Katie Stevens, Katelyn Epperly, and Paige Miles in Danger on American Idol Top 8 Girls

Last night, the American Idol Top 8 Girls competed for spots in the Top 12. While we saw strong performances from Siobhan Magnus, Lacey Brown, Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, and Lilly Scott, we also saw a few duds in Katie Stevens, Katelyn Epperly and Paige Miles.

Katie Stevens on American Idol Top 8 Girls

Katie Stevens seems to do everything right on paper, but she's out of her league. Last night, she sang Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway." She took the judges advice and picked a "younger" song (straight out of The Princess Diaries!), but the whole performance was off and she looked painfully uncomfortable.

Randy Jackson thought it was too big a song for her and that it paled in comparison to Kelly Clarkson. Ellen DeGeneres liked the song choice because it was "young" but thought it lacked personality. She wasn't "breaking away." Kara DioGuardi said that Katie Stevens had a good "radio voice" but that she didn't know who she was as an artist. Simon Cowell agreed with the others, commenting on how Stevens had taken the advice on paper, but how she didn't know who she was as an artist.

Katie Stevens explained that this was who she wanted to be, the young soulful vibe, and coming from a small town, she was struggling to "break away." If she survives this week, it will be on the strength of her back story and her potentially good voice. It's a shame that she hasn't been able to deliver the goods because her initial audition showed enormous promise.

Katelyn Epperly on American Idol Top 8 Girls

Katelyn Epperly wasn't terrible, but she suffers the problem of being nondescript. Who's going to vote for Katelyn Epperly when we have Crystal Bowersox, Siobhan Magnus, Lacey Brown, or Lilly Scott who do what she does but better? Katelyn Epperly performed I Feel the Earth Move. As a viewer, I felt the earth flat. Kim Caldwell's performance on American Idol 2 was better.

According to USA Today, American Idol alum Blake Lewis comments that Katelyn Epperly had "put the show to sleep."

Randy Jackson didn't feel her connection to the song. Ellen DeGeneres said that it didn't wow people. Kara DioGuardi felt that Katelyn Epperly wasn't really competing and that she was just going through the motions. (Katelyn Epperly had explained that she was trying to be "less corny" this week). Simon Cowell likened her performance to request night at a restaurant. On the bright side, he liked her hair.

Paige Miles on American Idol Top 8 Girls

Paige Miles did offer many reasons to Smile after her performance. She performed Charlie Chaplin's Smile. As soon they announced the song choice, I had visions of Cowell saying "old-fashioned, hotel loungy." And I was almost right. I've been watching this show too long.

Randy Jackson said the song was too big for her. Ellen DeGeneres commented that the song was supposed to be uplifting but that Paige Miles made is sound sad. Kara DioGuardi asked Miles if she knew that it was wrong during the middle of the song. Simon Cowell likened it to "a peanut performance," something you'd hear while chewing peanuts at a bar. He also called it Holiday Inn 1974, saying that Paige had no idea who she was as an artist.

Based on performances alone, Katie Stevens, Katelyn Epperly, and Paige Miles are all equally deserving of the boot this week on American Idol. Still, there can only be two eliminations on the girls side. Paige Miles has a slim chance of surviving because she performed later in the show, while Katie Stevens' fan base could possibly come through once more. I would be very surprised if Katelyn Epperly survives this week on American Idol.

Sources:

Blake Lewis: 'Captivated' by Didi Benami's 'Rhiannon', USA Today