Guest Blogger: Angela on American Idol - the top 8 girls

This is the ladies’ last chance to show what they’ve got and earn a spot in the top 12. Some definitely lived up to the challenge, but others struggled to make a lasting impression and one failed miserably. Here’s my ranking of the night’s performances:

1. Crystal – “Give Me One Reason” – Another solid performance!
2. Didi – “Rhiannon” – I love her voice. Period. In fact, I thought the back up singers (who only came in briefly) temporarily ruined the vibe.
3. Siobhan – “House of the Rising Sun” – This is the best I’ve heard her sing. She didn’t shriek like last week and still showed off her range. It was bold to sing the first part a cappella, but she sounded great.
4. Lacey – “The Story” – I liked this but didn’t love it. The song definitely suited her voice and in general I like Lacey, but I question her versatility. If she makes it to the theme weeks, she’s probably going to struggle.
5. Lilly – “I Fall to Pieces” – Lilly isn’t really my cup of tea, but she sounds decent enough. I’m sure some people love her voice; I just prefer other contestants.
6. Katelyn – “I Feel the Earth Move” – This was a nice performance, nothing amazing or memorable. Katelyn is cute, likable, and talented, so she should make it through to the top 12 despite a less than stellar performance.
7. Katie – “Breakaway” – This is a good song choice for her, age-appropriate and contemporary. Unfortunately she didn’t sound that good. The high notes were sharp; the low notes were flat.
8. Paige – “Smile” – She was off from the first note. This is a classic, simple song, but Paige couldn’t handle it. She sounded horrible.

Paige is definitely a goner. She was probably borderline anyway given her lack of early exposure on the show, but her performance this week was by far the worst. The other eliminatee (is that a word?) is kind of up in the air. I think Katie and Lacey are at the most risk because of their lack of connection with the audience, but Lacey had a great week. Katelyn didn’t have a great week, but she’s been consistent and probably established an early fan base (she was the first auditioner of the season). Siobhan proved herself this week, but her quirky personality could be a turn off for some viewers. I love Didi but maybe the rest of America loves Lilly more. The final elimination will probably come down to audience preference; who do the voters like better, not necessarily who is the better singer or gave a better performance this week. I’d bet that Crystal is safe though.

- Angela Pasquinelli