Top 9 Performance Rankings:

I need to start off by saying I thought everyone did a good job last night I think OVERALL it might have been the best night. That doesn’t mean I think this was everyone’s best performances but I think it was across the board a good night for everyone which makes the rankings this week very difficult. I wrote down my order and I keep wanting to change it around (I am not 100% comfortable with what I came up with) but I am leaving it alone. You be the judge (and I know some of you will), did I get it right?

1. Casey – LOVE him and the upright bass! This is his lane (as JLo would say).


2. Paul – I think this was Paul’s best performance on the big stage. I thought it was fun and showed off his style better than anything he has performed (I almost put him first) THOSE TWO ARE MY TOP TWO FOR SURE AND THE REST GETS A LITTLE HAZY:


3. Lauren – I loved her version but after listening to past idols perform this, I see what Randy is saying and it makes me want to drop her down a couple spots.


4. Jacob – Well he still gets on my nerves “if I get sent home it is not because I didn’t sing it well or because I didn’t do good – it is because America didn’t want to look in the mirror” hmmm I understand what he is saying but let’s not come off as arrogant while doing so. Also I am not sure it would have been nearly as good with out the back up singer (she rocked)!


5. Haley – I really like her! This week was not nearly as good as last week’s Benny & the Jets.


6. Scotty – I think he did well. I do think he is a one trick pony but he is smooth and I like his voice.


7. Pia – I don’t care that the song was “upbeat” it was still boring. Here is the deal she is kind of like Celine Dion (obviously not as good). She is a good singer but is that style really going to make it in the industry? Her upbeat songs still seem like faster ballads. I am sorry she just doesn’t pull me into her performances AT ALL. But there is no denying the girl can sing!


8. James – He is slowly winning me over with his personality. I didn’t think he was bad this week at all and I somewhat enjoyed his performance but there were moments where I found that I was forcing myself not to press fast forward.


9. Stefano – He is sweet but it is the same thing week after week. And unlike Scotty his one trick is not as fun or as endearing. I found myself zoning out during his performance.

I hate to say it but I think it is Stefano’s time to go home. I think it is possible that Paul and Haley will join him in the bottom three even though, clearly from my list, they are not deserving this week.

American Idol Top 11 (AGAIN):

I am not doing a ranking this week because I didn’t get to watch the episode last night yet however I have watched the performances on youtube. I haven’t had time to process and decide what I think. If you missed it like me here are the clips from last night: Lauren Alaina – Candle in the Wind Casey Abrams – Your Song Paul McDonald – Rocket Man James Durbin – Saturday Night is Alright for Fighting Scotty McCreary – Country Comfort Stefano Langone- Tiny Dancer Jacob Lusk – Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word Pia Toscano – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down Thia Megia – Daniel Haley Reinhart – Bennie & Jets Niama Adedapo - I'm Still Standing I am pretty satisfied with all of my favorite’s performances: Casey, Paul, Lauren, Scotty, and Haley. I really liked Lauren and Haley this week; they may have been my favorites, which is a first! I think Thia, Niama, Paul, and Stefano are in trouble this week. I think that Niama and Thia should go home.

American Idol Top 11:

MOTOWN WEEK - a lot of people are talking about how great this week was well I am not sold. There weren’t many performances I loved but on the flip side there weren’t many I hated either. This week my favorites have been all moved around and my top spots are given to people that are far from my favorites. Let’s take a look:

1. Jacob – Your All I Need to Get By -I must admit Jacob’s past performances have rubbed me wrong and I wasn’t really paying much attention until the end of the song when he did “as brothers you got me…” and then I found myself rewinding it three times to see it! It was a moving and wonderful performance. I loved that he controlled his voice for most of the song and he belted only when he needed to. It was my favorite of the night!

2. James – Living for the City- Well James has rubbed me wrong in past weeks bc he seems cocky after he sings. After speaking to a friend who works with adults with aspergers she informed me that this could be due to his lack of social skills. So I am cutting him a break. I thought he did really well and I am starting to warm up to him.
3. Casey – I Heard it Through the Grapevine- He is getting kind of repetitive or something but I still like him!
4. Lauren - You Keep Me Hanging On- A lot of rankings have her really low but I thought she sounded great but I feel she has still has so much more potential
5. Scotty- For Once in My Life- He has something over me and it is hard not to like his performances, especially that low note like JLo pointed out. I like that he is taking risks with the range in his songs but I would love for him to go back to the low voice next week.
6. Paul – The Tracks of My Tears – I really like Paul and his voice but I am beginning to think AI is not really the place for him. I hope he stays around a few more weeks and is able to pick up a deal for his band bc I bet with his band singing his own songs he is awesome. I love the song he sang this week but I have to admit I was thinking back to Adam Lambert’s performances a couple season ago and I think Adam won:

7. Stefano – Hello – I am starting to have the same problem with Stefano as I do with Pia. I think he has a great voice and he is pretty likable but his performances are getting boring week after week.
8. Haley – You've Really Got a Hold on Me- I thought she was better this week and I still love her voice. I had such high hopes for her this week given the MoTown theme but I just think she still needs to pick better songs.
9. Pia – All in Love is Fair- I know the girl can sing but she puts me to sleep week after week…SO BORING!
10. Thia – Heat Wave – I didn’t give her the bottom spot because at least she did something upbeat and her voice sounded good but something about her on stage is still so blah…not sure what she needs to do. My over all thought once again is pick better songs.
11. Naima – Dancing in the Streets - A lot of rankings have her listed pretty high this week. I did think she hit her notes better this week but I still think she is all over the place and her voice isn’t as strong as others in the competition.

I still think the bottom three will be Naima, Haley, and a toss-up between Paul/Thia. I personally think it should be Thia but she does seem to have a following.

What did you think of MoTown week? Did you love it as much as everyone else I heard or are you similar to me and just thinking it was ok?

AI Top 12 Performance Rankings:

Overall I was disappointed with this week’s performances I just feel like there are so many people that aren’t making good song choices and aren’t living up to their potential. Even so here is my run down from last night and who I think is likely in the bottom three:

1. Stefano – I am not the hugest Stefano fan bc I just don’t like hearing cheesy ballads over and over but you got to give it up for the only one that really seems to hit every note last night!

2. Lauren- Ahhhh back to the girl I love. I love this song choice and she did make it a little country but I see her singing this style music more than country or maybe I just want her to!

3. Casey – I love him so it is hard for him to do wrong. This was a bold song choice since this song is ICONIC! I agree with Jlo that some parts felt more screamed but overall I enjoyed his performance. It was one of the few non-ballads which is a nice change.

4. Scotty – I think this guy does a great job of picking songs. I actually didn’t love his song choice last week for his voice (it was a little big) but I love The River and he didn’t do badly. Travis Tritt is PERFECT for him. I thought this was an excellent song choice.

5. Pia – Ok I am finally convinced that she can sing (even though her voice isn’t my favorite) but I did not like this song choice but atleast it was a little more up tempo.

6. James – It was just ok for me.

7. Paul – I really like his voice but I am confused why he doesn’t slow it down and get his guitar out….At first I thought it was because he wasn’t allowed but Casey used his bass last night.

8. Haley – I really like her voice but this song didn’t showcase her vocals, it was just the wrong song choice for her

9. Jacob – I thought he was “pitchy” the entire song plus it is hard to not compare it to these performances of “Alone”


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RWOHeskeF4

10. Naima- I am so on the fence with her

11. Karen – I just think something is boring about her performances. What happen to the girl in Hollywood with the wacky hair:


12. Thia – I really like her but her performances are just getting very repetitive and VERY BORING! We want this Thia back:


Bottom Three:
Karen, Thia, and Haley (but unfortunately Paul could be on the chopping block as well or Naima). It is a tossup who is going home because Haley and Karen were in the bottom three last week which usually means that there fans get worried and vote more so that might mean Thia is in trouble.

Top 5 AI Guys

Here is my list of top 5 guys after last nights performances:

1. Casey Arbams

2. Scotty Mcreary

3. Paul McDonald

4. Tim Halperin

5. Jacob Lusk

So this year I feel like there are some unique voices that I love! It is more about the style then the strength of your voice (does that make since?). I really hope my top 4 make it through but www.dialidol.com worries me as always but at this point in the game it is incredibly inaccurate. They have Scotty as the only one forsure safe, which I am good with! I will be disappointed if the following people make it through:

James Durbin (Adam Lambert want to be)

Jordan Dorsey (seems too cocky)

Jovany Barreto (doesn't seem strong enough vocally)

Clint Jun Gamboa (hard for me to brush off Hollywood week)

Notice that Ryan didn't say how many wild card spots there are and I think that depends on who makes the top 10. If the following people don't make it through with the crowd votes then I think they are pretty much a lock for the wild card spots:

James Durbin

Casey Abrams

Scotty McCreary

Jacob Lusk

I hope people like Paul McDonald would earn a spot but I am not as sure about him. I know that atleast a couple of the people listed above will be in the top 5 voted in so I don't see a big need for too many wild cards but you never know. I did read somewhere a while back that it may not be even boys and girl in the top group, it will just be whoever is best. If that is the case their could be an uneven number of boys and girls even wild card spaces.

That is really all I have to say right now, looking forward to seeing the girls tonight!

American Idol Season 10

Well American Idol is back in full swing and we just wrapped week two of auditions. Next week we have more to watch but so far there have been some that have stuck in my head. And here they are:

New York/New Jersey:

Robbie Rosen:


Devyn Rush:


Nashville:

Chelsee Oaks & Rob Bolin (The Ex’s - LOVE THEM)

Lauren Alaina:


I missed New Orleans night of auditions and it looks like I missed some good ones:



Milwaukee:

Scott Dangerfield:


Thia Megia:


Alyson Jados: (I really like something about this girl)


More for Story than for singing but who wouldn’t be touched by these stories:

Adrenne Beasley


Chris Medina (probably the most heartbreaking love story this season)


Melinda Ademi:


I don’t like watching the train wrecks I know this is a lot of people’s favorite part but I actually like the purpose of the show to find hidden talent throughout America. Oh and I guess I need to say something about the new judges…so far I actually like the panel. I am not a big JLo fan in general but I think she is a good addition to the table being the “nice” one. I also really like Steven Tyler although I could do without all the singing/screaming. I know who you are Steven Tyler you don’t have to keep reminding me. To be honest my least favorite judge is Randy partly because it feels like he is trying too hard to be like Simon and he just isn’t.

What about you, do you love the new judge’s panel? Who were the stand outs so far to you?

New Judges on Idol

American Idol has officially welcomed two new judges to the panel: JLo and Steven Tyler have taken the spots sitting next to Randy Jackson this coming season. I must admit I am interested to see how these two interact with the contestants and what they will bring to the show but no one will ever be able to completely fill the shoes of Simon. I am more excited to see Steven Tyler then JLo.

What do you think of the new judges?