Top 12 Girls Shine On AI6
The girls stomped all over the guys Wednesday night on American Idol, providing one of the most talent-packed episodes in Idol history. The level of star quality and natural talent amongst the female contestants this season is impressive. Now if only Ryan Seacrest would quit being so serious and remember his place. Stop trying to be a judge. Stop trying to create needless drama. Just cheer up, Ryan, and stand there and look pretty.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the AI6 Semi-Finals Round One: The Girls.

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Stephanie Edwards "How Come You Don't Call Me"
Destiny: Right off the bat, Stephanie gave the boys a major lesson in how to make a song your own. Star quality. Wow. That's how one should hit the American Idol stage. Amazing interpretation of a signature Alicia Keys' song. Style!
Score: 9.5
Tammy: While Stephanie was technically proficient tonight, I am not a great fan of her voice, as she doesn't really have a 'unique' sound. It was just alright for me.
Score: 8.5

Amy Krebs "I Can't Make You Love Me"
Destiny: I liked her smooth, laid-back rendition of the song. Nice raspy tone to her voice. The whole thing was very Norah Jones-ish.
Score: 7.5
Tammy: I found the performance to be a bit of a plodding, emotionless effort. There was a complete disconnect with the song, and the result was rather forgettable.
Score: 6.0

Leslie Hunt "Natural Woman"
Destiny: Love her deep, smoky tone, but her range leaves something to be desired. The song was not a good fit as it was much too big for her voice. I do like her quirky personality, but she MUST never visit a belter's song again if she wants to last at all in this competition.
Score: 7.0
Tammy: I agree. This was such a disastrous song choice for Leslie. She is so fun and likeable and a bit 'left field', but this song did her no favors, as she came nowhere near the efforts of Aretha Franklin.
Score: 7.0

Sabrina Sloan "Never Loved A Man The Way That I Love You"
Destiny: This girl is classy and sassy! Great voice. She commanded the stage and the audience. GREAT!
Score: 9.5
Tammy: Unfortunately for Sabrina, Jennifer Hudson recently brought down the house while performing this song at an Aretha Franklin tribute, and this version comes nowhere near Jhud's. Sabrina performed well, but her voice seems rather thin and lacking in power.
Score: 8.2

Antonella Barba "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"
Destiny: Beautiful girl. She's so stunning! Nice choice to start the song seated on the stool. If she could get over her nerves, she could be pop greatness. She was really underrated by the judges. She's not a belter, but she is a potential pop star.
Score: 8.0
Tammy: I thought this was one of the worst Idol performances to date. Antonella was shaky and was nowhere near the right notes half the time. Perhaps the semi-scandal surrounding those 'inappropriate' photos of Antonella floating all over the internet caused her to unravel a bit. At any rate, I found the Aerosmith cover cringe-worthy. Both because of the song choice and the performance.
Score: 4.5

Jordin Sparks "Gimme One Reason"
Destiny: Great stage presence. Sounded fantastic! Star performance. So refreshing to watch a performance in which you don't have to worry one second what the contestant is doing- just sit back and be entertained. This was awesome. The judges did not give her enough praise for this awesome performance. Perfect song choice. Spot-on vocals. Shining personality.
Score: 9.7
Tammy: I didn't really care for the direction that Jordin took the song. What is known as a bluesy track suddenly because a vehicle for some vocal gymnastics. I would have preferred a more understated performance (but then perhaps I'm watching the wrong show if I'm looking for understated).
Score: 8.3

Nicole Tranquillo "Stay"
Destiny: Sensational and soulful. I love that voice and that personality. She was totally ripped off by the judges' comments.
Score: 9.0
Tammy: Ye gads. I wanted to turn it down. She oversang the song. I didn't like anything about this performance.
Score: 7.0

Haley Scarnato "It's All Coming Back To Me Now"
Destiny: There is nothing coy about this song. It is supposed to be an emotional roller coaster. Haley totally missed all emotion of this song. And her voice was equally subpar. Meh.
Score: 6.0
Tammy: I agree. It felt like Haley was giving a beauty pageant performance, smiling at inappropriate moments during the song. Has this girl no sense of self-awareness?
Score: 5.5

Melinda Doolittle "Since You Been Gone"
Destiny: She sounded good and had a nice energy onstage. She didn't quite have the sparks of several girls before her, however. She needs to loosen up ASAP.
Score: 8.0
Tammy: Loosen up? I thought she was plenty loose (...er...in a good way)! Melinda's confidence seems to have grown by leaps and bounds since her initial audition, and she more than held her own tonight, attacking the song as someone who wants to win.
Score: 8.7

Alaina Alexander "Brass In Pocket"
Destiny: Alaina is an adorable girl. Unfortunately her voice is weak. That being said, this was the best singing we've seen from her yet in this competition.
Score: 6.5
Tammy: Gah, there are just so many females in this group who are there more for their faces than their voices. Overwrought and a mess from beginning to end, Alaina's Idol journey should be short.
Score: 6.7

Gina Glocksen "All By Myself"
Destiny: This was a respectable version of this song. While Gina isn't the best singer ever, there is something about her that makes me want to root for her. I don't care for her back talk to the judges, though. She needs to watch that.
Score: 8.3
Tammy: I get the impression that Gina thinks she's better than she actually is. The whole "You didn't hit the note/Yes I did!" thing went on for too long, and left a rather negative impression of Gina. While the Idol producers no doubt milk any conflict as much they can, Gina came off as being unable to accept criticism. I agree that this was a 'respectable' version of this song, and if Gina didn't hit 'the note', she came as near as she could, and gave an acceptable performance.
Score: 8.2

LaKisha Jones "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"
Destiny: The girl is charming and has a wonderful voice. I wasn't in love with her song choice, but she did it well. I thought she was a little overrated by the judges, especially considering some of the stellar performances we saw earlier in the evening. But I like this girl, so I am glad she is getting support.
Score: 9.0
Tammy: Count me among those who think that the judges went overboard with the tonguebath they delivered to LaKisha. Yes she was fun, and yes she brought the 'crazyface' that Jennifer Holliday is known for when performing this song, but the effectiveness of the performance was more due to the song choice itself rather than the vocals, which weren't exactly mind-blowing.
Score: 9.0

Who Should Be Eliminated:
Destiny: Haley, Leslie
Tammy: Antonella, Haley

Who Will Be Eliminated:
Destiny: Nicole, Haley
Tammy: Antonella, Leslie

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We asked you, "Who Did You Vote For On AI6?"
20% Sanjaya, 19% Blake, 17% Chris R.,
10% Phil, 9% Jared, 9% Sundance,
6% Chris S., 4% Brandon, 2% A.J.,
2% Nick, 1% Rudy, 1% Paul

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