By ilovegeorge7
The order was decided last week with a coin flip. Fantasia won the toss and chose to go second. Both girls had at least 2 (maybe three) wardrobe changes (I was on the board posting on spoiler so didn't study every little thing). Ryan was wearing a white jacket with a black buttoned dress shirt underneath..think John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever except not polyester and not a huge wanking collar. He looked like he had his hair color freshly done and his hair was really poofy.
Both girls did three songs; two of their choosing and then this year's AI single "I Believe" co-written by Tamyra Gray.
Throughout the broadcast a couple of things were very clear..that both girls were extremely nervous and that something was wrong with the audio. The mikes sounded muffled at times and tinny at others. It affected both girls equally. They were both thrown a little by the number and volume of the live musicians as well. Whether it was nerves from the final or just the new environment it's not 100% clear, but something was off for both of them last night.
Diana went first with "I Believe"--microphone issues were obvious but she was in tune and got through it..a good start off for her considering she knew she was first.
Fantasia went next with All My Life (recorded by KCi and JoJo--her cousins)-this was not the best song for her. You could tell audio problems were there..neither Randy or Paula liked the arrangement but said she worked it out and Simon said it was a mess (luckily he didn't say she was a mess, just the song!).
Diana went next with "No More Tears"(Enough is Enough) which she sang on disco night. She did well; seemed like she couldn't hear herself at times, and got really loud, but did well overall. You could still tell she was nervous..Randy gave the biggest praise when he said, "You are trying to win this thing, aren't you?"
Fantasia sang next with "Summertime" which she sang on Big Band night. She sat on the floor just like that night and had on a beautiful red dress. She seemed to calm down during that song and sang very well...I thought her voice sounded like it might give out all night..several entertainment mags are saying she had strep throat all week and could barely rehearse, if at all. Simon said he'd been wanting to say something to her for a long time; that she's the best contestant on any Idol that they've done anytime, anywhere.
Diana next with "Don't Cry Out Loud"...her voice sounded weak at the beginning. She struggled some for the pitch, but punches it when she gets going, but there was some kind of weird moment right in the middle where the orchestra went one way and Diana went another..(for about 5 words she was singing in the wrong key!)..that was REALLY bad but I don't think it was really her fault...I have never before heard her sing a note THAT out of key. I've heard her go flat once or twice, but YIKES! Judges feedback was shaky at best, even Paula couldn't think of much positive to say..
Fantasia performed last with the "I Believe" song. She was getting hoarse by now but DUG DEEP and pulled it out. (Anyone who sings knows that extra umph you can muster if you really sing from your diaphragm). She wasn't nearly as hoarse as Kelly Clarkson was by the end of AI 1, but I was doing the pretzel with arms, legs, eyes, crossed praying she could last. She BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE!!! I have had goosebumps for live music but have never really gotten them from t.v. The judges were nearly speechless but found nothing but praise to give. Simon said, "That was your acceptance speech." Paula said something about you are the American Idol.
Paul Anka closed the show with "My Way" where they switch the lyrics and talk about contestants and judges..
Before he sang, he said, "Fantasia really nailed it, didn't she!"
As far as I could tell all of the top 12 were in the audience..they flashed on each of them at least once or twice. Many could be seen wiping tears away after Fantasia's last performance.
Each girl had three lines for four hours of voting. Diana was the odd numbers 1-866-IDOLS-01 (03-05); Fantasia was the evens (1-866-IDOLS-02 (04-06).
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