My Name is Kris and I Blah-g

Tonight’s show was pretty good and we have a group of 11 folks who are all worthy in their own right. It will be hard to pick which ones should go after tonight. There were certainly better performers tonight. Here is a run down of the performances:Michael Sarver — Aint Going Down Till the Sun Comes Up - This really had potential to start the show off right. But Michael held back. I am not sure why. He should have gone crazy with it because it’s a crazy song. It’s not a great song for displaying your vocals – it just isn’t. But it IS a song that one could show what kinda of showman he/she is and Michael didn’t do that tonight. It may be enough to keep him around another week but he didn’t do himself any favors and this should have been his strongest week.Allison Iraheta — Blame It On Your Heart - This was another really strong performance that Allison hit out of the park. She added just enough spunk that let the song be her own. The problem with Allison is that I am not sure she’s likeable enough to make it through. She’s kinda weird.Kris Allen — To Make You Feel My Love - this was an awesome vocal by Kris. He did REALLY really good and it just made him that much more appealing. I would have to say that he appeared to be singing the song to his wife and that was hot.Lil Rounds — Independence Day - This was NOT a good performance. I did not like this one bit and she really runs the risk of being booted after this performance. Is it just me or are all the contestants being given a chance to talk back to the judges? It really irks me. I wish they’d shut up and just take the criticism.Adam Lambert — Ring of Fire - what the FREAK was that? Yes. Adam stayed true to himself. What a funky queer he is. I am just not feeling it. He is so flamboyant. He is so over the top. He appeals to the masses because he’s different but he’ll be another Taylor Hicks…fun to watch during the season but all kinds of suck on the radio. He’s either got to reign it in or someone just better get his butt back to Broadway and keep it there. I mean seriously. SERIOUSLY!? Scott MacIntyre — Wild Angels - Poor Scott is being given the worst time by the judges and why? He has the biggest handicap of all the contestants. He has to learn everything blind but be expected to perform like a guy who can see. What was Paula thinking by asking him to get closer to the audience? If it were me, the last thing I’d want is to be within touching distance of people who I can’t see. I totally don’t get what they’re trying to say with Scott because he clearly has his limits on what he can do. He sang the song well and he played the piano beautifully. I don’t recall anyone telling Stevie Wonder to reach out and touch the audience. Speaking of….how many times do we have to hear Randy bring up every blind singer to ever grace a stage? Good grief. I thought Scott did pretty good and I think he’ll make the top 10. People are rooting for him.Alexis Grace — Jolene - This rendition wasn’t as bad as the judges made it out to be. I actually thought it was pretty good because it did NOT sound like Dolly Parton or Olivia Newton John and it didn’t have the usual Alexis sound. This was a time that holding back kinda worked because she, unlike Lil Rounds could pull this type of performance off. Unfortunately, I just don’t see many of the girls, Alexis included, being fan favorites this year. She is vulnerable to leave this week.Danny Gokey — Jesus Take the Wheel - I just gotta stop reading bulletin boards about Danny. People are all sorts of mean. Was this performance the best? No. Was it good? Yes. How did I feel watching him screw up the song like 4 times in front of Randy Travis? Well, I cringed. Poor guy! But it shows he’s human. He can get start struck like the best of us..but please? Randy Travis? Yeesh! Anyway, this was a good solid performance. The complaints about the beginning of the song were stupid. Of course it’s the weakest part of the song. A song with a powerful chorus usually has a weak opening lyric anyway because what good would the chorus be if it were weaker than the beginning? The song would suck! So, he did what he had to. It was a’ight.Anoop Desai — Always On My Mind - ANOOP! This was a great vocal! He did awesome and what’s cool is that this song is so typical Willie Nelson and so identifiable to him. Anoop turned it into a ballad that could possibly be a current record. I thought it was really pretty how he sang it and he solidified his standing in the top 10. We’ll see Anoop on tour this year.Megan Joy — Walking After Midnight - Yuck. I am sorry but this girl does the same thing every week. How much more awkward dancing and squinty warbling do we have to endure? Did she pick the right song? Yeah…she did. It fit her weirdness. But her bout with the flu did nothing for her vocal ability. It was just not good. Will she be around next week? Probably but she can’t win this thing. And as my dearly departed husband used to say, when it comes to be her turn on stage during the tour, it will be a good time for a bathroom break.Matt Giraud — So Small - I’ve always liked Matt. His piano playing and soulful vocals are top notch. I enjoy him very much. This was probably his best performance yet. Who’s going home? If I had it my way I’d send Adam and Megan home because I can’t freaking stand either one!!! But they probably won’t go much to my chagrin. I really think that Michael, Allison and Lil Rounds have some issues this week. Alexis is vulnerable too.

Last night’s performances for the most part SUCKED. The only saving grace was Danny Gokey who bares a striking resemblance to Robert Downey Jr. I am sure he’s heard that before! I wish I could have found a good picture from RDJ’s earlier days because DG looks so much like him. Hard living and drugs has aged RDJ a bit – that and well, getting old. Anyway, back to Idol… Let’s recap…Jackie Tohn – A Little Less Conversation… Yuck. I mean..SERIOUSLY? She is so not going to win this thing. I think her performance was annoying and the singing was even worse. The only thing worse than that was how she always seemed to find her way into the view of the camera after everyone sang. BLECH!!Ricky Braddy – Song For You… Who is this guy? It kinda irks me that AI would hold some folks back during the audition and Hollywood week episodes. It does the contestants no favors and gips us out of figuring out who we like best. It’s almost as if they are letting some folks through in order to make it easier on the ones they really like. That being said, Ricky Braddy has a nice voice. He sang the song pretty well. But I am not sure he’s got enough in him to move him forward. I really doubt it.Anoop Desai – Angel of Mine… I like Anoop. He sings nice. I don’t think there is this huge star thing going on for him – at least not yet. Remember Clay Aiken? I think if he can hold on long enough, he’ll get a good following. Will he win? No. His performance was a little shaky last night.Alexis Grace – Never Loved A Man… Alexis’ saving grace is that all the other girls sucked last night. I actually think Tatiana sang better than her but she’s so annoying!! Alexis Grace is at least likable and that should save her and put her into the top 12.Brent Keith – Hicktown… I’m afraid it’s back to Home Depot or Lowes, dude… Seriously..HICKTOWN!? This song is sung in a bar. It’s not a song that is remembered. I dunno. He should have sung a Garth Brooks or George Strait song. Jason Aldean? C’mon!!Stevie Wright – You Belong With Me… D’oh!! See? This is what I mean about letting certain people on who shouldn’t be there. She’s kinda cute and has a nice young and fun personality but who advised her on the song? She so seriously didn’t pick that particular Taylor Swift song!! Why didn’t she sing “Our Song” from Taylor Swift? Augh! It doesn’t matter cuz her nerves and inexperience blew it for her which is kinda sad because I like her better than some of the other drama queens on the show. But her voice sucked so bad! I think I lost IQ points listening to her.Casey Carlson – Every Little Thing He Does is Magic… No, I take that back.. I lost IQ points listening to Casey Carlson! DOUBLE AUGH!!! Wow, the epitomy of suckage. I think the only reason she is there is because Simon likes her. This girl is one of those types who shouldn’t utter a sound. She’s got a voice made for a magazine which is probably where she’ll end up.Michael Sarver – I Don’t Wanna Be… Myeh! I had high hopes for Michael. But I just don’t think he did himself any favors by picking this song that is too gruff for his tenor voice. Besides, it’s been done before and BETTER by Bo Bice. C’mon people! The show’s been on 8 years, I think we should all know what songs we should sing by now! Still, he’s got a chance if not as the 3rd top vote getter as one of the wild cards later on.Ann Marie Boskovich – Natural Woman… sigh… We’re only a 3rd of the way through the top 36..I don’t know if my brain can take this. This girl should have some chops ya know? She sings demos so she’s gotta be somewhat good, right? I think her voice is pretty…it’s good. But it’s not GREAT. It’s not soulful enough to take on a mammoth song like Aretha’s “Natural Woman”… Maybe if she wore a hat with a giant bow.. This performance was wimpy wimpy wimpy! She won’t get through on this one but she may stand a slight chance in the wild card round.Stephen Fowler – Rock With You… There should be a rule…you should not be allowed to sing Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston or any gimmicky song that was made a hit for a famous band but would sound absolutely absurd if anyone else sang it (yes, Casey Carlson, I am speaking to you). Stephen Fowler blew it here too. He has potential. But he just tanked it on this pitiful performance. It seriously sucked. Tatiana Del Toro – Saving All My Love For You… Most talked about contestant? Maybe. Most annoying? Definitely. I was mad when she got through to Hollywood. I was mad when she acted like a total idiot in Hollywood and still made it through. Yet, I somehow knew that she would show up in the top 36 show and not suck. And she didn’t. Despite the judges being turned off by her subdued demeanor, I was actually glad that someone gave this girl a Xanax. Her vocals weren’t half bad. And she kept her talking to a minimum. Yet, the judges want the REAL Tatiana back. That’s code for you’re only good to us if you make it good television and you being normal is boring. Last night’s behavior did prove one thing – she appears to be taking this seriously. But I think her antics in previous episodes may have hurt her chances. I still don’t like her.Danny Gokey – Hero…  The only hope for redeeming last night was Danny Gokey. It was 2 hours of moaning and groaning up to this point and I was confident that Danny wouldn’t let us down. And he didn’t. I wasn’t enthused about him singing a Mariah Carey song but he did REALLY good and he made it sound different (well, he’d have to!) and it’s obvious that he’s going to make it into the top 12. I’d say he’s the leading contender to win it all. At least right now, he’s got the edge.