Youth trumps experience for ‘Idol’ women

Could Heather Cox be the first to go?
Perhaps the oddest performance of the night came from Heather Cox, who had laryngitis in Hollywood and got through anyway. As Randy pointed out, one would expect her to come out firing on all cylinders. But Heather's watery, weak rendition of "When You Tell Me That You Love Me," a song popularized by past "Idol" contestants that sounds like something Joanie and Chachi would have performed, consistently seemed limited by either a new bout of throat problems or some serious issues of nerves. If there is one prime candidate for elimination after Tuesday night, it is probably Heather Cox.

Melissa McGhee came next, singing for the first time on television after, as she reminded the audience, being barely seen until Tuesday night. In her first few notes, McGhee was tentative and a bit off-pitch, but as her Faith Hill number built, her voice strengthened, and by the end, she had made a good showing. Like a few of the other women, she will battle her lack of early exposure, but there is more color to her voice than to that of, say, Ayla Brown.

The judges were awed by Lisa Tucker, one of the youngest performers in the competition, who sold a Jennifer Holliday number in a convincingly Jennifer Holliday-like style. Lisa can definitely belt, but her style is more admirable than it is interesting thus far, and the judges' praise of her seemed a little overheated. Still, she was likable and is obviously talented, and don't be surprised to see her hang around.

It was interesting to watch Tucker followed by Kinnik Sky, who is 28 to Tucker's 16, and was aiming at a similar target with her performance of "Get Here," a song that should soon cause horns to honk and balloons to fall from the ceiling when it is sung for the one millionth time on "American Idol."

While Kinnik was praised, Simon went out of his way to tell her that she was at a disadvantage compared to younger girls who were singing and performing better. As the age gap between contestants widens — Lisa is 16; Mandisa is 29 — it will be interesting to see how both the judges' expectations and audience reactions treat those at opposite ends of that continuum.

Finally, there was Katharine McPhee, who is precisely the sort of endlessly irritating "Idol" contestant who announces that music is her life but also believes that "Since I Fell For You" was originally performed by Barbra Streisand. Katharine is cute and all smiles, and she has certainly mastered the art of melisma. But just as with Ayla, there is something heavily manufactured about her.

The judges lost their senses falling all over themselves to drool over her, but there is, as they say, no there there. Much more than Kellie Pickler, she is this year's Carrie Underwood, and you know what that might mean.

Tomorrow night will bring performances from the 12 men. If one of them performs "Get Here," listen for the sound of honking.

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