AI5 Semifinals Round 3:
The Girls Fall Short

American Idol 5 has been a pretty fierce competition thus far, with last week leaving the guys ahead of the girls. This week, all the contestants have one last chance to show what they've got to earn a spot in the Top 12. Unfortunately, most of the girls, try as they may, didn't live up to their full potential on Tuesday night, leaving the door wide open for the guys to take control of the season when next week rolls around.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the AI5 Semi-Finals Round 3: Girls.

Paris Bennett "Conga"
Tammy: Paris is probably looking as good as she ever has tonight. Cute hair, cute dress. Are people still trying to pair up jeans with dresses? Has that ever worked? Paris seemed nervous tonight, her breathing was a bit of an issue throughout the performance. It wasn't wow, but it was pretty good.
Score: 7.2
Liza: The Paris Bennett merry-go-round of hairstyles gives her the best look yet. As for her performance, she can really move, and I like that she put her own touches on the song (which was an odd choice for this round), but unfortunately she didn't bring the heat that she did in her first week. She set herself a high benchmark that she has yet to live up to.
Score: 7.25
Destiny: I agree. She showed us greatness, and now I want greatness every time I see her! Unfortunately, this was just goodness. I agree about loving the hair (and I like pants under dresses, so sue me!). I also liked seeing Paris have fun onstage, but the song choice was just not good. Paris needs to step it up if she wants to get the votes week to week. Come on, girl, and be the superstar that I know you are!
Score: 7.0

Lisa Tucker "Here's Where I Stand"
Tammy: Ehh...it's impossible for me to muster up any enthusiasm for this girl, sorry. I don't really think she connected with the song. It just seemed too 'old' for her.
Score: 6.8
Liza: I first heard this song on Australian Idol when the winner Casey Donovan did it in the semifinal round. I preferred Casey's version. The main difference between the two is that Casey's was pure emotion and substance, whereas Lisa was all volume and held notes. I felt that disconnect that Simon discussed. And I hate that the Idol stylists have gotten to her beautiful hair.
Score: 7.0
Destiny: Lisa was in full Natalie Cole mode again this week. And, again, she turned in a good vocal performance. But I agree with Liza in that it was lacking in emotion and connection. I am still waiting for Lisa to choose the perfect song and create magic.
Score: 6.5

Melissa McGhee "What About Love"
Tammy: Of any song that she could have chosen, this song was probably the best for Melissa. However, after an impressive beginning, she struggled throughout the song, sounding a bit shouty on some of the notes and straining to reach others.
Score: 7.1
Liza: Melissa's best asset in this competition is that deep, raspy voice. I was stunned that she started off this song so high and out of her normal range because her lower register is a standout. She did pretty well with the song, but she would have slayed it in a lower key.
Score: 7.0
Destiny: I agree, Melissa did "pretty well" with the song. Nothing special. And to top off her mediocre vocals, I can't shake the feeling that she's trying to copy past Idol contestants with every move she makes. I don't think we've seen the "real" Melissa, and I don't get the feeling that even she knows who that is.
Score: 5.5

Kinnik Sky "If I Ain't Got You"
Tammy: Yet another song that doesn't fit Kinnik. I think she's done. The vocals weren't very impressive at any point through the song, and it just comes across that she's really not sure what to do to appeal to the voting public. She doesn't come across as authentic because she's a different Kinnik every time we see her.
Score: 6.5
Liza: Ooof. She went out of tune going into the chorus and never really found her way back. I thought she sounded too old on this song, and combine that with the pitch problems, it's apparent that she's a goner.
Score: 4.5
Destiny: Yes, I don't think there's any way that Kinnik is making the Top 12, and it's not because she's not talented. She's a cute girl with a potentially strong voice, but she hasn't made herself a standout in this competition. I agree with Tammy that we've seen a different Kinnik every time she's hit the Idol stage, none of them being definitively strong. I'd love to see her get a chance to come back and show what she's got and grow throughout the season, much like Vonzell was able to do last year, but I don't think she'll be that lucky.
Score: 5.5

Katharine McPhee "Think"
Tammy: While I'm growing tired of some of these older song choices, Katharine did a pretty good job with 'Think' and her bubbly personality really came across, which will no doubt charm viewers. Again, she seemed to go a little sharp on some of the notes in her upper register, but overall it was, as Katharine would say, "fun."
Score: 7.7
Liza: She really needed to do an upbeat song this time around, and she didn't disappoint. She has such an affable, fun on-stage presence, and her voice, that's both sultry and sweet, is just outstanding. Great job.
Score: 9.0
Destiny: Yes, Katharine certainly needed this uptempo song this week. It was nice to see her have "fun" onstage after two weeks of moodiness. Hopefully this is the real her and we'll be seeing this kind of energy and personality again.
Score: 8.0

Ayla Brown "Unwritten"
Tammy: Ayla completely shouted that song from beginning to end. And why is her hair looking like 'the morning after'? The wiggly eyebrows bugged. And she couldn't have waited till after the show to do some squats? Definitely not her best tonight.
Score: 5.8
Liza: Ayla also needed to do an upbeat song, and she picked a very very current hit, which is quite a risk, but I think she paid real close attention to Simon's comments to Chris last week about being current and relevant. I thought she did well not only to try to be current but to step out of her comfort zone. The judges' ridiculous double-standards did her no favors.
Score: 7.25
Destiny: I am all about hating the judges' double-standards, but I didn't see them with Ayla this week. In fact, I kind of agreed with Simon in that the Ayla in her video pieces is much more appealing than the onstage Ayla. Her outfit was much better than anything she's sported thus far, but, I'm with Tammy: her hair and makeup still looked like she's playing dress-up. I applaud her interesting and fresh song choice, but her vocals were really weak. Ayla is a cute girl and has a nice personality, but she continues to come off as talent show material instead of pop star. She's got a lot of growing to do as a singer and a performer.
Score: 6.0

Mandisa "I'm Every Woman"
Tammy: It was good. Best of the night. And yet? I still don't think she has a shot at winning this thing.
Score: 8.5
Liza: This is the Mandisa I've been waiting for. On a really difficult song to sing, she was absolutely flawless vocally. She really tore it up tonight, and she's so likeable and fun. Just brilliant.
Score: 9.75
Destiny: Oh, yes! She put it all out there. That's what I like to see. A contestant giving it absolutely everything she has. Love it. Tammy, I don't know if Mandisa has a shot at actually winning this competition, with there being so many frontrunners this season, but she certainly does absolutely everything she can to plead her case.
Score: 9.3

Kellie Pickler "I'm The Only One"
Tammy: The Country spin Kellie put on this song really worked. Still don't think her mannerisms onstage look completely natural, but that could be said for about 95% of the contestants this season. On the whole, I'm pleasantly surprised.
Score: 7.5
Liza: As Simon says, she's not the best singer here. She doesn't have enough power in her voice to pull off that song well. I couldn't hear her very well until the chorus, when her shrill vocals pierced into that song. The song calls for more gruff and less peppy cheerleader. She just acts like a total idiot airhead. Props to her, though, for looking a bit horrified at Simon's compliment of her at Carrie's expense.
Score: 6.25
Destiny: Regardless of whether you think Kellie is truly naive or putting on somewhat of an act, the girl is adorable and brings a true sense of fun to the show. She's a good, if not great, singer who knows how to work the stage. I'll take it. And, as I said before, it's really too bad that she wasn't around last season when Simon and Co. forced a Country girl on America as the pre-crowned winner. Kellie would have filled the position much better. Ironically, Simon, the man who made Carrie the winner last year, agrees.
Score: 8.0

Who Should Be Eliminated
Tammy: Kinnik, Lisa
Liza: Kinnik, Kellie
Destiny: Melissa, Ayla/Kinnik

Who Will Be Eliminated
Tammy: Kinnik, Melissa
Liza: Kinnik, Melissa
Destiny: Kinnik, Melissa

Come back tomorrow for the It's Destiny! panel's take on the guys of AI5.

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