Summary "American Idol" - Second Group of 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Ryan introduces last week's winners Michael, Alexis, and Danny and the judges. Randy says the second 12 have an advantage from watching last week. Kara says to do the best they possibly can. Paula says she hopes they picked the right song. Simon says it's too late for advice now.

Contestant #1: Jasmine Murray, 17

Video Clip: We see her journey to the stage. Simon liked her. Her mom predicted she would be on.

Song: "Love Song," Sara Bareilles

Performance: She starts off in a low register that seems like an odd spot for her voice. The chorus is better. The crowd stands. She's very natural and has an easy stage presence. It's okay but not amazing.

Randy: He thought there were good and bad moments and that it was pitchy all the way through. He didn't think it was the right song.

Kara: Thinks she's very commercial but that the song was all over the place and started badly.

Paula: Wants to disagree with Kara and Randy but she can't. She liked her confidence but thought it was the wrong song.

Simon: Was disappointed because he likes her. She's got the right attitude, look, and confidence but doesn't have a great voice. He thinks she's a couple of years too early. He asks what she thought. She had fun.

Ryan asks Randy if she deserves a spot. He's unsure.

(Apparently there will be no parents in the red room this week as Jasmine's mom was in the audience.)

Contestant #2: Matt Giraud, 23, the dueling piano man

Video Clip: We see his journey. He needs to pinch himself because it's so surreal. Hollywood week went well for him.

Song: "Viva La Vida," Coldplay

Performance: He sings without a piano. The beginning is a little shaky. He tries to add a few little runs but the song's pace doesn't really allow for it. He seems a little breathless and an attempt at falsetto is a bit rough. He adds some runs at the end that are equally spotty.

Kara: She was blown away in Hollywood week and wasn't tonight. For a bluesy guy she thinks it was the wrong song and it didn't lend itself to the interpretation he tried to put on it. She still loves him.

Paula: She thought his performance was better than the rehearsal but thinks it was probably the wrong song.

Simon: Echoes the women and says he thought it verged on horrible and he went from bluesy thing to a wannabe pop star. He thinks he's got talent but didn't showcase himself well.

Randy: Echoes all of them saying that he's pulling for him but again, wrong song.

Matt says this is the type of music he wants to do as an artist. Simon says Matt doesn't deserve a spot in the top 12 if that's what he wants to do.

Contestant #3: Jeanine Vailes, 28

Video Clip: Her journey went well. Simon found her believable as a recording artist. She tripped on the table when she went to hug Randy when she got through.

Song: "This Love," Maroon 5

Performance: Very weird choice, it doesn't really show off her voice. She is, however, showing off her legs in short shorts. She has good presence but she doesn't sound that great until a Chaka Khan-y final note.

Paula: Says she has great legs and says it's season 8 and turns to Simon.

Simon: Thought it was terrible and that she made the absolute wrong choice. He agrees she has good legs.

Randy: Agrees on the hot legs and the wrong song.

Kara: Says she's very pretty but that the song was so overdone and it was all wrong.

She says that since she's been so under the radar - getting little camera time up till now- that she had to come out strong. Kara says she overcompensated. Jeanine agrees but says she can pick a better song. Simon thinks she blew it. She says she hasn't blown it yet. Paula thinks she might've blown it. Kara says she doesn't deserve a shot at the top 12. She begs for votes and says she can prove it.

Contestant #4: Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle, 27

Video Clip: We get a greatest hits recap of his bad comedy auditions. He says he's doing what he knows how to do since he knows he will not be the next Justin Timberlake. He's having an identity crisis but just wants to entertain America.

Song: "And I'm Telling You, I'm Not Going," from "Dreamgirls"

Performance: He dedicates his performance to group 2. He's wearing white tails, khaki shorts, the headband, and the shirt. In the audience his mother grins but his dad looks either nervous or angry or both. It's nasal but he's hitting the notes. Now his dad's clapping. He's vamping, dropping the glasses and jacket and jokes with the crowd. He hits a horrible note and goes offstage to the judges table to stroke the "Idol" logo. He points out "Doogie"- Neil Patrick Harris- in the audience. He hits one big real note and then ends on a totally goofy note. Simon is actually laughing. It wasn't a great vocal but it was the funniest he's been to date. Granted the bar was set pretty low.

Simon: He hopes he's speaking on behalf of America when he says he prays he doesn't go through to the next round. He's booed. He apologizes and wonders why Nick's mom and dad are looking at him like that. Although his mom is laughing. He says it was arguably one of the most atrocious performances they've ever had. He calls it horrific comedy. Nick says it takes one to know one and calls him sassy pants and does some karate kicks.

Randy: Says it was one of the most entertaining performances ever on "Idol." He says the vocals were not happening. He thought it was funny.

Kara: She says at least they remember him and he wears the same shirt every week like Simon. She says he's not a terrible singer although she doesn't see him in the music market. She says she enjoyed him tonight.

Paula: Says since this is America singers come in all shapes, sizes, sounds, looks, and fashion. She thinks that sometimes he's paying homage to Jerry Lewis and Olivia Newton-John. She says he's a true performer but doesn't know if this is the stage for him but that there are plenty of stages. She calls him fun.

Ryan says this is the first time someone's gone to second base with their logo. He asks the judges if Nick is not a terrible singer. Nick says he wants to own the fact that they had five rehearsals but when he went on his knees his vocals went off. He then says Simon is looking at him like he wants to kill him. Simon says he's listening and asks Ryan if he liked it. He says in a different way than Simon probably did. Ryan says there's chemistry between Nick and Simon. Ryan asks Paula if she'd vote for him based on vocals from that performance. She's confused thinking he was asking Simon and points out that Simon was smiling the whole time. Ryan clarifies he was asking her. She literally babbles. Ryan asks Nick if he thinks he deserves a spot in the top 12. Nick asks Ryan. Ryan says probably not but says it was entertaining.

Contestant #5: Alison Iraheta, 16 Ryan asks her about "Idol" school since she's out of public school. She acts very goofily.

Video Clip: She got a "generous" yes to get to Hollywood. She's the one Simon said to keep an eye on and Kara said had "raw, natural talent" at final judgment.

Song: "Alone," Heart

Performance: She's got a pleasant little rasp and a soulful texture to her voice on the opening verse. She's killing it, especially the hard rocking parts. The backing vocals are a little too loud but she's rolling with it. The best performance thus far, by far.

Randy: Thinks she blew it out the box and is thrilled that now real singing is jumping off.

Kara: Says she's serious and Alison doesn't even know how good she is. She says she just needs to work out her stage fright and she could have a big hit on the radio.

Paula: Thinks she can sing the telephone book and worked the microphone and stand really well. She thinks she's very seasoned at 16.

Simon: Says she's the best tonight by a clear mile and it's like the competition just started. He says it's amazing since she was so boring upstairs with Ryan and was a totally different person onstage. He was very impressed.

Contestant #6: Kris Allen, 23

Video Clip: His audition went well although Simon was put off by his modesty. (I don't remember this guy at all). We see a little bit of him playing guitar on a Michael Buble song.

Song: "Man in the Mirror," Michael Jackson

Performance: Again kind of an odd choice for the early low register, but he's very likable and sweet. The chorus is loads better than the verses and he hits one big note real well. Solid but not spectacular.

Kara: Says the back half was better than the front but doesn't touch what he did in Hollywood week. She misses the soulful voice and thinks this was completely the wrong song and doesn't see him doing this.

Paula: Disagrees completely and thought he nailed it and that the songwriters would be proud and that he was charming.

Simon: Agrees with Paula and she kisses him. He doesn't think he's the best singer in the competition, Danny is, he says, but that he did what they asked by showing confidence and that the girls will dig him. He's proud of him and thinks he put himself in the running.

Randy: Agrees partially with Simon and says he wasn't sure he could pull it off without the guitar but he did.

Contestant #7: Megan Corkrey, 23

Video Clip: She was one of Simon's early favorites. She has a two-year old son, Ryder.

Song: "Put Your Records On," Corinne Bailey Rae

Performance: Her hands on her hips stance is awkward and she's a bit ungainly but she sounds pretty good: jazzy, different, and sweet.

Paula: Thinks she picked the right song, is hip, beautiful, relevant, and telegenic and that she did everything right.

Simon: Thinks she's a funny little thing and looks gorgeous. Thought it started well but that it got a bit shouty in the middle when she got overexcited. She says she thinks she rocked it. He hopes America votes for her and agrees that she is relevant and current.

Randy: Is a big fan and thinks she's in the Duffy, Adele, Winehouse sphere. Calls it a nice job.

Kara: Says she's a package artist because she's pretty and unique and with the right song she could break out.

Contestant #8: Matt Breitzke, 28, the welder

Video Clip: We see him weld. He was starstruck by the judges. He's doing this for his family. His song "encapsulates true love."

Song: "If You Could Only See," Tonic

Performance: He's very earnest and moves a bit funny for a big guy but he sounds okay. The first part isn't great in terms of showing off range, in fact none of the song really is. It's first rate karaoke but doesn't rise to the size of the occasion.

Simon: Really likes him but absolutely hated that song and is frustrated. He thinks it was boring and forgettable and that the performance part was uncomfortable. If he knew Matt was going to choose it he would've tried to talk him out of it. Matt appreciates it but disagrees.

Randy: Thought it was just okay, not enough edge and energy. Randy also likes him and thinks he's cool.

Kara: Agrees they all like him but thinks the song didn't show any side of him and it fell really flat and that most disappointing is that he can actually sing but it was poor song choice.

Paula: Knows he puts his whole guts and soul into it and that it was all in key but not who they saw in Hollywood.

Contestant #9: Jesse Langseth, 26

Video Clip: Simon really liked her. She's a single mom to an 8-year-old. She was in a sing for your life situation at final judgment and is glad Simon talked trash to her because it fuels her fire.

Song: "Bette Davis Eyes," Kim Carnes (Which she thinks is "one of the greatest songs ever written." YIKES!)

Performance: It starts a little shaky and strident. (The backing band is killing that terrible '80s keyboard sound). She seems nervous. She's hitting some decent notes and has some skills but her nerves seemed to be getting the best of her breathing.

Randy: Thought it was okay, the song was cool, but right now everyone should blow them away and she didn't. She asks what he wanted to see. He says more range vocally.

Kara: Says it's her best look and that it was slinky and sexy. She thinks she hit some bad notes but that there were good moments and she took some interesting risks but that it didn't show off her range. (She starts talking about the drum pattern, wasting time. Oy, another chatty Brooke White-type).

Paula: Found her captivating throughout the whole process and thinks she's cool and has an identifiable sound and her phrasing is unique. She didn't think it was a perfect song for her but reiterates that Jesse is cool.

Simon: He disagrees and says she was forgettable which is too bad since she has a nice voice but that she was too cool for school.

Contestant #10: Kai Kalama, 27

Video Clip: Kara thought he was cute. Simon tells him he needs confidence. Hollywood went well. His energy is going for his sick mom.

Song: "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," Jimmy Ruffin.

Performance: It's kinda boring and cheesy. He sounds fine, some nice notes, but no wow factor, kind of cruise ship-esque.

Kara: Likes him but thinks he had some pitch issues and that the song is a little old-fashioned and would like to see something contemporary.

Paula: Echoes Kara and didn't realize he was such a good performer.

Simon: Old-fashioned, corny, wedding/hotel singer, unoriginal, forgettable, thinks he would be a very good back-up singer.

Randy: Agrees with Simon, says it was too safe.

Contestant #11: Mishavonna Henson, 18

Video Clip: She made it to Hollywood last year but got cut. So excited to have made it to the top 36. She promises to not let America down.

Song: "Drops of Jupiter," Train

Performance: She's giving a very earnest, female singer-songwriter-type performance. She's hitting the notes but again, not very exciting. Rough landing.

Paula: Thinks she sang it well but it didn't excite her.

Simon: Thinks it's a great song, and that she's technically a great singer, but it left him cold and that she's too serious. He wishes she was a bit more fun.

Randy: Agrees that she feels so much older than 18. He also didn't like a solo singer singing a band song. (Really?)

Kara: She also loves the song and says she wants her to loosen it up a bit. She thinks she is a good singer but they're all wondering where she fits in the industry. (Paula sneezes).

Contestant #12: Adam Lambert, 27

Video Clip: Paula thought he was the best they've seen. He's been in musical theater his whole life. He was criticized for not being emotionally connected. He realizes he needs things to be a little more internal.

Song: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," The Rolling Stones

Performance: He ill-advisedly slows down the beginning and gets overwrought as it speeds up. Also not a great song to show off range but he adds some crazy, inappropriate runs. He toggles between sounding like a woman and the musical theatre performer he is. He's definitely got power on his side though. Paula gives him a standing O.

Paula: Feels like she's at an Adam Lambert concert and thinks he's in a league of his own and is leaving some people in the rearview mirror.

Simon: He thought there were parts that were excruciatingly bad and parts that were brilliant. He thinks it's going to be a love it or hate it performance but thinks he will get through.

Randy: Loved it because he thinks he's very relevant. He think it's Steven Tyler meets Fall Out Boy meets Robert Pattinson meets My Chemical Romance. He says it was manic in places but loved it.

Kara: Thinks his technique is outrageous and his range is crazy in a good way.

Predictions: Alison, Adam, and Megan

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