Can Jesse Langseth's decent Idol performance get her through?

Photo courtesy of Fox Broadcasting Company

Minneapolis's Jesse Langseth had her big moment in the spotlight last night on Fox's American Idol. Langseth sang "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes. We were digging it, but the night had some other good talent that made her performance hard to judge. She definitely didn't blow anyone away, but we hope people see some potential. She's got quite the feisty, talkative personality.

Langseth is trying to make it into the show's Top 12. Can she do it? We'll find out tonight in Idol's results round at 7 p.m. on Fox. The top male, top female and next top vote-getter move on to the final 12.

Video of Langseth's performance:

The Pioneer Press recaps the judge reaction:

Randy Jackson was first up and told Langseth her take on the song was just "OK" and wasn't very exciting. He complained that it didn't show who she was as an artist. Kara DioGuardi complimented Langseth's look, saying it was "slinky" and "sexy" and that she liked parts of the performance. Paula Abdul gushed over Langseth, saying she found her "captivating" and "very cool." Simon Cowell, on the other hand, wasn't impressed. He said Langseth had a nice voice but was "forgettable." He also said the performance was "too cool for school, and I don't see any reason why anyone is going to jump on the phone and vote for you."

And the response online:
USA Today:

Jesse Langseth thinks Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes is one of the greatest songs ever written. She doesn't have Kim's sandpaper voice, but she's got phrasing that plays the song's enigma. She plays with the melody just enough to distinguish it from the original, and she knows where to push it to take advantage of her vocal strengths. She makes a good case for her claim about the song -- if it's not one of the greatest, she sings it like she believes it is.

Newsday:

Jesse Langseth, doing "Bettte Davis Eyes," cause she loves the story. Oh-oh, not a good sign right away. In some weird blue bare shoulder top. Oooh, very interesting tone to her voice though; super-cheesy dance moves, but her voice really fits the song. She's swallowing a lot of the words, but it's not half bad. Okay, liking it less as the performance goes on and her movements get weirder. But vocally, that was good. Jesse has those amazingly annoying habits of saying "uh-uh, yeah" continuosly, and also just speaking her thoughts out loud all the time. If they turned off her mike, I'd like her more.

Syracuse Post Standard:

Jesse has a strange, sort of nasally voice, but it's not awful, if that makes any sense. She starts out okay, but as seems to be the pattern this week, she kind of falls out of key in the middle. Part of the problem is that the band or track or whatever it is, is horrible. Where is the band, anyway? Hidden behind the curtain like the Wizard of Oz?

Festival Crashers:

This red head didn't quite stand out tonight with her performance of "Betty Davis Eyes." Jesse Langseth has the voice, but this song did not make her rise above the rest of the competition. In this weaker group, it may be enough to advance to the American Idol top 12. Jesse Langseth dusted off the Kim Carnes song, but she should have left it in the 80s. Randy Jackson told Jesse she only had 5-note range. If she advances, nicknames along the lines of 5-note Jesse are sure to spring up.