Season 7 Finale!

The winner got 56% of an all-time record-smashing vote. I'm kinda glad it wasn't super close. This is gonna be good!

Man, the David duet is killer good! It would be so cool if they did an album together!

Jason Castro did a fine job with 'Hallelujah'.

Donna Summers was fun. Syesha held her own in their mini-duet.

I'm glad to see they've gotten Michael Johns to do something with his hair. Much better.

Jimmy Kimmel's mini-roast of the cast is wonderful, as always.

Graham Nash with Brooke White was delicious.

Whoops...got distracted there by a phone call and dinner. Mmmm...prime new york strip steak. The phone call was from my neighbor, asking me to turn it down a bit... LOL.

Gladys Knight and her crew were the pips...lol.

Carrie Underwood was great!

David Archuleta's imitation of Tom Cruise in the Guitar Hero ad was impressive!

George Michael's performance was great, and so was the song, which I'd never heard before. It was the perfect performance to put just prior to announcing the winner.

Simon apologizes for being so hard on Cooke last night, and clarifies that, on reviewing last night's show at home, it wasn't as clear cut as he called it last night.

It seems that America agrees. David Cooke is the man. He's overwhelmed. I'm quite happy with that result.

David Cooke sings the songwriting contest winner, which is quite good, actually. I love how he hugs Archuleta and draws him into the song and into the audience with him.

Wow. What a great season.

See you next year...

D-Day on American Idol - Ruben Studdard Performs!

The final chapter of The Tale of Two Davids will be written tonight. Who will win the hearts and minds of the ultimate judges of this heated contest? Who will thrill us with their best effort to date? Who will Randy, Paula, and Simon endorse? Who will be the next...American Idol!?!

Will it be the highly-polished, adorable youngster with the excellent voice and consistently powerful, if slightly predictable, performances?

Or will it be the less-polished but highly-talented young man who continues to blow our minds with original and stunning performances? Will his greater life experience outweigh Archuleta's disciplined but narrower focus on developing his talent?

I considered speculating on which David would become a Goliath, in the sense of becoming the giant in the competition, but then realized that Goliath lost the competition with David, so that won't work (just forget I brought it up).

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Ah. The Davids are presented as boxers in the ultimate competition.

From the applause, it sounds like Archuleta has the majority in the audience response elicited by Ryan.

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Clive Davis' picks:

Cooke: 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' - Great song, and Cooke runs with it, extending notes in all the right place, making it his own. He also gets into the audience, making them his own, as well. The last note was a daring glissando which worked well. Randy liked "D.C." Paula said she'd found what she was looking for. Simon called it phenomenal.

Archuleta: 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' - A tough song with big shoes to fill. He starts sitting, so you know he's gonna try and bring it. He's very good, but I don't personally think he quite manages to fill those shoes. Randy calls it flawless. Paula got chills. Simon says it's the best he's done so far, and gives him round one. I could be off, I suppose.


Songwriting Competition - Contestant's Choice:

Cooke: - 'Dream Big' - An upbeat anthem which Cooke sings and performs like he wrote it. He nails an extended end note. Randy likes the performance over the song. Paula appreciated it. Simon calls it "lightweight." I agree with Randy, and I don't think it hurt him any.

Archuleta: - A ballad whose name I didn't catch- 'No One Can Take It From Me'? - No surprise that he chooses a ballad - a safe choice, or a wise one, at this point? The song is better than Cooke's choice, for me, and David handles it very nicely. Randy reiterates that he could sing the phone book. Paula loved it. Simon agrees it was the better song, though with egotistical lyrics, and gives Archuleta round two, as well. I'm a little surprised at that move, and Archuleta has a look of utter disbelief that he actually voiced such a potentially influential compliment. Given what Simon said on Ellen Degeneres, it makes me wonder, as well. Is he throwing the overall fight, or just giving his opinion of tonight's competition?


Personal Picks:

Cooke: 'It's A World I Know'? - The guitar work is excellent. He holds back his power and focuses on tenderness, getting tearful at the end. Randy and Paula loved it. Simon notes it was the wrong song at this point in the competition, however beautiful the performance.

Archuleta: 'Imagine' - A repeat of his most memorable performance. This typifies his approach of taking fewer risks and focusing on his most polished skills. Naturally, he is brilliant. Randy names him the winner. Paula calls it stunning. Again, the audience seems weighted for him. Simon gives him a win with a knockout.

On the recaps, I noticed a glaringly flat note I missed first time around on Cooke's first song. I noticed a lesser glitch in Archuleta's last song.


Winner?: From the judges' feedback and the audience's cheering, it seems clear they both favor Archuleta, and I can't fault their logic or enthusiasm, but for me, these are two performers who are equal but different in their strengths. If I had to vote, I might favor Archuleta for his consummate discipline and consistent skills. Cooke could use some of that. On the other hand, Cooke has demonstrated a continual ability to astonish me with the depth and breadth of his talent, awareness, and heart. I won't be surprised or upset if either one wins, but all the signs point to Archuleta.

See you at the finale!

Just for John

2:56 is about where you see Simon's look of "What the . . . ?"

Finale Announced

This is going to be the best finale since Clay and Ruben! Humdinger indeed. I'm so excited. It's about time we have a really competitive finale!!

And did you catch the shot of Simon's face during Fantasia's performance? HILARIOUS!

Top 3 Minus 1 - Fantasia Performs!

Grrr... I spent most of the show watching with peripheral vision while I researched problems with a forum and options for its future.

Fantasia was hard to miss, though. Wow!

It was telling to see David A., Syesha, and David C. all overcome with tears at the overwhelming support they received on their homecoming trips.

Okay, here it is...

David A. and David C. are the finalists, as seemed fairly obvious.

I still applaud Syesha for having matured enough to take third place, and I think she'll do very well. I think she grew up tremendously in the last 4 weeks.

See you next week...

The Three Stooges--Guess Who I'm Talking About

I've been quite excited to see how the three finalists would do with three selections and I thought the show was as good as any final 3 they've had in the past.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: No Clive Davis selection? Hallelujah. He has a knack for picking songs that aren't great showcases for the contestants even if they are good studio songs. I was pleasantly surprised that all three judges made great choices for the contestants. I was not as happy with the producers. It's fairly obvious who each of the judges are pulling for after watching last night's show. Has Randy gotten dumber this season. I feel like his whole approach has gotten so much worse. He used to be a bit more honest with his criticism, but now he almost seems random in whether he offers positive feedback or negative, regardless of the quality of the performance. Did Ryan actually insinuate that Syesha's Dad is gay? Sometimes the filler is just plain awful.

David Archuleta: I thought Paula's choice was a great one for him and he did a predictably fantastic job on it. His own choice for himself was stupid. At this point there is no danger of him proving he is actually young at heart. He has an older, inspirational style. It's OK. It's work this far so why change now? The producers' choice was only a little better, although it does suit his voice perfectly. Overall, a B+ night for Little David.

Syesha Mercado: Randy make an appropriate choice for her, but he also set her up for comparison. "A few note changes" don't make this an original performance. Being unique requires more than this. With that said, she performed very well and it is the kind of song she can pull off. Simon's comments were more than fair on this one, though. Her second choice ("Fever") was as stupid as David A.'s. Number one, her timing was off on the initial phrases. Number two, where were the classic brass kicks that everyone loves about this song? It was weird without them. Number three, the prop was distracting, but it proved a very important point: Syesha is an actress first, singer second. That is not a bad thing. Broadway musicals are full of people like this. She is very well suited to musical theater, but not tops when looking for a recording artist. The producers must want her out because they sabotaged her with that choice. She sounded awkward on it even though she did the best she could with it. Bad luck for Syesha equals the end of the road.

David Cook: Simon's choice was fantastic for him. It forced David to be original and do something with a song he normally wouldn't touch. Simon was actually clapping partway through the performance, although I'm not sure if he was applauding David or himself. David's choice was a bit strange and I think Paula was right in her assessment regarding a beginning, middle, and end. The producers must want David Cook to win because their choice, while somewhat of a setup since so many contestants have tried this song, was perfect for him. I thought the arrangement and presentation were top notch, and even if he didn't sound perfect on it, the whole package was great. If he's not the front runner after tonight it's not because he doesn't deserve it.

RANKING ACCORDING TO ME:

David Cook
David Archuleta
Syesha Mercado

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: Syesha

Top 3 - Judges', Personal, and Producers' Choices

Judges picks:

David A. - 'And So It Goes' - Paula's choice. I like how he starts out a cappella. He does a very fine job of it, with an appropriate amount of vocal riffs. Randy loved it. Paula loved it. Simon calls it a bit predictable, and good but not outstanding.

Syesha - 'If I Ain't Got You' - Randy's choice. A good showcase for her voice, which she trills wonderfully at the end. Randy loved it. Paula loved it. Simon objects to the choice, but liked it well enough.

David C. - 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' - Simon thinks this song is about him. It is a tough song, but he owns it with his own twists and some wonderful extended notes. Big time chills! He really showcases the unique power of his voice. Outstanding!!! Randy jokes? about the song choice being predictable and non-rock. Paula loved it. Simon loved it, of course.


Personal picks:

David A. - 'With You' - A nice change of pace from the ballads, and he does it decently, but it wasn't great for me. Randy also didn't believe it. Paula liked it. Simon didn't buy it either, saying it wasn't him.

Syesha - 'Fever' - An old, but timeless, Peggy Lee song. She's gonna work the drama with her chair prop. She wears it well, and I very much liked the ending. I liked it better than David A.'s choice, actually. The judges all didn't love it. Simon calls it "cabaret." There's some truth to that, in terms of missing an opportunity to sing something more contemporary and Idol-like.

David C. - 'Switchfoot' - Not A song I know, or particularly like, but he certainly does well by it. Randy likes the song choice. Paula didn't like that the minute and a half slot cut the song short. Simon gave it middle of the road with the other two personal choices.


Producer's picks:

David A. - 'Longer' - I love the song, and agree it's a good choice. He does very well with it. Some chills here. He really made it his own. The judges generally liked it, but Simon calls it "gooey," though says he did well enough to go to the finals.

Syesha - I missed the name - It's kind of a good song for her style, but not so much for an Idol competition, though it wasn't her choice, after all. I thought she did very well by it, but the judges have similar concerns about the song choice.

David C. - 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing' - A very good choice of song, which he makes his own. More chills. I think I'm looking at the big winner here. Paula's on her feet. Randy loved the song but called it predictable. Simon agrees that he wins the night.


Tops: David C., for me. David A. did extremely well, though, and his fans may put him at the top.

Props: David A. and Syesha both did very well.

Leaving: Syesha, for me. In the quick review, I notice her voice just isn't as perfectly on pitch as the Davids' are.

Top 4 Minus 1 - Maroon 5 and Bo Bice Perform!

David A. is first on the spot, and is safe, of course.

David C. is next. No mystery here. He's safe.

Jason and Syesha take the stage.

Now let's see just how strong Jason's fanbase really is.

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The phone calls are entertaining, as usual. I love that the girl from Pittsburgh asked out David C.

And Simon as the next James Bond. LOL!

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Bo Bice is sounding good!

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Okay, Jason and Syesha. Somebody stole my joke about Jason shooting the tambourine man. Jason's fans are not enough, which restores my faith in the voting system somewhat. Syesha makes it to the top three, and I think she's earned it.

See you next week!

That's the Elvis song you picked?

Rock-and-Roll seemed like a huge category, but I see they are picking from the "influential" list.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: I'm glad the judges will be giving comments after both songs, not just the second. That was a nightmare. I'm always a little surprised to see who the judges are trying to get into the final few weeks. For someone who usually thinks with dollar signs, Simon makes some dubious choices at times. More on that later. I'm glad Ryan didn't actually shake his hips after Syesha's performance. That would have been too much from which to recover. No mentor--so, a 30-minute results show tonight? Was Carly trying to reverse the effects of criticism toward Jason by giving him the standing O (and I don't mean Oprah on her feet), or was she applauding Simon's decision to trash Jason, thereby ensuring his place in the Top 3?

David Cook: This should have been his night, and it was to an extent, but he did not blow me away either time. Part of the problem is that we're so accustomed to his consistently solid performances that it's tough to wow us week in and week out. I'd agree his first offering was a good rendition, but nothing original. I really like the whole feel of the second performance and don't see any way he doesn't make it to the finale. Stranger things have happened, but there really is no way he's pulling a Daughtry in Week 4.

Syesha Mercado: The selections were quite predictable, which is what we've come to expect, but she did a nice job on both. The whole way through "Proud Mary" I thought it was a bit manic, and you could see her trying to channel Tina Turner. It was a gutsy choice that worked. I won't even try to compete with what Boquinha's already said, but yeah, her interview bit the big one. Even if you feel yourself in that song, do not ever, ever try to draw comparison between a talent competition and the Civil Rights Movement. And yes, that's with a capital C.R.M. Among the worst aspects of the second song experience: 1. The aforementioned parallels between a fluffy, call-in talent show and the beginning of a multiple decades-long struggle for equality; 2. The fact that she did not offer a single comment after her performance that was not already mentioned in the interview (as if it was scripted); 3. Paula's standing ovation--it was a good performance but I've seen a lot that were better; 4. Simon's insistence on getting Syesha to the next round, not even thinking that she is a mediocre recording talent at best, whatever her fantastic potential may be in musical theater. Is that enough? It's all I've got for now. Oh, did I mention that I actually think she deserves to get to the next round on the performances alone? It pains me to say so, but I can call a spade a spade.

Jason Castro: What the hell happened to him? In the group numbers he seems like he feels out of place, so maybe he's done now. Maybe the last weeks were tough enough that he's done. I don't know. All I know is he lost his edge completely. Bob Marley is not A.I. material, especially not a song about shooting law enforcement officers. Doesn't work on this stage. If he hadn't forgotten the lyrics the second song would have been a top 3 performance tonight, but alas, he blew it. He'll do well outside of the competition since he is one of the two unique contestants left. I'm fairly certain he will outsell anything Syesha records.

David Archuleta: On vocal talent alone he is the best in the group, but his performances are boring already. I'm so shocked he picked the songs he did. And why the seagulls and crickets a la "Mormon Miracle" in Salt Lake City? He'll probably get to the finale, but I'm not seeing any growth in the competition and I'm a bit tired of the Melinda Doolittle-ish humble act. He may actually be that uncomfortable with the praise, but at some point if he is going to be a huge star, he's got to accept it and show a bit more enthusiasm. Justice puts him in the finale, but he stands a good chance of coming in second.

MY TOPS: David Cook.
A SAD FAREWELL TO: Jason Castro

Can't wait to see how Clive Davis and Paula Abdul sabotage the future of some contestant with their crappy song choices next week.

Are you freaking kidding me??

This isn't a review of what they sang. This is simply a review. Or rather a missive to each of them.

David Cook,

You are a solid rocker, a fantastic performer, and whatever you do, you'll do fine because you, sir, are phenomenal. And your hair looks better than when you started, so that's a big bonus. I think you're great.

*****

Jason Castro,

My dear boy, I've loved your voice from the start and even your look has grown on me as simultaneously beautiful and handsome (and that is saying a lot since at first you reminded me of a girl friend of mine from years ago). Your "Hallelujah" and your "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" have been show stoppers in their own poignant way. Sigh, Jason, sadly I think your time is up, but your album is still the first I'd buy. Your style, your lovable and charming quirkiness, your pure and tender voice. You are the heart of this competition and I love that. So, yes, pack your bags (those stupid judges could've grilled you a little less before your second song, eh?), but be ready to sell albums, because there are many of us who are so buying them.

*****

David Archuleta,

You are vocally wonderful and your tone is beautiful. However, if I'm being honest, I'm a bit bored and have been for some time. I seriously sometimes consider fast forwarding on our TiVo. And if I hadn't seen old YouTube videos of you as a Star Search child, I would've rooted harder for you, but alas, your story is not one of those endearing ones of a humble, sweet young diabetic kid who is deaf in one ear and doesn't even know he's good yet gets discovered by his boss when that boss overhears him singing while he stocks shelves at the local drug store. Yours is a story of a rather intense father who has primed you as a singer and groomed you for television cameras. It seems all so contrived. Too bad really. You otherwise seem totally adorable and lovable. I worry for you and what you've already been through--you have an almost-comatose look as if you're already on some sort of antidepressant drug. I hope you're not. So, that being said, The Powers That Be will have you in the finale because they know the teeny-boppers adore you. And hey, you can sing to boot. So, see you in two weeks. As for your seagull T-shirt, I'll let my husband comment on that one.

*****

Syesha Mercado,

Are you freaking kidding me?! You know, I don't really like you. I haven't liked you for a long time. And I'm astounded that you are the last girl standing. That honor should've gone quite deservedly to Carly. Or Danny Noriega (I miss him). And even though I find you pretentious, full of yourself, closed and defensive to criticism, and a big time diva, I've been able to say when you've done well, which you have the past couple of weeks. And even tonight, it pained me to admit that I thought your first performance was pretty darn good. I was actually starting to give you props.

But then. But then! I'm almost speechless. And again I ask, are you freaking kidding me?? Did you really just compare the pivotal and sad time in our country's history of the civil right's movement to your own experience of not getting eliminated on a reality TV talent show? Did I seriously hear that correctly? I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt that no you did not just do that. But then. But then! You did it again! You said it again!! And this time with tears! You, on live television, sobbed overcome not by the emotion of the great Sam Cook or his posthumous and moving protest song which most regard as his greatest composition. No, you cried because you almost got kicked off American Idol! You didn't cry because of the injustices of your own race and the changes that have come much too slowly (and still so very wrongly delayed) through the years. You cried because you think *you've* been changing. Heaven help us all.

Any iota of respect I've had flew out the window with tonight's interviews. When you were crying, I thought you'd been moved by the meaning of the song. But you were moved by your own pretty reflection in the mirror! And I am . . . speechless. I cannot believe that The Powers That Be have helped orchestrate the fiasco that is possibly you in the top 3. Do you deserve it vocally based on tonight? Sure, because Jason sucked big time and even flubbed the lyrics like a cherry on top. But if, by some miracle, you make it into the finale itself, or worse yet, actually win this thing, I'll know that you were inspired. By you. How the voters haven't LaToya Londoned your behind off the show, I do not know.

*****

Tops for me tonight--personal preference: David Cook
Bottom: Jason (love him, but I think he'd like to be done now)
A bit bored by: David Archuleta
Are you freaking kidding me??: Syesha

Top 4 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

David C. - 'Hungry Like A Wolf' - A Steppenwolf joint that suits his voice, but it lacks the fireworks one might expect at this stage. Decent, not great. Randy agrees. Paula's appetite is piqued. Simon calls it "good enough to get you through."

Syesha - 'Proud Mary' - A good song for her dramatic flair. Her performance is a little better than her singing, but that ain't bad, either. Randy and Paula love it. Simon thought it a bad impersonation of Tina Turner. There's some truth to that.

Jason - 'I Shot The Sheriff' - The song matches his dreads. He gives it quite a twist in his stylings, but I don't think they worked, rhythmically, as well as the original arrangement. Randy didn't "get it." Paula gives props for his performing to the audience well. Simon calls his arrangement "atrocious." This makes about four mediocre performances in a row, by my count, and his fan base may not be enough to save him, at this point.

David A. - 'Stand By Me' - A good song choice, if somewhat safe. He does well at putting his personal twist on it. Good, as always, and better than David C.'s first effort tonight. The judges like it unanimously. Simon thought he struggled toward the end, but still calls it "best of the night" so far, which it was.

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David C. - 'Baba O'Reilly' - A Who song which fits his range, and he does well by it, though it could have been much better if he had more time. Still, it is now the best song of the night. Randy loved it. Paula wants more. Simon welcomes him back.

Syesha - 'A Change Is Going To Come' - Her beautiful, buxom dress is only a mild distraction. She does very well with the song. Randy didn't love it. Paula makes her cry with recognition of her own changes over the weeks, which is exactly why she chose that song. Simon seconds Paula's opinion. Call it over dramatic if you will, but I think she was being totally genuine.

Jason - 'Tambourine Man' - Forgetting the lyrics puts the lid on his coffin. Aside from that, his performance was mediocre, at best. There's really nothing the judges can say, so Randy puts it to him to judge himself. Paula clarifies that she likes him for having gotten this far. Simon suggests he pack. The feeling I got from this kid is someone who has always been relying on his cuteness-loving fanbase, and has somehow thought that to be enough to get by without really working on things. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he'd been out partying and doing drugs for the last several weeks instead of rehearsing. True or not, that's the kind of vibe I get from him.

David A. - 'Love Me Tender' - An Elvis song that he makes his own as a ballad. I like this best of all tonight. The strength and innocence of his voice is just amazing. The judges loved it.


Top: David A.

Middle: David C. and Syesha - your choice for second place tonight.

Leaving: Jason, who shot both the sheriff and the tambourine man.

Top 5 Minus 1 - Neil Diamond Performs!

Well, I spent most of the show in the kitchen, making my first meal of the day because my heat pump was blowing 80 degree air most of the day, while it crept up close to 100 outside, and it was just too hot to eat. It's been doing this intermittently every morning after not running at night when it's cool enough to have the windows open, and it's been doing this for the past few years. I managed to find a guy to troubleshoot it, and he said I need a new compressor, which is costly but much less than a new unit. And after he left, it kicked in blowing cold air. When it gets hot enough that it cycles off and on frequently all night long, it would probably run fine for the whole summer, as it has for the past two years, but it's just no fun knowing it's eventually going to fail again and wake me up blowing warm air, so I guess it's time. Thank goodness for credit. Okay, enough personal venting...

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The phone call from the woman who was Simon's first kiss at the age of nine was very cool. What surprised me is that he had the nerve to ask her how she looked these days, clearly indicating a firm interest in seeing her and maybe hooking up with her in a serious way, right on public television in front of the whole world and his current girlfriend of many years.

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Okay, so bottom line is that Brooke goes home. She knew, and took it more emotionally than most, making her finale one of the more difficult to endure. Surely Syesha or Jason is next, and my take on the last few shows says it should be Jason, but next week might change that, or his clear fan base will continue to bail him out.

'nuf 4 now...

See you next week!

Am I a Believer?

I'm not a Neil Diamond fan, but I thought this could be a good week given how many songs he's recorded.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: I had no idea Neil Diamond wrote so many songs. It's a nice week to have two performances each. Why, oh why do they tinker like this. I didn't like how the judges didn't comment after each performance, and then they really blew it by having the judges give a quick recap in the middle of the show. Paula rambles so much when she's giving comments anyway that making her recall all 5 of the performances was just a setup. She's going to get a lot of flak for this one, but doesn't deserve harsh treatment. I felt rushed while I was watching. I'm not sure that's the effect the producers were going for.

Jason Castro: This was another mediocre night for him, although I did enjoy his first performance. It was a bit copycat, but I felt it was nicely done. He doesn't look comfortable without his guitar, though. He ends up sauntering along the stage looking a bit awkward.

David Cook: I thought he did really well tonight. His first song was good, not great, and his second was definitely a good one. Like Simon said, it sounded like it was recorded this year. He just keeps bringing it.

Brooke White: I hated the first song. I'm sure my children will love it since she sang a "Shrek song." Karaoke night with the ladies was an accurate description. Her second one was great, though. I think she does sound much better behind the piano. I'm not sure how long she can last, though. She also seems set on arguing with Simon in her saccharine kind of way. Too annoying at this point.

David Archuleta: I'm so shocked he picked arguably the two most well-known Neil Diamond songs. He did a nice job as always imitating the original. He adds a few embellishments, but the arrangements are predictable. With that said, he did quite well, demonstrating he is a great singer. I recognize his talent but have been quite bored with him for a while.

Syesha Mercado: The first one was bland and boring, but the second song was much better. Randy tried to hide the fact that he called her a broadway singer, but it's true. It was a good performance from a good actress. I don't think she can win the whole thing, but she could outlast the other female vocalist.

Tops for me: David Cook
Bottom couple: Brooke White, and based on last night, Jason Castro
Good-bye to: Brooke White

Top 5 - Neil Diamond Mentors!

"A very tight show to cram into an hour." Does that suggest two songs per contestant?

Yes! And no judging until the after the second song. Very good.

Jason - 'Forever in Blue Jeans' - Starts too weak in the lower register, but even the upper register has him sounding pretty weak. I don't think he does any kind of justice to the song, but boy, does he have fans!

David C. - 'I'm Alive' - Not a song I know, but he certainly makes it come alive. Very good.

Brooke - 'I'm A Believer' - Good song choice. She comes off as a bit overpowered by the song, but gives it a good effort and kicks it up at the end.

David A. - 'Sweet Caroline' - A pitchy start, but he finds his groove and does a fine job and adds some personal touches.

Syesha - 'Hello Again' - One of my favorite songs. At first I didn't think she really had the song, but she did very well by it, and gave me chills. I can't argue with that.

The rushed judging afterwards has the interesting side effect of projecting Paula back to the future...LOL. The shorter versions from the judges were actually a welcome change, and, as usual, Randy comes closest to my thoughts.

Jason - 'September Morn' - A perfect song for his voice and skillz. Beautifully done. I don't think it has quite the fireworks that Simon's looking for, though. Somehow he's lacking energy tonight. He almost seems like he's on drugs. That's how disconnected he seems to me.

David C. - 'All I Really Need Is You' - I don't know the song, but he truly owns it. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was listening to his finished recording of his own song. Excellent. Simon calls it "brilliant." I'm beginning to think more like Paula, who says she feels like she's looking at the next American Idol. David A. is quite good, but just doesn't have the depth, breadth and originality of this guy. David A. is solid and reliable, but just too predictable at this point. David C. is full of pleasant surprises every week. I've officially changed my loyalty.

Brooke - 'I Am, I Said' - A very big song, and writing the lyrics on her hand doesn't bode well, but I like it once the band joins in with her piano. That was more solid than most of her recent performances. Randy agrees, noting the vocal difficulty that she handled in stride. Even Simon gives it props.

David A. - 'America' - A very big song. The beginning is a bit weak, but again he finds his groove and lays it out. He proves he's big enough for the song, alright. You can't help but love him. All three judges loved it.

Syesha - 'Thank The Lord For The Nighttime' - A show tune type of song, which she handles very nicely.


Tops and Props: Still David C. and David A. at the top, and it's still very close, and could go either way at the end, but I gotta say I'm now an equally big fan of David. C. And yes, Syesha gets my props again.

Bottoms: Jason and Brooke, in that order, for me, but anything can happen with the fans.

Leaving: Jason or Brooke.

Top 6 minus 1 - Leona Lewis Performs!

I'm glad Andrew had a chance to say that Brooke was flawless in rehearsal. Sadly, he also confirmed Jason's song choice as quite questionable (<-- q alliteration, or qualliteration).

The Davids are first on the spot. No mystery here.

Neil Diamond next week! I love that guy!

There's Leona Lewis! That bulge in Simon's pants is his wallet getting bigger. She certainly does have it all, though - what a performance!

Syesha and Brooke are next. Brooke is safe, and appropriately shocked! Syesha is in the bottom two. I guess there are other who feel as Bo does.

Jason and Carly are last up. Jason is rightfully nervous, but he is safe, leaving Carly in the bottom two. Judging by the audience's screams, Jason will have to do much worse before he's voted off.

Carly and Syesha both give great reduxes of their songs from last night. I'm glad to see that they both look happy, as well.

Carly is leaving. Deep breath, Bo. I can easily her succeeding on Broadway, or in some other venue.

See you next week...

Sir Andrew Week

I've been looking so forward to this week and I can't believe it's over already. You can choose how much of that to believe.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: Andrew Lloyd Webber was refreshingly normal for being so famous and all. I thought he was really good with the contestants and had a lot of constructive advice for each of them. Simon usually hates Broadway weeks so either he's grown accustomed to them or resigned. Either way, he was remarkably useful this week. Maybe it's because his countryman was the mentor. I think he made one excellent point (one I was thinking beforehand): the challenge this week is to make each performance contemporary and relevant, not just a good replica. For a unique performance in a Broadway week see Nikko Smith doing this one. I wish we'd had a Broadway theme rather than just Andrew Lloyd Webber. Like Mariah and Stevie Wonder type of weeks it's a setup for disaster for most of them. What is wrong with Ryan this season? He's so dorky. In the past he was quirkily cool, but now he's just weird. Was it strange for anyone else to see Ricky Minor conducting an orchestra rather than grooving with the bass guitar? He's almost one of the stars this season.

Syesha Mercado: I have to say she did very, very well, except for that sitting on the piano bit. Hated that. She obviously has talent besides all that attitude. Musical theater is her niche so it's no surprise this "working actress" did so well this week. Having said that, she didn't put any contemporary or "pop" feel into her arrangement at all. I would have liked to have seen someone make that comment. Oh well.

Jason Castro: Terrible song choice (I've actually hated this song ever since I was forced to play it as part of a 6th grade jazz band). Adequate performance. He'll be grateful he has a strong following because this week was just awkward and mediocre. I liked the video intro with the jumping back and forth between Lord Webber and Jason. Nice edit job.

Brooke White: Ouch! I think she misunderstood when she restarted her song weeks ago. That worked out then (sort of) but it wasn't supposed to happen again. She has come off as very nervous and rattled over the past few weeks. The performance was decent but lacked anything original. Another Broadway-ish performance. And not in the good way.

David Archuleta: This was the first unique performance of the night. I was pleasantly surprised. I called the song he'd sing before they announced it, but I didn't think he'd be original at all. Even with a flubbed lyric, that apparently escaped the judges' notice, it was great. Kudos to The Kid.

Carly Smithson: How long was that shirt ready? I'm glad she got to use it. She did great. I'm glad Sir Andrew switched her pick because this song was much better for her. It stood out from the other Karaoke-ish performances and should help her keep rising.

David Cook: First off, good, solid vocal. I am actually a bit shocked at how good his voice is and how much he can do. With that said, I was completely disappointed that he didn't do anything original with his choice. Even if he rips off another unique arrangement from someone else, he usually picks things that stand out and "define" him. Others did worse enough to get booted, but I'm expecting a bit more from him next week.

TOPS FOR ME: David Archuleta.
BOTTOM TWO: Syesha Mercado, Brooke White
TAKING HER MEMORIES WITH HER: Brooke White

Top 6 - Andrew Lloyd Webber Mentors!

Broadway music is an odd choice, and should make for some interesting performances.

Syesha - 'One Rock and Roll Too Many' - Her vamped up version is very nicely done. The judges all agreed that this is her element and it allowed her to display a lot of personality. Definitely one of, if not her best. Perhaps what Bo dislikes as her "acting" in some previous songs is precisely her strength with this type of music?

Jason - 'Memory' - A big song. I don't think he lets himself go with it, as Andrew had suggested. He did okay, but it felt a bit like riding on a bike with the tires low on air. Randy agrees it was too big of a song and calls it a trainwreck. Paula is supportive. Simon didn't like it, either. This may be the end for him, though on looks alone, he may yet have enough adoring fans.

Brooke - 'You Must Love Me' - A false start, but she handles it. She delivers a heartfelt rendition which is very believable for me. Randy thought her voice wasn't up to it. Simon says it was iffy, and she won't like it when she sees it back. It may well hurt her, but I didn't not like it.

David A. - 'Think Of Me' - Another fine performance of a difficult choice. Randy loved it. Paula calls it "perfect." Simon calls it "pleasant," but a weak, forgettable performance.

Carly - 'Superstar' - A better choice for her lungs, per Andrew, but not necessarily a good choice for this stage of the competition. She handles it quite well and the audience seems to like it. Randy liked it overall. Paula liked it. Simon calls it one of his favorites of the night, if "shouty" at times.

David C. - 'The Power Of The Music Of The Night' - Incredibly powerful performance. The judges all loved it, though Simon prefers his rougher side.


Tops and Props: David C., followed by David A. and Carly, in no particular order, and props to Syesha.

Bottoms: Brooke and Jason.

Leaving: I think Jason has a stronger following than Brooke, at this point, so I'll guess Brooke.

Randy Jackson On Ellen Degeneres!

And he predicted it would be a David vs David rather than a David vs Goliath contest at the finish! He also seconded Ellen's love of David C.'s originality and creativity. Then they praised the other contestants and their unique skillz.

Kristy Lee Cook Performs on Ellen!

Wow! Kristy Lee Cook just gave a flawless performance of a song called 'Love'Em Anyway' on the Ellen Degeneres Show. I've never heard the song before, but her voice was crystalline, flawless, and powerful. For me, it was her best performance ever. Maybe being away from the pressure of AI has allowed her to spread her wings with more confidence.

Top 7 Minus 1 - Mariah Carey and Elliot Yamin Perform!

I liked the opening song. They all did great!

Jason goes to the (my) right.

David C. goes to the left, making me suspect this is the top 3, leaving Jason in the bottom, though that seems unlikely.

Carly joins Jason on the right, but not before asserting that Simon has been rough on her this season, and making the right side more likely to be the bottom.

Kristy goes to the left with David C.

They're doing a pretty good job of keeping us guessing.

Elliot Yamin did great! Sorry to hear about his mom.

Syesha joins Jason and Carly, making it a bit more likely that's the losing side, but still unlikely. Naturally they're saving David A. for last.

Brooke joins Kristy and David C.

I'm beginning to wonder if they've come up with a new way to screw with us, since both sides seem like a possible mix of tops and bottoms.

Call-in questions were good, as always.

Mariah Carey was not really impressive. I thought the song choice could have been better... ; )
Oh, she kicked it up a notch at the end. That's much better.

David A. now takes the stage. He's safe, of course.

Ah. I thought so. Now they swap David C. with Syesha and play the old game of making David A. choose the winners. He won't, so Ryan guides the winners to him. So he, Jason, Carly, and David C. are safe.

That leaves Syesha, Kristy and Brooke. Though I wish it was Syesha, it's probably Brooke.

Syesha is safe. Take a deep breath, Bo.

Wow. Kristy is leaving. A bit unexpected, but inevitable, really. She sings off very nicely. She's come a long way this season, and I'll miss her a bit.

British people don't like the Irish, do they?

Seriously, I don't know how much more I can take. Carly gets slammed week after week after really good performances. And Syesha gets praised week after week even after pretty sucky performances. Carly hits every note spot on and they say, "Not good enough." Syesha hits some horribly off notes and they say, "A little pitchy, but you BROUGHT it tonight girl!" To which she grins broadly and smugly replies in her whiny "I'm so pretty" voice, "Thank you, Raaaaaaaaandy!" Blech. I feel like throwing up every time I see her.

I'm more ticked at the inconsistency of slamming Carly for good performances while praising Syesha for sub-par performances. All. The. Time. I mean, c'mon, Syesha is the consummate sounds-like-every-other-singer Diva. There is nothing unique about her, she keeps singing Whitney, Celine, and Fantasia (Grrrrrrrr!) and yet she consistently gets WAY more than an "ai-aight!" It's always high praise. Even from Simon! Are they insane?! Do they want Syesha there more than Carly?? That kind of stupidity is what got Michael Johns kicked off while the likes of, oh, Syesha stay on. How in the world is that happening?! So I guess I'm miffed at 2 things--Syesha still being there and Michael Johns not being there. I mean, who would you rather look at, er, listen to?

So, Mariah Carey. Hmmm, I haven't been a big fan of hers. Ever. She's nice, I guess. I guess I feel apathetic. And I long for Elton John weeks.

David Archuleta (“When You Believe”)
Is he seriously wearing leather pants?? He was good, but I'm getting a little bored. He still hasn't done a fast song except for the one where he botched the lyrics, anyone notice that? He's cute and I don't dislike him, but I'm a little bored. And when I see his CD on the shelf next to, oh, Castro's? Or David Cook's? Guess which ones we're buying and which ones we're not. The teeny bopper girls will keep voting him through and he is very good, no question, but he's not my favorite.

Carly Smithson (“Without You”)
What is Randy smoking?! Someone pass some of Paula's drug to him and then give an occasional puff to Simon, because Randy is both tone deaf and stupid this season. He criticizes her and you just know that he's going to be all smiles and praise for his girl, Syesha. Blech. He sickens me. Look don't get me wrong, Carly is great, but she's not my favorite either. But she IS better than Syesha. Much better. And a billion times more likable. And Simon, we get it. You're British. She's Irish. So you simply can't bring yourself to like her. Or be nice to her. Classy.

Syesha Mercado (“Vanishing”)
Mark predicted she'd sing "Hero" and though she didn't, I hope he's right about her prophetic lyrics (though I thought that Carly's were a bit foreboding and a propos, too). I can give credit where due. She's pretty good and she has a nice voice, but it's copycat and pitchy and they seem to overlook that in her, but find things to pick on when it comes to Carly. I don't understand it. Syesha isn't even likable! And did you catch the stupid "Ohhhhh, Lo!" Ramiellism? Blech. She's the only one who "gets" her, remember? "Hi Girl!" Blech blech blech. Randy adores her and I don't get it. Maybe Ramielle does. There is simply nothing there when it comes to her--no connection, no passion, it reeks of bad acting. Yuck.

Brooke White (“Hero”)
Ah, there it is. I thought David A. or Syesha would sing it, but okay, Brooke did. Not surprising. Too bad they didn't all sing it--would've been more interesting to compare them anyway. I didn't like the piano thing. She was racing and her tempo was all over the place and she was so nervous she was visibly shaking. I'm VERY surprised that Simon didn't say, "That was like some ghastly high school talent show, wasn't it. And the girl is in her pretty dress and her parents are beaming. And it's all a bit hokey and predictable." I like her okay, but it wasn't a good week for her and I'm bored by her, too. Then again, I have to remember it IS Mariah Carey week and that's not a good thing for most of them. I do think it's funny that she's so weird on stage (putting on her shoe, can't find her seat, etc.), but the pouty Utah Mormon face is bugging me. A lot. Maybe those girls who miss their nanny will get her back this week, but I'm hoping Syesha gets that job.

Kristy Lee Cook (“Forever”)
She's gotten better over time (I'm surprised she's still around--I thought she'd get booted in the first few weeks) and she'll do well in country music (like Gracin and Bucky and Phil Stacey and all those others who sort of switched genres in the middle and "Hey, look at that! She's a country star!"), but I'm not a huge fan or anything. Though kudos to her for not buckling under pressure.

David Cook (“Always Be My Baby”)
I wasn't sure at first if I'd like it or not. But wow. It was actually really good! And a standing O from Randy. Wow! And it wasn't for Syesha. I'm shocked and awed. I agree about the movie soundtrack comments. It was a really good performance. And it was obviously moving to him to do so well with his sick brother (who did not look well at all) in the audience. I like David Cook and want to see him do well.

Jason Castro (“I Don’t Wanna Cry”)
Ah now, here's my favorite! And by favorite I mean so-buying-his-album. Love his style. He has a distinct style all his own and I love what he does every week. I hope he sticks around longer than Syesha and Kristy. I think he will. I'm with Magistra--A Cook (David, not Kristy Lee)/Castro finale would be FABULOUS. We haven't had that good (exciting) a finale since Season 2, IMO. Love this guy!

Tops for me for them: David Cook and Jason Castro (I'm still singing "Over the Rainbow" as I walk around). Love him.
Bottom 3: The girls with a girl going home and we can only hope it's Syesha

Pop and Country and Rock! Oh My!

Mariah Carey night. Hmmm. I wasn't sure what contestants would do with this one since now they get to be directly compared to a diva, singing that diva's songs. It all seems so unfair. Plus, so many of her songs are quite alike so on the surface it seems it would be quite difficult to be unique.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: It took only 90 seconds to get to the "Randy, do you know this girl" part of the show. You know he loves the attention, though. Mariah seems like a decent person. The mentors lately have been very pleasant with the contestants from what it seems. I called it before Simon said it--the guys had it easier last night since it's harder to draw a direct comparison. So what would have Michael Johns done with this week anyway? Nice to hear from Carly that the rest of the contestants are "boring." It bodes well for the rest of the season. we're back to filling with fluff since we now have few enough contestants to leave a lot of dead space to fill. Sort of like when there are 10 contestants and they do a 2-hour show. We're just waiting for when they sing 2 a piece.

David Archuleta: Nice job, kid. It was a good, solid way to start, further legitimizing his presence here in the Top 7.

Carly Smithson: What does this girl need to do to get some praise? She did a lot better than the judges give her credit for. We get it. They are looking for a little more "wow," but this performance was actually really good. I'm scared for what will happen.

Syesha Mercado: She was out of tune frequently. That's just the way it was. Why the judges don't hear more than "a couple of pitch problems" is beyond me. She didn't stink the place up, but she is in no way deserving of the kind of praise she gets. Nothing personal against Syesha, but her praise and Carly's criticism should have been flip-flopped last night. She also sang the song with the most ominous lyrics tonight.

Brooke White: For being a genre of songs she really had no business performing she did well. It was not her best night and all of us here at home could hear her rushing and saw the nerves. I'm glad she didn't get knocked for not using the band after the judges suggested they like that type of performance from her.

Kristy Lee Cook: Not bad. She seems a lot more confident each week and should have a nice country career after the show. Overall it was an "in the middle" type of performance.

David Cook: Awesome! That takes some serious chutzpah to take one of the most obviously pop Mariah Carey songs and change the vibe. It had sort of a Goo Goo Dolls kind of feel and Paula was right on when she put it on a future movie soundtrack. Nice to see him back this week after a rough past week. He is the most original with the brightest future ahead of him. He should have Daughtry-esque success after the show.

Jason Castro: I liked the group he had on the stage with him. I don't think it was the best vocal he's had over the past 3 or 4 weeks, but it was definitely a strong, strong performance. This guy is surprising me week after week.

MY TOP THREE: David Cook and the other two guys
MY BOTTOM THREE: Brooke White, Syesha Mercado, Kristy Lee Cook
VANISHING: Syesha Mercado

Top 7 - Mentored by Mariah Carey!

David A. - 'When You Believe' - Very nicely done. He captured the audience and the judges liked it unanimously. Simon says he "set the benchmark for the night."

Carly - 'Without You' - One of my favorite songs. She starts well, but going to the lower register is a bit awkward for her. Then she powers into high gear. Will Simon think she sounded "angry?" I thought it was good, but not great throughout. Randy nails her on the lower register. Paula is supportive. Simon didn't think it made the grade.

Syesha - 'You're Vanishing' - A little pitchy in the softer spots, but overall quite good. I didn't love how she tracked the camera at the end. Randy notices the pitch, but is supportive. Paula is supportive. Simon didn't like the choice of an unfamiliar song, but grants her technical excellence, as before.

Brooke - 'Hero' - Another favorite - The first note is shaky, but she eases into it and carries it well enough with a simple solo piano accompaniment, though it is somewhat weak. A closeup of her face seems to show her shaking with nerves, and she seems to be thinking, "How did I do?" right at the end. Randy picks up on the loss of confidence at the end and the inconsistent performance. Paula supports her authenticity. Simon says the weak bridge was her downfall.

Kristy - 'Forever' - Gave Mariah goosebumps. She starts with pitch and timing problems, but opens it up well, and achieves her goal of connecting with it emotionally. Props, but not great. Randy echoes my concerns, but gives her props, as well. Paula is much more supportive. Simon didn't get chills (he gets chills?) and agrees that it was not good enough.

David C. - I don't know the song, but his performance is impressive. He definitely seemed to give it some personal touches that made it his own. Randy says it was recordable. Paula agrees. Simon plays games with the audience's heads and says it was "like coming out of karaoke hell," and gave it high praise for risk-taking and originality.

Jason - 'Only Emptiness' - A bit weak in the softer parts, which is most of the song, and noticeably pitchy in spots. I didn't love it at all. Randy didn't like it. Paula is supportive. Simon surprisingly thought it was good. Again, I'm outvoted about Jason. Perhaps if I adopt Simon's perspective as a money-hungry producer, I'll be able to see more clearly... ; )


Tops and Props: The Davids, your choice.

Bottoms: Despite my crush, I have to add Brooke in with Syesha. Her tentativeness is beginning to bother me.

Leaving: Syesha, I hope, but she seems to have quite a following, and might beat out Brooke.

Simon's All-Time Favorite Contest Winner

If you haven't already experienced her, check out Leona Lewis, winner of Simon's British X Factor singing competition:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=leona+lewis

Ellen Degeneres had her on today, singing 'Bleeding Love'.

Top 8 Minus 1 - Jordin Sparks Performs!

Brooke is safe. Surprise.

David C. is safe. There goes my bottom two, so tonight will really be a surprise (unless they dump Syesha).

David A. is safe - no surprise.

---

I loved Jordin Sparks' duet with Chris Brown, 'No Air'.

---

Jason is safe.

Kristy is safe. Now I'm worried for Carly.

So the bottom three are Carly, Michael, and Syesha.

Personal preferences aside, I think Michael is the least likely to get the boot, but I would rather it was Carly. If Carly and Syesha are the bottom two, I can only hope it's Syesha that is leaving.

Wow! It seems the audience is as surprised as I am, but Michael is the one going home.

Maybe the song choice, 'Dream On' was prophetic. Or maybe America just wishes he'd wash his hair? I dunno...

His departure performance just doesn't seem to warrant the bottom spot. I still think it was a good choice.

Anyway, see you next week.

Idol Gives Back!

Too many big names, great performances, and touching moments to comment on, so I'm just going to kick back and enjoy the show.

I don't think there will be any eliminations tonight. Does that mean two will be departing next week?

Wow! Annie Lennox is forcing me to negate my decision. Her segment and performance were truly powerful, standing out above the rest of the show so far.

And Jimmy Kimmel's roast of Simon Cowell is just hilarious!

And the song Carrie Underwood sang had wonderful lyrics!

Gloria Estafen was outstanding, as always.

---

Sorry, I got lost in donation land. Did you know you can buy sheets of photo stamps with Kelly Clarkson photos on them, and all proceeds still go to the Idol Gives Back Foundation? $20 for a sheet of 20 stamps. They're also limited edition, and so collectible:
http://photo.stamps.com/Store/brand/americanidol/

Have a good night!

Inspire Me

All week I was wondering what the theme might be and I totally forgot Idol Gives Back was inspirational songs week last year. Appropriate.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: Still not loving that set. This is their 5th week on The Big Stage II and the contestants still don't know how to come out in a coordinated fashion. Randy was on one tonight, but he gets like that occasionally toward the middle of the show. Paula had nothing but good to say tonight, eh? I saw very little crowd touching tonight during the performances. I guess Chikezie and Ramiele leaving taught everyone a lesson: just sing! It's getting pretty tough to pick a bottom three now with some great contestants left. Although, one of my picks for the bottom is easy still. Guess who? If you read Boquinha's post (which I haven't yet) I understand she has similar feelings about one of the contestants. Did they put the Cooks back-to-back this week to get more publicity for Celebrity Chefs With Knives, A.K.A. Hell's Kitchen?

Michael Johns: I really liked his performance and thought he sang it fairly well, but I agree with the judges. This is not his natural element. He really needs to start listening to the judges and not just doing his own thing. They know what they are talking about when it comes to his song selections.

Syesha Mercado: Ooooooh. She picked a Fantasia song. I'm so shocked, as Fantasia may as well be the A.I. version of a true diva. I was quite worried the judges might over-praise (is that a word?) her again, but they gave her her due to an extent. She has talent but isn't nearly as good as everyone says she is. She picked a song that draws direct comparision, which apparently Syesha keeps missing each week, or she's so full of herself that she actually thinks she is as good as Whitney, Fantasia, Mariah, and any other one-name diva out there. Can you tell who I'm sick of at this point? If not, you can be in my bottom three, too.

Jason Castro: What an awesome selection. He is not the most vocally talented performer, but he has one of the keenest senses of who he is as a performer and nailed this one. I'm glad the judges gave him his due. I'm looking forward to the Castro album.

Kristy Lee Cook: Is it me or is this girl getting more and more confident as the weeks go on. It doesn't hurt that the past few weeks have lent themselves to perfect song choices for her. She does very well with country type songs and had another very nice performance. She should be around for a bit longer if fans pick the truly deserving contestants.

David Cook: This was a stinker for him and he knew it as soon as it was over. The song was a decent choice but he didn't nail it like he usually does. I was a bit let down by David this week.

Carly Smithson: I'm going to tell you right now, the judges don't have as much influence as they would like to think, but at this point their comments to help or hurt a contestant's chances. Carly deserves a bit more praise and a little less harsh criticism than she's been getting. I think the judges want more from her because they think she's one of the best, but they are going to put wannabes like Syesha through and send Carly home with their antics lately. Granted, Carly's song selection was off this week, but she still sounded pretty good and deserves more pseudopraise.

David Archuleta: When David A. found out about the theme this week here's what he probably thought:

"Inspirational songs. Calm down. Get centered. Don't get too excited, but this is your week. Finally you can pick a song you love and not have it sound out of place. You love these songs and this week that's OK."

Somehow I see him being one of those Michael W. Smith type of performers and ending up on some W.O.W. compilation somewhere. "W.O.W.: Christian Songs from the Young Ones." You know what I'm talking about. He did very well this week, although I think Randy was smoking something when he said it was his best performance of the season.

Brooke White: I'm surprised they had her go last this week with this song. Not that she did poorly or that it was a silly song choice, but it just wasn't one of those obvious showstoppers they seem to try to include at the end. I liked her performance although the James Taylor vibe suits it more in my opinion, not that it's really that different. It was solid but nothing "wow."

MY TOP THREE: Jason, and then some others
MY BOTTOM THREE: Syesha (shock!), Brooke, and Michael (based on performances this week if I'm being honest)
INSPIRING ELLEN DEGENERES ON HER SHOW THIS WEEK: Syesha, or no one if Idol is Giving Back on Thursday.

Oh PLEASE let it be Syesha

On this special occasion when Idol gives back, I hope they start by giving Syesha back to the world of "working actresses" ASAP. Garg, she gets on my nerves.

I think Ryan Seacrest is gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But seriously, those of you with Tivo, hit rewind and watch him closely as he exits the big magic stage doors.

Michael Johns (“Dream On” by Aerosmith)
I thought this was a really good performance on him! What is wrong with Randy tonight? He's so critical! I liked it and when he turns on the Australian Tennis Player Charm, I forget about any off notes anyway. Dream on indeed.

Syesha Mercado (“I Believe” by Fantasia)
I. Can't. Stand. Her. In case you couldn't tell from the title or my opening sentence, I dislike her. A lot. Only Ramiele "gets" her. That's code for "Nobody likes me." Well, guess what? Ramiele seems to have the social intelligence of a 12-year-old so she likes everybody. The point isn't that Ramiele likes you. It's that nobody else does! How is this girl getting voted through? She gets WAY too much credit week after week while they tear down other, perfectly good performances.

And are you freaking kidding me?! Doing a Fantasia song?? You're less stupid if you do Whitney or Celine. In my opinion (and I said this before she sang and before Randy uttered a word), Fantasia is the BEST idol to ever grace that stage and no one (do you hear me, Syesha?), NO ONE can do what she did on that song.

She wasn't good. She doesn't connect. She was pitchy and weak and it was just very, very bad. She is totally full of herself and *thinks* she sounds better than she does. Ick. Ick ick ick. I agree with Magistra who says, "She constantly performs as if she is singing to herself in a mirror and worrying about how pretty she’s looking."

Oh, please let it be her who exits this week. Please!

Jason Castro (“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole)
Omigosh! Omigosh! I love this guy! LOVE this guy! This was, bar none, the best performance of the evening, as Simon says, "By. A. Mile." I love Jason!! This was a fantastic song choice. I was worried when he started out with the ukulele but when the strings kicked in, oh wow! Guess what, America? Jason's voice "melts like lemon drops." So soothing. So unique. So real. I love it. LOVE it. However he places in this competition, we're so buying his album. Love him.

Kristy Lee Cook (“Anyway” by Martina McBride)
I've got to hand it to her and give credit where it's due. She seems more confident. She's doing great with country (which seems to be a genre in the music industry that can make anyone a star). She's beautiful. And she's working hard. I'm impressed. I mean country isn't my thing, but I'm simply being honest . . . she deserves to be in the competition more than Syesha, in my opinion.

David Cook (“Innocent” by Our Lady Peace)
Yikes. I love David Cook, but this was not good. And I've got to hand it to the guy, he knew it, too. Something was up. And I love that he didn't excuse it or argue it. His face said it all. And I give him mad props for that. He does not do well with low notes and most of the song was down there. What was he thinking? And then that weird thing at the end where he's singing (in not a good way) to Paula and then showing his hand to the camera? I'm surprised that Simon actually liked that! I think he's great and that he'll stick around, but this was not his best week. Still, Syesha should go.

Carly Smithson (“The Show Must Go On” by Queen)
I like the song and I like Queen. How do we not have a Queen CD? (Honey, put "Queen's Greatest Hits" on the "Thing We Splurge On with Our Refund" list--thanks). And Carly is likable and she has such beautiful eyes (I think I said that like 10 times during her performance. I know, some of you would've hit me.) Sigh. I don't so much mind that they criticize her as I do that they criticize her and not grrrrrrrrrrr Syesha.

David Archuleta (“Angels” by Robbie Williams)
Great song. Great performance. I expected something a big more in-your-face inspirational. This was a pleasant surprise. Not sure what more to say. It was very good. A million times better than Syesha's. (Now, I'm simply trying to mention her in every comment, yes.)

Brooke White (“You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King)
That's the performance on which they decided to wrap up the evening? It was okay, but not show stopping. And I have to say that I love when Simon (or anyone with a British accent) says something and then follows it up with a rhetorical question phrased like a statement--"Well that was like a pleasant walk in the park, wasn't it." I like Brooke and it was good, but I really can not STAND that weird, fake, pained Utah Mormon facial expression she makes. The one that says, "Awwwww, did you find a piece of lint in your belly button? I'm so sorry!" (Omigosh, I'm having bad flashbacks to one of my college roommates who used to do the same thing!) Just look NORMAL. She's awkward on stage, but in a fairly endearing way (when she's singing, not when she's making that weird, fake, pained Utah Mormon face). Could it be that she'll take Kristy's seat in the bottom three when she joins Syesha there this week??

Favorite of the night: Jason (By. A. Mile. Remember?)
Bottom 3: Syesha and who cares who else
Idol Gives Back by sending home: Syesha

Top 8 - Inspirational Songs!

Michael Johns - Starts out with a good song. It wasn't quite up to the original, but he fairly owned it. Randy didn't love it. Paula was more supportive. Simon called it a little "wanna be-ish" and Randy agreed.

It looks like there's a lot of energy tonight, so it should be an interesting show.

Syesaha - Sings a Fantasia joint, and does fairly well, ending with an amazing high note that was a little freaky, actually. Randy compared her with Fantasia and, of course, she fell short. Paula is more supportive. Even Simon acknowledges her technical handling of the song, but says it didn't give him the "emotional" connection that Fantasia brought to it. Simon has emotions?!?

Jason - Over the Rainbow - Kind of a weak arrangement, centering around his banjo ukelele. Just okay, for me. Randy goes crazy over it. Paula loved it too. Simon loved it too. I guess I'm outvoted here.

Kristy - Finally found a song she could really connect with. The judges all liked it, too. She may be around a bit more.

David C. - Started a little weak but developed well. Nevertheless, one of the weaker performances tonight. Randy didn't love it (I see a pattern). Paula loved it. Simon thought it "pompous."

Carly - Another good performance from her. None of the judges liked it. Simon thought it was oversung to the point of feeling "angry," and said she might be in trouble.

David A. - A great song choice, which follows well on his performance of Imagine, and seems to build on it. He does it very well, and the judges love it unanimously.

Brooke - 'You've Got A Friend' - not the most powerful of inspirational songs, but one of my favorites. Her phrasing is a bit stiff and unmelodic. As much as I like her, it was pretty unimpressive. Just okay for Randy. Paula is supportive. Simon gives it "pleasant."


Tops and Props - David A., the rest, with Props to Michael Johns, and, yes, Syesha.

Bottoms - Brooke, and David C.

Leaving - Sadly, I think it's Brooke.