Thursday, May 24, 2012 8:54 am
Montgomery Blair High School's Online Student Newspaper
Tags: print
May 12, 2004

American Idol - May 11

by Adedeji Ogunfolu, Page Editor and Ellie Blalock, Page Editor
Silver Chips Online's judges sounded off on the May 11 episode of American Idol.

Ellie Blalock

This week's show was arguably the most competitive for the four ladies remaining in the competition. The genre was disco, and most of the contestants seemed to have no trouble taking on the high notes and wild dance moves executed by such legendary disco stars as Donna Summer, the night's guest judge. Voters may have trouble picking one of the four "favorites." This far into the contest, no one is safe, not even La Toya and Fantasia, who stood out a mile ahead of the pack as recently as last week.

Jasmine Trias: Jasmine sang "Everlasting Love" and "It's Raining Men." These were both less-than-perfect choices for Jasmine's voice, which has been struggling recently. Jasmine was unable to maintain control of her voice in either song and did not let the beauty of her voice, which she has shown previously, come through.

La Toya London: La Toya sang her first song, "Love You Inside and Out,"
with much less success than she did her second song, "Don't Leave Me This Way."
La Toya's hidden personality and pep showed through for the first time during
the second song, and she displayed to the judges and the audience that she is willing to try something new.

Fantasia Barrino: Fantasia is extremely versatile, and she let it be known tonight. Disco is perfectly suited for Fantasia's voice and personality. She danced all over the stage and with members of the audience, all while belting out "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Knock on Wood." Everything Fantasia does seems completely natural and flawless, regardless of what it is. Fantasia's spirit and zest for life are contagious, and she is destined for stardom.

Diana DeGarmo: Diana has moved in leaps and bounds to get where she was tonight in the American Idol competition. Diana is the youngest of the four girls remaining, but she has certainly shown the most growth. Diana performed "This Is It" and "No More Tears," while showing off her rich, strong voice. This was Diana's night to shine and show her versatility, and she definitely did.

Though this was by far the toughest show so far this season, one singer unfortunately proved that she is just not ready for the spotlight. This singer is Jasmine, who has a lovely, classy voice, but who just can't compete with the stars still remaining. Jasmine will most likely say goodbye tomorrow night.

Adedeji Ogunfolu
It was an all-ladies night on American Idol with the competition getting tougher than it has before.

Jasmine Trias' song choices did not fit her voice, and, after her performance in this episode, she definitely will be leaving the competition. Her second performance, a take on "It's Raining Men," was of slightly better quality than her first song, but she still was not able to compete with Barrino, DiGarmo and London.

La Toya London sang "Love You Inside and Out." Her performance proved that she is the most versatile singer in the American Idol competition. She is also the most poised of the singers in the competition, and her confidence on stage is obvious in her singing. Her second performance, a rendition of "Don't Leave Me This Way," was less controlled than her first performance.

Fantasia Barrino's performed "Knock on Wood." She is most likely to be the winner because she has the most stage presence and the most unique voice. Her performance of "Holding Out For a Hero" was not as strong, but she is still bound for the finals.

Diana DiGarmo had surprisingly electrifying performances. She still does not have what it take to compete with Fantasia Barrino and La Toya London, but her performance will allow her to be in the top three. This week she was extremely focused, and her hard work paid off.



Share on Tumblr

Discuss this Article

  • BRENDA CAMPBELL (View Email) on May 12, 2004
    JASMINE, DID HER CRYING GET THE PITTY FROM
    THE T.V. VIEWERS.......WHO WANTS TO HEAR A
    CRY BABY THAT CAN'T EVEN SING. SHE WAS THE
    ONE THAT WAS OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT THE
    DOOR. COME ON FOLKS THIS IS FOR TALENT NOT
    LITTLE CUTIE PIES, OR CRY BABIES......WE ARE PICKING THOSE WITH A VOICE THAT IS TO BE HEARD
    WITH THE BEST OF TALENT. SO TALENT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT THIS IS NOT A BEAUTY CONTEST.

    I AM JUST ABOUT TO STOP WATCHING THE SHOW FOR THE VOTERS ARE NOT PICKING THE ONES FOR THEIR TALENT. I THINK THEY ARE PICKING FOR THE BEAUTY CONTEST........GO FIGURE.....
  • Mary Quirici (View Email) on May 13, 2004
    I am VERY upset with Latoya being voted off! I tried calling to place my vote until 3 a.m. Tuesday evening but the line was constantly busy. I tried everything to get a connection to vote for anyone EXCEPT Jasmine, however, with a constant busy signal. I was up this morning at 6:30 a.m. and once again started dialing to place my vote. Again, no connection..just a busy signal. I am VERY UPSET with this. Latoya should win the event hands down, except with a bit of competition with Diana lately. Overall, Latoya was my vote all along, but the Disco portion I wanted to vote for Diana. I truly feel there is something wrong with connecting to the phone number to call...... Latoya should remain in the competition. Even the Judges acted shocked with this "American" vote..which I feel is UN-American......as I had no choice in the matter!!!! You had better check out your phone line situation or else I will form the opinion that you are exactly as the "Publisher's Clearinghouse scam"...... There were thunderstorms in my area earlier Tuesday evening and even Wednesday afternoon.... I don't feel that should have anything to do with your voting lines being busy half the night. I am VERY upset with your show. The judges and TV Guide On-line Poll are correct. Something is wrong with this picture and I want a 'recount'!!!!! Growlll.
    Angry in Hyde Park, New York
    Yours truly, Mary Quirici
  • karin t (View Email) on May 13, 2004
    oh my goodness, think again people, jus because Simon says, you people want to go against him, why, because, he is RIGHT!!!
    Listen with your ears not your stupidity, this show needs to go off the air because America has no sense, let alone no EARS!!!!!!!
  • ida McCray (View Email) on May 13, 2004
    La Toya London was another victim to the backstage politics. I hope that in the future whichever one of the women win will bring Latoya with them. She was clearly better than the two remaining women with personality and song. Why isn't the politics spoken about? Did she forget to scratch where she did not itch?
  • Fred Santucci (View Email) on May 13, 2004
    I'll miss LaToya, but I'm relieved that Fantasia is still in the game. I would have voted for her every week, even those weeks she didn't win. I suspect as much for Jasmine's fans. You can only vote for a person, not against one..so I think the raceism charge is a copout. I was most excited to see Fantasia, Jennifer, LaToya, Diane and Jasmine in that order. Go Fantasia!
  • peggy (View Email) on May 13, 2004
    Fantasia should be the next American Idol. She is the only one can sing .
  • Latoya Fan on May 13, 2004
    WHat is wrong with the world that they would vote Latoya London off the show. That Hawaiin Girl Jasmine Needs to GO!!!! She is a female John Stevens, her time is up!
  • cassey (View Email) on May 13, 2004
    I feel that some of the judges helped LaToya lose because they already had her picked out and saying she was the next american idol. When Jasmine didn't do well the judges were to cruel and I think this helped on changing some votes. You don't have to be cruel when someone isn't doing well. Jasmine can sing she just doesn't have a strong enough of a voice as LaToya has. Yes I feel LaToya should of one but everyone was doing the best they can. Now it will be hard for Jasmine to finish because she knows how the Judges feel about her. Simone is to cruel.Im not a writer just my opinion.
  • >:P (View Email) on May 13, 2004
    We can all see that America doesn't know who to vote. In the top 12, Matt and Emy left when CLEARLY Camille shouldn't even have been in the top 12. Jasmine should have left before Jon Peter Lewis, John Stevins and George. The top 3 right now should be LaToya, Fantasia and George. Clearly America didn't vote on talent because Jasmine should have left!!!!!! I bet people who did vote for her just voted out of pity after that little break down she had on Tuesday, after the second song. LaToya was down a great injustice. I mean America has done it before. In the first American Idol, Justin was the 1st runner up, and he wasn't all that good. Then in season 2, Ruben was voted in the bottom 3 in the final 10, I think. I'm not all that surprised that this happened. However, I am really pissed off!!!!
  • :::::::: on May 13, 2004
    LaToya should not have gone at all. She and Fantasia didn't even deserve to be in the bottom three. Now it looks like Fantasia has a win all set up, but if this pattern of not voting on merit continues, someone less deserving will probably win
  • zelalem bachore (View Email) on May 14, 2004
    How on earth can London go home while jasmine stays?????????????????????????????????????????????? I am really baffled and then to have the best singers at the bottom, this is outrageous! There must be something wrong with the voting system, or even worse, America is a racist country!!! like simon said, jasmine might have to write millions of thank you letters to Hawaii but if the voting system can't even filter repetitious calls, hey, lets stop this facade called American idol. People have better thing to do with their time.
    • Enrique (View Email) on February 7, 2011 at 5:02 PM
      Zel, you are crazy!
Jump to first comment