'American Idol' Top 12 Girls -- Adedapo Soars, Turner Channels Bette Midler

Something scary is happening on "American Idol"--I'm starting to agree with Randy in his evaluations of the contestants. And while I was loving Jennifer and Steven in auditions, I'm not feeling it so much now. I was hoping that the judges were being milder because they wanted people to vote for themselves, but now the pimping seems much more passive-aggressive and therefore even more offensive. Let's break it down in contestant order:

Ta-Tynisa Wilson: Ta-Tynisa opened the show with a high energy performance of Rhianna's "Only Girl (In the World)", strutting around stage in her flouncy, crinolined mini-dress. As in all her previous performances, however, Ta-Tynisa was mostly out of tune on the big notes and insubstantial on the smaller ones. This did not prevent tons of screaming from the "American Idol" audience.

Steven thought it was a "great start to the show." Jennifer thought it "started shaky" but she loved the way Ta-Tynisa worked the crowd. Randy was stunned, and mentioned the pitch issues, her sharp notes in the chorus, and how it just paled in comparison to the original. Jennifer retorted that it was about "moving the audience," and Randy replied that he wasn't moved. Then Ryan joked that it "takes a lot to move you." Okay, fine, a little playful ribbing between the boys, but I'm hoping jokes about weight aren't going to become the new thing on "Idol."

Naima Adedapo: Naima's been one of my favorites ever since her "American Idol" Milwaukee audition, and after tonight, she's in my top 2. Dressed in a stunning yellow sparkly gown that she designed herself, Naima confidently sang her heart out on "Summertime." It was an effortless, jazzy performance, Naima smiling away as she worked the crowd and belted out beautiful, clear notes. What I like about Naima is she can make a performance captivating without resorting to 52 runs and warbles. The crowd really seemed to go crazy for Naima, including her fellow contestants on the sidelines.

Jennifer called Naima an "exotic flower in a rose garden." Steven gave a quirky "I take you personally," and compared her favorable to Ella Fitzgerald. Randy thought it was a bit "lounge act-y" in the beginning, but he liked it better in the second half and liked how she made the performance interesting.

Kendra Chantelle: Loved, loved, loved this girl. She tackled Xtina's "Impossible" with tons of verve and huge, big, beautiful notes. She rocked the stage with skinny shiny black pants and a tank draped with beaded chains, and just owned the performance. It was awesome, and for me, the best of the night.

Randy pointed out a couple of sharp notes, but overall loved the performance and her vibrato. Steven loved "to hear what your voice does to a song." He called the whole look and sound "hot." Then Jennifer trotted out the damning-with-faint-praise, bringing out those famed Kris Allen critiques of "you belong here" and I "feel like there's more you can do." All I kept thinking was, "Translation: We already have a blonde, and it's 15 year old Lauren Alaina."

Rachel Zevita: I'm not sure what Rachel did to Fiona Apple's "Criminal," but from the critique section it appeared she wasn't sure, either. She came out in a cape and threw it off to reveal a slinky cocktail dress underneath, and then cabaret-ed her way through the lyrics. She strutted all around the "American Idol" stage, looking confident as she played to the audience, but the vocals seemed rushed and not quite in her range.

Steven said that the strut was great but it was a "little too Broadway for me"--to which Rachel replied that Broadway was one thing she never sang. The audience fell into dumbfounded silence and Steven just stared at her, slightly bemused. Does the girl not realize what she's doing up there? Jennifer tried to back up Steven, asking Rachel if she was sure this was how she wanted American to see her as a performer and if it couldn't have been something a little more modern. Randy declared it not good and rightly said he "didn't recognize the song."

Karen Rodriguez: Karen sang "Hero" by Mariah Carey and did a nice, subdued performance, half in Spanish. I didn't like that she straightened her hair; along with the long gown and sedate vocals, it all came off a little pageant-y.

Jennifer of course loved it, because the Spanish showed her "flavor". She showed off her goosebumps as proof that she was wowed. Randy was happy to find a contestant who finally "made it her own" and said he preferred the Spanish parts. Steven suggested a duet with Jacob, whom Karen exuberantly named as her best friend in the competition.

Lauren Turner: Lauren said she'd been compared to Bette Midler, and now that's all I can see. With her little curvy shape wrapped in a strapless sparkly dress with black tights and clunky shoes, Lauren had some of that little sassy tight-skirted shuffle that Bette is famous for--as well as a deep, gritty, powerful vocals. Singing Etta James tune "Seven Day Fool," Lauren's voice was as big as her awesome hair.

Randy loved Lauren's powerful "bluesy soul" and gave her props for being a combo of Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch. Steven called her a "perfect full complete sentence" which is probably translated to "the whole package." Jennifer wanted Lauren to give more attitude to the "American Idol" cameras, and Lauren confessed she'd tried to tone it down: "I'm sarcastic, America," she confessed. J-Lo urged her not to hold back.

Ashthon Jones: I had such high hopes for Ashthon, but I just didn't feel it tonight at all. She looked great as always, with her fabulous hair, a strapless bustier and black stretch pants. Her vocals were too forced, however, and all the diva attitude just made it sound like a lot of yelling. She softened up and let out a few pretty notes at the end--the way I wish she'd sung the whole song.

Steven gave an interesting review, telling her she had the "confidence of a queen" and her voice went "places few have gone." Hmm, is that a compliment? Jennifer told her she had all the makings of a diva, and Ashthon said she got it from J-Lo--then did a perfect J-Lo head tilt to prove it. Randy was once again the voice of reason, saying he liked Ashthon's stage presence, but didn't like the song for her.

Julie Zorrilla: Julie tried to win us over with another flirty A-line dress, and a "Breakaway" hit from "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson. It was all a bit too shouty and yet somehow bland; it just didn't gel.

Jennifer said she liked it, but said it wasn't the best she'd seen from Julie on "American Idol." She once again noted that Julie needed to connect more to the meaning of the song. Randy sounded like a broken record about "not bringing anything new to it," but he was right that she didn't do anything to make herself "special" in the crowd of "Idol" hopefuls. Steven agreed it was the wrong song and thought she should have taken it up into a higher octave.

Haley Reinhart: I am not quite sure what to make of this girl yet. She throws everything and the kitchen sink into every performance. Tonight, with Alicia Keys' "Fallin'", she was deep and sultry, then warbly and coquettish, then big and bold. She had plenty of sass in her performance and looked comfortable on stage, but I'm not sure if her rapidly changing vocal styles mid-performance means she's intriguing or inexperienced. I do know that she makes me smile, kind of in the same way Casey Abrams does when he's scatting and be-bopping all over stage.

Strangely, Randy thought it sounded "karaoke," which I thought was probably the *last* thing it sounded like. Steven didn't hear the karaoke at all, and told Randy "If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong." Oh snap! Steven thought it had just the right amount of rasp and sexiness. Jennifer thought Haley had "a lot of different colors" in her voice, but that she needed to relax a little more on stage and "get out of your head a little."

Thia Megia: Thia definitely did something different on the "American Idol" stage, starting off Irene Cara's "Out Here on My Own" with a super-slow beginning, and then working her way up to the bigger and bolder notes. Once again, she gave a solid performance, and looked cute in her little feathery dress, but she still seems like she hasn't quite grown into her voice.

Steven said it was "pitch perfect," and it didn't matter what she sang--pretty much saying he didn't care much for the song. Jennifer liked the quiet tone of the song in a night of bigger performances, and felt Thia "captivated" the whole room. I thought Randy was going crazy when he said he liked the tone of Thia's voice, which is something I think is always a bit odd somehow--and then Randy said it was like Michael Jackson. And he was right. There really is a little bit of that Michael sound--which, like Michael--will sound better once she's older.

Lauren Alaina: It is so hard for me to be objective about this girl, since she's so relentlessly pimped by the "American Idol" show--and now thinks she runs the place. Kudos, though, to Lauren for being the only girl not to wear a sparkly mini dress and instead wearing an age appropriate outfit of jeans, heart t-shirt and shrug jacket. She did the country thing with Reba McEntire's "Turn On the Radio", and as usual, got better towards the end of the song.

Jennifer clapped along with the beat of the song, and then complimented Lauren for her "natural" voice--"you don't even have to try." Randy considered her a combination of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. I don't remember what Steven said, because I was distracted by the crazy-eye look Lauren got when he actually praised her. And then she told everyone that Ryan's nickname was "Peaches"...because he's from Georgia. Ryan quickly tried to push her off stage and go to commercial.

Pia Toscano: Pia sang "I'll Stand By You," by the Pretenders, and sang it big--and clear--and very beautifully. I didn't go as crazy for it as the audience and judges did, but I can't fault her for any note; it was very nicely done.

The judges gave her a standing ovation, and Randy said the performance had put her at the top. Steven thought it was "over the top"--in a good way. Jennifer called Pia "sneaky" for saving her big, bold performance for this stage of the competition.

So there you have it, your top 12 girls. My personal favorites were Naima Adedapo, Lauren Turner and Kendra Chantelle. To round out the top 6, I would pick Pia Toscano, Haley Reinhart and Karen Rodriguez. Lauren Alaina and Thia Megia did fine, so they still have a chance of being voted in. Ta-Tynisa Wilson and Rachel Zevita had the most uneven performances, and Ashthon Jones and Julie Zorilla weren't far behind.

I'm dreading some shocking choices tomorrow night. There's going to be a lot of "I voted for them anyway" choices, and we could see some of the interesting people being sent home while the bland-but-cute people stay on. The judges do get wild card votes to turn the home audiences' Top 10 into the "American Idol" Top 12 (or Top 13?), so that may save a few of our quirkier favorites.

Watch the two hour (aka "too long") "American Idol" results show, Thursday night at 9/8c.

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