Is Katrina Darrell the best singer on this year’s American Idol? Hell no. Is she the prettiest girl in the competition? Hell no. Did she bring the game to deserve getting through last night? Hell yes! Listen, I saw Simon blush when she first walked out, and I know he is thinking with the wrong head when he judges her (Randy too, I guess, though I guarantee he falls in line once Simon finally decides she doesn’t make the cut). But the American Idol crown doesn’t simply go to the singer with the best voice. If it did, Melinda Doolittle would’ve won in ‘07, and Taylor Hicks would’ve been sent packing long before his embarrassing "SOUL PATROLLLL!!!" incidents. And last night (check out Slezak’s American Idol recap!), Katrina strutted in fully clothed, riding her own coattails from bikini night, and showed some singing chops in her rendition of Faith Hill’s "Breathe." Simon’s right: There’s no way Darrell is ever going to get a fair shake from Paula (who just echoed Kara’s criticism) or Kara, who last night, for some reason, started out Darrell’s audition with a comment referencing their spat from bikini week (reminding us how she felt it necessary to prove that she can out-sing the young, hot, half-naked contestant). Kara pretty much sealed the deal herself by conceding that Darrell actually sounded quite nice, at least at the beginning. Swagger, infamy, brazen sexuality, and at least some singing chops to boot? You go, Bikini Girl…see ya again real soon.
Okay, so barring a serious vocal overhaul, she won’t win this thing, but anyone else rooting for Katrina just the same? Or perhaps the better question is, any WOMEN out there rooting for Katrina?
More ‘American Idol’:
Michael Slezak’s American Idol recap
Bikini Girl: The reason I’ll watch (at least one more) ‘American Idol’
Profile: Kara DioGuardi, the New ‘Idol’ Judge
12 songs that should be banned from Idol forever!
The 16 best Idol performances ever
The 10 worst Idol performances ever
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She’s a pretty girl who is relying on her looks to mask her middling talent. There are a lot of women who do that (men, too). I hope she milks it for all she can get, because in a few years she will be left with very little when the looks start to go. I am not rooting for her, only because I think that several others who did not shove their butts in Simon’s face and make out with Seacrest did not go through because of her–people who deserved it more than she does. But there’s one every year (anyone remember Andrea or whatever her name was–Jersey Girl?). Bikini Girl is bound for a VH1 reality show soon.
Looking forward to her progressing into Thong Girl…
She’s an intelligent girl. She wanted to be seen by the masses and get her foot (not to mention the rest of her) in the door. No doubt she dreams of stardom and is using AI as the means to an end. It appears to be working for her, wouldn’t you say? BTW, I hear Hefner needs a new Playmate at his mansion.
The answer to that last question is NO. Reminds me of the Partridge Family episode where the pretty girl sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
Exactly what were you listening too? She sang in a monotone. She said she would be better with music. Yeah, you and everyone else. I know. Why don’t we just give her music. And then escort her out. What a joke. But more power too her. I love it when semi-pretty girls play stupid men, and the woman are called jealous. Right!
Sorry..women.
Hell to the no! I agreed w/ Kara–Bikini Girl sounded good @ the beginning of “Breathe”….& I’m getting really aggravated w/ Cowell just smiling & letting her through. I know she won’t make it to Top 36 at the end, but if she does (which she won’t), Idol is more screwed up than I thought.
Simon actually repeated her lame line “it would sound better with music”? Well, whose song wouldn’t? She’s not out of her league…yet, but will be very soon.
Yes, I agree! Bikini Girl seems to know what she is doing and making for fun tv!
she’s not even that cute…she looks like a random girl from Abercrombie and Fitch
She’s taking up space better used by contestants who didn’t get to stay last night. She needs to go.
Unfortunately for her, she’s one of a million non-descript Cali girls who’s trying to get noticed. Her singing is in tune but she has that Nasally sound that makes you want to recommend a strong decongestant or rhinoplasty.
I thought she was awful. It’s too bad that a bikini will make Simon lower his standards.
As bad as Ms Darrell may be (and I don’t believe she’s half bad, she’s 1000% easier to listen to than Von (“Son of Sam Harris”) Smith. I *hate* that guy. And Kara isn’t convering herself in glory with her Raw, Naked, Contempt.
I don;t see how she can expect to be taken seriously…& because of her stunt she won’t be. no respect here. but it got her on the show… but no she can’t sing…kara is def better singer,which I was surprised to hear her!
I thought the bikini hril was annoying, & very shallow when she talked.
I think Simon was being sarcastic when he agreed that it would have sounded better with the music. Of course, it would have. Obviously, the judges are just playing up the entertainment value of BG’d appearances and passing her thru fro the same reason.
she has a nice-sounding voice but it doesn’t have enough power compared to the other contestants that stayed and went home. kara & paula were right, simon is just acting like he likes her for the entertainment value, and randy, as always this season, is just echoing what the other judge says.
Where oh where are the comments on Ryan’s reactions – both times – to Bikini Girl’s kisses? This is an Idol first, isn’t it, for Ryan to be smooched up this much? His discomfort and lame “I can’t do this..” were worthy of a few paragraphs at least!
She has a good voice, but she tries to pull out too many affectations for it to be a great voice. Oh yeah, and she’s playing the “I’m so hot and Kara doesn’t like me because she’s threatened” card waaaaay too much. As Simon often says, this is a SINGING competition. If you want to vamp it up honey, go to Tyra and ANTM.
She’s the HOTTEST contestant, and that’s all that counts. Kevin Malone would agree with me.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she decides to stay in LA and becomes a big success — in the porn industry.
Like Slezak said in his recap of this episode, letting Bikini Girl through is completely undermining the legitimacy of Idol as a true singing talent competition. I thought she sounded awful – nasally and off pitch. The only reason – ONLY – reason Simon and Randy let her through was because of the bikini. I used to respect Simon, but he’s dropped several notches after this. She’s horrid, and if she makes it to top 36, I may tune out this season.
As a woman, I hate women who think other women are just jealous of them. Other women may be jealous of you, but if you think that, then you think way TOO much of yourself.
There were several other poor singers that made it through to the 2nd round and should not have. Personally, and as a woman, I would rather look at Bikini Girl than that mess with the pink hair and thousands of tattoos (Emily Wynne-Hughes)who butchered a No Doubt song. Or Nathaniel Marshall and his piercings who started crying, saying he wanted this so badly because it was on his skin. What the…? I also did not think Lil Rounds did any justice to “I Will Always Love You”, but she got a standing ovation from the judges and major kudos from Kara. I guess it is all personal opinion, but bikini girl smooching on Seacrest was hysterical and in my opinion definitely worth a pass to round 2!
Melinda Doolittle wasn’t in last year’s AI.
I will say this for Bikini Girl. At least she actually took the judges advice and did away with all the strained facial expressions. But, that said, I am a man and I have to agree with the female BG haters. I’m tired of people indulging people like BG just because they are physically attractive. There have been studies done that good looking people will be hired over more qualified less attractive people. How far have we really evolved as a race?
Dude, Bikini Girl lost pitch by the second line of that song. While her voice isn’t unpleasant, there’s just no *there* there. Maybe music would help her with pitch, but that still doesn’t keep her from being basically Antonella with less of a voice.
I don’t want to sound like the usual ‘get your facts straight EW’ rant police that crops up far too often in popwatch, but Melinda Doolittle was in season 6 (i.e., 2007’s edition). David Cook won last year. I don’t even watch the show, and I knew that, but I blame that from all the team David Cook/team David Archuela nonsense screaming from adolescent girls across the net.
With that said, even though I didn’t watch AI last night, I’m surprised Katrina got through. Maybe Hollywood Week is getting soft or she caught a lucky break. Maybe both. I doubt she’ll be in the top 36, but even if she does, I’m sure enough of America is disgruntled enough to keep her from advancing.
Bikini Girl sucked from beginning to end. Period. The judges messed up and are going to regret it if she gets to the top 36. And my hatred for her has nothing to do with my being female – it’s because I don’t like contestants without an ounce of talent getting rewarded on a talent competition. This is where we’re supposed to get the anti-Britneys. We’re not supposed to get the brunette-vanilla versions!