Top 3 Do Three
on American Idol 5

The Top 3 on American Idol 5 hit the stage this week singing three songs apiece. First up were the songs chosen by Clive Davis, followed by songs chosen by the judges, while the contestants closed the show with songs of their own choosing. The pressure certainly was on, as this is perhaps the tightest race for the Top 2 spots ever in AI history.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the AI5 Finals Round 10: Top 3 Do Three.

Elliott Yamin "Open Arms"
Liza: Not a good way to start the evening. Elliott biffed the "So now I come to you with open arms" lyric, going way out of tune on "arms". And then he immediately interchanged the lyrics, switching out "hoping you'll see what your love means to me" in place of "nothing to hide believe what I say". I was shocked the judges barely alluded to it because it pretty much ruined the song for me.
Score: 6.0
Destiny: I didn't notice any lyric problems. I just thought that was the way they cut the song, especially considering that the song was cut so short. I didn't hear any out-of-tune notes, either. I wasn't overwhelmed by this performance, but I certainly didn't think it was bad. My only complaint is that I didn't care for the arrangement and cut of the song. Too much crammed into too short of a time.
Score: 8.9
Tammy: I must have missed the lyric flubbing too. The song was an ill fit for Elliott. He's not a rocker, Clive (although this song could barely be classified as 'rock'). The song was just...there. Highly forgettable filler.
Score: 7.0

Katharine McPhee "I Believe I Can Fly"
Liza: Wow. Clive must hate her if he picked THAT dreadful song for her. First of all, it's not her kind of song at all. And it encourages glory-noting. Just ask Anwar. Second of all, Clive told Katharine to make it her own, to soar, and to put her own spin on it. And he told her she had a great range, which she really doesn't. She did exactly what Clive told her to do, made a white hot pageantry mess out of it, then got slammed by Randy for it. It's a little unfair, but Katharine could have done better with it.
Score: 5.5
Destiny: I agree that it was a crappy song choice by Clive. Katharine does not have great range, and this song only proved that. I didn't appreciate her bratty comments to the judges afterwards, either. While I do commend her for reminding them that she didn't choose this song, she really had no place to complain that the judges have been hard on her. If anything, they've been kind, considering the screechy vocals she's turned in the past few weeks.
Score: 5.0
Tammy: Oof. Katharine may be pretty, but that performance certainly wasn't. What I can't figure out is how Katharine hasn't come to the conclusion that just because she can hit a note by screeching it, doesn't make it pleasing to the ear. And yes, a terrible song choice by Clive. This was a 'flight' that never really got off the ground.
Score: 5.0

Taylor Hicks "Dancing In The Dark"
Liza: Like most of Taylor's performances, this one is better off just listened to. With my eyes closed, it sounded really good, but when I watch him and his constipated faces, goofy and gimmicky dancing, the knock-off of the Springsteen video with the dancing with the girl on stage and Carlton Banks dance, and especially the ridiculous finger gun he made when he sang "this gun's for hire", it really knocks the performance quality down. He's like a karaoke singer with a really fantastic voice.
Score: 7.0
Destiny: I couldn't disagree with you more. Everything you hated is exactly what I loved about the performance. Loved the gun move, especially the way he put it back in the holster. And I ADORED the Springsteen video homage, replacing Courteney Cox with Paula Abdul as the dancing girl. Just precious. And so much fun! The only thing I agree with Liza on is that the vocals were spot-on fantastic on this number.
Score: 9.5
Tammy: I have to side with Liza on this one. The song perfectly suited Taylor's voice, but the visual definitely took away from the performance. Though I'm not really sure how one could sing this song and not look ridiculous.
Score: 8.0

Elliott Yamin "What You Won't Do For Love"
Liza: This was a good choice for his style of singing, but it was also a bit of a snoozer. The song itself is a good one, and I do like it, but it is no show-stopper by any means. Elliott sounded good on it, but it didn't thrill me as other past performances did.
Score: 7.5
Destiny: I do not like this song AT ALL. I don't get why Paula chose this for Elliott in the slightest. Yes, he sounded good on it, but the song is so boring and forgettable that it did him no favors in terms of showing off his talent or in helping him to get votes. Paula has no right to criticize a contestant for "poor song choice" ever again.
Score: 8.7
Tammy: Boring song, boring performance. This song emphasizes how little Elliott has grown as a performer in this competition. Every song is sung with the same earnest expressions, and the same movements onstage. That said? Elliott was looking good in that black shirt. Niice!
Score: 7.0

Katharine McPhee "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
Liza: Wow. I'm speechless. That was absolutely divine. The best performance of the season by far.
Score: 9.975
Destiny: Are you serious? I don't even think that was Katharine's best, and definitely not the best of the whole season. She sounded lovely, but her delivery was too musical theatre overdramatics for my taste (and I'm a theatre girl!). I didn't believe it, everything was so false and forced, try as she may to "look" vulnerable and play the part of the song. While there wasn't much screeching during this performance, there just wasn't anything really special about her vocals (the thing Clive was trying to tell her earlier). Speaking of special standout vocals, Fantasia called: she wants her stage blocking back.
Score: 8.8
Tammy: A beautiful performance from beginning to end. Katharine's voice shone. It's difficult to wrap my head around the fact that this is the same girl who struggled through an R Kelly song only minutes before. The only nitpicky thing that bothered me were the posing that Katharine insists on throwing in every time she sings. Waaay too over the top and cabaret.
Score: 9.8

Taylor Hicks "You Are So Beautiful"
Liza: Taylor sounded fantastic, but it was like watching Joe Cocker performing, right down to the faltering notes (but less tics, thankfully!). With a song so identifiable with the singer, a little bit more originality would have been good. The falsetto scared me a bit, but it was still so much better than any falsetto Ace ever did.
Score: 8.5
Destiny: Now this was a lovely, emotional performance combined with raw and beautiful vocals. I wish the song didn't have to be cut down into such little time, because it really could have soared if Taylor had more time deliver it.
Score: 9.4
Tammy: Taylor really is an expert emoter onstage, and knows how to work the cameras. It was a good performance, but I agree with Liza, it was like watching (a lesser) Joe Cocker perform. Taylor has the capability to do more with the song, but perhaps so close to the wire playing it safe isn't a bad idea.
Score: 8.7

Elliott Yamin "I Believe To My Soul"
Liza: I thought Elliott looked really comfortable and confident up there. This song was right along the lines of "Trouble", which he nailed last week, and he did a really fantastic job on this song as well. Unfortunately, I think Simon may be right in regards to Elliott's song choices - they may not help him make it to next week.
Score: 8.5
Destiny: I have to agree with you that Elliott's song choices were just not what he needed to rack in the votes this week. It's really disappointing, considering how fabulous he is. He did the best he could with the two songs chosen for him. He did make a mistake, however, in choosing this song for himself. That being said, he sounded and looked great during this performance. Just wish he would have ended with a bang, with a more recognizable song.
Score: 9.0
Tammy: Well, y'all may have loved it, but it was elevator music to me.
Score: 7.0

Katharine McPhee "I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues"
Liza: Put this girl on Broadway right now. She's a theatrical type of singer and very expressive in a theatrical kind of way. I think her talent is better off served on stage and not so much in pop music. And she really needs to lay off the high notes.
Score: 6.0
Destiny: Yikes. That was just wrong. While she was smart to choose an old-fashioned, more lyrical type of song, this wasn't the right one. She sounded off-key and irritating throughout most of it. And the outfit, combined with her moves and facial expressions, made it look like a stripper routine more than a Broadway performance. Yes, she's theatrical, Liza, but her vocals are not Broadway caliber. Do you want to pay to sit through two hours of that pitchy wailing? I barely want to watch it for free on my TV. The girl is adorable, but a great singer she is not.
Score: 4.5
Tammy: And Katharine's inconsistency continues. I think she'd do fine on Broadway, but this was a poor song choice. Why would anyone think that this song would be the one that gave them the edge? Puzzling.
Score: 6.0

Taylor Hicks "Try A Little Tenderness"
Liza: The arrangement was so bad. I felt like I was on a cruise ship. I thought this paled in comparison to Nadia's semifinal version last year. And to Duckie Dale's lip-syncing of it.
Score: 7.5
Destiny: I didn't love the arrangement, either. But Taylor sure sang the heck out of it. Again, the time limit on some of the songs this week seemed too small! Felt like Taylor needed more time to tell the story of the song. I liked the original spin he put on it, but I missed the "gotta gotta gotta"s at the end.
Score: 9.0
Tammy: It felt like Taylor needed more time to hammer out what he was going to do with the song. He could have had another 'moment' with a tune like this, but at times it felt like he was making it up on the spot.
Score: 7.5

Who Should Be Eliminated
Liza: Any of them. I can give you good reasons to eliminate each and every one of them.
Destiny: Katharine
Tammy: Elliott. He just isn't as good as the other two.

Who Will Be Eliminated
Liza: Probably Elliott. I think Katharine's middle song might have saved her.
Destiny: Elliott. And 'twill be a shame I tells ya!!!
Tammy: Elliott. I shall not weep.

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We Asked You, "Who Did You Vote For On Elvis Night?"
50% Elliott, 20% Chris, 15% Taylor,
13% I Didn't Vote, 2% Katharine
We Asked You, "Who Do You Want To See As The Final 2 On AI?"
40% Chris and Katharine, 25% Taylor and Chris,
17% Taylor and Elliott, 10% Katharine and Taylor,
7% Chris and Elliott, 1% Elliott and Katharine

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