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!

American Idol: Week Four; The Top 9 Compete

We are officially down to the Top Nine, and though you hear it a million times from Ryan Seacrest, the competition is really starting to heat up.

Almost every season, they always say something to the effect of “the most talented Top 10 ever”, but this season, I seriously think that they are right. I can clearly see at least 2 or 3 contestants in the final, with perhaps a dark horse coming with a win that no one expects. (Kris!)

This week’s theme is relatively new to the season of Idol. The contestants were asked to pick songs that are top downloads of iTunes. (great plug for them though isn’t it? In addition to downloading songs from the season, they get a whole theme!) I have to say I was a bit surprised with some of the choices made (Lil, Matt), and some people finally made the right choices. (Scott!!)

As a side note to last week’s elimination, America got it right; it was Michael’s time to go. BUT, to have Matt in the bottom three and not Megan? I have nothing against Megan, I think she is lovely and has such a unique sound, and she would do great if she just would pick the right songs. But the fact is, it’s three weeks in, and she has yet to make a good choice. This week was no exception. (more on that when we get to her)

Quick Mention:
Join.
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Blog!
(notice how my rants on that are getting shorter and shorter? Doesn’t mean I’m giving up, it means I’m just planning on a way to blackmail you all into joining. You see that guy taking pictures of you from behind that tree? Yeah, that’s me.)

Rating system remain the same, so shall we get started?

Let’s begin with the first disappointment of the night;

1) Anoop Desai – sung "Caught Up” – I will applaud Anoop for going back to doing an upbeat song, but for some reason, whenever he switches to singing an upbeat song, his inner singer always chooses the wrong song.(hello, remember “Beat It”?)He only seems to choose the right song when he sings ballads, and that’s very disappointing. None of the judges thought it was good, and I tend to agree. It seemed very karaoke to me, and amateurish, if I could borrow a phrase from Simon. One of the judges said that the performance seemed very copycat, and I agree wholeheartedly; there was nothing original in it, and none of Anoop’s personal touches were added. I’m not sure he’s quite ready to go home, but this performance, when measured against the rest of the performances tonight, has put him in danger. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

2) Megan Joy Corkrey - sung "Turn Your Lights Down Low” - I want to start off by repeating what I wrote earlier; I have nothing against Megan. It’s not like past seasons of Idol, where there was one or two contestants that rubbed me the wrong way, or just sounded so horrible I wondered how they actually got to the Top 12 in the first place. I think Megan is beautiful and has such a great bluesy sound. I actually feel very disappointed with her performances for the past 3 weeks. Song choice makes a whole world of difference, and with such different sound, Megan needed to pick songs that suited her great tone and style. For the 4th week in a row, Megan has once again chosen a song that is not only boring, but it did not highlight her voice the way it should have. At times, it even sounded off key, and I know that it wasn’t...it was just the way she sung it. I feel bad for Megan, because whoever is coaching her on song choice should be fired. (and whoever is Scott’s coach too, though this week he picked a perfect song). Much to my dismay, I think Megan’s time to leave is fast approaching, and tonight might be the night.
Prediction:IN THE BOTTOM

3) Danny Gokey – sung "What Hurts the Most” – Danny pulled back on the cockiness a little, so perhaps he’s hearing what some Idol fans are saying about him. This week, Danny decided to go the opposite direction of his past two performances, and get introspective. This is where I think Danny shines, when he takes a song, and instead of wild corny dancing and over sung lyrics, it’s just him and his voice. I finally got reminded why I liked Danny when I first saw him; he has such a great smooth voice that fit the emotion of the song perfectly. It wasn’t copycat, and that’s what makes this one of his best performances. He made it his own. The way he put a different tone to some of the lyrics made this performance stand out for me. Now, if he could continue to keep that cockiness out for the rest of his time on Idol, I just might be rooting for him by season’s end. Prediction: SAFE

4) Allison Iraheta - sung "Don't Speak" – I will agree with the judges on a very glaring observation; what the heck is with that outfit?! Wow, I think Tim Gunn would faint from the horror of this fashion monstrosity. That aside, since this show isn’t about fashion, Allison’s vocals again were amazing. I like the fact she brought out her guitar, because no one realized she could even play. I’m no musician, but I’m pretty sure she missed a couple of cords, but it doesn’t matter; her vocals made up for it. She has such control of her voice, and for someone so young, she makes many singers twice her age seem amateurish. (as one of the judges said). Thing is though, the TV audience is a fickle bunch, and I have a gut feeling that the comments about her outfit distracting the audience from listening to the song might be right. I love Allison, and if she gets sent home tonight instead of Megan, I will not be a happy camper. But I think she very well might be my final choice for the Bottom three. (with possibly (and hopefully) being switched out to one of my other choices below). Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

5) Scott Macintyre – sung "Just The Way You Are” – Finally! FINALLY! Maybe Scott did fire his song coach, because for the first time in 4 weeks, Scott chose the most perfect song to highlight both his piano and his singing ability. It was the first performance by him that I will actually remember. His soft, yet passionate voice carried the song. Considering he opted to use only the piano and not the band, it completely focused the bulk of the song on his talents. And he delivered with a poignant and original performance. Bravo, Scott! Here’s the bad news though...it might be too late. Three weeks of mediocre performances may have dulled fans appreciation, so though he outshone a few people this week, he may replace one of my bottom picks. Hopefully not, so cross your fingers!! Prediction: POSSIBLY IN BOTTOM

6) Matt Giraud - sung "You Found Me” – I am really beginning to enjoy Matt’s singing style, but tonight, I think he made a critical mistake; he picked the wrong song. I disagreed with the judges when they said Matt shouldn’t have picked The Fray, because though the song choice was wrong, a better, more well-known song choice would have been that band’s breakout hit, “How To Save A Life”. A better choice above that? I think it was Kara who suggested One Republic’s “Apologize”, and I agree 100%. That song would have been perfect for Matt’s sound and style, but alas that didn’t happen did it? I thought the song was a bit “indulgent” as Simon would say, and didn’t really fit Matt’s sound very well. It was a mismatch in my opinion. I like the fact that he performed in the middle of the audience, but the performance was a bit of a let-down. I don’t think it was his worst, because his vocals were still almost perfect, but the song style and choice just made it a sub-par performance. I don’t think he should be going home just yet (as Kara pointed out, he still deserves to be there), but he might get another scare this week. Prediction: POSSIBLY IN BOTTOM

7) Lil Rounds - sung "I Surrender” – She’s almost there. Lil is coming just short of picking the right song. Celine was a decent song, because she can pull off some of the more powerful notes. But it wasn’t the perfect song choice, and I need to agree with what the judges said on her performance. I was expecting Mary J. Blige, or even some Mariah, since Lil has the kind of range to handle those songs. This was a mediocre performance to be honest, and a bit of a let down. (again) Just like last week, where Lil should have been the top performance of the night, this week should have had her at the top of the list. But as the judges pointed out, though the song choice was “meh”, the power in her voice only reminds us what a powerful range she has. I just wish she would have chosen a better song to highlight that. Prediction: SAFE

8) Adam Lambert – sung "Play That Funky Music” – Maybe I just didn’t hear what the judges were hearing. Please tell me in the comments below if I’m crazy, but to me, this was one of Adam’s worst performances. I hated it. I thought he was screeching have the song, and screaming the other half. It seemed like a karaoke performance and not a star performance. It could very well be just me, but I really hated this performance. And I am an Adam fan, so I’m not just saying that to be mean. Much like his “Ring of Fire”, I just didn’t get it. Regardless of what I think though, considering Adam’s popularity and ovations from the audience and the judges, there is no way he doesn’t sail through easily into next week. Prediction: SAFE

9) Kris Allen – sung "Ain't No Sunshine” – Call me an official Kris Allen fan. With this performance, Kris has risen from the status of “relatively unknown guy” to forerunner. I honestly think he out sang everyone else last night, and created something new out of something old. As pointed out by several of the judges, this song is 30 years old, yet it felt like it could be on the radio right now. The intimate arrangement, the tender vocals, and the passion behind the lyrics shone right through. As Kara said, “now THAT is artistry!”. Kris has quickly become one of my favorites, and it has nothing to do with how cute he is. (I mean, don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t hurt either) Kris has proven he is not just another pretty face, so don’t be surprised if he becomes the dark horse to win in this competition. He needs to keep up the momentum. Prediction: SAFE

Another week down! What did everyone think?
Do you think I was way off base about Adam’s performance? Should Megan prepare her good bye performance tonight? Who do you think had to best of the night?

My predictions:
IN THE BOTTOM: Anoop Desai, Allison Iraheta and Megan Joy Corkrey.

My pick to go home tonight: For the second week in a row, I choose Megan Joy Corkrey. (it’s really time, but don’t be surprised if she somehow slips by and Anoop/Allison go home.)

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!