American Idol: Week Six; The Top 10 Compete

And so we've reached the Top Ten.

Seems like only yesterday we were in the audition process, going through the hopefuls, and the very bad. (I still will not forgive Idol for forcing "Pants on the Ground" into pop culture.)

With a theme of R&B and soul, I did expect some of the contestants to struggle, but I was pleasantly surprised. Don't get me wrong, some of them chose very ambitious songs that they could not handle, but aside from that, most of them had pretty good song choices.

The "mentor" this week was Usher, who I find very much a step up from the supposed "mentorship" of Miley Cyrus last week. I thought of all the mentors they've had on the show, he is one of the few who actually gave sound advice. His suggestions improved some performances, while other performances it didn't matter - mostly because they were being sung badly.

Let's begin right away for once, shall we? Dispense with the small talk, and begin the individual reviews, starting with a girl who was beginning to grow on me, but last night fell kind of flat. We start with:

1. SIOBHAN MAGNUS – sung “Though The Fire” - Poor Siobhan. I really like her, and she is really starting to grow on me. I love her style, and the way she stands out from the rest of the Top Ten. But this was a bad song choice. This song was waaaay too ambitious, and at times, not only was it pitchy, but she went off key at several points. The judges said it best: it was all over the place. That high note scream at the end of every song Siobhan is doing week after week is going to get tired very quickly. This was a very disappointing performance from Siobhan. I don't think this was the best song choice for her, because it didn't show her strength, only her weakness (her low register). Despite this bad performance, I don't think Siobhan should be worried about going home. SAFE

2. CASEY JAMES – sung “Hold on, I'm Coming” - Casey finally stepped into the spotlight so to speak with this song. It was a perfect song choice for him because he turned it into a bluesy rock performance. This was a very strong performance from Casey, and I can see some star appeal starting to come out. When the show is over, I can see Casey making a career in the country field, and I'll go so far as to say he has the potential to be as popular as Carrie Underwood should he choose to go that route. This week's performance guarantees there is no way he's going home this week. SAFE

3. MICHAEL LYNCHE – sung “Ready for Love” - I've had a very tough time becoming a fan of Michael's. I thought he was kind of boring, and was riding on the coattails of his "story", that of being a new family man and father. But with this performance, I can start to see his appeal. I thought this was a heartfelt performance from Michael. He sung this song with passion and emotion, and connected with almost every word. Michael definitely has a sensitive side, and he showed to us through this performance. I need to hear the original to really appreciate Michael's version, but bottom line is Michael is in no danger whatsoever of going home. SAFE

4. DIDI BENAMI – sung “What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?” - For a song that Didi insisted was very special to her, and she had a very strong emotional connection to, this was one of the flattest, emotionless performances of the night. I don't get it, where was the emotion? Simon was right when he said it was off-melody, sharp, and pitchy. I don't know why Didi couldn't just saw why the song sparked such emotions with her, but it was obvious she was trying to avoid the question. I know what Ryan was trying to do by pestering her about why the song was so emotional for her. If Didi said it, then the audience would connect to her. But my problem is, she didn't show those emotions. Ugh, I hate to say it, but I think Didi is in serious trouble this week. IN DANGER

5. TIM URBAN – sung “Sweet Love” - "Teflon" Tim, huh? That's what they're calling him? Seriously though, how can you not feel bad for this guy. The kind of harsh judgements this guy takes week after week can make anyone cry, but the guy just smiles, stands there and takes it. This was a very bad song choice for Tim, and I'm honestly at a loss for why he would choose a song so completely out of his range. The judges mentioned words like "boring" and "flat", and I tend to agree. It was not a pop performance, it was strictly Vegas lounge, and though I call it week after week, (as I'm going to call it this week as well) Tim always manages to come back. Either he's more popular then I thought, or he has a lot more friends than any of us realize. I'm going to say he's in trouble, but I predict him not going home yet. IN DANGER

6. ANDREW GARCIA – sung “Forever” - Finally! FINALLY!! As I said before, I all but gave up on Andrew. But this performance brought him back, and I was as happy as the judges were that he finally found his "moment" again. I love Chris Brown's fast paced original, but Andrew slowed it down, made it acoustic, and it sounded great. Just like the judges pointed out, Andrew brought out his personality in this performance, and it made all the difference in the world. Now granted, I actually do sort of agree with Simon, in that I don't think Andrew is "exciting" enough for the audience. He reminds me of an Hispanic Danny Gokey. I see the same sort of personality traits. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Guess we'll see in next week, since I think this performance brought Andrew back from the brink. SAFE

7. KATIE STEVENS – sung “Chain of Fools” - This is the first time I could actually say I liked Katie's song choice. I think I have to agree with Ellen's comments, where she agreed it was the right song choice, but she didn't follow through the whole song. As it was described, she had "moments" in the performance that stood out, and really showcased her voice. Granted, I think there were much younger R&B/soul songs to choose from, so I also agree with Ellen's comments on that note. Though she had a great vocal, I don't think it made her stand out more than the others enough. Katie's constant struggle to "find herself" is getting her into trouble, and even though she had a great performance, good vocal, I don't think it was enough at this stage. Despite her good performance, she may be in danger. IN DANGER

8. LEE DWEYZE – sung “Treat Her Like A Lady” - Wow, Lee has finally impressed me. This had to be one of the best choices of song for Lee, because not only did it sound good, it felt like it was written for him. He was so connected to the song, it created a moment that made him shine. He looked confident, and that's what finally won me over. He didn't seem uncomfortable or awkward like past weeks. I think Lee has the potential to be bigger than Idol, turning into another Daughtry easily. I can see him going solo or with a band behind him right now. Like Kara says sometime, I can "hear" him on the radio now. There is no way possible Lee is going anywhere this week, and quite possibly for weeks to come. Do I see a Crystal/Lee showdown in May? SAFE

9. CRYSTAL BOWERSOX – sung “Midnight Train to Georgia” - I didn't even know she knew how to play the piano! This girl surprises me week after week. Great song choice, but I have to agree with Simon, I don't think the back-up singers should have been there right by her piano. I think if it was just Crystal and the piano, it would have been even better. I'm not sure I like her "look" last night, because it didn't seem like her. True, she said she doesn't do anything unless it is comfortable to her, so I believe she did make the choice to dress that way, and not the producers. But it just didn't seem like her, and I don't want her to get away from most of the stuff that made her unique and stand out in the first place. One of my friends commented that most of the singers this season are not very good, with the exception of maybe four. I'm beginning to agree, though I had to laugh at what my friend Tom said: "Could they please just hand Crystal the title this year, and end our misery of enduring the rest of this season?" SAFE

10. AARON KELLY – sung “Ain't No Sunshine” - I loved Kris Allen's version of this song last season. Truth be told, I still listen to it. It was decent song choice for Aaron, though the beginning had a rough start. The only thing I have to say about Aaron's performance is that he didn't do much with it. I think he did put in emotion in the right places, as Usher suggested, but besides that, I don't think he really did anything that made him stand out. Still though, Aaron is getting the Idol makeover week after week, so the pre-teen girls are really amping up there squeals. As Simon predicted, and as I predict as well, Aaron has zero chance of going home this week, despite a less than spectacular performance. SAFE

My Bottom Three Picks: I hope that Siobhan stays out of the bottom three. One bad week shouldn't put her here, so here's who I think will occupy those three spots: Didi Benami, Tim Urban and Katie Stevens.

My Pick to be Eliminated Tonight: I can't believe I'm not gonna say Tim Urban, but his "aw shucks" personality is gonna get him through another week. Unfortunately, though I still love her voice, it is time for Didi Benami to go home.

I may be way off though, get a surprise elimination of Katie instead. What do you think dear readers? Am I right? Am I totally wrong? Let me hear from you! Comment below, and don't forget to vote in the poll!

Until next week my readers, I bid you farewell for now!!

American Idol: Week Five; The Top 11 Compete

Wow, was last night the night of bad performances or what?

I mean, with the exception of maybe 3 performances, not only did most of the contestants make horrible song choices, but some of the actual performances bordered on excruciating to hear. (looking at you, Andrew and Paige)

I think for an important week like this week, where the Top Ten is chosen, the contestants would be a bit more careful in what songs they choose. Not every song choice should be about you "wanting to have fun" on stage. The Billboard charts have had a boatload of #1 hits to choose from, yet some contestants fell back on songs that have been done before on Idol ad nauseum.

Most of the contestants took a step backward this week in my opinion, and some of them just took a few step forwards out the door. And I will say this for Idol...Miley Cyrus as a mentor? Really? You have a 17 yr old "mentoring" the contestants? Really? I'm glad to see the contestants gave her some respect, but with the exception of Aaron, Katie and maybe Tim...the older contestants must have been thinking the same thing: "Who is this 17 yr old to tell me how I sing, when she could barely sing herself?"

I'm not a Miley fan, as you can tell. But I digress again, I know. I try not to make a habit of it. You guys want me to get to the contestants, so away we go with:

1. LEE DEWYZE – sung “The Letter” - It was definitely not the best song choice for Lee, but I will say this for his performance; it finally showed me the great control this guy has of his voice. I'm not sure what happened between last week and this week, but Lee seem more relaxed to me this week. I didn't see that many nerves and he came off confidant. I'm not sure it was his best performance, but I think this performance will shape his future performances. He definitely should stick to the more "rock" genre, but regardless of this iffy song choice this week, he ain't going anywhere for now. SAFE

2. PAIGE MILES – sung “Against All Odds” - Oh dear God, Idol, can we please PLEASE retire this song already?! It's been done to death since the first season. I LOVE the original version, but enough is enough already. Paige's version was such a mess from the get go, she really had no hope of saving it. Aside from the ridiculous pitch problems, she was hitting only every other note. The funny thing is, as Simon pointed out, you can see the point during the song where Paige actually knew the song was a lost cause. It's shame too, because like I said week after week, I still think Paige has one of the strongest voices...but alas I don't think it's gonna be strong enough to last another week. IN DANGER

3. TIM URBAN – sung “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” - How could this song be boring? Give it to Tim Urban to sing that's how. Not only was this the corniest version of the song I've seen performed on Idol, but Tim looked like a wedding singer entertaining the guests. It was the epitome of "karaoke" performance. Tim has been labeled "the comeback kid", and I truly don't know who he keeps ducking the elimination ax week after week. In fact, bad as this was, I think Paige's performance was worse, so believe it or not, though I call him out to be in the bottom three, I think he'll be safe once again. IN DANGER

4. AARON KELLY – sung “I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing” - Well, at least there was some light in this awful tunnel. Granted it wasn't his best, or the best performance of the night, but damn, when stacked up against the rest of the performances, Aaron's performance was one of the better ones. Kara points out the "country twang" in Aaron's voice, and I hear it too. I think Aaron would make a great 16 yr old country singer. The country loving pre-teen girls would love him!! (do they even exist?) Not only was Aaron's song choice perfect, but despite having a double whammy sickness of laryngitis and tonsillitis, he still gave a better performance than some of the other contestants. I can see this kid getting pretty far in the competition. Simon was right when he said there is zero chance Aaron is going home this week. SAFE

5. CRYSTAL BOWERSOX – sung “Me and Bobby McGee” - Wow, I was blown away. Seriously, I know I spout the greatness of Crystal every week, so obviously I'm a fan, but come on, that performance was just in another league. It was as if she was the guest performer in the middle of the competition. Not only was it the perfect song choice, but she sung it with such connection, it felt like she owned the song. I don't see Crystal going anywhere this week, and though it may be far off in the distance, I think I may see a dread locked female guitarist in the finale. SAFE

6. MICHAEL LYNCHE – sung “When A Man Loves A Woman” - Zzzzzzz. Oh I'm sorry, is the song over already? If you hadn't guessed it, yes, I was VERY bored with this performance. Vocals were spot on, as I've begun to expect from Michael, but damn, it put me to sleep. I mean he didn't change it up or make it his own. There were way too many riffs and before he even got to the end of the song, I lost interest. Now granted, Michael is a fan favorite because of his personality, so I don't think he's going home. However, if he keep churning out these yawners of performances, then his personality will only get him so far. SAFE

7. ANDREW GARCIA – sung “I Heard it Through The Grapevine” - I think I had said I was officially done with Andrew last week, and this week only solidified my decision. Wow, this performance came very close to being as out of tune as Paige's and as corny as Tim's. What was he thinking?! This was possibly one of the worst song choices he could have made, and I'm as frustrated as Kara was when she described Andrew as still chasing that "moment". It's the truth, because week after week, all I get from Andrew is weird song choices that just don't fit him. Any promise this guy had has completely worn away, and I think he might find himself in a bit of trouble this week. IN DANGER

8. KATIE STEVENS – sung “Big Girls Don't Cry” - I will give Katie this; though it wasn't her best performance, nor was it the worst, the song choice was perfect. Like the judges said, kudos to her for listening and choosing a more contemporary song to perform to suit her age. I thought the beginning was the best part of it. It started to get a bit pitchy towards the middle, but by the time she hit a couple of big notes on the end, it was a decent enough performance to keep her in. Amazingly enough it wasn't a terrible performance, and compared to the others, Katie she be around at least another week. SAFE

9. CASEY JAMES – sung “The Power of Love” - I think Simon was the only one who heard what I heard; a watered down, nearly identical version of the original song. Simon was right! This song was retro when it first came out in the 80s! Casey brought nothing new to it at all. It came very close to sounding copy cat, but that doesn't mean it didn't sound good. I just think Kara is too "googly eyed" for him to see the truth. Heck, I'll be the first to admit, Casey is great eye candy. But performance wise, it did not measure up. Aside from this somewhat forgettable performance, don't expect Casey to go anywhere this week. SAFE

10. DIDI BENAMI – sung “You're No Good” - The pitch problems were rampant this week!! Didi was no stranger to the problems, because though it wasn't a very bad performance per se, it really wasn't a great song choice. Simon pointed out the irony of her singing "you're no good", and her giving the performance she did. Though I thought that was a bit harsh, he really wasn't 100% wrong. I really am starting to like Didi's voice, and how different it sounds from anyone else I've heard. With the right song choice, I think this girl could even give Crystal a run for her money. Hmm... Nah, no she can't. But that aside, I'm gonna call her safe, though a part of me thinks she may be in danger. SAFE

11. SIOBHAN MAGNUS – sung “Superstition” - Okay for once I didn't love Siobhan's performance. I thought it was a ballsy song choice, but then again as the judges pointed out, that's what's so likable about this girl; she takes chances. I thought that the beginning was the best part of the song. Towards the end, when Siobhan did her expected "big note", to me, it felt forced and off key. In fact, it seemed like it was yelled, and not sung. I don't think Siobhan is in any danger whatsoever, but this was not her best performance. I think she could do waaay better without resorting to that big note. Don't force it Siobhan, just let the song flow! SAFE

My Bottom Three Picks: My gut is telling me I should put Didi in here, but I'll stick with my choices for now: Paige Miles, Tim Urban and Andrew Garcia.

My Pick to be Eliminated Tonight: I think it's gonna be Paige Miles. Yes, her performance was that bad. Really.

So am I wrong people? Who do you think had the best performance of the night? Who had the worst? What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Let’s chat it up! And most of all, don't forget to vote in the poll below!

Until next week my readers, I bid you farewell for now!!

American Idol: Week Four; The Top 12 Compete

"You can't always get what you want"

That Rolling Stones hit (and Crystal's song choice) is the perfect way to describe last night's performances. Idol may have wanted outstanding performances (and let's face it, so did we), but instead we got mediocre performances, with the exception of maybe three that stood out. I'll say it plainly, I was not impressed with the bunch of them last night. Now granted, it may have been the change to the larger stage, but honestly, I expected a lot more then what I got when Idol decided to open up The Rolling Stones' songbook.

What I'm having trouble understanding is that for so many weeks, song choice is shown to be of the upmost importance, and though most of the contestants last night did in fact choose a good song, they did not perform it very well. (looking at YOU, Mr. Tim Urban)

On a side note, can I just say this about Lilly Scott's surprise elimination last week; I call shenanigans! I think it very well might have been the dreaded "Chris Daughtry" syndrome, where fans automatically thought she had nothing to worry about, and winds up paying for it because not enough people voted for her. I feel bad, because I really liked Lilly and thought she would get pretty far. Oh well, I still got my Crystal. (Man, I just realized if I would have said that last sentence in a club, it could have been taken totally out of context)

I know, I know, I'm boring you. You want me to get the the reviews. FINE.

Stop being so pushy people! Yeesh!

We begin the night with the guy we ended with last week, that being:

1. MICHAEL LYNCHE – sung “Miss You” - Can I just say how weird it was when Ryan walked up to Simon while Michael was being judged? What was up with that? That aside, Michael did a decent performance. I agreed with Kara mostly, in that this wasn't one of Michael's memorable performance, but he had a swagger and confidence about him which helped him deliver a well-rounded performance. I can see a little of what Simon meant by "desperate", but for the most part it was a solid enough performance to keep Michael around another week. SAFE

2. DIDI BENAMI – sung “Play With Fire” - I gotta say, I really enjoyed this performance by Didi. Her voice lent itself perfectly to this rendition of the song. I may be wrong, and please let me know in the comments, but did she or did she not at one point stumble over the words, or possibly even forget them? Still, she showed an emotional intensity that, to me, sold the song. I like how the song displays her range and her vocals, though they weren't perfect, sounded good enough. She's a pretty gal too, so I think she will be sticking around for another week. SAFE

3. CASEY JAMES – sung “It's All Over Now” - I could not have agreed with Simon more on Casey's performance. This was the Rolling Stones' songbook. Casey could have used his song choice to completely rock out and use the stage to the fullest effect. But he' didn't. Instead, he stood there with his guitar, like so many of the performances last night, and instead of standing out from the crowd, he became just one of the crowd. That aside though, it was a good vocal and song choice. It worked perfectly with the kind of sound Casey has, which Randy pointed out was this country blues and soul vibe. Despite not using the stage to his advantage, Casey will most definitely be around next week. SAFE

4. LACEY BROWN – sung “Ruby Tuesday” - I like Lacey's personality, but is it just me when I say that personality really doesn't come out when she performs? I think a couple of the judges were right in saying it was a bit boring. I love the original song, and she managed to slow it down to such a degree, I actually got bored with it. She changed it up by slowing it down, but I think that worked against her in the end. After her performance, only one thing really resonated in my mind; unmemorable. She may be in trouble tomorrow night. IN DANGER

5. ANDREW GARCIA – sung “Gimme Shelter” - Man, this was, as Randy put it, "Pitchy and all over the place". I'm done with Andrew. I had such high hopes for him, but week after week now all I get is disappointed. Not only was it pitchy, but at least to me, it seemed like some parts of the song were shouted. Some of the judges said they were in between liking and hating the performance. I have no such problem. I hated the performance, but it wasn't as bad as some of the others tonight, so hence, I think he'll be around at least another week. SAFE

6. KATIE STEVENS – sung “Wild Horses” - Has anyone ever heard of The Sundays' remake of this song? Fascinating, eerie, and nearly perfect. I will give Katie this much; this had to be one of he first time since I first saw her, that I didn't hate her performance. I think she saved herself this week, not only by choosing a perfect song to compliment her voice, but performing it just as eerily as The Sundays' version. I finally saw her connecting to a song, and that's a big step for me to actually cheer you on. Well done Katie, you earned yourself another week. SAFE

7. TIM URBAN – sung “Under My Thumb” - Wow. Just...wow. This guy was starting to be called "the comeback kid", but he just took a whole two step backwards. Rolling Stones fans would pound on Idol's doors for ever letting poor Tim even suggest doing a "reggae" version of this song. And yet, here we are. This had to be the worst possible idea for making a song your own. Ellen nailed it on the head when she said she felt like she was on a resort. I felt the same way, except, I felt like I was on a cruise. You know what I'm talking about, for those of you that have cruised. This is the type of song they would be singing by the pool area. The worst part is, I need to give the kid credit for doing something different, but this is just one risk that crashed and bombed. Sorry Tim, you might be in trouble. IN DANGER

8. SIOBHAN MAGNUS – sung “Paint It Black” - LOVE the original version, and usually any remake I hear never lives up to it. Granted this definitely didn't (in my mind, Guns N' Roses came close), but man, I did enjoy the whole "goth vibe" to it. Like Kara said, it really did remind me of Adam Lambert. The beginning of Siobhan's performance made me think of the opening to one of Tim Burton's movies, with its Danny Elfman like arrangement. And when Siobhan hit some of those notes, I felt it. I think Siobhan is starting to shine, and I can only see her lasting a while in the competition at this point. SAFE

9. LEE DEWYZE – sung “Beast of Burden” - I don't care what the judges said, I thought Lee's voice fit this song perfectly. I know what the judges were saying though. It sort of was "safe" in a sense, considering what a hard edge Lee's voice has. He could of opened up on other Stones' hits, but he chose this one. And even though he sung it well, and I think is one of his better performances, I agree with Kara's assessment that Lee did not have his "moment" yet. I think Lee finally gets what that is, and I think he'll be sticking around next week. SAFE

10. PAIGE MILES – sung “Honky Tonk Women” - Give the woman some props, she has laryngitis and she sings like that?! Wow. The judges were not kidding when they said this girl has a big voice. I liked the arrangement of the song, and I also liked the way Paige used the stage. Her stage presence is definitely a big factor to me enjoying last night's performance. She hit some very big notes during her performance, but I don't think it made her stand out that much. I think though she gave a solid performance and sang big, she might not have been memorable enough to keep her safe. IN DANGER

11. AARON KELLY – sung “Angie” - Perfect song choice. Seriously, when I heard they were doing The Rolling Stones this week, I thought for sure Aaron would have a huge problem. I could not have been more wrong, because not only, like I said, did Aaron choose the perfect song to sing, he performed it brilliantly. Randy was right when he said there was such a tenderness to Aaron's voice, that you felt his connection to the song. This kid is getting good, and now that they've begun the "makeovers", watch the pre-teen girls start their love fest with Aaron. Probably one of the best performances of the night behind Siobhan, and most definitely around next week. SAFE

12. CRYSTAL BOWERSOX – sung “You Can't Always Get What You Want” - I love me my Crystal! (yikes...again, taken out of context....bad). I have to say, much as I love her, however, this was not my favorite performance by her. It was still good, though, because of what Ellen described as Crystal's ease on stage. When Crystal sings, it seems effortless and natural. But I did understand what Simon was saying as she needs to realize that she can't be safe. Having an "off week" can get you kicked off the show, so Crystal needs to make sure she out performs everyone in the weeks to come. Oh yea, she's not going anywhere. SAFE


My Bottom Three Picks: I think I may be wrong about Paige (they might go with Andrew instead), but my choices this week are: Lacey Brown, Tim Urban and Paige Miles.

My Pick to be Eliminated Tonight: Of the three, that reggae version of a Rolling Stones song (my God, that's even a sin to say) is gonna send poor old Tim Urban packing. Unless of course, somehow, the comeback kid...comes back.

So what did you guys think? Is Keith Richards rolling over in his grave? What's that you say? He's not dead? No, no he is dead, he just hasn't realized it yet. That, or all the drugs he has taken in the last 50 years has turned his blood to formaldehyde. But I digress.

So what do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Let’s chat it up!

Until next week my readers, I bid you farewell for now!!

American Idol - Week Three - 3/10/10

And lo, the boys have performed!
If I actually had to compare the two nights however, I would say the girls etched out the boys over better performances. I was really pleasantly surprised by the sudden reemergence of Tim Urban, who came back strong with a honest performance. I could also finally see the appeal of Alex Lambert's voice, but I think his nerves are just going to be his downfall. I'm still not a fan of Michael Lynche, but I have give the big guy props for an outstanding performance of one of my favorite songs.

You have got to love Ellen for what she did for poor Tim Urban. In the history of Idol, with the exception of the audition rounds, I have never seen a judge got out of his/her seat to give a contestant a congratulatory hug. And this is why Ellen is a great addition; her compassion is genuine. I know that for a fact because I've seen it on her talk show.

Tonight we choose the Top 12! What boys will be with us? Let's see how they did first:

1. LEE DEWYZE – sung “Fireflies” - Despite what the judges said, I don't think this was a good song fit for Lee. I think even one of the judges pointed out that Lee has a harder edge to his voice, and the song was too "weak" to support it. To me, it sounded a little over sung, since Lee has a natural grit to his voice. It's not Lee's best performance, but I don't think he's in danger by any stretch of the imagination. SAFE

2. ALEX LAMBERT – sung “Trouble” - Ah Alex. Really, this guy gets the sympathy vote for sure. Either that, or he needs to fight Tim Urban for the same votes. I like the song trouble, and I can finally see why the judges like Alex's voice. The beginning, I thought was very weak, but when he hit some of the higher notes in the middle, I can really see the gentle tone and twang his voice has. But damn, the nerves are still showing! He's was waaay too stiff on stage, and did not seem relaxed at all. (like Crystal, Michael or Lilly). It's distracting, because at some points, he looks like a deer caught in the headlights. I think his performance was solid, but compared to the rest of the performances tonight, it may be Alex's last week. IN DANGER

3. TIM URBAN – sung “Hallelujah” - Talk about the comeback kid. Just like Didi from last night, Tim came back strong after 2 solid weeks of really weak performances. Remember, again just like Didi, I called Tim out to be eliminated twice already. But finally, he gives me a performance that actually gave me pause. It wasn't the best version of this song, (personally, I loved Justin Timberlake & Matt Morris' version of it on the Hope for Haiti soundtrack), but it was honest, vulnerable, and he finally connected to the song! You saw the emotion in the way he was singing, and you can tell he really put feeling into every word. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but for the first time (and he picked the right time to come back), Tim may not be in danger, and has a very good shot of getting into the Top 12. SAFE

4. ANDREW GARCIA – sung “Genie In A Bottle” - Simon put it the best way, which mirrors my own feeling about Andrew's performance last night: it felt a little desperate. After 2 weeks of judges telling him, "your 'Straight Up' rendition was your best performance" and Andrew trying to find another similar performance, this came off a little too desperate. It's as if he was trying to find a famous song by a famous female artist and redo it, not even thinking about the song itself, and whether or not he could connect to it. Really, how could he possibly connect to "Genie In A Bottle"? I hate to say it, but Andrew has failed to impress me almost three weeks in a row. Though he claims to have fans, I hope that he has enough to get him to the Top 12 next week. Personally, I call that he might be in trouble. IN DANGER

5. CASEY JAMES – sung “You’ll Think of Me” - Again, Simon put it best when he said that though this performance was good, it wasn't memorable. I don't think this was the best song choice for Casey, so I think Randy got it right. I would have picked a more "hard rocking" country song for Casey. But again, I'm not a music producer, so what do I know? Still, mediocre performance or not, Casey is wonderful eye candy, so there's no doubt he's in the Top 12. SAFE

6. AARON KELLY – sung “I’m Already There” - Personally, I love Aaron. He's adorable and a more than decent singer. I just think this song was a bit too big for him at his age. The beginning was very weak, and a bit off-key. But I gotta tell you, once Aaron hit those high keys, it was apparent to me this kid has a very strong voice. Like Randy says he needs to work out a few pitch issues and such, but for the most part, with enough practice and training, this kid could have a great singing career. Will he win the competition? I don't think so, but at the very least, I think he will get into the Top 12. SAFE

7. TODRICK HALL – sung “Somebody To Love” - Simon's description of Todrick's performance was ideal: Broadway. I can see Todrick doing really really well on Broadway. While I can appreciate what a great performance of this Queen classic was, I didn't see "pop star" from it. When Simon said "Broadway", it clicked in my head. I think Todrick could have an outstanding career on Broadway between his dancing and singing. He gave the song a gospel feel, and it definitely worked. Though I felt Todrick did a great job, and Simon said that he just "saved himself" with that performance, I don't think it was enough. I don't think Todrick has built enough of a fan following to make it to next week. I could be wrong, but I don't think we'll be seeing Todrick next week. IN DANGER

8. MICHAEL LYNCHE – sung “This Woman’s Work” - I will give Michael this; this is the closest yet he has come to making me a fan. Seriously, this was an emotion-filled performance that brought Kara to tears. The song is powerful in itself, but Michael added such range and gravitas, that it made a positive impact on his over all performance. I LOVE the original song, and if you've ever seen the dance piece on So You Think You Can Dance, dedicated to breast cancer, you can see how much the words to this song can bring anyone to tears. Michael does not do a good job he does a tremendous job of conveying the raw emotion this song emotes. Slowly but surely, Michael is gaining a fan with me, and if he keeps up with these kind of "wow" moments, I will be a fan before season's end. Not only is Mike safe, he's a lock for the Top 12. SAFE

My Bottom Three Picks: It was really hard to pick a bottom three this week, but I think I'm on the money with my picks: Alex Lambert, Andrew Garcia and Todrick Hall.

My Pick to be Eliminated Tonight: I think Alex Lambert will go, and I will surprisingly say that it's time for Andrew Garcia to go.

We choose the Top 12 tonight! Who are you guys rooting for to get in? Do you agree the girls were better than the guys this week? Next week, we go back to a once a week review, as the Top 12 boys & girls sing together for the first time. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Let’s chat it up!

Until next week my readers, I bid you farewell for now!!

American Idol - Week Three - 3/09/10

Welcome back reader!
Another week of Idol goodness, and we come down to the last week of double eliminations. I can see a finalist on the distant horizon, and unless something goes seriously downhill in the next few weeks, Crystal is going to emerge ahead of the pack.

The judges stressed that last night is a very important night, because this week, the official "Top 12" will be selected. Song choice was essential, and for at least 2 girls this week, (one in particular), they could not have chosen the worst songs to perform. I can see some of the these girls lasting for a bit, but honestly there are at least 3 who seem to pull to the forefront of the rest.

Also, now that we are 3 weeks in, how are we enjoying (or not enjoying) the new judging dynamic? I actually think Ellen is a great and different addition to the panel. Like she pointed out last night at one point, "as a listener, and a person who loves music, I enjoyed that". And that's really what she is, she's a listener. She, in a sense, is representing us in a way, because we are the people who eventually buy (or not buy) the music.

I will start the official weekly poll next week once the Top 12 begin performing! Make your vote count!!
Okay, enough blabbing Nick, you know what your readers want. Stop teasing them.

To begin, we start with the contestant that, though she took the judge's advice from last week, chose a song that was a bit too big for her at her age and voice development. We begin with:

1. KATIE STEVENS sung “Breakaway” - I'd have to agree with most of the judges on this one. Katie took the judge's advice and chose a nice, young contemporary song, but the problem was that the song was waaay too big for her. I don't think Katie has the type of voice that can handle a Kelly Clarkson song at this point, at least this one. I thought it was very karaoke, so Randy hit that description right on the nose. I tend to agree with Simon's comments, indicating that Katie doesn't really know the type of artist she wants to be, which seems to be a problem for not just Katie, but for more than a few of all the contestants. I feel bad for Katie, because just as the judges gave her props for listening to their advice, they also said they didn't like the song choice. But I understand the judges' point though; they are trying to say, choose a young song, yes, but choose one that you can handle. Things don't look good for Katie right now. IN DANGER

2. SIOBHAN MAGNUS – sung “House of the Rising Sun” - Probably one of the few times a season that I completely disagree with Simon's comments. He called this performance a bit weird, and that Siobhan didn't do anything different with the song. Wow, really Simon? Were we listening to the same performance? Needless to say, I agreed with the rest of the judging panel on this one. Siobhan's acapella slow beginning was spectacular, and I thought it was a bit of a "wow" moment. I'm not sure Siobhan can win it all, but at this point I can see her making it pretty far in the competition. I'm pretty sure she's Top 12 bound. SAFE

3. LACEY BROWN – sung “The Story” - I have to admit, I didn't hate it. It was Lacey's best performance to date, as the judges pointed out. It was honest, and she came off vulnerable and sweet. It was just her and the vocals, and that was fine with me. I finally heard Lacey's distinctive voice, and it had a really nice tone. Granted, I agree, the song was a bit slow and dragged a bit, but she did sing it brilliantly. This performance came at just the right time, because Lacey needed to show audiences why she was chosen for the Top 24. I think this performance was good enough to get her to the Top 12, but Lacey needs to keep up this momentum if she hopes to stay in the competition. SAFE

4. KATELYN EPPERLY – sung “I Feel The Earth Move” - Song choice is key. Can someone please explain this to Katelyn, because of the three performances I've seen from her in the last 3 weeks, at least 2 of those were very poor song choices. Why she chose to do this one on this week of all weeks is beyond me. My God, I think Simon verbalized what I was thinking when he described Katelyn's performance as "request night at a restaurant". I actually could picture it once he said it! Ellen was right when she said the song choice was not something you could "wow" the audience with. To me, it was a forgettable performance, and that might spell doom for poor Katelyn. IN DANGER

5. DIDI BENAMI – sung “Rhiannon” - What a comeback from last week! Poor Didi was torn to shreds last week, and I even called her as one of the contestants to go home last week. But I really need to give this girl some love and some props; she shook off the shredding, and came back with the strongest performances I've seen from her since she did a rendition of Kara's song during auditions. I was really impressed, and for me, actually bordered on a "wow" moment. It came just a little short, and I can't put my finger on why. Regardless though, kudos to Didi, who made me a bit of a fan by her sheer gusto of coming back stronger and a great performance. I love the original song, and she changed it up just enough to make me remember it. Welcome back Didi, because of this performance, (and two other girls with bad performances) you managed to crack the Top 12. SAFE

6. PAIGE MILES – sung “Smile” - Oh my God, this I think, was almost one of the worst song choices in Idol history, and only because of the slow, moody and depressing arrangement. Seriously, the song is called "Smile"; it's a famous song, and the words are supposed to be uplifting, yet you made it sad and depressing?! Really? It just didn't work at all. It was a mess, and the pitch problems were all over the place. I just don't understand, I had some decent hopes for Paige, because like the judges said time and time again, Paige has one of the strongest voices in the competition. However, this song I think was her death song, because it truly was the worst of the night. I would be really surprised if Paige is in the Top 12 next week. IN DANGER

7. CRYSTAL BOWERSOX – sung “Give Me One Reason” - That's it, I'm calling it now. That's right, only 3 weeks into the live shows, I'm predicting Crystal in the final. Seriously, are you kidding me with that performance? Is she even in the same hemisphere as the other contestants? This performance blew all other performances of the night away, and the only other one that would come close (but not really) is Lilly Scott's performance. She sings this song without an ounce of nervousness, and she looks so comfortable on that stage with that guitar, you truly forget that this girl is actually in a competition. There's really nothing more to say, because not only did Crystal have the best performance of the night, but just like Simon said, she all but cemented her place in the Top 12 next week. SAFE

8. LILLY SCOTT – sung “I Fall to Pieces” - Lilly is growing on me a lot, and though this was a great performance, it really stunk that Lilly had to follow Crystal after her knock out performance. Don't get me wrong, this was also one of the better performances of the night, but it just didn't "wow" me as much as Crystal's. Still, Lilly is so different and unique, and still holds her individuality in her performances. This alone makes her stand out, but add to that a great singing voice and good performance, you can definitely see Lilly in the Top 12 next week. SAFE

My Bottom Three Picks: Well, if we're going to compare all the performances this week, then it becomes relatively easy to choose who got trounced and left behind. My picks for those in danger tonight: Katie Stevens, Katelyn Epperly and Paige Miles.

My Pick to be Eliminated Tonight: I'm sorry to say, I will pick Paige Miles as a definite departure, followed by Katie Stevens.

And that brings the girl's performances this week to a close! What did you guys think? Anyone emerge as a favorite for you all last night? Do you think there are any "finalist" hopefuls yet, like I do? Agree? Disagree? Let’s chat it up!

The boys perform tonight, so until tomorrow, faithful readers, I bid you farewell!

American Idol - Week Two- 3/04/10

Welcome back Crystal!
And what a comeback it was!

The women performing last night on Idol were on even ground with the boys, with a couple of performances that stood out. (Siobhan, Crystal and Lilly, I'm looking in your direction) I have to admit, after last night's performances I am really digging Ellen as a new judge. Now granted, I was already a fan of hers to begin with (I DVR her talk show and watch every day!), but I like the new dynamic she brings to the judging panel. She knows how to talk to people, and it really helps when your song choice and performance reeked. (looking in your direction, Didi and Haeley) Ellen lets contestants know, "Hey I didn't like that performance, but here's a positive..." She's definitely a step up from Paula in being the polar opposite to Simon.

I say it time and time again, but I really don't understand some of the song choices these contestants make sometimes. I'm no singer by any stretch of the imagination (though in the shower, I have millions of fans - wait that didn't sound right...nevermind). But I would never make some of the song choices some of these girls made last night. Some just didn't fit at all, and some could have been great if they would have just done something different with them.

Okay, I know you guys think I chat too much, especially since I know you want me to get to the good stuff. Shall we begin? Of course, we begin the night with my #1 favorite so far, and that is...

1. CRYSTAL BOWERSOX – sung “Long as I Can See the Light” - Randy was right when he said this was one of those "moments", when you realize you're dealing with a true artist that is going to go far. Seriously, this was a standout performance, and it almost seems laughable that there would be anything wrong with it. This, and Crystal was coming back from being extremely ill just 24 hours prior! Her tone was perfect, she hit every note with skill, and to quote Ellen, I too forgot I was watching someone competing. It seemed like just a performance to me, and I was being entertained. I know it's only the second week, but I'm making my prediction already: look for Crystal in at least the final Three. SAFE

2. HAELEY VAUGHN – sung “The Climb” - What happened to this girl? I had such high hopes for her, but so far, she has been completely disappointing. On paper, Simon was right: Haeley doing a Miley Cyrus song makes sense, because they are around the same age. But this was, to quote Simon, "a complete and utter mess". Her notes were all over the place, the pitch was so off I think my flat screen cracked. I would say she lost control of the song, but I don't even think she had control to begin with. I'm very disappointed in Haeley, and though I did like her during auditions, I have to agree with Kara when she said this girl needs at least another year of experience before she can tackle the types of songs she wants to sing. It's inevitable, but after this second bad performance in 2 weeks, poor Haeley best have her bags ready to go. IN DANGER

3. LACEY BROWN – sung “Kiss Me” - Better than last week, but again, I agree with some of the judges that it really wasn't memorable. (what is with that this season? I hardly ever agreed with the judges before? Hmm...) Randy mentioned that it sounded karaoke, and he was right. As soon as he described Lacey's performance with that description, I instantly agreed. It wasn't a horrible performance, but it just wasn't something I would be talking about the next day. Still, I think Lacey is likable enough to stick around another week. That, and the fact that a couple of the other girls were worse. SAFE

4. KATIE STEVENS – sung “Put Your Records On” - I was not impressed by Katie this week. I really want to like her, because she is sweet and has a pretty decent set of pipes. But this song choice just didn't blow me away. I like that she seems comfortable on stage, but her song choices are not quite there yet. Kara said Katie is frustrating because she fluctuates too much as a singer. Simon is right, Katie needs to decide what type of singer she wants to be. It's the same problem that Aaron has on the boys side. If both of these kids decide a direction they would want to take their careers, than the rest of their performances should soar. Still, this was a decent performance, so I think we'll be seeing Katie next week again. SAFE

5. DIDI BENAMI – sung “Lean On Me” - Oh dear me, where do I start? I can't stand the fact that Didi did so bad, because honestly? She very likable! But this song was a mess from beginning to end for me. Simon was right in describing it as "screechy" at times. I know more than a few notes were off. I think Didi could have really done something different with this song, but it never happened. I don't know if Didi plays a guitar or piano, but I could have seen her on one of those instruments, belting out this song with that big voice of hers, pulling it back into a slower rendition. Just like Michelle Delamor, this song had potential to be really good, but fails to deliver. On top of that, Didi was thisclose to tears when the judges were finished ripping her apart. She was biting her lip to keep her from bursting out crying, and I really felt bad for her. Will that save her? I'm not sure, but she may need to pack her bags. IN DANGER

6. MICHELLE DELAMOR – sung “With Arms Wide Open” - This could have went very badly, and I actually applaud Michelle for taking this kind of chance. But did it work? I think partially, it did. The beginning was really good, and I liked the direction it was heading. Somewhere in the middle, it started to break down, and started sounding like a watered down version of this song. She sounded like a girl who wanted to sing this song during karaoke night at the local bar. I think if Michelle would have kept it acoustic, and sung the chorus slower, it would have been great. As it stands though, for some reason Simon loved it, and I have to disagree. I didn't particularly hate it, but it was not great. It had potential to be great, but never quite gets there. All in all, Michelle's performance was good enough to have her stick around another week. SAFE

7. LILLY SCOTT – sung “A Change Is Gonna Come” - Lilly is really growing on me, and the fact that her and Crystal are similar in style and artistry, I can see why. I agree with Simon that Crystal's performance was stronger, but I really liked Lilly's performance as well. This song has been done dozens of times on Idol, but Lilly brought a great new acoustic version to the table. Her vocals were spot on, and I loved the tone she brought to the song. You felt the passion of every word, and that's what I think I like about Lilly the most; she really understands the words she sings. I get the feel she's an old soul at heart, especially with her song choices so far, but she's bringing a new air to them. They sound like new songs thanks to her renditions of them, so I can see this girl going as far as Crystal in the weeks to come. Bravo Lilly! SAFE

8. KATELYN EPPERLY – sung “The Scientist” - Zzzzzzzz. Oh my God, was this boring. I have to say, I like the original, and that's already slow. Katelyn somehow slowed it down even more. Boring performance aside, I really didn't hate it. She hit a few notes which sounded incredible, so it sort of saved the performance for me a little. But damn, she failed to impress the judges and me. I don't know how likely voters would be to pick up the phone for her after being bored, but Katelyn has a couple of things going for her; she's very pretty, and there were two other performances worse than hers last night. Though she has a slight chance of going home, I think we'll wind up seeing her next week. Side note: If you've never heard this song before, don't judge it on Katelyn's performance; Coldplay's original version is miles better. IN DANGER

9. PAIGE MILES – sung “Walk Away” - Paige really does have a great voice. I think I may have to agree with the judges when they constantly bring up that Paige might have the strongest voice in the competition. Saying that though, I think she made a great song choice, but for me, her performance was too copycat. Aside from a couple of change ups, she didn't do much with this Kelly Clarkson hit to make it her own. I found her voice to be just as strong as Kelly's to handle the tone and beat of the song, but Kara was 100% right; the "anger" was missing. When Clarkson sings it, you could hear the bitterness and disdain in her voice as she tells the guy "just walk away". Paige didn't have that tone in the way she sung the lyrics, but I think that is a minor flaw at this stage in the game. Paige might be surprising me in the next few weeks. SAFE

10. SIOBHAN MAGNUS – sung “Think” - Where did this girl come from? And where did that voice come from? Seriously, you have to have some serious stones to take on Aretha the second week of live performances. But, you know what? To quote Randy, she "rocked it out"! The beginning started off a bit shaky for me, but by midway through the song, Siobhan found her footing...and that note at the end? What? Siobhan could be a dark horse that could potentially make it to at least the final five, but she needs to keep up the momentum. This wasn't a stand out performance like Crystal and Lilly's, but it was strong enough to make it memorable. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Siobhan next week. SAFE

My Bottom Three Picks: Easy to pick this week, because they stood out as pretty bad. (except for one, who wasn't as bad as the other two.) But my picks for those in danger tonight: Haeley Vaughn, Didi Benami and Katelyn Epperly.

My Pick to be Eliminated Tonight: I think it's time for Haeley Vaughn and Didi Benami to pack up and go.

And with that, we're down to the Top 16 for next week. Can we see some potentials for the Top Ten? Who do you guys definitely see there? What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Let’s chat it up!

Until next week, faithful readers!

American Idol - Week Two- 3/2/10

Quite a shake up this week, wasn't it?
Did it throw you off?

Honestly, it shouldn't matter, mostly because all of the contestants usually have their performances all ready to go by Monday. But some of the guys last night needed an extra day however. I was worried that one of my favorite girl contestants. Crystal Bowersox, had a medical emergency and might be out. But it was a diabetes emergency, which required her not to perform last night. Much as I love her, her health should come first. Bravo Idol producers!

As for the night, I agree with most of the judges this week; though some of the boy contestants were vastly improved over last week, some took a step back. I was shocked that Tim Urban was safe last week, and though he was a tad better this week, I don't like his chances of sticking around. Plus, is it just me, or does he look like he's about to cry almost every time he's on camera?

The judges and I can't say this enough: song choice is essential to getting people to pick up the phone! What goes through some of these contestant's minds when they come to choosing a song? I mean, I really like Casey James, but you see a song that was done to death already...and you pick it anyway?! Ugh, so disappointing.

Anyway, as usual, I've chatted enough. I know what you people want...what you really really want...

The performances begin with:

1. MICHAEL LYNCHE – sung “It's a Man's Man's Man's World” - I'm still not a fan of Michael's. Now granted, it was a great song choice, and not only did he sing it well, he performed a great version of this classic James Brown tune. I'm just not "gaga" yet, and I think I need one of those standout performances from him to make me a fan. You know the kind of performance I'm talking about; the kind where the next time you can say to your friend, "hey did you hear that version of that song that Michael Lynche performed last night on Idol? It was awesome!". I'm waiting for it Michael, and I'm sure I'll see it eventually because you're definitely safe this week. SAFE

2. JOHN PARK – sung “Gravity” - How John and Tim escaped last week, I'll never know. What drove him to choose this song? It's not a bad song choice as last week, but damn, get off the ballads John! I'm still not getting any emotion from this guy when he sings, and I couldn't agree with Kara more: there is a complete disconnect when he sings. I don't believe he even knows what he's singing, because I find it bland and boring. There's no spirit behind it. John seems to be a very nice guy, but I do not see this guy lasting past this week. He has a weak personality to boot, and though he could have developed that, his bland singing is what's gonna put him in danger tonight. IN DANGER

3. CASEY JAMES – sung “I Don’t Wanna Be” - I agreed with Kara and Simon on this one 100%; I think Casey took two steps backwards with this performance. Let's start with song choice: in your pre-performance interview with Ryan, you admitted that you looked up this song, and saw it was performed a number of times, with a variation of versions. So instead of saying, "hey, maybe I should pick another song at this stage, so I don't wind up being compared to past performances", you pick the song anyway. Casey's performance was mediocre at best, and I agree with Simon's assessment of his performance best: it was like an Anytown, USA bar performance. It's a singing competition, but I think for this performance, Casey's guitar playing took center stage instead of his voice. Regardless though, he's going to be around next week. SAFE

4. ALEX LAMBERT – sung “Everybody Knows” - I'm really feeling sorry for this poor guy. His nerves are killing him, and though I agree with the judges that this week's performance was 1,000 times better than last week's, his anxiety is still apparent. I thought his performance was heartfelt, and like the judges pointed out, his confidence has definitely improved. He seemed comfortable this week, and I think it had a lot to do with his guitar. Though I thought he might have been in trouble normally, I think the fact that people are rooting for this kid to get past his nerves is what will get him by. I think he's gonna be around at least another week. SAFE

5. TODRICK HALL – sung “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” - Kara put it best with Todrick's performance; just sing! Stop making special arrangements of every song you choose! You don't need to change a song to show you got talent, you just need to sing, and I think that's what Todrick is not getting. As you readers know, I've always said this: sometimes a song is best as is, you don't need to change it, you just need to sing the heck out of it. This Tina Turner classic did not need anything more than for Todrick to sing it masterfully. He didn't, and the arrangement just completely distracted me from enjoying the performance. I'm disappointed, because Todrick is the type of performer that has the potential to do well on this show. He is one of the few I've seen from any season who can combine singing and dancing (real dancing, and not those horribly choreographed messes they call "group performances"). He falls somewhere in the middle, and though I think he could be in danger, I'm gonna say there were worse performances than his last night. SAFE

6. JERMAINE SELLERS – sung “What’s Goin’ On?” - A onesy. Really? A onesy? You should be eliminated just on the fact that you said you're proud of this. I'm sorry if some of you are fans, but personally, I'm officially declaring my dislike of this guy, both as a performer and as a person. He obviously didn't take the judge's advice from last week, when he was told to stop trying to show the judges every singing trick you know in the song. This performance of one of my favorite Marvin Gaye songs came off as completely fake. There was no passion or believability to Jermaine's performance. One of the judges asked if he even really understood the words he was singing. I don't think he did. Plus, his attitude sort of stinks. Really, Jermaine? You ask the judges what song you should sing? REALLY? Out of the history that I've been watching Idol, not once have I ever seen a contestant ask the judges what he/she should sing. Simon is right, if you have to ask the judges what artist/song you should sing at this point, then it's really not going well for you. He keeps saying that he knows he's gonna be here next week, because of God. Really? You're pulling the religion card on this show? Does anyone remember Mandisa, and how it went when she brought religion into the voting equation? Yea, glad to say I think Jermaine should be worried. IN DANGER

7. ANDREW GARCIA – sung “You Give Me Something” - Song choice. song choice, song choice!! God, Andrew is frustrating me. I like him, I really do, but his song song choices last week and this week and just so wrong. I'm annoyed, because I know this guy has the potential to be really good. This performance I think was one of his worst, because not only was it pitchy, (oh BOY, was it pitchy!) it was just awkward. I think Andrew has the popularity to keep him around next week, but if he doesn't start listening to the judges about song choice, he's going to lose that popularity very quickly. SAFE

8. AARON KELLY – sung “My Girl” - How adorable is Aaron? But despite the love I got for his kid, his song choice this week was horrid. It was not a very good choice for 16 yr old, and Simon was 100% right when he said Aaron needs to decide what type of artist he wants to be. Now granted, I don't think asking the kid if he listens to Justin Bieber is relevant, but it is a good example of what he needs to do. Aaron could be one of the first young teen pop country artists to come out of Idol, and he needs to take advantage of that. He sung this classic tune well, and I thought he had great voice control and pitch. I think his "adorability" will get him through to next week easily. SAFE

9. TIM URBAN – sung “Come On, Get Higher” - Ellen and I are on the same page with poor Tim. Though this performance was much much better than last week's, but I have to agree with Randy and Ellen; this performance was very karaoke, and was not as good as most of the other performances. But I agreed with Ellen with her suggestion that if someone as good looking as Tim got cast into a show like Glee, than he would be a star. I agree, based on his vocals alone, I don't think Tim has much chance of becoming a popular recording artist. However, combine his singing with acting, and I think he can get pretty far. Who knows? If Tim is eliminated this week, (as I'm predicting he might be), then maybe Glee producers would take Ellen's advice and give this kid an audition at the very least. IN DANGER

10. LEE DEWYZE – sung “Lips of an Angel” - Lee is the type of performer that's going to grow on me week after week. I mean it, it was the same way with David Cook for me. At this stage of the competition, I wasn't really a fan of Cook's. I didn't really jump on the Cook fan club until his later performances. So I can see Lee doing that in the coming weeks, because he seems to find his footing very quickly. It wasn't a great performance, but it was better than last week's, despite some pitch problems. Kara is right, I can "hear" Lee's voice on the radio now, and it's very telling of the type of performer he will be. Though not the best performer (yet), by far, this was the best performance of the night. Let's see what he does to win me over (again) next week. SAFE

My Bottom Three Picks: It's an easy choice this week, based on the performances. I call into the danger zone; John Park, Jermaine Sellers and Tim Urban.

My Picks to be Eliminated Thursday: Say bye-bye to John Park and Tim Urban.

Tonight, the girls take the stage. I hope my girl, Crystal is recovered enough to give a stand out performance. I'm rooting for you!! So what do you guys think this week? Agree? Disagree? Let’s chat it up!

Until tomorrow, faithful readers!