It Is What It Is
On Canadian Idol 5: Top 7 Girls

We've discussed how the girls lack this year in comparison to the guys on Canadian Idol, but this week they proved that they really aren't that far behind. Just as there are two stand-outs amongst the guys, there are two in the female group as well. So, despite a seriously lacking overall group of contestants, at least there are four interesting ones going into the Top 10. Four out of ten is better than nothing. Here's hoping that the good ones aren't eliminated from the competition too soon. Come on, Canada, we've got to have something to look forward to as we endure the next nine weeks of Idol-dom.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the CI5 Top 14: The Girls.

Annika Odegard "Ordinary Day"
Liza: She hasn't impressed the judges, but she's "impressed Canada"? Really?! Just because there are worse singers than her to get rid of doesn't mean she's impressed the whole country. Having said that, I was very much impressed with her piano playing. Her singing, on the other hand, was sadly flat. But it was still, by far, her best performance to date.
Score: 7.0
Tammy: I completely agree. Her piano playing was the best I've seen on Idol so far this season. She really gets into it, and the crowd seemed like they were appreciative. But yes, her singing was still very, very flat. And this is what the judges have been waiting to see/hear? I'm glad she wasn't given another public flogging this week, but she's still...just not a very good singer. And um, that should factor into this show a little bit, at least.
Score: 7.0
Destiny: I agree that it was her best performance to date. Considering her showings thus far, however, that isn't much of a feat. The piano playing certainly did help her to show some personality, but, as Liza and Tammy said, her voice fell flat throughout the song.
Score: 7.0

Khalila Glanville "For You I Will"
Liza: I'm glad she left the Four Tops far behind tonight and sang something more modern. She over-reached and couldn't quite hit those high notes on the bridge, though. If she had been able to hit that high note, she would have given Sass that "wow" moment, but she fell short.
Score: 7.75
Tammy: I was bored stiff during this performance. Some of those notes she attempted had a serious 'ouch' factor, and I don't think hitting them is what drove this performance into the ground. It was simply tepid, from beginning to end.
Score: 6.9
Destiny: This wasn't a terrible performance, but it wasn't anywhere near a great performance. Her voice and stage presence are both quite average. Tepid, indeed.
Score: 7.0

Carly Rae Jepsen "Waiting In Vain"
Liza: Every time I watch her perform, I feel like I'm watching Instant Star or something. Carly Rae is very telegenic and has a lovely voice. I would not be surprised one bit if she went all the way.
Score: 8.25
Tammy: Sigh. You're probably right. Carly is probably going to be
with us for quite some time, a fact that I'm going to have to deal with, I suppose. Her babydoll-with-a-cold voice and her cutesy-pie mannerisms are really driving me insane. It's unconvincing and inauthentic.
Score: 7.2
Destiny: I think Carly Rae is definitely the star amongst the girls this season. She displayed her natural talent as a performer with this song. The tone of her voice has moments of greatness. She is one of the few to watch this season. She should unquestionably make it to the final weeks of this competition.
Score: 8.8

Tara Oram "When God-Fearing Women Get The Blues"
Liza: I agree with Zack - it was just average. Which may be good enough in this class to get into the Top 10 this year. That's kind of sad.
Score: 7.5
Tammy: Yup. There is nothing special about this girl. Mediocre stage presence, mediocre voice. We'll see you next week!
Score: 7.3
Destiny: That pretty much says it all.
Score: 7.0

Montana Martin Iles "Ironic"
Liza: I did not like how staccato she sang the verses, but I appreciate that she showed she could sing and not just perform tonight. I'm still waiting for the girl who sang "Kiss Me" in the Toronto auditions to show up.
Score: 7.5
Tammy: Really? She showed us she could sing? I thought she just proved the opposite. I deem this performance terrible in every aspect. Montana managed to make the song snoozeworthy, had no energy on stage, and was so off-key for most of the song, I wanted to wring Zack's neck when he said that he had no problem with her vocals. This girl would be nothing without her costuming and punked-out hair, which is undoubtedly why she relies so heavily on such tricks, because her talents are questionable at best.
Score: 6.7
Destiny: Wow. I'm on a totally different wavelength than Tammy. I think Montana is one of the best things about this season, and I liked her arrangement of this song. I love her voice, personality and performance skills. I do agree with Liza, however, that I'd like to see the side of Montana that she showed in the audition round make a comeback real soon. Because when stops the antics and just sings seriously, it is something really special. Like Tyler Mullendore, I think Montana is a bit caught up in the excitement of the show at the moment. While I find that endearing, I do hope they both will be able to regain their focus as they head into the Top 10 so they can let their natural superstar qualities really shine.
Score: 8.9

Martha Joy "That's The Way It Is"
Liza: She didn't even have to sing to get me pissed off right away. Filipino is not a language, you dimwit!!!!!! The language is Tagalog! Know your heritage! Gah!!!! Anyway, she really has no range at all as far as song choice goes. Of course she'd pick Celine. It's all ballads and mid-tempo Adult Contemporary songs for her. Blech.
Score: 5.0 mostly for being an idiot
Tammy: Bwah! Poor Martha, doomed even before she began to sing! Okay, so yeah. I continue to not get this girl, or even understand why she's still in this competition. Any praise she receives is just baffling, because what she does is that Beauty Pageant Oversinging that I positively abhor. And am I the only one who thinks this girl looks more 30 than 16? Every time the judges mention her age, I'm all 'wait...what?'.
Score: 5.5
Destiny: I agree about being baffled at any praise this girl receives. The best singer in the competition?! What? Her vocal range is very weak, not to mention her lackluster phrasing and interpretation of the song. I don't get how she made it this far in the competition. I, too, rolled my eyes when she listed "Filipino" as a language in which she sings. Next!
Score: 4.9

Mila Miller "Rehab"
Liza: Whoah, what happened to that distinctive afro? Now is not the time to not make yourself stand out, woman! But I guess that Fabulous Baker Boys routine will make her stand out enough. I'm not sure what this teenager knows about what she is singing, and I'm not sure that she's singing entirely in tune either. She's entertaining, at least!
Score: 7.5
Tammy: Where is Simon to heckle Mila for her cabaret/lounge act? I thought Mila managed to make what is a very fun, sarcastic song into something very bland and boring. Every time I watch an Idol performance, I judge it by whether I would pay to see/hear them, and this? Was not something I'd want to visit again in any shape or form.
Score: 7.0
Destiny: This performance did nothing for me, either. I suppose by using the piano as a prop she was trying to show some personality, but it didn't do much to stir up excitement. The staging, the voice and the song choice were all very high school theatre class amateur hour.
Score: 6.5

Who Should Be Eliminated
Liza: Martha Joy, Annika
Tammy: Can't we just skip a few weeks and only pick two to stay? Eliminate any girl, CI viewers, and it'll be the right one.
Destiny: Martha Joy, Khalila

Who Will Be Eliminated
Liza: Khalila, Annika
Tammy: Martha Joy, Montana (don't I wish!)
Destiny: Khalila, Mila

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