I took short notes again as I watched last night. Now, honestly, how pathetic is that ? Anyway...
Seemed to me like there were two ways to "go" for the guys. Either they were so middle-of-the-road "OK Only" or they really really stood out. Nobody, in my opinion, was exactly bad. Well, one was ... but even HE was no worse than usual . It'd be hard, for me, to pick a Best in Show (from my own perspective) ~ three of the gents really made the most of it. In kinda different ways. David Hernandez was pretty awesome (is he picking the right songs to fit that Michael Bolton 'trip' in his voice, or what?). Not that I like Bolton (I don't, really) but I appreciate that tone that comes out of him as the windows rattle. For the first time [I don't know why, but the guy never got me noticing him before] I truly appreciated David Cook. Again, "song choice"/risk-taking prevailed there. The very last thing I would have expected from him was a Lionel Richie song! I was pretty impressed that he blew it away. It was certainly recognizable, but he made it sound different (not to mention a gadzillion times better) than I would have thought possible. But *sigh* ... NO secret who I was predestined to like best. I was so hoping he would recover from last week (he did). I was so hoping he'd NOT use the guitar (he didn't). I was so hoping he'd pick a tune that showed his vocal "chops" (boy, he picked a real beastly hard one to sing well). "Hallelujah" to Jason Castro. While not as good (I reckon) as "Imagine" last week, his Jeff Buckley tune was different, daring, right and even Simon liked it (which completely surprised me). I can't watch Castro with the right lack of bias, though, so my comments really don't count. Kinda like Melinda last year - he's going to have to sing backwards like a duck before I dislike his voice/style. Melinda didn't win, Jason likely won't either. But too bad. They were/are both terrific.
Now (not that you asked) ... there are two that clearly need sent home tonight. Luke is one. He sings well, I like him - but he just doesn't "get it", or something. You just have to put some 'juice' into what you're doing at this point on the show. And he isn't. I'm really not sure that he can, quite frankly. And Danny? Ugh . Terrible performance. "Tainted Love" indeed. But I'm still thinking young people will vote for him specifically to irritate me and/or us and he'll somehow manage to squeak through (much like a rat squeezing underneath the door to invade one's kitchen). If he stays, it's probably Sayonara to Mr. Chikezie? I hope not. I'd take the latter's Love Boat agenda over Danny Partridge on crack any day of the week.
Nothing to ponder re: Mr. Archuleta. Nice job, marginal song. No need for him to set off any more fireworks at the moment, though. He'll be around for weeks to come...

Sorry. I'll shut up now . Anybody else watch Tuesday night?

My bottom three are the same as yours, Gats. I think I prefer Chekezie to Luke or Danny, but I'm not crazy about him, either. As long as the bottom guys include any two of those, I'll be quite happy.
I loved both Jason Castro and David Cook. David Archuleta goes without saying. I'm really crazy about Michael Johns' voice, but I have to agree with Simon that he hasn't had his "moment" yet. Maybe he will be one of those who really stands out later.
I'm remembering last year, how the ones who starting improving a few weeks after the final 12 were picked were ones who I really didn't notice until then. Jordin Sparks, to be specific. She just started shining about halfway through the competition, while others who I thought were great seemed to kind of take backward steps when the competition got tough. It'll be interesting, that's for sure!

Enjoyed the men's night a LOT. David Archuleta moved me to near tears for two weeks in a row and I'm also a huge fan of Michael Johns. Some other very nice talent there too. As for Hernandez, well, ahem, nasty, but his vocals are good. His performance style in terms of interpretation has problems imho. I really wish Noriega would disappear after that horrible effort.. I could see what he was trying to do - too bad he couldn't pull it off. Alas the vote-for-the-worstniks might keep him in... same sentiments for Amanda whom I liked at first but she's made a has h of it so far unless she's any better tonight.. yet to see for me. I'd also like Chikezie to disappear, just a personal taste in style issue there though his vocals not bad.

I just wanted to say that I thought Amanda excelled tonight. She was so good!

Whew ! I took notes yet again ~ but now I feel better/less "geeky" about doing so. It really IS a good way to remember stuff, I reckon?

I'm just so amazed how little "gas" is going on with "Idol" this year sometimes! So much skill up there, but so little 'oomph' in showing it (in my opinion)! I kept thinking that over and over last night. That Asia'h girl was so flipping peppy (times six) to start it off, but it seemed to slide into a revision of the Lawrence Welk Show at some point. I liked Lawrence Welk (I admit it) ~ but I think these youngters should be about so much more than bubbles and Geritol! The way it's going? You watch. Somebody, somewhere will actually decide to have an AI "Lawrence Welk"-themed night. And our singers will inexplicably have us doing standing ovations re: their jazzy, original choices . They're getting stuff backwards here. The 80's had cool and lively music. After watching, I was kinda left thinking that the decade was no more than a big happy-free dentist office! Complete with novocaine and canned Muzak. Anyway...

I pretty much liked Amanda, too - even though it seemed to me that she has reached a place where she seems not to care (at all) if she gets voted off or not. I was almost convinced she'd get ripped to shreds ("Joan Jett? Imagine that?", playing it safe, not getting out of her 'box', etc.). Good heavens, Simon gushed! Shocked the dime out of MY jukebox indeed. And Brooke was nice. Dare I say it, though? She's got this way (lovely as she is) of coming across as if she were at an audition to become Kermit the Frog's new singing partner in "The Muppet Movie, Part 6". Eventually, I'm sure of it, she'll just HAVE to sing "The Rainbow Connection" . I really like her, though, and I really enjoyed her show last night. Again, flipping the coin a little. Lionel Richie goes electric on Tuesday? Pat Benatar goes acoustic on Wednesday for good measure. And both songs turned into refreshing highlights, or so I thought. Carly was her consistent good self (but I, for one, loathe that song she picked and will generally 'drive all night' to avoid it). Ramiele, if I had to pick, will maybe pull that "Jordin Sparks" that cinnamOn mentioned above. She's really really good (and was better than OK last night). But we've seen her let loose so magnificently already and settle into a "back (maybe 'side'?) seat" since. She'll be around, I'm thinking, to stand out as we go again. And I kinda liked, missed notes aside, the country spin Kristy Lee put on the Journey tune. Nice. Again, my favorite word and/or phrase, in reference to "Idol": a good cover with a personal "vibe" thrown in.
Kady is a definite "likely-to-go", don't you think? I have a hunch the suicide rate spikes after or during her performances. Gloomy little thing, that one . Lovely. But slightly bleak, all the same. I suppose Amanda's in danger of going home (based only on all the wrong reasons for it to happen - everything seems to indicate that, by demeanor and profile alone, she ain't into "hustling votes"). But I think I'd (just me, mind you) rather see Syesha or Asia'h go. Only because I can never make much of a distinction as to which one's which. And it might result in HALF as many Whitney Houston songs shoved at us as things progress, too . But it's hard to say. Especially in light of Cowell's uncharacteristic 'Amanda schmoozing' last night, which is the sort of thing that does influence votes ... and could very well save her.

Just my (lengthy ) two cents this morning.

Re: your "gas" comments, Gats - I feel exactly the same way! Before this season, I heard each of the three judges say in interviews that the talent was better this season than it has ever been. But the contestants just don't seem to have that "drive" that I've seen in the past. Honestly, some of them don't seem to care if they make it to the next week or not. I think song choice has been generally more wrong than right most of the time so far, also.
The girls as a group just aren't "wowing" me this year at all. There are some talents, but....(see paragraph preceding)
I definitely think Kady should go - I think it should have been her last week instead of Alaina. I think pretty much everyone else has a decent voice - Carly and Brooke are my favorites, but again, nobody's really impressing me.

Carly and Brooke are my favourites too.
Sorry, I can't agree on Amanda- I found her pretty awful, pity because I appreciate her as a person and what's she's trying to do, I just don't feel she's pulling it off. I'm amazed Simon said he liked her and wonder if he's just trying to throw a major spanner in the works of the 'vote-for-the-worstniks' who picked Amanda and Noriega just to annoy the producers. Amanda's own face was full of disbelief at his comments. I also agree that Kady and not Alaina should have gone off last week.

Yay. America got it right . See you later, Mr. Danny. I was so convinced he might be this year's version of The Sanjaya Show (even though Danny could sing, kinda). Quite a relief to see him go and to have Chikie stay, I thought. And Luke? Y'know - that guy is talented ~ I was noticing how effortless it was for him to sing so nicely last night. Just missing that "showman" gene, at this time, or something? Amanda survived ! Again! Kady was a sure-fire exit, but I wasn't too sure who would (or should) join her. I need to clarify something I wrote yesterday that, after I reread it, sounded all "wrong". That "couldn't tell which from which" remark about Asia'h vs. Syesha. I didn't mean that in even a slightly racial context - it was about the similarity in singing style(s). No different than Luke/Jason and Kady/Alaina ... somehow cut from the same cloth, unable to really stand out, one from the other. As it whittles down, the ones who get to stay get to forge out their own "thing" now ~ which is better for them and better for us, too, I think. I thought, quite frankly and entirely personally, that Asia'h was the better of the two from last night. But, unfortunately, it was ultimately a matter of which Whitney song was liked better by the ones who managed to vote, I suspect. The singers had a LOT less to do with it much more than that? Which, of course, ain't fair by a mile *sigh*

And one last thing: the only singer I could not conceive of reaching this year's Top 12 last night? That'd be Blake Lewis ? Was I just being picky or did that song (and the presentation of it) have "PU" (times ten) written all over it? Probably just me....

I love Blake for being so original,and his CD was the first thing my daughter asked for last Christmas...but he's water under the bridge, I guess!
I was really pleased with the results last night! I also had that fear that Danny might get to stay (there's just that "wierd factor" that tends to entice some people), but I am so glad I don't have to watch him anymore.
I agree with you about Luke, too. I think he has a really nice voice, and I'm sure he's a fantastic part of that a capella group that he's in, but for me, he just doesn't have a great SOLO voice.
I definitely agreed with Kady's departure, and I'm okay with Asia'h's, too. I think Syesha has a slight edge over her when comes to talent, and I just like her voice better.
I'm really not a big fan of Amanda, but we'll see how she does now, especially when asked to sing varied genres of music.

Holy cow! And I worry about the "tone" of what I write? This is how Entertainment Weekly summed up the Final 12 :

Quote:

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With the ouster of the former cheerleader (meaning Kady?), we have this final 12: Amanda ''Smiles With Frown'' Overmyer, Brooke ''Hearts and Flowers'' White, Carly ''Big Note, Bigger Pint'' Smithson, Chikezie (''Not Eze''), David ''Save the Idol, Save the World'' Archuleta, David ''Cut My Hair, Please!'' Cook, David ''Got Singles?' (*OK, OK ... "tips" in the G-string jokes, we get the picture *...)' Hernandez, Jason ''Flawless Complexion'' Castro, Kristy Lee ''Wide Stance' (I don't "get" what they mean there?)' Cook, Michael ''Sweaty Forehead'' Johns, Ramiele ''Grannie Sweater'' Malubay, and Syesha ''ALL CAPS!'' Mercado

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Good Heavens. Pretty harsh, huh? Although I did have to giggle at them now referring to David A. as "Archie" over there . Kinda fits, eh ?

Just had to share that, though, this morning.

Man, that IS harsh, to put it mildly. I know exactly what they mean about the "wide stance" thing, though - I've noticed it every time Kristy Lee has sung. Watch when the camera pans back and you can see her whole body. She stands with her feet extremely widely apart! I mean, so far that I, who am pretty unobservant, noticed it. However, maybe a vocal coach,etc. will point it out to her now and we won't see it again.

Oh, OK. Thanks ~ I'd never noticed Kristy Lee sprawled out like that before (must have been too preoccupied taking notes ). I'll be watching for it next week, though .

Wow! That is really very harsh...

I'm happy about the 12 finalists. My favorites are David Archuleta, Michael Johns, Brooke White and Carly Smithson.

I'm really excited about Beatles songs night! Every year my dad would ask "when are they going to sing Beatles songs?", well now they're finally doing it I wonder what songs the contestants will choose...

I just found this thread and it's given me a great heads-up!
Last night (in NZ) me and my mum watched the final 24 being selected. My mum[in her early 60's] is the real fan.I watch with her as a mother-daughter bonding thingie and to make sure she gets no ideas about leaving my dad for Simon!
Other than that I usually fall off once the real competition begins as I'm more of a fan of the bloopers.
But now I'm thinking I can give her a right wind up by predicting who goes off each week and getting it right.She'll think I'm blimmin clairvoyant!
PS: Don't try this at home kids.It'll only work on my mum because she is a true techno-phobe.Example:She won't go on skype to family in the uk because she thinks it's too expensive!

This is the first time I've followed "Idol" from the very beginning. I would pick either David Archuleta or Carly Smithson to win. Carly's voice is amazing. Michael Johns and Amanda Overmeyer are next on my list. I enjoy Chikezie's voice and I think he'll get better as the competition goes along, if he manages to stay in it. At least he seems happy to be there, unlike some of the others. Jason Castro is very cute, lovely teeth, but I haven't been blown away by his performances. I'm enjoying everyone's comments here. (This sounds like its being written by a 14 year old, which I'm not.)

Ooooh! Ooooh! Just heard ... tonight's theme is *Lennon/McCartney* ! Now, honestly ~ they'll actually have to try hard to pick a "wrong" song off that list for themselves. I think?

Does anyone know anything about being able to talk on the phone with them? I heard Ryan saying something about it at the end of last week.

I think you can talk live on the actual show, if you are chosen. In that case, it is even more of a relief that Danny Noriega went. On the web site I just heard him and he cannot string two words together without putting"like" between them. What a complete and utter bore he was. Sorry, but talking to them would not be an activity of choice for me! The only person who seems able to converse at an understandable level in the whole show is Simon, in my opinion. Does anyone else have trouble with what Paula ever says? Ryan is fairly lucid, I must admit, and there have been times when I have got Randy Jackson's drift if I concentrate hard. But talk with the contestants on the phone? No thanks.

In a word for last night? What else but: *Yikes?* . The best became the worst, the (occasionally) worst became the solid best. The middle stayed pretty much the middle and either waffled there or got better and soared a bit ABOVE middling. Very weird turns of events, I thought. *Sigh* ... first things first ...

"Archie" ! Wha' happened, kiddo? Here's (only) my thoughts on that. The young fellow is pretty darned amazing and, as such, we easily forget this one small truth in him. That being that he's only 17, after all. Just a puppy, really. The pressure must be like a huge truck on his adolescent little nose right now. And, boy, did he blow it last night! Were he ANYBODY else, he'd be in serious danger of going home tonight. He's got an enormous fan base and good buzz, though. So (just this once) I suspect a contestant will be forgiven for *argh* forgetting the lyrics . As we all know, doing THAT on "Idol" is right up there on the Infractions List with shooting at the Pope. David Hernandez was pretty stinky, too. I was kidding with the Michael Bolton reference last week. Good Lord ... he out Bolton-ed Bolton last night. Way too "much". Everything. Jason, Jason, Jason. On my notes I wrote (as he was singing) "he's on 'octaves monkey bars'". Not bad - but one of those times that jazzing up a perfect song might have been entirely UNnecessary. He gets points, though, from me (of course). He certainly does not pick easy tunes to sing, week after week. Randy (quite skillfully) called Michael Johns song *sleepy*. It definitely was. Nicely presented. Not slightly memorable, though. And, shoot me. Godawful odd and [ahem] "daring" as it was or might have been, I kinda liked Kristy Lee. I noticed that 'stance' of hers, too, finally . Probably to the Bottom Three for her tonight (the judges flatly pummeled the poor girl, didn't they?) ... but I didn't hate "Eight Days A Week" sounding like a hoedown on a merry-go-round. She didn't totally suck, in my opinion.

Now for the totally (without question) "good" ones, in my opinion? Carly. Miss Dependable. Perfect song choice. Nicely done. David Cook! Superlative!! Honestly, this guy gets more attention-worthy each time he shows up. While it looks like hitting the Top 12 is squeezing the skills right out of Ramiele, the same geography is setting this dude ON FIRE! His "Eleanor Rigby" was pretty darned impressive. Now. Are you ready? The very very (extraordin-ary) "Best of Beatles Night"? No doubt, in my mind. That'd be our own Chikezie. That was one of the best 'turn-this-thing-upside-down' performances I have seen in some time. I'd never heard "She's A Woman" done very often by anybody but the Fab Four ... but I certainly had never EVER heard it done like that before. Incredibly good! From The Love Boat Lounge to becoming "Mr. In It To Win It"! He was awesome. And he had such a GREAT time being that up on that stage Tuesday night. Chikezie comes to life. With fireworks!

OK. That's what I saw last night. So, tell me. How wrong am I ?

I think you're almost right on the money, Gats. I picked up my daughter at work halfway through the show, and when she asked about the part of it I had seen so far, she just about fainted when I told her Chekezie was my favorite up to that point. He really stepped up!
Still loving David Cook and Carly. Ramiele, Hernandez, and Syesha are all sort of losing their appeal for me. Unless they get on the ball, they're going to be gone. (maybe one of these tonight?} I agree with you about David Archulta - if he wasn't already so popular, he'd be gone. Forgetting the lyrics aside, the song just didn't fit him. I thought Randy was right on when he said it sounded "forced." I know Simon told him last week he needed to do something "younger" and not so "gloomy," but this just didn't do it for me.
I don't think the problem was the song Kristy Lee did, or even that she put a country spin on it. I just didn't like the arrangement AT ALL. Just horrible.

Egads . I am SO glad I read those (official?) American Idol boards after I have collected and/or written down my thoughts. I'd likely have some of that *nastiness/total "hissiness"* rub off on me (which I don't think would be entirely necessary, now would it?). They're being positively brutal to David H., Ramiele and Syesha. But () This was kinda priceless LOL:

Quote:

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Kristy Cook: Oh my God! I was dying of barfness!

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Tough crowd. OK ... I'll soften and say that, pretty much, I reckon she did suck, after all .
They're being (as expected) very civilized in young David A's direction, though (after tallying up and mentioning every 'oops' he made last night, of course....).

I loved Chikezie's performance last night, thought he was amazing! Carly and David Cook were great too. The worst for me: David H and Ramiele, and the horrible performance by David Archuleta.

I for one was happy about the elimination results last night - any of the bottom three would have been fine with me. I liked David Hernandez at first, but the last few weeks he has just fallen flat.
Something I have been meaning to ask - does it seem to anyone else like someone is backstage holding a gun on Amanda, forcing her to be in this competition?

Yeah. I pretty much agree (especially since Hernandez's last performance this Tuesday was more of a *sorry, but I can't help it * strip show without the 'stripping' parts). Loudly working the crowd - while singing pretty badly. I will say, though, that out of the Bottom Three I thought he was the best of the lot. But they'll all be gone in a month, more than likely, so I reckon order as it happens doesn't matter at the moment ?

As for Amanda? Honestly, I keep waiting for her to quit on stage one of these nights. She just doesn't fit into this "American Idol" agenda (I suspect the odds of her expecting to be a whitebread pop star is not in her head ... no more than it was likely in Joplin's log book to be on the Osmond Family's Christmas Special back in the day). I like her, a lot and still, but not on this particular show. Did you notice in that opening medley last night? When she piped in, it sounded like somebody threw an irritated tiger into the mix (I thought it was a mistake, crowd noise or something ). She isn't playing along or (and I suppose it's her "style", really) playing 'nice', either. There's something to be said for not 'selling out', in my opinion. But I have a hunch (OK, it's obvious...) doing that is much more effective on a different venue than this one is designed to be.

Kat McPhee was lovely/sang nicely , though, last night, yes? Good to see, however, that a couple of years hasn't changed ONE major thing about her stage prescence. Underneath all those fine clothes, perfectly scissored hairs, well presented notes? I can't help it ... all I still "see" is an Ice Princess . I don't have any true justification for feeling that way, either, I hasten to say. But feel it I do...