American Idol - Week Eleven – Season Finale 5/19/09

The finale is finally here dear readers.

It has been one roller coaster season, don't you think? And as much as the judges touted us last year with the phrase "the most talented group in Top 12 history", I think this season proved they had no clue what they were talking about. Looking at the Top 13 this season, in the beginning, you really could not tell who would go on to the finale (with a couple of exceptions). It was that close and it was anyone's game. Out of all of them in the beginning, I could have seen Adam in the finale, but Kris? No freakin' way. He seemed to be one of those contestants the producers let in to fill the gaps. But week after week, Kris proved he was no space filler. He has been consistently just as original as Adam, and the only edge I will give Adam is his personality.



After last night's performances, I have to admit, I have no idea who to pick as the winner. They both had ups and downs last night, and though I think the producers were a bit biased towards Adam (Come on! "No Boundaries" was tailor made for Adam, and played to his strengths, not Kris'. It was obvious there was no way Kris could hit the kind of notes that song called for. A bit unfair if you ask me.), I don't think it made much difference to the audience in the end. I checked several sites this morning that had "fan polls" on who's taking the Idol crown tonight. I can truthfully say they were split down the middle, with some polls having Adam win, and some Kris. ALL polls, however, had a very small percentage of difference in the votes. This really is going to be a very close finish, reminiscent of the Ruben/Clay finale in season two.

Last night, Clive Davis' song choice was replaced by Simon Fuller's(creator/producer of American Idol) song choice. I'm not sure why this had to change, but I would assume it's because of all the other changes that happened with Idol this season. I thought he chose good songs for the contestants, though I think one did better than the other in performing it. They kept the "Contestant's Choice", and both contestants picked smart performances from the season. Finally, I'm not sure why they got rid of the "Song Writing" contest they had last year. I thought that was a great idea, because not only did it give the contestants a choice of what their winning song would be, but it also gave them more control; they could pick a song that suited their style/voice. Hence why I think the producers were dirty handed in going back to the one song sung by both contestants idea. I don't think it mattered in the end. A bad song is a bad song, and I really didn't like the song for either of them. (Sorry Kara, this isn't an award winning song)

I've talked waaay too much already, when I know what you guys really want is for me to get to the meat of the blog; the review itself. Don't you guys want to prolong this blog? Remember, after this final blog, the very one you're reading, you may not be able to read my wise words until next January! (it's like waiting for the next season of Lost to start!)

Okay, fine.
And now, for the last time, we get to the reviews. We begin with a man who brought glam rock back, namely:

1. ADAM LAMBERT –
CONTESTANT’S CHOICE - sung "Mad World" –You have to give Adam props; this was one of his best performances this season, and he picked the perfect song to sing in the finale. I found this haunting, and if it's possible, I found it to be a better performance than his original. Simon was right, when he called it bit too theatrical, but I may need to disagree. Adam IS theatrical, therefore it was exactly what I expected. It shows me the kind of show Adam would put on in a concert. His voice was controlled and on pitch. He did no unnecessary screeching, so the song left me eerily wanting more. I think the theatrics outweighed the actual singing however. He sung it well, but I think the whole production is what was concentrated on. Randy called it right when he called it "Twilight". He was right, because the way that Adam was dressed, plus the fog machine, him descending from the stairs...it was very vampiric and gothic. All in all, I enjoyed Adam's performance very much, though I attribute it more because of the show than the vocals.

SIMON FULLER’S CHOICE - sung "Change Is Gonna Come" – With this song, Adam not only took full creative control, but he made it sound like a new song. This is one of my favorite R&B songs, and the original Sam Cooke version is gold. Adam made this song new again, without making it sound over done. This song has been done to death on Idol auditions, but for once, it did not make me feel like fast-forwarding. His voice was so pitch perfect, even a few high notes finally sounded like actual notes and not screeches. This song proved to me what an extraordinary artist Adam can be, and showed his range. This guy could do glam rock, classic rock, and soul all in the same show! What I really enjoyed is the heartfelt way he sang the lyrics, because not only did he restrain the theatrics, he made you believe in the song. Well done, Adam.

WINNING SONG - sung "No Boundaries" – Can I just say again, at first impression, I don't like this song. I think the song is corny, and not quite as good as David Cook's winning song, "Time of my Life". But here's my problem with it; Adam sung it perfectly. I mean, it was as if the song was written for him. And that, my readers, is my problem with it. I believe it was. Did you hear some of the notes that Adam hit during his performance? There is no way Kris could even come close to hitting those notes. So I will not take away from Adam's performance, because if I'm going to be honest (as Simon says), then this was a brilliant performance by Adam. I can hear it on the radio now. So there is literally nothing bad I can say about Adam's performance of this song. My only gripe is that Kris should have been given a different "winning song", more suited to his strengths. They did that last year, and I thought it was a great move. Why go back to this format?

Overall, I would say Adam won two out of the three performances, which would give him the edge on winning the season. I think Adam has the charisma and showmanship to be a star, and all three performances proved that he deserved to be in the finale. Consistently, though, if we're talking season wide, he and Kris are even.

2. KRIS ALLEN –
CONTESTANT’S CHOICE - sung "Ain't No Sunshine" – Wow. All I can say is wow. This was, by far, Kris' best performance the whole season. He made a perfect choice, because this was incredible enough the first time around. Last night, he outdid himself. Each lyric was sung with such passion and sincerity, it made even the straightest man swoon. Kara was right when she said that Kris has a way of connecting to the audience that is so compelling, he not only draws you in, but makes you think he's singing only to you. It was subtle and graceful; a perfect performance for the type of artist Kris is (and will be). Simon was right on the money when he said first round goes to Kris. While Adam's performance was good, it relied too heavy on the theatrics, while Kris' performance relied only on his piano and voice. In the end, it made for a better performance over all.

SIMON FULLER’S CHOICE - sung "What's Going On?" – Great song choice, and great rendition. I've heard this song done many times over the years, and beside the original, my favorite rendition has to be Cyndi Lauper's version this song. (who, coincidentally, is one of the guest performers tonight in the results finale...yay!...but I digress). Kris' version was indeed different, and the way he sung it made you believe the lyrics. It's hard for an artist to make an old song relevant, but Kris accomplished this perfectly. The way he inflected the lyrics made the song connect to the audience and made it relevant in today's modern turmoils. I like the fact that Kris completely broke the song down, and simplified it to a degree that it felt intimate. However, that being said, I still need to give the edge in this round to Adam. While Kris did give a splendid performance, Adam simply out sang him on his song. Maybe it was the song choice, but this round goes to Adam, not Kris.

WINNING SONG - sung "No Boundaries" – I don't know what else I can say about this song that I haven't already said. I hate it right now, but maybe I will grow to like after a few listens. One thing is for sure, Kris did a very poor job with this. It was so obvious this song was so out of his realm and genre. I am crying foul, because this was a song that could not have been more tailor made for Adam. Kris needed a completely different type of song, and I find it a bit unfair he was forced to sing the same song. Even if Kris wins, I just cannot see how his version of this song could possibly have a chance on the airwaves. It will be on the air the equivalent of the time Taylor Hick's winning song was on the radio; ZERO air time. Does anyone even remember what Taylor's (the Idol winner everyone wants to forget) winning song was called? No one? That's my point. Unmemorable. (It was called "Do I make you proud?", by the way). The notes were set way to high for Kris to reach, so he was at a disadvantage from the get go. Luckily, the judges didn't concentrate on the bad performance in their comments afterwards, but chose to sing Kris' praises for the entire season. And that should be what both he AND Adam should be judged on, and not one bad performance. Based on the season, and not this performance, Kris has a very good chance at taking the crown.

In summing up Kris' performances, I would say over all, Adam took two out of the three rounds, but with extreme bias from the producers. But I can already tell that Kris would make the type of album I would buy. I love the whole acoustic rock vibe he has. Adam's glam rock vibe is cool, and probably would be more mainstream, but that's not to say Kris wouldn't do well either. There is enough of an audience for both.

The Winner Is...: I will say now, ever since I started doing this review blog, it's the first time I'm stumped. Apparently so are the fans, because as I mentioned in the beginning, most polls I've seen have one or the other winning by a very very small margin. I can't call a winner, but if I need to go with a PERSONAL choice, I would want Kris to win. And that's not to say that Adam is bad. In fact I think Adam's career would benefit from not winning. (see Daughtry)


Tonight, I'm more excited for the finale, not only because my favorite artist of all time is going to perform (Cyndi Lauper!), but we have many other guest performers as well, one of which is Jason Mraz. (I'm calling it now; I predict a duet with Kris).

What did you guys think of the entire season? Are you satisfied with the final two? What did you think of last night's performances? Do you hate the winning song as much as I do? Remember, this is your FINAL time to comment! No more blogs until January! This very blog you're reading is like MY Season Finale!! No blogs until January! Perhaps if I get enough readers to urge me to write about a different show you can have more of me?

Alas, my friends, it's been a great journey this season.
Thanks as always to all my readers, for joining me week to week. I welcome and thank my new readers too!
So until we hear Ryan say “THIS…is American Idol!” next January, I bid you all farewell!

American Idol: Week Ten; The Top 3 Compete

I have no idea what the judges were drinking or smoking last night, but I have never seen them this riled up. Between Simon and Paula wrestling off screen, to Randy and Kara arguing with Simon, it became a circus. I will say this much though; I think some of last night's performances were some of the best I've seen in Idol in a long time.

Last night was the traditional "judge's choice" and "contestant's choice" night that happens every season. Now usually, from past seasons, we remember one judge picking a song for one of the final three. But because of the addition of a 4th judge this season, it threw off the dynamic. Poor Randy had to "share" his choice with Kara, though one must wonder the way she complained about how it wasn't original, if she really had any say in the song choice at all.

The final three contestants went to their hometowns this past weekend, of which I'm sure we'll see at tomorrow night's results show. I'm satisfied that all three deserve to be where they are, despite the departure of Allison last week. Yes, I know a lot of you thought Allison deserved to be in the Top Three, and maybe she did, but at the same time, I think Kris deserves to be here just as much. The only one that deserved to go home last week was the worst one of the evening; Danny. But alas, the fans voted and so we are set with Kris, Adam and Danny this week.

Much like last week's review, this review will seem rather short, but if none of you realized it, next week is the season finale. What does that mean? That means that this week and next is the only time left you have to tell me what else I should blog about. If I don't get enough responses, then I drop back into obscurity until either Project Runway starts up again or next January when American Idol premieres. Get me your comments, or risk not reading me for a while people!!

Okay enough "idol" chit chat....time to get to the performances. We begin with someone I respect as a singer, but lacks a certain star quality, namely:

Danny Gokey -
1) JUDGE'S SONG CHOICE - "Dance Little Sister" - Okay I will say off the bat, that I didn't know this song. I know who Terrence Trent D'Arby is, but I was unfamiliar with this song. Come to think of it, it figures Paula is the one who chose this for him. As Simon said, the artist choice was right, but the song choice was wrong. I didn't think Danny sung it badly. I thought everything was on pitch, and he hit some pretty decent high notes. But I also thought he was shouting parts of the song, which took away from his over all performance. Like the judges pointed out, his awkward dancing was also a bit out of sorts, and made for a peculiar performance. I remember reading a commenter on Facebook, indicating that Danny reminded them of Idol's unwanted step child, Taylor Hicks. I don't know, but I got the impression Danny was trying too hard, despite the judges praising his performance. Compared to the way the other two contestants performed their judges choice, this was my least favorite.

2) CONTESTANT'S SONG CHOICE - "You Are So Beautiful" - To borrow a phrase from Randy, "You proved you can really sing!" Though I thought Danny's choice was predictable and boring, I must give the guy props for singing it spot on pitch, emotion and passion. I've actually never seen Danny put so much emotion into a song that didn't feel fake. I sort of like the way he changed the melody, and it worked with his smooth, scratchy voice perfectly. Of the contestant's choices, I also think this one was my least favorite, but not necessarily because it was bad. It's only because the other contestant choices were performed so much better, it sort of puts him in last place. Alas, much as I hope that Kris makes it into the finale (though I don't think he would win), I think Danny has too much of a fan base for him to make it through to next week. Yes, last week was a surprise with Kris advancing, but I have a serious doubt that will happen this week. (though part of me hopes it does, with Danny being eliminated) In closing, expect to see Danny next week in the finale. Prediction: ADVANCES TO FINALE

Kris Allen -
1) JUDGE'S CHOICE - "Apologize" - I will give Randy and Kara credit, they did pick a great song for Kris. I love this song, so I was prepared to hear what Kris' take on this song was. But I didn't get it, which not only surprised me, but left me a little disappointed. I've made no secret that I am rooting for Kris, but I must review fairly, this was not the best performance Kris could have had with this song. First off, he went off key a couple of times, and secondly, it was unoriginal. The latter half of that sentence is what bothers me most, because like Adam, I come to expect Kris to deliver fresh new takes on songs that I've heard before. Why he chose to play the song pretty much as standard as the original is beyond me. The parts that were good, were very good, as Kris proved his vocals are just as strong as the other two competitors. However, I will agree with Kara on her comments, saying she was expecting more. And so was I. Thankfully, Kris redeemed himself on his second song, re imagining a song I thought I would never hear acoustically.

2) CONTESTANT'S CHOICE - "Heartless" - When I heard he was doing this Kayne West song, I pretty much told myself "that's it, he's going home. A Kayne West song is going to send him packing". But not only was I surprised with Kris' performance, it pretty much blew me away. I have never a song completely turned on its ear and redone the way Kris redid this. Take a minute out, and go to iTunes, and sample the original West song. It will give you a great basis to judge how truly gifted Kris is for turning this song into an acoustic masterpiece. As Kara pointed out, this original take has proven what type of artist Kris can and probably will be. Whereas with his first performance, you can picture Kris with his bags leaving, this performance actually makes you pause and think "you know, I think he has a chance here". I, for one truly hope so. I will agree, Kris does not have Adam's showmanship or charisma, but he does have the talent. This whole season, Kris has done just as many original takes on songs as Adam has. Am I hoping for a miracle, and Kris is sent to the finale instead of Danny? Oh yes. Is that going to happen? I sincerely doubt it, though I keep my fingers crossed for a possible switch like last week. Prediction: GOING HOME

Adam Lambert -
1) JUDGE'S CHOICE - "One" - See, this is why Simon and I are of like minds. (except for the fact he wears much tighter fitted t-shirts than I do) This was an absolutely perfect song choice for Adam, because not only does it highlight his vocal range and ability, but t gives Adam a chance to do what he does very well; make it his own. Though I thought he came very close to the "screeching" once again, he pulled himself back enough for it to come off perfectly this time. Finally, for me at least, those high notes he tends to want to showcase every week worked. Not only did he give this U2 classic justice, but he made me like the song again. (Come on, after countless plays on the radio over the years, I was so over this song) I think Simon has a great feel for what a contestant's strengths are, as is proven every year when he chooses a song for a contestant. I don't think I've ever disagreed with choices he's made for contestants in the past, so no reason to start now.

2) CONTESTANT'S CHOICE - "Crying" - Predictable, but perfect. It's weird to describe it that way, I know. Truth be told, I was not surprised when Adam said he was doing an Aerosmith song, hence why I pretty much could have predicted what song he was going to sing. And since Allison already did an amazing version of "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing", Adam was left with this Aerosmith classic. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I don't think this was one of Adam's best performances, but that doesn't take away from how good it was. This performance, for me, showcased Adam's charisma and "rock persona". People got to see what a showman Adam is, which thankfully, because of his stage experience, makes him look like a seasoned professional. And I will say this final thing about Adam; I have never see a contestant as humble as he is, except for maybe Kris. The way he acknowledged Kris and Danny's performances was classy. This performance blew both of Danny's performances, and Kris' first performance out of the water, so hands down, just like the judges pointed out, for Adam not to be in the finale next week would be a tragedy. Prediction: ADVANCES TO FINALE

And the second to last week of Idol comes to an end!

What did you all think of the judges' choices? How about the contestants' choices? Did the judges or the contestants choose poorly? What would you have picked for them to sing? Am I on the nose with my review, or am I crazy? Comment away below! (remember this is one of your last chances to sound off and be heard! I should see multiple comments below!)

For this week, we don't have a bottom two or three. So I'm pretty much choosing which of the final three are going home:

My pick to go home tonight: Regrettably, and though I pains me to say it, I think Kris Allen has rode this train as far as it will take him. I, for one, like his vocals, and just might give his album a chance once it comes out. (oh come on, you know he's going to give it a shot!) That being said, I obviously predict Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert in the finale next week. (Though if a big shocker happens tonight, and Danny gets sent home instead of Kris, stick your head out your window at that moment; you just may hear me cheering from my sofa.)

If you disagree, or even agree with me, let me know in the comments! Let's chat it up! (remember one more week until this blog ends! If you still want me to write, let me know what to write about! )

Don't forget to take the poll below! Until next week, faithful readers, I'm out for now!

American Idol: Week Nine; The Top 4 Compete

I will say this much about last night's American Idol; I never, in a million years, thought Slash was as eloquent as he was.

If you haven't guessed it, it was rock week, and the guest mentor was none other than former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. I think American Idol would have been the last place I would ever see someone like Slash on, but he really was a pleasant surprise. And I will say this for the contestants; they stuck to real rock. I'm talking about rock such as Led Zeppelin, Janice Joplin, Aerosmith and the Beatles. This was a great foray into a genre that is often not used to its full potential on Idol.

I was a little disappointed in my favorite's song choice tonight, but I will admit this; much as I love Kris, Adam showed not only is this his niche, but he was by far the absolute best performer last night. Hey I have to fair right? The screeching that I often complain about that Adam is notorious for worked perfectly for the song he chose. (but more on that later)

A new highlight to the Top four performances is duets. Yes, that's right, the top four are also doing a duet with a partner, in addition to the song they chose to sing for their individual performances. Danny was teamed up with Kris, and Allison teamed with Adam. I have to say, I really enjoyed this new dynamic to the show, because it shows a versatility to the contestants. It gives them an opportunity to work out how to mesh their own personal sound to a partner. I think both duets sounded pretty good, but of the two Adam and Allison had the better performance.

If it seems my reviews are getting shorter and shorter, it's because obviously the contestants are dwindling. I urge you all again, if you want me to review another show once Idol wraps, now is the time to speak up! You have choice, such as So You Think You Can Dance, the next season of Dancing With The Stars, (though I'm not sure when the next one begins since the current one is about to wrap up in the next two weeks.)...or any of the Bravo reality contests. (Shear Genius, Top Design, Top Chef, etc) Let me hear you in the comments what you want to read from me next!

So it's time to break down our final four. For obvious reasons, instead of a Bottom Three, I'll be choosing a bottom two, since I'm pretty sure that's the way Ryan will break it down. Who will we see in next week's semi-final round?!
I think one of the obvious choices we will see next week is:

1) Adam Lambert – sung "Whole Lotta Love” – By far, in my opinion, this was the best performance I have ever seen by Adam. Many people have criticized me for saying that Adam screeches parts of his songs (he does, and I'm right. Remember the name of this blog? Besides you love my honesty. I'm like Simon, except I wear looser t-shirts.). But I have to say upfront, he finally picked a song where it fit perfectly. The original Led Zeppelin song was a classic staple that I've heard many times, and Adam turned into something new, without negating the classic riffs and music the song is famous for. It's a testament to Adam's strength as a performer that this turned out to be as good as it was. One of the judges commented on how this song could have gone terribly wrong, since it is one of those "untouchable" songs, but Adam proved that he is a true rocker. Kara was right when she mentioned that Adam could sing classic, glam rock, any rock and he could make it work. Much as I've been picky with Adam, I will give the man his props; that performance was flawless, and I truly could not find a thing wrong with it. If song choice is everything, as we get told time and time again on Idol, then Adam truly made one of the best choices for his career. Everyone will remember this performance the most out of all the performances last night, so I will stand and give Adam the standing "O" he deserves. Prediction: SAFE

2) Allison Iraheta - sung "Cry Baby” - I am LOVING Allison's new hairstyle. What is with Idol's stylists? She had to use Adam's personal hairstylist to perfect a rock look? Her hair looked hot, and her performance, despite the judges not being 100% happy with it, gave her mostly positive reviews. The problem with the song she chose is it's very repetitive. (one of the judges pointed this out too). It didn't show Allison's range and the great melodies her voice is capable of. Even though Allison pointed out it's been done a million times on Idol, I still think a better choice for her to sing would have been "Piece of my Heart", also by Janice Joplin. Allison's voice suits Janice's song perfectly, however, Allison made the wrong choice when it came down to choosing which Joplin song she was going to take on. I'm a little worried for Allison, because although her performance and duet were very good, when compared to what Adam accomplished, it sort of fails. But I look at it this way; this girl has a ton of talent, and though a bad song choice may or may not send her home tonight, it won't diminish how far this 17 year old has come. She will have a career regardless, but for now, based on the judges' comments and her overall performance, I think Allison is one of the contestants who should be worried tonight. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

DUET - Danny Gokey & Kris Allen - sung "Renegade" - Oh my God, they BOTH looked so out of place and out of their element during this performance. That's not to say it wasn't a good performance, I'm just saying they looked uncomfortable singing it. If I had to pick who sounded better, (and as much as it pains me to admit it), it has to be Danny. His voice suited the rock edginess of the song better then my boo Kris. It almost seemed to me like Kris spent most of his time trying to catch up to a speeding rhythm. All in all though, not a bad performance, but it didn't blow me away.

3) Kris Allen – sung "Come Together” – Ugh, Kris, you made it so hard to root for you last night. This song smelled like "bad song choice" from the moment you said you were singing it. The only good version of this song I've heard (besides the original), is the version sung by Joe Cocker on the Across the Universe soundtrack. (check it out if you haven't...good movie...remade Beatles music....but I digress). It was bound to happen sooner or later, but I was hoping maybe it wouldn't happen to Kris. Kris finally made a bad song choice, and though I didn't think it was horrible, or a train wreck, it just did not fit him at all. I felt he had no connection to the song, and there was none of the that emotion-infused enunciation that I come to expect from him. But that was to be expected, because as a couple of the judges pointed out, this is not his niche at all. Kris did the best with the genre he was given, so I don't completely think it was a disaster. I think most of the time during his performance, the band was overpowering his voice. With all the somewhat negative critiques that he was given, I don't expect Kris to be safe this week. I do NOT think he should go home, because, as Simon puts it, "If I'm going to be honest", Danny's performance was worse. I hope Kris is safe, but for now he is definitely in danger tonight. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

4) Danny Gokey - sung "Dream On” - Okay, maybe I'm in the minority here. (I usually am, even though I'm right), but this had to be the worst performance from Danny I have ever seen. On top of that, Simon has the nerve to tell him despite that being a "horrendous" performance, he thinks he will be around next week?! Sigh. I hate it when Simon is right. Much as I want to say that Danny should be voted off tonight based on this performance, I know he won't be. Danny is just too popular at this point, so it will be very hard for him to be kicked off. ( I can dream can't I?) I thought Danny handled the beginning of the song pretty good. He played with the melodies a little, but it worked. Once he started to get to the screaming in the song, it was all over. There is such a thing as "a singing scream" and a "Halloween scream". Steven Tyler (Aerosmith front man, and original artist of this song) can "sing a scream", as is proven when you hear the original song. Danny's version? It sounded like he was being tortured to death. It all went very wrong once the screaming started, and the song went from being a decent cover to train wreck. It's killing me to say this, and who knows, maybe by some stroke of luck, Danny will be in the bottom for the first time this season...but for now, I have a gut feeling we'll be seeing him again next week. Prediction: SAFE

DUET - Adam Lambert & Allison Iraheta - sung "Slow Ride" - Now this is a proper duet! I don't know if it was the fact that both Adam and Allison are "rock" oriented, or they had a better song choice, but this worked extremely well. Both of them sounded amazing on this duet, and they both played off each other perfectly. If you closed your eyes, you could swear you were hearing two seasoned artists singing together. If I had to pick a better performer out of the two, I would say Adam got the edge. But then again, I'm beginning to see Adam's place in the finale, and depending on who he's up against, it may be an easy win.

And so we close one more week of Idol, my loyal readers.

What did all of you think? Do you like the new "duets" feature with the Top Four? Was I being too harsh with Danny? Was he not as bad as I thought? Call me out if I'm wrong people! I want to hear from you!

Like last week, my predictions this week only get a bottom two:

IN THE BOTTOM: Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta.

My pick to go home tonight: God, really don't want to choose him, but I think Kris' choice last night has cost him. And though I choose Kris Allen to go home, he could easily be replaced by Allison Iraheta. The only thing that could possibly save her is that duet with Adam. (which was fabulous)

Remember, if you disagree, or even agree with me, let me know in the comments! Let’s chat it up! (and don't forget to suggest what you might want me to blog after Idol comes to an end! Come on ,people! I know you're out there! )

Don't forget to take the poll below! Until next week, faithful readers, I’m out for now!

American Idol: Week Eight; The Top 5 Compete

Can all of you see it?

It's nearing the end of the competition, and though one contestant is clearly in the finale, the other is not as clear as I think most people assume. YES, Adam is most likely a shoe-in for the finale, but Danny is not a sure thing. Danny's performance last night was the first time I've actually enjoyed it, but that doesn't mean he has the chops to win. (more on that later)

Last night, Idol celebrated "Rat Pack night", which truly made the Top Five stand out as the best of the best. Honestly, no one really did horrible, despite what Simon said about a couple of them. I don't know what Simon was drinking last night, or maybe he was in a very pissy mood, but it was one of the rare times I found myself disagreeing with him on several counts. I don't know if he's being influenced by the producers or not, but I truly did not understand the reasoning behind some of the comments he made last night.

I wasn't sure that Jamie Foxx was the appropriate choice as a mentor. I'm not saying Foxx isn't talented, I'm just saying considering the genre, I think they could have found someone more appropriate. (Harry Connick, Jr) That aside, however, I thought he was giving sound advice, even more so then some actual singer mentors gave in past seasons.

This week's review will seem a little short, but that's mostly because we are coming down to the wire. With only five people left, the stars are starting to shine, and the end is near.

As a side note, like every year, towards the end of American Idol, I ask you all, my readers, if you would like me to review another show during the summer. The obvious choice is So You Think You Can Dance, but I'm open to anything. With enough people suggesting a particular show in the comments, I'll keep blogging! (that is until Project Runway comes back on the air, since that is the only other show my readers have asked me to blog!)As you guessed, I am nothing without my readers.

I talked enough, it's time to break down the performances, starting with "the dark horse" to win the competition:

1) Kris Allen – sung "The Way You Look Tonight” – When one of the judges last night (I think it was Kara) said that Kris was a dark horse to win the competition, you could actually believe it. Instead of being a forerunner from the get go like Adam or Danny, Kris slowly built himself up week after week, impressing the judges and fans with his versatility and originality. This week was no exception, because Kris took one of my most favorite Sinatra tunes and made it sound new. Not only is this song one of my favorites, but it's also two of my closest friends' wedding song, so I'm curious what they thought. I thought Kris' pitch was completely on target, and his voice had a natural, passionate sound. The original song is a bit upbeat, but Kris turned this into a ballad that had me swooning. He's learned how to work the audience, and this performance proved it to me. I really have to 100% disagree with Simon when he said that Kris lacked the drive to win, and that he was wet. (?) This isn't me playing favorites, because if any of my readers know, I'm unbiased when I'm accessing a performance, and my favorites do not get special treatment. If they did a bad job, I will speak up. Based on talent, I truly think Kris has a solid shot at the being Number 2 in the finale, but the only thing keeping him from getting there is not enough fans. But who knows, that may change after this week. It's too close to call this week, but I'm going to predict we'll see Kris next week. Prediction: SAFE

2) Allison Iraheta - sung "Someone to Watch Over Me” - Allison just turned 17 this past week, but close your eyes and you'd think this kid was much older. This is another song which I love, and I can truly say, I've never heard it sung with such passion and inflection. The way she worded every phrase, the way she poured her heart into every note made Allison stand out. Again, me and Simon were on two different wavelengths last night, because what I heard was a girl who was hungry for the win. Allison's version was soft and haunting, and worth a second listen. She has "matured" in a sense over the course of the competition, and it truly made her stand out last night. I think she has grown the most out of all the competitors, so I hope she sticks around a bit longer. I don't think she has the chops to win, but I think she can get to the Top Four(next week). That said, she might be in trouble tonight, based on Simon's critique and the fact she was in the bottom three last week. Hopefully not. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

3) Matt Giraud – sung "My Funny Valentine” – Matt is hanging on by a thread. I will agree with Simon on one point he made about Matt: you can see how much he loved this type of music. I have never seen Matt so passionate and enthused as I did with his performance last night. At this stage in the competition though, he didn't wow me enough to make me think he can be safe again this week. I think his pitch was perfect, and his performance was smooth and heartfelt. I liked the way he sung this classic, and though he changed the note on the song as Jamie Foxx suggested, I don't think it made too much of an impact in the end. I wasn't floored, I wasn't impressed...it was pretty much "aight" for me, if I may borrow a phrase from thespian Randy Jackson. Matt should definitely be worried. The split comments made by the judges, in addition to his appearance in the bottom three previous weeks will contribute to Matt being in trouble tonight.
Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

4) Danny Gokey – sung "Come Rain or Come Shine” – I may not like him, but I will give credit where credit is due; this is the first time I walked away from a Danny Gokey performance saying, "that was pretty good". I think, unbelievable as it may sound, Jamie Foxx's advice actually made Danny a better performer. For once, I didn't see "wedding singer", but I saw "classic standards" performer. I agree with what Kara said, that I can see Danny making an entire album of music like this. Maybe it's because he just stumbled into his niche this week, but I finally can say I liked Danny's performance. He sounded classic, edgy, with a touch of that old time class. And like some of the judges pointed out, he had that swagger, that confidence. I saw the "quiet arrogance" I kept talking about start to diminish, and just humble confidence start to shine through. There may be hope for Danny yet, and this performance proved to me that he can get better. I'm not even going to question it, he's definitely around next week. Prediction: SAFE

5) Adam Lambert - sung "Feeling Good” – Everyone loves Adam. Week after week, I'm told Adam is the best in the season, that he will win, etc. I have to say, for the first time, I think I can see what people are talking about. Based on Adam's performance last night, I can finally see what the "big deal" is about Adam. Last night's performance was original (but that's no surprise when it comes to Adam's performances), but most of all, it was restrained. It was just "rock" enough to make it edgy, yet it still hearkened back to the original song. This is what I was waiting for; a song where some of the lyrics aren't screeched, and he delivered. It was a performance filled with passion and heart, and I can see why people like Adam. All the praise that is given to Adam is well deserved, but what I'm really starting to enjoy is Adam's humility. He's humble about the judges' comments, and almost always give credit to the band. I may not like his screeching, but Adam proved to me last night he deserves to be on top. No question or doubt, we'll see him next week, and most likely in the final. Prediction: SAFE

And that wraps it up for another week of Idol!

How did all of you like "Rat Pack week"? Who can you see in the finales? I want to see predictions people! Every reader should comment! With only three weeks left this season (thankfully, no "Idol Gives Back" this year), we can clearly see the finale coming, but who's in it? Is Adam the winner this season? Is Danny?

My predictions this week only get a bottom two, but Ryan may still have a bottom three:

IN THE BOTTOM: Matt Giraud and Allison Iraheta. (with possibly Kris Allen joining them if Ryan goes with a bottom three, even though he doesn't deserve to be there).

My pick to go home tonight: I choose Matt Giraud. It's just his time to go. He didn't deserve to go home before Anoop and Lil, but this is his exact week to go home. His performance just wasn't as good as everyone else's. (However, though she doesn't deserve to go before Matt, I wouldn't be surprised if Allison is sent packing.)

If you disagree, or even agree with me, let me know in the comments! Let’s chat it up! (and don't forget to suggest what you might want me to blog after Idol comes to an end! Suggestions people!)

Don't forget to take the poll below! Until next week, faithful readers, I’m out for now!

American Idol: Week Seven; The Top 7 Compete Again

I didn't think they would use already, but last week, for the first time in Idol history, the new "Judges' Save" rule was implemented, saving Matt Giraud from elimination.

First things first, I really didn't agree with Matt going home before Lil. Lil consistently disappoints, and though she got saved last week, this week, once again, she failed to impress me. I'm done waiting for her to emerge as a star. I think it was worth using the judges save on Matt, mostly because he deserves to stay over Lil and Anoop. I think the judges made the right call, and though at this point I highly doubt Matt has the chops to win in the end, he definitely deserved to stay around another week. But enough of about that, let's get to this week's review, since we've gone back to the disco era...although with such original takes on some of the songs performed, you'd never know it.

Disco night started differently, and for once I have to agree with what the producers of the show have done; they cut out the pre-song fluff, allowing the contestants to get right to the singing. This was probably due in part to Idol going overtime a couple of weeks in a row, but all in all, it made the show tighter in content. As of last night, I officially have a new favorite, and hope that fans see it too. This contestant was, by far, the best of the night. (and no, it wasn't Adam...find out who below)

Like last week, we have a lot to cover, so we should get straight to the individual reviews. Remember, this week, we have TWO contestants eliminated, leaving us with a Top Five for next week. I'm still going to predict a "Bottom Three", though I'm not sure how Ryan is going to separate the contestants up tonight.

We start the reviews with the biggest disappointment, namely...

1) Lil Rounds – sung "I'm Every Woman” – I don't care what kind of looks of disappointment, anger or frustration Lil has on her face while the judges ripped her apart...if she thinks her performance was original, compared to what Adam, Kris or even Allison did, then she is truly delusional. The positive of the performance? It's what Randy says; "You can really sing." But that's where it ends. Lil consistently picks the wrong song, and though this week, she finally picked a suitable artist in Chaka Khan, she completely did a copycat performance, making it completely unoriginal. I don't think Lil understands the difference between a "karaoke" performance and a copycat performance. A "karaoke" performance is when the singing/performing is bordering on corny and sounds awkward. A "copycat" performance is when a singer performs the song exactly the way the original artist did it, with only minor variations. This is exactly what Lil did, and the fact that she failed to recognize that is what puts her in trouble almost every week. This wasn't her worst performance, but it was not good enough at this stage in the game to stay in the competition. I only hope that since the judges' save was utilized already that we don't wind up with Lil staying and a more deserving contestant leaving. (Kris)
Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM


2) Kris Allen - sung "She Works Hard For The Money” - Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. Though I was on his fan wagon to a degree before, I have officially become a backer for Kris as of last night. In my opinion (and my friend Kim's opinion), he was the absolute "winner" of the night. I was totally blown away by his rendition of this Donna Summer classic. When Ryan first announced what he was singing, I cringed, saying to myself, "Oh well, he was bound to make a song choice mistake sooner or later." But I was very wrong. I never, EVER, heard that song sung in that manner, and was so impressed I may have to download yet another Kris Allen song. (yes, I downloaded last week's unknown "Falling Slowly", and the original. Guess what? I like Kris' version better than the original!) Kris is the underdog, but he consistently shows as much originality in every performance as Adam does. If he isn't safe this week, then fans truly do not know a good performance when they hear one. Prediction: SAFE


3) Danny Gokey – sung "September” – I am so over Danny. I will credit him his due though, the guy could sing, his range is amazing and his pitch is spot on (as pointed out by Randy). BUT...his performance tonight came off, to me, like a wedding singer. I didn't think it was bad, but I didn't think it was good compared to a few of the other performances. Kara, Paula and Randy saw no wrong, but the one man who I agree with 95% of the time said though he thinks it was a good performance, he didn't see the "star quality" in Danny. I see what he means. I think mostly what's putting me off about Danny, is what I said last week...he has this "quiet arrogance" that's just off-putting. He doesn't outright do it on camera, but you can see it in his eyes sometimes; "I'm good as these judges say I am...even better." Despite this though, it was a decent performance, and predictably, you will see Danny again next week.
Prediction: SAFE


4) Allison Iraheta – sung "Hot Stuff” – First off, I thought the opening with Allison on the stairs was classy and definitely in the "diva" territory, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I love Allison, and though I thought this was one of the better performances of the night, I thought that this song might have been a bit too big for Allison at first; then she proved me wrong. That last note at the end proved what a powerful voice she has and why she's in the competition to begin with. I actually really dug the take on the song and the way she sung it, but I kind of agree with most of the judges on the musical arrangement; it stunk. I like slowing down upbeat songs and turning them into ballads, when it works, (Adam/Kris ), but it didn't fit that much in this case. It was like a square peg with the corners shaved trying to fit into a round hole. Oh wow. Now I officially sound like Paula. Side note -- did it seem like she was more incoherent then usual? Discuss below. I can only hope fans think this was one of the better performances, but there is still a chance she hasn't gained enough fans. I hope she's safe based on her performance, but her lack of fans in the range of Danny or Adam may put her in danger.
Prediction: POSSIBLY IN BOTTOM


5) Adam Lambert - sung "If I Can't Have You” – I don't know how Adam does it every week. I will admit, I'm not Adam's number one fan, but I don't hate his sound. My problem is that he screeches parts of a song sometimes, and it drives me crazy. (it's almost as annoying as Blake's insistence on adding "beat-boxing" to every performance two seasons ago). I probably would be one of Adam's biggest fans if it wasn't for that screeching habit. That being said, this was a solid, heartfelt, moving performance that I could truly say almost brought Paula to tears. I admit, like Kris, I would have never thought of this song as a ballad the way that Adam performed it. What an extraordinary poignant and tenderly sung ballad he turned this disco classic into. If you haven't heard it, go to iTunes and sample it. It's a one of a kind performance and I give 100% credit to Adam for being able to top himself week to week. According to Paula, at least 3-4 contestants are in the final. (perhaps someone should explain to her that it's only 2 people in the final?). I disagree, since I don't believe one of those spots is reserved for Danny. (Kris and Allison still have got slim, but solid chances). The other spot? Definitely looking like it's reserved for Adam. Prediction: SAFE


6) Matt Giraud - sung "Stayin' Alive” – Well, first the good news; Matt proved he has the voice that deserved the save last week. The bad news? This was a really bad choice in song, and performance. I will credit him with putting the "disco" back in disco night, since a few of the contestants turned their song choices to anything but disco. But though it was fun, sung well and entertaining, it wasn't Matt's best performance. In fact, I didn't find it very original, and compared to the performances the entire night, I would only put it ahead of Lil's and Anoop's. So what does that leave us with? A mediocre performance. At this stage in the season, a mediocre performance isn't what you want to have. I think Matt's voice didn't suit the song very well.In the end I thought it was a solid vocal, but it really didn't show why Matt deserved to stay in. I'm worried for Matt, only because, though I don't think he will win, he deserves to stay in at least one more week. A mediocre performance this week will land him a spot in the bottom. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM


7) Anoop Desai – sung "Dim All The Lights” – I'm not sure what the Kara, Paula and Randy were drinking, or what performance they thought they were watching, but as usual, I found myself agreeing with Simon 100%; this was by far, one of Anoop's worst performances, which was only surpassed by his "Beat It" bastardization. I will give him props for trying to make it original, and making it sound a bit different, but it didn't work. If I remember correctly, there were definite pitch problems in the beginning, followed by several awkward movements which launched his performance into the karaoke category. (see Lil? THAT was a karaoke performance). With (yet another) Donna Summer song tonight, Anoop has sealed his fate. One of the judges said that he chose the perfect song, a nice balance between an up tempo song, and a ballad, which is Anoop's forte. Umm...no. It wasn't good, entertaining or well sung. Count on it, since he's been in the bottom two weeks in a row, we're going for a third week tonight. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM


And so we close yet another week, my loyal Idol readers. What did you guys think of disco night? Was Paula especially weird last night to anyone else? (Come on, during Kris' comments: "Women are known to shop in men's dept, but I'm glad you shopped around in the women's dept." -- I know what she was trying to say, but it came off...awkward and weird.) Am I not giving Danny enough credit? If I'm wrong, call me out on it guys!

My predictions:

IN THE BOTTOM: Anoop Desai, Lil Rounds and Matt Giraud.

My pick to go home tonight: Remember it's two to go home this week, so I choose Anoop Desai and Lil Rounds. (However, I wouldn't be surprised if we get an upset tonight and Matt Giraud goes home in place of one of them. --- or --- A HUGE upset and either Kris or Allison go - I pray not.)

If you disagree, or even agree with me, let me know in the comments! Let’s chat it up!
Take the poll below! Until next week, faithful readers, I’m out for now!

American Idol: Week Six; The Top 7 Compete

Quentin Tarantino.

Really, Idol?

I can understand some of the musical mentors Idol has chosen in the past, but this one did confuse me. A movie director telling prospective singing stars how they can sound better? Surprisingly enough though, I did find I was agreeing with some of his suggestions. Much like me, it was more of a "I think it would sound better/cooler if you could do this", and less technical help. But nonetheless, it was a night of decent surprises last night. I found most of the performances to be pretty good, though six weeks in, some people still can't break out of their niche. (Lil, Anoop)

The theme this week were songs from the movies, and though the contestants had a wide range of songs to choose from, I found they sort of limited themselves a little. Two Brian Adams songs in one night? There were no other songs available? While one Adams song was a good choice (Matt), the other left me bored.(Anoop) One major change last night was the way each contestant was judged. Last week, Idol broadcasted 10 minutes overtime, and to avoid that this week, the contestants were judged in "teams" by the judges; Randy and Kara alternating with Paula and Simon. It was a strange dynamic then what we were used to, and I can't really say if it helped or hindered the contestants. What do you guys think?

All in all a decent night of music, so without me asking you guys to join as a follower (again!), I will get straight to the performances.

Let's begin with one of my favorites last night, which is:

1) Allison Iraheta - sung "Don't Want To Miss a Thing" – I want to see a birth certificate. I want to see some proof that this girl is 16 years old. Allison chose one of the hardest songs to sing, and yet she pulled it off with the maturity and control of a seasoned performer. I said this from day one, but last night, Simon finally saw her as a contender. She poured emotion and heart, and her pitch was almost perfect throughout the chorus. Yes, the song did sound different then the original, but isn't that the point? Allison proved what Simon pointed out; she is the only true hope any of the girls have this season. I can relate to what Paula said (a first), when she said her vocal skills are on par with Adam's. Gee, I'm not even a judge, and I could have told you that a long time ago. My only concern is her fan base; though she is obviously growing in confidence and skill, but I don't know if she has the fan base yet to get her to win. For this week at least, I think she did well enough to get her to next week. Prediction: SAFE

2) Anoop Desai - sung "(Everything I do) I do it For You" - Come on, tell me you weren't surprised. Yet ANOTHER ballad from Anoop dawg. I'm officially bored with Anoop, and it's disappointing because he really has a great soulful voice. I know what you're going to say; everytime he picked an up tempo song, he did horribly. True, but look at the songs he chose; songs that were totally wrong for him, or songs that were a lot bigger then he could handle. This was predictable, and though he sung it well, and got praised for knowing his "niche", I was bored to tears. I thought his vocal, at times were spot on, but I actually thought he went off tune for a couple of lyrics. I need to rewatch it to be sure. I'm not sure Anoop can go much further in this competition. He's falling to the wayside by doing ballad after ballad. He's not only not being original, but he's being forgotten very quickly. I'm not sure he's be around next week.
Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

3) Adam Lambert - sung "Born To Be Wild" – I've come to expect a lot of Adam, and week after week, though not exactly topping himself, he manages to bring something original. This is what makes Adam stand out and memorable. This was one of the first versions of "Born to be Wild" that hasn't made me cringe. Most of the song had almost a modern vibe to it, and it was sung well enough to be one of the most memorable of the night...but it wasn't a great performance. As Simon pointed out, if we are going to compare week to week, then this was definitely below last week's standing ovation worthy performance. As usual, Adam resorted to screeching parts of the song, which I found unnecessary for the type of song that it was. I know Adam wants to be a rocker, but the screeching was almost bringing the performance down, not enhancing it. That aside, I can start to see Adam as being one of the finalists. Like last year, when I predicted the David/David final, I can see in the distance that one of the figures standing there is Adam. Who the other one is still up in the air. (No, I don't think Gokey should be instantly filling that spot) Prediction: SAFE

4) Matt Giraud - sung "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" - I don't care what the judges thought, I didn't think it was that bad. Unlike Anoop, who also chose a Brian Adams song, I think this was a perfect choice for Matt. I did agree with what the judges said about changing of the melody of the song too much. A classic beautiful song like this doesn't need all the extra riffs and carried notes. (remember how Blake Lewis from 2 seasons ago ruined almost every song he sung by adding too much?) But considering that was his only error, at least from my perspective, I don't think Matt deserved the criticism he got. One thing I will give Matt's performance is that he put so much passion and feeling in the lyrics, that I almost overlooked the changes he added. Unfortunately, I think Matt's visits to the bottom three have not been forgotten. Though Matt was safe last week, I find it hard to see him safe this week. It was a tough judgment, and though I think he deserves to be safe, when matched up against some of the other performances last night, I need to be honest and say he's going to be visiting that bottom spot once again. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

5) Danny Gokey - sung "Endless Love" – I could have bet money on Danny, and given a choice I could have easily predicted his song choice tonight. Somehow, Danny seems to pick the same type of, what I like to call "safe" songs. I don't find this a fault per se, because I know it mostly comes from his growing up around church music. But though I may not find it a fault, I don't find it to be quite an asset either. I can tell this song hit Danny pretty close to home (probably because of his back-story - his wife that passed away), and though the emotion and raw feeling behind the song was evident, I found the performance too predictable. Danny sort of lost me as a fan, because I find that he's starting to build what I'd like to call a "quiet arrogance", meaning he's getting a bit over confidant, but is smart enough to not show it too obviously. Last night's performance? It was sung well, performed with passion and emotion, but lacked any originality. Like Simon pointed out, David Cook took several songs last season and twisted and made them sound different. Danny's performance was almost a sound alike, and though sung well, I found it disappointing. Despite this, there's no question, Danny's popularity will pull him through to next week. Prediction: SAFE

6) Kris Allen - sung "Falling Slowly" – Kris surprised me this week, and he split the judges in their assessments. Randy didn't like his performance, but Kara loved it. I thought this was a very risky choice for Kris, not only because it was a very obscure song (never goes well), but it was also from an obscure movie. ( I never heard of it) Kris has grown into one of my favorites, and though I liked his performance a great deal, I thought maybe it was too risky for him to chance it at this stage in the game. I never heard the song before, but Kris made me a fan by singing with strong emotion. I felt the connection, and I think that's what makes Kris stand out. I still don't think he has the chops to actually get to the final, but I don't think he deserves to go home yet. I'm not sure how fans will react, but based on last night's performance and finicky fans, I think Kris might be in danger, despite having, in my opinion, one of his best vocals to date. Prediction: POSSIBLY IN THE BOTTOM

7) Lil Rounds - sung "The Rose" – And yet another week passes where Lil fails to make a good song choice. This has not only become an unending pattern, but this has officially made me drop Lil as a favorite. A Bette Midler song...Really, Lil? Really? Of all the countless movie songs that you could have sung, from acclaimed R&B artists, you choose...Bette Midler. Don't get me wrong, I love this song, and I dug your take on it. Adding in a few gospel elements definitely changed it enough in my mind to make it your own, so yes, I do disagree with what Simon said about you. But bottom line is Lil made a bad song choice again, choosing a song that doesn't really suit her style or booming vocal talents. It doesn't matter that she tweaked it and added a couple of elements to change it, she could have done so much more with other song choices. Should have, could have, would have; it's the same thing week after week with Lil, and I for one am fed up with putting my faith in her. Looks like Simon is fed up as well, because from his reaction, it's just as frustrating to him as it is to the rest of Lil's fans. (if there are many left). Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

After a night of hearing famous songs from the movies, my over all assessment is "job well done" in some cases. I don't know if I would have chosen the same standard staples that we know. (although I have to thank the powers that be for guiding all the contestants away from choosing "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic as their song choice.)

So what did all of you think of the song choices tonight? Could Lil have picked a better song, or is it too late for her regardless? What about Danny? Do you see the "quiet arrogance" I'm talking about? And does Adam screech some parts of the songs he sings, or is it just my imagination?

My predictions:

IN THE BOTTOM: Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud and Lil Rounds.

My pick to go home tonight: Lil Rounds. (however, don't be surprised if there is a curve ball tonight, and Kris Allen is put in place of one of the three above, AND winds up being eliminated. If he does, I can only hope the judges finally utilize their "judges' save".)

Do you guys agree with my review? Am I wrong? Tell me! Take the poll below!
Until next week, faithful readers, I’m out for now!

American Idol: Week Five; The Top 8 Compete

Wrong choices.

That seemed to be the theme for almost all of last night’s performances, with the exception of 2-3 contestants. I was extremely disappointed with both song choices and performances by several of my favorites. (Kris, Lil) Some contestants managed to choose a great song and pull off a brilliant performance, (Adam, Matt, Allison), while others just completely surprised me. (Anoop)

Over all, I’d say it was a mediocre night. The theme of the night was “songs from the year that you were born”, an Idol theme staple. Did anyone else feel old when Ryan said the oldest contestant on the show was born in 1980? I know I sure did. Geez, when these guys were born, I was hearing these songs in junior high and high school! Oh wait a sec, I’m revealing a bit much about my age now. Let’s move on, shall we?

A quick note in regards to last week’s elimination; Megan knew she was going, and I admire her class in the way she went out. I do not, however, admire the way she was blown off by Simon and the judges. I agree, she really wasn’t a contender when it came to the “judges’ save”, but come on, at least give her a chance to sing for her life. Even if you don’t plan on using the save, give her the dignity she deserved. But alas, Megan is gone, and now we face the Top Eight.

How did the contestants do last night? Let’s jump in, starting with a strange musical arrangement for a classic song, sung by;

1) Danny Gokey – sung "Stand by Me” – I just don’t understand the arrangement for this song. It had to be the single worst version of this song I have ever heard. I’m not talking about Danny’s vocals, because they weren’t the problem. The problem was the musical arrangement made it almost impossible for someone to focus on Danny. Saying that though, Danny’s vocals weren’t as strong as some of the judges made them out to be. I thought he sounded off key in the beginning, and towards the middle is the only part I felt he started to pick himself up. By the end of the song, he hit his stride, and heard the booming voice that Danny has. (I think Simon had the same exact analysis of Danny’s performance as I did). While I don’t think he’s in any danger of going home, I don’t think this was a great performance at all. It wasn’t his worst, but by no means was this his best. Prediction: SAFE

2) Kris Allen - sung "All She Wants to Do is Dance” - I was sooooo disappointed in Kris last night. For someone who burst out of the fogs of the “unknowns”, Kris quickly became a favorite of mine when, apart from his “hottie” status, he proved what a great voice he has. But last night? Train wreck. Complete train wreck. Awful choice of song and pitiful arrangement made this sound a lot worse then it was. Kris’ vocals were still spot on, if only they were singing a better song. (my friend Kim thinks he holds the microphone waaay too close to his mouth, making it hard to understand the lyrics he's singing. I tend to agree, now that I thought about it!) I will applaud Kris for trying to make the song his own by changing it up, singing it a bit differently…but it didn’t work. It completely backfired, so I’m concerned that he’s put himself into the possible danger zone tonight. It’s a shame though, because he’s been consistently good for the past 2 weeks, and this drawback could be the one that sends his gaining popularity back down a few notches. Hopefully, though I predict him to be in danger this week, I’m hoping fans realize that another contestant’s performance was ultimately worse than this one.
Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

3) Lil Rounds – sung "What's Love Got To Do With It?” – Disappointment after disappointment, week after week. I’ve been a fan of Lil, but truth is, she’s losing me, and last night’s performance may have been the one that finally does her in. I just don’t understand Lil, this was a PERFECT song choice for her, but she failed to blow it out of the park. (as a TV Squad reviewer agreed) Not only did it come off as a well sung karaoke performance, but she even tried to sound, act and dance like Tina Turner a few times. Re-watch the performance and you’ll catch Lil doing the famous Tina “legs apart singing stance”. She even inflected her voice to sound like her on some of the lyrics! Ugh, it was frustrating to watch! She made no attempt to make the song her own, and that’s what aggravated me (and the judges) most about her performance. Lil has lost a lot of fans because of this, and her weekly disappointing performances has put her in serious danger tonight. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

4) Anoop Desai - sung "True Colors" – Any of the readers that know me personally know what a HUGE Cyndi Lauper fan I am. I have been for years and still follow her career very closely. So how do you think I reacted when I found out what song Anoop was singing? That’s right, terror and anger. But, I will admit this; it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting it to be. I attribute this to the fact that (yet again), Anoop has reverted to singing a ballad, and we all know how well Anoop does with ballads. Being a big fan of the original artist, I have more basis for judgment of Anoop’s performance than most people. This song has been redone over and over since its release, the best remake being Phil Collin’s version. Anoop could only hope to come within a sliver of that. I thought he sounded good in the beginning , but the change in style in the middle didn’t work out very well. Sometimes a song doesn’t need to be changed that much, but can still sound different. This was not Anoop’s best performance, but it didn’t turn out to be as bad as I was expecting it to be. (nothing could beat the train wreck that Nadia Turner turned this song into a couple of seasons ago.) Though I don’t think he’s in any danger, (partly because he reverted back to “balladeer”), I think there is a chance last week’s performance “stink” hasn’t washed out of fans minds yet.
Prediction: POSSIBLY IN BOTTOM

5) Scott Macintyre – sung "The Search is Over” – The “good song choice” streak that Scott was on has ended; funny though, it only lasted a week! I don’t get Scott, and I find it continually irritating that he made bad song choices for weeks, finally makes a breakthrough last week with a perfect song choice, and this week, reverts to form and chooses the worst possible song for himself. I hated this song from the original artist, so I was already going in jaded. Stepping out from behind the piano, we learn that Scott can also play the guitar, albeit not quite as well as the piano. I do understand his reasoning, that he wants to show how versatile a performer he is, but the guitar just didn’t work, especially when you add that it was a poor song choice to begin with. I thought Scott failed in hitting some of the key notes in the song, and though he clearly sung with passion, it fell flat on the vocals. His voice was simply not strong enough to carry some of the lyrics, and unfortunately it didn’t make for a very good performance. The only thing appealing about watching his performance last night was the occasional camera view of his blond hottie brother/friend in the audience. Was that harsh? Yes, but I’m frustrated. Much like Lil, Scott has lost his luster with me, and it’s mostly due to his consistency of bad song choices. I would be worried if I was Scott tonight. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

6) Allison Iraheta - sung "I Can't Make You Love Me” – Now THIS was a performance. I’ve always liked Allison, and I’ve made no secret of that. But this performance really catapulted Allison into the top in my opinion. Everyone has heard this song a million times over on the radio, but if you actually listen to the lyrics sometime, you’ll realize what truly adult themes are being portrayed in the song. Allison, being only 16, sung this song with such passion, maturity and class, I really had a hard time believing her age. Close your eyes, and you’d think a seasoned veteran was singing, and not only is that a compliment and testament to the skill that Allison has, it is also an edge which is slowly giving her a lead over her competitors. The only critique I have is the same one Simon had, and one I mentioned when the competition first started; her personality. She isn’t showing enough of it, and she’s coming off too much like an immature 16-year-old kid. Regardless, I think Allison should be around next week easily. Prediction: SAFE

7) Matt Giraud - sung "Part-Time Lover” – Finally, a stand out performance from one of the most underrated contestants! Matt took a completely over done Stevie Wonder song, (that Kevin Covais turned into a corny joke years ago) and turned it into a bluesy, soulful song with great vocals. Matt is rocking the Justin Timberlake look, and it suits him. The hat is a perfect accessory to distract us from that odd mole right in the middle of his forehead. Matt looks like he's finally settling into his comfort zone, and I couldn't be happier. I still don't think he has the chops to win it all, but at the very least, this performance can put him in the running for the Top 5 or 4 at least.
Prediction: SAFE

8) Adam Lambert – sung "Mad World” – Looks like I wasn't quite in the minority as I thought last week. I spoke to a number of people that agreed that Adam was screeching most of the song. But this week? He pulled back the antics and the screeching, and gave a heartfelt ballad, with tender lyrics and passion. I was most impressed with this performance, and thought this was Adam's best performance to date. Adam keeps getting better every week, and barring some horrible performance, I don't see how he won't be one of the two finalists this season. His safety this week isn't even a question.
Prediction: SAFE

That's it for this week, readers! What did we think?

My predictions:

IN THE BOTTOM: Kris Allen, Lil Rounds and Scott Macintyre.

My pick to go home tonight: Scott Macintyre. (his time has come unfortunately, though I wouldn't be surprised if Lil goes instead. I'll be angry if Kris goes!)

So am I wrong? Were some of my reviews too harsh? Were they on the mark? Tell me if I'm crazy people! Who do you think should go home tonight? Take the poll below!
Until next week, faithful readers, I’m out for now!