Final 3

What a night! First off let me say that in the beginning I was tough on Haley and in fact could not understand how she was continuing to stay while the likes of Ashthon, Pia and Stefano were going home. However, in the last few weeks, Haley has slowly turned me into a fan. She has made vast improvements in her stage presence when performing and started choosing songs that fit her and that she sung INCREDIBLY well. At first I just thought she was looking better because better singers were gone, but then I realized Haley was evolving into the artist that she has been and should be. I think while we have seen Lauren Alaina stumble and diminish, Haley has continued to rise up and fight and get better and better each week. She is def the underdog story of this season and I have high hopes for her!

Moving on...

It is nice to have a record exec have a choice in song picks for the final 3 this season. Honestly, his picks were the best ones of the night (as I would expect from someone with his experience and knowledge). That being said, let's see how the Final 3 handled 3 performances. Here is how I think they placed in each round.

Round 1:

1st - Haley Reinhart
2nd - Scotty McCreery
3rd - Lauren Alaina

Round 2:

1st - Scotty McCreery
2nd - Haley Reinhart
3rd - Lauren Alaina (this could have been a moment for her but she slipped up and lost her way at the end)

Round 3:

1st - Haley Reinhart
2nd - Scotty McCreery
3rd - Lauren Alaina

Obviously, in my opinion, Scotty and Haley owned the night and are most deserving to be the Final 2 standing. Do I think it really matters at this point who goes against Scotty? No. However, it would be a much more interesting Finale if Haley was fighting for the crown next to him. We'll find out!

The Final 4

Ok, I am going to keep this short and sweet since, as of late, I have become somewhat disenchanted with a show that SEEMED to be making a comeback in the beginning of the season. At any rate, here are my points of interest about this week's performance show...

1. The show producers and judges (mainly JLo and Randy) are showing so much bias to James Durbin it has become obsurd. On the opposite end of the spectrum their excessivly harsh and Randy's outright rude criticisms of Haley (under the guise of "pushing her because she is so good") are disgusting. Meanwhile Lauren, gets the kid gloves when her performances deserve more critique and less gushing.

2. James Durbin, seriously "set the bar" with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'"?? A bar that Haley did not live up to with her emotionally powerhouse "Earth Song" performance?? Whatever! I will give him props on song #2 though. He performed without overdoing it for once. Not bad!

3. I love Scotty too, JLo...that kid is set for stardom! Unfortunately for all the Country Music labels out there who are chomping at the bit for his Idol run to end, I have NO doubt Idol will keep him under contract and cash in on him.

4. Lauren Alaina....she has a good voice but she is TOTALLY disconnected in her performances. Song #2 was better, but she still comes off awkward on stage most of the time to me. I wish the judges would actually give her some constructive critiques.

5. Althought "backtalk" from a contestant to the judges is usually frowned upon by the voting audience, I believe Haley's was justified. I was actually glad to see her stand up for herself! Then Randy wants to dump on her again by basically saying all of them were good except her. The girl was fighting SO HARD to keep back the tears. Dude, yo, dawg...isn't it time for you to retire your judging spot yet?? You are sounding kinda....pitchy... On the flip side, Haley came back and SLAYED (new Randyism) "I Who Have Nothing"!! I loved this song when Jordin Sparks did it in Season 6 and now Haley has made me love it in a whole new way!! Nice job!!

6. GaGa as a mentor? I have to say...she did great. I liked how she found areas they needed to work on and pointed it out and gave them advice on how/what to do. Hmmmm, the Judging Panel should REALLY take notes!!!

Results....As I have said in the past, I am almost certain that we will have a James/Scotty finale. However, I would be pleasantly surprised by a Haley/Scotty finale. Will Randy's rudness work in Haley's favor or will her "backtalk" be to her demise? At any rate, I think Lauren's time is up and should be sent on her way. We will see tonight!

Final 5: Now & Then

My apologies for not having a blog last week...I think I have run out of steam for this season of Idol. I am just not uber passionate about anyone left on the show. That, along with having a busy schedule kept me from doing my post. However,  That being said, this week brought some pretty awesome moments and one not so awesome, so let's see how everyone ranked.

James Durbin

Song 1 (♪♪ 1/2) - This was a weak start for the show this week. James was all over the place vocally, hitting wrong notes left and right and was back to worrying more about high-five's and running around in the crowd than he was on actually singing. Oh yea...then some screaming. Eh.

Song 2 (♪♪♪) - I give James a 1/2 a note more for this performance only as consideration for the emotions he seemed unable to control. Otherwise, his voice was off through most of the song and that mid-song scream/yell didn't do anything to help. Maybe I am being cynical, but part of me wonders how much of the on stage tears were...well...part of the performance.

 

Jacob Lusk

Song 1 (♪) - Jacob went from being one of the best vocalists in this competition, to being the absolute worst this week and it ALL has to do with song choice. I 100% agree with Randy...he needs to stick with Vandross R&B and NOT Chris Brown R&B (yes, JLo, these is a BIG difference). I really hope this is not the kind of song he wants to put out cause he will be able as successful as George Huff (but without the JHud background singer gig).

Song 2 (♪♪♪) Definitely a better song choice, but not Jacob at his best by any means. He had some moments of struggle and seemed to begin overcompensating for his litle vocal break mid note. Eh.

  

Lauren Alaina

Song 1 (♪♪♪) - I LOVE me some Carrie Underwood, especially this song. Lauren did not ok version of it. If nothing else, this is the best Lauren has looked ever on this show! She tried to perform a little more than normal but you can still see that she is "in her own head". Come on Lauren...where is that voice we heard at your initial audition!?

Song 2 (♪ 1/2) - Wow...there was so much Lauren could have done with this song...but didn't. She did not change it up or make it different or even sing it correctly (not vocal flub at the point where she was SUPPOSED to hit money note). Once she flubbed she literally went into a different key for a few bars and just got back on track long enough to do a little growly note (poorly placed) and end this snoozefest! Yikes! I know the comparisons have already been made, but after this week it is for certain in my mind that Lauren is this seasons Kelly Pickler. I think she will have a country record and do moderately well (in part because of her looks), but she will never be the next Kelly, Carrie or even Pia! Maybe it is her age and lack of experience, or just her inability to get out of her own head and let loose, but SOMETHING is holding her back from being great!

Scotty McCreery

Song 1 (♪♪♪♪♪) - I loved EVERYTHING about this performance. He stretched himself vocally, he was all over the stage (without being all over the place vocally...take note James) and he had confidence beyond measure. This was a FANTASTIC performance and showed Scotty is gonna be a star in country music!

Song 2 (♪♪♪♪) - Scotty brought it back down with this song and showed us his range as an artist and how you don't always have to belt out a song to make an impact. Solid vocals and the best part is Scotty emotes! You can watch him and see the song, not just hear it.

Haley Reinhart

Song 1 (♪♪♪♪ 1/2) - Haley, Haley, Haley. I remember a few weeks back when I was asking America why you were even on this show....these last few weeks you have shown me why! THIS, dear Idol readers, is a prime example of how song choice makes ALL the difference. Haley has been choicing the perfect songs for her voice and style of singing and it has taken her, especially this week, from a 0 to a hero in my book. The judges are completely wrong on their critics and I say kudos should be given to Haley #1 because she got approval on an unreleased GaGa song FROM GaGa!!!!! #2...she learned an unknown song within the the hectic schedule she has in 1 week AND sang the crap out of it!! We know, Judging Panel, you want James to win the show, but don't cheat another contestant out of the praise they deserve!!

Song 2 (♪♪♪♪♪★) - Yes, that is 5 notes AND a star!! This was the best performance of the season...maybe best in a couple seasons! Sheryl Crow brilliantly suggested Haley start out accepella and that was the icing on the cake! Haley gave a flawless performance, no doubt! This is the type of music Haley needs to do...that Adele/Joss Stone/Soul/Jazz/Bluesy type stuff that shows off her unique tone. She was pitch perfect on this tune and had total control. James Durbin could take some lessons from Haley on how to properly use and control the vocal growl/note belting. I just hope this incredible performance (which got a standing O from the judges...too little too late guys) does not make her growing fan base get lazy...I hope they continued to vote like crazy for Haley and keep her another week! She seserves it!!

So....in my opinion...the only people who SHOULD be safe this week are Haley and Scotty. Lauren and Scotty are splitting votes with the young/country crowd so that is going to play out here soon and hopefully in Scotty's favor.  James was the worst of the night, but we all know he is not going anywhere. So, I guess I would say the bottom 2 (if they announce it, because last week they NEVER stated the last group of guys was the bottom 3 or bottom 2....slick production, Ryan!) will be Jacob and Lauren. I thought Jacob was homeward bound last week and I think he is again this week. We shall see!

The Final 7 in the 21st Century

Scotty McCreery (♪♪♪) - Scotty is staying true to his roots, but this song did not do much for me. I know he can do more and he needs to keep pushing himself. Going first is always a tough spot, and if it was anyone other than Scotty performing this song first, I would be worried...but I am not.

James Durbin - (♪♪♪) - As soon as I heard James doing a Muse song I was like "how Adam Lambert" of him....then he came out to perform and he was dressed like Adam Lambert! He did an ok job with the song, except when he started screaming the 2nd verse. James was back to his more-fluff-than-substance performing which is just ok for me.

Haley Reinhart (♪♪♪♪) - Haley, there you are!!! This was BY FAR Haley's best performance EVER. THIS is the music she needs to do. Showing off her raspy, husky vocals that sets her apart this season. She kept her stage antics tame which really helped sell her vocals even more. Wow! Impressive. Of course...that could spell bad news for her this week.

Jacob Lusk (♪♪ 1/2) - I was not feeling it from Jacob this week. It was probably the emtional connection to the song combined with apparent sound issues. Jacob got lost in the background vocals and although he was emoting, I was not feeling totally connected to this performance. He is capable of more and should loosen the reigns a little if he stays.

Casey Abrams (♪♪) - Creepy Jacob is back in full affect. Ugh. Casey was doing so much better when he was "staying in his lane" with a more jazz/soul sound. Casey is NOT a rocker and when he does he gets those intense/insane eyes. It's so weird because in his video clips and outside of performing, Casey is very likeable! Eh...

Stefano Langone (♪♪♪♪♪) - Yes folks, 5 notes for Stefano this week! Here is why...he finally got out of his own head! He performed his arse off as if he had forgotten he was on national television. For the first time I truly felt like Stefano let go and put his all into it. Fantastic job...but is it enough to keep him from going home again this week?

Lauren Alaina (♪♪♪) - Lauren has sort of lost me. I like the girl, sher is sweet and seems funny but that is not translating to me on stage. She is not shining like I know she can. She is definitely holding back if you compare her now to the girl we saw audition in Tennessee. I don't know what to tell her, but she needs to start singing like she wants to be there!

Soooooo...who is in the bottom 3 and who gets the boot? I would put Casey, Lauren and Jacob in the bottom. Of course, Stefano has been in the bottom for the last few weeks and I doubt his fan base is gonna suddenly be strong enough to keep him out again so he is probably in trouble. On top of that, he had a fantastic week which may cause what fan base he does have to slack off. So, will Stefano send another person packing or will his fan base fail him for the last time? We will see!

Final 8: Cinemusic (Yes, I just created that word)

First off, I am still reeling from the ridiculous elimination of Pia last week; however, I am excited to hear she has been vindicated with a record deal practically hours after she got the boot! You go Pia!!

Tonight, we have music from the movies...this is always an interesting theme as some contestants pull out songs from very obscure, unheard of movies (I'm talking to you James Durbin). Who had a box office hit and who had a flop? Let's take a look...

Paul McDonald (♪ 1/2) - I have already said in the past that, to me, Paul is forgetable and going first tonight will not help his cause. Aside from his placement, he was back to the weird "dancing" and at this very moment I could not tell you what song he sang cause I have forgotten. What I can't forget (because he won't let us) is that awful suit which he NOW has in black! Seriously?? I think he is in danger this week.

Lauren Alaina (♪♪ 1/2) - I called it...I KNEW she would do "The Climb"...eh. Her performance seemed disjointed to me. I could not get into it. I totally get where Jimmy is coming from with the whole "stealing Pia's voters" and he is right; however, there is no way Lauren would be the one to do it, especially not with this song/performance. I like Lauren but I feel she has lost momentum again. She also sounded like she was having some vocal issues on top of it. Anyway, I just didn't feel a connection with this performance.

Stefano Langone (♪♪♪♪) - I agree with the judges, Stefano BROUGHT IT! I believe this was his best performance so far since the Wild Card round. I really felt his emotions and he sang the heck out of the song. I want Stefano to do well and I still am shocked that he does not seem to have a strong fan base! I hope those of us (me included) who are voting stepped it up enough to keep him around another week.

Scotty McCreery (♪♪♪ 1/2) - It's a funny thing with Scotty...he is consistent and sticks to what he is good at and gets criticized by the media/public. Why can't a contestant be really good at a specific genre and stick to it? Do you see Brad Paisley trying to do pop or R&B? No. Scotty is a solid country artist and I give him (and the producers he works with in the studio) kudos for sticking to it without making the songs cheesy. Did this performance knock my socks off? No...but it was still good and he is a solid contender and if I am being honest I think he is in the running to win the whole thing.

Casey Abrams (♪♪) - Yikes on so many levels! Casey going against the guidance of industry professionals? Casey's appearance? Casey's playing the standup bass again? Casey's creepy faces are back? Ugh...just when I was starting to have hope for Casey he falls back to his old ways. This performance was lackluster and awkward. Sadly, I do not feel his risk in going against the advice of Jimmy and Will.I.Am paid off.

Haley Reinhart (♪♪ 1/2) - "Call Me" is SUCH a karaoke sounding song when anybody but Blondie does it and Haley didn't do anything to change that (take not of cheesy jazz hands pictured left). Of all the songs out of all the movies, this was NOT what Haley should have picked. Jimmy Iovine is right on the money when he is telling these contestants they need to pick songs that will make them win, not just songs they like or are comfortable with. However, Haley has garnered (shockingly) a decent following that has kept her out of the bottom 3 for a few weeks straight. Will she keep riding the safe wave?

Jacob Lusk (♪♪♪♪) - Jacob is back people! I am sure Jacob knows he has quite a hurdle to overcome after his comment in his video last week. On one hand I am glad Jimmy corrected him for it, but on the other I wish it would not have been refreshed in America's mind again. Either way, Jacob brought a fantastic performance this week. I love when he holds out for the money notes until the end and gives us something to look forward to. Great job!!

James Durbin (♪♪♪♪) - I don't know that I would call this song/performance "metal" even if James did the matrix move during the guitar solo; however, it was a good vocal by James. As you know, I am not a fan of James, but I can give credit where credit is due and he was on point this week. I like it better when he drops some of the antics and just rips it vocally, he does have quite a range when he uses it properly. He needs to be careful of the cockiness though....how do you tell the head of Interscope Records how he can or cannot tell a good song?!?! LOL Well, James is "green" so a good smack down by a professional will hopefully help keep him grounded. Good performance though.

So, who goes home?? At this point in the game I cannot figure out America and how they vote, but here is who I think is in trouble this week: Paul, Lauren, Casey and (sadly, based on history) Stefano. My preference for who SHOULD go home would be either Paul or Casey. We will see what America decides!

*photo credit to Michael Beker/Fox

Final 9: Rockin' For Votes

Let me just say, this competition is definitely on! From here on out, no matter what I or anyone else thinks about each contestant, it is going to be tough to make cuts. Every single contestant in this Top 9 are talented in their own right and it will all come down to the strength of their individual fan bases. This is nothing new, but with contestants who are not leaving any room for error and putting on great performances each week, it becomes less about who is good enough, and more about who is popular enough. There is no slack for slip ups or missteps right now, so EVERYONE has to be on their "A" game because the safety net of a Judge's Save is LONG GONE (still...I feel mistakenly). So, let's look at how everyone ranked in my eyes this week.

Jacob Lusk (♪♪♪ 1/2) - I am nervous for Jacob this week; although he gave a solid performance it was nothing super standout and combine that with going first on a night that, in my opinion, was as strong of a night of performances as Motown week, he may be forgotten. Again, I really like Jacob, he is uber talented vocally and he is in my Top 3 without a doubt and I think he did great, but like I said...it's now about the strength of the voting fan base and doing things to cause new voters to want to vote for you.

Haley Reinhart (♪♪♪) - Do I think this was Haley's best vocals in the finals? Yes. However, it was very copycat and she did not do anything new with the song. I think she misunderstood the judges comments about her having a Janis Joplin sound and thought they wanted her to copy Janis...that was an incorrect assumption. Again, I think she did ok, but she still has yet to show me who SHE is. However, she seems to have developed a fan base as she has not even visited the bottom 3 in a few weeks. We will see how her fans do for her this week. In my opinion she is the weakest of the bunch.

Casey Abrams (♪♪♪♪) - Ok, do I think the judges made a mistake using the Save on Casey with 11 people left? YES (as you all know well by now) but I will also say that his near-elimination experience has jolted him back to actually SINGING and for THAT I am happy. 2 weeks in a row now we have finally heard the voice that got Casey to where he is. He minimized the creepy glares and tones down the screamy growls and we were left with a solid vocal performance. Bringing back the standup bass definitely helped his case too! Good job, Casey!

Lauren Alaina (♪♪♪) - Lauren didn't do anything for me this week. I don't know what has happened to her during this competion, but she went from being a strong (and strongly pimped) competitor to a see-saw of good and not-so-good performances. Whatever it is, she has GOT to snap out of it if she wants to continue on. Granted, my opinion this week might be effected by the fact that Kelly Clarkson OWNED this song in the 1st season of the show and since I have never heard anyone do it anywhere close to her level, so I think Lauren's performance this week will be eclipsed by that. Part of me wonders if the Producers pushed her into that song in hopes of having the Kelly comparison, however, I think the WRONG comparison will be made from this performance.

James Durbin (♪♪♪♪) - Yes, you are seeing correctly, I gave James 4 ♪'s. This is exactly what James needed to do...stop jumping around, screaming and being a faux rocker and just sing. On the flip side, this moment seemed almost too much like the "Mad World" moment Adam Lambert had on his season, but regardless James showed he can actually sing. Now if he would just quit focusing SO MUCH on getting right in the camera lense and just perform. I will give kudos where kudos are due and say James did a great job vocally this week.

Scotty McCreery (♪♪♪♪) - All I can say is that this kid is destined for country stardom no matter how long he lasts on Idol. He's genuine, likeable, entertaining and has a unique style/sound. I love that he (and the music producers) are able to give each song it's own country twist without making it cheesy. Kudos!

Pia Toscano (♪♪♪♪ 1/2) - THANK YOU PIA for finally showing the world you CAN do uptempo and still kill it! I absolutely love this girl and I cannot wait to buy her album when it comes out. She is the most deserving to win this whole deal and I hope she does. I would have given her 5 stars but I still think (like JLo was saying) that she can do even more in the performance aspect. But still...LOVE!!

Stefano Langone (♪♪♪) - Interesting how these 2 seem to end up performing next to each other in the line up...anywho...Stefano started out a little rough with the falsetto but once he was able to get into full voice he was back on track. Although I think Stefano has great potential for the current music scene and I think he has a great voice and awesome range and technique, I am worried about him this week. We have already seen he does not have the strongest fan base and, if I am being honest, he did not pull out all the stops this week. I want to see him succeed, but we need to see more from him. He needs to break out of his shell more.

Paul McDonald (♪♪♪ 1/2) - I think this is the most enjoyable I have found Paul to be vocally, but I just can't get myself to be enthusiastic about his performances. I think he has the total package of an artist and the unique voice but I just don't see him as somone who's album would get much Top 40 airplay and I don't see myself running out to buy a CD of his if it was in stores. That's just me though. Paul seems to have a solid fan base and his apearance in the Bottom 3 last week will definitely put them in rally mode which will probably keep him out of danger this week.

Like I said at the start of the blog, from here on out it is going to be tough to see any of these contestants go, but we can only have 1 winner (unless Idol throws another curveball at us this season! lol) I think everyone did great but based on things other than singing talent I am going to say we will see Stefano, Jacob and Lauren in the bottom 3 this week. I would also not be surprised to see Haley in the bottom 3 again; after a couple weeks of safety maybe her fan base will slack off some? As much as it hurts me to say it, I would not be surprised if Stefano's lack of fan base gets him sent home this week. I HOPE I am wrong though. Only time will tell.

Top 11 v 2.0

This week is Elton...excuse me....SIR Elton John...eh. After such a kick-butt week last week with Motown this week is kind of a let down. Some of my favorites were not on their "A" game and the others just continued to be unimpressive. So, with that lackluster opening paragraph..let's dive in!

Scotty McCreery (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Scotty found THE country song of Elton John's and made it his own! I have never heard this song, so I had nothing to compare it to, but Scotty did a great job with it. He continues to stay true to form. Not outstanding, but a good job this week.

Naima Adedapo (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Not her best performance, but she definitely put a new spin on this old classic. In my opinion, contrary to the judges, I thought it worked. However, it missed that Naima spark that she normally brings to her performances.

Paul McDonald (♪♪) - Boring, forgettable, he got lost in the backing vocals and the last "whisper" note was just odd. Seemed like he ran out of breath and not like something that was on purpose. Eh.

Pia Toscano (♪♪♪ 1/2) - PIA!!! Not another ballad!! That aside, Pia scared me in the beginning of this song as it did not start strong and it sounded like her voice was not on par (come to find out she has been sick). However, like always Pia brings it and nails her vocals! Pia, please make good on your promise and bring us something mid/uptempo, we KNOW you can do it. For an example of what I think Pia should do, refer to this link of one of her original songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brz3HKhthnI&feature=related THIS is the type of music she needs to be doing!

Stefano Langone (♪♪♪ 1/2) - This week, for me, I could not get into Stefano's performance. Maybe he is trying too hard after being so close to elimination last week, but I didn't get the connection like I did in his performance last week. At first I thought his song choice would be perfect for him, but then once he started singing, I knew it wasn't. The arrangement was not right, I think he should have slowed it down a little. I want him to do well, and hopefully he has enough of a fan base to fight for him this week to be safe, but I don't think this was the performance to come back with after last week's near dismissal. Fingers crossed!

Lauren Alaina (♪♪♪) - Am I watching the same show as the judges this week?? I did not get the same vibe with Lauren this week, I think she was way better last week. She sang well and looked great, but it was another forgettable performance of a sweet singer (a la Thia). She has to step it up.

James Durbin (♪♪♪) - This performance was too much fluff and not enough meat. Moving ALL OVER the studio and then the whole backbend on the floor while the piano shot out flames...overkill and pointless to me. It seemed like a bad attempt at "rock and roll". Eh. At least the Idol stylists are making his hair look better. Oops...a plug for Pepsi. Has James not noticed the Coke icons and references EVERYWHERE? lol Also, apparently his comment has caused great upset in the Jackson family...no, seriously, they are mad! Odd.

Thia Megia (♪♪ 1/2) - I will continue to go on record stating that Thia is a very talented vocalist, but she is not an artist and she has A LOT to learn about entertaining. She is missing the star quality that some others have bursting out of their pores this season. She gets lost in the shuffle.

Casey Abrams (♪♪♪ 1/2) - OMG...is Casey....SINGING??? I cannot believe it! Finally we get a glimpse of the voice/style that got him to the Finals. Oops...there comes the creepy face and growling at the end. I did not think he could hold that off for long. Overall, though, probably his best performance in the Finals. Still over him though.

Jacob Lusk (♪♪♪♪) - Jacob had an outstanding performance last week, so I was interested to see how he followed it up. Sadly, the sound mix was TERRIBLE and much of the time Jacob was overpowered by the backing vocals and the money moments were lost in the mix. All that aside, Jacob is still a top contendor and remains one of my Top 3 of this season. Next week, sound guys, PLEASE get the mix right.

Haley Reinhart (♪♪♪) - Haley in the "pimp spot"??? Really!??! Last week was Haley's best performance of the finals and tonight she slipped back into her old ways a little bit. Trying too hard to be "sexy" and oversinging/performing. She had moments where we got glimpses of her unique/smokey voice, but overall it was not as good as obviously the judges perceived it. "Best of the night", Randy? I think not.

So, TWO go home this week thanks to the judges WASTING their save last week. This competition is tough because there are a lot of good contestants this year. However, this week's performance's were weak overall and nobody really stood out in my mind, which makes it even tougher. It all comes down to fan base...I don't think anyone did anything special to acquire new fans/votes this week so it depends on how strong they already are. Here is who I think is in trouble this week: Haley, Thia, Naima, Paul and Stefano (sadly). Which 2 will leave us this week....I guess we will find out!

The Top 11: A Shake Up In Motor City!

Oh American Idol, what great lengths you will go to ensure we have a great show...even as far as Producer, Nigel Lythgoe, Twittering that this week's results show was going to have some "shocking news". I immediately knew that Casey was in the bottom 3. Is that news "shocking" to me? No, I predicted him in the bottom 3, and rightfully so. Let's take a look at all that happened this week, shall we?

The theme was Motown and, yet again, it proved to be the BEST week so far. Motown always seems to be a theme that the contestants flourish with, and this season was no different. I feel every contestant brought their "A" game this week. Let's take a quick look at how I ranked them this week...

Casey Abrams (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Ok, I will give Casey props for toning down the screaming/growling thing. However, still deducting points for the crazy killer faces he makes during his performance. If you are a fan of my facebook page (www.facebook.com/idolmoments) you know I predicted Casey as being in the bottom 3 (and I was right). Ultimately we know Casey received the lowest votes and SHOULD have gone home, but the judges used their save to keep him (more on THAT debacle to come later in this blog).

Thia Megia (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Props to Thia for FINALLY doing an uptempo song and showing some levity! Was really digging it until she flub some lyrics (yes, Thia, I noticed) and sort of lost her momentum from there. Good effort, but she deserved a bottom 3 spot this week.

Jacob Lusk (♪♪♪♪♪) - This was Jacob's moment, for me, so far this season. This even out ranks his performance of God Blss the Child during Hollywood week! Seriously, I still get goosebumps thinking about this performance. He showed that he has control (which I LOVE that the judges and Jimmy are emphasizing with these contestants...it's not ALL about blow out notes!). I posted a status update on FB that said "If Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson had a love child (or little brother for that matter) it would be Jacob!" lol This was a fantastic performance!!


Lauren Alaina (♪♪♪♪) - Lauren was back in action this week. Everything about why we loved Lauren in her initial auditions was present tonight. I don't know for sure what the issues were she was having the last few weeks, but I bet I have a feeling she can be another lesson as to why you never "google" yourself when you become a figure in the public eye. Anyway, she was on her game this week!


Stefano Langone (♪♪♪♪) - I completely disagree with the judges on their critique. I feel Stefano showed restraint and connection in his performance. The boy has pipes and I think he gave a great performance...Bottom 2?!?! NO WAY! America definitely got that one wrong!!


Haley Reinhart (♪♪♪ 1/2) - FINALLY we got to see the voice that Haley has been hiding under bright red lipstick and cheesy stage presence. I don't know if it was the straigh hair or the short shorts or the hand movements, but Haley reminded me of Mariah Carey this week. I actually enjoyed her vocals this week as she also toned down the oversinging she usualy does. We got to see the smokey, soulful vocals which is what obviously got her this far with the judges. I still had her in my bottom 3 since that has been her spot since the start of the finals. However, America proved me wrong and she was not even in the bottom 3. Let's hope she does not fall victim to the curse of a contestant going home the week after FINALLY having a good performance. We will see.


Scotty McCreery (♪♪♪♪) - I was nervous for Scoty this week, but luckily for him Idol is working with some awesome, big name producers who know what they are doing. They took one of my favorite Stevie songs and made it into a solid sounding country tune. Scoty did a great job of delivering it with energy and kept it from coming off cheesy (or loung singer-ish as they said was possible)


Pia Toscano (♪♪♪♪ 1/2) - The ONLY reason I did not give Pia a perfect score is because she fell back into her old routine of power ballads. I want to see her bring that heart-stopping voice to a pop/up tempo song. She can do it...and MUST! I am officially in love and will be buying her debut CD when it comes out!!

Paul McDonald (♪♪♪) - Once again, I forgot Paul McDonald as I thought about all the performances while writing this blog...THAT is his problem. His voice is unique and he has a unique look and fashion sense...however (to quote an old Simonism) he is "forgetable". I will give him props because with his guitar he is less akward and drunken looking on stage, but he just doesn't have a wow factor. For this reason I put him in the bottom 3. I figured America, like with Casey, was getting tired of the weird schtick. Of course, America proved me wrong again and Paul was safe this week. Oh well.


Naima Adedapo (♪♪♪♪) - I admit it, I have become a Naima fan. I look forward to what she is gonna bring us each week with her performance. This week she did a great job of focusing on her vocals and keeping them solid while still being able to incorporate the dancing part of who she is. Something about her is just very likeable and that is definitley helping her cause. Great job this week!

James Durbin (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Ok, we have established I am not a James fan (hold your boo's) but I will admit this week he definitely gave a solid vocal and, like Casey, held back some on the shrill screaming he normally does. However, I could not give him 4 stars because he is still TOO cheesy for me. It's like a little kid who just noticed his parents are video recording him every time he is in front of the camera. Too hammy...it keeps me from taking him seriously and I think THAT is why I struggle to root for him. That aside, he gave a great vocal this week and definitely has incredible range...he just needs to hone it.

So, let's talk the results show, shall we? I had posted on FB that I felt Haley, Paul and Casey would be the bottom 3 this week. Haley, because she is always there (deservedly) and Paul and Casey because I felt like America was probably wearing thin on their schtick...I was 1/2 right. I had a feeling when word got out that there was going to be "shocking" news on Idol's results show that I had nailed it on the head, and I had. Yes, Casey was in the bottom 3 along with Stefano (what!?) and Thia (not such a shocker). I had a feeling Thia would be safe and was biting my fingernails hoping to hear Casey called as the lowest vote getter...and he was! Now cut to the "prepared drama" of the "Sing For Your Life" moment with Casey. 1st of all...they cut him off seconds into his performance. Really? THEN they tell him they are using the save!?!?! WHAT!? Although I knew he and Stefano were 2 people they could possibly use the save on, I never thought the judges actually would! Here is the thing...if America is ALREADY "getting it wrong" with Casey and Stefano being bottom 2 WHY would you not hold out a little longer since there are still 10 people left to go!! What happens if America gets it wrong in a couple weeks and Pia gets sent home?? Do we REALLY want to see someone like Casey win this?? Seriously?? I just think it was a dumb move on the judges/producers part. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL FOLKS....ALL 11 will go on tour this year! Now there are 2 potential reasons the producers decided this...

1. They REALLY love Casey and want to be sure he is on tour.
2. When they send home 2 next week...how will they decide which one rounds out the "Touring 10" or would they have to do a tour with only the Top 9?

At any rate...with the judges save already played, and barring no other Producer surprises, this season just got A LOT more interesting. There is no room for voters to get lax on their favorite. This week showed that NOBODY is safe. Hold on to your seats, Idolators, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Until next time...

Top 12 Performances: Not Feeling Nirvana

In 1978 the Earth was blessed with the birth of me and the #1 song on the charts was "How Deep Is Your Love" by the BeeGees. Ah the good ole days...but I digress. This week the Idols pick songs from the year THEY were born...the 70's were not represented unfortunately. This was an odd week and some of the "Top Tier" contestants faltered. Let's see what kind of performances the contestants birthed this week. (P.S. I am trying to switch things up with the blog layout so, enjoy!) 

Naima Adedapo (♪♪♪) - Naima is the one contestant I did not think I would care for this season, yet she has continued to surprise me. In her Semi Final performance she did a jazzy, yet old fashioned version of "Summertime" and I thought she would not be a good fit for this season. However, the last 2 weeks, Naima has come out and given us entertaining and surprisingly modernized performances. Is her vocals lacking because of it? Yes, obviously. She has to learn how balance "performance" and vocals. I don't know how much longer the performance aspect can hold up her lack of solid vocals though. We shall see.

Paul McDonald (♪♪) - Funniest thing...when doing this week's blog I totally left off Paul and did not realize it until I was adding the pics. What does that tell you about how I felt about his performance this week? One word: odd.

Thia Megia (♪♪♪) - Another solid vocal performance from Thia. She is technically the best vocalist in the competition...AND probably the most boring. At the rate Thia is going, she will not last much longer in this competition. I don't know that there is anything more to say about her this week.

 James Durbin (♪♪♪) - James does not do anything for me. He gave a decent performance of one of Bon Jovi's more lackluster songs. Eh. Other than working hard at cheesing for the camera, I think he is just sort of "living on a prayer" (pun intended) of being the only "rocker" this season.This is evidenced even more by his presumptuous comment about not doing an Aerosmith song "until the finale". Confidence is one thing...cockiness is another and America is putoff by cockiness. Tread lightly Mr. Durbin. However, I don't think he will hang on past 5th or 6th place if he is lucky.

Haley Reinhart (♪) - Again I ask...WHY is Haley in this competition?? Every time I see her I think how much BETTER this competition would be with Kendra Chantelle in it. Ugh. AND...she is gonna try to do Whitney?? The only thing that stood out about this performance was her bright red lips (and the continued cheesy dramatics). America...please stop voting for her!

Stefano Langone (♪♪♪♪ 1/2) - Stefano has grown to be my favorite male contestant. I love how his voice is a blend of old soul/gospel and contemporary R&B/Pop. He nailed this song to the floor and sang his lungs off! This kid is working for his spot and he is earning it! One of the best of the night!

Pia Toscano (♪♪♪♪ 1/2) - How fitting that Pia follow Stefano because I have decided I would like to see a Pia/Stefano finale. Yep, I have already made up my mind! I think these are the 2 best contenders and most likely to be successful in the Top 40 music scene right now. I think at this point, Pia is poised (lots of P words right there) to take the whole thing. She was Idol's best kept secret (maybe even unbeknownst to them) until the moment she belted out "I'll Stand By You" in the Semi Finals. She has the look AND the pipes to back it up. I believe she could be the redemption for Katharine McPhee's unjustified loss to Taylor Hicks in season 5. The key for Pia is to keep doing more contemporary/upbeat music that will showcases her relevance in today's music along with her amazing vocal skills.

Scotty McCreery (♪♪♪♪) - Does Scotty seem like a 1 trick pony? Maybe. However, the buzz word for this season seems to be "in your lane" and Scotty is doing that. There is no hiding the fact he is a country singer so why should he stray from that. There is no doubt his signature sound is his deep baritone voice...it has worked well for Josh Turner and Trace Adkins, so why not Scotty too? Yes, he could challenge himself by picking some songs that show off some more of his range, because I believe he does have a larger range than he is showing. but Scotty should not feel like he needs to pull out a Justin Timberlake or Usher song to show range. Right now, he is in the fast "lane" to a great country music career, win or lose this show.

Karen Rodriguez (♪♪ 1/2) - For those who do not know, Karen is a Latina female. I know, it is a shock because she is trying very hard not to pigeon hole herself into that, but it's true. Sarcasm aside...Karen is not bringing anything other than being Latina. First off...was she trying to be a 70's Space chick with her outfit this week? That aside, her vocals seemed stronger this week....until she switched to singing in spanish. What the heck happened to her vocals there?? Regardless, this week's performance is not going to do much to help her out of the Bottom 3 spot again this week.

Casey Abrams (♪) - Seriously...the jig is up. I no longer am entertained or humored by Casey. I was nervous when I heard he would be doing (for the first time ever on AI) a song by Nirvana...I honestly did not think he was the guy to trail blaze this new path in the AI music library. Turns out I was right. Not only did Casey scream and crazy-eye his way through the song, but it almost came off like a joke to me. Part of me wonders if his friends back home are gathered around their TV's laughing their butts off at American Idol and America for advancing Casey so far. Are we being punked?? I'm sorry, I just don't see how the Casey we have come to know these last couple weeks will ever be successful in the music biz. Bring back the Casey from the Hollywood week and Semi Finals and maybe we can talk.

Lauren Alaina (♪♪♪) - This was Lauren's weakest performance for me. I am not sure why she was not pursuaded away from trying to do this song, but she should have been. I think she is still rattled from last week's performance/reviews (which were not that bad to be honest) and she seemed unsure and insecure. This supports my thought that she does not have thick enough skin for this biz right now. I still believe she is one of the better singers out of the bunch and despite it all I think she has a strong fan base and given she avoids any huge missteps, she should last a long time in the contest. We need cute and adorable Lauren back though!

Jacob Lusk (♪♪ 1/2) - First let me say...Carrie Underwood's performance of this song in her season should have retired this song because nobody will do it like her (in my opinion). Secondly...why in the world did Jacob get the "pimp spot" this week?? Definitely not a worthy choice (no offense, Jacob). That being said, Jacob butchered this song. All I can say to Jacob is ease up! It is one thing to work for your spot like Stefano...it is another to overwork and Jacob is overworking right now and on top of that he is fumbling his performances. I want to see Jacob do better because I like him and think he is a crazy gifted singer...the first step in success is song choice and THAT is what he needs to learn. Once he has the right song he will not have to work so hard to "sell it"...it will just happen. You can do it Jacob!

So...based on my rankings Haley, Casey and Karen/Jacob should be in the bottom 3. However, I doubt that is how America will vote entirely. Surprisingly, the fanbase that got Karen in the Finals  past Ashthon and Kendra have not been so supportive and I don't think she will be safe even though she was in the bottom last week, so I think we will see her return. Haley and Casey obviously have a fanbase that got them in and have kept them safe but perhaps Casey's butchering of Nirvana could turn people against him. There is also Paul who's "quirkiness"(?) may become tiring to America (I had forgotten about him in while writting this blog)...will his pearly whites save him again?? Honestly, I think Thia's lack of charisma may earn her a spot in the bottom 3 from America along with Karen and....Casey? (Could this be the first "shocker" of the season? It wouldn't be for me...obviously) I guess we will find out soon enough!

Until next time, Idolators! 

A Quick Glaze Over the Baker's Dozen

First off, my apologies...I know there are a couple people who were looking for my blog about performances this week. To be fair, I had started it but time has not been on my side the last couple weeks, and I was not able to finish it in time. It could also be because I was just not inspired by this week's performances to even write anything. Trust me, much of what I had started to blog was not pleasant. So, instead I am going to do this little overview of my thoughts on the performances and results.

Performances:

1. The music/vocal mix was aweful! Were they singing to a track? Does the sound man know how to mix? It just made all the performances seem lackluster and in turn caused many of the contestants to struggle trying to hear the music to maintain a good performance.
2. Bad song choices: Ashthon, Jacob, Paul, Haley and Karen.
3. Bad performances: Jacob (the complete train wreck of a key change), Paul (No, JLo, you are right, I did not get it! The dancing did NOT match the song style/tempo and just came off odd), Haley (boring...why is America voting for her??).
4. Good performances: Scotty (Not sure he can do any wrong right now in this competition), Stefano (although the producers could have done better transitioning between the R&B and Disco sections of the song so it was less irratic), Pia (The ending was sort of choppy; she should have left it at the first money note ending),  Naima (I didn't want to like her for some reason, but I do more and more. At least she entertained despite sacrificing solid vocals...kudos for not being boring and utilizing the "pimp spot" this week!).

Results:
1. No Casey because of some sort of bleeding ulcer? Wonder how long the producers will be able to make concessions for him, especially if stress makes it act up because things will only get worse weeks down the line.
2. Lauren, Ashthon and Haley in the bottom. Lauren, I love ya but you better get some thicker skin real quick.
3. Ashthon vs. Haley in Bottom 2 seemed like a no brainer to me but maybe America does not have any brains left cause Haley stays?? Ugh.

Ok, I get it....Ashthon has not done much to make herself stand out. As we all know, I had touted her as a "contestant to watch" since before we even met her in an Idol episode. I stand by what I have said about her though and here is what I think her problem has been....song choice. The music that Ashthon has done on her own, prior to Idol, is VERY current pop/r&b a la Beyonce and the like; however, Ashthon has not given us that contemporary image since she has been on Idol. She has picked out dated and unknown songs that did not feature her strong points vocally or stylistically. I still believe Ashthon was the total package that Idol was looking for this year (as I still believe Kendra was too), but Ashthon did not make the right choices to advance herself as far as she could have gone. I was very sad and upset to see her go, but on the other hand, I understand why America was not voting for her. I don't think we saw the REAL artist Ashthon is and could be and that is a shame.

At this point, my front runners to win this competition are Scotty, Pia and Lauren. I know a lot of people are praising Casey as being a major threat, but I am looking at the winner who has the most potential to be a star outside of Idol and I don't think he could pull it off. The show desperately needs to produce another big name star like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Pia has the makings to take this whole thing but she has to show us something more than power ballad singing and also give us a glimpse of her personality. Scotty seems to have the most momentum at this point and I think no matter what happens with the show, he is going to be huge in the country music scene. I'm on the fence about Lauren, I like her and I think she has a great voice no doubt. I am also not sure the Idol people would know what to do with her as the winner. Would she be country? Would she be pop? Would she be crossover? Paul has the most "artist" vibe and comes off like someone already in the biz, but I don't see him doing well in mainstream music (remember Taylor Hicks, Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze?). but, as I find time and time again with this show....who knows really? LOL I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting season folks, so buckle up and let's enjoy the ride!

Until next time!
Peace!

Semi Finals: The Gals

The girls definitely mixed it up and gave us some real surprises...both bad and good. To me, the Top 5 is obvious, however, America does not vote on singing talent alone. The girls brought sexiness, sassiness and even some cringe-worthiness. How did they stack up in my book? Let's take a look...it's reading rainboooowwwwww. *ahem* Moving on....

Ty-Tynisa Wilson (♪) - Yikes! This was a ROUGH way to start the show. I don't think that TyTy (yes, I just nicknamed her...much easier to type) ever got on pitch through the entire song. Her notes were so sharp you could cut yourself on them. I was hoping for more from TyTy but didn't expect it based on what we saw of her in Hollywood...and she lived up to my expectations.

Naima Adadepo (♪♪♪) - Ok, wasn't sure about Naima, but I had her listed as a potential upset in my Predictions blog. After this performance I will say I like her but don't think she is at all what Idol is looking for this year. She definitely should go the jazz music route and would be a hit I have no doubt. She is just a little too old fashion for this season...but definitely stands out from the crowd with her look and style...and those eyes!

Kendra Chantelle (♪♪♪♪♪) - Perfect score...she did AMAZING. Some people do not agree with me (you know who you are) but I do not care. This girl has amazing pipes and style and should already be a star! I am afraid her lack of airtime in the initial rounds, compared to what other contestants received, will be a detriment to her as she has not been able to build a fan base. It will be a real shame if she does not get put through to the Finals as I think she will give some of the other girls a run for their money.

Rachel Zevita (♪♪♪) - Honestly, I think the girl did a decent job. Was it VERY Broadway? Yes. She looked like she took offense to that when Steven said it, but it's really not that bad, she could do well there. I like how she totally changed up the song to something completely different that fit her style. Do I think she should make the Finals? No. She is not what Idol is looking for this year.

Karen Rodriguez (♪♪♪ 1/2) - I like Karen, I think she has spunk and style and star quality; however, this performance left something to be desired for me. I think Karen has more to offer, but we did not see it tonight.

Lauren Turner (♪♪♪) - Another scarcely shown contestant prior to the Top 24. She has a decent voice, but is lacking that "artist" feel that is dominating the show this season. I'm not sure what to think of her...I liked her voice but she seemed awkward on stage. She seems like a contestant we would have seen in Season 1 or 2...if that makes any sense.

Ashthon Jones (♪♪♪♪) - We all know I have been touting Ashthon as one to watch this season and I still stand behind that. She is definitely the standout R&B diva of this season and she looks like a star! She has great stage presence, confidence (without being cocky), seems sweet and down to earth AND had solid vocals. She made me proud!

Julie Zorilla (♪ 1/2) - Here is one of those "surprising: bad" moments. I have been a fan of Julie and she has a great voice, but she did not show it at all with this performance. She needs to be doing songs in her higher register as that is where her money is...she is not a low register singer. It was just all wrong tonight and the only thing that will get her through is that we have seen A LOT of her so far on the show and people may have already invested in her.

Haley Reinhart (♪♪) - Soooo yea...um...where to start. Ok, a positive...Haley has a nice voice...however, she over sang and OVER performed. I think she was trying to be sexy? I dunno I literally LOL'd one time during her performance....plain and simple she came off COMPLETELY cheesy and fake. Definitely blew her one chance.

Thia Megia (♪♪♪♪) - This girl does NOT sound 15. Her voice is mature beyond it's years and is pitch perfect and pure. I liked how she brought it down and did a stripped down performance in contrast to the other high energy ones of the night. Starting out accapella is always a strong move on this show. However, she is very low key and although we have seen more of her than of other contestants, I don't know how much of a fan base she has built, but Jasmine Trias of season 3 proved that the Asian/Philippino vote can be very STRONG!

Lauren Alaina (♪♪♪♪ 1/2) - This girl will no doubt make the Finals and most likely sail through this competition for the long haul. I enjoyed every moment of her performance and it doesn't hurt that she reminds me so much of Kelly Clarkson either. :) Another one who shows that talent knows no age!

Pia Toscano (♪♪♪♪♪) - A second perfect score of the night from the ladies! At first I was shocked that Pia got the "pimp spot" over Lauren, but it did not take long to see why. This girl pulled out all the stops at JUST the right moment in this competition. I had no idea she had such a range! I get goosebumps even watching this performance over again on You Tube! Outstanding! And again...another total package!

What a night! The girls definitely brought their "A" game and it is going to be another tough group to make cuts from. Based on MY ranking I believe the Top 5 girls are: Kendra, Pia, Ashthon, Lauren A and Thia. I would not be surprised to see Julie's fan base give her one of those spots despite a lack luster performance. I guess we will see what America is thinking tonight AND THEN see who the judges pick. I am very curious about this part because on Tuesday Ryan said the judges will pick a wild card, then last night he kept referring to Wild Card'S.....he's playing games and I don't like it. Anyway, tonight should be a good show...

Peace out! 

Semi Finals: The Dudes

Well, let me start off by saying that I apparently got wrong info about how the Semi Finals would work...I guess there is no "Bakers Dozen" as I so wittily (is that a word??) named them. It's just going to be a dozen +1...not as witty. I digress...the point is even 2 less talented people will get to be in the Finals and that just made the competition even tougher! Last night was a great start to what is turning out to be a promising season. The talent pool is deep this year and with only 1 shot during this semi final round...it's sink or swim! So, let's dive right in to the guys performances (wow...lots of swimming references!)

If you are an avid reader of my blog (one of the 7 or so lol) you know I rank the contestants with music notes (you know...kinda like stars....) in my weekly blog based on their performances...unlike many things on Idol this year, THAT will stay the same. Here we go....

Clint Gamboa (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Let me say, I am not a fan of this kid and I am sure America is not either after ousting "little" Jacee from his group during Hollywood week; however, "Jun-Bug" did a pretty good job on this song that has been sung to death on Idol. It was a good, energetic start to the show and his vocals were on point. Decent job.

Jovany Barreto (♪♪) - Zzzzzzzzzzzz...Oh, oops...sorry, I nodded off. Yea..boring! I have never felt Jovany was good enough to advance out of Hollywood and he proved me right. His voice isn't bad, but it is amateur and he has NO stage presence. This is an example of a song that has been sung to death and was NOT resusitated. Like Randy said, he brought nothing new to the song. He better hope his muscles are big enough to carry him into the Finals...but I doubt it.

Jordan Dorsey (-♪) - Yes, a NEGATIVE star, my first one ever, for many reasons. First off, I have never been a fan of Jordan's and this performance did not help his case. Seriously...Usher "OMG"?? OMG is right but NOT in the way I think he was hoping. Then he has the nerve to say this song is NOT the kind of artist he wants to be NOR shows who he is....OMG is more fitting after THAT statement. How about DUMB? 

Tim Halperin (♪♪ 1/2) - Tim, Tim, Tim...you let me down here. I had previously stated that Tim/Paul were vying for the same spot but that I liked Tim just a little more...this performance changed that for me. This was boring and did not show off his great vocal ability. He did not seem into it at all and it was sort of just a blur for me about half way through. Sad. 

Brett Loewenstern (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Brett has always been someone I liked...he is unique in every way and seems very genuine. He took this song and made it his own and showed his style as a performer. Brett is not going to be for everyone...I think people will either love him or hate him...the constant hair tossing was a bit much, but everyone has their little subconscious ticks. Do your thang boy! lol

James Durbin (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Is it just me or did anyone else notice the intense effects they had on James' mic. Bleh. Yes, James does have range vocally, and tonight he did seem to be able to control the screeching a little better than normal and keep it on pitch and that is why I have given him 3 1/2 "notes"...however, I just am not a fan. Something about him is just offputting to me. Rawk on though, dude.  

Robbie Rosen (♪ 1/2) - Going into this round of the competition I liked the kid, but I listed him as an "on the fence" for me. Tonight, he pushed himself to the wrong side of that fence. I don't mind some good vocal runs in a song, but not every sentence...sounded like he could never find the melody. Yikes! Again, nice vocal tone, but this kid is not ready for the competition yet. He needs to take some time to mature his vocals and figure out who he wants to be as an artist.

Scotty McCreery (♪♪♪♪) - The night took a whole new turn, for the good, when this kid took the stage. He is my favorite male contestant this year and I have no doubt, win or lose, he is going to be a big star in country music. However, I think he is going to go VERY far on this show. Great job!

Stefano Langone (♪♪♪ 1/2) - Stefano is another favorite of mine this season. I previously said that I felt he and Jovany are going to be splitting votes as they are vying for the same voters but Stefano deserves to win that battle and have a spot in the Finals over Jovany. This guy has range and presence and seems genuine. Yes, he wavered on that 1 high note, but overall his performance was solid.

Paul McDonald (♪♪♪♪) - Rod Stewart's son is in the competition?? Seriously though, this guy comes off as somebody who should already be established in the business. He has a look, a unique voice, quirky stage presence...kinda hard to believe he needs Idol to be honest. He rocked this performance and is definitely the "total package artist" type they are looking for this season.

Jacob Lusk (♪♪♪♪♪) - Ooooo we be havin CHURCH up in here, people! First perfect score of the season from me! I will admit, I was not a fan of his the first time I saw him, until his solo performance in Hollywood; ever since then I have looked forward to his performances with great anticipation. This guy puts it ALL on the stage when he sings and he shoots to the rafters with those high notes! SANG my brotha!!

Casey Abrams (♪♪♪♪) - Another stellar performance. I am diggin this kid because not only is he super talented musically, he has a sense of humor!! He takes his music seriously without taking himself too seriously. This kid is dorky-cool and I like it! Props for pulling off this performance after being in the hospital like the day before it taped! Kudos my man!

Well, this is going to be a tough one folks...only 5 of the 12 guys can make it through on America's vote, however, to me, the choice is clear. I think the Top 5 guys that will go through to the finals are: Jacob, Paul, Scotty, Casey and James. I think Stefano or Brett could pull an upset though and knock one of these guys out (hopefully James...fingers crossed, lol). Will America agree? Do you agree? I guess we will see (a poem to end this blog!).

Peace out!