There was 60s music, Simon’s bad mood and sickness (and I don’t mean in a good way). That was the Top 24 girls’ first night on American Idol 7. You’re getting this a day late because I was under the weather, and I didn’t have Paula to make excuses for me if I turned in a bad performance because of it.

Kristy Lee Cook drew the short straw and started off the evening with “Rescue Me”. Only after Paula pointed out that she was one of the sick ones did I consider that might be why her performance had absolutely no oomph. Or maybe it’s just because “Amazing Grace” isn’t a song from the 60s. Simon pegged her as robotic and gave this year’s first critique of someone for choosing the wrong song. He was right on both counts.

Next up was Joanne Borgella with “Say A Little Prayer”. I liked this performance and I like Joanne. Unfortunately, I may be the only one, if the judges’ reactions are anything to go by. Randy and Paula gave her mixed reviews, and I didn’t write down Simon’s exact words, but suffice it to say, he didn’t like it.

The youngest competitor of the night, Alaina Whitaker, was also the first contestant to win over the judges with her performance of “More Today Than Yesterday”. This is the same song Chikezie sang last night. Alaina chose a better arrangement and put in a better performance, so it’s a good thing they’re not competing directly against each other at this point. I did think that she’s going to have to watch not getting “screechy” when she sings, but other than that it was a good performance. The judges all loved it, even though Simon hates that song (the first inclination that he was in an “I hate all things cheerful” mood).

Perpetually “even keeled” (her words) Amanda Overmeyer sang “Baby Please Don’t Go”. I wasn’t so sure about the scatting but liked the performance aside from that. I really like Amanda’s attitutude and personality, but I’m concerned she’s going to be like Chris Daughtry for me. I’ll really enjoy the first three or four performances, but about halfway into the season I’ll tire of hearing exactly the same performance out of her. Randy and Paula gave her enthusiastic thumbs up, but I think Simon (even though he likes her) shares some of my concerns— what else can she sing?

I’ve liked Amy Davis’ voice since the early auditions. She has a pure tone to her voice that’s very appealing to me. Yes, her vocals of “Where the Boys Are” was a bit pitchy in the beginning, but it was her performance that I’m afraid may sink her. She just didn’t really do anything all that exciting with the song. She didn’t blow the vocals out of the water, and she didn’t do anything exciting on the stage, either. I’m hoping she’s spared the bottom two, but at this point, I just don’t know. None of the judges were incredibly enthusiastic either, although Simon and Paula both said she looked great. Hey, maybe if the American Idol thing doesn’t work out, she can head over to America’s Next Top Model.

Brooke White’s choice of “Happy Together” was a perfect choice for her. This was the same song David Cook sang last night, but a completely different take on it. It was a very happy performance, and I really like her voice. She’s the kind of singer I actually enjoy listening to— a bit folksy, just singing, not a lot of glitz. Will she make it to the American Idol finale? I don’t know, but I do like her. The judges really enjoyed this performance—well except that Simon wished it weren’t quite so cheerful (see, I told you he was in a mood).

I can’t believe how little hype Alexandrea Lushington has received. Am I the only one who thinks she’s really talented? She sang “Spinning Wheel” and did a bang up job with it. She used the stage, she used her voice—what more could anyone want? Randy and Paula agreed that this was a very good performance, whereas Simon said he didn’t get it. Didn’t get it? What’s wrong with you, Simon?

Houstonian Kady Malloy sang “Groovy Kind of Love”. Now I had to join Simon in expressing my musical ignorance, as I had no idea this song was around before the 80s when Phil Collins sang it, but it was actually released by Diane & Annita in 1965 and the same year by The Mindbenders, reaching #2 on the UK charts. Kady’s vocals were okay, but Simon wasn’t far wrong when he called it a “Night of the Living Dead” performance. She obviously has a lot of spunk, but I’m not sure she can figure out how to bring that to the stage. She didn’t seem to get what the judges were saying when they said she needed to be more fun, confusing joy in a performance with jumping around on the stage. Being 18, cute and blonde may save her this week, but she’s going to have to get it together if she’s going to stay in the competition.

Asia’h Epperson sang “Piece of My Heart”. I didn’t even recognize the song, as I’m accustomed to the Janis Joplin version of the song, as performed by Amanda Overmeyer during audition week. This version was really happy and sassy, rather than angry. I thought this was Asia’h’s unique take on the song, but I think she was leaning much more towards the Faith Hill version. Regardless, it was still a good performance, earning it Simon’s praise as the best of the night.

I have not been a huge fan of Ramiele Malubay up to this point. I thought she was okay but nothing really special. I do have to say she did a great job with “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”. I don’t really have much to say about it other than that. Simon said she outsang everyone, and I’d have to agree.

Syesha Mercado sang “Tobacco Road”, which was a good song choice for her, but something about the performance felt disconnected to me. She does have a good voice, though, and I think she’ll be in the competition for a while. All of the judges liked the performance, and Simon said she’s one of the most talented girls in the competition.

Controversial Carly Smithson was the final performer of the evening. She addressed the fact that she’d been signed with a label in the past when she was 15 but gave a slightly different version of what happened than the news has been reporting. I have to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she knows better than a bunch of rabid bloggers what happened, but it was still a bit odd to me that hers was the only former album that American Idol producers chose to address. I had never heard the song she sang before. It was “The Shadow of Your Smile”. She does have a big voice, and I think she’s capable of more, but I have to agree with Simon who said it was “old fashioned” and a let down. Randy, on the other hand, felt like it as the best vocal of the last 2 days. Paula took time to point out that Carly is really sick, so maybe that was part of the problem.

I have to say that I think the boys, overall, were a lot better than the girls. The girls should probably be very glad that 2 boys and 2 girls go home, instead of just 4 singers, or several of them might be in trouble. Here is my personal order of who I liked.

1. Brooke White
2. Syesha Mercado
3. Asia’h Epperson
4. Alexandrea Lushington
5. Amanda Overmeyer
6. Alaina Whitaker
7. Ramiele Malubay
8. Carly Smithson
9. Joanne Borgella
10. Amy Davis
11. Kristy Lee Cook
12. Kady Malloy

Tonight we’ll find out who the bottom singers are and narrow the field to 20. Who were your favorites and who do you think is going home?