Got Gotye?
"American Idol" sure does. The Belgian musician's Grammy-winning song "Somebody That I Used To Know" was the song of choice during the first part of the girls' Hollywood round this week. Unfortunately, some of the contestants are now people that we used to know.
Welcome to Hollywood Week -- girl style -- where we say goodbye to some unforgettable voices from the "Idol" auditions: Mariah Pulice, Ann Difani, Ashley Smith ("Blondie" to Nicki Minaj), "Super Bass" blueberry picker Sarah Restuccio, a crutchless Megan Miller -- and that's just the beginning of the show.
Eighty-six cuts later and it's time for the dreaded group round, which -- in a new twist -- is dictated by producers. That can make for some heavenly harmonies or some diva drama.
Things start out on a high note. The Swagettes (Kamaria Ousley, Melinda Ademi, Denise Jackson, and Candice Glover) hit the judges' up with the song "Hit 'Em Up Style." They all make it through to the next round, as does Raisin' Kane, which features Morgan Leigh Boberg, Lauren Mink, Brandy Hotard, and Jenny Beth Willis.
But the group Almost Famous -- starring Savannah Votion, Lizz Weiss, Daysia Hall and J'Leigh Chauvin -- blow it big time with the Gotye song. Daysia makes it through, but only by the skin of her teeth.
There's plenty of drama for The Dramatics, who advance thanks to Nicki's rallying; that group includes Janel Stinney, Kriss Mincey and Cristabel Clack.
And a week after Papa Peachez was warned by Nicki that he needed to "Step. It. Up." an entire group is given the same warning. Seretha Guinn, Tenna Torres and Kiara Lanier do not impress the judges (Keith Urban impatiently asks if they are finished), and Seretha is sent packing.
A last minute song change proves risky for the group For You (Stephanie Schimel, Alex Delaney, Kalli Therinae, and Holly Miller). While they spend all night rehearsing Bonnie Raitt's "Total Eclipse of the Heart," they do an early morning switcheroo to, yes, Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know." The girls get caught reading lyrics from their hand, but Stephanie Schimel and Holly Miller survive this hot mess. Holly later asks why the judges let her through. "I totally botched that thing," she says.
The flamboyant Zoanette Johnson also makes it through to the next round, as does Liz Bills. And when Shira Gavrielov gets the axe -- after yet another performance of the Gotye song -- she returns to the stage to ask the judges' for another chance. Mariah Carey tells her this isn't her moment for "American Idol."
Oh boy, nothing like a late night stomach virus to cause dissension among a group. The Dolly Chicks have to deal with Haley Davis' disappearance in the middle of rehearsals, when she has the nerve to go to bed at 2:30 a.m. (She contends it was 4 a.m.) Come performance time, Haley is blatantly reading the lyrics off her arm, and has to endure the wrath of Nicki, who calls it "disrespectful." Even so, Britnee Kellogg, Kree Harrison, and Haley Davis all make it through.
And finally we have The Misfits, an aptly-named mishmash of a group that includes Janelle Arthur, Breanna Steer, Angela Miller, and the quirky Kez Ban. Despite Kez' freakiness and frequent food breaks, the girls all come together for the song "Be My Baby." In the end, this odd group beats the odds and they all make it through.
Tonight the talent is trimmed down to 20 girls and 20 boys.
"American Idol" Season 12 airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays on FOX.
More From This Contributor:
5 Things to Know About Nicki Minaj
'American Idol' Season 12 Premiere: 5 Surprising Moments
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