American Idol: The Top Twelve Women

This past Tuesday on FOX, the sixth season of the voting portion of American Idol began. The top twelve men performed, and Wednesday night, the top twelve women followed suit.

As with many of the men, this was the public's first chance to really scope out the entire competition. After briefly recapping the men on Tuesday, the women's competition was under way. It didn't take long to notice that contrary to last year's season, this year, the girls are better than the guys.

Stephanie Edwards

19 - Savannah, GA

A college student, Stephanie said of her making it through the Hollywood rounds, "When I came out of the room, I was in shock." That shock certainly didn't stifle her performance ability, and she started the show off right for the women.

Her performance began great and got even better during the chorus. She didn't simply sing, she performed with emotion.

Randy said: "That set it off."

Paula said: "What a performer you are. ... You are a star, look at you."

Simon said: "You were a million times better than any performance we saw yesterday."

Amy Krebs

22 - Seattle, WA

Amy said it means a lot to her to have made it this far in the show. She says of her triumphs, "You have to deal with the good, bad, and the ugly." She chose to sing Bonnie Raitt's, "I Can't Make You LoveMe."

The song was shaky and pitchy right from the get-go, although she was able to put a little more power into the words towards the middle. But, the run she used at the end took her back from the power.

Randy said: "Very very too safe for me."

Paula said: "I'm going to have to agree with Randy."

Simon said: "When you sing you have the personality of a candle. ... There's nothing to remember."

Leslie Hunt

24 - Chicago, IL

A dog walker from Chicago, Leslie says she is "just really pleaser with [her]self that [she's] come this far." To start off her performing career for the public, she chose "Natural Woman."

The performance wasn't too bad, but her voice got lost in the background during the chorus lines. She was able to bring a new flavor to the song and ended on a good note.

Randy said: "That song actually I felt was a little too big for you."

Paula said: "I think you did a great job. ... However, watch the songs that you pick."

Simon said: "It wasn't great. ... It looks like she's gone out of her comfort zone."

Sabrina Sloan

27 - Studio City, CA

After Simon predicted she wouldn't make it through the first round in Hollywood, Sabrina named her goal for the remainder of the competition: "To nail the perfect song." This week, she chose "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You."

Her tone throughout was wonderful, and this was the first "Wow" performance of the competition so far. The song showed her range, and she chose the perfect length and placement for her special touches of runs.

Randy said: "Well well well, America, we finally have a competition. That was hot."

Paula said: "Standing ovation... awesome."

Simon said: "Best one so far."

Antonella Barba

20 - Point Pleasant, NJ

Antonella tried out for the show with her best friend, who was unable to make it through the entirety of the Hollywood rounds. She stated of the experience, "Hollywood week was very very stressful." Hoping to ease the stress with a great performance, Antonella sang, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing."

She made the song her own in the beginning, but was a little pitchy at times. A lot of the performance was weak and shaky, but she was able to introduce her power towards the end.

Randy said: "It wasn't good... it was really pitchy, really bland."

Paula said: "It might not have been great, but it wasn't bad."

Simon said: "Well the good news is you're attractive, the bad news is it didn't work."

Jordin Sparks

17 - Glendale, AZ

The youngest woman in the competition, Jordin stated in her introduction, "I'm just so happy that I'm here." She chose to sing, "Give Me One Reason" by Tracy Chapman.

The lyrical notes were pretty much the same as the original song, but she was able to put her own touches into the song in the in between with runs. It was a solid performance.

Randy said: "There was some good things about it... pick songs, challenge yourself... I don't know that there's any song too big for you."

Paula said: "You do have that natural talent, go for it."

Simon said: "I think push yourself, you may surprise a few people in this competition."

Nicole Tranquillo

20 - Philadelphia, PA

Nicole is a voice major at the University of the Arts. She sang "Stay," and wasn't scared to let her voice blow. However, it was almost impossible to understand the words she was saying.

Randy said: "I'm not sure, it was a little bit of the shocker version. ... That was rough for me."

Paula said: "I don't know how many people can hit the notes that Nicole just did."

Simon said: "Indulgent, aggressive, fake... I didn't like it."

Haley Scarnato

24 - San Antonio, CA

Of her experience so far in this competition, Haley stated, "To look back now, it's really insane that I've got this far." She sang, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now."

Her nerves were readily shown, and it was a little shaky at the start. She wasn't able to bring anything new to the song, and the performance fell a little flat during the chorus.

Randy said: "It was just okay for me, really. ... Wow me a little bit more."

Paula said: "I think that you did a good job."

Simon said: "It was a bit like being at an actually reasonably good hotel and that was the last song of the night. ... It was a little boring, I though."

Melinda Doolittle

29 - Brentwood, TN

Having previously made her life as a background singer, Melinda said she had actually thought about trying out to become one on American Idol. Instead, she gets to stand in the spotlight. To make her move, she sang "Since You've Been Gone."

She came out storming and ready to go and really sang the song. She hit every note and gave a strong, solid performance.

Randy said: "Yo yo, Melinda, that's the way. That was the bomb."

Paula said: "You are not a background singer anymore. You are a front runner. You're a firecracker, too."

Simon said: "You are an incredible singer. ... I really hope you do well."

Alaina Alexander

24 - Redlands, CA

Alaina says making it through Hollywood week was the best feeling ever. To start off the voting rounds, she chose to sing, "Brass in Pocket." The performance began a little shaky, but it picked up slightly throughout.

Randy said: "It really wasn't great to be honest with you."

Paula said: "You didn't go for it. ... You didn't put you're oomph into it."

Simon said: "I think you lost it after the middle."

Gina Glocksen

22 - Naperville, IL

This isn't the first season Gina has been on American Idol. Last year, she made it to the final rounds in Hollywood, but wasn't able to make it through. She wants America to know she is "serious about this competition." To display this, she sang "All By Myself."

It was a little boring in the beginning. Kind of slow and standard. After the start, though, she changed it up and ended very well.

Randy said: "Alright, big girl, big voice, big song. ... That was nice."

Paula said: "It was the right song to sing tonight."

Simon said: "I don't think you hit the big note."

LaKisha Jones

27 - Flint, MI

LaKisha stated of her time in Idol, "I'm just grateful to have the opportunity." This week, she chose to start off the voting part of the competition by singing, "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going."

She began the song perfectly, completely in key and on point. She made it unique towards the end, and gave a stunning performance full of emotion.

Randy said: "I do love you. ... You laid it out on that stage. ... Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"

Paula said: "This is where you belong, honey."

Simon said: "Just to correct someone earlier on, that was the right note. ... I'm very tempted to tell 23 people to book their plane tickets home. ... In a different league."

To close out the night, Randy summed it up, "The girls blew it out the box tonight." He also said if it weren't for the six men/six women stipulation of the top twelve, he would push at least eight women through. That would leave only four men. Lucky for the guys, they are guaranteed at least six spots.

Tune in to FOX tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST to catch the results and find out which two women and which two men will be leaving the show.