American Idol Top 13 Perform Whitney and Stevie

You'll have to forgive me that I have an involuntary gag reflex whenever I face any Whitney or Stevie theme night because these two artists are so iconic Idol contestants have pretty much run through their discography ad nauseam. No disrespect to the most recently departed Whitney Houston by any stretch - in fact it is out of the knowledge she IS so iconic that trying to duplicate her enormous talent usually ends up poorly for the contestant who dares to take her on.

On this 400th episode of AI Ryan tells us that the girls will be performing in competition with the boys. At the end of the results show tomorrow both the guy with the lowest votes and the girl with the lowest votes will go before the judges, who will ultimately decide their fate.

The girls were up to the challenge, sort of. Two knocked it completely out of the park, whereas two fell completely out of place. For the boys they were mostly consistent but a little ho hum. I knew that this Whitney/Stevie mash-up would be a regularly snooze-fest for the Fast Forward King (my dear hubby) but when all was said and done he watched two performances straight through and was mad that one of the three up-tempo songs was mangled beyond all recognition.

Jimmy Iovine brought Mary J. Blige in to help coach the Idols this week and for the most part they were helpful. It hurt me to see Jimmy throw poor Elise under the bus but what can you do? The producers have their favorites too.

(As you could tell by the placement of all the singers tonight. There's a reason Phillip Phillips is the Vegas favorite to take home the title.)

One of my favorites kicked off the show with the fun Stevie tune, "I Wish." Joshua Ledet brought a little gospel into the peppy song and gave it his all as he performed, which made his unfortunate position as first a little less forgettable. His performance reminded me of some R&B greats who had come before him and I found his groove infectious. I truly couldn't find any real fault with it. I had a good time, and that's something I wasn't even sure was possible on this particular theme night.

Vocals: 5
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 5
Total: 25
Probability of moving on: Good*
(His placement as first is the only thing that downgrades his chances from Strong.)

As I said before, I was not happy that Jimmy Iovine threw a different song choice at Elise Testone out of her comfort zone. I was, however, very glad he steered her away from that particular ballad for a peppy upbeat number, "I'm Your Baby Tonight." I love her voice but she really has to amp up the confidence to tackle these challenges. Her uncertainty caused her to lose her way in the song, which never fit her properly in the first place. I would have really loved to see her approach that song from another perspective, like jazz. The arrangement she ended up using either was out of whack or she has a misstep right out of the gate. I don't think she was able to recover after that. Couple this with her early placement in the lineup and this could spell trouble.

Vocals: 3
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 3
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 3
Total: 17
Probability of moving on: Questionable

Jermaine Jones took on "Knock Me Off My Feet" with that big deep voice of his. While it was a sleepier number than the first too there was a swagger there I don't think had been there before. His voice however is pretty stylized so I'm not sure how polarizing he will ultimately be as a contestant. If you were already a fan of Jermaine this performance gave you another dynamic to enjoy. It depends now if voters will remember this performance by the end of the show. I found it nice but forgettable.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 4
Total: 20
Probability of moving on: Fair to Good

Erika Van Pelt (or EVP as she will now be called) apparently didn't learn her lesson last week. After nearly being sent home for singing a ballad (and saved by the skin of her teeth singing something with more of an edge,) she opted to take on Whitney's ballad "I Believe in You and Me."

:-|

This chick obviously has a sadistic streak. It's not enough she almost got booted on her fanny LAST week she wants to remind us all that she doesn't have the strongest ballad voice, she can just make it a little edgier when she does it. She could have chosen a song to stand out all on her own ("It's Not Right But It's Okay" for instance, which is Whitney's most badass recognizable tune.) (And she's a DJ... should should know it.) Instead she just decided to blend in with the pack. Yeah her voice was cool and all but this was yet another missed opportunity for her. I'm not sure how forgiving the voting public will be with her for doing the same unoriginal karaoke two weeks in a row.

I'm annoyed and I like her. EVP, darling, you're a rocker. Let everyone else bore my husband to tears with a ballad. STAND. OUT.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 2
Total: 18
Probability of moving on: Fair to Good*
(She earns the "good" because chances are higher she'll get a boomerang of votes to keep her out of jeopardy again this week, and honestly two other girls performed worse.)

Colton Dixon sang "Lately." This alt rocker also slowed things down, but I really couldn't presume to pick a song that would better suit him. Most of the songs he sings sound the same to me. When he performed I didn't hear shades of Stevie in the background. I suppose that's a good thing? I just haven't been wowed by Colton yet. I think this will appeal to his fan base. How substantial that is will determine his placement overall, but I can't see this particular performance sending him home.

Vocals: 4
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 4
Total: 22
Probability of moving on: Good to Strong

Shannon Magrane is another contestant who hasn't yet learned that truly talented singers have more in their back pocket than just a pat ballad. Instead of keeping it young ("I Wanna Dance With Somebody" for instance,) she TOO opted for a ballad - one way older than her tender age of 16. She couldn't sell it emotionally nor vocally. "I Have Nothing" is a huge Whitney tune and unlike EVP before her, she doesn't necessarily have the chops to carry this kind of song. This was evident in the number of notes she missed. Her vocal was really the the weakest of the night.

If the nicest judges on TV are telling you it's bad, it's bad. That they actually identified her as bad is her only hope for votes to get into the next round.

Vocals: 2
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 3
Song Choice: 1
Total: 14
Probability of moving on: Questionable

My sweet little DeAndre Brackensick. What can I say? I find just about everything about him endearing, even the way he uttered, "Lawd have mercy" when he saw video playback of how emotional last week was for him. I wasn't crazy about the wild "up-do" he had going on but it spared him from the hair flip of doom. His performance of the Reggae flavored "Master Blaster" let him let his hair down a little (figuratively speaking) and he got to be what he is: a 17 year old kid. It was youthful and fun but still gave him an opportunity to show his range a little bit. I was able to watch it three times and enjoy it as much every single time. I can't always understand what he's singing, but I sure like the sound of his voice while he's doing what he does so effortlessly. I remain unabashed in my bias, but this week he earned it.

Vocals: 5
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 5
Total: 24
Probability of moving on: Strong

Skylar Laine is so country it hurts. I've always found it interesting that British performers can sing a song and we'll never hear a hint of their accent but when it comes to southern performers it hits you in the face like a cold blast of water. So it really didn't matter what Whitney song she sang tonight, it was going to come across like be-dazzling rhinestones on haute couture. I did appreciate both Jimmy and Mary "reigning" her in to deliver her version of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" with a softer touch. It really prevented her from taking it over the top, which could have sunk her.

As our only real country contestant this year, I think odds in her favor that she'll advance.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 4
Total: 22
Probability of moving on: Strong

I still don't know what to make of Heejun Han. He can sing but his personality is a bit... quirkier than we normally see on Idol. But I guess since Reed Grimm didn't make the cut, he does fill a comedy niche. My only problem is that he sings boring songs. He opted for "All is Fair in Love." He sings like a balladeer while maintaining the backstage presence of a class clown. I'd love to see him bring a little bit more of that personality to the stage.

(Which I believe was my complaint last week as well.)

Either way, boring, forgettable performance.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 4
Total: 20
Probability of moving on: Fair to Good

Hollie Cavanagh sang "All the Man That I Need" - which happens to be my favorite Whitney tune of all time. It's a HUGE song, but she has a HUGE voice - so it fit. Many times when we hear Whitney songs on Idol I miss actually hearing Whitney. Hollie, tonight, performed a miracle. Not only did she give me goosebumps hitting these big notes (especially that doozy at the end) but she made me want to hear HER version again rather than the original. It's a shame it was slow, my husband Speedy McSpeederson FF'd right on by.

I think she's definitely one to watch. I can see her going all the way to top 3 (at least) if she keeps this up.

Vocals: 5
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 5
Total: 25
Probability of moving on: Strong

Jeremy Rosado won us over last week by being the kid who wears his heart on his sleeve. He brought J-Lo to tears and earned her Wild Card pick with a voice that she commented was straight from the heavens. Despite this ringing endorsement his performance of "Ribbon in the Sky" didn't do much for me. It was... pleasant. It was nice. But it didn't stand out the way I had hoped it would. I think odds are good that he'll experience that boomerang vote effect where his fans will vote this week where they didn't last week. (He may have even won a few more with his emotional journey thus far.) IF by any stretch he does wind up in the bottom two going against one of the girls I doubt he'll be sent home, especially if Jennifer has anything to say about it.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 4
Total: 20
Probability of moving on: Fair to Good

You knew when we heard it was Whitney week SOMEONE would sing "I Will Always Love You." This is risky because Whitney sang the hell out of this song to the point, especially now that she has passed, it's almost sacrilege to try and put a different, individual spin on it. This inevitably vaults it into karaoke territory for lesser singers. Fortunately Jessica Sanchez is not a lesser singer. She's got a big ol voice for such a little girl, and she really did deliver.

Having said that I think Hollie may have outsung her tonight, if only by a smidge. I think Jessica's rather cliche performance of this predictable song (under a spotlight much like J-Hud sang at the Grammys) did not do her any real favors to set her apart from Whitney or even J-Hud. Unless you can surpass them, not just draw neck and neck, it's best not to draw those comparisons.

I still think she's the girl to beat, although after tonight I think Hollie is right on her heels.

Vocals: 5
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 5
Total: 24
Probability of moving on: Strong

Phillip Phillips closed the show and we all know what that means. It would seem he's a producer favorite as well as a Vegas favorite, though I swear I still don't see why. I get that he takes songs and puts an individual spin on the song - but it all sounds like the same thing to me and that's not really that original at all. Every time he performs I am reminded of the likes of David Cook - and then I want to hear David Cook.

"Superstition" is my favorite Stevie Wonder song hands down. I usually like it when most people do it, as long as they do it fairly close to the Stevie Wonder version. That's how much I love it. So I wasn't crazy about this gruff rock switcharoo much like I didn't care for what he did last week. I don't think he's going home anytime too soon but I have yet to see in him what everyone else does.

Maybe next week.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 4
Total: 21
Probability of moving on: Strongest

(Has anyone ever gone home who performed in the pimp spot? I can't recall.)

If voting follows performance then Elise and Shannon are in the most trouble. For the guys it will just depend on where the fan allegiances lie as no one really dropped the ball vocally. Some performances were more memorable than other, but never underestimate the power of the judges and the lineup in which they sang. According to my grades Jermaine, Jeremy and Heejun tied with the lowest boys scores at 20, but poor Joshua is fighting the dreaded curse of first.

(It didn't help the judges gave him props for standing out several times, which could lull his fanbase into a false sense of security. We have seen this happen many times before.)

That means it's anybody's game for the guys.

My pick to go home: Elise.

American Idol Top 13 - Season 11

Normally I don't do a Results Show recap but I'm pretty excited about the Top 13, especially the last contestant to slide in by the skin of his teeth. In fact I didn't know how much I cared about this UNTIL it was announced and I deafened my entire family with my whoop of joy.

In fact the entire Wild Card segment just brought me to tears and invested me in the whole dang season that there's no turning back now.

The first member to make it into the Top 10 based on popular vote was Phillip Phillips.

As predicted, Chase and Jeremy suffered from their lack of exposure and Phillip moved right on through.

The results show included comments from Jimmy Iovine, who typically renders a harsher critique than the Kinder, Gentler Judges. Some things I agreed, some things I didn't. I wasn't on board with his assessment of Phillip. I don't find him all that original. I get a real David Cook vibe off of the artist Phillip is setting himself up to be.

The girls were brought up four at a time, and the first two to make it into the Top Ten were Hollie Cavanagh and Jessica Sanchez.

Jimmy commented that Brielle's pick of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was too old fashioned and he was right on... especially since he echoed what I already said in my blog yesterday. She still justified it, speaking of herself once again in the third person. I wasn't particularly heartbroken nor surprised when she didn't make it into the Top Ten.

He also stated that Jessica is the one to beat, which I also alluded to in yesterday's blog pegging her the One to Watch for Season 11. If there's a girl to win this thing, breaking a streak of male winners since Carrie Underwood, it's this girl.

By no surprise another favorite guy of mine, Joshua Ledet, joined Heejun Han over in the coveted stools for the Top Ten.

I agreed with Jimmy that Heejun is a bit of a confusing pick for the show, but not really surprised with all of the screen time that he got he made it through with the votes.

But Heejun maintains he'll keep things light with the comedy as his Idol journey continues.

The next four ladies who came up to the chopping block gave me a little bit more of what I wanted in Skylar Laine:

It also gave Shannon Magrane really good news that her inspirational ballad won the hearts of American voters.

But Jimmy also echoed my complaint from yesterday about the high school pageanty look by saying she looked more like she was dressed for the prom. I hope with the help of a stylist she can be more youthful and fun rather than this too-old-for-her-years songbird she established herself to be last night.

Jimmy also repeated my dissatisfaction with both Baylie and Chelsea, even going so far as to say Carrie Underwood karaoke wouldn't cut it. It looks like we both were right.

The Idol dream also ended for Aaron, whose performance Jimmy considered cheesy. He wasn't any more charitable to Creighton ("screechy") or Reed ("too cabaret") and apparently the audience agreed - even if Steven, J-Lo and Randy all sang their praises.

Elise Testone was joined by Erika, Jen and Haley, but only Elise won her rightful place by America's vote as the last girl chosen for the Top Ten.

Jimmy felt Jen, while the voice was good, didn't have enough soul and praised Erika's restraint despite J-Lo's advice to push herself even further. Meanwhile he underscored Randy's assessment Haley's performance was a "nightmare."

With only two spots left Ryan called down four of the remaining boys, including my DeAndre, Colton Dixon, Eben and the Gentle Giant himself, Jermaine Jones. This is where I got a little nervous. With Jermaine securing not only the pimp spot but having a really emotional journey thus far this season, it seemed likely his fans would vote him through.

Likewise for Colton, whose Idol journey is two years in the making (as is DeAndre's - but Colton's has been way more televised.)

When Jimmy sang the praises of both Jermaine and Colton I knew my little DeAndre was in trouble. And of course he was sent back to wait his fate through the Wild Card stage as he did not secure the top 10 vote. Those final two honors went to the guy who barely missed the Top 24 and the guy who didn't bother to audition.

Thus began the Wild Card round where the judges had to pick 6 out of 15 singers in order to select one Wild Card contestant each. Jen got the first opportunity to sing for her life and sing for her life she did. She selected "Oh! Darling" and did a fantastic job, although lost her breath in a few spots trying to knock it out of the park with her vocal gymnastics.

Jeremy sang second, with a Carrie Underwood tune that brought J-Lo to tears. In fact there probably wasn't a dry eye in the house when he fell apart at the end of the song himself after a performance that brought his fellow contestants to their feet.

Brielle got her second chance and laid it all on the line with a more sedate and serious performance. This gave her mom a little more face time on camera as well, but didn't really do anything for me to reconsider my earlier position (as Jeremy's emotional performance had done.)

Randy made my night by recalling DeAndre for his second chance. He sang "Georgia on My Mind" which showed way more range than the EW&F tune he sang for the live performances on Tuesday. It was another old fashioned tune that I wasn't sure showed the best of what he could do. But the girls loved it - as I was sure they would.

Seeing this baby tremble with the importance of the moment was enough to win over even more than what I was before. Though I wasn't actively conscious of it, the stakes for him to advance shot WAY up.

Erika sang next and FINALLY let it go with Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory." I was practically on my chair for her performance. THIS is what she needed to do yesterday. THIS is what sets her apart. NEVER EVER EVER EVER resort to an 80s pop ballad when you can rock that kind of powerful vocal.

N E V E R.

With that vocal she outshone every other Wild Card wannabe that went before her.

The judges gave the last spot to Reed, a drummer who definitely dances to his very own beat. I thought the audience was screaming for him beforehand and as he performed we could see why. He's definitely entertaining. That said, he's not an idol and the performance ultimately was easy to discard.

I figured at this point the judges would pick Erika, Jeremy and Jen.

Randy announced the first Wild Card pic - Erika Van Pelt.

J-Lo announced her Wild Card pick, and after the tears she shed for him it could be none other than Jeremy Rosado.

That left Steven with the third and final Wild Card pick. I didn't let out a breath until he told him that he could let his hair down and I knew that despite all odds my favorite had skated in by the hair of his chinny chin chin.

My favorite... I wanna adopt him... he made me care about Idol once more... DeAndre Brackensick.

This is shaping up to be a season with a lot of heart, and contestants that wear their hearts on their sleeves. I think both Jeremy and DeAndre won some fans tonight with their earnest gratitude for making it into the Top 13, so I hope we see that reflected in the votes next week.

And for the first time in a LONG time... I'm excited about next week.

Oh American Idol... you did it to me again. I'll even forgive you for making theme nights out of Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston, two artists I usually pray no contestants ever sing because of the high karaoke factor.

Till next week... Geevie OUT.

American Idol Semifinalist Guys: Live Performances

The official live performances began on Idol, sending the vote to the public on who should stay and who should go from the top 24 25 top semifinalists. In an unprecedented move, the judges brought back an extra guy to add to the standard 24, which was revealed during tonight's live telecast.

On the whole the show was fairly ho-hum, as the early live shows tend to be. The cream hasn't completely risen to the top and no stars have yet to emerge; what you get mostly are many a'iight performances that are neither spectacular or true train wrecks.

This results in a virtual lovefest from the kinder, nicer generation of AI judges. This doesn't help make the steep cut of more than half of this field of 13. Those who had a lot of screen time during the audition process have a slight advantage over those we haven't yet met. Worse, the earlier performers who don't do much to stand out are easily forgettable by the time we get to the producer favorites stacked at the end of the show.

I have my favorites (Team DeAndre!) but the show itself demonstrates many of these guys are running neck and neck for your vote. To predict a final 5 out of the 12 13 presented poses a bit of a challenge.

So let's get cracking.

The Guys could sing any song they chose (always a dangerous proposition) and were instructed to take a camera to their hometowns so that we might get to know them just a little better.

First up was Reed Grimm from Wisconsin.

This Wisconsin native brings personality to spare to the show, as well as the first (?) drummer to grace the AI stage. I like drummers. They are a breed of musician unto themselves that go by such nicknames as "Machine Gun" and "Animal."

He has a real zest for life and a creative streak, as demonstrated in his jazzy rendition of "Moves Like Jagger."

I'm not entirely certain how such a rendition will go over with the AI crowd, but he sang it with conviction. This off-screen goofball turns into a smooth operator on stage, which makes him a memorable contestant. This could save him from the curse of first.

The judges loved him but they loved everyone. As the show wore on my beleaguered hubby lamented on how much he missed Simon because these judges aren't as rough around the edges when it comes to delivering "constructive criticism." Randy mentioned that Reed was reminiscent of Casey Abrams of last season, but I think Reed may be a little more mainstream. This could help propel him into the finals.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 4
Total: 22
Probability of moving on: Good

Adam Brock (new dad, chef, renaissance, large black woman trapped in a white guy) took the stage next with an Aretha Franklin tune (obviously.)

He's a cuddly bear with a lot of soul and has been featured pretty heavily throughout the audition process. That, coupled with his non-fast-forwarded performance (courtesy of my hubby Steven) makes Season 11's "White Chocolate" a possible audience favorite moving forward.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 5
Total: 22
Probability of moving on: Good

Seventeen-year-old DeAndre Brackensick was grouped in with beginning performances, which can spell trouble for these new faces for the voting audience.

We don't know much about DeAndre given his lack of screen time over the audition process, despite the fact he's been on both Season 10 and Season 11. I remembered him from last year because I think he's extremely commercial and his voice takes the best of artists like Prince before him to a new place for such a young soul. I was really concerned that his placement in the lineup could cripple his chances to move forward, especially when he began to sing "Reasons" from Earth, Wind & Fire. While the Phillip Bailey falsetto was dead on, the song may be a little old school for his target demographic (young girls.) But from the screams he got when he finished, I feel a tad more confident that we'll see more from my early favorite of Season 11. He's got a commercial look and his voice is pure liquid gold. Please, America... let's see what this kid can do.

Vocals: 5
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 4
Total: 23
Probability of moving on: Good (please, please, please)

*tip* think about losing the hair flip; it's a quirk that can get old really fast if you're not careful.

Colton Dixon has been a familiar face throughout the last two seasons.

He has a standout style and he's a musician, which makes me root for the guy just on a talent-only basis. That he was never supposed to be on this season at all makes his appearing in the semifinals pretty remarkable. Unfortunately, though I love anyone who can bring any kind of rock to the Idol stage, I didn't care that much for his performance of Paramore's "Decode." It felt a little white bread to me. Maybe the hype over the last couple of years prepped me to expect a little more, or maybe this was just not my style of music as I'm way more classic/hard rock than alternative. (Usually though, I can see past that.) Despite that, I think the audience has connected with him enough by this point to try to get him through. I just don't know if his voice shares the same distinction as his alternative look.

Vocals: 4
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 4
Total: 23
Probability of moving on: Strong

Jeremy Rosado is the first contestant I had to struggle to remember from earlier auditions, which makes me kinda sad because I think he's a good kid up against a really tough playing field.

He doesn't really have a standout niche like Colton, Reed or even DeAndre. He too chose a song made famous by a female, "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles. He sang it well and if this 19-year-old had any nerves he managed to mask them convincingly. Though beautifully sung, this middle of the pack performance didn't do much to make him stand out and he kinda had to.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 4
Total: 20
Probability of moving on: Questionable

I'm afraid the same fate may befall another middle-pack performer Aaron Marcellus, a contestant that J-Lo herself championed through to the semifinals.

His rendition of "Never Can Say Goodbye" didn't do enough to set him apart (or above) other bluesy singers, which is a shame. He certainly has the pedigree to add performance to his impressive vocals, but this particular song didn't do much to give him a chance to shine apart from one glory note. One Night One, you need more than that. So despite the crowd reaction to the note and the judges' standing O, I think this is another contestant in serious danger going home.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 4
Total: 20
Probability of moving on: Questionable

Brendan Fraser doppelganger Chase Likens also had the misfortune of running with a mid-pack performance.

He was a virtual blank slate for all of us who sat through the arduous audition rounds to pick out early favorites for the live performance shows. I don't recall ever seeing him perform until tonight, and with that mug I think I really kinda woulda. This 21-year-old college student from West Virginia actually did something the other two performers before him were unable to do: he distinguished himself from the pack by singing a completely different genre. He went country.

Country has always been pretty good to Idol contestants and there's no denying this guy has a very commercial look. He sang "Storm Warning" which had the added benefit of being an upbeat performance, which subtly gives a measure of excitement to the middle of a show that really kinda dragged with blah up to this point. The voice is there, but the performance style could use a bit of work to steer away from the cheese department. This, however, isn't a deal breaker as proven by last year's winner, Scotty McCreary.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 4
Total: 21
Probability of moving on: Fair to Good

Creighton Fraker has been an early favorite of mine because I think he does have a voice that stands out from the pack.

I love finding distinctive voices and he has a quirky personality to match. This preacher's kid from South Dakota found his place in the world in weird and wonderful New York, which on a personal level immediately endears me to him.

In fact I love his fabulousity so much I can ALMOST forgive him for singing one of my least favorite Cyndi Lauper tunes, "True Colors."

Let your rainbow, shine, honey. I'm rootin' for you!

Vocals: 5
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 3
Total: 23
Probability of moving on: Good


Phillip Phillips performed next and I have to be honest: it's a chore not to be annoyed by his name.

I like him well enough and I like his voice well enough but the whole double moniker is a wee bit off-putting. I fear it may get more cloying as the weeks go by because Idol has a nasty little habit of running bits into the ground.



That they decided to get even MORE cutesy with the captioning of their family photo as the "Phillips Phamily Photo" didn't have me in the most generous mood when he did his version of Phil Collins' 80s epic "In the Air Tonight." It definitely put his very unique fingerprint on it but I was not a fan. On the plus side, his voice is very distinctive and he's very likeable. I doubt he'll be sent home... so I'll just have to get over my lil pet peeve.

Vocals: 5
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 3
Total: 21
Probability of moving on: Good

Finally the judges had to earn a paycheck when they had to break it to sweet little Eben Franckewitz that his performance was the weakest of the night.

Of course they didn't say that but it was pretty obvious to those of watching the show. There were a lot of flat notes easily recognized by some of us with no musical training, so this early favorite who normally sings like an angel should thank his lucky stars that he was placed toward the end of the show when voters are more likely to remember him. It is also fortunate we already know he can do better from all the exposure he got in the earlier rounds. While the Adele tune didn't do him any favors, he'll likely get another chance to wow America.

Vocals: 3
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 4
Song Choice: 4
Total: 19
Probability of moving on: Fair to Good

The jury is still out for me for Heejun Han.

I love his voice but his personality seems a bit... editorially enhanced. His battle with the obnoxious cowboy during group round made him seem a bit whiny, and added to that his low self-esteem these are not attractive qualities for an American Idol. I did like the fact he owned up to the things he said right to the person, which showed honor - so let's see more of that. And more of his playfulness. And more of his vocal prowess. I think he's had enough exposure that his strong performance tonight will send him through to the next round.

Vocals: 4
Style: 4
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 5
Total: 22
Probability of moving on: Strong

Joshua Ledet is another early favorite.

He won me over with a gospel flavored "Jar of Hearts" during the Hollywood auditions. Another young guy with an old soul, he resurrects the blues and gospel greats who have come before him by singing with such conviction he's no longer simply singing. He's bearing his soul. Normally I don't like to see hopefuls use the songs of other Idols for the live performances, but that it was a JHud song makes it forgivable. I love when singers tackle songs from artists of the opposite sex because it brings something inherently new to the music. And with Joshua, it is ALL about soul. This is how you put your fingerprint on a song and make it stand out from the pack, rather than just sing a song well like earlier contestants did.

And apparently it makes J-Lo wanna punch ya. An Idol first?

Vocals: 5
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 5
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 5
Total: 25
Probability of moving on: Strong

While Joshua earned the coveted Pimp Spot, the producers decided to throw their latest curve ball at us by revealing the guy they brought back for the semifinals. I had a feeling it would be our gentle giant, Jermaine Jones.

Can I just say... I want to hug this man. What a teddy bear - gentle giant, indeed. There's just something about him that touches my heart. Maybe his relationship with his mother, or the tender rendition of the Luther Vandross song, "Dance With My Father," but I'm right there with him emotionally. He made me cry last week and twice this week. So let it be known I'm rooting for him just from a very personal place that has no objectivity.

Bear all future critiques of him (because I'm sure there will be more) with that in mind.

Vocals: 5
Style: 5
Stage Presence: 4
Individuality: 5
Song Choice: 5
Total: 24
Probability of moving on: Strong

So who's going home? There's really no way for me to tell. Eight guys are going to go home and talent has little to do with it at this point as it's pretty evenly distributed. It makes me sorely miss the good ol' days when the semifinals lasted more than just one week. I could see letting two go, maybe even four. Eight?

There's no way to call this.

I know who I want to stay (DeAndre, Creighton and Jermaine) and who SHOULD stay (Joshua)... but everything else is a crap shoot up to the American voting public.

(Be afraid... very afraid.)