the girls even when he doesn’t do so well on any particular night. It is doubtful that he would eventually wear the Idol crown but so long as he continues to be consistent, he can be assured of a place in the last five.
As for David Cook, the sixth singer of the night, his song choice Day Tripper was unfamiliar to many Beatles fans but he scored with the use of a voice box that gave character to the musical arrangement.
The guitar in Cook’s hands didn’t do much for the song but it did help boost his image as a talented artiste. Two out of three judges gave Cook a higher than average passing grade. Simon was the only dissenting voice. He commented: “I don’t think it was as good as you think it was.”
Randy likened it to “being at a David Cook Concert” and Paula pronounced that Cook was “ready to go and sell records”.
If last week was a bonus for Brooke White and Carly Smithson, this week ended with both girls receiving a below average rating.
Brooke, who routinely collects accolades from the judges, could only manage to collect “that was not hot for me” from Randy and “it could be a little more challenging” from Paula.
Simon opened up with both guns blazing. “I thought the performance was horrible. From the horrible dancing to that horrible dress,” said not-so-simple Simon. Brooke with pouted lips could only look in her husband’s direction with a slight despair.
But Brooke will probably recover next week, with another expected credible performance.
This wouldn’t be the kind of American Idol show if everyone was consistent with his or her performance every week.
Carly Smithson, who honestly wasn’t as remarkable as last week, stepped forth with Black Bird. It was a number that might have made some listeners scratch their heads.
But she managed to create a favourable impression as usual. On a night when she unexpectedly looked like an ordinary housewife wearing a red blouse and black pants. Her excellent control of vocals elicited bouquets from Paula and Randy.
Her professional quality voice drew Randy and Paula to her corner.
But Simon was obviously enjoying himself by being nasty when he said the song was indulgent and he didn’t like it.
His verdict made the Irish lass cringe and looked a bit horrified because her favourite judge had thrown her a curved ball.
Carly’s family members were an attraction even as they cheered her on because they were sporting tattoos on parts of their bodies.
Such a spectacle can only come from the American Idol show which never fails to entertain with some well placed cameras.
Ramiele Malubay was the last and the tiniest contestant of the evening but she definitely has a wide circle of friends and fans. Her number I Should Have Known Better was rendered superbly.
Even though it didn’t bring the house down, it made Randy say “I wasn’t jumping up and down but I liked it”. Paula who was plugging for her remarked that the Filipina was “definitely better than last week”.
Ramiele reminds some of us of the other Filipino-American, Jasmine Trias who came third in the third season of the American Idol. Like Ramiele, Jasmine too was small sized and pretty.
Let’s hope Ramiele can reach as far as Jasmine did in this contest.
If there’s any person who will get the vote for having the best pair of smiling eyes, it will have to be Jason Castro. When Jason sang Paul McCartney’s famous hit Michelle, it revived many forgotten memories of after-school parties that played this 1965 hit incessantly.
Jason’s voice and his smiling face contributed significantly to his rendition scoring a low distinction. This Texas kid is always good to have around because he has a way of pleasing the crowd.

American Idol Top 10 Finalist: Amanda Overmyer leaves Idol for home

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