Atlanta Auditions

We head to the South where Idol greats such as Fantasia, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson auditioned from... Let's go to

Atlanta
otherwise known as
The Big Peach
Capital of the South
Hotlanta

Our guest judge this time is none other than Mary J. Blige (I unabashedly think she's hot...there, I said it). A HUGE R&B superstar, she has sold over 40 million albums, has won 9 Grammys and known as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. I think she knows what she's talking about. (Did I mention she's hot?)

I expected a lot of soul and country and that's pretty much what we got. Let's break it down:

Keia Johnson, age 26: A former Miss Congeniality (snicker), she BLEW it out of the water. Great voice and I seriously want hair like hers. It was awesome. Oh, and Bryce really liked her butt in those neon yellow pants she was wearing.

Jermaine Sellers, age 26: When he said he was going to sing "What if God Was One of Us" by Joan Osborne, I thought, 'Ummmm.' What an obscure song. But he did a really good job; a great spin for sure. And whoo, he has some pipes.

Kristy Marie Agronow: O. M. G. I didn't even know what to think. 411 the Show! Um, anyways...too dramatic. Definitely a tv host persona, but not a good singer at all. Yikes.

Vanessa Wolf: At first I thought that she had a really annoying, whiny voice, but the closer I listened, the more unique it sounded. Kara said it was authentic, Simon said distinct. I agree with both. She'll be interesting to follow. And I'm sorry, but Bryce and I busted up laughing when she said she would get to fly on an...wait for it....AERO-PLANE! She said it exactly like that. Oh yah. One to watch for.

Holly Harden, a.k.a. Guitar Girl: Um, her talking voice was annoying, her outfit was (what's a good word...garish maybe?) awful, but her singing voice wasn't bad. I predict she will not last long in Hollywood. Too much for her.

Mallorie Haley, age 20: What a very nice, pleasant-to-listen-to, country voice. I liked her.

SKII-BO-SKI: HOLLA! Oh, this was too much. I think I laughed almost the entire time. I can't believe he actually made it. Come on, say it with me, Skii-bo-ski baby!

Lauren Sanders, age 18 and Carmen Turner, age 19: BFFs with WAY too much make-up. Um, let's see: best friends trying out for a reality show is asking for trouble. Lauren sounded HORRIBLE and Carmen was not bad. One makes it, the other doesn't. But to be honest, Carmen sounded like she was shouting a little. She'll be done before she knows it.

Brian Walker, age 25: All I can say is SEX-AY VOCALS! Yumma.

Lamar Royal, age 20: Profession: DRAMA QUEEN. Always got to be someone.

And last, but not least by a mile, may I present to you:

PANTS ON THE GROUND
by General Larry Platt

Believe me, you'll be singing it all night long. Until next time, in Chicago, this is Cassandra, signing off.

Boston Auditions

And we're off! What a great episode to start off with! There was the perfect combination of bad auditions and good auditions. Of course, the usual bad auditions made me yell at the tv: "Okay. You're done, they said no, so LEAVE! Just leave! Stop arguing!" But it never fails. They try to convince the judges that they have what it takes. Sigh. To all the mothers out there who lie to their children...you're never going to help them by doing that.

Anyways, today we started the auditions of in

Boston
otherwise known as:
The City on a Hill
Bean Town
City of Champions
The Olde Towne

As you know, Paula has left the building and the guest judges are back. Victoria Beckham (who will be known forever as Posh Spice) was the guest judge.
Looking gaunt and stick-like as usual, she "spiced" up the auditions (I know, bad joke). What is V known for? The Spice Girls! Oh yes, at one point in your life, you grooved to "Wannabe" and probably watched Spice World.

Overall, the judges did a great job as usual lowering self-esteem and giving self-esteem all in the same 2 hours. V did hold her own and seemed to be a great addition. I wouldn't have minded her becoming the fourth judge.

But let's take a look at some of the more memorable auditions:

Maddie Curtis, age 16: When they did her bio, I thought, 'Oh please. This one...you can't break her heart.' But MAN did she blow every 16 year old geek out of the water! What a voice! She sang "Hallelujah" (made famous on the show by Jason Castro- Season 7) and my heart melted.

Pat Ford: Oh no. He danced better than he sang, but he sang Britney's "Womanizer". Um, HOLLA!

Amadeo DiRocco, age 28: Hey Mambo...Mambo Italiano! I will say this: I did NOT expect that voice to come out of him. It was pretty darn amazing. He has that like-ability factor for sure. I expect to see him in the semi-finals.

Luke Shaffer, age 24 and Ben Bright, age 25: Both were pretty good, but we'll see...they didn't stand out to me.

Andrew Fenlon: Cheeky Simon, meet Equally Cheeky Andrew. What sass. What nerve. How dare you upset the great Kara! Sigh. I think the judges way overreacted with this dude. He didn't have a terrible voice, in my opinion. Maybe a bad delivery, but not a bad voice. I liked him.

Ashley Rodriguez, age 21: She had a pretty voice, but it wasn't a wow for me. She might do a good job in Hollywood. Guess it doesn't hurt that she's good looking too...

Tyler Grady, age 19: I thought this was going to be a disaster, with the way he looked and all, but hey! Alright! Yah baby! He had a great voice. He will definitely be one to watch for.

Lisa Olivero, age 24: There is a reason why most people can't sing Mariah Carey songs...because they're stinkin' hard! She was flat, it was awful...and it lasted way too long in my opinion.

Katy Stevens, age 16: Wow! I can't believe this girl was 16. We're definitely getting some young action in this year!

Justin Williams, age 27: Here is where I'm worried. He had a decent voice. I liked him a lot. However, he's a cancer survivor. Will he get votes based on the fact that he's a survivor or will he get votes because of his voice? I guess it's the same basis as the really good looking ones (think Haley Scarnato and her legs-Season 6). And he's from UT...major Mormon state, and if I remember correctly, he's LDS.

Bosa Mora, age 22: He was cool and I loved his mom. I want a headdress now.

Leia Lorenzi, age 22: Very unique and such a big voice! Can't wait to see what she does in Hollywood.

Overall, 31 people went through to Hollywood. Not a bad number at all for a start!
Next we hit up Atlanta, GA!

It's That Time Again

Tonight is the premiere of AMERICAN IDOL, starting off the auditions in Boston. But what has been going on in the Idol world? Let's check it out:

KRIS ALLEN
Where is Kris? What has he been up to? I actually had to search around on Google to find this out. He has a self-titled album out, but I've heard nothing about it...not even a single review. It's been all about...

ADAM LAMBERT
Oh yah, he's definitely milking his new found fame. He's been all over the tabloids, and did you catch the American Music Awards performance of his? Yah. Pure craziness. And let's not forget...

PAULA ABDUL
Yep, she is out of here and I, for one, am actually happy. She has been nothing but a nuisance, in my opinion. I will miss her drug-filled antics, but why are they replacing her with...

ELLEN DEGENERES
I have mixed feelings about this. She's awesome, funny and extremely talented, but I want a judge who is not there for comic relief. But you know, I guess I'll have to wait and find out what she is really going to be like. Then I read yesterday that...

SIMON COWELL
He's leaving Idol! Major disappointment there. He's one of my favorite parts of the show. I love his snarky comments and he's almost always dead-on. I am very sad. Anyone remember the horrible song from...

KARA DIOGUARDI
Yah, how much you want to bet she doesn't help write this year's song? LOL! Oh, and they're bringing back...

IDOL GIVES BACK
This is a waste of time. Period. And so is the...

JUDGES' SAVE
This was stupid. And another waste of time. But thank goodness they will be returning to the original format of...

THE SEMIFINAL ROUNDS
Last season, it was all screwed up. Remember? A new group of 12 every week and then instead of booting people off, one by one, they kept three every week? Too confusing and no time for favorites.

I think that's pretty much it. Now, here's the only bad part of this blog...we no longer watch television, which means that I will have to be downloading the shows as soon as they are available. I hope that I can still get my posts out on time.

Anyhow, here's to a most excellent season! This IS American Idol!

One Week Late, But Congrats To...

KRIS ALLEN!

And BTW, this was probably the best finale I've seen yet. I loved Kris' reaction!

So, thanks for hangin' out with me this year.
I promise next year will be better because I won't be pregnant/having a baby/travelling so much.
So here's to a successful season of AI!
TTFN!

One Hour of Fun, Except for a Horrific Songwriting Catastophe

Last night's performance was awesome...until Adam and Kris had to sing Kara's song "No Boundaries". The wind was let out of my sail and instead of feeling excited for tonight's finale, I was sad.

THE FINAL 2

Adam Lambert
Favorite Performance of the Season

"Mad World" by Tears for Fears

I will admit that this was one of Adams best performances; so intimate and delicate, yet very powerful. I was feeling it again last night. I was so happy that he chose that song. It showed his control, which was the best I've ever seen throughout Idol's history. Other than the retarded comparison to Twilight's Edward with Adam's trench coat, the judges were dead on tonight.

Simon Fuller's Pick

"A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke

This was a charged-up performance, definitely Adam-style. It was a good performance, but definitely not my favorite by far. I do think that Adam trumped Kris in this round though because he was on fire.

Writer's Choice

"No Boundaries" co-written by Kara

Without talking about the actual song, let's talk about Adam (we'll get to the song in a bit). This obviously is not Adam's style of song. I didn't like his performance at all. There was no pizzazz to it, no power...it sounded like he was yelling a lot of it. At least the song was in his range, right?

Kris Allen

Favorite Performance of the Season

"Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers

AWESOME! SPECTCULAR! FABULOUS! This was Kris' best performance EVER! The vocals were out of this world, the ambience was perfect...I loved the style and loved that he was behind the piano. What a true Kris performance. He totally outsang Adam on this round and deserved every bit of praise that he got.

Simon Fuller's Choice

"What's Goin' On" by Marvin Gaye

Yes, this was laidback like every other performance that Kris has given so far. I'm glad he stayed true to himself and stayed on the guitar. How cool to have a stripped down band next to you, just being able to groove. I felt like I should have been sitting on a patio, sipping a latte, watching Kris just go. Yah, there were a couple of weird notes at the beginning and it sounded a little uncomfortable, but he definitely got into it. I don't agree that he should have brought a more electric performance, just because it was the last show. If you're going to show what kind of artist you're going to be, why not be who you are?

Writer's Choice

"No Boundaries" co-written by Kara

Again, without talking about the song, let's talk about Kris. This song wasn't his style either and wasn't in a comfortable range for him either. Why he didn't change the key, I don't know, but he definitely looked uncomfortable singing this song on-stage.

So, I was so disappointed at the end of the show because of Kara's stupid song. I think she even looked slightly embarrassed that each contestant did such a horrible job with the song she helped write. They should've just had the song-writing competition again. They seem to come up with better songs that way...and this may have been Kara's death sentence. It had too many words, no hook and a horrible chorus. I felt so let down by Idol last night. Boo Kara! Don't ever write a song for Idol again!

On a funnier note, is Paula trying to be a different nationality or something? She was so BROWN last night and her green shirt wasn't helping any. Every time they panned to her I felt like laughing. Oh Paula...really, what would the show be without the "funny" one?

And let's not forget Randy and his Purple People-Eater ensemble. He had three different designs of purple on...plaid, stripes and polka dot. Whoever dresses him needs to be put in time-out. Hee, hee!

Basically, what it comes down to is this: tonight is going to be too close to call. Adam rocks, but so does Kris...they both had an outstanding performance last night, along with an okay performance...and an atrocious performance. They're tied in my eyes, but if I really have to vote for one, I would pick...

Kris Allen!

Adam would be much better off without an "Idolized" album...he needs his own album without Idol hanging onto his back. Plus, he'd have to have that atrocious song on his album (unless Idol is smart and axes it) AND he'd have to sing it tonight on the finale. Kris sounded a little better singing it, even though it wasn't in his key, it was more his style. (Yuck, blah, blech.)

We'll find out tonight, 8 PM PST, who takes the title of the 8th American Idol. Stay tuned!

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Hold on to Your Hats, Folks

Can you believe it? We said good-bye to

Danny Gokey

Honestly, I thought that there was an extremely slim chance that Danny would get voted off tonight. I mean, everyone and their mother knew it was going to be a Danny/Adam showdown for the finale...we just KNEW it.

So much for that. Congratulations to Kris, who looked as shocked as the judges when Ryan announced his name first. Next week could be a close call...who knows after what happened tonight?

Wow.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Down to the Good Stuff

This was probably my favorite episode so far. All of the performances were above-average and honestly, it can be anyone's game at this point. Let's dig in to our

TOP 3

Danny Gokey
Paula's Choice: "Dance, Little Sister" by Terence Trent D'Arby
I don't know the song, but I wanted to get up and dance myself when Danny was singing this (alas, I had a baby sitting in my lap at the time...she might not have been too happy about being removed). I thought it was classy, upbeat (thank the Lord it wasn't a ballad) and a fantastic performance overall. It was the perfect choice for his voice; he hit all the right notes at the right time. Just fantastic!

Personal Choice: "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
This could have been a tear-jerker. Danny pulled off an absolutely beautiful rendition of this song. I'm surprised he didn't start crying himself. Again, a perfect song choice. He was able to play with it a little and made it worth listening to (not that the original isn't).

Kris Allen
Randy/Kara's Choice: "Apologize" by One Republic
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song and was so excited that he was going to be singing it. On one hand, I see where Kara was coming from; the song was not changed in almost any ways, but sorry Kara, Kris still sang it so well. I seriously was grinning the whole time. And Simon did have a point; if she had wanted Kris to do something different with it, maybe she should have said something from the beginning. I thought it was really good.

Personal Choice: "Heartless" by Kanye West
I'm not a huge Kanye fan, but I do like this song and thought Kris totally rocked! It was a fun song choice and I hope he doesn't ever regret picking it. It was definitely something different and I think that it might have been the shoe to kick him up a notch.

Adam Lambert
Simon's Choice: "One" by U2
Like I didn't see that coming; the most obnoxious judge picking the song for the most talented performer on the show. Ha! Of course, Adam did a fantastic job with the song. He sounded a little shrieky, but hey, I guess it's just his style. The high notes were awesome and he definitely rocked the stage.

Personal Choice: "Cryin'" by Aerosmith
Steven Tyler has the range, so why not? Awesome job on the song; it was a great song choice for his style of singing. Has he ever pulled in an actual BAD performance? No...maybe not my favorites tonight, but he's a shoe-in for tomorrow for shizzle.

So, I'm torn between Danny and Kris. They both did fantastic tonight; yes, Danny has a huge fan base, but obviously, so does Kris since he made it this far. But because I think Danny has a larger fan base than Kris, I'm going to pick Kris as the one to leave tomorrow night. He's a cutie, has a nice voice to listen to and has been fun to watch, but I think Danny overshadowed him just a little bit tonight.

But I won't be surprised if it's the other way around. Kris pulled in some good performances tonight. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

LEAVING TOMORROW
Kris Allen

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Actually a Little Shocked

I was definitely a little shocked when we said good-bye to

Allison Iraheta

I don't feel that she pulled in a really BAD performance last night, next to Kris' forgettable song and Danny's shrieking. But you know, she lasted as long as she did, she's just barely 17...she has plenty of time to become big, which she may become. This only makes next week more exciting!

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Classic Rock = Some Classic Performances

Okay, all together: "Oooh, Slaaash."

Now that that's out of our system, I have to say that all the performances were great. I honestly didn't think that Kris and Allison would make it as far as they have, but they do have some great pipes.

The Top 4

Adam Lambert
"Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zepplin
Seriously, why hasn't he been signed to a label before this? He's got this amazing talent and has never pulled an actual BAD performance. This guy is in it to win and I think that his rendition of this song was boss (yah, I said boss). He only gets me more and more excited for the finale!

Allison Iraheta
"Cry Baby" by Janis Joplin
I think she pulled off a decent version of this song. She totally has the voice to sing Joplin too. Yah, maybe a different Joplin song would have been better (how about Bobby McGee), but she still rocked the house. And to be honest, I really REALLY liked her hair tonight! Buuuut, because she's the only girl left, I'm thinking she's my #2 pick to go home.

Kris Allen
"Come Together" by the Beatles
Nope, this did not cut it for me. All I kept thinking of was Carly Smithson's rendition of this song, which blew his out of the water. It was a little too folksy for me, a little too laid back. He's my #1 pick to go home. Sorry Kris!

Danny Gokey
"Dream On" by Aerosmith
Hmm. I was torn on this performance. I thought he was doing good, then he pulled out those high notes and they sounded really raspy and pushed. I just don't know. If he didn' t have a huge fan base behind him, I would say that he was in danger of going home. He's my alternate pick for the night, but I think he'll be safe.

I really liked the duets a lot. I think that Danny and Kris really complimented each other and so did Adam and Allison. With that being said, I agreed with Simon that Allison singing with Adam might have saved her this week. It's so true. They really did well.

Rumors are swirling that Kara isn't going to be around for next season (oh well...she's not bringing anything different to the show) and that maybe Simon won't be around (now that's a shame because I almost always agree with him). Guess we'll have to wait and see.

BOTTOM 2
Kris Allen
Allison Iraheta

ALTERNATE
Danny Gokey

Make sure you're only voting for your Bottom 2!!!

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Technical Difficulties

Bummer...I had worship practice tonight, so I thought I would YouTube the performances. Alas, YouTube is having difficulties, hence my lack of a post tonight. Guess I'll have to wait until the morning to give my opinions!!!
Bear with me!

Good-Bye Two You

Since Matt was saved last week, two people had to go home this week...
and they are:

Lil Rounds

and

Anoop Desai

Lil just wasn't bringing it at all. She never found her niche. Anoop has a great voice, but never brought any game.

We're gettin' down to the goods, folks!

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Who Will Survive?

Disco Week...always works for a few, but not the whole group. However, we've only seen a few performances in the past Idol seasons where a contestant took a song from that era and twisted it into their own (ie. Chris Daughtry, David Cook). Overall, it's harder and harder to choose bad performances when you don't have A) horrible performances to choose from and B) a lot of bad singers left.

THE TOP 7

Kris Allen
She Works Hard for the Money
I love the funkiness of his take on this song! I think Kris is getting better with each performance. He knows what he's good at and he knows how to deliver it. I think he may end up surprising us.

Adam Lambert
If I Can't Have You
Just my honest opinion, I didn't really like this song, but he did a really good job on the vocals as usual. It sounded emotional and almost like he was singing to someone who broke his heart. Very good.

Danny Gokey
September
Really strong vocals...I like that it was an upbeat song. This was a good performance from him for sure. Not really one of my favorites, but still worked for him.

Allison Iraheta
Hot Stuff
Tooooo slooooooow and I agree with the judges; not a good arrangement. It almost reminds me of Vanilla Ninja. I think she could have done some better things with this song. And I don't think it showed her off very well. She's my #2 pick for my bottom 3.

Matt Giraud
Staying Alive
This is a HARD song to sing, but I think Matt pulled it off. Sounding Justin Timberlake-esque once more, I think he's extremely lucky that he got saved last week. I liked it a lot. He did a lot of fun things with this song. BUT, he's going to have to be my alternate for this week.

Lil Rounds
I'm Every Woman
I think she did an okay job, but in the middle it started to get weird with her oohs...sounded really pitchy. I just don't think she's found her niche yet. She's my #1 pick for my bottom 3.

Anoop Desai
Dim All the Lights
Hmm...I'm torn on this song. I think he sounded okay, but it just didn't sound right. Maybe it was the arrangement or the song itself, but I had a hard time liking this one. He's my #3 pick for my bottom 3.

BOTTOM 3
Lil Rounds
Allison Iraheta
Anoop Desai

ALTERNATE
Matt Giraud

So, remember, since they saved Matt last week, two people are going home tomorrow!
Who will it be???

COMMENTS? AGREE? DISAGREE?

And My Jaw Did Drop!

This was a night to be shocked; at least I was! Not only was I surprised that Matt was voted off, rather than Lil...

THE JUDGES SAVED HIM!

They used their one and only save for Matt Giraud. I think this may come back to bite them. I guess I'm kind of happy since I like Matt's style, but he'd better take this opportunity and run with it because next week TWO PEOPLE ARE GONE!

Sources close to me (and I have to agree with this) say that Matt needs to remove the mole in the middle of his forehead if he wants to get a lady.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

And the Ballads Take Over...

Folks, this was probably one of my least favorite nights (next to Michael Jackson, of course). Everyone sang a slow, love song/ballad, with the exception of fantastic Adam Lambert. This proved to be an almost boring and predictable show. Hence, my comments on

THE TOP 7

Allison Iraheta
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith
from the movie "Armageddon"
I like the "doomsday" movies! Okay, just had to put that out there. Now, I thought this was a terrible song for Allison to sing. 1, it was too breathy at the beginning because 2, it was too low for her fantastic voice and 3, this was WAY too safe. She knew there was no way she could emulate Steven Tyler's vocals, so she dropped it a million keys and REALLY sounded like a smoker. And Paula, don't EVER put Allison and Adam in the same class...they can't compare. Anyhow, she's treading on thin ice, even if she is the better of the two girls. She is my #3 pick for my bottom 3.

Anoop "Dog" Desai
"Everything I Do, I Do it For You" by Bryan Adams
from the movie "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"
I LOVE this movie (yes, it's because Kevin Costner shows his butt...so what) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Bryan Adams. He has the sexiest voice (even if he is starting to look a little unattractive). Um, yah, so Anoop sang his usual smooth vocals for his usual ballad. It was the same ole', same ole' for me. I think he'll be safe this week, but dude, step it up a notch, aight?

Adam Lambert
"Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf
from the movie "Easy Rider"
WHOOOOOOOOOOOO-EEEEEEEEE! Once again, totally awesome! That last note he hit was phenomenal. I actually kind of agreed with Simon, that last week was better than this week, but he still rocked the house. How has Adam never been signed before???? Unless AI pulls a Daughtry, Lambert is #1.

Matt Giraud
"When You Love a Woman" by Bryan Adams
from the movie "Don Juan DeMarco"
Loved the movie and again, LOVE B.A. With that said and done, Matt, oh Matt...I was so disappointed this time. I didn't like the performance at all. The song got so lost in his runs and he was really pitchy at the bridge. This was not a song for him at all. This definitely will put him in the bottom. In fact, he's my #2 pick for my bottom 3.

Danny Gokey
"Endless Love" by Lionel Ritchie
from the movie "Endless Love"
Same old Danny, same old powerful song, same old results. He hasn't brought anything different to the table. For this one time, I will agree with fellow blogger Renee and not like Danny tonight. But because he is so popular, he's just my alternate pick for tonight.

Kris Allen
"Falling Slowly" by the Frames
from the movie "Once"
I really liked this song. It was so pretty and beautiful. I love Kris' falsetto...I personally think he did a really good job tonight, even if Randy didn't like it. He could be the underdog...who knows!

Lil Rounds
"The Rose" by Bette Midler
from the movie "The Rose"
Oh Lil, Lil, Lil...this is awful. When will you find yourself? The gospel part of this song was actually very good, but the rest of it was horrible. I found myself cringing, especially at the end. I'm sorry sweetheart, but I think you need to go home. She's my #1 pick for my bottom 3.

FUN FACTS:
I LIKED that only 2 judges went each time, although I would have loved to hear Simon's comments on a few performances.

Why was Quentin Tarantino there? He's a director, not a musician. (Yes, I'm still asking why Paula is there too.)

Was anyone else shielding their eyes any time Paula stood up? Could she have had any more diamonds on her dress?

And what was up with Paula's comment about the road being long and hard to Lil? Yes, she lived through a tornado, but if she's talking about her stay on AI, save your breath.

BOTTOM 3
Lil Rounds
Matt Giraud
Allison Iraheta

ALTERNATE
Danny Gokey

Yes, this week we'll still be voting for 3...next week will be 2.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

MacIntyre Out

Maybe it's a tad overdue, but we say adios to

Scott MacIntyre

Yes, his story was inspirational...he'll be on the tour, I'm sure he'll make an album...but it was his time.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

An '80's Shakedown

The theme for tonight's show was "The Year You Were Born". These always prove to be interesting, considering that they're always older songs. (Um, side note...seeing so many contestants born AFTER 1981 actually makes me feel kind of old.) Anyhow, this season had some good ones, so check it out:

THE TOP 8

Danny Gokey
1980
"Stand By Me" by Mickey Gilley
It was like some nasty elevator/lounge music version and I disliked it very much. But I did like the last 20 seconds of the song as it got more upbeat. He's got that powerful voice (and sad back story), so he's definitely safe this week, but I hope he picks something better next week. I just didn't like this version at all.

Kris Allen
1985
"All She Wants to Do is Dance" by Don Henley
That was a fun song to listen to, but not fantastic. I'll say this much, Kris is good, but he's not going to win this competition. He'll be safe this week, but as the number is whittled down, he's going to be on the chopping block sooner than later. He has a nice voice and better stage presence than when he first started.

Lil Rounds
1984
"What's Love Got to Do With It" by Tina Turner
This was a second-rate version of the original. And there was nothing original about it. I thought Lil was going to be a powerhouse this season, but she hasn't found her niche yet. She is struggling each week and has yet to turn in a good performance. I just don't think she cut it this week. She's my #1 pick for my Bottom 3.

Anoop Desai
1986
"True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper
I think ballads are Anoop's calling. This song was very smooth and well done. I loved the high note he hit at the end. But it's becoming reminiscent of all his other ballads...he's not very versatile and I think that might hurt him. He's my alternate pick.

Scott MacIntyre
1985
"The Search is Over" by Survivor
First of all, BRAVO Scott for getting out from behind the piano. Yes, you looked awkward standing there with your electric guitar, but nonetheless you tried something new. Now, as for the song you picked...not so good. He sounded okay, but once he hit those high notes, it sounded like he was trying way too hard. I don't think he's going to be around much longer. He's my #2 pick for my Bottom 3.

Allison Iraheta
1992
"I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt
This song always reminds me of Carrie Underwood's first audition. So, it's hard because I keep comparing it. I'm glad Allison picked something not so "rock"-ish and I'm glad she finally showed that she does have a range, if ever so briefly. She definitely made it her own, but I don't think it was that good, especially compared to some of the other performances tonight. She's my #3 pick for my Bottom 3.

Matt Giraud
1985
"Part-Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder
This was a very good song choice for Matt; hopefully, good enough that he doesn't get pulled into the Bottom 3 (although it's getting close to the time when the good ones will fall). This song showed off his range, his run capability and, hey, I was digging the hat! Definitely better than last week. This should keep him out of the Bottom 3 tomorrow night.

Adam Lambert
1982
"Mad World" by Tears for Fears
Adam continues to bring it each week and I think he's getting better and better, if that's even possible. This song is so dark and pensive; with Adam's range, he took this song to another level. I'm still kind of shocked that Simon gave him a standing ovation. It was emotional, intimate and awesome.

BOTTOM 3
Lil Rounds
Scott MacIntyre
Allison Iraheta

ALTERNATE
Anoop Desai

And as an FYI, beginning in the next week or so, we will only be voting for our Bottom 2.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Halleluyer!

Whooooooooo-ee!

Good-bye Megan "Joy" Corkrey!!!!
And none too soon!

That's all for me folks! I'm off to celebrate!

Comments? Agree? Disagree?
Better be agreein'!

Anything and Everything

The theme, Most Popular Downloads...is that even a theme? Hmm...didn't look so hot, so here goes:

THE TOP 9

Anoop Desai
"Caught Up" by Usher
I'm afraid that I might have to agree with the judges on this one. Anoop has got such a smooth style, but clearly this was not a good song for him to sing tonight. There are some people who just sound good with a few styles and this style was not it for Anoop. He's been so up and down the last couple of weeks. I don't think he's going to last much longer. Anoop, you're my #2 pick for my Bottom 3.

Megan Corkrey
"Turn Your Lights Down Low" by Bob Marley
Oh Sanjaya...OOPS! I mean, oh Megan. Seriously, she needs to go home. This show is not right for her. She's jazz-styled and that's it. Why did she pick this song to sing? Why does she pick any song that she sings? I haven't heard one REALLY good performance from her. If she remains on this show, it's purely based on her looks and nothing else. Megan, you're my #1 pick for my Bottom 3.

Danny Gokey
"What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts
I really like the timbre of Danny's voice. Ballads are definitely his cup of tea. He really pulled this one out tonight; such a good performance. I think, though, he needs to be careful about the ballads. I agree with this statement: "Danny is good, but this might be all that he is going to bring." Step it up, Danny!

Allison Iraheta
"Don't Speak" by No Doubt
Um, Allison? What's up with your spikey hair? This song didn't really show off anything spectacular. Why didn't she pick a more contemporary piece? Don't get me wrong, I love No Doubt, but maybe Spiderwebs would have been more fun...Allison is my alternate pick.

Scott MacIntyre
"Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel
Okay, this week, Scott really sang well. Obviously, he's comfortable behind the piano. I mean, it would look pretty awkward with him just standing there singing. Anyhow, it was surprisingly good and I don't expect him to be voted off just yet.

Matt Giraud
"You Found Me" by the Fray
Gosh, how I love his voice! I really like this song and think he did a great job on it. There was a part at the beginning that sounded a little off, but at the end, when he went into his falsetto, oh yah! This was a good song choice for him; definitely not a style I thought he would choose, but he sang it well.

Lil Rounds
"I Surrender" by Celine Dion
This just wasn't Lil's style. I don't understand why she picked this song at all...I mean, she could have added her flavor, but she seemed, oh I don't know, too hesitant? R&B is clearly her thang...maybe she needs to stick to it. I think Lil is my #3 pick for my Bottom 3.

Adam Lambert
"Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry
Adam delivers yet another over the top performance, but man, oh man! I like how he slowed down the verse and sped it up for the chorus. He's very original and probably one of the most memorable. Top 2 anyone?

Kris Allen
"Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers
Fantastic! And I didn't know he could play the piano too! I think Kris could be the secret competition. Yes, he's a cutie, but his performances are always so fresh. Hmm, tomorrow should be interesting!

BOTTOM 3
Megan Corkrey
Anoop Desai
Lil Rounds

ALTERNATE
Allison Iraheta

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

So Long Sarver

Once more, we have to say good-bye...and tonight, it's to

Michael Sarver

He's that all-around, nice American boy (man?) that everybody loves, but compared to the competition this year, he's just not the one. It's nothing personal. Hey, at least he's on the tour, right?

But is Megan the next Sanjaya? I think so.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Gimme Mo...Town

This week's theme was Motown, with Smokey Robinson as the mentor. I've always liked Smokey Robinson, so this was good. Motown usually has a good turnout since there are so many good songs to choose from...unless you're not an R&B type of gal/guy (ahem, Scott).

Let's break it down:

The TOP 10

Matt Giraud: "Let's Get it On" by Marvin Gaye
Oh MAN, does Matt have a sweet voice or what? I loved his beginning, starting on the piano all sleek and then jumping up and dancing. He rocked as a first performance (which doesn't happen all that often)! Smooth vocals, very Justin Timberlake-esque. This guy ain't going anywhere.

Kris Allen: "How Sweet it is to Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye (James Taylor)
I love Kris's style; this was so laid back. But to be honest, it wasn't one of my favorites. And I didn't dig the last note either; it sounded like he was shouting the word "you". He is one of my alternate picks for the night.

Scott MacIntyre: "You Can't Hurry Love" by the Supremes
Oh yikes. Need I say anything else? Scott, it's not because you're blind, but because your style isn't right for this show. He's my #2 pick for my bottom 3.

Megan Corkrey: "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder
Anyone remember this phrase: Gag me with a wooden spoon? That's exactly how I felt about this performance. As anyone near and dear to my heart knows, I can't stand this chick. Yah, so she's got a unique voice. So what. She sucks. Sorry Mom, I know you hate that word, but I can't think of anything else that describes how I feel about Megan. You're right, I have no Utah pride. This was a HORRIBLE song choice for her and she has got to go or else she's turning into this season's Sanjaya. Go home, Megan; please, go home. She's obviously my #1 pick for my bottom 3, although with my luck, all the guys that thinks she is hot will vote her to stay. Sigh.

Anoop Desai: "Ooh, Baby, Baby" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Anoop's got soul, but this was not a stand-out performance for me. He's got pipes, why doesn't he use them? Come on, Anoop! He's my other alternate choice for the night.

Michael Sarver: "Ain't to Proud to Beg" by the Temptations
That was torture. He's not going to make it much farther. He likes the fun songs which is fine; I like the fun songs too. But he's not a soul singer and I think he might have been better off with a slower song. He's my #3 choice for my bottom 3.

Lil Rounds: "Heat Wave" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Nothing fantastic, but good vocals. No offense to R&B fans, but she sounds just like any other R&B singer. She really doesn't make me think "Wow, she's going to go far." I can't tell the difference between her and any other R&B singer out there. So anyways, yah it was good.

Adam Lambert: "The Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
I'm torn; I loved his tender style of this song, I loved that you can see his face and that he looked like a normal guy, he's got a great range...buuuuuut, it just wasn't my favorite of the night. Sure, he pulled a 180 on us and showed us that he can do slow and tender too, but I like my "show-stopper Adam" better than my "wooingly-tender Adam". Still a contender for the Top 3, no doubt. I think he has a really good chance of winning.

Danny Gokey: "Get Ready" by the Temptations
Oh Danny...this was good, but he's starting to remind me of Melinda Doolittle from Season 6: he hits it every time and now it's starting to get a little mundane because he's always so good. Great vocals as usual.

Allison Iraheta: "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations
Okay, this was my favorite performance of the night. Where was this Allison the last two weeks? She kept getting complimented and I'm thinking, "What makes her so special? Nothing she has sung makes me feel otherwise". UNTIL TONIGHT...this was the perfect song for her and she has a range! I didn't think she did, but she does. And she's 16, ladies and gentlemen! Way to bring it home, Alli.

BOTTOM 3
Megan Corkrey
Scott MacIntyre
Michael Sarver

ALTERNATES
Anoop Desai
Kris Allen

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

And does anyone else think this picture of Scott is funny?

And someone please CUT HIS HAIR!!!