Shock and Horror!

So, am I to believe – as apparently a plurality of Americans do – that Kristy, Amanda and Kady are better than Alexandrea? This is a miscarriage of justice. And it reminds me of the Sabrina thing.

Sabrina, as you recall, was a really good, young singer who got voted off early last year and I am still upset about it. Now, more objectively (which is what I do best unless we’re talking about Valerie Bertinelli), Sabrina wasn’t going to win as there were a few girls who did what she did better than her. Likewise, this year, you have to say that Syesha, Asia’h and Ramiele are better than Alexandrea at what she does. Also, Simon wasn’t fond of either Sabrina or Alexandrea and in the early stages even more than later, Simon’s opinion really seems to influence the voting. Still (like Sabrina), Alex deserved to go a lot farther. And have I mentioned how bad Kristy, Amanda and Kady have been? So, yeah, I’m ticked. Really ticked.

The voting on the guys was right although Luke could have easily gotten the boot, too.

DAUGHTRY!!!!

Last night, we (daughter #1 Diandra) went to see Bon Jovi (for the 3^rd time) with Daughtry opening. It was a very surreal experience that fully completes my Idol addiction. Surreal in the sense of seeing him during an Idol season when it was just years ago we were going crazy talking about and voting for him week after week just as we’re seeing a new batch of contestants right now. Now we see him in an Arena full of people singing HIS songs – I guess that takes care of song selection. And he was SO good.

Yeah, and that Bon Jovi guy isn’t so bad either. Thousands of women who want to be with him and about 100 guys who want to be him. And he’s written a few pretty good songs too . . . . . “Tommy used to work on the docks . . .”

The Girls Are Underwhelming

Bad song choices seemed to rule tonight. Some decent performances but nobody really standing out. It’s probably easier to talk first about who was dreadful:

Amanda – I was afraid that she was a one-trick pony that really couldn’t sing and she proved it. And the look was way over the top. I don’t think she survives.

Kady Malloy – just a horrible, horrible rendition of a bad song choice (Magic Man). I think she’s gone.

Alaina – can I just say that I detest “Hopelessly Devoted to You”? Diandra made a note, “One of Dad’s least favorite songs of any decade.” So she wasn’t going to get any devotion from me. Just as nobody can sing a Celine Dion song (a compliment), nobody can sing an Olivia Newton-John song, either (uh, not a compliment). Maybe she skates this week but then it’s uphill with the competition from the rest of the girls.

OK, the best of the night:

Brooke – in the interest of full disclosure, I think I’m getting a crush on her. But she did make “You’re So Vain” “her own”. Best song choice of the night. She’s not as good a singer as many of the others so song choice will be key for her the rest of the way.

Carly – a comeback week for her. Another good song choice for her although I agree with Randy that it was “alright” but not great.

Alexandrea – I really liked her version of the Chicago yawner of a song. I disagree with the judges – I though she brought a classic old school R&B feel to a cheesy song and pulled it off. I was impressed.

The rest:

Syesha (uh, maybe a little crush for me here, too), Ramiele, Asia’h all just OK. Kristy Lee Cook is a cutey and did better this week with the Linda Ronstadt song.

Again, not a great week. It really is a marathon and not a sprint and each contestant will experience some ups and downs. The competition in the girls will get really, really fierce probably as soon as next week as somebody good will have to go to get to six which should be (in no order): Carly, Syesha, Brooke, Ramiele, Alexandrea, and Asia’h.

Who's going to finish second . . . .

. . . since it should be clear that David Archuleta is going to win.

Best of the rest (of the guys):

Chikezie – strong, strong Donny Hathaway. I am so glad he redeemed himself from last week. This guy can sing and has strong stage presence.

David Hernandez – I was worried when I heard the opening line to “Papa” – one of my all-time favorite songs and just one of the greatest period – but the dude really brought it. This guy can sing, too.

Next level:

Jason – I didn’t think he was that bad. I actually forgot (for a while, anyway) that that was a Bee Gees song. Probably not a true pop singer in the American Idol sense of that so we’ll see how he continues to do.

David Cook – not even close to channeling Paul Rodgers on the Free classic “All Right Now” (I once won a name-that- tune contest at a dance by naming that song fastest but I digress) but it wasn’t so bad. He’s more believable as a rocker than boy-band-thinks-he-can-rock-but-can’t Robbie.

And I will admit it, I like Danny Noriega. Yeah, I feel kind of dirty saying so but he has personality, is entertaining and a way better singer than the Unspeakable One from last year.

Sorry, Wanda, your Aussie stud just didn’t bring it. I’m guessing he’ll end up in the final six boys but I’m not impressed.

GIRLS RULE!!

The guys: pretty weak performances. David was clearly the best and, while it’s early, obviously has IT and should sail through not just to the final four but could win it all. Dreadlock Jason was #2. While Danny did a spirited Jailhouse Rock, the rest of the guys were boring to dreadful. My boy Chikezie was a real letdown.

The girls: I was quite pleased that almost all my girls gave strong performances. My top two were Syesha (Tobacco Road) and Asia’h (Piece of My Heart) with Alexandrea (Spinning Wheel) a real close third. I also like Ramiel (the little girl with the big voice) who has real potential. I do like the rocker chick Amanda! It remains to be seen how versatile a singer she is, though.

Kady (the Britney imitator) is pretty and has a nice voice. Brooke and Carly (I dig her personality!) didn’t really get it done this week.

OK, so right now I have a big four of David, Syesha, Asia’h and Alexandrea. Jason and Ramiel in a second group. Then I guess and Amanda, Kady, Brooke and Carly in a third group.

Right now, I can’t see that there are six good guys to make the final group. Whoever the six girls turn out to be will be a really, really strong group.

IT'S ON!!

OK folks, I am READY. First let me say how totally annoying it is that they have to remind us a million times that this is the most talented Idol group ever. While they have never been shy about self-promotion, this is a bit much for me. Plus, let’s wait and see. Two years ago was pretty awesome: Daughtry, Elliot, Kellie and Mandisa have been pretty successful not to mention Taylor and McPhee – and Paris. That was strong.

Anyway, here is my current list of standouts. Now that we are going all the way live, I’ll be interested to see who is ready for primetime.

Guys

Chekezie Eze

Michael Johns - the Aussie

David Archuleta – the FABULOUS 16 year old; I think he’s final four material

Girls (the girls RULE!)

Alexandrea Lushington – 16 years old!

Asia’h Epperson

Syesha Mercado

Brooke White

Carly Smithson

Ramiele Malubay – little girl with the big voice

Amanda Overmeyer – the goth rocker biker chick, who really isn’t that great a singer but I love her look and personality; plus she gives me prim-and-proper nurse wife heartburn

I am really liking Alexandrea, Asia’h and Syesha. Notice I have seven girls I like and only six can make the final 12.