My Top 13 American Idol Buzz Rankings!

Well, here we go American Idol fans… The show is about to get real good as we move into the serious competition shows. The Top 13 singers have been chosen (10 by America, 3 wild cards by the judges) and I actually really like 11 of them. I actually only despise one of them (Shannon), so that bodes for a strong and interesting competition. This group seems very strong. In fact, it seems like it could end up as one of the strongest years since season 5 (Daughtry, Katharine, Elliott, etc). It will have to fight to keep up with last year’s rebirth as well which saw a country top two that have turned into solid sellers. (Scotty has just passed a million copies sold of his debut album in fact). Last season’s top ten also saw record deals for seven of the finalists (Scotty, Lauren, Pia, Haley, James, Stefano and Casey), so they have their work cut out for them. With that said, just who do I think is in the lead as we head into the first week of competition when the men will sing songs from Stevie Wonder while the ladies will take on the music of the late great Whitney Houston? Just take a look at my first list of completely unscientific but surely accurate American Idol Buzz rankings for season 11.

American Idol Top 13 Buzz Rankings~

1. Jessica Sanchez: this powerhouse vocalist can sing circles around most of her competitors and could be the first woman to win since Jordin Sparks. She is attractive, has incredible range, a great personality and is the whole package. Let’s hope she goes the distance (and yes, she is my favorite too).
2. Phillip Phillips: he’s cute. He has wonderful Southern charm and is a great musician. He also is just the type of winner this show goes for (David Cook, Lee Dewyze, Kris Allen anyone?) as he channels John Mayer and Dave Matthews with his performances. However, I can’t stand his odd growling and phrasing. But, let’s be honest, he is very talented and will have the girl vote all season.
3. Skylar Laine: this fiery redheaded country girl threw down the axe on the competition last week with arguably the most fun and memorable performance of the week. She is fun, smart and could go really far. Besides, the show hasn’t had a female country victor since Carrie and Skylar is a different kind with her Miranda Lambert meets Reba with a touch of Gretchen Wilson vocals. I’m excited to watch her.
4. Colton Dixon: this rocker is this season’s David Cook, just a lot hotter. He will split the girl/mom vote with Phillip but he is far more commercial and accessible if you ask me. He’s current, has a ton of talent and showmanship. He seems a lock to make the top 5 as well.
5. Heejun Hahn: he’s hilarious yes, but he also has a lovely buttery voice. The question is can he move beyond pretty ballads and become a real performer. It’s doubtful. I see a mid pack or possibly shockingly early exit for him unless he can really step up his game. However, he’s incredibly likable and has a lot of goodwill on his side now, so he could surprise.
6. Elise Testone: this Lady Gaga meets Adele and Winehouse belter is a bit of an enigma. She’s one of the older contestants, but she is so unique and has such passion. She slayed her Adele performance which was no small feat. I just wonder how she will hold up in the weeks ahead. She’s also a great musician and could give us some great interpretations in each genre. I’m hopeful for her.
7. Hollie Cavanaugh: this Irish Texan girl has a big ole voice and is sweet as pie. But is she memorable enough to go all the way? If she grows week to week, I say yes. She just needs to have some standout moments to pull ahead of the pack because she has an incredible voice.
8. Joshua Ledet: “Mantasia” as he’s being called can sing the crap out of a song. He’s immensely likable and a wonderfully dynamic performer…. However, is his gospel tinged performance style one note? And he doesn’t seem like he is much of a commercial singer. I wonder how long people will respond to him. But hey, if Jacob (who only possessed half of Joshua’s talent and likability) can make it to 5th, Joshua could go far.
9. Erika Van Pelt: I love this girl. She killed it on her Heart cover and no one has really done that on this show since Carrie Underwood. Why America didn’t vote her in is beyond me. (Maybe because she performed so early that night?). Luckily the judges knew this girl was a keeper. She has great pipes. She knows how to play the game and I have no doubt will be making some great song choices. I really want her to go far. I just hope people pull their heads out and realize how awesome she is.
10. Deandre Brackensick: Mr. Milli Vanilli hair can wail with the best of them. He has a tremendous range and the camera loves him. He just needs to make better song choices and this wild card pick could leap over his competitors. Oh and the girls and gays will probably love him too.
11. Shannon Magrane: I can’t stand this Miss America god-spouting poseur. Sure, she’s pretty and has a decent voice. But nothing about this awkward girl is authentic and she brings no true emotion or artistry to her music. Plus, I don’t need church thrown at me each week and it’s not a pageant. Her annoyingly false perky personality also bugs. I’d put her last but clearly she has some fans since America voted her through.
12. Jeremy Rosado: yes, he kinda made me cry on his wildcard performance of “I Know You Wont” and he has a wonderful voice and tone. But, he’s just not that memorable. He’s clearly a great guy with some talent, but a viable pop star? I don’t see it. I hope he proves me wrong.
13. Jermaine Jones: the gentle giant with the booming baritone/bass voice probably got in on sympathy votes last week. He sings well, but it seems rather one note and may be blah in the end. We will see cuz I do like his voice and he also seems like a wonderful person. I just don’t know if he’s a pop star either…

So, there are my buzz rankings on how I think the contestants stand in the competition right now…. What are my personal rankings you ask. Here ya go…

My Personal Rankings of the Top 13.
1. Jessica
2. Erika
3. Skylar
4. Elise
5. Colton
6. Hollie
7. Deandre
8. Joshua
9. Jeremy
10. Phillip
11. Heejun
12. Jermaine
13. Shannon

Now, how will they all fare this week and do I have a clue of what I’m talking about? … Tune into Idol on Wed night and see.

Hot New American Idol Music from Kelly, Adam, Lauren, James and more!

The biggest show in television is back tonight folks. No, not The Voice or NCIS (however, that is the highest rated scripted show on tv, um, wha???), it’ s American Idol. The show which begins season 11 is making no big changes keeping their invigorated judging panel of Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson and focusing on finding some good talent. (Hello, X Factor and The Voice, take notes)… So, to honor the return of the show, take a look at some of the latest hot music from their alumni.

James Durbin: he finished fourth last season, but the rocker still got a record deal and has quietly sold almost 100,000 copies of his independent debut. Not bad for a metal lovin’ polarizing contestant. He has a song climbing the rock charts, “Stand Up”, but now his label is going after pop fans with “Love Me Bad”.
James Durbin “Love Me Bad”

Lauren Alaina: the cute country gal got second place last year and has since sold over 230,000 copies of her debut album. Her first single “Like My Mother Does” hit top 30 at country radio and her new one “Georgia Peaches” just went top 40 there as well. And how good does she look in this video? Go Lauren.
Lauren Alaina “Georgia Peaches”

Jennifer Hudson: the Oscar and Grammy winner has a current single on the R&B charts with the third release from her album I Remember Me. That song, “I Got This” is likely to be joined by her new track from the upcoming Gabrielle Union comedy Think Like a Man (hey, I auditioned for that last year!). The new song is called “Think Like a Man” brings J Hud into a little harder R&B sounds and features NeYo and Rick Ross.
Jennifer Hudson w/NeYo & Rick Ross “Think Like a Man”

Kellie Pickler: the season 6 alum is readying her third album after going platinum with her first and gold with her second. She’s carved out a nice little career in the country community and that should continue with this great new song “100 Proof” the title track from the new album due this month.
Kellie Pickler “100 Proof”

Adam Lambert: his second album, Trespassing, is due in March and it will supposedly feature some darker material that is more true to Adam as a songwriter and singer. His Grammy nominated first album sold 800,000 copies and features several hits, so this one is highly anticipated. The new song “Better Than I know Myself” is about to hit top 40 at pop radio and is now available at iTunes. Check this fantastic song out below which he also performed it on The Tonight Show last night.
Adam Lambert “Better Than I Know Myself”

Ruben Studdard: the season 2 winner is set to release his 5th album this spring and the Grammy nominee has more soulful R&B for ya. His latest is sure to fly up the Adult R&B charts which have become his bread and butter at radio.
Ruben Studdard “June 28th (I’m Single)” ~ some behind the scenes footage of the video for the song

Kelly Clarkson: the Grammy winner is having a big 2012 already. Her album, Stronger, just went gold and is on the verge of re-entering the top ten. She’s performing on the Grammys (where she’s nominated for her duet with Jason Aldean) and at the Super Bowl and will be a guest mentor for her buddy Blake Shelton on The Voice (ooooh, the Idol rival!). Her tour just started and her song “Mr. Know It All” went top ten on Pop Radio and the Hot 100, top 5 at AC and is still # 1 on Hot AC (for the 6th week in a row). Now, she’s flying up the charts with the follow-up, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” which is already top 30 at Pop, top 20 at Hot AC, Top 40 at Dance and AC and # 3 on iTunes. Check out this massive smash below.
Kelly Clarkson “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”

So, there’s just a few songs from your fave Idols hitting radio and the web. Watch for new tracks from Stefano Langone, Pia Toscano, Haley Reinhart, Kris Allen and Clay Aiken (who’s on the new Celebrity Apprentice too) this spring as well. And catch American Idol tonight on Fox.

The American Idol Finale~ America Gets it Wrong… Again…

Ok, America, what is your problem? Year after year, you pick the wrong winner for American Idol! I mean Lee over Crystal? Kris over Adam? Taylor over Katharine? Ugh… And now Scotty McCreery wins over Lauren Alaina. Now, at least it’s not as atrocious a result as those other seasons, but it’s still disappointing. Lauren is clearly the better and more talented singer while Scotty is a serviceable singer and decent entertainer. Of course, Scotty is apparently a teen idol that the girls love. Not to mention, the churchgoers, the Southerners and the conservative power voters of America…. To think, they probably all liked Lauren too, but still another boring boy wins in the end is frustrating indeed. At least, both Scotty and Lauren look as though they will have successful careers and both of their coronation singles are at the top of the iTunes charts… Of course, will they reach superstar Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood levels? That remains to be seen, but it’s doubtful. I’m certainly more interested in seeing the career trajectory of the massively talented ninth place finisher Pia Toscano (yes that was the biggest “shocker boot” of the season Idol fans) and the darkhorse of all darkhorses who won me over and proved the most interesting and daring of all the contenders, Haley Reinhart. I do expect both of them to release singles asap (and they will according to the interwebs buzz)…. Until those two and our country kids release their albums, we can take comfort in the fact that at least Idol got its groove back this season with great singers and two good and entertaining new judges. (Simon who?) … So, for the last time this season, it’s time to do some rankings. This time, I’m gonna count down the best and worst of last night’s performances on the season 10 finale of American Idol.

Ranking the American Idol Season finale performances…
1. Beyonce- “One Plus One”: holy crap, THAT is singing people. The diva needs her stage baby and Ms. B owned the Nokia last night. Fantastic. Grade: A+
2. Lady Gaga- “The Edge of Glory”: with her triumphant current 80′s dance smash “Glory”, Gaga gave you performance art, sexy dancing (with the amazing Mark from season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance), wonderful vocals and a daring leap off a “cliff” at the end. Simply great. Grade: A
3. Steven Tyler- “Dream On”: um, how old is he and how on Earth does he still hit those notes? Now, that’s how you rock future Idol contenders! I just wish the song had been longer. Grade: A
4. Lauren & Carrie Underwood- “Before He Cheats”: the dueling ladies powered through Underwood’s smash with fun and finesse and wow was Carrie gorgeous. She did kinda wipe the floor with Lauren a bit though… Carrie: A+, Lauren: B, Overall: A-
5. James Durbin & Judas Priest- “Living After Midnight/Breaking the Law“: despite wearing the gayest outfit ever, James rocked the crap out of the Priest hits alongside the iconic metal band. I didn’t think I’d like it, but damn, it was good. Grade: A-
6. The Idol Girls & Beyonce- ”Beyonce Hit Medley”: if it was just Beyonce, this would’ve ranked higher. However, it was still a strong medley featuring standout performances from Pia, Haley and surprisingly Karen. And I have to say practically all these ladies were good dancers too. And then, Beyonce just murdered “Crazy in Love” at the end of course. Grade: B+
7. Haley & Tony Bennett- ”Steppin Out”: This would’ve ranked higher too if not for a few flubs on Bennett’s part because Haley was astounding on the number. However, you have to give Bennett credit. He’s literally like 85 years old! Well done and they had surprising chemistry. Grade: B
8. Scotty & Tim McGraw- “Live Like You Were Dying”: in a well matched duet, both men sounded good and gave each other mad respect. Strong song choice too. Grade: B
9. Marc Anthony w/Jennifer Lopez- ”Aguanile”: sure I didn’t understand a word Anthony was singing and his creepy facial expressions were unappealing, but damn if he isn’t a fantastic singer. Plus, J Lo werrrrrrrrrrrrrrked it with the booty shaking. Grade: B
10. The Idol Top 13 finalists- “Born This Way”: I was prepared to cringe with this one, but the finalists shocked me into happy Glee-type submission with their performance of Lady Gaga’s empowering # 1 smash. Standouts were Stefano and Haley and hello,, this was the best dancing by any top 13 in the history of the show. Grade: B
11. Reeve Carney, Bono & The Edge- “Rise Above”: sure the vocals and the passion were there. Plus there were cool Spidermen flying around during this song from the troubled U2 Broadway musical Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark. Unfortunately, the song and the performance were rather snoozey. Grade: B-
12. Scotty- “I Love You This Big”: reprising his coronations song with confetti flying and tears flowing, Scotty gave an emotional and appropriate performance. However, the song is really trite and boring. But I loved all the family hugs and then Scotty dissing Jack Black (unintentionally that is) was hilarious. Grade: B-
13. Jacob Lusk, Kirk Franklin & Gladys Knight- “I Smile”: taking us to church for one last time, Jacob got his gospel on with some music legends. It was a high energy entertaining performance, but Jacob was pitchy and inconsistent. Plus you could barely hear Gladys and Franklin was just running around yelling at everyone. Grade: C+
14. TLC, Lil Jon & the female finalists- “No Scrubs/Waterfalls“: it was great to see TLC back on stage again, but the Idols and Lil Jon added nothing to the songs and it was a little low energy. Grade: C
15. Casey Abrams & Jack Black- “Fat Bottomed Girls”: um, it was fun? … But it was a bit of a mess and Jack Black sounded better than Casey. Oops. Grade: C-
16. The Idol Male Finalists & Tom Jones- “Tom Jones Medley”: an utter and complete disaster for the most part. Grade:D+

So, there you have it. One last Idol ranking session… And there are no predictions to make… Ok, here’s one: Scotty and Lauren will have success, but nowhere near the success of Beyonce. And why do I bring her up again? … Well, let’s be honest, she stole the show last night.. So, before I go and you give me your thoughts on last night’s finale, take one final look at B’s performance of her new single “One plus One” below.

Beyonce “One Plus One”

My 2011 American Idol Top 6 Power Rankings

The Italian Singing Stallion has left the building… Yes, our favorite wild card pick (and my favorite male singer in the top 13) Stefano Langone got his walking papers on last night’s American Idol leaving just 6 singers in the competition. It wasn’t much of a surprise. Nor was the fact that Haley and Jacob joined him in the bottom 3 much of a surprise. They have both struggled to maintain their fan base (or in Haley’s case to build one). However, they still could break into the top 4 with a good performance. I think Haley has the stronger possibility if she knocks it out of the park next week when they perform “The Songs of Carole King”. We shall see. But to gage how they are currently faring in the competition, it’s time for my latest round of totally unscientific and possibly cuckoo American Idol Power Rankings!

My 2011 American Idol Top 6 Power Rankings:
1. James: taking the pole position for the first time, our rocker is on a roll. He can perform with wildly inconsistent vocals and crazy theatrics and still appear golden in the judges and the viewers eyes. He’s never been in the bottom three, has strong instincts and good commitment. I just wish he would be a bit more original and hit his notes. That said, he seems a lock for the top three and his deeply sad and emotional reaction to his buddy Stefano’s ouster last night will only win him more votes. (last week~ 3)
2. Scotty: the country crooner gave his laziest performance to date this week and he finally got some bad criticism thankfully. However, that didn’t stop the tweens from power voting for him and keeping him out of the bottom 3 yet again as well. Scotty just needs to take some chances and pour his strong vocals into a show-stopping performance and a song that we wouldn’t expect. That will help him seal his likely spot in the finals. (lw~ 1)
3. Lauren: the little lass that could was good again this week. However, she needs to be great. Her confidence issues have been a big problem but she’s so darn likable and has arguably the best voice left in the competition. She needs to breakout this week as well to ensure her deserved place in the final two and not just a spot in the top four. (lw~ 2)
4. Haley: Yes, you’re probably shocked I have her in fourth even though she’s always in the bottom three. However, she has been the only contestant continually improving in the past few weeks and I think she’s the only singer gaining new fans. She was the best this week and the Carole King songbook is perfect for her bluesy vocals. I also think people do want to see two girls in the top five, so that could work in her favor. (lw~ 5)
5. Casey: I’m sorry to say but I’m kinda over Casey again. Now, that doesn’t mean America is, but I think they could be wavering. Were it not for the overpraising of the judges and the pandering kiss to JLo, people might have realized his performance on Wed night was only half good (the first half). The second half was annoying and creepy. He has to find a way to stay appealing throughout a whole song to convince people who are apathetic and or don’t like him to pick up the phone (or the laptop) and vote. (lw~ 4)
6. Jacob: poor Jacob doesn’t seem to have a prayer anymore despite his deep connection with God and Jesus. (Well, he certainly seems to sing like he has that connection, right?). Regardless, he has an incredibly powerful instrument with his gigantic voice. Unfortunately, he rarely knows how to harness it and make his songs appeal to the masses. Unless, he pulls out a “moment” ala Fantasia‘s “Summertime”, he’s a goner next week. (lw~ 7)

So, there ya have it: my breakdown of who’s got the power. And I’m not just talking  about having the 90′s classic “The Power” from Snap on their iPod…. Ok, wow, lame jokes aside, we are getting down to the nitty-gritty and every note will count for these 6 singers. Just who do you think has the power to break up the Scotty/Lauren/James trio and make it to the top? And just who doesn’t have a prayer? Let me know your thoughts below.
But before I go, please enjoy season 7 winner David Cook’s great live performance of his awesome new single “The Last Goodbye” from the results show last night.

David Cook “The Last Goodbey” (live)

American Idol Recap 4/20/11~ Holy Crap Haley!

Did you see the pigs flying through the air last night? Did you notice hell was freezing over yesterday? Did you see the big foot in my mouth? … Well, if you did, then you must’ve watched American Idol  too and seen the second biggest shocker of the season (after my dearly departed Pia’s premature exit). And that shocker was that Haley absolutely killed it and was the BEST of the night! Seriously, I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around it and I feel like I need to apologize to her for all my griping about her performances for most of the season. All I can say is a profound “you go gurl”! Ok, yes, that was lame, but I’m still just a bit bewildered from last night’s show where the Idol’s took on “Songs from the 21st Century”. It was an odd night indeed as Scotty and James flailed while Haley flew. Oh and we had what I will call a pretty unwelcome return of the previously dismissed Idols. I’ll get to that later, but first let’s take a look at my rankings of the performances and predictions for this week.

American Idol Performance Rankings 4/20/11
1. Haley: Holy crap I kinda loved it! Yes, I was in shock and awe as Haley gave easily her best performance to date on Adele’s amazing current top 5 hit “Rolling in the Deep”. Haley’s vocals were never better, she connected with the material and there was not a false move or note. There was no weird affectations or awkwardness. It was just fantastic. Who knew?
2. Lauren: giving arguably the most beautiful vocal of the night, my fave still in the competition delivered a great performance on Sara Evans’ “Born To Fly” a country #1 from 2001. She just needs a little more confidence and to really break out and perform like crazy. The judges gave her some encouragement and good criticism for once that hopefully she will really take chances next week and blow us out of the water like they and I know she can.
3. Jacob: now some of you may be surprised at how high Jacob ranked for me last night, but his emotional and mostly restrained and lovely performance of Luther Vandross’s Grammy Award winning top 40 hit from 2003 really got to me, especially in the final notes. Despite a little music snafu at the beginning, Jacob handled the song like a pro and didn’t fly over the top connected with the powerful song. Whether it resonated with most viewers like me is the question. Oh, and is it me or is Mr. Lusk finally getting humble and has scaled back his attitude. Good on you Jacob.
4. Stefano: werrrrrkin’ the stage and playin’ to the ladies, Stefano tackled Ne Yo’s Grammy nominated top ten hit from 2008 “Closer”. His vocals were strong and he owned the stage as if it was his concert. I felt like he really came into his own and made a strong play to win. However, is it too little too late?
5. Casey: Oh Casey, what do we do with you? I’m just gonna call you Mr. Inconsistent. You have good weeks. You have awful weeks. You’re likable, but you’re weird. You make annoying growly faces and you kiss Jennifer Lopez. You’re just confounding, especially on last night’s performance of Maroon 5′s top 20 hit from 2003 “Harder to Breathe”. The first half was fantastic and the way he worked the fast lyrics was exemplary. Unfortunately, the second half was a hot mess. Yes, he rocked it out, but he got indulgent with his interpretation, let the facial ticks fly, missed some notes and lost the connection to the lyrics. Then he hit a great note at the end, but pandered to the judges and the audience by pecking “the most beautiful woman in the world”. Oh dear, it all became a mixed bag for me in the end.
6. Scotty: oooh, Scotty did a song by a girl (LeeAnn Rimes Grammy nominated hit from last year “Swingin’”)! But ooooh, did it put me to sleep. Yes, his vocals were good as usual, but he brought nothing new to the song, coasted on his charisma and played it safe (as Randy said. PS~ thanks judges for critiquing the singers for the most part tonight!). Scotty needs to step it up or he might make a shocking appearance the bottom 3 after a lazy performance like this one.
7. James: ok, I’m probably gonna get some flak for putting Mr. Durbin last but that’s where he deserves to be. I’m sorry but his ridiculously over the top (albeit entertaining) version of Muse’s awesome 2009 hit “Uprising” was a disaster. It was contrived, screechy, off-key, all over the place and a second-rate, no, a third-rate Adam Lambert imitation. It was just bad. I think when the judges watch it back they will realize how wrong they were to praise him for that performance. Seriously, it was bad.

Predictions…
Bottom 3: Stefano, Jacob, Casey (but James or Scotty should be here)
Bottom 2: Stefano, Jacob
Buh bye: Stefano (I think the cutie patootie just doesn’t have the fan base to hang on anymore)

So, is it finally the end of the road for the Italian Stallion Stefano or will bringin’ his sexyback lead to a surprise ouster for someone else? We will find out tonight… More importantly what did you think of last night’s show?… And before I go~ a couple of things: 1) were you shocked at how fun the clip compilations of the contestants talking about each other? 2) did you love that the judges actually gave some negative and/or helpful criticsm last night (well except for Grandma Steven)? 3) how terrible was that group number of the eliminated six singers on Pink’s “So What”? I mean Paul was utterly dreadful, Naima was practically kung fu ninja attacking the audience, and how on Earth do you make Pia sound lackluster?… well, at least it was live… With that said, I want to hear what you say about last night’s show. Sound off below.

My 2011 American Idol Top 7 Power Rankings

Something crazy happened on the American Idol results show last night…. A guy went home!… Not only that, the guy who should’ve gone home, Paul McDonald, was actually the one who got the boot. Well done America! … It was a shocking dose of sanity from the show that went bats%$t bonkers last week and booted the BEST singer in the competition Pia Toscano. (Yes, I still haven’t gotten over it)…. Well, at least it seems like things are on the right track again. Hopefully, we will continue to see some guys leave as we march to what will likely be a Scotty/James/Lauren top 3… However, our other contestants will be fighting hard to make it to the upper regions. So, just how are they doing? Well, let’s take a look at my completely unscientific and sometimes totally wonky American Idol Power Rankings.

2011 American Idol Top 7 Power Rankings:
1. Scotty: even with a sleep inducing performance on Wed night, the teen heart-throb still won over audiences and remains in the pole position for a second week. I wonder if there are any chinks in his armor? He can do the same thing again and again and still get praised for it by the increasingly lazy judges and the tweens are crazy for him. However, if he does another lackluster perf like the duet on the results show with Lauren who absolutely schooled him on “American Honey”, he’ll have to step up his game. For now though, he remains the country boy wonder. (last week~ 1)
2. Lauren: with arguably the best vocal of the week, Lauren even made me enjoy a Miley Cyrus track. She remains affable, humble and full of personality. Now, she needs to holster her confidence and blow everyone out of the water like we know she can. I think she’s the only girl who wont avoid the “Female Curse” this season and soldier on to the finale…. granted I kinda thought Pia would do that too… (lw~ 3)
3. James: with an over the top metal head performance this week, James was in his zone. But was it a little too indulgent and did he rely too much on the guitarist and the pyrotechnics? Possibly… He does have a great voice and remarkable stage presence, so if he can fine tune it all and give an authentic vocal along with the fireworks, he could challenge the country teen twosome for a spot in the finale. (lw~ 2)
4. Casey: Apparently America was smokin’ whatever crack the judges were hopped up on Wednesday night because despite a horrendous performance, Fozzy Bear wasn’t even in the bottom three. I guess kudos are merited for his musicianship. That said, the growly vocals and annoying faces and indulgent song choices wont send him to the Nokia in May. He needs to get current ASAP. (lw~ 5)
5. Haley: sure she was pretty bad on Wed and she landed in the bottom three again. However, she wasn’t in the bottom two and I think people are starting to feel an underdog warmth towards her. If only she could perform like she did on the jazzy duet from the results show every week. That was her best performance and vocal to date! (lw~ 4)
6. Stefano: yes, he was in danger of leaving AGAIN. But he didn’t, and he gave the best performance of the week on Wed night. So, I think he can still keep on trucking. America just needs to pull their heads out and realize he’s a Bruno Mars in the making! Hopefully he’ll have a few more lives and make it to the top 5. (lw~ 7)
7. Jacob: now Jacob was not even in the bottom three this week, so you may wonder why he’s at the bottom of the Power list. Well, I think it’s because he is perilously close to the edge and has lost his likablitiy factor (The sulking this week was not attractive). If he bombs he’ll be headed home. But if he can reign in the attitude and posturing and give a pure contained emotional vocal (that he’s capable of), he might hang on. (lw~8)

There they are, the seven wonders in this season’s Idol world. Who would’ve thunk Haley, Jacob, and Casey would all be here but not Pia? (yeah, I didn’t mention Paul, hehe)… We will see how well they all hold up next week when the them is “Songs of the 21st Century”. I think that could bode well for Stefano and Lauren as the most contemporary of our current Idols too…. Whether any of them become as successful as Idol’s first winner, the amazing Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson remains to be seen. But you can have some Kelly right now! She returned to the Idol stage last night to perform her awesome smash duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean and brought down the house as usual. Enjoy Kelly below and watch Idol next Wednesday on Fox.

Kelly Clarkson & Jason Aldean “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (live on American Idol)

American Idol Recap~ 4/13/11: Mediocre Music from the Movies

After such a great week last week when the American Idol took on the music of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, there was nowhere for them to go but down. However, who knew the “Music of the Movies” would send many of them crashing to the ground like all the Hollywood bombs of this season (ahem, Your Highness anyone?) It was truly a disappointing night with only 3 of the singers giving good performances and the judges clearly lost in the glow of Jennifer Lopez being named the “Most Beautiful Woman on the Planet” by People magazine because their ridiculous overpraising reached new Ellen-size heights. What’s more is I went to the live taping and then watched it back on TV and, um, neither was better. They both kinda sucked. And this comes from a huge Idol fan as ya’ll know… It also really made me miss my beloved Pia Toscano again. She would’ve slayed the competition on “Somewhere” from West Side Story. Alas, we got treated to serious metal dreckitude and jazzy junk. Oh and don’t get me started on how loosely they went with the theme tonight. Hello “Bridge Over Troubled Water” from The Pursuit of Happyness? Um, no. The song is a classic from the 60′s. That movie had nothing to do with it… In fact, only a couple of the songs were actually written for the movies they came from and one of those was the Miley track. Oy vey! … Now, before I just start complaining, let’s get to the ranking and predictions that you’re here for in the first place.

American Idol Performance Rankings 4/13/11:
~ the three good ones
1. Stefano: taking on Boyz II Men’s massive # 1 smash from 1992′s Boomerang, Stefano made a strong case for remaining in the competition. He had the best vocal of the night and a great connection to the song and the audience. It was a perfect fit and it was even better at the live studio. He also got the biggest response from the crowd and deservedly so. I think he maybe be putting his days in the bottom 3 behind him.
2. Lauren: my new favorite singer in the competition (sniff sniff Pia) did something amazing last night. She made me like a Miley Cyrus song. Heck I might even buy it. She was that good on a beautiful performance of “The Climb”, a top ten hit from the 2009′s Hannah Montana The Movie. The song fit Lauren like a glove and she clearly has the best voice left in the race. Now, if ya’ll would just vote for a girl please!
3. Jacob: ok, so his song had nothing to do with the movie it was “from”, but regardless Jacob gave a wonderful performance on Simon and Garfunkel’s iconic “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. He was restrained in parts and really imbued the song with emotion and conviction. He also seemed a bit humbled by Jimmy Iovine’s comments and his appearance in the bottom last week. All of that played into his performance tonight and hopefully will keep him more grounded if he stays around in the weeks ahead.

~two that weren’t terrible…
4. James: our resident rocker rocked the house like a crazy person on Sammy Hagar’s “Heavy Metal” from 1981′s Heavy Metal. It was a very entertaining performance, but let’s be honest. It was all about the guest guitarist and his vocals were lost on this terrible song that lacked any melody. (And that’s no diss to metal~ James just could’ve picked a better song). At least it kept us awake, unlike the next singer’s song…
5. Scotty: sure his voice sounded great on “Cross My Heart” the George Strait track from 1992′s Pure Country. However, it was such a boring and route performance that I could’ve used it instead of a Lunesta for my sleep issues. Ok, it wasn’t that bad, but Scotty is just capable of so much more. (Oh and the audience shrieks for him at the taping were big but not as big as I thought they’d be considering he’s the tween heart throb of the season).

~three for the road
6. Haley: you know it’s bad when Haley’s awkward and downright irritating performance of Blondie’s #1
“Call Me” from 1980′s American Gigolo wasn’t the worst of the night. Discarding the goodwill and forward momentum of her last two strong performances, Haley fell right back into the affected and inauthentic territory she has mined for most of the competition. And girl is gonna be in trouble because of it.
7. Paul: first let me say this~ Paul needs to eat a sandwich. OMG, he was skinnier in person than Kate Moss circa ’94! Now, aside from that, he was pretty bad. His jerky karaoke drunk uncle performance of Bob Segar’s “Old Time Rock n Roll” from Risky Business was just lame. I’ve said it before Paul is just not made for the Idol stage.
8. Casey: what on Earth was Fozzy Bear thinking doing a jazzy jaunt like “Nature Boy” which Nat King Cole performed for the film The Boy with the Green Hair from 1948? (You may know the song from Ewan MacGregor’s performance of it in the best movie ever Moulin Rouge, but I digress). Casey was all kinds of wrong with this annoying performance. It was calculated, boring and just wrong. Yes, he’s a talented musician. But he belongs in a coffee shop or at a jazz convention. This was not a song nor a performance for Idol. I have no idea what Paula juice the judges were drinking because how they loved that is beyond me. Oh and the audience in the taping really felt like they were forced to applaud so much for it… I think America just wont get it or like it and I totally understand.

Predictions~
Bottom 3: Casey, Paul, Haley
Bottom 2: Paul, Haley
Buh Bye: Paul

Well, there are my ranking and predictions for arguably the worst performance night of the finals. While it was a lot of fun to watch it live, it was a bummer that it was such an off night. At least we got to see Katy Perry and Kanye West perform “E.T.” after the show. (That performance will air during next week’s results show)…. Anywho, I hope viewers listend to J Lo encouraging them to keep the girls and it will be finally time for a guy to go home. Hey, if they took Paul AND Casey, I’d be fine with it. (I’m sure a few of you will disagree with that, lol). But time will tell til the results tonight which will also feature a performance by Rihanna and the best Idol ever Kelly Clarkson who will sing her current country #1 smash “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean that is crossing over to the pop charts as we speak… Oh and one other note~ why was Steven Tyler wearing a blouse from the Blanche Devereaux collection last night?

My All New American Idol Top 8 Power Rankings

So, where do I even begin this post? I mean I’m still in shock and fuming with irrational anger about the WORST ELIMINATION IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN IDOL last night. The ridiculously early and incredibly wrong exit of the BEST vocalist and my opinion most talented contestant, the lovely and gracious Pia Toscano has just left me dumbfounded. And judging by the reaction of the judges, the contestants, the audience at the show and the blogosphere, everyone is pretty much in shock and upset too. How on Earth did Pia get the boot over hot messes like Haley and Paul or rising egomaniacs like Jacob and Scotty? (ok, yeah, Scotty’s as Miley would say is ”pretty cool”, but I digress)… It just makes no sense… I suppose we can chalk it up to several factors:
1. People thought she was safe
2. The Tween girl vote is out of control and will never vote for another woman
3. The people who really supported and identified with Pia are non-voters (this is a big one)
4. The judges never gave her criticism to help the viewing public know they should vote for her
5. Guys seem to only win Idol now that it seems to have become a Teen boy Idol pin-up competition (oh dear, look out for Scotty)
6. America is just stupid

I mean I could go on and on… but instead, I will try to be positive. Pia will certainly get a record deal and will outsell probably all of these other finalists. Plus, she won’t have to deal with the “Idol” winner label and possibly the constraints of an immediate contract with 19 Media. (She was even spotted at the Warner Bros/Elektra music offices today~ shopping for a deal por favor?!!) Plus, she has an incredible support system. Just head to this link for the outrage her fellow Idols and other big names associated with the show tweeted last night…. And now, she can also claim the title of the singer with the worst early elimination from American Idol. Yes, it was more distressing than Jennifer Hudson (who left in seventh and was never seen as a front-runner in her season~ though she should have been), Tamyra Gray (who everyone thought would go head to head with Kelly Clarkson for the season 1 title but ended up in 4th) and Chris Daughtry (who was unceremoniously booted at 4th position when he was clearly the one to beat in season 5)… All in all, I still want to scream and emotion eat til the end of the season… However, I will now be putting all my personal allegiance behind another lady, the person with the second best voice in the competition, Lauren Alaina. Whether she has a chance in the Idol boys club remains to be seen…. But let’s see where I deem her position in this week’s totally unscientific and likely totally wrong updated Power List…

American Idol Top 8 Power List 2011:
1. Scotty: is he just destined to become the fourth male winner in a row and the first country male winner? It seems very likely. He has the insane tween girl vote who scream at him like he’s the second coming of the Beatles (ahem, they’re that group that pretty much created popular music people). He also is very charismatic and a genuinely good singer and performer. Plus he’s a teenager and from the South~ all things that the massive Idol voting base loves. (last week~ 3)
2. James: showcasing his vulnerable side yet still maintaining his edge, James keeps looking like a strong contender to steal the crown. He’s playing the game well and he has that whole Tourette’s/I have a baby/I’m poor back story to help in his quest. Sure, that sounds petty, but it’s true. And it takes nothing away from his talent which is quite good. (lw~ 4)
3. Lauren: does she have a prayer? Well, she certainly deserves a spot in the finale with her winning personality, gorgeous vocals and imminent likability. However, she needs more standout performances to ascend to the top and take out the boys. I do think she will be the one person to benefit most from Pia’s ouster, especially if people want a girl to win. (lw~ 1)
4. Haley: she had her best week to date on Wed night and is riding some strong momentum. Sure, she’s still super annoying and awkward on stage, but apparently, people are starting to connect with her. She’s avoided the top 5 and maybe the audience will be rooting for her to hang on and represent for the girls. (lw~8)
5. Casey: he avoided the bottom three despite a rather forgettable performance. The guy who the judges wasted their save on better step it up and prove he deserves to be here over Pia dammit! Oooh, I just got angry again. Sorry Casey, that was more directed at the judges… Nonetheless, he’s a fun guy with unique talent. He just needs to wow us and soon. (lw~ 7)
6. Paul: it pains me to put this guy so high on the list, but it seems like a lot of Idol voters are smoking crack and just love them some Paul. Yes, he’s a cool guy~ I’ve said it before. BUT HE IS A CRAPPY SINGER compared to the rest of the finalists. Uh oh, looks like I’m getting moody again… Paul better wow us too or else the goodwill he grabbed from his “best yet” perf on Wed night will be gone like Pia’s gorgeous glory notes. (lw~ 9)
7. Stefano: you could see in his face that he felt he should’ve gone home instead of Pia and bless him for that honesty and vulnerability. The audience seems to constantly waver on this guy who I think has great pipes and potential. I hope he outlasts several of the other competitors, but he may be on fumes at this point. (lw~ 6)
8. Jacob: ok, first, Jacob needs to pull his head out of his you know what and shut his big trap. His interview packages are painting him in a very unflattering light and this is coming from someone (ME!) who has been a big Jacob supporter thus far. He has an incredible voice and is growing as a performer learning restraint and connecting with the audience better. But the ego is getting out of control. Don’t be drinkin your own Kool Aid just yet mister cuz if I’m starting to sour on you, you’s in trouble gurl. (lw~5)

And there you have it… That’s my brand new Power List and it still fills me with disgust that Pia is nowhere on the list. It’s just unbelievable… I don’t know how to move on really. I mean we are going to miss her singing “Somewhere” from West Side Story on next week’s show where the singers tackle the Music of the Movies. It’s such a shame, but I guess I need to get a grip. I mean Pia is handling it well. What’s wrong with me? … Ok, don’t answer that, lol… Instead, why don’t you let me know your thoughts on who still has the power in the competition. And how do you feel about Pia’s incredibly premature elimination. And do you hope the judges are feeling super guilty about wasting their save on Casey like I am? Sound off below.

Oh, and let’s just have another slice of Ms. Toscano before we go… Here’s her amazing performance of “I’ll Stand By You” that first won us over a month and a half ago.

My all NEW American Idol Top 11 Power Rankings

Holy crap, American Idol actually had a shocking and totally suspenseful results show last night. Not only did it feature the surprise ouster/save of previous front-runner Casey Abrams, but we also had amazing live performances from Jennifer Hudson, Sugarland, a surprise from Stevie Wonder and an appearance by the Hulk (Hogan, that is). I swear, the only thing that might’ve made you want to fast forward was the Ford commercial. Yes, even the opening group number (“River Deep Mountain High”) was pretty good, and hoorah, they’re still singing live on those! … I’m still a bit shocked that Casey was in the bottom three along with Stefano and Thia. The bigger surprise is that the annoying Haley made it thru before the three of them. However, when Casey was announced as the lowest vote getter (over Stefano), I nearly spit out my Diet Coke. Now, yes, I like Stefano better than Casey, but this was truly a shocker America! … I wasn’t so shocked that our illustrious judges quickly cut off his “Sing for his Life” moment and easily announced they’d save him. But it was some great television and was anyone else concerned that Casey was having a heart attack?! Thank goodness he wasn’t… And now, he can see how he ranks in my all NEW Top 11 Power Rankings. Check them out below.

My American Idol Top 11 Power Rankings (all new style)
1. Pia: my personal favorite maintains her position at the top of the list with another fantastic performance. Her vocals are simply flawless, plus she just looks and acts like a star. Now, if she shows some versatility with an upbeat number next week, she’ll continue increase her lead. (last week~ 1)
2. James: the rollicking rocker and wrestling lover sails back up to the on deck position after his fantastic “Living For the City” perf. He becomes more fun and likable every week and could be a serious challenger for the title. I certainly wasn’t thinking that a few weeks ago. (lw~ 5)
3. Lauren: the lady who we all thought was most likely to win before the top 24 started has regained that mojo and moves back up the chart a notch. She has grown vocally for the past two weeks showcasing more confidence and the sass that we loved when we first saw her. (lw~ 4)
4. Jacob: with a gigantic performance that brought the audience to its feet, Jacob ruled Motown week and moves back up the list. Could he be the next Ruben Studdard or will he end up the next George Huff ~who wound up in 5th place in season 3… but hey, he’s Jen Hud’s backup singer now! (lw~ 6)
5. Scotty: with a surprisingly good performance this week in a theme totally outside of his wheel house, Scotty acquitted himself nicely and looks a solid bet to remain in the top five or higher for the rest of the competition. (lw~ 3)
6. Paul: ok, I don’t really get the appeal of his voice, but he clearly has a following. He’s also a fun good-looking fella who I’m sure the ladies love. If he can keep giving these lackluster performances and remain safe, I’m confident he could end up midpack when all is said and done. (lw~ 9)
7. Naima: arguably the most exciting singer in this top 11, Naima continues to march to a different drummer (or drummers as she did on Wed) and give us interesting interpretations of each song. She clearly has a strong artistic voice and I’m thrilled she’s still hanging on. (lw~ 10)
8. Stefano: oh dear did my fave male singer take a tumble this week. His “Hello” apparently left viewers wanting to say “goodbye” as he barely escaped elimination. Mr. Langone needs to step it up quick next week and reclaim his former glory. (lw~ 2)
9. Casey: well, we all can see that Casey is no longer a likely contender for the crown as he was psuedo-eliminated this week. I’m glad he was saved as he deserves to hang on for a few weeks and is a unique talent. The question is how far can he go now that we know this likable yet strange guy is on shaky ground. (lw~ 7)
10. Thia: despite giving her best performance to date, Thia remains a perennial bottom three dweller. I highly doubt that will change. The question is just where will she land when all is said and done… at # 9, 10 or 11th place… (lw~8)
11. Haley: seriously, America, you didn’t even put this mess in the bottom 3 this week? What are you thinking??? Well, I still say she’s on borrowed time and will surely get the boot next week. (lw~ 11)

There you have it, my updated Idol Power Rankings! As you can see, Pia remains my pick to win (both because I want her to and because I think she will at this point) and Haley, Thia and Casey have their work cut out for them. We’ll see if any of them can turn it around next week when the singers tackle the songs of Elton John! And they better bring it because it will be a big double elimination (at least all 11 will get to tour though)… Oh and Idol contestants, if you wanna stay in the competition, just sing like J Hud below. She’s amazeballs as the kids say…

Jennifer Hudson “Where You At?” (live on American Idol 3/24/11)

American Idol Recap 3/23/11~ “You Make Us Beg”

The judges weren’t too proud to beg and the contestants were more than happy to give them what they wanted on last night’s American Idol as the singers took on the music of Motown. This classic genre provided just the boost that our contenders needed as nearly all of them delivered very strong performances and several front-runners proved their mettle. We also saw what will likely be the end of my least fave contestant, plus lots of cooky Ryan moments (um, Gordon Ramsey from Hell’s Kitchen dissing Stefano’s mom’s cooking~ awkward), Steven Tyler making up new English phrases again and J Lo taking center stage as the best, most coherent judge with the smartest criticism. With all that said, it’s time to rank tonight’s tributes to the golden age of Motown…

American Idol Performance Rankings 3/23/11
1. Jacob: reining in his gigantic voice for an incredibly beautiful (Steven Tyler’s favorite word) and passionate performance, Jacob nailed Marvin Gaye’s 1968 # 7 hit  ”You’re All I Need to Get By” and grabbed the top of my leader board for the first time. His performance was fantastic and his vocals were perfection. He even got a standing “O” from the audience and Mr. Tyler, his mom and the whole front row ran up to condragulate, er um, congratulate him. Jenny from the block said it right that “you make us beg” as we just couldn’t get enough of that song.
2. Pia: a close second to Jacob because of her pure and perfect vocals, the best singer in the competition delivered the 1973 classic “All in Love is Fair” (later made famous by Barbra Streisand) with confidence and commitment. She also looked damn sexy and like the judges said, she can be the next Celine. However, unlike them, I could care less if she keeps singing ballads. Me likey some Pia ballads!!!
3. James: with his 3rd strong performance in a row, our resident rocker slayed Stevie Wonder’s # 8 from 1973 ”Living for the City” and made it contemporary and electric. It’s pretty shocking to me how much he has become a contender for the title when just a few weeks ago he was seen as Adam Lambert lite with a bit of an unlikable personality. Well done James!
4. Lauren: our country cutie came roaring onto the stage last night with a gorgeous, sexy and fun version of the Supreme’s # 1 from 1968 “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”. Her vocals were effortless and flawless and she finally was rocking some great style. Looks like Lauren is seriously back in the race.
5. Scotty: who knew this country kid would survive Motown night, let alone give us a shockingly good version of Stevie Wonder’s 1968 # 2 “For Once in My Life”. This is a song that has been done to death on the Idol stage, but Scotty gave us a country version that transcended the others and played right into his strengths… One note for Scotty~ I see a little cockiness and arrogance attempting to break through. Squash that now and you’ll sail into the top 5.
6. Stefano: after a couple of weeks of fantastic performances, Stefano came down to Earth with a nice if not amazing interpretation of Lionel Richie’s 1984 #1 smash “Hello”. His vocals were lovely (after a shaky start) and he remains a consummate performer. However, the judges were right that he needs to work on his connection to the audience and a stronger interpretation of the lyrics. He also might’ve done better had he not chosen a song David Cook literally slayed a few seasons back. That said, Stefano remains one of my faves in the competition.
7. Naima: arguably the most interesting singer in the competition, Naima took us to Africa with her fascinating and fun version of Martha and the Vandellas’ # 2 hit from 1964 “Dancing in the Streets”. Her vocals were a vast improvement over the previous weeks and she continues to make me excited about what she might do next. She is definitely someone who should make the tour. I just wonder if America is as intrigued by her as I am.
8. Thia: holy heck, out little teen princess broke out of her shell and gave her best performance to date on Martha and the Vandellas’ “Heatwave”. Her voice never sounded better and she showed some personality for once. However, is it too little too late?
9. Paul: well, I’ll say this~ Paul was a million times better last night on Smokey Robinson’s “The Tracks of My Tears” than the previous three weeks…. But, I’m still not drinking his Kool Aid. Yes, he’s a cool guy and has a cool voice, but this performance was just ok. I really think he just needs a band and a forum outside of Idol that would suit him better. And one more thing, as my roommate mentioned last night: “Is it me or does Paul sound like Cartman from South Park when he sings?” hehe.
10. Casey: speaking of not drinking his Kool Aid, I’m almost cancelling my tickets for the Casey caravan after his boring, forced and lackluster performance of Marvin Gaye’s # 1 from 1968 “I Heard it from the Grapevine”. Now, it wasn’t especially bad, but he can do so much better. I’m also afraid he’s veering into Taylor Hicks territory (for me) and that’s not a good thing. I look forward to him making me eat those words.
11. Haley: hooray, I think Miley Cyrus finally signed her divorce papers from Idol with this annoying affected and irritating performance of “You Really Got a Hold on Me”. She did nothing of the sort with me. It was kinda awful and who the heck told her she could wear that terrible outfit? She looked and sounded like Britney Spears auditioning on Star Search at age 8. That was cute for Brit Brit at that age, but terrrrrrrrible for Ms. Haley.

And now the predictions….
Bottom 3: Haley, Thia, and Naima (however, Stefano could be there due to middling judge comments, and we could also see Paul or Casey who deserve to be there)
Bottom 2: Haley and Thia
Buh Bye: Haley

As the Motown classic goes, “Oh what a night” we had last night with a great show full of strong performances. Only three singers, in my humble opinion, faltered. However, only one of them is likely to go home and if America gets it right we will finally see Miley, er Haley, go home and “that’s pretty cool”… So, place your bets before tonight and let me know who you think will get the boot. Then, tune in for the results show which will feature Oscar and Grammy winning Idol alumni Jennifer Hudson performing her new hit “Where You At?” from her just released (and wonderful) sophomore album, I Remember Me…. Oh, and one last thing~ I have a new drinking game for you. Every time Steven Tyler says “beautiful” you have to drink. If you were playing along last night, I’m pretty sure you have one massive hangover today. lol

And here’s Jacob’s incredible performance of “You’re All I Need to Get By”. Enjoy