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That's OK. I was hoping it wasn't dreary up there.

I'm actually glad I helped you make your point. I will grant you that if someone thinks the show is primarily about vocal abilities, they do need to get a clue.

Sometimes the show is hyped on the "great vocal talent", but we all know it's simply entertainment with a musical theme.

IDOL - (#3 from dictionary.com) any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion

[note the absence of anything requiring talent]

Hey L William

Thanks it's actually it really is quite nice here. Well I for one am relieved. If people are entertained by AI then I guess I have no problems with that. I personaly am not anymore. There was one season that I thought was actually pretty good. What I have seen recently isn't all that entertaining to me.
Derek

The only thing that seems odd to me is that folks who really don't like AI and have no interest in it can't possibly resist lecturing the rest of us about it at nearly every chance they can get. You wouldn't find me frequenting discussions on the merits of Soccer. It bores me. A discussion about it would also bore me. = )

Brian

And it makes complete sense that people on this forum are interested in American Idol because most of us here are, in one respect, just like the Idol contestants- we are looking for opportunities to express ourselves. That is why we post songs on the forums and participate in the discussions. Who among us are not hoping for a "break" in the music world?

It's not as if we have to endure really horrible singers- these young people are quite good by any standards. Yes, I will admit that the best 16-29 year old singer in the USA probably isn't in the group, but I would also bet that the best song ever written has never been on the radio either. These are kids! These are kids put under a lot of pressure every week, and it creates a lot of drama and emotion. It is much more entertaining to me than most of what passes for reality TV. Sure there is a script and inside favorites and posturing etc. but it is a music show and most of all we love music- don't we?

Hey Brian

Ok I must admit you do have a point. I guess my point was that this thread is seeing so many hits today and there are so many (in my opinion) more worthwhile threads on the board today. I guess I just wanted to see what the big deal was. When I got here I didn't see anything all that worth talking about. So maybe next time I'll just scratch my head in wonder of it all lol. Thanks all enjoy your idols.
Derek

Hey Samuel

You had me up until, we all like music don't we? I think we have all come to an agreement that if you want to hear good music it's not on american idol. You yourself said "These are kids put under a lot of pressure every week, and it creates a lot of drama and emotion. It is much more entertaining to me than most of what passes for reality TV. Sure there is a script and inside favorites and posturing"

That is exactly what american idol is about. I don't see music when I see american idol. I see reality TV at it's finest. That's about the best compliment I can give AI.
Derek

So now to ease back into a question- What is the best Lennon-McCarthy song for each remaining contestant.

The best possible choice versus the worst possible choice:

I'll start with David A: Think the best choice for him would be "In My Life" and the worst choice would be "I want to hold your hand"

Ahha I knew it Samuel

Your a McCarthyist! rofl "Lennon-McCarthy" Maybe you meant Lenin and McCarthy?
Derek

I think Amanda would absolutely rip on "Birthday".

She should definitely stay away from "Hey Jude"....

I bet Michael would do a good job on "Back in the USSR".

I'd love to hear a Matchbox 20 version of "Get Back" by David Cook.

...
I totally missed that Lenin/McCarthyism "open door"...

That's pretty funny!

no
28 million votes
fans can vote up to ten times in one night
per email address
fans can also text some number of votes

I wanted David A. to win even before I found out he is mormon (I am mormon myself), but the mormon factor is not why I think he has a winning shot.

Even though his range may be limited, he does have a certain "x-factor" that is marketable and that will win with the girls.

Also, it seems like there are quite a few mormons showing up on tv reality shows lately.

On Bruno vs Carrie Anns' DANCE WAR competition that was aired on ABC, I know of at least one member of Brunos' team that was mormon and 2 members from Carrie Anns' team that was mormon. Also, the shows' vocal coach Mauli B. is a mormon.

And then you had last seasons' Dancing With the Stars with Marie Osmond as a contestant.

Makes one wonder......

I will not watch that show.
Because of that stupid show everyone thinks they can sing.
Because of that show kareoke is in every little bar instead of live music.
It is hard enough to get steady,decent payin' gigs in a depressed economy without wannabe singers singin' for free.
If they want to make that a REAL talent show they should make all these "singers" back themselves up on guitar or piano.
I think that show is the worst thing that's happened to live music since ASCAP !

JJ

Hey KeeponJammin'

You and me both brother. It's all glitz and drama, no substance can be found. They potray it as a musical contest, then they start the season with some of the worst singers imaginable. Why include footage of the pathetic? It's entertaining in some way I guess. Do I want to watch highlight reels of the worst teams worst moments in any sport? HELL NO. Yet somehow that is how it all starts. Then slowly they boil out the ones who have too much attitude or very little talent (most of the crop) down to the ones who might actually get some applause at karoke nights. The winner is usually someone who could possibly (with some work) be an ok musician. No one legendary has potential of being found from that contest. In the end it's just another reality show. I think there is a country song that speaks about this I'll see if I can find the lyrics.
Derek

Edit ok here's the song. Tell me this doesn't sound like AI!

Brad Paisley "Celebrity"


Someday, I'm gonna be famous,
Do I have talent? Well, no.
These days you don't really need it,
Thanks to reality shows.

Can't wait to date a supermodel,
Can't wait to sue my Dad.
Can't wait to wreck a Ferrari,
On my way to rehab.

'Cause when you're a celebrity, it's adios reality.
You can act just like a fool;
People think you're cool just 'cause you're on TV.

I can throw a major fit,
When my latte isn't just how I like it.
When they say I've gone insane,
I'll blame it on the fame,
And the pressures that go with bein' a celebrity.

I'll get to cry to Barbara Walters,
When things don't go my way.
and not get community service,
No matter which law I break.

I'll make the supermarket tabloids,
They'll write some awful stuff.
But the more they run my name down,
The more my price goes up.

'cause when you're a celebrity, it's adios reality.
No matter what you do,
People think you're cool just 'cause you're on TV.
I can fall in and out of love,
Have marriages that barely last a month.
When they go down the drain,
I'll blame it on the fame,
And say: "It's just so tough bein' a celebrity."

let's hitch up the wagons and head out west,
To the land of fun in the sun.
We'll be real world bachelor, jackass millionaires.
Hey, hey Hollywood, here we come.

Yea when you're a celebrity, it's adios reality.
No matter what you do,
People think you're cool just 'cause you're on TV.

I can throw a major fit,
When my latte isn't just how I like it.
When they say I've gone insane,
I'll blame it on the fame,
And the pressures that go with bein' a celebrity.

Yea celebrity.
Uh huh.
Aw wheres my coffee.

Hey Derek watch your step I got into big trouble for calling the contestants mediocre Karaoke singers last year. Everybody was up in arms. What a stushy!!! Mind you I would have thought that a forum full of great songwriters and musicians would have agreed with me but there you go. I am dumbstruck that this crap demands so much attention. I am about as interested in this show as brian is watching or discussing soccer. LOL

JJ,

Karaoke was actually more popular BEFORE AI came out than it is now. So your premise is not supported by reality.

As for it taking away your gigs, it's the same argument people makle that illegal aliens are taking away their job. If you aren't compelling enough to bring in more business from your performance than a Karaoke machine does, who is really to blame? The owners who are in business to make a living (not to be promoters of the arts) or you, the artist who can't justify taking up the commercial space and making it pay off for the owners? If untrained workers who can't even speak the local language can take away a job from a trained American, then perhaps that American needs to be doing a job that is more in line with their actual talent and abilities. And to be clear, I am against illegal immigration.. but I am also against bogus arguments that blame others for their own shortcomings.

Great artists can build followings and fill rooms. If they haven't developed their trade enough to do so, it's up to them to lift their game and gain fans and experience enough to make it a good financial decision for a venue owner to give you the stage and keys to their commercial enterprise. If you can put butts in seats for an evening of drinking and listening to your music, you'll get gigs. If you can't, you aren't ready yet in the first place. No one on the commerce side "owes" the artist community anything. If you want to play ball commercially, then you have to produce like a commercial entity.

AI actually does a pretty good job showing the average person CAN'T sing rather than the opposite. And if it gets more kids excited to try singing instead of something else in life, that's not a bad thing that should be discouraged. Music should be for EVERYONE.. it's part of the human existence.. and we should encourage MORE people to play music and sing and write and be creative and express themselves. And if the amateurs do a better job of entertaining people in a commercial setting than the "pros" then the "pros" need to lift their game or find another way to make money. In the meantime, get up on stage and take your turn at the Karoke mic and blow people away and then sell them your CD and get them out to your next gig. THAT'S how you compete with Karaoke.

Brian

Well said Brian.

Greg, you beat me to it!
Well said.

Linda

I need to add my $0.02 as well...

If many of you would have had an opportunity like this when you were 21, I'm sure you'd have jumped all over it. I think there's a little bit of sour grapes going on here.

I don't venture into the several dozen threads currently that are of no interest to me (or that I think are stupid) simply to berate and belittle the posters and the topic there, I would ask you simply to grant the Idol fans the same courtesy.

It's kind of like if I went into one of the "Joe Blow died last night" threads and said the guy sucked anyways, no great loss. That's kind of how you're coming across here...

This thread is called "Who is your favorite A.I. Contestant 2008?", not "I hate American Idol". The negative comments are really OT.

Hey, why don't you start your own "I hate American Idol" thread. You can rant all you want and I promise I won't post there putting any of YOU down.

Like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry?

I guess they could possibly (with some work) be *okay* musicians.

Hi Michelle

You listed the exact ones I don't have respect for as artists. I'm sorry if that hurts you, but it's my opinion. There are some far greater people who were let go early on in their competition, who are doing far greater work in my opinion.
Derek

Who are they Derek?

Uh Herbie

Clay Aiken be one of them. Nuff said.
Derek

Edit
Here is a link to some others who have made it. Who didn't "Win"
Idol losers?

Larry -
A little partial. Yeah. But, no, I wouldn't vote for someone "just" because we shared the same faith. Not in AI or in politics or anywhere else. Glad to hear we've been good examples. Thanks!

Brian - it's hard to explain unless you're part of it. (You're welcome to disagree - but there is such a thing as a Mormon culture, just like there are many other subcultures based on religions, ethnicity, political persuasions, what-have-you).

I feel you may have misinterpreted my statement somewhat, so I'd like to try again. I said the contestants have a "draw" with other Mormons, "who, like me, really like and want to see 'one of our own' succeed."
You replied:
"I hope you are wrong that Mormons are voting for other Mormons because they are Mormans, though I am sure you're correct that some people are."

With all due respect... that's not quite what I said, or meant to imply. I apologize if I wasn't clear.

I said there is a draw. There may be some voting JUST on that (which would be sad, if they didn't actually like them as singers), but what I *meant* is that we tend to have a big, positive "Go Team!" mentality. Therefore - more Mormons may be drawn into watching the show this year than would be otherwise. More might pick up the phone and actually call in a vote. That sort of thing. There are still, surely, Mormons who hate AI and will never watch it no matter what. And so on.

Thing is, we're a minority - a minority with a history of being persecuted, maligned in the press, made fun of, and having all sorts of weird, false, and ridiculous things said about us, which no one (except us) seems to think is unfair (including this one - "you guys have horns, right?" - I mean, come on).

As a result, it's perfectly natural for us to stand up and CHEER when one of us is recognized for doing something GOOD. That's all. You've heard Adam Sandler's "Hannukah Song," right? We do the same thing. "Look who's Mormon!" (In fact, there's even a website: www.famousmormons.net ) More than that, it's like being in a big huge extended family. There is a togetherness we have, that as I said, is difficult to explain outside of being immersed in it.

I did not mean that religion would be the only criteria any member of our church would use to vote for a contestant.

Nothing to be terribly upset about. It was... supposed to be funny. (I used a smiley!)

It's really no worse than voting for Michael Johns because he's a JPF award winner - right? And besides which, he can sing.

I also mentioned my daughter is voting madly for Jason Castro (and not David A. - we like him, but he's not the house favorite). If Sanjaya had been Mormon he STILL wouldn't have gotten a single vote from me - I'd have been embarrassed. We've voted for Brooke this year because we like her performances. I know you're not a fan of hers - and that's OK - but I've enjoyed her voice and her performances and the angles she's taken with her songs. I like her as a musician. I like that she's stepped out and taken risks - for me, they worked.

I didn't mean to imply in any way shape or form that we're some kind of subversive sleeping giant ready to take over the competition or something. LOL. (You've gotta be kidding me - if that was even remotely true, Mitt Romney would still be running for President. <---Note: THAT IS A JOKE... thanks people...)

One of the fundamental facets of our beliefs is in freedom of choice and making your own decisions based on studying things out for yourself. Nobody's out there telling us what to do or who to vote for (in any situation) or anything of the sort.

We just all tend to like each other.

Peace, man -
Linda

And you wouldn't know who any of them were if it weren't for the show giving them a kick-start in the first place.


Linda
(boy I'm just pushin' buttons on this thread today!)

Man, I wish.
I wouldn't have been ready at 21.
No guts then. Way too shy.

I suspect there are some GREAT singers and entertainers outside the age bracket. I'd love to see a talent show that auditioned solo acts, bands, singer/songwriters with original material, the whole range of music, regardless of age.

Won't happen.

And wouldn't it be fabulous if they had "write your own song" week. HA. HA. HA. THAT would be a twist! (I get tired of all the cover songs, really.) It would be fascinating to see who can *really* cut it. Most artists tend to or want to write at least some of their own material. Why shouldn't they test that skill?

That'll never happen either.

Linda

Ok fine.

I'll admit that's true; however, I'm not certain they wouldn't have made it had they never been on idol either. My point is that those who lost still ended up being winners. Which I am sure the show is very proud of; however, in my opinion the show did not make them winners... they did it for themselves.
Derek

Edit
It's ok if you push my button . Just don't call me late to supper

No prob, Derek! I'll remember that.

Blake Lewis most likely would've made it on his own too, IMO.
But a headstart never hurts.

For the record, I *LIKE* Daughtry. Man. A lot.
His album's the first one I'm buying once I've caught up my Queen collection. hehe

Linda

That's okay, Derek. We're all entitled to our own opinions. That doesn't hurt me. I don't get my feelings hurt that easily. I happen to like Chris Daughtry a lot, though.

Curious, though, why you don't respect them as artists (?)

Hi Linda.
We already have a show that features under 25s over25s and bands (well a group of non player pop singers if you count that as a band) It is called X factor. Simon Cowell, Sharon Osborne and Lou Walsh are the panelists. They do not perform any original songs just sing Karaoke covers just like AI. The sad fact is that most of the mature singers are streets ahead of the under 25s. They tend to get voted off early probably because they are considered to old to be a popstar. AI is the exported to America version of Pop Idol another Simon Cowell show. It is probably only a matter of time till you get X factor or similar.
I doubt if they will want original music however. S Cowell has his reasons.

Hey Linda,

My first visit to this thread.

Yes, I enjoy Americam Idol. I do not believe they are necessarily the best (you choose a number) young singers in the country, although some of them are pretty darned good. I view the show in the context of what it is....who is the best (better when down to two) singer(s) of the ones selected to go forward from the previous week's competition. That is what it is...no more no less. But, accepting it as such, I enjoy it quite a bit.

As many of the naysayers have commenyed, it is a bit kareoke, although most of us would mind having Ricky Minor and his band doing the music for us! But, that is OK, too. That's the type of show it is.

I'm not sure whom my favorite is yet. I believe that Archuleta and Hernandez are probably the best singers. But I am not sure that they are the best entertainers.

My biggest heartburn with the show is that at no point are the contestants permitted to sing songs of their choice, with no restructions, for the entire show. Doing so would, I think, allow them to have the opportunity to showcase themselves in the way that they each think is their best and strongest element.

Okay, I've rambled enough. Yes, I like it and I watch it. But I accept it in the context of what is is.

Al

They're definitely advertising Beatles songs this week. Should be interesting to see what they choose.

Brian

...and I heard only EARLY Beatles (1962-1966).

That makes it much harder to choose. I think Revolver was the 1966 release. No White Album, Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper, etc.

Post deleted by TAMERA64

Hey Tammy,

I don't want to perpetuate the politics of homosexuality on this thread, either...and though I disagree with you, I respect your right to your beliefs and opinions. The only teensy little problem I still have is: why do you have to be nasty about it? For instance, why would you be offended by Danny having a purple streak in his hair :o? Amanda has blonde streak...Jason Yeager had a blonde streak...

Anyway, enough said from this gal on the subject.

Hope your recordings went well in Nashville....was that for the AI song you were going to re-record? Regardless, looking forward to hearing what you do with that vs. the new one you were talking about...

Peace,
Beth

Hi Tammy. I wanted Danny to go for the same reason that you did. He was disrespectful. And it is interesting that you bring up the "gay' issue because I didn't assume he was gay even when I said he was "one of the girls". I have known so many men whose persona was similar to Danny's and they were not gay. I don't even know how to classify them except to say that they acted like women. The principle of my kid's Elementary school was so effeminate that at first it shocked me. After a few months of observing him, it was apparent he was an outstanding principle and his school was rated (Texas standard) "Exemplary". He was married and he had a great rapport with children. Several months ago all of us parents got a letter telling us he had been put on administrative leave- no explaination. Then something was leaked about his attempt to get funding for a blind child in special education. Apparently he broke some kind of administative protocol and he was finally fired. No on knows the whole story yet but I am almost certain it had more to do with his persona because a group of parents were behind the dismissal. Fair? I don't have the facts. I just have my suspicions.

Why even use the term "Gay"? I have caught my own kids saying stuff, "Oh that's so gay" or "your so gay". I call them on it and they get a lecture. I guess I liked it better back in the 60's when nobody talked about it or flaunted it. I know for a fact that the so called gay men community was outrageously promiscuous in the seventies when I was in college. I don't know how many times I was approached by men in bathrooms or at night on the track field (I use to run the 800 meters and often practiced after dark). I was always shocked and offended by their boldness. So my stand today is that I am skeptical of the "gay agenda". I think at its core, it is hedonic- but I will defend their civil rights.

I got into a lot of trouble once in the ninties when the people in my department at the University of Oregon started handing out pink buttons with the phrase "practice diversity" on them. When I refused to wear the hutton, I was singled out as being intolerant and I defended my stand with a joke when I said in a small group, "Maybe it should say "practice perversity". A woman in that group heard the comment and other comments in that group and wrote a letter to the president of the University and filed a harrasssment grievance- not against me but my boss who was present and clearly sympathized with my position and had stated even more vigorously than me his position. He was later fired. I was protected by "free speech". The woman claimed that the converstation had made her uncomfortable.

So here you had a case of activist actually trying to coerce a department (a whole campus really) into endorsing not just tolerance, but the "practice" of something some of us personally felt was intrusive if not immoral. Tell me what is worse, to state that you don't approve of a behavior or actually being approached by someone who is trying to get you to DO the behavior? Clearly, something is out of whack with this picture. Having said that, and what probably kept me from getting fired, was that in the same conversation the woman cited, I stated that while I didn't condone homosexuality, I would defend a homosexual against agressive physical or verbal attacks just as I would any other human being whose civil rights have been violated. I still feel that way today but today I don't ask and I don't want to know- and, as in the case of Danny, I don't even assume he is gay because he may not be and if he is, it is none of my business.

Was not a fan of David A's performance
surprised me that no one did yesterday

Post deleted by TAMERA64

Just wonderin' if anyone saw the show tonight. I was trying to catch up on posts...so even though I know it was taped so we can watch it with my kiddos tomorrow commercial-free, I've been quite curious how things went. Did Paul McCartney show up or anything???

Beth

I don't watch the show enough to know the contestants but I caught some of it tonight because I knew they were doing Lennon-McCartney songs. In my opinion, the ladies who performed "Let It Be" and "Come Together" gave stand-out performances. The guys who did "Saw Her Standing There" and "We Can Work It out" were not very impressive. (Please keep in mind that I mean relative to the other contestants).

The young lady who did "Eight Days A Week" can sing but that was a really bizarre arrangement.

Wasn't familiar with the biker chick's (Amanda?) song but liked her delivery. Performances of "Eleanor Rigby" and "Across the Universe" were somewhere in the middle, in my opinion...

Didn't see the first hour....

I enjoyed watching - might do it again

Scott

Thanks Scott...

Unable to wait, I went over to the AI website (I'm a member, NATCH )...and there's actually a whole play-by-play thread. Probably shouldn't have read it, b/c now know judges perception of performances, and that might at some level taint my own perceptions. At any rate, it'll be fun. Pretty amazing, what these people do....

Ciao for now,
Beth

No surprise guests...no. It was interesting though...especially David Archuleta, the last performance of the night. I won't spoil it for you Beth, but let's just say even Superman is human.

My fav performances of the night:
Chikeze (She's a Woman), Brooke (Let it Be), Amanda (You Can't Do That)

I really like Brooke. I never get the "vote for me cuz I'm hitting this note right now" vibe from her...she feels the music, what does it matter if her range isn't as wide as some of the others?

My other favorites didn't do so hot. Oh well. Maybe next week?! Maybe not...

It does say "We're all in this together" at the top of this page. And therefore I expect tolerance and compassion from the artists, musicians & writers who are members here.

My results are posted on my blog at
http://myvote-americanidol.blogspot.com/

No big surprise appearances of any kind tonight. But some pretty decent performances from surprise artists and one immense tank job by the paper lion.. er I mean.. judge favorite David A.

tonight's 3 best performances:

Chikezie: He came completely out of nowhere and likely saved his own butt from going home. It was passionate, convincing, hip, original and it was so nice to see someone go 100% to their max with excellent results.

Amanda Overmyer: Another excellent performance from someone on the brink of going home. This was another case of doing her own arrangement of the Beatles and making it work out big time.

David Cook: He was pretty good.. but what he did was 100% predictable. He's definitely this season's Daughtry and unless he tanks somewhere along the way, he'll take Michael Johns out first.

3 Worst of the night:

David Archuleta: Finally.. the curtain is pulled back on this poser. Seriously.. he's been so horribly overated and even when he had clearly the worst performance of the night, they propped him up. (Compare what they said to him versus Ramiele who was WAY better than him). He has no range and now can't even remember the lyrics. Ack! But of course they'll keep proping him up and giving him the prime performance slots (last of the night is always the place of honor and makes you the easiest to remember for voting purposes). It was interesting that Simon had to qualify and say something to the effect of ..well.. there ARE 12 other people competing, so I guess we have to be fair and tell the truth... blah blah blah.. even HE knows the fix has been in from the start.

David Hernandez: It was a battle with David A. for the worst of the night. The only reason he wasn't worst is that he at least remembered the lyrics. That was about the only thing he did right. Unlike David, his stock wasn't high enough to live through a performance like that for very long.

Kristy Lee Cook: This was a tougher one because she sang fine and her version of Hard Days Night was very similar to Alison Kraus. But it still came off weird. It was really a toss up between her and Michael Johns ho-hum performance for 3rd worse. Ramiele also didn't light anything on fire. Any of those would fit into the bottom 3.

Also Rans:

Brooke White: Again, she finds a way to show no vocal range and play it as safe as possible. Yawn.

Carly Smithson: She's got some serious pipes, but she hasn't found a song that really works, regardless of what the judges said. With the right song she may have the most powerful voice left in the competition.

Jason Castro: Just so-so. One of these days he's have to sing something with range and he's screwed.

Syesha Mercado: Hated the cheezy version and song choice, but she can really sing and has great charisma.

Ramiele and Michael J.: Both underachieved. Both are capable of much better.

It's hard to predict who will finish last this week. The safest bet would be Kristy Lee Cook, but since she's the only country singer in the Top 12, she might have enough genre fans to keep her going. Chikezie was definitely on the chopping block this week along with Amanda, but both had excellent performances and it would be really sad and unfair for either to go home after back to back strong performances. David A. DESERVES to go but won't. Or for a surprise victim Syesha may go which would be sad.

My 3 most likely (not most deserving) to go:

Kristy Lee Cook
Syesha Mercado (least deserving to go)
Amanda Overmyer (also doesn't deserve to go after 2 excellent back to back weeks)

Brian

I'd appreciate it if folks would stay on topic and refrain from religious and sexual preference discussion as this is not the place or post for it. I try to be tolerant to all sides, relgious and non religious as well as all other divisive topics, but this is coming very close to crossing an acceptable line of intolerance. Please use reasonable discretion and show some tolerance to those who are different.

Brian

First of all, I noticed there is a special forum called "American Idol Songwriter" on the AI site now.

http://www.americanidol.com/myidol/forums/forum/?fid=157


Standouts tonight:

Chikezie - surprised everyone with the "split style" arrangement of "She's A Woman" beginning with a acoustic rural version and jumping into a rocked out second section. I gave him a 10 tonight. I think the judges did, too.

Carly Smithson - Even if you don't like this girl, think she should be kicked off for previously having a label deal or whatever, it's pretty hard to deny she rocked the house tonight with "Come Together". It could've been a Heart performance of the song. I gave her a 10 as well.

David Cook - Maybe it wasn't totally unique as a rock arrangement of "Eleanor Rigby", but I really couldn't fault it for sheer impact or delivery. Chris Daughtry couldn't have done a better job. He was my 3rd and final 10 of the evening.

Dismal or abysmal:

The Shocker: David Archuleta trying to sing "We Can Work It Out". He flubbed or forgot at least 2 lines that I heard. If he didn't have such a huge fan base, I'd say he was destined for the street this week, but he'll probably be safe. He has now shown weakness and has been "wounded", so I'll bet several of the others can smell the blood now. I think this screw up will actually inspire others that they could win.

Kristy Lee Cook - Truly abysmal tonight. The band performed a really BAD (hokey) country arrangement of "Eight Days A Week". Normally, the band is smokin', but not on this song tonight. Interestingly, I felt Kristy was more on pitch tonight than usual, but the arrangement was so bad for that song, that it just overshadowed the not-bad vocals.

Ramiele Malubay - I wanted to get a snack during her very boring rendition of "In My Life". She just couldn't hold my attention tonight and I don't have A.D.D. or anything. She's in a dangerous spot now.

Syesha Mercato - It was a kind of funky version of "Gotta Get You Into My Life", and was an OK performance, but it just reminded me of a Las Vegas night club act in the hotel barroom. It wasn't received well by the audience, who were very lukewarm about it even if it was the opening number.

David Hernandez - He did "I Saw Her Standing There" in an almost parody of the song. It was way fake with his stage movements looking too rehearsed (or actually not rehearsed enough to make them look natural). I don't think he'll last much longer unless he really comes out of a shell. He just doesn't come across as genuinely believable although he's a pretty good singer technically.

Amanda Overmyer - "You Can't Do That". She rocked out predictably. I think she'll hang in there, but I don't see her as lasting to the top 5.

Michael Johns - "Across The Universe". This was never one of my favorite Beatles tunes anyways, but he didn't really do anything special with it. I'm surprised Simon didn't nail him for not showing that all these performances need to be "special" each time they get on stage now.

Jason Castro - he'd getting pretty predictable now, and did a decent version of "If I Fell".

Brooke White - I'm not a fan, but liked her better this week than last. I think it was an unimaginative arrangment (very Karaoke for the music side) of "Let It Be", but it seemed heartfelt, and that's probably her strongest point because it sure isn't her vocal chops. She's still very pitchy to me.

So...get to the point already....

David A has way too many fans to have one mistake cost him a continuance.

Kristy Lee also has a pretty big fan base, and if there were any country fans voting, she was the clear choice, so I think she's on thin ice, but safe this week.

Ramiele - She also seems to have a lot of fans (at least on the AI site); however, she's on thin ice.

Syesha - She just hasn't developed a fan base for some reason, even though she's technically a better female singer than all but possibly Carly. My guess is that she's most likely to go this week.

I missed the ending of Idol last night. Chikezie was the best of what I saw last night. Chikezie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSLF31TMTE8

I just watched the video of David Archuleta doing We Can Work It Out. Except for the couple of flubbed lines, it was actually pretty decent.

Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jXNmqcOBspM

Kevin

I hope the voters are smart enough to send David A home after that disaster last night. David H should join him - leaving all the high note accents to the backup singers is no way to sell a song. Now maybe we'll be down to only one David on the show.

Carly owned the place from the fan reaction. The audience was over the top for her. I don't think we've seen the best she can do but she's definitely a front runner.

I definitely think Chikezie should get props for picking a song and taking it somewhere. Amanda as well for getting the most out of a limited vocal range/style.

In the middle:

I enjoyed Ramiele's performance this week more than any I've seen from her so far.

David Cook had me feeling I was listening to a Dishwalla song rather than Eleanor Rigby - it worked reasonable well but at times felt like he was just masking his range.

Kristy's country version of 8 Days a Week did nothing for me, and I wasn't all that impressed with Brooke's Let It Be. Both were competent, just not impressive.

Jason needs to do something that shows he's not a one dimensional folk singer. If he fell we wouldn't care ...

Michael Johns version of Across the Universe personalized it a bit but never really kicked in. Same for Syesha's Got to Get You into My Life.

Sometimes I wonder if the performers ever think about the 1:40 minute formula in picking their song and arrangement. Because of the show format, you have less than two verse/chorus shots at selling the song and making a vocal impression. Playing it safe is not gonna do it.

So - to summarize - hopefully we lose David A and David H this week. And Carly is my current front runner to win it all.

I'll go ahead and say it myself. David A *should* go home this week.
They are rough on the competitors during HOLLYWOOD WEEK, saying "this is too far into the competition to forget your lyrics."
You just can't.
In fact I'm not sure that's happened before in the Top 12 ever.
I'm sorry, David, but the judges were waaaaaaaay too nice.

I was most impressed with Chiekeze last night. Where did that come from? He's been holding back! I also liked Amanda, Brooke, Carly, and David Cook. The rest didn't sparkle much for me.

There's something to the way Brooke's voice sounds that I really like. She reminds me of Carly Simon, who's one of my all-time favorite artists.

Our unanimous feeling with Kristi Lee's song is that she didn't MATCH her vocal to the style she was singing. The words needed to be tighter and more clipped. You can't sing long flowing notes over that kind of arrangement.

Amanda was VERY, very smart to choose a song that wasn't a giant hit that not everybody knows - so she could make it her own and sound like it.

And if you noticed from the interviews, she wasn't familiar with the song much before this week either - just like 2 or 3 others who performed LESS well (including David A) and mentioned not really knowing the song/s. One week IS long enough to learn a song, even a song you've never heard before. It sounds like they kept them busy this week - but I'm sure they had rehearsal time. If you're in a competition like that, you take the lyrics and an MP3 with you everywhere you go, you sing it in the shower, in the bathroom, in line, EVERYWHERE until you're so saturated with it you can't lose it. This is a BIG competition, and there's no excuse for not being dead sure of the song before you go out there to perform.

PLUS they had what, 2? 3? weeks' lead time on this one to start choosing the song... which is not something you can just pick willy-nilly. Hop out to MP3 sites, listen to 30-second clips, FIND SOMETHING. My bet is that's what Amanda did. A couple of them sounded like they just picked the only Beatles song they knew. Others picked for sentimental reasons - again, not the greatest reason to choose a song.

Kind of a rough night. I was gritting my teeth a lot as they announced the songs. Happily surprised with a few of them. Especially Chiekeze!! All right!

Linda