My American Idol Season 11 Top 5 Buzz Rankings

We are really getting down to the wire on American Idol as the final five compete tomorrow night. With the long-in-coming elimination of the talented but hard to connect with Elise Testone, we have a quintet of singers all of whom have a chance at the title (yes, even Hollie)… So, which one has the most buzz going into this week’s “British Music” theme night? Take a look at my all new completely unscientific buzz rankings below.

My Season 11 Top 5 American Idol Buzz Rankings~

1. Joshua: another week, another new leader. Everyone left in the top five except Hollie has now hit the top of my buzz chart as Mantasia rises to the summit. He gets here based on constant consistent performances full of emotion and strong vocals. He’s also very likable and I think he has a bigger fan base than any of us expected. However, the constant standing ovations are getting to be a bit too much. That said, he seems a lock for the top three. If that happens, he’d be the first African-American male to make it that far since season 2 winner Ruben Studdard. (last week~ 4)
2. Jessica: after near elimination a couple of weeks ago, the show’s best singer and the strongest possibility for a successful pop Idol winner had another great week. She even went first, got mediocre feedback for her first song (hello, they judge her harder than the others), and she still avoided the bottom three. She needs another breakout moment, but she is still going strong. (lw~ 3)
3. Phillip: ok, despite one absolutely awful number and one blah number, this season’s heart-throb still remains the only singer to never have landed on the silver stools of doom. His fan base is clearly strong. However, I do wonder if people will soon be over all of his songs sounding the same and start voting for people who really inspire them. He could be a shocker boot in the weeks ahead or sadly he could take the crown. (lw~ 2)
4. Skylar: she killed it on “The Show Must Go On”, but her Jason Aldean cover landed her in the bottom three for the second time this season. I think it may be an aberration. I still feel like she and Jessica should be the final two and I think the country fans will keep her in the race for a few more weeks… hopefully to the finale. (lw~ 1)
5. Hollie: yes, she’s in last place again. But, she is a survivor and she keeps improving. She’s also massively likable and adorable with a very strong set of pipes. Could she be the ultimate dark horse and make the finals? Stranger things have happened. If she has another “Rolling in the Deep” moment, she could be on her way. (lw~ 6)

So, that’s my assessment of the final five going into tomorrow night’s show with guest mentor Steve Van Zandt. Joshua is on the rise and Skylar takes a fall, but can Hollie really win it all? Well, tune into American Idol tomorrow night and find out who really has the buzz.

American Idol Quick Wrap 4-25-12 ~ Who’s the Real Queen?

When I heard the Idols would be singing the songs of Queen (along with a song choice of their own) tonight on American Idol, I was a little nervous. I mean could anyone really do justice to their rocking anthems the way Adam Lambert did in season 8 or even Carly Smithson in season 7. Well, heck ya they did. In fact five of our top six singers all excelled at these classic songs and most of them had strong nights overall… So, just who did the best and who might see a random song choice lead to their last dance with the silver stools? Check out my rankings below. (And sorry in advance for the short recap, I’m prepping a film shoot this weekend and it’s been an insane week. Thx!)

American Idol Performance Rankings 4/25/12

The Songs of Queen~
1. Skylar “The Show Must Go On”: she killed it and she should be killing it all the way to the finale.
2. Jessica “Bohemian Rhapsody”: her vocals are incredible and she rocked it out!
3. Elise “I Want it All”: I want all of her songs to be like this: fantastic!
4. Joshua “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”: great vocal as always, but I didn’t really buy the performance as an authentic interpretation. That said, super entertaining.
5. Hollie “Save Me”: girl has pipes for days.
~ the one blah one
6. Phillip “Fat Bottomed Girls”: I love that he chose this song. I just wish he could actually sing it… He was kinda sexy making a mess out of it though.

Songs of their Choice~
~the great
1. Jessica “Dance With My Father”: Simply Astounding. What on Earth does she have to do to get a Standing Ovation from these nincompoop judges?
2. Hollie “The Climb”: it was wonderful and is a close second to last week’s “Rolling in the Deep” as Hollie’s best of the season.
~ the good
3. Joshua “Ready for Love”: I was surprised he picked this beautiful and melancholic India.Arie ballad. However, he sang the crap out of it.
~ the decent
4. Skylar “Tattoos on this Town”: the first half was just ok, but she delivered big at the end.
~ the ok one
5. Elise “Bold as Love”: she sure is bold for picking a song that no one has heard of. However, that bravery may be her ticket home as it was also just a serviceable take on the tune. She needed a wow factor and didn’t get it on this one.
~ the sleep inducing one
6. Phillip “The Stone”: Phillip clearly has some big stones to sing a song with no melody that very few people have heard of (especially fans of this show). And he sounded exactly like the guy he copies each week Dave Matthew on Matthews’ own track. In a word: BORING.

Predictions~
Bottom 3: Hollie, Elise, Phillip (but who knows anyone could show up it seems and I think Joshua might be the surprise here)
Bottom 2: Elise, Phillip
Going Home: Elise

So, that’s my quick two cents on tonight’s American Idol. Again, I apologize for my brevity, but I have to get to bed and prep for our Dirty Talk film shoot. (Yes, that was me tooting my own horn about the short film I’m producing and co-starring in this weekend.) So, instead of my babbling, I want to know who you think rocked it tonight. Who was your champion? And who just might bite the dust? Sound off below.

My American Idol Season 11 Top 6 Buzz Rankings!

In what might have been even a bigger shocker than Jessica’s almost ousting two weeks ago, tween-girl fave and the Christian rocker with the skinniest legs on Earth, Colton Dixon, was eliminated last week on American Idol. I, for one, was surprised and a bit thrilled. It was great to see that the show can indeed throw us for a loop every now and again with the results and I’m excited that a girl has an even better chance of winning this year. But I didn’t think this kid, who was clearly talented, would get the boot so soon. But all it took was one terrible week and he was gone. (Or maybe Jesus just had other plans for him, lol)… Anywho, with Colton gone, it’s time for another shakeup on my all new and completely unscientific American Idol Buzz Rankings…

American Idol Season 11 Buzz Rankings for the Top 6:

1. Skylar: our only country contender flies into the pole position for the first time this season after yet another week of solid performances. I, agree, with Jimmy Iovine that she is the best performer of the singers left and, I’d also say she’s the most likable. That, plus her strong pipes, fierce competitive streak and lack of fear will likely help her all the way to the finals. (last week~ 2)
2. Phillip: despite one terrible performance last week (“U Got it Bad”), Phillip remained the only contestant to avoid the bottom three so far for the whole competition. Does that mean he’s unstoppable for the finale? Probably. However, he needs to vary his performances, stay humble and not channel Dave Matthews all the time. But that charm, sex appeal and being the only white guy with a guitar left in the race all add to likelihood of going the distance. (lw~ 3)
3. Jessica: rebounding nicely after her near elimination, the season’s best singer gave two more great perfs this week. Now, if she can keep building that momentum, sing songs that her younger fans would identify with and show a little more emotion and personality, she could reclaim her rightful spot in the top two. (lw~ 4)
4. Joshua: also rebounding nicely with a pair of strong vocals last week was Joshua. Despite looking like the judges favorite singer in the race (I mean he could burp and they would give him a standing ovation), I still think there is a large contingent of the audience that may not connect to him. And that’s despite his tremendous vocal talent. (lw~ 5)
5. Elise: despite arguing with Jennifer and one pretty blah performance, Elise avoided the bottom two. However, she was still in her usual home in the bottom three. This means she is still a big dark horse. She has a really cool unique voice and feels like more of a true artist than several of her competitors, but she will have to have a few amazing performances this week to make the top five. (lw~ 7)
6. Hollie: our lil Irish-Texan cutie had her best night to date last week with two really good performances. Unfortunately, she still landed in the bottom two. It looks like Hollie’s days are truly and finally numbered. (lw~ 6)

With that said, now you have your weekly buzz. But will it mean a thing after they sing if they have no zing?… Ok, when I’m making up silly rhymes, it’s clearly time for me to end this post. But now, it’s time for you to tell me who you think has the buzz to make it to the finale… which is only a few weeks away! Can you believe it?!

American Idol Quick Wrap 4/18/12~ The Top Seven of Season 11…. Again

After last week’s shocker almost-elimination of the season’s best vocalist and my favorite, Jessica Sanchez, it was clear tonight that all bets are off. Practically all the contestants stepped up their game or stepped out of their boxes. Luckily only one of them stepped in “it”, but it’s clear he ain’t goin’ home anytime soon. (More on Colton later…) So, it’s time to count down this week’s double dose of American Idol performances as the singers took on # 1 hits from the last decade and “Soul Classics”. Let’s see who did what and who just might hang on another week…

American Idol Season 11 Top 7 Performance Rankings 4/18/12

# 1 Hits from the Last Decade:
~ the great
1. Hollie: Um, hello, Hollie took on the Adele beast and she actually slayed it. Not only did she give her best performance to date on last year’s Grammy winning smash “Rolling in the Deep”, but she also made it her own. The opening a capella was brilliant and she was confident and composed throughout. She also finally let go. Great performance!
2. Skylar: maybe some people thought Lady Gaga’s country version of her 2010 # 1 “Born This Way” was a little odd, but in Skylar Laine’s capable hands, it was simply fantastic. This girl is a born performer and she owned this number. Plus, let’s be honest, she brings so much energy, joy and ferocious presence to the stage you can’t help but love her every time. It’s hard not to think of the finale without her at this point.
3. Joshua: Mantasia was totally inhabiting Fantasia on her chart topping Idol coronation song from 2004, and I loved it. The song fit him like a glove and his gospel-riffic performance was roof-raising without being cloying or copycat. Another good one from Mr. Ledet.
4. Jessica: taking on the song that has probably been sung more on Idol than any other, our new underdog fought hard and gave what I consider the best performance of the song on this show to date. Singing Alicia Keyes’ 2000 # 1 “Fallin’”, Jessica’s vocals were predictably glorious, but she also dug deep and really interpreted the song. This girl really should never have even been in the bottom three. I mean come on America!
~ the really good
5. Elise: it’s crazy that Elise’s lovely, charismatic and beautiful interpretation of Keyes’ 2007 Grammy winning chart topper is all the way down in 5th place. That just goes to show how good the top five songs in this genre were tonight. Elise’s vocals were great and she really communicated the song like the seasoned pro she is. Well done.
~ and now for the two clunkers
6. Colton: sorry, this rocking re-interpretation of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” from 2009 was just kind of weird. He was a little pitchy in parts and the arrangement never quite felt right. What was worse was that Colton was never convincing for one moment throughout the song. It was a bad way for him to start the night… and it only got worse for him from there…
7. Phillip: I have no idea why the judges gave that piece of crap performance a standing ovation. Poor Phillip utterly decimated Usher’s “U Got It Bad” from 2001. He stripped it of any meaning, growled like usual and just turned it into another unnecessary Dave Matthews Band knockoff. Blech.

Soul Classics
~ the great
1. Jessica: holy crap was that a fantastic interpretation of Otis Redding’s 1966 hit “Try a Little Tenderness”. Jessica sang the you know what out of it, had fun doing it and really fought for her place in this race. Outstanding.
~ the good
2. Phillip: ok, on this number I could see what ya’ll love about Mr. Growly Pants. When he smiles and the song fits him and he’s not screaming, he is incredibly charming. This performance of Wilson Pickett’s 1965 classic “In the Midnight Hour” was sublimely entertaining and the song fit his limited vocal range perfectly. It was his best effort in ages.
3. Hollie: um, hello Hollie delivered on both of her numbers this evening This little belter was letting us have it tonight and I loved it. She totally won me over on Dusty Springfield’s # 10 hit from 1968 “Son of a Preacher Man.”
4. Skylar: while it wasn’t a perfect fit for her, Skylar, none the less, sold the heck out of her version of Marvin Gaye’s # 1 smash from 1968 “I Heard it through the Grapevine”. She’s so good and so genuine that she can pretty much sing anything and make it feel like a Skylar Laine original. Another solid effort.
~the pretty good
5. Joshua: while nowhere near the brilliant version Adam Lambert did in season 8, Joshua’s take on Sam Cooke’s civil rights anthem from 1965 “A Change is Gonna Come” was quite assured. His voice sounded wonderful as usual, but did it feel like more of the same from Mr. Ledet or was it me?
~ the ok
6. Elise: unfortunately Elise’s perfectly passable version of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 # 1 classic “Let’s Get it On” fell short in comparison to her competitors other efforts tonight. Her vocals were fine and she seemed to be having a pretty good time singing it. However, it was a tad forgettable when all was said and done.
~ the atrocious
7. Colton: sorry even Colton’s precious Jesus would’ve hated skinny leg boy’s awful reinvention of Earth Wind and Fire’s # 8 hit from 1978 “September”. He basically turned the soul song into an anemic, pitchy and tuneless mess version of One Republic’s “Apologize” and completely stripped it of any soul whatsoever . While I give the guy credit for taking a page out of the David Cook/Adam Lambert playbook by taking serious risk, unfortunately this one tanked…. And it tanked big time.

Predictions~
Bottom 3: Elise, Joshua, Hollie (but Jessica and Colton might show up here too… things are getting crazy this season!)
Bottom 2: Elise, Joshua
Going Home: Elise

So according to my crazy tea leaves, it looks like Elise Testone’s roller coaster American Idol journey may finally be coming to an end tomorrow. But as you might guess, my predictions haven’t been to spot on this season, lol. So, will she last another week? Will Colton finally make a (very deserving) appearance in the bottom three? Did Jessica galvanize her fan base or did Hollie steal her voters? Find out tomorrow night on American Idol.

My ALL NEW American Idol Season 11 Top Seven Buzz Rankings

If any of you were wondering why I didn’t post about the ridiculousness of last week’s American Idol results show, I just couldn’t bring myself to…. After hearing the season’s best singer, Jessica Sanchez, got the lowest amount of votes and was almost eliminated, I was just plain angry. How could American Idol voters be so stupid or lazy or just ignorant? Why oh why was this happening again? I was overwhelmed with memories of the loss of Pia Toscano too early last year (and the unsettlingly early departures of Tamyra Gray in season 1, Jennifer Hudson in season 3, Chris Daughtry in season 4 and Carly Smithson in season 7) and I just didn’t even want to talk about it…. Now, it’s almost a week later and I have calmed down. I’m grateful that the “Save” actually existed for once, and I am grateful the judges saved Jessica (but duh, we knew they’d do that) I’m also excited she has another chance this week. I, mean seriously, she is this season’s best singer and has the best chance to become an Idol pop powerhouse ala Kelly and Carrie, since Jordin in season 6. (That would also make her the first female winner in 5 years.)… So, let’s hope Idol voters will get their acts together and vote up a storm for Jessica this week!… That said, my girl takes a tumble in the buzz rankings… And that means it’s time for my all new totally unscientific American Idol Season 11 Buzz Rankings for the top seven singers…

American Idol Season 11 Top 7 Buzz Rankings (redux)

1. Colton: looks like the boy with the skinniest legs on Earth and a major Jesus crush is headed straight to the finals. He has never been in the bottom three, always gives consistent and strong performances, and the girls love him. Even though I found him a little forgettable this week, he is on a roll and rises to the top of my rankings for the first time. It’s also time I stopped underestimating the power of the cute white boy in this year’s competition. (last week~ 3)
2. Skylar: she gave another strong performance this week and improved upon a former Idol‘s song. (That was Kellie Pickler I’m speaking of people). She also went first in last week’s lineup and still remained safe. I think this year’s country contender could end up being the last girl standing after all. (lw~ 4)
3. Phillip: it pains me to put him back in the top three, but even after another bad week of weak performances, he still avoided the bottom three. He is the heir to the “white guy with guitar” Idol mantle title of the past few years. So, he could hang on way longer than this one trick pony should…Oh and he’s cute, so there’s another cajillion votes for him each week too. Ugh (lw~ 5)
4. Jessica: ok, you may think I’m crazy to have her this high after she almost went packing… However, I am hopeful last week was just an anomaly. She is clearly the best singer on the show (yes, I’m repeating myself cuz it’s true) and deserves to make the top five at least. (And hello win the whole shebang, but I may be dreaming)… Anywho, I think her fan base will get off their lazy bums and activate this week to keep her in the game. Plus, you know she’s gonna throw down this week to prove herself. (lw~ 1)
5. Joshua: what on Earth was he doing in the bottom 3 last week too? He gave the other best performance of the night and has been consistently good throughout the competition… Did people just feel like he was “safe” too and they didn’t need to vote? Do tween girls not vote for good singers? (Um, we know they don’t) What more can he do to stay in the game? (lw~ 2)
6. Hollie: she gave one of the weaker performances of the week, but this big voiced cutie avoided the bottom three somehow. I think she has a bigger fan base than anyone might expect. Well, she is from Texas and that is a real big state… Plus she has all those Irish votes, and who doesn’t love her super strange accent? (lw~ 7)
7. Elise: I’m rather worried about Elise. She gave two really good performances and still landed on the silver stools of doom. And that’s a position she has found herself in many times this season despite her considerable talent. I feel like she’s gonna need a miracle or a big misstep from one of her peers to last another week in the race. (lw~ 6)

So, that’s the buzz. The two best singers are in trouble and the two heart throbs can do no wrong. Plus, the two blonde ladies are still hovering at the bottom of the pack. Will either of them survive? Can Jessica and Joshua make big comebacks tomorrow when they sing one song from the past decade and one “soul” classic? Will people ever realize that Phillip is NOT all that and a bag of chips? And will it end up being a Skylar v. Colton finale?  Stay tuned…

And before I go, please take another look at the brilliant Jessica Sanchez and her incredible performance of “Stuttering” from last week… Pick up the phone for this girl people!

American Idol Quick Wrap 4/11/12~ The Best Performance Show of the Season!

Well, thank goodness Uncle Nigel (Idol Exec. Producer Nigel Lythgoe) listened to the fans and gave us a current theme for once because tonight American Idol took on the songs from this decade and it was fantastic. With only 2 and 1/3 years of material to choose from, it could have gone either way. However, this years incredibly talented top 7 (the best top 7 ever???) did a wonderful job on these modern hits. (Well most of them anyway). It was perhaps the best performance show ever, and definitely of the season. So, just who stood out the most and who fell short? Take a look at my rankings and predictions below.

American Idol Season 11 Top 7 Performance Rankings~ 4/11/12

~ The Great
1. Jessica: our youngest competitor is also perhaps our most savvy. She knocks it out of the park every week no matter the genre (hello shades of Kelly Clarkson). And this week, she does a song that was a minor R&B hit for Jazmine Sullivan, but damn if she didn’t make me run to iTunes and buy her version of “Stuttering” as soon as the show ended. This girl is a superstar, a hit maker, and a brilliant vocalist. And how about that outfit? Girl better win this thing!
2. Joshua: Mantasia got a shout out from Fantasia even before he performed Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby, but he certainly earned it. It was another flawless vocal and an incredibly enthusiastic and energetic performance. He is a born entertainer and the best guy in the competition by a mile.
3. Skylar: keeping up her momentum from last week, our country spitfire gave a blazing performance on former Idol Kellie Pickler’s hit ballad from 2010 “Didn’t You Know How Much I Love You”. I dare say it improved on the original. Her emotion and intonation were perfect, and hello, she played the guitar too! Skylar is a fierce competitor, not to mention a great singer. She is soooo getting a record deal regardless of where she places when all is said and done this season.
4. Elise: improving ten fold from last week, Elise delivered a soaring version of Lady Gaga’s top ten smash from last year, “You and I”. While it wasn’t as good as Haley Reinhart’s incredible performance of the song from last year, it was still fantastic. I especially loved the beginning with just Elise and the piano. I sure hope the audience embraces her again and keeps her in the race.

~ the good
5. Hollie: I don’t know what the judges were babbling about because Hollie did a wonderful job on Pink’s Grammy nominated top ten smash from last year “Perfect”. It was her best performance since Whitney Houston week when the finals began. Her vocals sounded wonderful and she had more confidence than she’s had in ages. I just wish she had connected a tad more to the lyrics. All in all, it was a job well done. But was it enough to keep her in the game? I’m not sure.
6. Colton: I’m a little surprised I have him ranked so low because I really liked his performance of Skylar Grey’s “Love the Way You Lie”. (You probably know the Grammy winning # 1 hit version of the song by Rihanna and Eminem by the way). He was vulnerable and gave a really strong spin on the song. In fact, it probably would be a great recording for him. The only drawback is that it became a little forgettable compared to the others tonight.

~ the blah
7. Phillip: oh dear, sweet Southern charmer Phillip… Why oh why must you turn every song into a Dave Matthews track? J Lo was dead on when she said she’d seen that performance before. Um, hello, because he does pretty much the same thing week after week. And his take on Maroon 5′s “Give A Little More” was nothing new and far inferior to the original. If there was any justice, his growling on the show would come to an end tomorrow night. Sorry people, he’s a great guy, but that aint gonna cut it anymore.

The Duets/Group Numbers:

1. Joshua/Jessica/Hollie: despite a little shaky start, this trio sold the crap out of Kelly Clarkson’s recent # 1 smash “Stronger”. Their big powerhouse vocals fit the song well, and I wasn’t sure if Joshua could do a pop anthem. However, he totally did. In fact, I agree with Randy that he may have stolen the number from the ladies.
2. Colton/Skylar: I’m not sure why the judges didn’t love this. It was a wonderful interpretation of Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean’s ACM and CMA Award winning, Grammy nominated, # 1 country smash “Don’t You Wanna Stay”… No, it wasn’t as good as the original, but it was still pretty darn good. (It was also a whole lot better than the version Lauren and Scotty did last year).
3. Elise/Phillip: taking on Gotye & Kimbra’s current # 2 hit “Somebody that I Used to Know”, this duo did an admirable job. But let’s be honest, Elise did all the heavy lifting and totally served Phillip on the number. In his defense, it was out of his wheelhouse, but he didn’t need to look so uncomfortable throughout. That said, I kinda liked their spooky chemistry. Unfortunately, it paled compared to their great collaboration from last week.

Predicitions~

Bottom 3: Hollie, Elise, Phillip (but Skylar and Colton might show up too)
Bottom 2: Hollie, Phillip
Going Home: Hollie (but it really should be Philip)

So, Idol producers, you better have taken notes tonight. Doing a current theme can work wonders for your show! And I bet your Idol download sales are probably soaring this week too…. Now, the question is how will America vote? Despite an improved performance, I still think Hollie is in big trouble. But will we see a surprise elimination instead? Or will the judges finally use their “Save”? Are we heading to a Joshua v. Jessica finale? Can Colton or Skylar break into the top two? Did Phillip finally make a misstep that could cost him big? Watch the results show tomorrow night and find out. And let me know your thoughts below.

My Season 11 Top 7 American Idol Buzz Rankings!

Well, American Idol viewers, I am proud of you! With last week’s elimination (some may say surprise elimination) of Deandre, you have gotten rid of the correct two people in a row! I was a little nervous for Elise and Hollie in the bottom three with our beloved Milli Vanilli-coiffed falsetto crooner, but it looks like an obscure song choice and going first helped Deandre to finally hit the road. I wish him well and am pretty pleased with the current top 7. Now, the question is who still has the buzz going into this week when the singers will tackle songs from this, yes I said THIS, decade. That means they’re singing songs from 2010-2012. Holy modern music people. It should be very interesting indeed… So, let’s take a look at who is going strong this week on my all new completely unscientific American Idol Buzz Rankings.

My Season 11 Top 7 American Idol Buzz Rankings~

1. Jessica: my favorite holds on to the top spot yet again as she remains the most consistent competitor in the race. Her take on Whitney’s “How Will I Know” was fantastic, but it wasn’t her best. She needs to up her game this week to keep her hold on the pole position…. and I so want her to! (last week~ 1)
2. Joshua: I may have been underestimating Joshua for the past few weeks. I think he could be a surprise finale contender. He absolutely killed both of his performances last week and he even out sang Jessica on their duet. If he can find a song that is relevant this week to showcase his potential as a current Pop/R&B powerhouse, he can maintain his growth on the show and on my list. (lw~ 6)
3. Colton: while his “Time after Time” wasn’t flawless, it was still another solid effort. He’s willing to take risks and usually succeeds in doing so. Plus, his heart-throb status can’t hurt, and he wasn’t annoying in his interviews this week. Colton is still a contender. (lw~ 4)
4. Skylar: with her best performance in weeks on “Wind Beneath My Wings”, Skylar proved she can’t be counted out. She also out did Colton on their duet and remains one of the most likable singers in the race. I’m curious to see if she can stay on the upswing this week. (lw~ 5)
5. Phillip: well, many of you may be shocked to find Mr. Phillips so low on my list this time. However, he had his worst week to date and he seems to be stuck in a rut. His Genesis cover was terrible and Elise out sang him on their duet. He needs to get some humility too. This guy who has done so much right so far this season seems to be falling fast. However, he has a strong fan base, so we’ll see if he turns it around tomorrow. (lw~ 2)
6, Elise: our resident veteran (yes, she’s the veteran at 28 years old… boy does that make me feel old!) was in danger again after faltering on her Foreigner cover. It was the wrong song and a tepid performance. She did come back very strong on her duet but she still was in the bottom 2. She doesn’t rank last on my list because I think she has the fire to fight her way back up as she has done time and again this year. She is on a serious Idol roller coaster folks. (lw~ 3)
7. Hollie: while I seemed to like her “Flashdance” performance a whole lot more than America and the judges did, Hollie still sits at the bottom of my rankings. She really needs to breakout with a showstopper this week to stay in the game. She has the vocal prowess, now she needs the confidence AND the right song choice. I, for one, hope she steps up to the plate and knocks it out of the park tomorrow. (lw~8)

Whew, that felt like more counting than it actually was. Can you believe there are only seven people left in the race? Can you believe Phillip is faltering? Do you think Elise or Hollie can survive another week? Will the judges ever use the save? Stay tuned tomorrow for my next Idol recap.

American Idol Quick Wrap 4/4/12~ I Love the 80′s

Tonight, American Idol took on my favorite decade of music, the 80′s. That decade had everything: power ballads, cheesy pop, hair metal, the birth of rap, new wave and Madonna! What’s not to like? Well, if the songs sounded like Phillip‘s awful assault on a nice Genesis tune, that would certainly tarnish my view of my favorite greedy, fun, big hair, more, more, more decade. So instead, let’s focus on the good duets and the re-emergence of Skylar as a serious contender for the crown as I rank tonight’s performances:

American Idol Performance Rankings 4/4/12:
1. Skylar: like the judges I was worried when Skylar said she was singing Bette Midler’s Grammy winning # 1 smash from 1989 “Wind Beneath My Wings”, but she quickly brushed those concerns aside with her best performance to date. Her vocals were glorious. Her emotion was true and she even made me tear up. I loved the country spin on the record too. Skylar is back ya’ll!
2. Joshua: keeping up his momentum, Joshua slayed Simply Red’s # 1 hit from 1989 “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”. He really connected to the song and made it his own, as they say. This was my favorite Mantasia performance in weeks.
3. Jessica: my favorite gave another solid interpretation on Whitney’s Houston’s fun frolicking # 1 hit form 1985 “How Will I Know”. The song fit her perfectly and it showcased her vocals and her youth. At 16, this girl is a seasoned pro, but she still can have a lot of fun. Loved it.
4. Colton: also delivering a good spin on a #1 hit was Colton with his rocking and aching version of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” from 1984. I really enjoyed this take on the song that Colton fairly admitted was derived from a rearrangement by some group I’d never heard of. Loved the blond hair too.
5. Deandre: I was worried about him going first and taking on a pretty obscure song, but Deandre totally sold me on Debarge’s # 31 hit from 1983 “I Like It”. It was a solid effort, but was it enough?
6. Hollie: I like this girl a lot and I looooove the fact that she took on one of my favorite songs of all time, Irene Cara’s 1983 Oscar-winning # 1 anthem from Flashdance, “What A Feeling”. However, she stumbled in parts and had some pitch issues. I’m really worried for her because moments of the song were quite good. Unfortunately, Hollie needed to really hit it out of the park to be safe this week, so she is in trouble.
7. Elise: Last week, she destroyed the competition. This week she got destroyed by her song choice. Unfortunately, our blues rock girl (and eldest contestant) was super pitchy throughout her take on Foreigner’s # 1 from 1984 “I Want to Know What Love Is”. The song got better towards the end, but all the momentum she built up from last week may be lost now…
8. Philip: bet you thought you’d never see this growling Joe Cocker/Dave Matthews hybrid so low on the list, did ya? … Well, he absolutely deserves to be here after his atrocious, forced, disconnected and totally bad take on Genesis’ “That’s All” which was a # 6 hit in 1983. Sorry, Phillip, nothing about that worked. You may have lost your “top guy” status to Colton after that one.

And the duets….

1. Jessica/Joshua: holy heck, raise the roof for that amazing take on Aretha Franklin & George Michael’s # 1 hit from 1987 “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me”. Talk about a power couple. That was amazing. It had me on my feet and I watched it twice. I kinda want to see them fight it out in the finale now!
2. Elise/Phillip: making up for their poor solos, these two delivered quite a good version of the Stevie Nicks/Tom Petty ballad “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”, a # 3 hit from 1981. While they needed more chemistry, their voices melded wonderfully and it was the perfect song for them.
3. Skylar/Colton: this odd pairing actually worked really well on a sweet and beautiful version of “Islands in the Stream” which hit # 1 in 1983 for Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. While they didn’t have much chemistry either, they were super cute and sounded great.
4. Hollie/Deandre: it’s kind of sad that this good pairing finds itself at the bottom of the duets ranks because it was well done too. The two delivered an assured version of The Pointer Sister’s # 9 hit from 1984 “I’m So Excited”. It’s just unfortunate that this fun performance got so overshadowed by their peers.

And now for the predictions….

Bottom 3: Elise, Hollie, Deandre
Bottom 2: Elise, Hollie
Going Home: Hollie (in a squeaker… I think Elise may have some good will left from last week to save her).

So, it looks like a girl may be heading home this week. If I had my way, I’d say buh bye to Phillip, but I know that ain’t gonna happen. But will it be Hollie or Elise? Or will the judges whip out the “Save”? Find out tomorrow night on the results show which will also bring back season 5 country cutie Kellie Pickler.

My Top 8 American Idol Buzz Rankings!

Clearly American Idol viewers opened their ears for once and heard Heejun sing because he was finally booted off the program last week. Sure, he was a funny guy, with a good heart and a nice tone to his voice. However, he had no star quality, took the show for granted, mocked the program and caused the early ousting of my dear Erika! …. Alas, I need to get over that… At least he’s gone and we have a really good top 8. But just how good are they? Well, I’d say this seasons talent is up there with the best season’s like 5 (Daughtry, Katharine, Elliott), 7 (David Cook, Carly, David Archuleta) and 10 (Scotty, Pia, Haley, Lauren). But who has the current buzz to head to the front of the pack? Well, it’s time to take a look at my all new completely unscientific American Idol Buzz Rankings below….

My Season 11 Top 8 American Idol Buzz Rankings~

1. Jessica: hanging on to the top slot by the thinnest of strings, my favorite singer in the race had another great week slowing down a Beyonce jam into her own slinky groove. Jessica has the talent, ambition and is very creative with each of her song choices and performances. I’m surprised the judges aren’t pimping her more especially if we finally want a girl to win this thing! (last week~ 1)
2. Phillip: Mr. Phillips almost overtook my Jessica again this week with a really strong and totally not annoying performance of a song by Johnny Lang no one’s heard of. That takes some gumption and some great follow through. At this point, it feels like a Jessica/Phillip finale fight. We shall see… (lw~ 3)
3. Elise: holy crap, Elise is in my top three and I couldn’t be happier. She has killed it the past two weeks and finally had an Idol moment with her Led Zeppelin cover last week. Could our bluesy dark horse be a threat for the title? I hope so. (lw~ 6)
4. Colton: he went first and sang his favorite “praise” song and was super pitchy last week, yet he still was not in the bottom three. That means this pretty Idol has some serious support. I do think he needs to change things up a bit before all his songs start sounding like Daughtry clones. And PS- shut it with the god talk. You’re turning off more voters than you know with that. Trust me, Jesus doesn’t care if you win American Idol. I think he’s got more important things on his plate. (lw~ 2)
5. Skylar: yes, she was in the bottom 3 last week, but I think the fact that she went so early in the show was the real problem. She performed well and is so darn likable. I think she will bounce back this week no problem. (lw~ 4)
6. Joshua: I have no idea why America loved his wonky and pitchy performance last week. I do know that I think he’s got a great voice and is very likable, so that clearly helped. I just wonder how viable a pop artist he would be. (Hello, not much~ but he could be a great R&B and Gospel singer). This week should be interesting for him with the 80′s theme. (lw~ 7)
7. Deandre: ok, he’s a cool cat with a great falsetto and fabulous hair, but I just don’t get it. I feel like he has so much growing to do as an artist and needs to pick better songs that more people know. That said, his obscure Eric Benet pick, kept him out of danger and the judges loved it. I still feel like he’s one misstep away from getting the boot. (lw~8)
8. Hollie: oh my sweet dear little Hollie with the big voice. What are ya doin? Yes, you sing great most of the time, but you’re in a free fall. I just hope this talented girl picks a great fun upbeat song and really connects with the material so she can make a big comeback and land a place in the final five like she deserves to. (lw~ 5)

So, it seems Hollie is on a dangerous downward path, while Elise is flying high and Deandre continues to scoot by unscathed. But what will happen this week with that aforementioned 80′s theme? We’ll see. Tune in to American Idol Wednesday night on Fox and then head back here for my take.

American Idol Quick Wrap 3/28/12~ Idols Sing their Idols

I’m pretty sure I was watching a different episode of American Idol than Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson tonight, because while it was a pretty strong night on the whole, the judges were seriously in ridiculous over-praise mode. Let me give you one example…. They gave Heejun a standing ovation. Hello, Hee-frickin-Jun? Oh jesus, they must have been drinking some Paula Abdul juice in their coke cups because they were full of it, for pretty much the whole episode as they lavished way too much praise on Heejun, Joshua and Deandre who were the worst of the night while throwing shade all over Hollie for no reason. It was a bit of an infuriating night for me as I was still missing Erika and wondering why the judges were obsessed with trying to make another guy win this year. At least, we were all in agreement on our unanimous acclaim for Elise who wiped the floor with everyone…. So, with that said, let’s look at my rankings for tonight’s show where the contestants sang songs by their own personal idols.

American Idol Performance Rankings~ 3/28/12
~ the great
1. Elise: singing Led Zeppelin’s classic # 4 hit from 1969, Elise took on the most difficult song of the night and delivered in spades. Who knew she could rock so hard? She also slayed every note and nuance of the song and had a great time doing it. That was easily one of the best performances of the entire season. Elise is showing the youngsters how it’s done.
~ the good
2. Jessica: slowing down Beyonce’s top ten smash “Sweet Dreams” into an eerie ballad, Jessica hit all the right notes as usual. It was a sexy sumptuous performance and showed she is a serious pro with incredible range and adaptability. I still say she should win this whole thing.
3. Phillip: singing a song I’d never heard of by blues rocker Johnny Lang, Phillip really tore it up on “Still Rainin’” and he only made a couple of his weird faces. It was all in his wheelhouse and I actually enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Well done.
~the pretty good
4. Hollie: taking on Carrie Underwood’s Grammy winning # 1 country smash “Jesus Take the Wheel” from 2005 was a bit of a risk for Hollie, but I think she acquitted herself very well. Like J.Lo, I really felt the emotion from Hollie for the first time. (And how much did ya’ll bawl during her mentor session with the amazing Stevie Nicks?). It was a lovely performance and I believed every moment.
5. Skylar: raising the roof with another country stomper, Miranda Lambert’s raucous “Gunpowder and Lead”, Skylar stayed on her road to Idol success. She hasn’t had a bad week yet, and I don’t know if she will at this point. Despite a couple of wonky notes at the beginning, this was another strong effort.
~the alright
6. Joshua: I don’t know what the judges were smoking when they stood up after this one, because the first half was just plain bad. The only reason Joshua isn’t farther down the list after his performance of Mariah Carey’s # 3 ballad from “1993 “Without You” is the fact that he has a great voice. The second half of the song was better, but I still didn’t buy the breaking down at the end. And I’m a fan of his.
7. Colton: singing his favorite “praise” song, Colton took on Lifehouse’s ballad “Everything”. Unfortunately, everything was not alright with his performance. The first half was pitchy and flat and he was strained throughout. He was also overpowered by the band. And seriously, shut up with the god talk. I’ve said it before, this is NOT American Christian Idol. He is beginning to bug the ever-living crap out of me…. Oh, and please eat a sandwich!
8. Deandre: well, this song did fit his voice nicely and he was confident in his performance. However, performing a song very few people have heard of, Eric Benet’s “Sometimes I Cry” will do him no favors. It was also pretty boring and unmemorable in the long run. And of course, the moronic judges gave him a standing “O”. What?
~ the bad
9. Heejun: seriously that was pretty terrible. Yes, it was an improvement over the train wreck from last week, but his take on Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You” still was the big stinking egg of the night. Plus, anyone singing that on Idol will be compared to Elliott Yamin’s brilliant performance of the song in season 5 and Hack Heejun came nowhere close to that. And the judges gave this pitchy, disconnected, and irritating performance a standing “O” too. I don’t get it!

My Predictions~

Bottom 3: Deandre, Heejun and um…. Hollie? (or Joshua or Skylar?)
Bottom 2: Heejun, Deandre
Buh Bye: Deandre (even though it should be Heejun)

So, will our Milli Vanilli-maned falsetto singer finally sing his last note? Or is horrific Heejun on the way out? I’m happy with either result. But doggonit, if a girl is the lowest vote getter, the judges damn well better use their “Save”…. I’m actually a little nervous about what’s gonna happen. Who do you think will get the boot? And are you with me that the judges were seriously insane tonight? Sound off below.