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Some very good performances.  I'd like to send about four home (the first girl who karaoke'd "Got to get you into my life", Mr. Hernandez, The short asian girl, and the country girl who apparently had no idea what tune the band was playing behind her), but I liked several very much.  Chikeze again.  I really don't think he gets enough credit.  Amy Winehou...excuse me, I mean the Irish girl, the blonde girl who sang "Let it Be" (probably my favorite performance of the night--I just really liked her voice--as she was singing, I was thinking "this isn't flashy and won't get the attention, but it's really, really good."), and David Cook.  Also didn't mind Michael Johns, but I liked the original arrangement very much, and thought his suffered a little in comparison.  Still, the line "Nothing's gonna change my world" is running through my head.

Archuleta's gonna have to step it up.  He might be too young to pull it off, in spite of his voice.

FWIW - Here are my picks from top to bottom based on last night performances:

1 and 2.  (I can't separate them in my mind)  Carly Smithson and Brooke White.  By the way, I believe Brooke is a believer - at least that is my sense and I would be inclined to ask her about the hope that lies within her.  I LOVE her voice and genuine humility.  And she feels the lyrics deeply.

3.  Davd Cook.  The guy looks kind of goofy with his hair, but he flat out sings.  Reminded me a bit of Eddie Vedder.  He really looked like he could front a band.

4.  Chikezie.  Just for his choice and daring.  I don't think he will have the chops to go deep but I applaud him for last night.

5.  Michael Johns.  He is going to have to show something more.  His performances are good but just about the same.

6.  Amanda Overmyer.  My wife hates her hair and get ups.  But last night she did rock.  She could have been voted most improved.

7.  Jason Castro.  Now he is goofy.  But he can put an interesting voice to the song.  At least I believe the words when he sings them.

8.  Syesha Mercado.  Nice voice.  Beautiful.  Lack of depth.  Don't believe her when she sings.  Seems disconnected to the lyrics.  But she is beautiful.

9.  David Archuleta.  Poor performance and very insecure.  However, based on passed performances, I would definitely not grade last night too strong.  Let's see what he can bring next week.  I think he is a bit too young.  But very, very gifted.

10, 11, 12.  Ramiele Malubay, Kristi Lee Cook and David Hernandez. In any order, any of these could go.  Ramiele is not in touch with her music - but she has a good voice - boring performance.  Kristi?  Best smile by far.  Horrendous choice.  Could be fatal.  I don't think she gets it.  And David?  I haven't believe a note or word he has sung in this competition.  Last night was so detached I think it was actually worse than Kristi (at least I like her).

Ok, there you go.  Where's my pal OD?   

I think his computer crashed.

Quote from: jmg3rd on Wed Mar 12, 2008 - 12:46:24
I think his computer crashed.

Now that's a bummer.

I identify with Sanjaya and Castro because they are so much like me.

I cannot, CANNOT, believe Hernandez was voted off. I was pushing for blonde chick to go. Oh well.

I have only watched a few shows this year.  But I do have a song from an American Idol contestant on my computer.  "It's Good to Be Us" by Bucky Covington.   Who would have thought?

Gotta remember the lyrics Archuleta.

Last night's results didn't bother me none. 

David Cook is my favorite.

I bought the audio Hello and Eleanor Rigby on iTunes because I really liked his alt rock takes.

My other four purchases so far have been:

Kristy Lee Cook's version of Faithfully
Carly Smithson's "Come Together"
David Archuleta's take on Yesterday
Chikezie's version of She's a Woman.

David Cook stole that version of Eleanor Rigby from the Seattle band Doxology.  If he is gonna use something, at least give credit where its due.  He acted like he came up with it.  What are the odds?  If you're gonna buy that song, you should head over to Doxology's iTunes page and buy theirs too for giving him the idea.

Quote from: Big Mike Lewis on Thu Mar 13, 2008 - 17:14:51
David Cook stole that version of Eleanor Rigby from the Seattle band Doxology.  If he is gonna use something, at least give credit where its due.  He acted like he came up with it.  What are the odds?  If you're gonna buy that song, you should head over to Doxology's iTunes page and buy theirs too for giving him the idea.

Daughtry used to do stuff like that all the time.

Why has AI seemingly disowned Hicks?  I noticed part way through the auditions that his picture is missing from the backdrops of previous winners?  What gives?  It's like it's 1984 and his history's been erased.



edit-->Apparently, I'm not the only one to notice.  Some guy on youtube has provided video to show he's been snubbed from the credits, too...

Miss hearing "Had a Bad Day?"  Listen to this:

Quote from: Gary on Thu Mar 13, 2008 - 18:20:42

Quote from: Big Mike Lewis on Thu Mar 13, 2008 - 17:14:51
David Cook stole that version of Eleanor Rigby from the Seattle band Doxology.  If he is gonna use something, at least give credit where its due.  He acted like he came up with it.  What are the odds?  If you're gonna buy that song, you should head over to Doxology's iTunes page and buy theirs too for giving him the idea.

Daughtry used to do stuff like that all the time.

There was also a touch of an early seventies version of the song by an Australian band called The Zoot or The Purple Zoot or something like that in the arrangement.  The Zoot's version featured a guitar line (by a kid named Rick Springfield) that nearly drowned out the vocals and a pause at the end before raising the volume on the word "people".  Cook didn't really copy the guitar but he did mimic the "People!" ('course he might have got it from someone else and they might have got it from The Zoot.)

Quote from: Gary on Thu Mar 13, 2008 - 22:22:47
Miss hearing "Had a Bad Day?"  Listen to this:

Now THAT was funny!!!!! 

I can understand why no one commented on last night's show; it was pretty discouraging.  Archuleta was good, and so was the Irish girl, but beyond that, ugh.  Even the nanny was awful.

That Cook girl was awful for the second straight week.  Maybe she'll go tonight.

I've only half followed it this year.  I like the Archeletta kid (sp?).  The Carrie Underwood season was the last season I watched like a hawk.  It ends up taking 2.5 nights a week just to keep up with the thing....and that is to much.  I do go to the Idol home page and check it out from time to time.

Goodby, Amanda. 

Well, I think it was a mistake to do the Beatles two weeks in a row.  And Tuesday's performances showed that, it seems to me.  The evening did bring out some glaring weaknesses, however. 

I really like Archuleta's voice, but so help me, I end up looking at his flaring nostrils.  Forgive me.

Hadn't noticed that Steve, but I bet I do this week!

I'd sure like to see Johns hit it out of the park this week.  I didn't like seeing the Irish lady in the bottom 3.  I thought they were a bit hard on her last week.  She's very good.

One thing I've like about this season is that you've got several of the very talented folk with genuinely humble attitudes.  That's missing some seasons and it makes the whole thing miserable to watch.  I think that factor is also hurting the guy with the comb-forward (seriously, dude, you're balding early.  Deal with it.  Comb-forwards are the come-overs desperate cousin).

Let me see you Moonwalk to that!



Don't know who goes home this week, but Kristy Lee Cook (or whatever) played dirty.  Okay, I'm next in line, so how do I get people to vote for me after those last two performances...I know!

I may be way off, but dredlock kid may go home.

(btw, am I the only one who didn't think Michael Johns sang very well tonight?)

I thought Michael Johns, David Cook, and Syesha were the strongest last night.

Archuleta, Castro, Carly, and Brooke were middling, but most likely safe.

Rameile, Chikezie, and Krispy Kreme Kook were dreadful...

This may be Chikezie's week to walk...  Kristy Lee Cook will probably get by another week, but next week she's going to have to sing "God Bless America" to keep her streak going... I think the bottom three tongiht might be Chikezie, Kristy, and Rameile.

You automatically win the night if you sing "God Bless the U.S.A."

I thought it was pretty good.

I think the one going home will be Jason Castro or Rameile just because their performances are pretty boring and forgettable.

Castro does have the advantage of the 13 year old girl vote.

After the last few weeks, I'm wondering if people start wetting their pants when they're told to stand next to Kristy Lee Cook.  The loser's been the one standing next to her for weeks.

It sure wouldn't bother me if Castro went home, IMO he's the weakest vocalist of the lot - BUT the chicks dig him.

He could be a bottom 3 tonight, but not sure he goes home just yet.

Well I only got one of the bottom 3 right, but I nailed the prediction of who was going home!

I was shocked.

I was disappointed.  Chikeze was one of the few really interesting contestants. 

Quote from: marc on Thu Mar 27, 2008 - 17:55:16
I was disappointed.  Chikeze was one of the few really interesting contestants. 

I agree.  I liked the guy, and thought they were too rough on him this week.

I was more surprised that Syesha was in the bottom two.  I liked Chikezie's personality well enough, but he was clearly among the weakest vocalists. 

Kristy Lee Cook is the least talented and has the least personality of this group - BUT she has "Vote for the Worst" behind her, so she may be this year's Sanjaya.  And that means more talented performers will be sent packing before she gets the axe.

Some good performances tonight, but none of the favorites do much for me.  They're boring, including Mr. Cook.  Last week, he was more interesting (or Chris Cornell was, at least), but this week, he was good, but I don't care. I'm going to start rooting for the Irish girl just because she's not pre-packaged slick.  It would be a nice irony if Kristy Lee went home after country week.  Why not?  This shows how weak she is better than anything--if this is her ceiling, she's going to just keep bumping her head.  Likely it'll be Ramielle, though. 

Tonight in order:

1. Archuleta.
2. Michael (first time I've really liked him).
3. Carly.
4. D. Cook.  Ho-hum.
5. Brooke.
6. Syesha.  Ho-hum.
7. Fidel.
8. Rameile.
9. K.L. Cook.

I've settled on David Cook as the darkhorse to win the whole thing.  I think the criticism of him using other performer's arrangements is unfounded - every AI contestant uses another performer's arrangement 90% of the time.  I don't hear very many of them giving credit to anyone else.  The same thing happened to Daugherty when he was on there - Why are the rockers singled out for this bit of specious criticism?

Anyhoo, here's my take from last night:

The good:
1. David Archuleta - great voice and a great song choice.  Water-cooler on him is that he's so good, people are starting to tire of it.

2. David Cook - this time it was his arrangement, and while it might not have been his best performance, it was the most original thing we heard all night.

3. Michael Johns - one of my favs from day one.  This was a breakout week for him - great blues take on that song.

4. Carly Smithson - I agree with Simon: she looks atrocious - but, man, can she sing!  There is something keeping her from connecting with the public, though - she's been in that bottom three too many times.  Personally, I think it's the tatts.

BTW - not much difference between any of that top 4.  They will all be stars when this is over.

The "okay":
5. Brooke White - She didn't do anything special or very different with "Jolene".  I really, really like her, but don't think she has the voice to get beyond the top 5 or 6.

6. Syesha Mercado - they should tattoo this on the forehead of every AI contestant - YOU CAN'T DO WHITNEY!  I thought she did good on the Dolly version in the first half - but second half, well, it was like the weak, homely, less talented, baby sister's version of Whitney.

The bad:
7. Kristy Lee Cook - I thought this was her best yet, but marc is right that she most likely can't do better than this.  She gets ranked this high because "Vote for the Worst" pretty much insures that she isn't going anywhere for awhile.

Mark my words - we will get angry because a much more talented performer will go home before KLC does.

8. Jason Castro - weakest voice in the competition now that Chikezie is gone.  Every song he sings sounds just like the one before.  He should have been incarcerated for murdering "Michelle" a couple of weeks ago.  He could be in serious trouble tonight.

9. Ramiele Maluby - "okay" vocal, poor performance.  Her "dialIdol" score is zero...  She can't possibly last more than another week or two at best.

I look for Jason or Ramiele to go home tonight.

OD, welcome back.  I've got to say that I've missed your musings.

Here are my choices from most talented (with star quality) to the bottom:

1.  David Lee Cook has the most star quality, in my view.  His vocals are flat out great.  By the way, I didn't like him in the beginning and hated his haircut.  But the locks sure looked better last night.  He's a talent, for sure and he makes great selections.

2.  David Archuleta.  Despite his flaring nostrils, he has a very, very gifted voice.  I see him as being very marketable.  He will have a long performing career.  And it seems like the young girls like him alot.  Maybe he and Miley Cyrus could tour together....

3.  Carly Smithson.  I agree with OD.  I think there is something a bit odd about her and the tats (and husband's tats) seem to bear that out.  Her outfits have not been good.  She should take lessons from Syesha and Kristi Lee.

5.  Michael Johns.  He could front INXS, but I'm not certain I like him much more than that. 

6.  Brooke White.  A Carly Simon or Carole King kind of voice.  She is very pleasant to listen to.  But she should not try to move too much and needs to control her left shoulder when dancing.  I like her but don't think she will go out in about three or four more weeks. 

7.  Syesha Mercado.  Beautiful young lady.  Classy looking.  Has a voice that would parallel Vanessa Williams.  She is talented, but, she is no Witney.

8. and 9.  Jason and Ramiele.  Well, they are both cute.  And are about equal as performers.  Jason is more sellable.  Poor Ramiele is forgettable.  She should say good-by tonight.

Quote from: Big Mike Lewis on Thu Mar 13, 2008 - 17:14:51
David Cook stole that version of Eleanor Rigby from the Seattle band Doxology.  If he is gonna use something, at least give credit where its due.  He acted like he came up with it.  What are the odds?  If you're gonna buy that song, you should head over to Doxology's iTunes page and buy theirs too for giving him the idea.

If people had to buy the first versions of songs other people copied they'd need a terabyte drive to hold all the downloads.

Quote from: marc on Thu Mar 27, 2008 - 17:55:16
I was disappointed.  Chikeze was one of the few really interesting contestants. 

I thought it was funny that he goes home the week that he quit listening to the judges and listened to the advice of the band.

BTW the band has been DREADFUL this year, they need new drummers and bass players in the worst way because they seem to keep rhythm  just any way that happens to suit them.