Final 5

I had other obligations that kept me from watching this week's performance show live, except for catching Lee at the end and getting a brief review of the night. So, I had to wait and watch the performances online. This week was "Frank Sinatra: Big Band" theme week. Apparently no guitars were allowed per the Idol producers and all the songs were arranged and accompanied by this weeks mentor, Harry Connick Jr. Let me say that HCJ proved to be a great mentor in all capacities, aside from the fact that he really helped liven up the show. He is quite a humorous man, aside from being an uber talented musician. I don't know what it was about this week's performances, but I really felt a shift happen this week. Let's take a closer look.

Lee DeWyze ♪♪♪♪ 1/2 - Last week I placed Lee 4th, but this week he was back to his old self! Watching Lee this week I thought to myself, "This is the moment he takes the lead away from Crystal". I really feel that after his performance this week there was a shift, and has great potential to take the crown. This was the best we have seen him, especially without his guitar.What else can I really say about Lee that I have not already said. I'm looking forward to his music career after Idol.

Crystal Bowersox ♪♪♪♪ - First off, I have to say there is something uncommonly sexy about Crystal. She is gorgeous and she just seems to have a glow about her that draws you in. This week she looked amazing and really sorta played up the part of the week's theme in her performance. I agree with Crystal, she does not have to do "power note's" in every performance. Sometimes subtle and enchanting goes just as far, and Crystal was just that. I really think she can take any theme and make it her own effortlessly.

Michael Lynche ♪♪♪♪ - Big Mike did a good job of not show-boating it again this week and keep the reigns in and just delivered a solid vocal. No doubt he has a nice voice and this week's theme just fed right into his niche. Nothing super special, but definitely stayed away from the cheesy territory he usually travels into, so that was good. The question now is just how strong Mike's fan base will remain. We saw them falter before, and they have been coming close again recently. Mike's life in this competition is held by the exuberance or complacency of his voting fan base.

Aaron Kelly ♪♪♪ - This was somewhat of a better week, vocally, for Aaron but that is not saying much based on his current run this season. Although I don't think he should still be in the running (especially over someone like Siobhan, R.I.P.) unfortunately, a lack luster performance by Casey is only going to bolster Aaron's ill-fitting stay (see below). Hopefully the judges giving him decent feedback will cause his fan base to ease up, but they have not proven to do that in the past, and with the fact that Aaron most likely acquired Tim's fan base, I don't know that we will see him go just yet.

Casey James ♪♪ - This one hurts. I like Casey and he was even in my Dream Team Final 4 (which is quickly crumbling). However, this week was not good. He was without his guitar, which was the first nail in his coffin. Aside from that, in the last few weeks his vibrator has become somewhat annoying to me. Now, I too am someone who has a natural vibrato in my voice, but his has become more and more goat-like and strained sounding and, for me, has become a distraction. I don't really know what to say about Casey other than he was completely disconnected this week. I stand by my statement last week that he will flourish as the lead singer of a band, but as a solo artist I see him seriously struggling. I'm nervous for him this week.

Seeing as we are down to the last 5, I think we will now see a bottom 2 versus a bottom 3. At this point any pairing of Michael, Aaron and Casey are what we SHOULD see in the bottom for the next couple weeks. All have spent their share of time there but with Mike having visited the bottom last week and Aaron having not, I think we will see either Aaron or Casey leave us this week. My fingers are crossed that Casey's voters worked just a little bit harder than Aaron's. We shall see!