idol opinions

Season 10 of American Idol has been such a huge turning point for the show in various ways. Before the "Homecoming" episode airs, and before the winner is chosen, I thought I'd whip out just a few thoughts on the 8 contestants that, in my opinion, have given American Idol their best season to date. What an amazing crop of talented contestants! What a diverse and exceptional group! For the first time, I can honestly say that in my opinion, every one of the top 10 - perhaps even top 12 - have the talent, personalities, and drive to make outstanding careers for themselves. I've never been able to say that before! 

First however, it's only fair to say that one of the many reasons Season 10 has been so enjoyable, is because of the new team of judges and mentors. I was as skeptical as anyone - believe me - but I was soon surprised and delighted. Idol is FUN to watch now. The judges get along, have a good time, and offer encouragement and sound advice without ripping contestants apart. The Simon Cowell knot in my stomach is gone. Jimmy Iovine and his team of producers are the best in the business - those contestants are unbelievably lucky to have the opportunity to work with them. And even iTunes has upped it's role by offering the studio versions of songs to download the very next day. All of these changes have combined to breathe much needed new life and excitement into American Idol. Win/Win! Now on to highlight the top 8 contestants: 

~ Casey Abrams ~

An early favorite of mine, even though I realize a lot of people - most likely the younger set - just didn't "get" him. When he sang "You Outta Do Right" as his last try-out song, with just his stand-up bass, it BLEW. MY. MIND. It was actually great that he lasted as long as he did, since he is so NOT typical of the average A.I. contestant (which was refreshing). But as Randy kept pointing out, Casey is one deeply layered, exceptionally talented dude. What his voice didn't always do, his personality, and skill, his musicianship and uniqueness, made up for in SPADES. I was always excited to see what he was going to come up with every week, because he did every song proud by putting his own unique spin on it. Most of them were sheer genius. And I was heartbroken when he was eliminated. I felt he deserved at least a few more weeks. I will definitely follow his career. 

~ Lauren Alaina ~

I'll never forget how smitten Steven Tyler was with Lauren from the very beginning - from her actual audition. He saw her amazing talent immediately and has remained her biggest fan. I like Lauren's voice a LOT. I wish she chose better songs. When she's prancing around the stage to some country song, you can't always hear how beautiful her voice really is. When she slows it down a little, you can hear her true potential and all the diverse talent she really has. Speaking of potential, I think she has endless amounts of it - I don't say things like that lightly either. As the judges have eluded to, I don't think even she realizes the extent of her talent. I mean seriously - she auditioned at 15! In that respect, she needs more confidence, and I know that's something she has really struggled with... Jimmy Iovine and all the judges have tried hard to convince her how amazing she is, and have encouraged her to just let go and tap into all of it. She will in time, and I'm sure she's headed for stardom one way or another - she deserves to be. I'd step out on a limb and say she would win Idol if it weren't for her confidence issue... but one way or another, it's simply impossible not to be impressed by her.  

~ Paul McDonald ~

My favorite, favorite, favorite contestant. The famous rose-embroidered suits. The smile with those pearly white teeth that lit up the stage. The ruffled blond hair going every which way. Did I mention Paul was my favorite? Like Casey, I can see why a lot of the masses didn't quite "get" Paul. Strange, high voice unlike anything else. Almost hoarse-sounding at times. That odd strut-skip that he'd do across the stage looked almost like something between a seizure and slipping on a banana peel. I LOVED IT ALL. Loved his personality, loved that high, hoarse voice. He chose interesting songs and like Casey, put his own quirky spin on them. He had the talent to play his own instrument - always a plus to me - and I could hardly wait to see what he came up with every week. To me Paul made everything sound so cool. He was like a younger, cuter, more hip (and not nasty!) Rod Stewart. But better. Way better. There was just something about his quirky, easy-going, carefree performances that made me HAPPY. I've downloaded all his songs from iTunes - yes, my boys and their friends tease me mercilessly about it - and only wish there were more. Hopefully, in the near future there will be :)  

~ Stefano Lagone ~

Great singer, super nice guy. I confess I could never see what everyone else saw in him though. Unbelievable to me that he lasted that long. Tried way too hard in my opinion. Lounge singer. 'Nuff said. 

~ Scotty McCreery ~

Okay, I seriously dislike country. Especially traditional, twang twang twang country. That being said, I couldn't dislike Scotty McCreery if my life depended on it. That boy is not only too adorable for words, he has phenomenal talent. This kid is a superstar. He's GENUINELY sweet, and funny, and polite... the stereotypical mid-western, patriotic, God/family/baseball loving, down-home, humble, respectful kid. The real deal. And he can sing like the next Randy Travis. But he's way cuter and more lovable! When he sat down and sang "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?" I indeed wiped away a few tears. I'm not sure I'd follow his career just because I'm not a country fan, but whether he wins Idol or not, he will certainly have an amazing career waiting for him and I wish him all the best in the world.  

~ Jacob Lusk ~

I think Jacob has a lot of talent and potential and heart. I love his personality, I think he has a great story (just to make it out of Compton alive, let alone uncynical, is amazing), and I think he will end up with a really wonderful career that he completely deserves - one that will bring himself and others much happiness. He needs to learn to restrain and control his exuberant voice, and decide what kind of singer he wants to be. The Luther Vandross road mixed with some of his beloved gospel touches would be a great fit for him. Like Stefano, I do think he stayed several weeks longer than I personally would have liked, but that's just because it would have given me a few more precious weeks with Paul and Casey! And a few more iTunes of theirs that I could have downloaded! Selfish, I know!

~ Haley Reinhart ~

Haley, Haley, Haley. My opinions of her are all over the map. But first I have to say that this outfit has to be just about THE COOLEST outfit in the entire universe. And if I could rock it this well, I'd probably wear it ERRR DAY. That being said, you would think that by the end of the competition I'd have a clear opinion of Haley. But I just don't. Sometimes I really like her, sometimes I'm left disappointed. I don't think her performances have been very consistent. Most of the time I really like her voice. I like it's huskiness, and when she takes the time to show off different aspects of her vocal talents... but she doesn't always take the time. I don't like it when she starts growling and doesn't stop. A little goes a long way, and she tends to lean on that growl too much. I don't think she makes the greatest song choices, and I'm also not sure if she knows what kind of singer she wants to be... not that that's enough to keep her from winning. I think she's got a lot of potential, but I'm still left feeling ambivalent.  

~ James Durbin ~

Such a terrific guy with a lot of talent and an inspiring story. I'm not a big metal fan, but much like Scotty McCreery, there was no way I couldn't like James. I kept thinking he would get eliminated but week after week he kept on going and I couldn't help rooting for him. Some of his performances were better than others, and I don't think he's quite as polished as the judges feel he is. I think he's still somewhat of a diamond in the rough, but I definitely think he's a diamond. I see how hard he works, and how seriously his dedication is, and the passion he has, and I respect that so much. I loved his last two performances - so when I accidentally heard that he was eliminated, I couldn't even bring myself to watch that episode because I knew it would break my heart. I think this diamond of a guy deserves a fantastic metal career with a gazillion adoring fans - and I hope he will get just that. 

 Who do I think will win? I truly don't have a clue! What do you think?

And now I remember why I didn't do a weekly American Idol post! Because this freaking post took me hours and hours to finish in between everything else that's been going on here at this crazy house today! 

*all contestant photo credits: Mallory101 from the fan site www.fanpop.com

*Epilogue: I ended up unexpectedly voting for Haley! But it's still anyone's guess who's going be eliminated and who's going to win - we'll find out more tonight! :)

*Epilogue 2: Wow - I really suck at voting! LOL! Goodbye to Haley - I will never forget the shock on that poor girl's face - and best wishes to Lauren and Scotty! Weren't their homecomings all so amazing?! Very touching, I thought.

crystal blue persuasion

So here we are at the finale - FINALLY! LOL! Personally, with the exception of a few other memorable Idol performances, I wish that we could have heard Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox exclusively the entire season. To me they were the only two that had any type of winning potential in the first place. I feel I would like to give props to Big Mike though, who I still believe has a lovely voice along with that big heart, and was constantly underrated. As a whole however, I have to agree with most of the whiners and complainers that this season was indeed a very strange season. It certainly had a group of nice kids, but boy did it lack talent and spark. 

But the finale is all about Lee and Crystal. And if you ask me, they are two very talented artists with mountains of potential still behind them. I think they have both suffered rough spots this season - that has been obvious. Lee's natural shyness, especially at first, took away his ability to express emotion and connect with his audience. Crystal had a similar flaw, but I don't think it was shyness as much as it was being socially awkward in front of so many people - I think she still is in fact. And many interpreted her coming across as aloof. But the girl literally transforms when she performs, like she enters another world and becomes the song she is performing. I think it's an amazing thing to watch, but it can also leave her disconnected with her audience. So both Lee and Crystal took the judges seriously and worked hard to improve and yet stay true to themselves. They both deserve congrats for how far they've come, and no matter how dorky this sounds, I consider both of them winners.

Time to talk about their actual performances!

Lee..... oh Lee..... My gut reaction was WHAT HAPPENED??? He could have taken the night but he didn't. 

The songs he sang were:

- The Boxer

- Everybody Hurts

- Beautiful Day

All genius song choices that Lee should have been able to conquer beautifully - I was thrilled when they announced each one. And pained watching each one. Here is Lee, with one of the best male voices I think American Idol has ever had, whose fan base seems to have skyrocketed within the last month, who I felt had possibly even passed up Crystal in popularity....... giving poor performance after performance on his very most important night. They were all dull and mournful. He was disconnected. He showed little emotion. He was even off key in some places. Ugh... As the British say, I was completely gobsmacked. And really sad for Lee. 

Crystal....... was a force not to be reckoned with. She took that Nokia Theater and put it in the palm of her hand.

The songs she sang were:

- Me and Bobby McGee

- Black Velvet

- Up To the Mountain

Looking absolutely stunning during every performance, Mamasox reminded us - and the judges - why we fell in love with her in the first place. Because she is unique. Because she is so captivating. Because she draws everyone into her version of whatever she is performing. Because she makes us feel that song with her. Because she has passion. Because she knows exactly who she is. As much as I love Lee, I would so love to see Crystal win this. They both have great stories. They will both go on to have amazing careers. They both deserve it. But to see Crystal as a favorite for the majority of the season, and then be tossed aside for a while...... that was hard to watch. Crystal came back like a phoenix to claim it, and claim it she did. WOW. 

this means you

I know, I know... it's been something dreadful like 3 days since I last posted. Please keep your shirts on. And I know this is asking a lot, but try not to get your panties in a bunch. In fact, put your Big Girl panties on. That's what I've been doing. That and eating TUMS. We've got STUFF going on at our house. That's right, STUFF. I am happy to report that it's GOOD STUFF. But just so much......... STUFF. So I don't know. My brain is paralyzed.

Don't worry - you'll eventually know what all the STUFF is about, so no need to have yourself a cruller. Everything is just too nutsy fagen right now. So much nervous energy - blaaaah. And besides, we all want to see who's going to win American Idol first, right? Of course we do. And I'll do my usual A.I. recap tonight. Oh - but I will report that my Daniel arrived safely in Uganda last week, and he is loving his research and everything else so far! Yay :)

Do you recognize this cute girl? 

This is Crystal Bowersox at 13 years old, singing an original song at a festival in Lake Huron, Ohio.

Her performance is sweet and mighty at the same time. You can see she is destined for musical greatness.

The embed tool was disabled by request, however you can still watch this performance here!

It will give you something to do and keep you out of trouble until American Idol is on tonight :)

And of course, now I want a freaking donut!

how it all started + I meant to do that

So many of you have commented on and off the blog, on Facebook, in e-mails, in person, etc. (thank you mucho for all your delightful and very fun comments) that I decided to do this follow-up post. Lots of you asked questions about how I got the idea in the first place. Those of you who know me well, know that A) I rarely go with anything normal, and B) my brain overfloweth with quirky ideas 24/7 whether I want it to or not. An off switch would be nice. So as stated in my original post, the album cover Meet The Beatles! was the inspiration for these photos. 

These photos were taken by a photographer friend about 10 years ago, when the boys were about 4, 9, and 14. These aren't the photos that ended up on our wall, but they give you an idea of how they turned out. And how she didn't quite get my vision. Even though the album cover was right in front of her. Luckily, the ones on our wall (too big for my scanner) showed some great personality and I do love them. But I always wanted to give it another go, so I figured before my boys split up yet again, destined for far away places all over the globe, now was the time.

Our entryway used to be covered with our favorite albums, and the Mouse was really entranced with it. Which is probably why he's also entranced with the Beatles and Crosby Stills & Nash. This is kind of an odd photo but I thought it was cool to take a photo of him taking a photo. If you've never seen the original Meet The Beatles! album, look right above his head and to the left. Now you finally know the inspiration behind the boys' photos :)

So did you miss my American Idol recap this week? Were you on the edge of your seat waiting with baited breath? Did you knock your teeth out when you fell asleep and rolled out of your chair and your face hit the floor? Yeah, that's what I thought. Well, to be completely honest, I TOTALLY FORGOT MEANT TO DO THAT. I watched the show of course, and then decided to let you guys make your own decision about the final 3 contestant's songs. I mean seriously, I'm tired of carrying you along. It's time you made up your own mind. 

All right, all RIGHT. Tuesday night was NUTS over here in Walkerville. I did watch the show much later that night. I was not overly impressed by anyone, even Lee and Crystal who have been my favorites from the beginning. I thought they gave GREAT performances - don't get me wrong - but not their best performances overall. I do think that at one point they were favoring Crystal as the frontrunner - in fact, for most of the competition. But in the last few weeks things seem to have changed. Though it's clear they genuinely like both Crystal and Lee - as well they should, since they are both extremely talented - I think they are gearing Lee up to be the winner. I would be happy for either one, and would buy a CD from both no matter. What do you think? I guess we'll find out next week! 

Cinematic Idolatry

Top 4 Contestants Perform Cinema Songs with Jamie Foxx as Mentor

1) Lee - "Kiss From a Rose" - I love Lee's voice, as you all know... so I'm sorry to say I was very disappointed with his performance. It could mostly be because I have never cared for this song, but Lee did get off to a rough start, and seemed to be off key in several other places. I don't think he's in too much danger though.

2) Big Mike - "Will You Be There?" - Another strange song choice in my opinion, but it did sound nice. Not anything earth shattering, but well arranged, and I still appreciate Mike's beautiful, underrated voice. 

3) Casey - "Mrs. Robinson" - Aside from the judges acting like fools, I thought Casey not only chose a fantastic song, but I really enjoyed his unique version of it. I think he could have added a tad more charisma to amp it up, but it's a classic song that he made modern - isn't that what they're always asking for?

4) Crystal - "I'm Alright" - I'LL SAY! I know, I know - every week I gush over Crystal, but I can't help it. She takes every song and has this amazing talent of turning it into something of her own. It's musical genius, and I look forward to it every week. I know she's had a few rough weeks, but overall she consistently delivers.

Duet 1) Lee & Crystal - "Falling Slowly" - FANTASTIC :)

Duet 2) Casey & Mike - "Have You Ever Loved a Woman?" - FANTASTIC :)

My predictions? 

Either Big Mike or Casey would be the logical choice to say goodbye, but I really have no clue...

They've both had a lot of ups and downs... Mike has the best voice, but Casey is the heartthrob...

I'm going to guess Mike, even though in all fairness, I think it should be Casey...

YOUR turn! What do YOU think?    

*Post-Elimination rant: Big Mike was robbed. He deserved one more week. But he took it with such grace.

Idol Icon

So Frank Sinatra. What did you think about that? And Harry Connick Jr. as mentor. Is that boy too cute for words or what!? Now THAT is talent. I'd like to see Miley Cyrus and her man voice try to put in a fourth of that much mentoring. But the whole Frank thing was a tough one for me. None of those contestants are going to end up as crooners - even our lovable romance singer Big Mike is worlds away from Loungedom. I felt the challenge made them all fish out of water - kind of on purpose. I think some definitely swam, and some unfortunately sunk.

Frank Sinatra Week ~ Harry Connick Jr. as mentor extraordinaire

1) Aaron - "Fly Me to the Moon" - Nice job for a 17 year old who keeps squeaking by but needs to go home now

2) Casey - "Blue Skies" - Oh my gosh... poor Casey. That was so painful. I was mortified for him. 'Nuff said.

3) Crystal - "Summer Wind" - Definitely not her best performance, but I still thought it was simple and lovely.

4) Big Mike - "The Way You Look Tonight" - Loved it. Mike and his beautiful voice gave a great performance.

5) Lee - "That's Life" - Wow - go Lee! The surprise of the evening, Lee nailed it AND seemed comfortable. Yeah!

Predictions? This is going to be tough. Bottom 3: Aaron, Casey, and... dare I even say Crystal???

Homebound: I think it may just be Casey and Aaron may squeak by yet another week! :(

What do you guys think???

Idol Twain

Last night's Idol theme was honoring country mega-singer/songwriter Shania Twain (I dare you to say that like Elmer Fudd and not laugh). Not that I don't like Shania, because I think she's got a terrific voice - and any performer that writes their own material gains huge points of respect from me - I'm just not a big country fan. I think she did a great job as our 6 finalist's mentor however. My only chagrin was that since I only knew a few of her big hits, I was unable to judge how every performer put his or her own twist on each song. No biggie though. I actually ended up quite surprised with how all 6 did (more on that in a sec), and felt that overall, it was a mostly enjoyable evening... if not just a bit snoozy. Compared to last season's train wreck of a country night (excepting Adam Lambert's arguably genius version of "Ring of Fire"), I would call it most successful! So let's recap -

Idol Country Night featuring Shania Twain ~ Shania Twain as mentor

  

1) Lee - "Still the One" - A great song choice for Lee. But I hate to even see myself type this... He didn't do a very good job :( I'm not sure what happened - it was very unlike Lee to be, as Randy would say, so pitchy! Lee was downright off tune, especially in the beginning. Maybe his ear monitor wasn't working? It was really hard to watch. And then I was shocked the judges praised him! I thought they were going to rip him apart! Was it me? I still think Lee has the best male Idol's voice overall though - his version of "the Boxer" still gives me chills. 

2) Big Mike - "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing" - I thought this was a lovely song, and that Mike did a beautiful job singing it. He really does connect with the songs he seems to choose very carefully. And that connection is so evident, I think it draws the audience in to connect with him as well. "Wet"? "Girly"? Hardly. I much more agreed with Mike's performance being compared to the great Luther Vandross. 

3) Casey - "Don't" - Another very personal song, and Casey did awesome. I know he loves to play a screamin' guitar, but I think Casey is finding out he also has a nice niche to fill in the more raw, acoustic, emotional arena. It seems like when he lets himself be a tad vulnerable, he not only sounds better, but connects with his audience.

4) Crystal - "No One Needs to Know" - Oh Crystal. You all know what a fan I am of hers, but I'll say this: it's the first time I haven't sped to iTunes at 110mph and pre-ordered her song of the week. It was just so... so-so. I probably need to listen to it again. A cute song, and Crystal had a cute reason for singing it. But I don't consider Crystal cutesy. Maybe that's what threw me. It was just okay... and she usually delivers so much more. 

5) Aaron - "You Got a Way" - Every single week I wonder what saves this boy. I think he's an awesome kid, I think he's very talented, but I think Idol is way too big for him and can't believe he's made it this far. However. I will be the first to admit that this week he gave a very fine performance. I was very surprised and happy for him.

6) Siobhan - "Any Man of Mine" - Siobhan seems to be the one contestant Idol fans seem to really love or really dislike. Not a bad position to be in really. I happen to think she's got a lot of talent and potential and I think her quirkiness adds just that much more to her appeal. After several weeks of floundering and enduring harsh critiques by the judges, last night seemed to be the night she finally seemed back to herself again. I liked her song choice and I thought she gave a terrific, classic Siobhan performance. I just hope fans picked up the phone. 

Do you peeps have a CLUE who will be in the bottom three tonight???

Let alone who's going to have to be sent HOME???

I can hardly make my brain think that way - overall, it was a pretty smooth night for everyone.

Total guess for the bottom three: Aaron, Mike, Siobhan

Ditto for the one sent packing: Aaron

Okay, it's YOUR TURN NOW! Tell me what you think!

Idol Inspiration

INSPIRATION NIGHT ~ Alicia Keys as mentor

I'll make this as short and sweet as possible, because boy am I late at getting this post out today! 

1) Casey - "Don't Stop" - Meh. 

2) Lee - "the Boxer" - Genius of a song choice, executed with PER-FEC-TION.

3) Tim - "Better Days" - Meh.

4) Aaron - "I Believe I Can Fly" - Seriously? Seriously?

5) Siobhan - "When You Believe" - Loved it. The judges are pissing me off. Why must she be forced into a category? Siobhan's quirkiness is endearing. It's a singing competition and she's got an amazing voice. 

6) Big Mike - "Hero" - Loved it. The judges pissed me off again. I think they underrate Mike's voice also. I like the songs he chooses and I think his arrangements are always tasteful, even though they differ from each other. 

7) Crystal - "People Get Ready" - See opinion #2. And when she broke down it blew me away. LOVE this girl. 

So peeps, what was your opinion? And what are your predictions?

I think perhaps Casey, Tim, and Aaron in the bottom 3.....

I believe Aaron needs to fly home (but I've thought that before too)

Idolatry nose Elvis

Let's just get this part over with. Yes, something is still terribly wrong with my nose. Yes, it is still painful and revolting. Yes, I will spare you yet again from all the disgusting details. Yes, I have followed every instruction and taken every horse pill as prescribed MOTHER. Yes, now I'm going to have to go see an ENT STAT ASAP BTW FYI. Yes, I realize that probably means a biopsy will be involved, thanks for the reminder. Yes, I'm worried about what the SAM HILL is going on up there! But there's your update, one week later. And like me, you'll just have to roll with it and pray to the Almighty and pretend Ruffles and diet Coke now come with healing powers. Yes, I'm afraid of becoming one of those people who have had to have their entire nose removed from their face because they've smoked their whole life and cancer has infiltrated their sinus cavities and completely ruined all their tissues and cartilage. Don't think I didn't see all those junior high films. I know what those people look like behind their fake noses! Those are the things nightmares are made of! Why would I have remembered it 100 years later!

So here we are, another week of American Idol (not to mention the season opener of Glee!!!) - Let's recap!

ELVIS NIGHT - with Adam Lambert as guest mentor

First I'd like to mention that I felt Adam Lambert did a fantastic job as mentor. And I don't just say that because I was a huge fan of his last year when he was an Idol contestant himself. He was completely candid and honest with all his charges, and had genuinely good advice for each and every one. And if anyone should know how they feel - as well as how to push the wow factor - it would be him. It was very evident that the contestants who listened to his advice gave stellar performances. The ones who gave a nod to what he had to say but twisted it into what they wanted to do..... not so stellar. Interesting night

1) Crystal - "Saved" - As I've mentioned before, the first performance of the night can be rough, but Crystal does it with ease. Not only with ease, she ROCKED it. A perfect, perfect song choice, and in my opinion, a near perfect performance as well. Loved the electric guitar addition, and loved seeing her smiling and having fun. WAY TO GO

2) Andrew - "Hound Dog" - I so wish when Adam told Andrew he was boring, he had told him to switch songs too. It's been done way too many times. Andrew did kind of take Adam's advice and he gave it a good latin twist but he kept it boring, made it corny AGAIN, and what was up with the way he sang "tiiiiime"? I felt badly for him. 

3) Tim - "Can't Help Falling In Love" - I thought this was going to be a train wreck. Adam gave great advice and Tim wisely took it - pushing himself to face his falsetto range, crafting a lovely, fresh, acoustic guitar version of the song, and subsequently earning himself a genuinely VERY NICE performance. I was truly happy for him.

4) Lee - "A Little Less Conversation" - Great song choice. Great, honest advice. I mean, by now everyone - especially Lee himself - knows that Lee is very talented, Lee has a killer voice, Lee gives great performances, but Lee shows little personality. Every week he seems to show a tiny bit more. Dude! Just smile and have fun!

5) Aaron - "Blue Suede Shoes" - Another song that's been done and overdone. I was ready to cringe on this, but I thought Aaron did much better than I had anticipated. I thought he showed some cute personality also. I still wonder though, how much longer this youngin' can possibly stay. I think this competition is just too big for him.

6) Siobhan - "Suspicious Minds" - I was excited to see Siobhan and Adam together because they are both so unique and have even been compared to each other. But I was sad about her song choice. Out of all the Elvis songs... WHY?! I liked her performance though, and was happy to have the strong, confident Siobhan back. I didn't agree with the judges, that she seemed "lost" or that she was "screeching" again. It just wasn't her best.

7) Big Mike - "In the Ghetto" - For a man who loves to tell a story in a song, this was a great song choice. I thought Big Mike's performance was one of the most genuine and stellar performances of the night. I thought he gave the song an emotion that even Elvis himself did not achieve. You so, so, so deserved that save Michael!

8) Katie - "Baby, What You Want Me To Do" - Not familiar with this song, but a good choice for Katie, regarding her frustration with the judges. Though she is not one of my favorite contestants, I thought she gave another good performance. Aside from the overdone neck talking. Like Aaron though, I think she can only go so much further.

9) Casey - "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" - I wish I could say awesome things about Casey's performance - and overall it was a good performance - but that's really all it was. Good guitar, good vocals... just kind of like a favorite local band you go to see - talented, tight, always good, but nothing extraordinary. 

I think definitely Andrew, possibly Aaron, and possibly Katie, will be our bottom three

I'm predicting definitely Andrew, and possibly Aaron will be on their way home

(remember, it's a double elimination this week)

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK??? 

Idolatry and me

No doubt you've all been on the edge of your seats waiting for my recap of last night's show, so my apologies for the late post. I've had a wonky morning to say the least. I've had to do everything backwards because of my nose. That's right, I said because of my nose. 

My doggone nose has been giving me trouble for weeks now, but after night 5 of sitting up on the couch unable to breath and in agony like it had been shredded on the inside, I finally grabbed a flashlight this morning to see what in tarnation was going on. And I nearly passed out. And I promptly and as calmly as possible drove myself to urgent care. Where the doctor asked me all kinds of interesting questions. And prescribed 3 medications. And apologized profusely, but said with this kind of scenario, he needed to ask me if I am a cocaine user. A cocaine user. !!!!!. Yes, that's how bad it is. I will spare you gory details like color and smell and terms like 'membrane'. And this is from me, the mother of 3 boys, who has seen it all, including broken bones poking right through flesh. And if that isn't fun I don't know what is. 

Let's just say the good news is I don't have a sinus infection, but the bad news involves a HOLE and a massive infection in that hole. Which would explain the fever and chills. And all that blood. And a host of other heinous things I just said I'd spare you from. So now I'm all set up with stuff to squirt, and ointment to medicate, and an antibiotic the size of Texas to take twice a day. Which I just took with diet Coke I might add, because now I'm feeling slightly sorry for myself. At least I haven't opened a bag of Ruffles yet. It's only 10:15am after all. My kids are still asleep for goodness' sake! But I might have my last orange cream Cadbury egg. Hey I can if I want.

Anyway, the fun just never ends at our house, as I'm sure you've learned by now. So let's get going with the recap from last night, even though my recap from this morning is probably much more exciting. But hey, I look at it this way: it's a win/win no matter what because Modern Family is on tonight, so we can all look forward to that! Hah! :D  

~ Lennon & McCartney Night (that's right - the greatest duo in song writing history) ~

1) Aaron - the Long and Winding Road - Great kid, but his long and winding road needs to be over. zzzzzzzzz.

2) Katie - Let It Be - Her best performance BY FAR. Even I enjoyed it and she's not a fave of mine. I like how she changed it enough to make it her own but not too much (good comment, Ellen). Very nice job!

3) Andrew - Can't Buy Me Love - NUTS. This was a good song choice, with what I thought had potential for his upbeat, happy vibe. I was hoping he could keep last week's ball rolling. But he tried too hard and it turned corny.

4) Big Mike - Eleanor Rigby - When Mike first said his song choice I was like "what?". And when he changed the arrangement so much I was first taken aback. I know it was a big risk. I'm the first to say I would usually not like a Lennon/McCartney song changed up this much, but I actually really, really liked his arrangement and performance.

5) Crystal - Come Together - By now you probably know I don't think Crystal can mess up anything. I loved seeing more of her personality shine too. (in fact, I really liked how all the contestants talked about each other)

6) Tim - All My Lovin' - Smart, smart choice. I love this song anyway, but he genuinely did an adorable job. Weird!

7) Casey - Jealous Guy - I didn't think it was as amazing as the judges, but I thought this song was an interesting choice by Casey, and that his arrangement and performance was thoughtful, and done very, very well.

8) Siobhan - Across the Universe - I am a fan of Siobhan, and it was hard to see her flounder last week. I think she did a lovely job showing a softer, more restrained side of herself tonight, and I enjoyed her performance. She still seems fragile to me though. I want the quirky, confident Siobhan back.

9) Lee - Hey Jude - Not a huge fan of this song because it can be a snore-fest. I didn't want to see Lee make that mistake now that he's finally doing well. I thought he did a fab job though, piper or no piper.

So my prediction? Either Aaron or Andrew's time has finally run out. What do you guys think?     

more idol remarks

* R&B Night with Usher as mentor of the week *

1) Siobhan Magnus - "Through the Fire" - Unusually off key and nervous, but I still love this girl and her voice
2) Casey James - "Hold On, I'm Coming" - All around, a pretty good performance from Casey and his guitar
3) Big Mike - "Ready For Love" - I *loved* this performance. Genuine vocal and guitar talent, and so lovable
4) Didi Benami - "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" - Her voice sounded very strange singing this song...
5) Tim Urban - "Sweet Love" - Another strange selection, but young girls can't get enough of this so-so singer
6) Andrew Garcia - "Forever" - Way to go Andrew! We finally see the talent and spark we saw way back when!
7) Katie Stevens "Chain of Fools" - Too big of a song but she did all right. I'm not sure she'll stay much longer
8) Lee Dewyze - "Treat Her Like a Lady" - Yeah Baby! Finally some good vibes with his awesome vocals!
9) Crystal Bowersox - "Midnight Train to Georgia" - Still prefer Crystal with her guitar but she did a brave switch to show the judges she was more versatile - and she still did Gladys' classic song proud. 
10) Aaron Kelly - "Ain't No Sunshine" - Almost but not quite. Little bro may not be around much longer either

Tim, Little Bro & Little Sis may be in trouble... or possibly Didi, since those first 3 have so many fans...

What do you guys think? I'd love to hear :) 

couldn't... hold... back

I know, I know, I know...... girl couldn't help it peeps. If the images I swiped courtesy of Fox weren't bad enough, suffice it to say my kids will be mortified when they see I've actually posted about American Idol but hey, this is MY blog so whatevs. Now that we're down to the final 12 (was that a long and painful enough road or what), I can see some genuine improvement and effort being put into these performances, and some real potential emerging. I'm not sure this season as a whole will equal or surpass other seasons, but that's okay. It is what it is. From here on out is seems like we're going to have a pretty good ride from these 12 (soon to be less) very diverse people.  

Rolling with the Stones

Last night the 12 chose songs from the Rolling Stones. Here's my recap, and remember, this is just MY opinion!

1) Big Mike chose "Miss You". Not only is the first performance of the night a nerve-wracking slot to fill, but he decided to take a risk and mess with the arrangement. He gave the song a surprising soulful twist that reminded me a bit of Stevie Wonder. In a good way. I thought it was genius. And I thought he did a terrific job pulling it off.

2) Didi Benami sang "Play With Fire", and I was not familiar with this song. I think she did a fine job. I like her quirky, jazzy voice - it has a good quality to it. But I don't think the song or performance was anything special.

3) Casey James chose "It's All Over Now". Casey is confusing to me. With his amazing good looks, his sweet demeanor, his obvious guitar skills, and his singing voice, he seems like the entire package. But it's his quivering country-like voice that just never seems to click with me. I keep wanting it to because I genuinely like him. I don't consider it a bad voice, I guess it just never seems to rise above average.

4) Lacey Brown gives us "Ruby Tuesday". Up until now I have not liked Lacey's voice much. It has that baby voice quality that you either like or you don't, and I don't. But I think this was a really good song choice for her, and I think she sang it really well. She was strong and confident, at least more so than in the past.

5) Andrew Garcia sang "Gimme Shelter". Looong sigh. I was rooting for Andrew from the beginning, but week after week he just can't seem to get it together. It's painful. Read the last sentence of Casey's critique again.

6) Katie Stevens chose "Wild Horses". I thought this was a pretty big song for Katie but she actually sang it well, for the most part. For me it was her best performance so far - and that's hard for me to say, because I thought she should have gone home instead of Katelyn. Not that I don't care for Katie - I think she's sweet and has a great voice. But she's young and I think she could use a few more years to develop that voice. I think Katelyn showed a lot more potential and was totally robbed. But good for Katie that she tamed the wild horses.

7) Tim Urban performed "Under My Thumb". I didn't agree with the judges AT ALL regarding Tim's performance. Up until now I have wondered in awe every week how he got on American Idol at all. Oh, he's cute for sure. But the poor guy can't catch a break. I think his singing stinks. And then he actually took a risk (!!!) and decided to make a song his own (!!!) and have some fun with it (!!!) which I thought he pulled off REALLY well... and the judges skewered him. Wow. I was really impressed that he did all that. But I think that was his demise.

8) Siobhan Magnus sang "Paint It, Black". I think Siobhan rocks. I get the feeling there are a lot of people out there that don't, but I really like her. I think she's got an awesome voice (gee, what concept, considering this is a singing competition) and I like her quirkiness. I can't wait to see what she comes up with every week. I thought it was genius how she completely changed the beginning of the song to grab our attention, then totally rocked the rest of it, and ended on the slow beginning vibe. I thought she was fabulous.

9) Lee Dewyze chose "Beast of Burden". Lee definitely has my favorite male voice. I thought his song choice was awesome and was glad he stuck with playing his guitar, but I was sad he didn't do more with the song. If he had just been more relaxed he could have had so much fun with it. With a song choice so great for his voice, it was the perfect opportunity for him to give it more and show more groove, more range, more personality, more HIM. I think he did a fine job and I hope he'll stay around a while to develop more. I think he shows great potential.

10) Paige Miles gives us "Honky Tonk Woman". Well, considering she had laryngitis, it was amazing she belted out what she did. For me it was her best performance ever, which is unusual for me to even admit. Remember how I felt about Katelyn going home instead of Katie? I felt the same about Lilly going home instead of Paige. So there - I said it. But in all fairness, she did a great job and I was surprised. 

11) Aaron Kelly sang "Angie". Another contestant I am puzzled about every week. Not that I don't think he's a total sweetheart. He shows great potential and is extremely likable but even his voice shows from week to week that it's not consistent because it's not developed enough yet. But I digress. Choosing "Angie" was a genius move. He sang it like an absolute angel and it was, for me, his best performance ever. Way to go Aaron.

12) Crystal Bowersox chose "You Can't Always Get What You Want". She gets the coveted last performance slot which of course comes with extra pressure to deliver. Well, she delivered. Not with quite the energy I thought she would - it would have been nice to see a little more - but man, is she good. She just puts her heart and soul into everything she performs like it's part of her. She just is who she is. I have been a big fan of hers from her try-outs. I absolutely love to watch her perform, and she's one heck of a guitarist too. For some reason there seems to be so many rumors going on about Crystal... I can't figure out why. I think viewers are mistaking her shyness in front of thousands of people for being smug or aloof. She is obviously uncomfortable being thrust into this type of arena until she is in her element performing - and then she completely transforms. I think she's just incredible.          

So what do YOU think about all this? And tonight is elimination night! Who do you think it will be?