now I see what Simon meant about it being the girls' year

[jlh]

Why did Ryan let Simon interrupt his intro? Why is Randy wearing a Cosby sweater? Why does Simon have so much mascara on?

Ryan was distracted by Simon's cleavage and then called him "Pretty Boy." <3 AND THEN there was seat-and-job swapping, and teasing about girlfriends, and I love them.

1. Todrick Hall, "Since You've Been Gone." So, I don't really agree with the judges here. I liked the version, but I understand what they were saying in that it didn't show off his voice the way it does Kelly's. Think of those strong notes in the chorus that make it so fun to sing along to—that's why everyone said they didn't like the chorus. He also lost the way the tension builds up in the verse and then is released in the chorus, so the song felt like it didn't really go anywhere.
   
2. Aaron Kelly, "Here Comes Goodbye." Did we know that he's a country boy? So the song itself was dull as dishwater, but he sounded really good. He just has to make himself actually interesting.
   
3. Jermaine Sellers, "Just Get Here." So did he ever actually find the key? Because that verse was rough. And yeah, it was pretty old for him.
   
4. Tim Urban, "Apologize." So the thing about it not actually being karaoke is that you can change the key. Take it down a step, brother. And also, sing a song that we aren't totally sick of, that shows off your voice. And I don't think you're that cute anyway.
   
5. Joe Muñoz, "You and I Both." He was a little off beat at the start. It was fine? The singing was good, but it was kinda boring.
   
6. Tyler, "American Woman." So that was really expected, wasn't it? Don't be a one trick pony. (Also, I miss Nick/Norman SO HARD right now.)
   
7. Lee Dewyze, "Chasing Cars." Full disclosure: I adore Snow Patrol but I fucking can't stand this song. That said, I wish he'd sung it a little better because it was a bit all over the place, and he changed up the chorus just a little too much. In the end I'm more on Simon and Ellen's side, because it wasn't the wrong song so much as not the best performance ever.
   
8. John Park, "God Bless the Child." I want to like this kid, but what the fuck with this song? And this arrangement for like, the middle of a Gladys Knight concert?
   
9. Michael Lynche, "This Love." It was infectious but merely competent. The arrangement was really terrible—you have to watch it because Ricky will go to the lounge place if you don't stop him—and I'm not sure why he was playing the guitar.
   
10. Alex Lambert, "Wonderful World." Sounded fantastic, was completely uncomfortable, which suddenly makes everyone understand what Ellen's been talking about all night with stage presence.
    
11. Casey James, "Heaven." FINALLY. It was really great, but it was totally classless for Kara and Randy to goof around so much. Let it go, guys.
    
12. Andrew Garcia, "Sugar, We're Going Down." So as he does sometimes, Simon started giving level two crit to Andrew. They kind of forgot to say that he sang the song really well—and FOB songs are really hard to sing. But he set the bar really high during Hollywood week.

I'm voting for Casey and Andrew because I adored them, and then maybe John Park because he's cute and Todrick because at least he tried to do something interesting.