Love Songs Bring Out The Best Of Our Love

Love was a many splendored thing on American Idol 5 as the Top 6 teamed up with esteemed tenor Andrea Bocelli and producer David Foster to bring fresh versions of "classic" love songs to the stage.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's* take on the AI5 Finals Round 7: Love Songs.
*Destiny is on assignment this week.

Katharine McPhee "I Have Nothing"
Liza: I was worried when she said she was singing this song, and when I heard her duet with Andrea Bocelli of "The Prayer", I kind of wished she had sung that instead. But I really liked the advice that David Foster gave her to put a new twist on the song on the big "don't make me close one more door". I thought she put her own spin on the song so that comparisons to Whitney didn't have to be made. The judges thought differently, but I beg to differ with them on this. I thought she sang that great and didn't go shrill like she has a tendency to do when she hits the big notes, and I heard no pitch problems. She pulled it off and managed to avoid a catastrophe with her dress becoming unbuttoned at the slit.
Score: 8.5
Tammy: I agree, Liza. Katharine really didn't deserve the harsh words from the judges. While I thought that at times she never really looked completely comfortable (and really, who could be, wearing that dress?) as she sang, her pitch really wasn't that bad. In my opinion, she sounded much better than last week, which was a sharp mess.
Score: 8.0
Elliott Yamin "A Song For You"
Liza: Oh god. I am Paula Abdul right now - puddle of goo and agreeing with everything she said. That was THE moment from this year for me. Elliott brought the full package tonight - tremendous vocals, suave outfit and looking kind of hot. Great, great song choice, and what a charming pre-performance interview. That was lovely of him to recognize and honor Donny Hathaway and his daughter.
Score:9.9
Tammy: Eh? I guess I just don't get all the Elliott love. He was good, but I didn't think he was great. His vibrato was more pronounced than in recent weeks, and he still doesn't seem especially passionate as he sings. But, considering the field, is one of the best of this lot.
Score: 8.8
Kellie Pickler "Unchained Melody"
Liza: Bwahahaha. David Foster gave her horrible advice. That falsetto note in practice was yodel-awful. Unfortunately for her, the whole song was pretty awful and out of tune. Full disclosure - I hate the song anyway, but Kellie made it worse. She should not sing slow songs because she turns them into snooze-fests. She is much better when she goes up-tempo and "minxes" it up.
Score: 3.5
Tammy: Oh dear. It looked like someone told Kellie that her dog died then proceeded to push her out onstage. The girl looked miserable up there (perhaps realizing how bad she was going to butcher this song).
Score: 3.0
Paris Bennett "The Way We Were"
Liza: I like her train of thinking in picking this song because her youth was what people were concerned about in her song choice, but it is an old-fashioned song along the same lines of "Wind Beneath My Wings". She seemed to mumble the opening verse, which is something I noticed she has a tendency of doing with these slow old-fashioned ballads. Her voice was pitch-perfect and powerful, but this isn't really something I would want her to sing.
Score: 7.5
Tammy: This didn't sound good. The key seemed too low for her, and it seemed like she didn't know how to emote during the song. The song was an ill fit, and may be her undoing.
Score: 7.0
Taylor Hicks "Just Once"
Liza: I absolutely love this song (even if on this stage it reminds me of Chilean karaoke - Brad Estrin shoutout!), and judges be damned - I think it's right up Taylor's wheel-house in his lower register. I was worried he wouldn't be able to hit that glory note, but he nailed it. While I agree that it wasn't as good as the original, I thought it was very nicely done.
Score: 8.0
Tammy: Taylor sounded flat throughout the first half of the song, and the second half wasn't strong enough to make up for it. He seemed completely detached for most of the song, then appeared to have realized how much he was tanking and added some 'Taylorisms' to make up for it. Taylor's worst performance on an Idol stage, right here.
Score: 6.0
Chris Daughtry "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman"
Liza: Wow. What a horrifically cheesy song choice. I guess Chris is preparing for his puppies and unicorn winner's song. I'll give him credit, though, he truly made the most of it vocally. It was really a good vocal for that song. But dude ... it's a LOVE song. Soften up the scary rock faces or that woman ain't gonna love you back.
Score: 8.5
Tammy: You call this song cheesy but not 'Just Once'? Whatevah! Okay, the song is a bit cheese-o-rific, but I actually liked Chris' version better than the original. It was a perfect song choice for Chris. I found Chris less scary, more 'intense'. I also think his eyebrows are overplucked. Put the tweezers down, stylists!
Score: 9.3
Who Should Be Eliminated
Liza: Kellie
Tammy: Kellie
Who Will Be Eliminated
Liza: Paris
Tammy: Paris

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We asked you, "Who Did You Vote For On Standards Night?"
28% Katharine, 22% Taylor, 16% I Didn't Vote
11% Elliott, 10% Chris, 7% Paris, 5% Ace, 1% Kellie

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