Jasmine turns in 'pleasant' work, 'Idol' judge says
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By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Welcome to "Pleasantville."
Last night's "American Idol," with Gloria Estefan judging and her Miami Sound Machine providing backup music, was somewhat surreal for the six surviving contestants.
Judge Simon Cowell said Jasmine Trias was "pleasant."
'American Idol'
Maybe it was the home-stretch nerves. Maybe everyone feared "the rhythm's gonna get you," as Estefan chants in one of her songs. And, yes, Estefan was very much in everyone's face, rivaling Paula Abdul for finding a positive in every performance — no matter how bad some were.
Almost everyone had difficulty with salsa and Latin tempos. Some earned pleasantries among the putdowns. Who leaves tonight is anyone's guess.
That said, Hawai'i's Jasmine Trias, the 17-year-old Maryknoll High School senior, should advance to the next round when the results show airs on Fox. She was not perfect, but she was, as Simon Cowell put it, "pleasant."
Looking foxy with her flower-less hair cascading to her shoulders, Trias tackled Estefan's "Here We Are" ballad, hitting the highs well before gliding into a few missed notes. She wore a black flower at her right hip, suitable for her black top and pants.
"Good song choice — but fell a little short," said Randy Jackson.
"I thought you did a beautiful job," said Estefan, who liked everyone.
"One person came out good tonight — Gloria," said Cowell, looking at Estefan but directing the observation to Trias. "That was a pleasant imitation (of Gloria). I've hit the nail on the head; tonight, pleasant is good."
"She's better than pleasant," said Abdul.
Regardless, "pleasant" should pull Trias through, considering the seesaw ride the others went through — with LaToya London the sole exception. London did "Rhythm," grooving like a hot Latina and looking like a million dollars in a red gown, displaying her usual confidence and cool.
"I think you needed to do what you did tonight. You were becoming boring (and) it was OK," said Cowell.
Estefan's songs weren't easy on the group. Fantasia Barrino bobbled through a tricky "Get on Your Feet." That left Jackson feeling charitable: "It was a great performance, but you started pitchy."
Cowell agreed: "The problem is you sounded like a cartoon character." (He mentioned Donald Duck.)
George Huff was all bounce with little emotion, singing "Live for Loving You." "At least you found yourself in the song — you worked it out," said Jackson. And Cowell? "That was amateurish. The good news ... at least you have a fan (in Gloria, who found him "wonderful"). Cowell said that if this were the first time he heard Huff, he'd not believe he was part of the elite (and dwindling) list of finalists.
John Stevens, who copped out by doing "Music of My Heart," an *N Sync ballad that Estefan recorded with that band, likely will survive the verbal attacks. Jackson could find little to like so he said the red-haired chap was a nice guy. "I love the shoes (but) the song and you were horrendous."
Estefan said the performance "was special to me," Abdul said it was a "fine effort." Cowell offered: "You're 16 and you've taken every bullet thrown at you like a man. I wish other contestants would behave like you. The bad news is you and Latin music go together like chocolate ice cream and an onion."
Diana DeGarmo's passion-filled "Turn the Beat Around," with rat-tat-tat-tat elocution, got some positives. From Jackson, "You have mad talent." From Estefan, "You turned the beat around." From Abdul, "Another great week ... (you have) reason to be proud."
Cowell had his own take: "I'll give the performance a 7; the dress (a red gown, with slat-like slits) is a zero. You can't have it all."
So who'll bottom out tonight? Host Ryan Seacrest opened last night's show by thanking viewers for their mail stating their feelings over Jennifer Hudson's being voted out last week. With a joke mixed in, he reminded viewers if they really like what they see, it's up to them to vote to keep contestants around.
In other words, it could be Huff, Barrino, and, yes, even London. Then again, it could be Trias, Stevens or DeGarmo. Who knows what will happen anymore — which is why we'll tune in tonight.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
