LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

The top 12 women took to the “American Idol” stage on Wednesday night, bringing a diverse mix of performances that had the judges perplexed, awed and in a few cases, bored.

Though night one performance round for the men was kicked off by an energy-filled number, sung by David Hernandez, Kristy Lee Cook’s opener for the ladies – “Rescue Me,” fell flat.

“Dude, I know the pressure [is] crazy,” judge Randy Jackson began, “Uh, it’s not your best performance.”

Things didn’t fare better for 25-year-old plus-sized model, Joanne Borgella, and her rendition of “I Say A Little Prayer.”

“I didn’t like it at all. I’m sorry, but once again this is the part of the show where you have to come out and nail it… I thought there was no confidence and there was nothing in your vocal to get hold of,” judge Simon Cowell said.

Alaina Whitaker, who turns 17 on Thursday, stepped up next and set a trend (which Randy remarked on) as she performed “More Today Than Yesterday.”

“Season 7 is turning out to be the season of the young ones, man,” Randy said.

Indeed, another favorite performance of the judge’s came later when teenager Alexandrea Lushington took on the Blood Sweat & Tears song, “Spinning Wheel.”

“This Season 7 is about being young ‘cause you blew the doors off that. It was like, dope, with all these weird chords,” Randy enthused. “You got it! It was hot baby.”

Other performers who got the judges attention included rocker Amanda Overmyer who both Paula Abdul and Simon called “authentic,” and the petite Ramiele Malubay, who Paula branded “a force to be reckoned with.”

It was Asia'h Epperson, who took home some of the strongest comments of the night, for her rendition of “Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart.”

“For me, it was my favorite of the night. You let go, you’re fun, you’re likeable,” Simon said.

For Randy, however, it was Irish-lass-turned-San-Diegan, Carly Smithson, who despite being sick, pulled out his particular favorite performance.

“The best vocal of the last two days,” Randy stated. “The best vocal of the top 24.”

True to form though, Simon took an opposing viewpoint.
“I didn’t get it,” he said. “I thought the song was way too old fashioned for you. I even thought your mic technique was very cabaret. Everything about it for me was a let down.”

Other ladies who found themselves on Simon’s bad side included trade model Amy Davis, who was also tagged “cabaret,” and Kady Malloy, whose performance he dubbed “like the ‘Night of the Living Dead.’”

Those that found themselves in the middle of the road comment wise included curly-haired blonde nanny Brooke White who Paula said had “originality,” and Syesha Mercado’s, whose performance was dubbed “pitchy” by Randy.

“American Idol” continues next week on Fox.

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