It’s Beatles time.. again. Can they up their first performances?

First up: Amanda Overmyer (“Back in the USSR”) - She picks a perfect song for her limited range. First line is off but otherwise, she gives it her signature bluesy-rock feel and a good dollop of energy. It’s basically a performance you will like if you like Amanda and will turn over nobody who already hates her. Randy: “Watch the pitches. I got to give you a 7 out of 10.” Paula: “You were a little ahead of the beat… you are quintessentially who you are.” Simon: “It was what it was. It was predictable. A bit of a mess in parts. It’s the same thing week after week.” B-plus

2nd: Kristy Lee Cook (“You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”) - Wow, she really messed with the chorus and not in a good way. She has rendered the song almost unrecognizable. It sounds like a LeAnn Rimes ballad. Nice final note but otherwise, bleh. Randy: “The song should have been more emotional and got there quicker, sooner. I’m not sure you even sang the melody and chorus right.” Paula: “This is the best you’ve ever looked.” (Uh oh. That’s when she has nothing good to say.). Simon: “You need hypnosis. You are not a good performer. The last two seconds were okay. It’s like musical wallpaper. You notice it but you don’t remember it. You made no impact expect you were terrible last week.” C-plus

I will post my Constantine talk tomorrow and Kimberly Caldwell later in the week. It was too bad I caught them before tonight’s performances but such is life.

In other “Idol” news:

• For local Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis fans, my colleague and theater writer Wendell Brock has [written a story about their arrival in “Ain’t Misbehavin’” November 18 to 23 at Fox Theatre.]