Last week was a good show, and it’s hard to beat the format last week, I really enjoyed David Cook. And the 80s. This week, the contestants have offered options for each other to perform. It’s a good idea and helps build good will among the contestants. They really are rooting for each other, and these song selections prove that.

So here are my thoughts on this week’s performances, offered as always, before I hear anything the judges have to say about any of this...

Caleb: “Family Tree” - In some ways it’s a good thing that he’s doing a non-popular song from a popular band - it helps us see him in his own right as a viable performer, and not a meatloaf mimic. It was strong. He’ll be back.

Jessica: “Gunpowder & Lead” - I really don’t think she will be able to fully release and develop where she needs to without time and maybe even some therapy, but I do think that that was her strongest performance thus far. She sounded great, she was credible singing the lyric, and she didn’t try to move in ways that she wasn’t capable.

Sam & Alex: “Let Her Go” - Must they Mraz everything?

CJ: “Gravity” - This is a great song pick from Caleb that might just keep him alive for another week. Now he has to figure out how to sing, emote, and give it his all without scrunching his face into oblivion. A little sharp here and there, probably still in the bottom. 

Dexter: "Muckalee Creek Water” - This works for me the same way that Caleb’s number did - not familiar with the song, so it sounds like an original successful Dexter number. Solid.

Caleb & Jena: “Gimme Shelter” - Worth it all for the ending. Didn’t like the guitar mucking up with the Richards’ riff...

Alex: "A Team” - Just the right amount of integrity to the original melody and unique tweaking of an inventive artist.

Sam: "Sail Away” - He’s kind of imitating David Gray right now. Not sure what I think about that. It is interesting to have him sing a much more mature sounding/textured kind of song. Not sure it worked, but it was interesting to see. He certainly sounded good.

CJ, Jessica, Dexter: “Compass” - not much to say about that.

Jena: "Creep” - Very solid performance. Enjoyed the arrangment and the attack of her voice. She’s real. Is she a superstar? Not sure yet. But she’s getting there.

I think it might be time to shorten to an hour and a half and cut out the duets and trios… What did you think? Who is going home?

So it's the top 8! Time was precious last night, so I'm having to make short work of my feedback - so in celebration of the top 8, I'll be offering 8 words of feedback for each performance. Here we go!

Jessica: "Blue eyed lie" - Lisa Marie Presley wishes for this dominant performance. 

CJ: "Soul Shine" - Almanns didn't have great pitch either, I suppose. 

Jena & Alex: "Just Give me a reason" - no judging on duets, Mraz and denim skate...

Sam: "Lego House" - first candles now lamps; can't take the dreamy. 

Jessica & Caleb: "stop dragging my heart around" - my favorite so far but I'm not judging...

Malaya: "ain't no way" -  Ain't no way to not love this voice. 

Dexter: "One Mississippi" - nothing quite like a great solid country balladeer.

Malaya & Sam: "Lucky" - maybe worst version of high school musical reenactment. 

Jena: "rolling in the deep" - she looks absolutely fantastic and sounds even better

Dexter & CJ: "alright" - so thanks hootie we have you to blame...

Caleb: "chain of fools" - it's like the Commitments all over again meatloaf. 

Alex: "Fairytales" - with his own music this kid comes alive. 

So I am wondering what do you think?

It’s "I’m with the band" week! I guess that just means the band is there. It’s not “big band.” Don’t panic.

Someone asked me last week how I thought this season was going. Here’s where I am with it:

I think so far this part of the show is suffering from a over-promise and under-deliver. Each of these potential stars seem to be a bit of deer in the headlights, and all the promise of the new judges is long gone and used up. I still think there’s the possibility that a genuine star can rise from this group, we just haven’t seen a journey with any of them. When I think about the growth curve we saw back in the day with a Carrie Underwood, or even a Scotty McCreery, you just don’t seem to see that kind of evolution with this group. It’s just kinda there for them. Someone needs to break out of it.

That being said, I think this year the choices they are making with the video packages have never been better. The “hanging out at the dinner table” scenes seem pretty authentic and they shed light on these performers. Much more so than any of the Ford commercial creations did in the past. (and that being said, they have to stop doing the spots while holding their voting numbers…)

Here are my thoughts on each performer this week, brought to you, as always, prior to hearing any of the judges’ feedback.

Alex: “Don’t Speak” - fantastic beginning. He’s turned No Doubt into Jason Mraz. Loved the arrangement. This was great, but just imagine how much better it would be if he gave even one dynamic facial expression.

Majesty: “Shake it Out” - This arrangement feels like Whitney + the Machine more than Florence. That romper isn’t helping. Of the ones left, she does have spark in her eyes and has the potential to grow into a star. But she has been better than this.

Dexter: “Boondocks” - This was a great pick for him in that it feels just like what he should be doing. I still would kill for just any contestant that looked like they had something going on in their eyes.

Malaya: “The Long and Winding Road” - Lisa Bonet from a Different World? Anyone? She did very well. I like her and of course, it’s a great song. I still question whether or not she can survive the long haul, but my prediction would be that if she goes home and the “save” is still in play, the judges would use it on her.

Sam: “Hey There Delilah” - I think the light choices for this song were manipulative and an unfair advantage for mister dreamypants. And JLo’s face proved it. He did fine. But again, I am waiting for someone to come out of their well-polished shell.

Jessica: “Rhiannon” - I like the choice of a Fleetwood Mac tune, but I might have chosen a different one, like Silver Springs or Dreams. She sounded great and she was very comfortable onstage, the vibe of the song though was a little too wispy to be memorable over time.

CJ: “If It Hadn’t Been for Love” - Okay, that’s enough, he is not even singing anymore. He was so sharp on that chorus that I got a paper cut. Sometimes raw talent is just raw.

Caleb: “Dazed and Confused” - This was the best performance of the night.  A perfect pick for a Zep tune, and if they cut to Jlo dancing one more time they're going to have to pay her choreographer a royalty check. It was the perfect pick because it was rock but it was also blues and gave him the opportunity to wail and make the song his own within that structure. Fantastic. He is the only one who is evolving.

Jena: “Bring Me to Life” - I thought this was a great performance. She is evolving too. Especially with the false ending moving into the money notes at the end. Strong. Enjoyable. She almost got to Caleb level. They would make a great double bill.

Wrap up:
CJ. He’s got to go. That is all. The ones who have a shot at becoming stars are Caleb, Jena, Majesty and Alex.

What do you think?

Let’s go to the movies, with American Idol! It’s the top 11, and after the wrong one went home last week, it will be interesting to see what happens…

Here are my thoughts on each performer, brought to you, as always, prior to hearing any of the judges’ feedback.

Sam: “Come Together” - So what movie is this from? Across the Universe? Yep. He gets points automatically for not saying “eyeballs” - but while I love this song, I’m not as much a fan of the tempo he has selected for the verse - or at least the arrangement - it’s missing the mystery and the levels of the original. Feels a little karaoke, but he’s gonna be fine.

Jessica: “The Sound of Silence” - Even with the goofiness with the drum coming in on the wrong beat, she did a fantastic job. That was absolutely wonderful. My only feeling was that I wish she hadn’t told us that she did this back in her set.

Harry did a great job of simultaneously calling the band out and also giving them props for being great. Live theater, things go wrong. It doesn’t mean that the drummer’s a schlep.

CJ: “Can’t You See” - Learned it from the movie “Blow?” Does anyone believe that’s the first place he heard this song? This is the best I’ve seen him since they got to the weekly live shows. The arrangement was great too, lots of highs and lows, lots of passion all the way through. And to think he was in the bottom three a couple weeks ago...

Side note: Ryan and Randy completely ruined a perfectly good improv game just now. I’m so sad.

Dexter: “Sweet Home Alabama” - Looks like they didn’t want to let him talk before singing - oh, and apparently he’s dating Xanadu. But he sounds fantastic, and I really like him a lot - my only problem is that from week to week I can’t remember his name. This was really good, but I think it translated a lot stronger in the theater than it did on television.

Ben: “Bennie and the Jets” - Look. Purple Rain is from a movie. Footloose is from a movie. This is not from a movie. 27 Dresses is not a movie. I like him fairly well, but I wasn’t crazy about this song selection. It just didn’t seem to jive with anything we had learned thus far about who he is or who he might be as an artist.

Majesty: “Let It Go” - This song is suffering from the cuts necessary to fit the format of the TV show. Also, it’s a really difficult song made famous by one of the most epic voices of our generation, and you just can’t go to head voice for the big note. But hey, it’s definitely from a movie. She’s gonna be fine, but this was like watching a gymnastic event.

Caleb: “Skyfall” - You are my friend to pick this song to sing. See now this makes me want to hear Meatloaf cover this song. Love the anticipation of the first verse, just waiting for him to blow it out. He’s gotta get to it soon though. So I think from an arrangement standpoint I might have liked this more if he had rocked out the arrangement as well, with electric guitars attacking with strong bar chords - but the last few phrases were absolutely fantastic. Front runner.

MK: “To Make You Feel My Love” - getting away from the true movie songs…. It’s like she knows what the problem is - that she can’t break through out of her skin to reach out, so she walks over to the judges hoping that some of her is going to jump out - but even though I still feel like she doesn’t have it, I will say that was the purest vocal I’ve heard her execute.

While I am disgusted and disturbed by the contestants reenacting scenes from films alongside their voting numbers, I appreciate the fact that the show seems to have no plans to mention or reference it.

Alex: “Falling Slowly” - Love this song, which is actually from a movie. I thought he did a great job, this was a great way of combining his quirkiness with something really accessible.

Jena: “Decode” - This arrangement certainly did not need a piano - I really liked her performance, but in general I wasn’t really into this song itself very much. It just didn’t seem like she understood the song, and was kind of posing through it - felt like an age gap issue. I also think that a mood song like this doesn’t seem to tell a story as clearly, and again, is harder to pull off without enough age to give it texture.

Malaya: “I Am Changing” - I appreciate that she didn’t do “that song” from this movie, but unfortunately, that’s the best song from this movie… So I thought she did a great job in general, but even more so than the last one, “leave my past behind” is a lyric that doesn’t make sense coming from a 16 year old. But wow, what an ending.

Ben, MK, and Jessica are in the bottom three in my opinion…. And either Ben or MK should go home… what do you think?

American Idol continues on, as though it has no idea that we are living in pre-Aslan Narnia… The top twelve is ready to go, and so am I - here are my thoughts regarding tonight’s performances, give to you as I see them, and as always, before the judges give them any feedback. Let’s get it started!

The theme is “home” - singers have picked a song that reminds them of home. Daughtry? Phillip Phillips? Motley Crue? I guess we’ll see...

Jena: “Suddenly I See” - Love this video background! This is solid, and is heartfelt, but ⅔ of the way through and I haven’t heard anything dynamic yet. The mix seemed tepid - just never really got out past her into the audience or through the camera.

Alex: “I Don’t Wanna Be” - This is a great song. I love how he holds his electric, very old school. He fell into a pretty good groove, but very different than the original track. I love almost everything about this guy, except that I think he has a bit of a blank canvas face issue. Some rockers/musicians can get away with that, I’m not sure he is one of them. 

Jessica: “White Flag” - I need a little bit more enunciation from her. She’s almost too familiar with the song. By the time she got to the breakdown chorus though, she found it. I just think that song meant more to her than it was a catchy song that grabs all of us.

With regards to Jessica, Keith and Harry were both right. She needs to both sing in tune and with conviction. I actually think that she is trying to recapture a vibe that exists in a bar setting, where the simplicity of a thin voice with a nice melody can stop people from talking, turn their heads as they order another round. And you can underplay that vibe and come off as very credible. But this kind of performance is such a different vibe - it’s a giant spotlight, we’re already looking right at you. You can’t subtly move into that. You have to kill it.

Dexter: “Lucky Man” - Now that is how you sing with conviction. Lovely. I also really like how he sets the stage and introduces the song. He starts on his own terms, and he took his time and owned that moment. 

When Harry said “you shouldn’t have sang about the Bengals,” I thought he said “The Bangles”, and was trying to remember the Manic Monday reference in the song… doh.

Emily: “Let’s Get Loud” - Okay producer, we get it, JLo knows the words to her own song… My only problem with this choice was that it isn’t a vocal song, really - it just sits in that one place, those few notes over and over again. It’s a dance tune, and it was just fine. She was a little thin on the last few notes.

Caleb: “Working Man” - I think this has to be a first, I can’t think of another competitor who has performed Rush. Maybe this will get Tony Germann to start watching? What Dexter does for authentic country, Caleb does for authentic rock and roll. That rocked and in many ways I find myself rocked to the point at which my socks seem to have left their positions where they once were on my feet.

MK: “Drops of Jupiter” - I didn’t quite know what to say about this - again, I guess that I can see the appeal, though I just don’t think she pushes through the things she’s thinking - it’s all in her head, it doesn’t get out past her mic to the audience or through the camera.

CJ: “Waiting on the World to Change” - interesting to pick a non-country song… Well that acoustic guitar playing is completely unnecessary… He pushes in ways that don’t seem to be connected to urgency. It just sounds like an effect, like an overlay. Makes me wonder if he really does have a pure, clean voice inside there. Not sure that we’ll have enough weeks with him to find out.

Sam: “Just One” - So I’m really angry with AI producers for placing him in the midst of smiling girls. It’s like they’re egging him on. He did a great job with a song that no one knows, and I liked it a lot. He is a real musician and a competent artist. I enjoyed that.

Malaya: “Take Me to the King” - Um. Wow. That was amazing. Worship just happened.

Ben: “Turning Home” - I liked it all right, but I think that I am running out of energy to watch. I must need to go to bed. He doesn’t have the personality to hold the story of country music.

Majesty: “Fix You” - I love this song. Please stop the audience from clapping to this, they are ruining the vibe. When she looks at the camera, she gets through. She has something that some of the others do not in terms of a spark - but that high note did not land correctly. It was too bad, because it was really working until then.

It’s the top 13 y’all! Well, I know it’s a new day in AI land when I was jonesing for this episode on Tuesday night, only to discover that I would have to wait until Wednesday. Why do they torture us so?

Once again, I have to hand it to the format adjustments they have made. The road to the top 13 has successfully weeded out those who really didn’t have a chance to succeed and get to #1 week after week, while letting us get to know many of those who are in the top 13 and who we will be rooting for week after week. Yes, there were some who went home last week that I liked, but I already can’t remember their names, and that has to count for something.

So here we go - I’m writing it as I see it, and as always, before I hear anything that the judges have to say about any of it. I’ve been pleased to note that last week my thoughts were very similar to those of mister Harry connick Jr, and that is great company for this season, that’s for sure.

“This Is Me” is the theme - hmmm…  This is really putting the song choice under the microscope.

Dexter: “Aw Naw” - This was like big and rich without the big or rich. Well, maybe the big. Kinda boring, not particularly inspired. I like rockabilly pop country at some level, but this was too karaoke for me.

Malaya: “Runaway Baby” - Well so far the contestants are 0/2 on song selection. This is not a song for a female to sing - this seemed like a “sleepover lipsync” jam session. Not good. Too much for her to handle.

Kristen: “Beautiful Disaster” - So she does pick Kelly Clarkson, but she picks the least known, unhummable song she ever recorded, from the album that everyone told her not to make. Hmmm. This is me indeed. So far I am not impressed with how the nerves are impacting these performers.

So Harry thinks there is something going on with the sound mix which is why the first three have been performing out of tune. Quite possible. But I think it’s more nervous energy and lack of experience.

Ben: “Folsom Prison Blues” - He’s the first one so far to seem to sing within himself, and to actually seem to embody the notion of “This is Me” - My only complaint is that a baseball cap isn’t great for lighting to see facial expressions and whatnot. But this was fast, furious, and fun.

I don’t think I can hear Ryan keep saying “Head on over to the lounge” week after week. They need to rename it or give Ryan more ways to say it.

CJ: “Radio” - I haven’t heard this song before, but Hootie sure has taken a page from Everclear’s book - isn’t this just a countrified version of “AM Radio?” This one was slightly better than Big and Poor from before, but it was still not that great. He needed to enunciate in that rapid-fire chorus. I still like this guy in that I love the offspeed pitch of his style and what he’s passionate about.

How great is it that all of Randy Jackson’s bits are overshadowed by the applause in the house as the vocalist is getting ready to perform...

MK: “Satisfaction” - But not the one where you can’t get no. I actually like her voice a lot, but she has absolutely nothing going on in the face. She is not connected with her voice and body. But I liked the song and I liked it in general.

Majesty: “Tightrope” - Everything that Malaya was trying to capture by choosing “Runaway Baby”, Majesty has achieved and then some with this song pick. She stayed within herself, nailed the vocal, kicked tail and took names. Fantastic.

Jena: “The Scientist” - I like Jena, though I feel like she is vowel-challenged. Some of her choices for replacement don’t seem to be linked to accent or region, and they seem like a affectation that doesn’t seem authentic at times. But man can she belt. 

Alex: “A Beautiful Mess” - Great pick for him. He is a diamond in the rough, what a clean and pure voice in the midst of a quirky artist hipster-nerd frame. Did lose the pitch a bit at the end for sure. He’s like a Bob Dylan with Art Garfunkel’s voice.

Jessica: “The Crow and the Butterfly” - Maybe I’m just a sucker for Leather Tuscadero, but I really like her voice and this song selection. The first verse had a lot of drama and interest, but by the end of the chorus, the Leather Tuscadero was wearing off a little bit. Didn’t go to the “next place.”

Emily: “Glitter in the Air” - She sounds great, very old school. She is calm and gets to the high notes with ease. Beautiful I thought.

“Don’t forget where the Yang is.” - Keith Urban, country australian sage

Sam: “Unwell” - I almost feel like Sam and Alex should join forces and become the Simon and Garfunkel of the next generation. He’s great, but he isn’t doing anything revolutionary with this song, it’s not turning into a moment the way that Emily, Jena, Majesty or even Jessica did. Boring, but OMGoodness he’s cute.

Caleb: “Pressure in Time” - Well there’s some band in CA that’s going to have some increased download traffic on iTunes… Still wishing he had picked “paradise by the dashboard light” instead. This is a great song for his rocker-ness, but it’s more a song about the guitar hook than it was the melody. But wow, what an ending. He’s a confident rocker.

So who’s going home? Or what about the bottom three? My money on bottom three is Malaya, Kristen and CJ - none of them did enough to escape their wildcard status…

I have to admit, I’m still not exactly sure how this top 15 gets down from 10 to how ever many - I guess I’ll find out tomorrow night. They keep saying 13, so somehow that means that 10 and 10 get to 13 total. The one thing I do know is that 5 of these guys who are psyched to sing tonight won’t get to, and that the ten that do will be voted in or out afterwards.

So here are the top ten that made the cut, and one by one I will give you my reactions to their performances, written down before I’ve heard how Keith, JLo or Harry have said their peace.

Caleb: “Stay With Me” - Meatloaf has been resurrected, and he’s in better voice and less sweaty. I was so thankful for that breakdown, because without it the uptempo jam was starting to get a bit stale. We were at his concert tonight. Fun!

Early side note - so far I am really unimpressed with the calling of cameras for the last two nights. What is going on? The timing seems way off, too many low light cuts to ppl in the audience, and then when judges are calling out for cuts, they aren’t happening. The moves away from the vocalists seem to be at inopportune times. Crazy.

C.J.: “Shelter” - I see what what Chris Daughtry was saying about the guitar, his rhythm choices didn’t immediately match the groove of the song and it wasn’t until the bass and drums and keys kicked in that I could feel it in the pocket. To be honest, this didn’t work for me. Not that he was bad, but just that this version of rasp did not get to me emotionally, though I can certainly see how it might have for others.

Emmanuel: “The Best of My Love” - Not unlike CJ, but for totally different reasons, this kind of performance is an acquired taste. He ran out of gas after the breakdown and was a bit flat on the long notes. But he owned the stage, not that anyone expected him not to do so. The short jacket and the constant cuts of him from the rear were not helpful. Not for me.

more side notes:
Great quote from Harry: “You’re a great singer - so don’t forget to sing.”
I didn’t like Jennifer giving Emmanuel a second song to audition with. But I’m glad that there’s enough freedom in the environment to let something like that happen.

Sam: “Babylon” - This was a great pick for who he is and what he conveys as a potential artist, though I think strategically it might not be a good pick in the category of “memorable performance.” But with his One Direction John Mayer vibe going on, he should be okay.

George: “Grenade” - That one suffered from a bit of a “one note crunch” syndrome - there was too much time spent in that one area where this song lived, and it was too much like he was squeezing out the last bit of orange juice from the rind, and it was painful. Needs levels.

Dexter: “This Old Boy” - He just sings so easy and good, this guy might even make me like country more than Scotty McCreary did. He’s another one that I will really enjoy seeing how he fares in different genres through the competition.

Honorary “you did your thing” shouted twice by JLo, the ghost of Randy Jackson is trying to get back on that judges panel….

Alex: “Volcano” - In general I do like him a lot, but also in general this song choice did not feature the best parts of his quirkiness - I hope he gets past this round, because he is such an interesting individual.

After hearing the judges rave about Alex, the only thing I can figure is that whatever he was selling in the room was well received but didn’t break through the cameras to get to us. If that remains a trend that could be dangerous for him in voting…

Malcolm: “Coming From Where I’m From” - I can tell that he’s good, but I’m distracted a bit by the repetitive gesture of his off-mic hand. And then I think he really lost the key in the middle. This song choice did nothing for me personally, and he kinda meandered about the stage, seemed purposeless, lacked storytelling.

JLo: “I shoulda got goosies on that” - now it sounds like she’s channeling Paula…

Ben: “Soulshine” - As Ben steps into his guitar solo, now I hear the ghost of Simon Cowell saying that this “is a singing competition” - at least the solo was short… I thought he was completely fine and passable in this genre. He didn’t exactly get through to me, but I know he will to many.

Spencer: “Love Don’t Die” -  Zoolander has arrived! he is ridiculously good looking, but since his occupation listed is “worship leader”, I guess I am required by law not to mock him too much… I love this song, and he did well, though he just needed a place to go “up and above” after the bridge. But I loved the energy and I think he’s so totally hot right now. Spencer.

So… who were your favorites? 

It’s Rush Week on American Idol 2014!

First a bit of background. As you may know, I like to use this blog to talk about American Idol. Last year was a low point in the show for sure. Last year’s one bright spot was when Harry Connick Jr. took Randy Jackson to task when he was mentoring the show one week. He worked his way up to the judges’ table, and must have been a good enough fit, because he has basically stepped in as the voice of reason this year.

They have removed most of the schtick involving the talentless who audition, leaving the judges only having to navigate the in-betweeners, which they do with grace and clarity. Gone is any remnant of the need for Simon Cowell and what he brought, because with Harry, you have all the same musical expertise without any of the forked tongue. Looking forward to Harry’s “in the moment” live responses to individual performances. And so, since I’m looking forward to it, I guess I can’t help myself but to share it with whoever wants to read about it. Here goes!

Here are my thoughts on tonight’s Rush Week for the ladies…

First curve ball - we’re only going to see the top ten of the top fifteen. And in walks Randy Jackson. Well, I knew that the first couple weeks of shows were probably too good to be true. But we do start with a video piece about the mentoring moment with Randy.

What’s this? Non-denominational spiritual advisors for American Idol?!?!?! I have clearly missed my calling! Very interesting decision not only to have them, but to highlight their existence on the show. And Chris Daughtry and Adam Lambert, so it all evens out in the end I guess.

Here are my thoughts on those who did perform, my comments uttered as always, before I have heard what the judges have to say.

Majesty: “Happy” - the energy of this is great, it’s a hot song for sure, but the breakdown doesn’t exactly show off much about her. There was energy, but not passion. The song is more to credit for that than her performance.

Kristen: “Turning Tables” - Great voice, pretty surprising. The first verse was a little shaky, but she came alive.

As this is going on, I do think that the fact that the judges are “selecting” the top ten to sing is making for a pretty milquetoast feedback loop - what are they going to say, “you stink and we’re sorry we picked you instead of the others?”

Briana: “Warrior” - I thought this was good, but she’s a little “dead in the eyes” - which is unfortunate, because she has very big eyes. I was also honestly distracted by the intensity of the “mom watching” that was happening.

Jena: “Paint it Black” - Ann Wilson is back. This is a great choice for what her voice does. She’s a true female rocker, with a killer belt. Wow. This is the kind of voice I would love to hear in the genre shifting of american idol.

Hey Harry: Jena didn’t know what she was singing when she sang “Paint it Black” because Mick Jagger didn’t know what he was singing when he did it the first time either.

Bria: “Wrong side of a love song” - This seemed desperate to me, but not in the good way. (Is there a good way to be desperate? Nevermind.) She pushed a ton. Not good enough, probably the judges’ first misstep.

Marrialle: “Roar” - I think that this is a good performer who made a very bad song choice. Only on the last chorus when she added a harmony to the lead melody line did it even remotely feel like something special.

Jessica: “Drink a Beer” - I think what she lacks in vocal control getting through the nerves she makes up for in story-telling ability and clear understanding of how to allow for vulnerability in her performance. Always good to see Leather Tuscadero making a comeback…

Emily: “Paris (Ooh La La)” - She has a great voice, and I think the main problem with the lyric of the song and whether or not it’s appropriate for her to sing, was that the lyric regarding shaving is fairly bizarre all on its own. She should get past this performance and really wow us in the near future.

MK: “All Of Me” - MK, KD you are not… yet… I think this was a very ambitious choice for a song, because John Legend disguises how difficult his songs are within his seemingly easy-going attack. Without getting too obviously political, she could go on in the competition, though I’m not sure she’s got the best voice.

There’s a break in the action now, as we find out that Ben is the one who will go on into tomorrow night’s competition, though I guess even then he may not get a shot unless the judges allow for it.

Malaya: “Hard Times” - There’s something about this girl that really makes me smile. That brought the house down, all the way to the last note. She’s fantastic, and my personal favorite.

So there you go - what did you think of the first “live” show? (portions of this program pre-recorded...)

Hey friends! Remember how last week there were four finalists left? Well, Ryan must have known that Kristi and I were in Orlando last week, because he didn't send anyone home. So now it's this week, and I forgot to tell Ryan that last night I had tickets to the Cubs game. Apparently I also forgot to tell some friends on Facebook, because they wanted to know where the heck my blog posts had gone!

So to my friends who were looking for my responses, well, what can I say. I'm humbled and flattered. And even though this and last week has truly proven that for me and my house, American Idol is not the "must see TV" that it once was, it still holds a special place in my heart - like the weird guy who used to work at the Blockbuster, and you wonder to yourself, "what is that guy doing nowadays since there's no way he fits inside a redbox?" ...What was I saying?

Oh yes, the final four - the ladies got quite the reprieve last week - Candice was clearly rocked by being in the bottom two. Will she come to play or will she fade away? Here's my take on last night's proceedings, and as always, I say what I say before I've heard anyone else say anything else. And away we go!

Themes for tonight: Songs from 2013, and "standards." Harry Connick Jr. is the mentor.

Angie: "Diamonds" - Loved the interplay between her and Harry. I liked everything about this arrangement except for the unnecessary background vocals. She knew just when she had to ratchet it up and belt some awesome notes to transform this from a dance hit with a predictable melody to something with emotion that told a story. Well played, Angie. See you next week.

Amber: "Just Give Me a Reason" - I really wonder what the disconnect is between her and the voters - because this girl can saaang. I wasn't a huge fan of this song, when it picked up tempo and energy it just kinda got off running and couldn't catch up. She wails, but will it be enough?

Candice: "When I Was Your Man" - She's doing okay, but until the bridge, she hadn't really committed to the moment. It worked, mainly because the word "man" only shows up once at the end of each chorus, and by that point, she's wailing to the point that you almost can't hear what word she's using. This had the kind of emotion needed to get back in the race.

Kree: "See You Again" - Apparently Kree is after the one ring to rule them all... I think that she did a really good job, but I also think that the difference between this arrangement and the power that she held in that room with Harry when it was just her and a piano was significant. She did do very well, but I think she got lost in the arrangement a bit.

Angie: "Someone to Watch Over Me" - Well it isn't fair, this is one of our favorites (wedding song and all that) - loved it, probably her most successful apart from the piano. That being said, i didn't like how rushed the bridge was, and that orchestral run that was so aggressive made no sense to me. Keep it simple! The last chord progression on the final note, too, was totally unnecessary.

Amber: "My Funny Valentine" - Well isn't that interesting, one of her more memorable previous performances, and it turns out that she didn't really know what she was singing about - kudos to Harry for a firm but graceful probing of her interpretation to get her to be better and not run on auto-pilot. Oh and also she was born to sing this song for all times please I only want her to ever sing this song lordy lordy.

Candice: "You've Changed" - I don't have much to say about this one - it was really good, she's really good. Not sure if she was able to sustain the storytelling for the whole time, but it was simultaneously sad, sultry and fantastic.

Kree: "Stormy Weather" - Well, she certainly didn't take Harry's advice, which made her face seem like she felt guilty, instead of seeming like she was deep in the lyrics. If she wasn't in the top two last week I would say that she was in trouble.

We're just all going to pretend that the group number at the end didn't happen. Like at all.

Random Thoughts: Okay, ultimately, Harry was right with regards to standards - you have to know the melody first, you have to know the song, what it means. The fact that Harry's mentoring shocked the girls into stagnation and challenged every fabric of their interpretation points more to the fact that prior to this point, they have not been given challenging training or preparation - what Harry was saying should not have been shocking or revolutionary - it should have been an addendum to things that should have already been a part of the experience of American Idol. If anything, the fact that Amber was able to kill it in previous weeks with a song she didn't even come close to understanding, is a huge indictment on the judges and the process that is so easily rocked by a Harry Connick Jr. saying the radical statement that someone should know what the heck they're singing. And I loved that they gave Harry a chance to defend himself and put that poser Randy Jackson in his place.

So who's going home? I think it's Amber - while she did very well, if she wasn't getting the votes last week, there wasn't anything about tonight that pushed her past anyone. They are all very good, and someone has to go home.

It's the top five, y'all! America figured out what the judges knew all along, and this year's winner will be a woman - this week they are bringing two songs - one from the year that they are born, and the other is categorized as a "diva" tune... hmmmm...

Candice: "Straight Up" - This arrangement is pretty cool, and I would say that 85% of the time her alternate melodies/riffing and scatting worked - but sometimes it wasn't there. And I got dizzy from the camera work. Over the time of the song though, it didn't really go anywhere - but the place it already was was pretty amazing.

Janelle: "When I Call Your Name" - This is a perfect song choice for her, and the chorus is in the sweet spot for her voice. She may not win, and is likely to go home tomorrow just based on the overall competition, but this pick is her, being the best that she can be, with the best music for her voice and personality.

Kree: "She Talks to Angels" - This almost worked. It seemed like she was unable to really enter the song's lyrics - her brow was furrowed quite a bit which I had never noticed before in previous songs. Great last note, but ultimately, I think this might be a problem for her - it wasn't quite there for me.

Angie: "I'll Stand By You" - This was fantastic - probably the most mature performance I've seen her give. Obviously the emotion of the Boston dedication makes it extra special, but beyond that the performance was fantastic.

Amber: "Without You" - I know this is building to that big chorus, but it's a pretty big risk, because so far, prior to that point, this is just boring. And when she got to the high notes, she was pushing. I am a fan of hers, but this was not her best moment. Just tried to take to big a bite of the piece of pie.

Candice: "When You Believe" - I love this song, and it was a perfect song for her to Diva out on. Fantastic. Send her to the finals.

Janelle: "Dumb Blonde" - I don't really know this Dolly song, but wouldn't it have been better for her to do Dolly's arrangement of "I Will Always Love You" - since she wrote it, and then you get the Whitney love too. Well, strategy aside, this unmemorable song seemed like a country version of Pat Benatar, and it didn't really work for me. Great ending though, good spunk. Probably going home.

Kree: "Have You Ever Been in Love" - This was very good for her, even though the style wasn't anything like what we're used to with her. I think this week ends up being pretty uneven for her, even in the midst of some good performances.

Angie: "Halo" - What she is doing with this lower register part of the song is exactly what the judges were wanting from the earlier competitors. It's great and with feeling and emotion even though she can't really hit the notes. Here's why this pick is brilliant - she's basically telling the world, hey, don't be fooled by my piano playing and the color of my skin - I have a voice that's just as rich and R&B ready as Candice or Amber or even Kree. I was really impressed with this one.

Amber: "What Are You Doing With The Rest of Your Life" - This is so much better for me than her first song. Great offspeed pitch - only question is, will the song itself be as memorable as Funny Valentine was, as a song? Tough to be memorable with this tune up against Halo and When You Believe.

Random notes and thoughts:
The key to a tighter close up shot for the judges: ridiculous cleavage. Take note, Keith.
Nicki to Mariah: "Simmer down... sir" - classic.
Jimmy Iovine needs a spot at the table for Pete's sake, he's been the surrogate Simon for a few seasons now.
I know that Mariah is for the most part a non-contributor in the judging department, but I did enjoy the diva-love that was sent her way with the back to back song tributes, and her performances over time are worthy of such celebration. So it was nice to see her get her props, even accidentally from Nicki.
The judges really liked Kree's choices a lot more than I did. When Keith said again that she was country, it was a reminder - if you just started watching tonight, you'd not have a clue that she was country. That may not be a bad thing, but I don't agree with the judges that it's a good thing.
I don't think Kree's missteps will put her in the bottom two. Mainly because without them, Amber's been in the bottom before. So I think the bottom two are Janelle and Amber, and Janelle's going home. But if Amber goes home, everyone on the judges' table will be outraged, and Janelle will become the new Lazaro.