Does Didi Benami’s “teary spells” on Idol bother you?

by DBF

MTV News “Idol” expert Jim Cantiello created an interesting profile on Didi Benami along with the rest of the Top 12 contestants, breaking down each finalist’s specific “Idol” journey thus far. He checks in each of the Idol’s strengths and weaknesses.

He wrote:

Didi Benami

It took no time for Didi Benami to establish her “American Idol” identity: the resident weepy mess. From her initial audition in Denver to almost every single interview on the “Idol” stage, the sensitive singer/songwriter has shed a tear. Tears of joy, tears of mourning, tears of stress. But Didi saves the real emotion for her passionate performances, connecting to lyrics unlike any other singer this season.

Best Performance: Didi helped put money in Kara DioGuardi’s pocket when she covered the judge’s song during Hollywood Week brilliantly. Tuesday night, however, Didi busted out the big guns — Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon” — and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. In the last chance before top 12, Didi picked the right week to remind viewers what she’s capable of. Perhaps she held back on her guitar-playing skills during the first two semifinal performances on purpose?

Weakest Performance: Didi’s Ingrid Michaelson cover was more fragile than a Fabergé egg. Was it the first-week jitters, or just that the song was too small for an “Idol” live-show debut? Regardless, “The Way I Am” was a shrill, off-key 90 seconds.

Tragic Backstory: Didi decided to audition for “Idol” shortly after her close friend died at a young age.

Why She Will Win: Benami may have struggled at the beginning, but “Rhiannon” demonstrated an exciting “Idol” characteristic: She thrives under pressure. We hope for bigger and better sneak attacks in the coming weeks as the numbers continue to whittle down.

Why She Will Lose: This year is chock-full of female singer/songwriters, which sets the stage for a potential disastrous vote-splitting scenario. (Remember that horrific Fantasia/ LaToya London/ Jennifer Hudson bottom three from the Season of the Divas?) Next time she packs up her guitar, she might as well pack the rest of her belongings too. Also, Didi’s teary post-performance interviews may start to freak people out. You cry once? You get sympathy. You cry every week? You get concerned viewers calling a mental hospital on your behalf.

What She Should Sing: Didi’s a gorgeous girl. Why not take a page out of the Lacey Brown handbook of TV seduction and add some sultry moves to her singer/songwriter repertoire? Suzanne Vega’s “Caramel” could leave guys (and some girls) salivating. She better hope “Idol” has a “female folk singer” theme week!

Our two cents

Are we the only ones who aren’t bothered by Didi’s emotional transparency? Ever since we first saw her on her audition in Los Angeles, she moved us. She came out very sincere and passionate and it showed in her singing. We love her vulnerability and if she shows it by being teary eyed or actually crying here and there, we support her!

Are the majority of us really that jaded that we mistake passion for cause to call the “mental hospital” as Mr. Cantiello forwardly describes it when Didi cries again on TV? She is being true to herself and we believe her. There is that genuine spirit she exudes that shows when she’s singing or talking about something or someone she cares about.

She’s not after our sympathy. She’s not another sob story on Idol. The back story about her friend, Rebecca is all real. Imagine losing someone close to you? Imagine that someone who hasn’t even started life and that journey is cut off at the age of 18 years old? Makes you realize that life truly is short doesn’t it? It changes a person.

It changed Didi in a way that she wanted to let Rebecca’s music live on. She didn’t just rally on her friend’s music for American Idol. She has been doing it ever since and have been documenting it on her MySpace blog dating back 2006. Since Didi’s friend is her inspiration for joining Idol, she has to mention it at some point in the audition process.

Overall, we thought Mr. Cantiello’s article was objective but as fans of Didi we of course do not think that ‘crying’ is why she will lose on Idol. America’s votes aren’t always clear cut. In the course of eight seasons, even to the pick of this year’s Top 12, very often the results leave us shaking our heads in slight shock and disappointment.

With Didi on the Top 12, she has already won half-way! Didi is our American Idol and we believe in her. For now, we really just want to see her go on Tour in the Summer- be among the elite Top 10. Please Didi fans, let’s make it happen! VOTE FOR DIDI and let’s give her a spot each week. Repeat. Vote. Repeat.

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@ VH1.com

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