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.

Tale of the Thumbs

WARNING: It's another generous week. Lots of thumbs up and only one down. And one "Syesha's not a good singer" from The Boy. I guess she's not rock and roll enough for him.

Brooke White: two thumbs up (plus double bonus)
David Cook: two thumbs up (plus the predictable rock-n-roll bonus from The Boy)
Ramiele Malubay: two thumbs up (plus the generous bonus from The Boy)
Jason Castro: two thumbs up (plus the guitar bonus from The Boy)
Carly Smithson: two thumbs up (bonus from . . . are you ready . . . The Boy)
David Archuleta: two thumbs up (double bonus, as expected)
Kristy Lee Cook: one thumb up and one "present" vote (he said he was reading a book and wasn't really listening--how's that for an endorsement)
Syesha Mercado: one thumb up and one thumb down (apparently The Boy is not impressed by long, high notes, and reference his above comment)
Michael Johns: two thumbs up (and a bonus, yet again, from The Boy)

Top 9 Minus 1 - Dolly Parton Performs!

Michael Johns is up first. He's safe.

David Archuleta is next. He's safe.

Carly Smithson is next. She's safe. I'm glad Simon's influence is somewhat limited.

The live questions were entertaining.

The Clark Brothers need a better singer. The dobro guitar player had some interesting picking, but otherwise I was unimpressed.

David Cook is next. He's safe.

Ramiele Malubay is next. Predictably, she's in the bottom three.

Kristy Lee Cook is next. She correctly anticipated being in the bottom three.

Syesha Mercado is next. She's safe for another week.

Brooke White and Jason Castro are last. I'm guessing Jason. No, he's safe.

Brooke, Ramiele and Kristy are the bottom three. I'm sticking to guessing Ramiele, and will be slightly bothered if it's Brooke, though she's really gonna have to bring it if she gets to stick around another week, or her departure is inevitable. I just can't believe Syesha has more of a following than her.

The reunion of the two sisters in Africa was great.

Dolly Parton sings an odd little song, 'Jesus And Gravity', but does a good job. Her voice is a little less melodious than in her prime, but she sure knows how to connect with a crowd.

Randy guesses Ramiele. Simon says it won't be Brooke.

Brooke is safe. Yay.

Kristy is safe.

Ramiele is leaving. She's young...she'll do alright. At the least, Ellen Degeneres will have her on, as she has done with almost every other "castoff" this season. as she calls them. I guess they're back to torturing the losers by making them sing themselves off, but she fights off the copious tears and manages it quite well.

See you next week...

Country Week--Thumbs Down from Simon

I had my doubts about a week devoted to Dolly Parton. I'm not a fan, and quiet honestly couldn't name more than a few songs she recorded. I had no idea she wrote so many songs. This week may be alright.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: Just the theme alone is enough to predict a stormy mood from the Brit. He never "gets" country music, and I don't believe for one second that he "loves" country music. Paula was a bit happy tonight, although not as happy as weeks past. Is Randy trying to tone down the criticism so people will like him again? Last week he was a mad dawg. This week he's a moderately sedated one. I feel badly for the second half of the contestants in the week they go from 90 minutes to one hour. They get half-hearted critique and a lightning speed Ryan running the numbers. And then Paula uses the last contestant as a chance to praise all of the contestants that night with a minimal attempt to address the final singer. Let AI run over. "Hell's Kitchen" can wait a few. Or better yet, shorten the local news. Heaven knows it's mostly fluff anyway.

BROOKE WHITE: First slot is always a challenge because it gets easy to forget them. I thought she was good, not great, but showed why she has a good following. She was actually trying to listen to Simon when the crowd started booing and Paula started cutting him off. I guess at this point they figure, "Why mess with the formula?"

DAVID COOK: Now what in the world was he going to do with Parton week. I guess pick a song I don't know and show his creativity. The Daughtry interview where they give him the chance to explain past weeks' arrangements was nice to get out of the way early. Another great performance.

RAMIELE MALUBAY: Boring. Predictable. Bleh. She's got a lot of vocal talent, but she is just not keeping up at this point. Randy's 6.5 out of 10 was a decent assessment, and at this point it's just not good enough.

JASON CASTRO: I really liked his performance. I think his voice is a bit weak for such a big stage, but at the same time, he is a great performer that knows his niche. The postcard was right: his voice is smooth and relaxing. He can stick around.

CARLY SMITHSON: Great performance from her this time. Too bad Simon had to go to appearances on her. I'm sure he feels they could both make a bit more money with a different look. But isn't this a singing competition, not a popularity contest?

DAVID ARCHULETA: Ballads are his thing. It seems that's where he is his best. This week was really good and should keep him going through. Let's be honest, though. He could walk on stage, eat a bunch of cheese, and then sit down and his fans would still vote him through.

KRISTY LEE COOK: Country, so you knew she'd seem at home. I'm not sure why she picks the songs she does, but oh well. She is definitely not strong enough to make it much further, but at least this week was a nice follow-up from last week.

SYESHA MERCADO: It's sad when I forget to review a contestant until I'm putting together My Bottom Three and I notice someone is missing. She was good. She has a good voice, but I was not surprised she picked a song better equated with Whitney Houston than Dolly Parton, even if she did the latter's arrangement for the most part. And I knew the judges would have some problems with diva comparisons. Syesha just needs to stay away from comparison songs because it is rare to nail them. Song selection was the problem here.

MICHAEL JOHNS: Awesome! This is his style and it was a great performance. I'm surprised the judges didn't pick up more on his vocal stylings, but then again, time for crazy chefs wielding knives. His falsetto was great, the mini-band was perfect, and he's looking more and more like a Top 3'er like I originally predicted.

MY TOP THREE: Michael Johns, David Cook, and then one of a few others
MY BOTTOM THREE: Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Kristy Lee Cook (someone's gotta be there)
JUST TRAVELIN' THROUGH: Ramiele Malubay

Top 9 with Dolly Parton!

Dolly Parton mentors this week. Good news for Brooke, who is up first.

Brooke - 'Jolene' - decent performance, but not stellar. Randy and Paula are supportive. Simon thinks she deserves the honesty of his insults.

David C. - 'Little Sparrow' - I don't know this song, but I like how he is doing it. Very good, but not astonishing. Randy and Paula liked it, too. Simon notes that it doesn't match last week, but was good, nonetheless.

Ramiele - I don't know the song, but, as Dolly notes, it does seem to match her bouncy, spunky personality. Some pitch and timing issues, so just alright. Randy agrees, giving it 6.5 out of 10. Paula is more supportive. Simon demotes it to "cruise ship" quality.

Jason - Another unfamiliar but pleasant song. He does it competently but no fireworks. Randy and Paula, supportive. Simon didn't like it.

Carly - 'Here You Come Again' - One of Dolly's biggest, with her own twist. Chills time! A beautiful interpretation and what tonight has been missing until now. Made me applaud, alone in my living room. Randy and Paula loved it. Simon, unbelievably, manages to downplay both the performance and her manner of dressing.

David A. - 'Smoky Mountain Memories' - A John Denver style joint. A good choice for his voice, but not everyone will like the choice of a gospel-type song. I thought it was very well done, but a bit less powerful than Carly's choice, in my view. All the judges, including Simon, loved it.

Kristy - 'Coat Of Many Colors' - She looks great and sings it very well. Randy likes her doing country. Paula gives it her best ever. Simon sticks to last week being her best song choice.

Syesha - 'I Will Always Love You' - A nice, big diva song. Dolly seems to hint that she, not being shy at all, just did her own thing (and didn't take her advice). It starts out very poorly, with bad timing and more problems. She cleans it up at the end, but that didn't redeem it for me. Randy and Paula are supportive. Simon liked the first part but not the second, exactly opposite my take. All said, I don't think it helped her at all.

Michael - 'It's All Wrong But It's Alright' - A bluesy joint, which he handles very well. Randy and Paula loved it. Simon says it's his best ever.


Tops and Props: Carly, David A, Michael, David C.

Bottoms: Ramiele and, for me, Syesha. Jason and Brooke were slammed by Simon, but I think they'll make it through, and were in the middle, for me.

Leaving: My guess is Ramiele, who's been hanging on by a thread for a while now.

Tale of the Thumbs

I know, I know. This week's action is all over, but the kids are just now getting to it. Here are their ratings before we watch the elimination action.

Ramiele Malubay: two thumbs up (bonus from The Boy)
Jason Castro: one thumb up, one thumb sideways (Wisdom from The Boy: "He likes singing words we don't know")
Syesha Mercado: one thumb up, one thumb sideways
Chikezie: two thumbs up (oops!)
Brooke White: two thumbs up (plus two more)
Michael Johns: two thumbs up (plus the rock 'n' roll bonus from The Boy)
Carly Smithson: two thumbs up ("Daddy, is this rock 'n' roll?" Then comes the extra thumb.)
David Archuleta: Double thumbs up (for once little brother isn't tormenting The Girl.)
Kristy Lee Cook: two thumbs up (bonus from The Boy--I think he's smitten)
David Cook: two thumbs up (guess who gave the bonus thumb?)