Nadia: I am singing 'When I Dream' from 1977, the year I was born. I grew up, you know, born and raised in Miami, but my mom is from the Caribbean. I even had funky hair back then. I mean, check out that bling-bling on the left hand. I mean it's pretty tight. I guess my mom had some great things in mind. (Nadia laughs)
Nadia sings...
Randy Jackson: Nadia. Uhm... wow! I mean, a year's worth of songs and you picked that one. I don't even know what song that is.
Nadia: It's from Crystal Gayle... Crystal Gayle the one with the long hair.
Randy Jackson: Yeah. No, I remember her, but I just... I'm a little perplexed by the song. But I mean, you know, it was just an okay performance. It started off really rough for you pitch-wise. (Audience groans) I...I didn't... I didn't love it. I didn't love it. I did not love it.
Paula Abdul: Well, let's start with the ups and the highs. You look absolutely outrageously stunning. (Applause) I'd come just to see what you're going to wear and how you look and you just wow me each week. I'm not... crazy about the song choice. It kind of... you know, It's like ...I wanted to be in there with the song, and I felt...
Randy Jackson: Yeah.
Paula Abdul: ...it was kind of like... mmm...
Randy Jackson: Hmm.
Simon Cowell: You're struggling, aren't you Paula?
Paula Abdul: I am.
Simon Cowell: You're struggling!
Paula Abdul: I am.
Randy Jackson: Yeah.
Simon Cowell: Ehm, Nadia, let me tell you what that was. That was the equivalent... and I've used this analogy before. 'Musical wallpaper'. Insomuch as when you're... when you're at a house, you notice what... (boos) ...(Simon shouts) can I finish? ...
Randy Jackson: C'mon man! C'mon.
Simon Cowell: ...In other words, you remem... you don't rem... you notice the wallpaper, but you don't remember it. And that was the problem with that song. It was an appalling choice of song. And I think you could go home after that. (Groans) I really do. Bad choice.
Ryan Seacrest: Nadia Turner. A lot of people won't soon forget this wallpaper. Trust me. Why did you choose that song? All the songs in the year? Why that one?
Nadia: Uhm, well it's a song about dreaming and being a dreamer, and I've always been a big dreamer that makes reality. So this is a song that kind of represents... you know, about dreams and who I am.
Ryan Seacrest: Well said.