AI Top 8 Go Latin...Kind Of
The American Idol contestants tapped into their Latin side this week, working with superstar Jennifer Lopez. Given a wide array of songs from which to choose, several of the Top 8 dropped the ball, going with bland, overdone songs. Not even exciting coaching by Miss Lopez was enough to inspire great performances across the board. A wasted opportunity of a great theme.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the AI6 Top 8: Latin Music.

Melinda Doolittle "Sway"
Tammy: Is there such thing as being too good? On Idol, perhaps. Melinda once again delivered, but the performance was a bit boring and she came across as very old. It was far from her best, and she seemed a bit disconnected from the song. Forgettable.
Score: 8.4
Liza: I agree with Simon and Tammy a bit ... it needed more personality, and she looked too old-fashioned. And I'm actually quite disappointed about her loose interpretation of the theme. But her vocals were outstanding, as usual, and I appreciate that she interprets songs differently from week to week. I thought her reaction to Simon's criticism was interesting. She looked almost relieved, and I loved her comment to Simon. Now THAT is how to take criticism!
Score: 8.0
Destiny: I thought this was one of Melinda's better performances. While I don't know if the song totally fit the theme, I do like it, and she sang it well.
Score: 8.8

LaKisha Jones "Conga "
Tammy: Okay, we know by now that you have the McCleavage, LaKisha. There's no need to show the goods EVERY week, m'dear. Also? Song choice! What was she thinking? You're almost asking for an elimination when you choose this song. It was such a nothing song and a nothing performance.
Score: 7.2
Liza: It was so telling that Paula didn't get up once to dance like a fool like usual. PAULA! There was definitely something missing from this performance. I can't pinpoint it, but I give her some credit for moving around, even if her dancing wasn't good, as Simon said.
Score: 7.5
Destiny: I was disappointed in the song choice. No one should ever do a Gloria Estefan song on Idol. They always come across as boring. That being said, she did the song well. But there was nothing special about it.
Score: 8.0

Chris Richardson "Smooth"
Tammy: Chris actually singing with the melody and keeping the runs to a minimum! Chris came across as a legitimate performer in his own right, and seemed less of an 'Idol' performance. He still has the tendency to dip into vocals that whine, however.
Score: 8.5
Liza: I had the completely opposite reaction to this one. I thought the opening was un-melodic because he couldn't quite reach those low notes. I hated the runs he did and didn't think they worked at all on this song. It sounded so boy band to me.
Score: 6.25
Destiny: Loved the song choice, but I agree that Chris didn't quite reach the low notes. Either he didn't listen to Jennifer Lopez to take it up a key, or he lost breath control due to nerves. That being said, he still gave a nice performance. He's a cool cat.
Score: 8.5

Haley Scarnato "Turn The Beat Around"
Tammy: It's a good thing Haley wore the hotpants tonight. Her rushed delivery of the song, along with her pageant vocals will no doubt be her undoing. And YIKES to her makeup tonight. Tone it down a bit, it's looking a tad clowntastic.
Score: 7.0
Liza: First of all, can this song be retired already? Second of all, Haley's about to be retired from this show. She was so thoroughly overmatched by the horns and backup singers and couldn't quite keep up with the pace. And she let the backup singers do the heavy lifting. And agreed with the clown makeup! She's really pretty ... she doesn't need all that gunk!
Score: 6.5
Destiny: Why another Gloria song? I am so disappointed! This week's theme opened the door for some really great, fresh songs to be chosen, but no. We'll revert back to Season Three and do Gloria songs. Haley proved she's certainly no Diana DeGarmo. I like Haley, but I've grown tired of the pageant, cutesy act complete with legs kicks and shoulder shrugs.
Score: 6.5

Phil Stacey "Maria, Maria"
Tammy: This I did not like. The vocals brought to mind the image of someone clutching a deadly wound and painfully struggling out their last words. Phil is another one who may be danger of leaving after tonight. He needs hotpants.
Score: 7.0
Liza: Disagree once again with Tammy. I thought he sounded great on this. Yes, he cracked on the vocals twice, but it felt almost appropriate with the emotion that it didn't bother me as much as it should have. I thought this was easily one of his best performances and my favorite of the night.
Score: 9.0
Destiny: Funny, Tammy! But he doesn't need hotpants, he needs hats. And this proved it. He looked cool, and he sounded cool. I totally agree with Liza that this was one of his best performances and the best of the night. And the voice cracking totally fit the emotion. Phil is so underrated by the judges, it is irritating! His voice is so good! I don't get why they have it out for him, but with their constant low-energy reactions to him it is obvious they do. I think by the time Phil got onstage, Simon realized that he had to beat him down to counterbalance the lashings he gave to his darlings, Melinda and LaKisha. Regardless, Phil rocked an awesome song in an awesome way.
Score: 9.2

Jordin Sparks "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You"
Tammy: So is Gloria Estefan the only one who would give clearance this week? I'll take the finer works of Ricky Martin at this point. I found this to be a disappointing performance, and a bit..odd. Jordin tried to make the song 'her own', by making it a bit less...rhythmic? Even the outfit didn't work, and seemed more fitting for attending a night at the opera than an Idol performance.
Score: 7.5
Liza: Who? What? Where? What kind of opera do you go to where they wear those outfits? I actually liked what Jordin did to make the song her own, but the song itself and the parts she chose to sing were a bit boring.
Score: 8.0
Destiny: I agree that this was a terrible song choice. Why so much Gloria tonight, people?! Love Jordin, but had a hard time getting over the song choice. You're so much better than this, girl!
Score: 8.0

Blake Lewis "I Need To Know"
Tammy: Perfect song choice for Blake tonight. He didn't look especially comfortable onstage tonight, and he didn't do a lot to the song to make it all that different from the original. But playing it safe paid off tonight, as his vocals were perhaps his best of the season.
Score: 8.9
Liza: I thought it was a little bit copycat, but I agree that his vocals sounded the best tonight. I think he could have helped himself by not elongating the words so much and making it more staccato, though. And Blake, I need to know ... why are you wearing a safari hat?!
Score: 8.5
Destiny: Loved the song choice! Blake never disappoints. I agree that his vocals sounded strong. It was a bit on the safe side like Tammy said, but maybe a wise move to be showing so much versatility. Next week I hope he totally rocks it with some beat boxing. Speaking of which, how cool was it when J-Lo called Blake out to beat box for Jordin? That must have been an awesome moment for him.
Score: 9.0

Sanjaya Malakar "Besame Mucho"
Tammy: Sanjaya is given the pimp spot by the producers and closes the night? Whaaat? And the performance is actually worthy of said singing position? Mind...boggled! Down is up! Up is down! Sanjaya was actually one of the better performers tonight, though he was surrounded by such mediocrity that it may have been easier for him to shine. The moustache was not so much working for him, however. A bit on the creepy side, that.
Score: 8.7
Liza: So Sanjaya is a good Latin singer. WHO KNEW?! The kid earned his keep tonight in a big way. Serious props to him for being the only one to sing in Spanish tonight (and one "munequita" does not count!) and for singing it well. Good for him!
Score: 8.6
Destiny: Sanjaya continues to amaze and entertain me. Who knew the lethargic kid from the semifinal rounds would end up playing the Idol game so well? He reminds me of the fabulous first season of AI when contestants actually embraced the themes each week not only with song choice, but with outfits, hair and performance style. It's exciting. And it's fun. It's now time for the media to back off of portraying Sanjaya as this horrible creature who doesn't deserve to be on Idol and who is ruining the franchise. I think he is one of the main workers keeping things fresh this season.
Score: 8.8

Who Should Be Eliminated:
Tammy: Phil
Liza: Chris
Destiny: Haley

Who Will Be Eliminated:
Tammy: With so many meh performances, nearly anyone could get the boot. I'll stick with my Phil prediction, mainly because I hope that if I say it enough, it will actually happen.
Liza: Could this be shocker elimination night? I'm going to guess LaKisha, although it may be a little early for that. Oh well. I don't think I've gotten one right this year.
Destiny: LaKisha

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We asked you, "Of The Top 9 AI Finalists, Whose CD Would You Buy?"
24% Blake, 22% Chris, 18% Jordin,
12%Melinda, 11% Phil, 8% Gina,
3% Sanjaya, 1% LaKisha, 1% Haley

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