24 new singers that America has never heard of. By the time 3 weeks have elapsed, we'll have 12 people who will be judged, ridiculed, and have their egos put through the ringers like they have never been before. And those will be the people who would have made the Top 12. The other 12 will be looking for jobs that include the phrases, 'Do you want it supersized' and 'I'll try to see if there's a bigger shoe that fits.'

But that's why we watch the show. And that's why we read the articles, so we can revel in tearing these 24 people apart.

Just a reminder as to what to look for in these shows:

1. Sing well (Duh)
2. Select the right song - something in your vocal range that's not over sung.
3. Make the song your own - don't make it a sound-alike from the original artist. 
4. Don't argue with the judges.

I'm sure there will be more critiques not covered here that will be gotten to as the show goes on. Also joining me, as usual, is my colleague from GameShowNewsNet.com, Mr. Jason Block. I'll also be getting other colleagues from GSNN as the season progresses. Now without further ado, let's start with the women, who have been touted as the strongest ever. Really? We'll see about that?

We start with Paige Miles, who is a 24 year old high school teacher from Florida that we have yet to hear a full song from. Since she's gotten almost zero camera time, she needs to show up tonight. She starts us off with 'All Right Now' by Free. 
The Good - She gets her nerves together in the second half of the song and once she got going, she has a nice vocal range. She pulls off the last 'money' note well, which almost makes me forget about the first half of the song. 
The Bad - Almost, but doesn't. The first half of the song was flat. I agree with Simon that this was the wrong song selection for her, but for a different reason - these songs are supposed to define what sort of singer you are, and if she tries to go the rock route (instead of the R&B route, which she likes when she's singing Michael Jackson songs), she's going to run into Crystal Bowersox. And the really tight and (hideously too big) silver belt across her black dress may also not only make her want to pee, but it looks like when she does go to the rest room, that the wardrobe designer wants to squeeze Hershey Kisses out of her. 
The Jason - Interesting choice, because Southern Pop-Rock is not what you would expect from her. But she is slurring her words, and every time she raises the volume, she is screaming. This is an auspicious start. Not good. I didn't agree with the judges at all. 
The Verdict - Simon says that he thinks she's going to be fine. I'm not so sure that she's going to be fine. I agree with Jason - not a good start for her, and she may need people to be worse. That being said, as this is the first show of the new season, I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of worse.

Ashley Rodriguez is a 22 year old singer. She's a happy person, and she'll try to make us happy with Leona Lewis' 'Happy'. 
The Good - I like the silvery jacket. The beads around her neck were pretty. The silver clashes against the black pants. As far as the song was concerned, the performance wasn't brutal. 
The Bad - We are going to see a lot of nerves tonight. We are also going to see a lot of bad song choices. This was a terrible song choice because #1. She didn't hit the pitch on top, #2. the pop song doesn't really define her R&B roots and #3. the song itself is contemporary, but not well-known in the U.S. (It only got to #31, which means that only Leona Lewis fans are going to know that song). 
The Jason - There's a lot of bad microphone sounds in the beginning, but it doesn't hamper a competent, yet emotionless vocal performance. She can and will do better. But it is enough to get her through. 
The Verdict - I agree with SImon here. Ashley could have some problems, especially being at the top of the show with 10 other singers ready to give more memorable performances. 

Janell Wheeler is a 24 year old wine rep who wants to show America that this is where she wants to be. Her choice is 'What About Love' by Heart. 
The Good - Now this is what I'm talking about. Jannell came in as a rock and country/acoustic singer. She countrified the song, which showed us who she is, and gives the country/rock fan base someone to vote for. 
The Bad - Janell did have a couple of pitch blips in the song, and while she did make it different, she didn't make it different enough. And while it is a good song, it's been oversung to death; there are many other songs she could have chosen (Rascal Flats, etc.) and she could have switched up a little to really make a strong first impression.
The Jason - She shows her vocal styles, and a little bit of attitude. She is fine vocally, but needs to let go stage wise. I felt she was holding back. 
The Verdict - This is the first 'good' performance that we've gotten tonight. It's also the first song that got a positive response from the crowd. This is the first singer out of the three that I think will be safe on Thursday. 

Lilly Scott was living out of her car a year ago. Now she's on Idol and is looking to improve herself, musically. She sings 'Fixing a Hole' by The Beatles. 
The Good - She definitely makes the song her own and is very clear as to where she is going as a singer. She's this sultry vixen who felt very comfortable on the stage with a very memorable song. 
The Bad - Lilly takes liberties with the vocals, and the melodies, and the harmonies. It's very indie, which could turn off traditionalists who are used to hearing their music in a certain way. It's Beatles improv night! 
The Jason - This is my favorite performance of the night so far. I loved the jazzy vibe of this take. This was fun and had a Bjork attitude to it. 
The Verdict - I didn't like it as much as Jason, but what I really liked was her potential to really mix the songs and make them her own. And I agree with Kara that people will remember this performance in a good way. Lilly has nothing to worry about. 

Katelyn Epperly is also an indie spirit. Now will she use that spirit for good or for evil? We'll see as she sings 'Oh Darling' by The Beatles. 
The Good - The beginning was killer and brought my attention to the song, in a good way. The first half of the song was really nice, with her smooth tone and crisp melodic lines. Like Lilly, she also brings up that sultry vixen spirit and steams up my tv set in the process. I need to go get some Handi-Wipes. 
The Bad - Watch the excessive over-smoldering. The look on her face seemed that, like Paige, she wanted to go to the bathroom. And the excessively rapid speed up at the end of the song showed that she was ready to run off the stage and ask one of the production assistants which direction the bathroom was. 
The Jason - This performance was killer. I loved everything about it. I loved the arrangement and her vocals. Great stuff. 
The Verdict - Once again, I didn't like it as much as Jason did, but I do like the potential she has. Now she needs to stick with this and not be too indie. But it was a good performance and should easily get her to next week. 

Haeley Vaughn's present to herself for getting to Hollywood was a nose piercing. I don't want to know what she got pierced when she made the Top 24. Her present to us? 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' by...once again...The Beatles. 
The Good - Well, she certainly made that her own. She had that Jamaican flavored style throughout the piece. And she was actually in tune throughout most of the song, so I'll give her credit for that. 
The Bad - What. Was. That? The high notes could change the song to 'I want to hold your hoof' as I'm sure barnyard animals would be mesmerized with her high pitched money notes. She completely lost the word spacing of the song. And the tiara and sea dress made her look like she was trying to hold a naval officer's hand while rowing a boat in the South Pacific. 
The Jason - We get the first WTF performance of the night? Horrible song choice and the vocals are a screechy mess. She is in HUGE trouble tonight. 
The Verdict - Ellen called it a hot mess. You can get rid of the hot part...it was a mess. HOWEVER, in a move that will distress people, I think she has a shot to be safe here just because she was a complete disaster. Vote For The Worst will be all over this performance and I think that with only 2 people leaving, she has a legitimate shot to stick around. 

Lacey Brown will not be singing a Beatles song. The party planner will be singing Fleetwood Mac's 'Landslide'. Can she get a landslide of people to vote for her?
The Good - It's a beautiful, challenging song, and I actually think a good choice. If you add some emotion, this could be one of the better songs of the evening. 
The Bad - Notice I said 'if' you did it, and not that she actually did do it, because she didn't. We really didn't have any pitch disasters...until now. Her pitch was completely off, which made it sound more like a mudslide. And the cougar outfit combined with the bizarrely tinted red hair made it look like she was trapped in a mudslide, trying to save animals for her local zoo. 
The Jason - Too small of a voice for a big song like this. Her vocals are all over the place. She is no Stevie Nicks. 
The Verdict - If I'm Angela Martin, I'm wondering how I didn't get a second chance and Lacey did, which will probably result in me having to buy a new TV after shoving a boot in it. I think there will be a landslide of disapproval of the general public wanting to hear her sing again. 

Michelle Delamor used to be a corporate sales associate. She talks about today being the only day that she can rehearse (way to try to rationale the bad singing so far, but I'm not buying it). She tries to make it up to us by singing Alicia Keys' 'Fallin'. 
The Good - This is a good selection of song because it defines herself as to who she is. And she certainly does look nice in the dressed down outfit. 
The Bad - This is a really hard key to sing the song in (C Sharp/D Flat), because it's very prone for the person's voice to go flat, which she consistently was throughout the piece. This was the wrong song in another aspect - it was way too big for her. She needs to sing with more emotion, because then she would have hit the notes instead of coming out flatter than Tina Fey making pancakes. 
The Jason - Came strong with this one. Very good attitude as the song projects, and her vocals are very good. No problems tonight. 
The Verdict - I completely agree with Kara. If she's going to be a R&B Diva, she needs the attitude, which she doesn't have quite yet. If she was emotional, she would have nailed that song, which she really didn't do. I think she's safe this week, but she really needs to bring it next week. 

Didi Benami thinks America has seen enough of her tears (Nooo, really?). She's hoping that 'The Way I Am' by Ingrid Michaelsen will put the smiles back on people's faces. 
The Good - Now this is the emotion I was talking about earlier. She brought the song to a different level than the original song. 
The Bad - The problem isn't the performance as much as it was the song. It's a nice song, but you can't really do anything with it. There's no high range to do a run with and she didn't do anything with the lyrics to make the song stand out, which made her sound indulgent. You have to take a song and make an impression with it, and Didi didn't. 
The Jason - I love this song, and I love this performance. But it was a little sound alike. Nothing terrible about it, but she will be in TROUBLE tonight. 
The Verdict - I think she will be fine, but only because we've seen what she has done in the past. She, like a lot of the other women tonight, really need to turn it up on the next show. 

Siobhan Magnus doesn't know what 'Dark Horse' means, but she could be one, since she didn't get much air time. She has a great set of pipes, though. Let's see if Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game' does anything to improve her standing. 
The Good - She came out very enthusiastic and memorable. Wicked Game is a good song if you execute it correctly. For the most part, she did. 
The Bad - There's a disconnect that I have with her when she sings. She does hit the notes, but the nasally tone for me is off. It may be the right song, but it's the wrong pitch; she needed to take the song higher a few steps because the low register at the beginning made the lyrics too muddled. And the ragged dress combined with the flower in her hair makes her look like a prostitute singing a song of lament after being ravaged by Chris Isaak. But based on the lyrics on the song, that may have been what she was going for. 
The Jason - Her vocals are technically very cool. But she needs a fashion makeover. That dress was awful. She is going on to next week. 
The Verdict - Siobhan showed that she wanted to hit the high notes and be passionate. She may have to work on the public speech part, because she's wandering into Kellie Pickler territory, but mission accomplished. No problems going into Thursday, but she needs to work on that tone going into next week. 

Crystal Bowersox wasn't going to go on Idol, but she's doing it for her son 'Baby needs a bigger paycheck'. So she's in it for the money. At least we know your intentions, Crystal. Hopefully 'Hand in My Pocket' will help me cure my jadedness of her.
The Good - It feels like she's been doing this song forever (which she probably has). Very well-performed song and very well staged. 
The Bad - I can understand why Randy wasn't a fan of the song. It's a very safe song which doesn't have a vocal range to it. It was well-done, but she didn't make it her own and step out of her comfort zone like Lilly Scott (and even Haeley Vaughn) did. And don't go arguing with Simon when he's 100% right. Challenge yourself and do some David Bowie or something more risky next week. 
The Jason - This is unique and fun. She was different enough to make it through. I liked her vibe and vocals. 
The Verdict - She was very good. She can be a lot better. She will be fine this week. 

Katie Stevens ends the show with 'Feelin' Good' by Michael Buble. This is one of the most oversung tunes in American Idol history. Can she do anything to make it different? 
The Good - What I liked the most about her performance was her confidence, her swagger. She was the only person tonight that came in there saying 'hi, here I am, vote for me'. While it wasn't the best performance, it was the only one that I saw that much drive to it. 
The Bad - The song was completely wrong for her. It's a nice pop song, but it was oversung and way too big. Katie doesn't want to fall into the 'only sing the too big song' trap which has killed a lot of singers early. 
The Jason - And we are feeling good with this one, and that is why we ended the show with her. Her vocals were very good. 
The Verdict - I was feeling pretty good. Not really good, but good enough that Katie will come back next week and try it again.

Overall Verdict - It's a typical Top 24 Women's show. You had some good performances and a ton of nerves. You also had a couple of very noticeable train wrecks, which makes it easy this week to pick your people in peril.

Trouble: Paige Miles, Ashley Rodriguez, Haeley Vaughn, Lacey Brown

I think it's safe to assume that Lacey is gonzo. Most people will probably also say Haeley, BUT she was memorable and I think people will vote for her to stick around. I don't think they will vote for someone who was forgetable, which was at the early part of the show. It's a toss-up between Ashley and Paige, and I think that Paige, with no camera time, will be the other first week casualty.

OUT: Lacey Brown, Paige Miles 

The Jason: The first live show was a mixed bag. Some women came strong, a lot were just there, and some were just a total mess.

Trouble: Lacey Brown, Haeley Vaughn, Paige Miles, Didi Benami 

Didi Benami was just there, but she has the chops to go on next week. Paige Miles was the first out of the box, and I liked her choice. But Lacey Brown and Haeley Vaughn were so out there, that they are going to be out this time around.

OUT: Lacey Brown, Haeley Vaughn. 

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