Somebody for me to root for

I really enjoyed tonight’s show a lot and while I am quite ready for Hollywood next week and the emergence of Ellen, I have liked this year’s audition season better than any. I think the guest judges have had a lot to do with that as well as their usual top notch and clever editing. Some random thoughts from the show in no particular order:

FINALLY an audition from somebody I really, really liked – Danelle Haley, single mom from Seattle who sang Melissa Etheridge. Dark, gravelly female voices e.g. Stevie Nicks, Pink, and last year, Allison, kill me. I am hoping she does well in Hollywood.

Nicci Nix, the cute young girl who flew in from Frankfurt by way of Florence, was adorable and has a nice, pop-oriented voice. Great name, too.

I still like the still waif-like Vicky Posh Beckham Spice as a judge and I liked the purple dress she wore. And when have we ever heard, “You have nice skin”, as commentary?

The DC guy badly misrepresenting us here in the nation's capitol. Diandra’s tweet: “Is this DC guy really murdering John Mayer???”

Not related to tonight's show – check out the free download of ex-Idolist Carly Smithson’s band We Are the Fallen. I still think she was the best singer of a strong, strong Season 7 group (in order David and David; Syesha Mercado; Jason Castro; Brooke White; and then inexplicably Carly).

Move quickly. Their last free download was only available for a short period of time. http://www.wearethefallen.com/freedownload /

Finally in Billboard Top 40 action, both Kris and Adam are enjoying success. Kris' Live Like We're Dying is #26 with a bullet. Adam's Whataya Want From Me jumped from 55 to #37 with a bullet.