Jasmine Trias performed three songs last night on "American Idol."
Jasmine’s singing
leaves judges flatHawaii's "Idol" finalist receives
criticism for all three performances
Mililani's Jasmine Trias hoped a strong performance last night would catapult her into the grand finale of "American Idol" next week.
CORRECTION
Thursday, May 20, 2004Tickets for "American Idols Live," which will perform on Oahu Sept. 28 and 29, are $48. A Page A3 story in some late editions Tuesday and in yesterday's early edition incorrectly said tickets would cost $47.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.
But she received the most critical comments of the evening from the celebrity judges, mostly on her opening number, "Saving All My Love For You," a tune made famous by one of her idols, Whitney Houston.
"It was good. It was not great," said judge Randy Jackson. "There were like, three or four notes, especially the high ones, that were always sharp when you sang just now. It's like you're good, but you're not all the way there yet."
Judge Paula Abdul added: "You're going to have to at least sing as good as Whitney. It's a tough song to pick, especially right now at this part of the competition. You're almost there, but not quite."
Music industry mogul Clive Davis, the guest judge, said, "I'm going to tell you, I thought there might have been a little sharpness, but that you did real well with it and you captured the tenderness at the end."
And judge Simon Cowell quipped, "It's rather like dinner with Paula Abdul: sweet but forgettable."
Last night, in lieu of the usual format that required contestants to abide by musical themes, the three remaining finalists -- Trias, Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo -- performed one song of their choice, one chosen for them by one of the show's judges and one by Davis.
After singing her pick of the Houston tune, Trias sang Natalie Cole's "Mr. Melody," chosen for her by Abdul. The appraisals were more generous the second time around.
"That was a better song for you," Jackson said. "It sounded better to me."
"I love when you just let go and you don't feel contained," Abdul added. "And I like you singing up-tempo songs."
Davis was less enthusiastic. "I thought this was light," he said.
"I think everyone's thinking the same thing," Cowell said. "So what? Really, Jasmine, I mean, you just haven't connected tonight."
Eric Carmen's 1975 hit, "All By Myself," picked by Davis for Trias, was her third song.
"You can definitely hit the high notes, you can definitely sing, you gotta work on your lower register," Jackson said after her performance. "I didn't feel no connection with any emotion and that's my problem with you. I don't feel any connection yet."
"I think you did a better job on this song," Abdul said. "I heard you in rehearsals and I feel like you did much better this time."
Davis stated: "You hit the high notes, but this song is about loneliness. And being dependent on such an overblown ending, it came off strident. As compared to sharing the loneliness of not wanting to be by yourself."
Unlike last week when his caustic criticism left the Maryknoll School senior in tears, Cowell was somewhat diplomatic in his assessment of her chances last night.
"Jasmine, you're a lovely girl, but the reality is, in my opinion, the fact that you're so young and so sweet and you have this unbelievable support in Hawaii is why you are still in the competition," he remarked. "It has to end tonight. Sorry."
Results of last night's nationwide call-in vote will be announced 8 p.m. today on KHON-2.
Meanwhile, the much-hoped-for "American Idol" tour stop in Hawaii featuring Trias and Camile Velasco of Maui is a go for September, with two concerts at the Blaisdell Center arena.
"American Idols Live," featuring the top 10 finalists of Fox-TV's top-rated talent show, will be 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29 at the Blaisdell Arena. All tickets are $47 and go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are limited to eight per person.
At the Blaisdell box office and Times Super Market, lines can begin no earlier than 7 a.m. Random numbers will be passed out at 8 a.m.
