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Lil Rounds – Performance Profile, American Idol 2009 Season 8

April 21, 2009 by vongsundara

I’m quite conflicted about my how I feel about Lil Rounds. At the start of the competition, the judges went waaaayyyy overboard with their praise for Lil’s performances, particularly her horribly shouty rendition of I Will Always Love You during Hollywood week. As soon as the actual competition started, though, the judges turned on her completely, giving her crazy random advice that she would incorporate the next week only to be shot down again and again and given completely new and conflicting advice. Lil took it all in stride and showed her class. I really do think that the judges went way overboard with the praise early on and with the criticism near the end, even when Lil had some good performances.

Lil Rounds performs I’m Every Woman (Chaka Khan), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 7 (April 21) Top 7: Disco

I wasn’t crazy about Lil Rounds’ vocals to start off the song. Lil sounded a little rushed, and the music drowned her voice out. Halfway through, she was able to project a little more and commanded the music. All in all, she did pretty well considering she had no voice the day before.

LIl Rounds once again changed her hair. It wasn’t a bad look at all with her simple black dress showing off her curves nicely. Lil used the entire stage and even went behind the judges. She was more animated than usual, which served her well.

Review Score: ★★★☆☆

Lil Rounds performs The Rose (Bette Midler) from The Rose, American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 6 (April 14) Top 7: Idol At The Movies (Quentin Tarantino, mentor)

This was definitely Lil Rounds’ best performance of the year. She took a beautiful song and added her own twist to it. Lil had great emotional connection to the lyrics and it really came through. The gospel flavour at the end of the song was a really nice touch.

I’m not so sure about Lil Rounds switching her hair up again, seeing as how last week she looked her best ever. She was looking kind of rocker, which did not really fit with the song.

Review Score: ★★★★½

Lil Rounds performs What’s Love Got to Do With It (Tina Turner), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 5 (April 7) Top 8: Year They Were Born

Lil Rounds performs What's Love Got to Do With It (Tina Turner), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 5 (April 7) Top 8: Year They Were Born

Ooh Miss Lil Rounds, what were you thinking? Lil hit some good notes, but she tried to imitate Tina Turner vocally, which is never a good decision. Lil’s voice came off as weak and less soulful in comparison. I don’t mind the song choice, but Lil had to do more to separate herself from the original version instead of trying to imitate it.

Lil Rounds looked really good this week, but the stage performance was dreadful. Lil tried to copy Tina Turner’s moves: her walk, her hand motions, even her facial expression. It came off as a weird drag performance of Tina Turner.

Review Score: ★☆☆☆☆

Lil Rounds performs I Surrender (Celine Dion), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 4 (March 31) Top 9: Popular iTunes Downloads

I’ll give Lil Rounds credit for challenging herself and going after a Celine Dion ballad. She hit some nice notes, but Lil was unable to sustain some of the higher notes and at times sounded too screechy. Given the difficulty of the song, though, I’ll give her extra marks.

Lil Rounds changed her hair again. The hair was nice, but I think Lil has to decide on her look and stick to it. Changing her hair length from week to week doesn’t let her connect with fans. Lil’s dress was fabulous, though.

Review Score: ★★★☆☆

Lil Rounds performs (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave (Martha and the Vandellas), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 3 (March 25) Top 10: Motown (Smokey Robinson, mentor)

It was really nice hearing Lil Rounds singing an up-tempo song. She did well staying in front of the song and maintaining the melody. Her voice was able to shine through, as this song sat in her comfort zone for the most part. The ending notes were spectacular, especially the “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” parts.

I really liked Lil Rounds’ redone hair in the video package but found it strange that she wore a wig for the performance. Maybe I’ll get used to the wig next week. Her makeup was nicely done, and her dress was kind of cool.

Review Score: ★★★½☆

Lil Rounds performs Independence Day (Martina McBride), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 2 (March 17) Top 11: Grand Ole Opry (Randy Travis, mentor)

Lil Rounds had a good performance vocally. The opening verses were a little boring, but Lil did a great job on the chorus. She would have been smart to get to the chorus a little earlier as Paula advised.

Lil Rounds finally got rid of her awful hair! I really liked her look tonight. Other than the dress being a bit over the top and not country enough, I thought her hair and makeup were a huge improvement over previous weeks.

Review Score: ★★★☆☆

Lil Rounds performs The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 1 (March 10) Top 13: Michael Jackson

Lil Rounds had a pretty decent vocal performance. Most of the song stayed in her comfort zone, though she did go into falsetto on a couple of notes, including a nicely sung final note.

Lil’s stage presence definitely needs some work. She has a couple of weird slinky moves that need to be addressed. She just doesn’t come off as a star when she’s performing.

Lil Rounds’ outfit is absolutely hideous. The white pants would be bad enough, but she paired those up with fluffy-shouldered pink top. I was really hoping the stylists would help Lil out with her horrible hair. No such luck this time. It’s amazing that Lil ended up looking even worse after the stylists gone done with her. Maybe she was too stubborn to listen to their advice.

Review Score: ★★★☆☆

Lil Rounds performs Be Without You (Mary J. Blige), American Idol 2009 Season 8, (March 3) Top 36 Group 3: Billboard Top 100 Hits

I’m not sure why Lil Rounds chose a song with so many backing vocals. Her voice got a little bit lost. Lil doesn’t have the depth to her voice to sing a Mary J. Blige song. There was no emotion behind what she was singing, but is a big no no when you sing a Mary J. Blige song. Lil changing the lyrics at the end of the song was amazingly obnoxious. That last note was especially shouty, and Lil shortened the note before she could riff on it like Mary J. did in the original.

Lil’s look just doesn’t cut it. Her hair is obnoxious and that dress was horrendous. Maybe I’m missing something here, but I just don’t understand Lil Rounds at all. I find her performances incredibly ridiculous and over the top. Her facial expressions and head tilting just need to stop. She is absolutely not likable and has zero chance of winning. I see her going out around Top 5.

Review Score: ★★½☆☆

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13694 Responses2009-04-22+03%3A08%3A28vongsundara to “Lil Rounds – Performance Profile, American Idol 2009 Season 8”

Patricia M on April 23rd, 2009 2:25 AM

I'm sorry but I think Lil Rounds doesn't get what the judges are telling her week after week. She is not choosing the right song, it not just about having fun or liking the song, its about what you can do as an artist with the song you like and make it your own add your own touch to it. I thinks she's leaving tonight she's DONE!
Patricia M on April 23rd, 2009 2:28 AM

I love Adam I think this guy is ready to record, in fact I'm ready to buy his CD I watch the show only to see what he's going to sign and how he is going to do it or improve the song… Adam IS the next AMERICAN IDOL….!!!
He is amazing…
vongsundara on April 23rd, 2009 4:22 AM

I totally agree. Adam Lambert is the most polished performer I've ever seen on American Idol. Some past idols have gone on to great professional careers, but most of them were just raw talents while on the show. Adam is already a complete performer.
vongsundara on April 23rd, 2009 4:23 AM

I agree with you somewhat, but I do think that the judges' advice is inconsistent. Lil Rounds seemed to try and listen to them but each week they give her different advice. She follows their advice, gets bad critique and then tries to follow their new advice. It's a difficult spot to be in.

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Lil Rounds – Performance Profile, American Idol 2009 Season 8

Lil Rounds performs I’m Every Woman (Chaka Khan), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 7 (April 21) Top 7: Disco

Lil Rounds performs The Rose (Bette Midler) from The Rose, American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 6 (April 14) Top 7: Idol At The Movies (Quentin Tarantino, mentor)

Lil Rounds performs What’s Love Got to Do With It (Tina Turner), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 5 (April 7) Top 8: Year They Were Born

Lil Rounds performs I Surrender (Celine Dion), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 4 (March 31) Top 9: Popular iTunes Downloads

Lil Rounds performs (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave (Martha and the Vandellas), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 3 (March 25) Top 10: Motown (Smokey Robinson, mentor)

Lil Rounds performs Independence Day (Martina McBride), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 2 (March 17) Top 11: Grand Ole Opry (Randy Travis, mentor)

Lil Rounds performs The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson), American Idol 2009 Season 8, Week 1 (March 10) Top 13: Michael Jackson

Lil Rounds performs Be Without You (Mary J. Blige), American Idol 2009 Season 8, (March 3) Top 36 Group 3: Billboard Top 100 Hits

Join The Discussion On The Comments and Message Board

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