idol finale

Well, it's the finale. Is it me or did this season fly by? Not the most exciting season, most eliminations were pretty predictable from week to week, and no overly eccentric or endearing personalities. I don't want to use the word bland, because I've certainly had my favorites and talent is in abundance, but I don't think this will go down as one of the most memorable seasons.

I'm watching the performance and results shows consecutively again tonight. I find this enjoyable. There are all kinds of celebrities in the audience tonight. I'll try to keep an "I spy" tally as I go along.

Order was determined by a coin toss, and Kris chose to perform second. I miss Danny.

Adam 1: Singing "Mad World" again - one of his best performances. Excuse the cheese, but he was really born to sing this song. He's wearing a long coat. I can't get behind long coats on men. Unless you're Christopher Walkin. I'm not sure why. God, I'm just now realizing how glaringly different Adam and Kris are. It's kind of funny how Idol finals always end up that way - remember Carrie and Bo? Taylor and Katherine? Anyway, back to Adam. He rocked it of course. It's a mellow, intense song. Frankly, he scared me. In a good way. Judges all love it, but Simon called it a bit melodramatic. What were you expecting?

I spy: Anthony Hopkins

Kris 1: During his family video, Kris' mom said he gave her "music coupons" for her birthday, which she could redeem for a song performances. Aww what a cute little boy. Then she said it was a few years ago. Not as cute. Singing "Ain't No Sunshine" at the piano. I can't remember if he sang this before. I think so. Sounds good. Kris, I dare you to get up on the piano and take off your pants. No? Boring. Judges all love it. Kara says he has the ability to create a unique bond with everyone in the audience. Maybe it's just me then.

I spy: Randy's sharp outfit

Adam 2: Singing "Change is Gonna Come" chosen by Simon Fuller. Adam changed into a really handsome light grey suit. He cleans up well. I wish his second song was more of a rocking out song though. I would have liked to see him jumping around a little, although the vocals were excellent. Kara called it possibly his best performance ever, and Paula agreed with enthusiasm that almost threw her off her own chair.

I spy: Katie and Suri!

Kris 2: Singing "What's Goin' on?" by the late, great Marvin Gaye chosen by Simon Fuller. This is Kris at his best - this kind of song with the acoustic guitar is his bread and butter. John Mayer minus the scary faces. Gotta hand it to him, Kris is throwing his best at Adam tonight. Just when I start handing out compliments, Randy disagrees calling it "too light" for this point in the competition. Kara tries to redeem by praising him up and down. I think she might be a little drunk. Simon likened it to "three friends in their bedroom strumming along to Marvin Gay." OUCH.

For the third round, each boy will sing a new song written by Kara called "No Boundaries". This will be the winner's song that becomes his first single.

Adam 3: He's singing his heart out. Sounds a little like late Bon Jovi, but more cheesey inspirational. Adam is making me believe that he's known this song for years when he probably learned it last week. Goosebumps. The boy is a pro. Probably not a song I would download, but these songs never are. Always a little cheesey. Randy didn't love the performance - a little pitchy. Kara is moved and proud. Paula is oozing love tonight. This isn't Simon's kind of song - no surprise - but great things to say about Adam.

Kris 3: Performing without an instrument, Kris' interpretation is similar. Not belting out the notes in the same way, but that's not his style. He sounds good, but nothing special. I'm sure this would not be his first choice for a single. Judges all bathed him with compliments, but admitted the song was too high for his register.

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And now it's time for the results show....and the BIG boy stage.

I spy: a giant velour bow tie.

The opening montages making fun of the judges are pretty funny, especially the one highlighting Paula's colorful and sophisticated vocabulary.

The finalists are wearing all white. Again? Let's try something new next year, ok? The boys are joined by the top 13 to perform Pink's "So What". Oh god, please don't butcher this song. Too late. Scott, I almost forgot about you. How about Jorge? At least Allison is redeeming the group a little.

Last year's winner is up. David Cook is singing his new song called "Permanent". I'm reminded about how crazy I was for David last year. Maybe I'm becoming an old lady, but I just didn't find my inner teenager this season. Still love this guy though. This song was written for his brother who recently passed away. It's a beautiful song, and I'm sure not easy for him to sing. I will be downloading this tomorrow. He's just a class act.

Ryan is at the podium, which has me reaching for my clicker. Really? The Golden Idol awards again? It's so painful and awkward. What are the chances these people won hundreds of free beers from their friends for pulling pranks on Idol producers? I'm going to hope for that.

Except of course for Norman Gentle! I almost forgot about him! I have to admit, I love the guy. So glad he won this prestigious award. I hope there's a place for him in show biz.

Special Duet 1: Lil Rounds sings with Queen Latifah. Glad she got the chance to do this. Now that the pressure is off, Lil actually sounds and looks great. This is what we were waiting for during the competition. Oh well, at least she got to do this fun duet with Queen. I'm sure it was a thrill for her. However, WHO told Queen to wear a onesie?

Special Duet 2: Alexis and Anoop singing "I'm Yours" with Jason Mraz. A popular song during this year's competition, so no surprise they would ask him to perform. They are joined by a chorus of other contestants. It's a group-friendly song, so I'm sure it will be a fixture on the tour.
Special Duet 3: Kris singing with Keith Urban. I missed the title of the song, but it's fun. This is actually the first time I've seen Keith Urban perform. I think you need to always say (or type) his full name. Keith Urban. Kris is basically singing back up for Keith Urban. It's making Kris seem much cooler.

Top 5 girls perform "Glamorous". Ugh. It's like they're all on the stage separately without acknowledging each other. Painful...and then Fergie came out. Unfortunately, this doesn't improve things. Now the Black Eyed Peas come out for a performance. Someone must have cursed because we had a small break with an Idol logo graphic. This is all over the place. Move on please.

Bikini Girl is back to collect the Golden Idol award for attitude. I'm pretty sure she has new boobs. She starts performing "Vision of Love" - her showdown song with Kara during auditions - and she is soon joined on the stage by the judge. And Kara flashes her bikini! I love it! Kara just won me over for the season.

I spy: Priscilla Presley

Special Duet 4: CYNDI LAUPER. I'm a happy girl. My all time favorite singing with my favorite contestant. Cyndi on American Idol? I don't even care, I love it. And I love that Allison got to sing "Time After Time" with her. The thrill of a lifetime - I practice for a moment like that in the shower every day.

Mr. Danny Gokey: Disappointed he's singing a boring song, but I'm glad we get to hear Danny one last time. He really is a class act, and some day I'll get over Kris beating him out. Probably tomorrow. Ok, this just got much cooler with Lionel Richie on the stage. Say what you will, the guy is a legend. An odd pairing, but fun.

Special Duet 5: Don't think I ever could have predicted Adam singing with KISS. Pretty badass. Watching a "reunion" performance for a band like this always waks a fine line between awesome and sad. Thankfully, they stayed on the better side of awesome for most of the time. Adam must be dying inside. He's totally holding his own. Look at their SHOES.

Carlos Santana. Don't care...let's get to the winner already!

Special Duet 6: Megan, Michael....and Steve Martin? Who knew Steve Martin was into...what is this? Bluegrass? Country? I don't quite know what to say about this. Michael and Megan do sound nice though.

Top 8 boys singing Rod Stewart's "If You Want My Body". Will Rod Stewart seriously take the stage? Indeed he does. Need to hand it to Idol this year, it's a quite a lineup. Rod sounds as timeless as ever. The top boys' performance knocked the girls out of the park.

I spy: Kate Walsh dancing to Rod Stewart

I spy: Joel Madden and Nicole Richie

Another Golden Idol award...for crazypants Tatiana. Fastforward Fastforward.

Final Duet: Adam and Kris singing "We Are the Champions" with Queen... or at least part of it. Miss you, Freddie. Another pinch-me moment for these guys I'm sure.

And now for the moment of truth....

KRIS.

I'm done.

idol top 3

Can you believe it's the top three already? Are you sick of my Idol posts yet? Seeing as this is all I've written about for the past week, I can't say I blame you. There are a million things I want to write about, but Idol seems to be the only thing that forces me to sit and type. I promise that will soon change...after the finale of course.

Once again, I'm watching both the performance and results show on Wednesday night. So, if my tenses seem odd, I am watching this in my present but your past (Lost?). Let's get to it.

I was really sad to see Allison leave last week, but she went out with a great performance. She has been my favorite, but in my heart, I knew she wasn't headed for the finals. I'm glad we'll get to see a showdown between Danny and Kris.

The boys will each perform twice tonight - singing one personal choice and one judge's choice. I always like this round.

Danny 1: Singing Paula's song choice "Dance Little Sister" by Terrence Trent D'Arby. He's never heard the song, so that must by tough. Sounds like a good choice for his voice. He looks a litttle serious again this week. I liked him from the beginning because he always looked like he was having fun. He's lost a little of that in the higher pressure weeks. Ok, now he's getting into it and dancing around. The band sounds amazing, and I usually don't notice that. Randy called it dope. Kara didn't like the dancing, but Paula strongly disagreed. She is a choreographer afterall. Simon liked it vocally, but didn't love the saxophone solo. Who cares?

Kris 1: Singing Kara and Randy's choice "Apologize" by One Republic. I like this song for five minutes until it was on the radio every five minutes, but it's a good choice for Kris because this is the kind of song you would find on Kris' album. He seems happy with the choice...as happy as Kris ever appears. He's playing the piano. Has Kris done this before? I can't remember. Damnit, he sounds really good. Wait...I'm bored again. Randy liked it. Kara wished he had taken more chances and changed it up. Paula picked up on a "bum" note. Simon called it a competent version of the original, but not quite as good. Again, Kris says two words in response. BORE.
Adam 1: Singing Simon's choice "One" by U2. Yay! Call it cliche, but this is one of my favorite songs of all time. Leave it to Simon to pick a popular, moneymaker of a song. But I do think there are all kinds of things Adam could do with it. He's singing alone with a pianist at the beginning. No arguments, this guy has an amazing voice. He brings it into a sort of show-tuney, soul arrangement going off the melody. I don't love it, but that might be my U2 loyalty talking. His voice is flawless. Randy liked but didn't love, Kara and Paula can't get enough, and Simon called it brilliant. Adam might be "playing the game" but he seems outwardly friendly and nice.

Danny 2: Singing "You are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker. This personal choice from Danny doesn't surprise me a bit. It's sweet with some soul (sorry if I just made you throw up). He's singing with a small ensemble of strings. I worry Simon will be bored, but I liked it. Pretty and showed off his voice. Randy liked the mad vocals, Kara called it stunning, Paula was left breathless, Simon called it a vocal master class. Danny definitely brought it tonight.

Kris 2: Singing "Heartless" by Kanye West and The Fray. If Ryan called Kris "humble" one more time, I'm going to puke. Kris has the guitar again, and I have to give him props. He took a big chance putting a completely new spin on this song. I actually like it better than the other versions. He essentially rewrote the song. Randy and Kara loved it, Paula bravoed, Simon is counting him back in after not loving the first performance.

Adam 2: Singing "Crying" by Aerosmith. Great song. Awesome performance. Just awesome. This will be my first iTunes download of the season. Judges all obviously loved him. I don't think there's any doubt that we'll see him in the finals. But as Simon says, we shouldn't assume, we should vote.

It could definitely go either way, but my pick for final two: Adam and Danny

FASTFORWARDFASTFORWARDFASTFORWARDFASTFORWARDFASTFORWARD

And it's Adam and Kris. Boo. Adam for the win!

idol top 4

Coming in late again this week just before the elimination show. It's rock week - no doubt Allison and Adam have been waiting for this one. Oddly enough, Slash is the mentor. God, I used to love him. But I don't know if I've actually ever heard him speak. Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen his face.

He's changing it up and mentoring on stage at a club. You know Slash wasn't going to stand next to the piano. Tonight, there will be 6 performances - 4 regular solos plus 2 duets. I'm not sure how the duets will play into voting, if at all.

Adam: Singing "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. Perhaps the first time Adam has gone first. I like that he chose an iconic rock song and not something obscure. This is Adam's chance to prove that he is a rock star. He's definitely proving it. It's possible Adam was born in the wrong generation. He would have been an amazing hair band frontman. I'm slightly frightened of him. In a good way. Kara called him a rock god, and I think she broke a few blood vessels. Paula called him a "whole lotta perfect". Simon called it one of his favorite Adam performances. Danny and Kris are backstage weeping.

Allison: Singing "Cry Baby" by Janis Joplin. I love her choice - it's essentially the girl version of Adam's choice. I know I've talked about my love for Allison from the start, but this little girl is just so damn talented. I'm unsure about her chances for the finals, but she is really putting it all out there this week. She rocked this song. Darn, Randy didn't like it. Kara didn't like the song choice. Simon complimented her vocals and confidence saying she's really come a long way, but also didn't love her song choice. I think Allison fans are loyal, but I don't know if she converted anyone this week.

First Duet - Danny and Kris: Singing "Renegade" by The Styx. Ehh they sound fine, but I'm bored. Encouraging reviews from the judges, but nothing stellar. Simon said Danny way better than Kris, which earned him a snarky look from Kris. He looks less than thrilled to be up there. I don't care if that stage fell down during rehearsals, I have no room for your attitude Kris.

Kris: Singing "Come Together" by The Beatles with the guitar. This choice feels a little stale since many other Idols have performed it. Slash tells him to be a little more animated - haha. I still can't put my finger on it, but Kris still hasn't won me over. He's marketable and cute, and I have no doubt that he'll put out successful records. His fans seem to love him. Sorry Kris, I'm just not on board. Randy just "liked" the vocals, but loved his guitar skills. Kara didn't like it - felt that he was trying too hard. Paula is confusing. Simon said it was like "eating ice for lunch because it will leave you with nothing to remember afterwards". Simon, you are a genius with words. Kris, PLEASE SHOW SOME EMOTION! Why hasn't anyone pointed this out?

Danny: Singing "Dream On" by Aerosmith. Slash recognizes what a tough song it is, and I have to agree. This choice makes me a little nervous. It's definitely iconic, I'm just not sure it will resonate with the younger viewers. He's pulling it off. My only problem is he looks pissed. Danny's generally a happy, animated singer. He's trying to look like a rocker with edge, but he just seems unhappy. I have a feeling Danny and Kris suffered the most from the interrupted rehearsal earlier in the night. They just seem uneasy. Mixed reviews from the judges, but still positive because they all like him and recognize this isn't his genre. Simon compared his final note to a horror movie.

Second Duet - Adam and Allison: Singing "Slow Ride" by Fog hat. I love that they were paired up. These two definitely ruled this night. We also found out that Allison visited Adam's stylist this week. Matching punk hair. How cute. Their duet is much more fluid and fun than Danny/Kris. Their powerful voices compliment each other well too. They seem like they genuinely had fun - as opposed to the other two who looked like they wanted to kill each other. Judges all loved it.

Who I think will go home: Allison (boo)

Who I think should go home: Kris

Who got my vote: Adam

idol top 5

I'm running behind this week, so I'm getting the performance post up just under the wire before results. I'm excited about the top 5.

This week's theme is "Rat Pack" Big Band standards. And the surprise mentor is... Jamie Foxx. Fun. At least they're making up for the boredom of last week.

Kris: Singing "The Way You Look Tonight" by Tony Bennett. Jamie just offered to make a record with Kris He is blown away by him. He's sporting a suit and tie - cute, but looks a little like he's wearing his big brother's suit. I would like him to shave that mustache situation. The boy can sing though. This was a great song choice for him. He's not messing with the melody too much, but he's putting his own style into it. Huge raves from the first three judges, but Simon called it "wet" and not enough to win the competition. I just wish Kris showed a little more personality when he isn't singing.

Allison: Singing "Someone to Watch Over Me" which I just found out was originally composed by George Gershwin, made famous by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Allison looks adorable tonight. I think she just messed a lyric "someone who watch over me..." but hopefully no one will notice. It's a sweet, soulful performance with her trademark power notes. I think a strong ballad was a good choice for the only girl singing among a group of Rat Pack boys. Again, the first three loved it. Simon liked it, but still says he doesn't feel her desire to win, and thinks she could be in trouble this week. Kara called him crazy.

Matt: Singing "My Funny Valentine" which was originally a show tune from a show called Babe in Arms, but was also made popular by Frank Sinatra. Google is teaching me so much tonight. Jamie is working really with Matt on this song...the man is talented. Just based on his style, I think this could be Matt's week to shine. It's a tough song, but his vocals sound great. I sort of wish he played the piano because he gets a lot of energy from that. I won't complain too much because he's really putting his heart into it. Randy called it pitchy, Kara didn't feel any emotional connection, but Paula disagrees and so do I. Simon called it the only believable, authentic song he's heard tonight. He could tell Matt really felt it and called it absolutely brilliant - all very high praise coming from Simon.

Danny: Singing "Come Rain or Come Shine" by Ray Charles. Jamie took a liking to Danny and literally got right up in his face. Danny is looking very dapper in his navy suit. Just like Matt, Danny is putting his heart into this song. In the second half, he really brings out the blues style in the typical Danny. He brings it every time, and I always love it. I think I just have a soft sport for him. Randy says Danny is the only one tonight who could actually have an album of these songs. Kara says he has swagger. Paula called it stellar. Simon also complimented his swagger and confidence - he came out to prove a point that he belongs here.

Note: Somehow, I only just now noticed Paula's dress. Or is she just hiding behind a red bed sheet?

Adam: Singing "Feeling Good" which as far as I can tell is a Nina Simone song. Adam almost had Jamie Foxx in tears. Everyone loves the boy. He's rocking a shiny white suit tonight, but nothing really shocks us with Adam. He sounds impeccable as usual. Not that I know what I'm talking about, but I get a Broadway feel from the performance. Wait, I'm not crazy. Randy called it "a little too Broadway" but still loved it. Kara called it shocking and sleezy, but loves it. She's drinking some Paula juice tonight. Who incidentally just likened him to Michael Phelps. I like Simon because he always judges the way the contestants are competing - not just their vocals, etc. - and he can feel that Adam wants to win every week.

Who I think is going home: Allison

Who I hope is going home: Matt

Who got my vote: Danny

idol top 7 (take 2)

Last week, my predictions were all wrong, so I need to step up my game this week. After Matt became the recipient of the first judges’ save last week, we are back again with the top seven. Only this week, we’ll have to say goodbye to two of them.

The theme is disco, and there’s no mentor this week. Saving that time will allow them to have all four judges back to review everyone. Boring. I’d rather have a mentor.

Lil Rounds: Singing Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman”. She’s having a lot of fun with this song, and I’m glad to see that. It’s pretty clear this could be Lil’s swan song, but she is definitely putting her best foot forward after struggling to please the judges week after week. This might be my favorite performance of her. Oh man, the girl just can’t please those judges. None of them liked it.

Kris: Singing Donna Summer's “She Works Hard for the Money” with the acoustic guitar. I might be wrong, but I’m willing to bet Kris ripped this arrangement from someone else. It sounds good – typical Kris. He took a theme that isn’t suited for him, and rearranged the song to the tune of John Mayer. He knows how to play the game. He still gives me the snoozes though. Judges all loved it called him “original” and “knows who he is”.

Observation: Kris’ wife is there every week. Does she have a job? Is she taking a leave of absence? This is the kind of thing I wonder about.

Danny: Singing “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire. A disco classic. Danny’s rocking a slight beard this week. A man after my own heart. Don’t know if this is the best song to show off his voice, but he’s having fun and giving a show as usual. Really pulling out the dance moves this week too – thankfully, he’s recovered from that initial trouble with singing and dancing at the same time. Judges mostly loved it – Kara says he has perfect pitch. Simon liked it but said it was a bit awkward and clumsy, not professional. Hey, at least he puts it out there.

Allison: Singing “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer. I kind of can’t wait for Allison to sing disco. She starts out sitting on a moving staircase in the center of the stage, which is pretty cool. Her arrangement is kind of hard rock/metal. Don’t know if I love it – seems a little awkward - but she’s belting out the big notes as usual. Randy didn’t love the arrangement, but still loves her. Kara agrees on both points. Paula likes the edginess and authenticity. Simon called it a brilliant performance, acknowledging that she is an underdog coming into this week.

Adam: Singing “If I Can’t Have You” from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Adam is back in his “conservative” young Elvis duds this week. This is a slow song, which was a good choice because that’s an unconventional choice for disco week, which will set him apart. Not that that’s ever a problem for Adam. His voice sounds flawless as usual. Randy says he’s ready right now. Kara says he’s brilliant and inspiring…blah blah blah.

Observation: Paula’s lip gloss might be made of kryptonite.

Matt: Singing “Stayin Alive” by The Bee Gees. Poor Matt must be nervous this week, but I do think he deserves to be here. This is no easy song to sing. His tempo is really fast, but the high energy is working for him. I’m slightly concerned that he’s out of breath and might pass out. Randy didn’t love the song choice or arrangement, but still says he can really sing. Kara basically called it good, but not great. Paula loved it. Simon was a no go. Told him to “get out of Idol land” calling it desperate. Uh oh.

Anoop: Singing “Dim All the Lights” but they didn’t say the artist. Anoop also grew a little beard this week. He’s also wearing a tan suit, bright pink sweater and matching tie. He can get away with it, but I wouldn’t call that pop star chic. I don’t know this song – it’s basically an up tempo ballad. This feels really similar to his performances from the last few weeks. Randy and Kara called it a good song choice and liked the vocals. Paula loved it. Simon called it mediocre at best – a horrible version of the song, and his worst performance by a mile.

I hope the top five will be: Kris, Allison, Adam, Danny and Matt

idol top 7

I'd like to start tonight's post with the woman who is the Idol of all of our hearts this week. Even Brian Williams said so on the news tonight. If you haven't seen it, you must drop everything and watch this right now. (Sorry, they're not allowing me to embed)

Tonight's theme is music from the movies, and none other than Quentin Tarantino is this week's mentor. Bizarre, but I kind of love it.

Looks like they're trying to correct the time problems from the past few weeks because they skipped the judges' stage walk tonight - just straight to the table intro. Simon just added that they will be judging two at a time (rather than all four judging each contestant) to save some minutes as well. This is a little annoying - I think the producers could have come up with some better solutions. Like skipping the past five minutes of Ryan/judges banter.

Let's get to it.

Allison: Singing "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith from Armageddon. I'm not ashamed to say this is one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies. I like that Allison picked a ballad tonight. We haven't seen much of this from her. It's not her best performance, but I always like listening to her. Paula called her authentic, and Simon called her the girls' only hope in this competition.

They just cut to Katie Couric in the audience. Weird.

Anoop: Singing "Everything I Do" by Bryan Adams from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Watching Tarantino coach them is so entertaining. Anoop went for another ballad this week, which was a good call since judges liked him last week. In my opinion, only Bryan Adams can pull off this song. Anoop sounds good, but a little whiney. I stand corrected, Randy loved it. Kara says he's found his place, calling it one of his best vocals.

Adam: Singing "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwold from Easy Rider. Good choice, Adam. Everyone's talking about Adam...all the time. I'll never argue that he's not super talented, but a lot of that comes from his stage training. Not to take that away from him because it's incredible, but I don't want to immediately put him at the top because this competition is about discovering new talent, which in itself, means these people are in a learning process. And some of these stage tricks can be learned. On vocals alone, I don't think he's necessarily the best. Ok, I'll stop blabbering now. His performance was super cool. Paula is gushing like a stuck pig. Simon warned that people will either love it or hate it.

They just cut to the woman who used to play Kate on Days of Our Lives. I have no idea if she's still on the show. I may be dating myself considerably. You all went through a Days phase, admit it.

Matt: Singing "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" by Bryan Adams from Don Juan DeMarco. When I heard the song choice, I was going to give Matt the cheesey award for the evening. But I'm actually loving this. Maybe this means I need to give myself the cheesey award. He lost me on a couple of the high notes, but I really like this. Uh oh, I think I'm alone in this. Randy and Kara did not love it. Incidentally, I do love Kara's hair tonight.

Danny: Singing (without his glasses) "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie from Endless Love (and Happy Gilmore). Not an easy song to sing or make current. A little shakey in the beginning, but he wins me over every time. Sounds great. Simon was a little bored because he did a transitional rendition with nothing new, but recognized that it was an emotional song for Danny to sing. Oh Simon, you're going soft on us.

They just showed Christina Applegate looking engrossed in the audience. I love her!

Kris: Singing "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from Once. Oh Kris, you gone and done it. You may remember them winning the best original song Oscar last year. This is one of my favorite movies. Kris is either completely cliche or completely genius in this moment. I've been tough on Kris, so I'm going with the latter. Trouble is, I'm holding him to a huge standard because I love the original performers of this song. He just doesn't hold a candle to them. I worry that it won't resonate with voters because they won't recognize the song. Randy didn't love it, but Kara did. Why won't he show any emotion? Look alive, Kris.

Lil Rounds: Singing "The Rose" by Bette Midler from The Rose. Such a pretty song. Lil does make unexpected choices, doesn't she? She's bringing in a gospel tone in the middle. I like it, but I'm not sure it's enough to keep Lil in the game. At this point, she needs to blow our socks off. This is a pretty performance, but not groundbreaking. Paula says some nice things with Simon rolling his eyes the whole time. He said she's not the artist we first met. Lil takes this opportunity to really defend herself for the first time.

Who I think will go home: Lil

Who I want to go home: Anoop

Who got my vote: Allison and Adam

idol top 8

I'm a day late and a dollar short watching Idol on DVR tonight, but I've become incapable of watching without typing, so here we go.

Last night, the contestants were charged with singing songs from the year they were born. I always like this theme for some reason. It always bring some variety.

Danny: Surprisingly, Danny is the oldest contestant. Born in 1980. This depresses me. Danny's home videos are always so cute - his family seems so great. He's singing a version of "Stand by Me" from that year. It starts off as a slow ballad picking up into a bit of a lounge beat. I like the more traditional version of this song, but I still have a crush on this boy. Randy didn't like the arrangement, but loved his voice. Kara says "you did you own thing and you did it well". Paula loved it and Simon thought it was great.

Why does Simon always comment on Paula's remarks? It's old.

Kris: Singing Don Henley's "All She Wants To Do is Dance" from 1985. If you remember, I made a resolution for a fresh start with Kris last week. I recognized that he is quite talented. He sounds great again tonight. But I can't help it - I'm bored. He just doesn't do it for me. Hey, I tried. Judges didn't love it. Simon used some of his go-to words: indulgent, boring, and forgettable. I just feel like there were so many good songs in 1985. Why that one?

Lil Rounds: Singing Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It?" from 1984. Love this choice. Based on prior feedback, I think she really needs to make this song modern. She sounds great, but I'm not sure she really did anything new or different with the song. Paula didn't like it, and that's never a good sign. Simon called it a "ghastly copy cat performance" - that's harsh, but I do think she has way more inside than she's bringing out to the stage. Come on Lil! I want her to stick around for a while because I'd love to see her make a comeback.

Anoop: His parents are super cute. Singing Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" from 1986. Such a beautiful song. He actually sounds great singing it. He's also wearing a great sweater/tie combo. Judges all loved it because he made it his own.

Scott: Singing "The Search is Over" by Survivor from 1985. Scott's switching it up with the guitar this week. Super brave move for Scott. He's really taking a stab at rocking it out this week. A little awkward, but such is Scott. I love that he took the chance, and his voice sounds good as always. Simon suggested going back to the piano again next week. The others basically said it was just okay.

Allison: Singing Bonnie Rait's "I Can't Make You Love Me" from 1992. Yes, 1992. Here's another great song. A different choice for Allison, but I love it. I really love everything she does. Judges all like her, but Simon says she needs to let her personality shine through more, so we can get to know her. I find her totally endearing and quirky, but I think some of what Simon is referring to is immaturity, since she's only 16.

Matt: Singing Stevie Wonder's "Part time Lovers" from 1985. Ohhh I used to love this song. I believe it was regularly featured on my Walkman. He's definitely playing up the Justin Timberlake comparison this week - as he should. Judges really loved it. I think Kara's head almost exploded.

Fox really needs to get a watch. DVR missed Adam's entire performance when it cut off at 9pm. Did we really need Kris to tell us his ferris wheel story? Luckily, I'm watching his performance online.

Adam: Singing "Mad World" by Tears for Fears from 1982. There's no denying it, this boy has an unbelievable voice. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure it was flawless. Simon gave him a well-deserved, and very rare standing ovation.

Who I want to go home: Lil (hate to say it)
Who I think will go home: Lil
Who would have gotten my vote if I watched this last night: Allison and Adam

_____________________________________

Since I'm watching the results show right now, here are some highlights:

• Frankie Avalon singing Venus??? Are you kidding? I love it. I don't even care. The song is from 1959 - the year of Simon's birth.
• Paula is wearing leather elbow gloves.
• I only recently heard Flo Rida for the first time. I know, I'm lame. Is he from Florida? Is that a play on words? Anyway, I do love this song. He's also super cute, although I'm not sure he'd appreciate that descriptive.
• Anoop, Scott and Lil are in the bottom three. The voters got it right this week.
• And it's Scott "singing for his life" this week. I was dreading this. He seems like such a sweet guy. The good thing is, this performance is actually better than it was last night.
• They are reeeeeealy dragging this out. Simon made the decision to send him home.
• Awww I'll miss Scott.

idol top 9

I've failed my own self as a blogger by posting about Idol twice in a row with nothing in between. Please forgive me, and I'll try to forgive myself.

Ahh well. Here we go. The theme this week is "most popular downloads". Interesting idea. Has the potential to bring a lot of different genres. I was afraid to would be new pop songs that I'm not cool enough to know yet, but it seems to be just popular songs overall.

Anoop: Singing "Pilot" by Usher. Seems like a good song choice for Anoop. His voice sounds good, and he's really performing it. It's funny because he seems to like the sensual songs, and as much as I do like him, I don't really see the sex appeal - something that Usher really relies on. Judges not overly impressed. Simon called it a mess - I wouldn't go that far, but it just didn't seem professional. This might be it for Anoop.

Megan: Singing "Turn Your Lights Down Low" by Bob Marley. Oh Megan, you cute little weirdo. She obviously loves this song and it goes well with her unique voice. I'm wondering why she always sings behind the mic stand and never walks around. I'm getting a little bored with that. Judges seem bored with her too. She doesn't seem to be taking their advice from week to week.

Danny: Singing "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts. I might be wrong, but I think this is the first ballad Danny is singing on the big stage. His isn't the strongest voice among the guys, but I still really do like him. This is probably cheesy, but he just puts a lot of emotion into it, and you feel that. (I know one particular reader who probably just disowned me for typing that)Simon agrees with me though - he called it Danny's best performance thus far on the big stage.

Allison: Singing "Don't Speak" by No Doubt and playing guitar. I love this song. Yikes, her wardrobe is slightly frightening. Luckily, her voice is awesome as usual. I just love this little girl. Randy and Simon agree with me on the outfit, but everyone liked her performance. She's still one of my favorites.

Sidenote: Haha, you can see David Spade behind Randy.

Scott: Singing "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel. Shocking, Scott is singing Billy. He pretty much impersonates Billy every week, but you can tell he's really psyched to get the chance to sing this one. It's true, his voice and style is definitely suited for the song. The judges all loved it - Simon calling it his "best by a country mile." Scott was definitely smart this week playing to his strengths.

Matt: Singing "You Found Me" by The Fray at the piano. They have him on a side stage surrounded by audience members - it's a little awkward and distracting. He sounded good, although it sounded a little like an imitation. Ahh Paula agrees with me! Oh Paula, we're like sisters. The others didn't like it either, which is a shame because he was in the bottom two last week. Too bad because he really is talented, but I think he's letting self-doubt and indecisiveness get the best of him.

Lil Rounds: Singing "I Surrender" by Celine Dion. She mentions paying careful attention to this song choice given the judges' previous criticism. I gotta say, I don't agree with this one. The song does show off her big voice, but it's just a boring ballad. It seems like she's still looking for what the judges want from her. Incidentally, I do love her hair this week. Alas, judges still don't love the song choice, but did like her voice. Oh no, Ryan is trying to interview her kids. One is giving Randy a big hug - too cute.

Adam: Singing "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherries. Interesting choice, which is no surprise from Adam. He's rocking the Elvis hair again this week. I've expressed my reservations about Adam, but his professionalism and stage presence over others like Anoop and Matt is glaringly obvious. This performance is wild and weird, and it definitely works for him. Paula just nearly ruined it for me by comparing him to Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler. Everyone else liked him too as usual.

Kris: Singing "Ain't no Sunshine" by Bill Withers at the piano. Kris, I worry I've been too judgemental and hard on you. So, I'm wiping the slate clean tonight, and we're starting over. Nice to meet you. He's doing something really cool with this song, and his piano playing is pretty impressive. I'll admit it, he is talented. I still don't find him very engaging and a little cocky. Baby steps, Kris. Baby steps. Judges loved him as usual.

Who I think will go home: Megan or Anoop

Who I hope will go home: Anoop

Who got my vote: Danny and Scott

idol top 10

It's Motown week. The contestant get to go visit Barry Gordy and Smokey Robinson at Hitsville, USA, which is pretty amazing. Smokey served as the mentor this week. Here we go:

(By the way, in case my tense is confusing, I do the Idol blogs while I'm actually watching the show. And no, I don't have a life.)

Matt: Singing "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye at the piano. I think I've been underestimating this guy a little. He really has a great voice. This kind of music with a bluesy feel is definitely his strength. I worry that the judges will say it's old-fashioned. I was wrong - they all really liked it, saying he's now one of the front runners.

Sidenote: Randy is wearing turquoise.

Kris: Singing "How Sweet It Is" by Marvin Gaye with the guitar. Again, Kris is just blahh for me. He's like a kid at the high school talent show trying to be John Mayer. Everyone else likes him. I'm at a table for one.

Scott: Singing "You Can't Hurry Love" by Diana Ross at the piano. Interesting choice - a little cheesy interpretation, but there's no denying that he's a talented musician. Again, this guy is an adult contemporary artist, not a pop star. But I still like watching him. Simon pretty much hated it, and Randy agreed.

Megan: Singing "For Once In My Life" by The Temptations. She is just too darn cute. I love her outfit and hair this week. Smokey said it right - she's perhaps the most original contestant they've had on Idol. It's some odd place between awkward and cool. Uh oh. Randy called it a train wreck. He said the tempo was too fast, and I actually agree. No one seems to like the song choice. Simon called it atrocious. I hope this isn't it for her.

Sidenote: Simon seems like he has somewhere else to be.

Anoop: Singing "Ooh Baby Baby" by Smokey Robinson. Right off the bat, I'm thinking this is a risky choice for Anoop. His voice does sound nice, but I'm bored. And it's not often that Anoop bores me. Kara is impressed with his vocal skills and wants him to continue showing it off. Even Simon said it was a great vocal, but needs to work on showmanship.

Michael the Oil Rigger: Singing "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations. Michael says he's going to "take it to church" this week, which I gather means break it down. I would say good, but not great on this one. Ouch, Paula called it Las Vegas loungey. Simon said he couldn't wait for it to end.

Paula Note: I really love her hair short tonight.

Lil Rounds: Singing "Heat Wave" by Martha and The Vandellas. She was made for songs like this. She looks great and sounds great. Randy actually didn't love it, Kara agreed. Paula loved it. Simon called it an authentic tribute, but didn't love the song choice.

Adam: Singing "The Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson. I love this song, so I'm a little worried about how Adam will do to it. He completely changed his image this week going for an old school Elvis look, which is interesting. He's singing with only an acoustic guitar player. I honestly can't decide how I feel about this. I think I like it. Smokey gave him a standing ovation, which I think is the first of the night. All the judges love him as usual.

Danny: Singing "Get Ready" by The Temptations. He's always fun and great at this big vocal, high energy songs. This is what Michael was trying to do, but didn't pull off. This was one of my favorites of the night. Paula, Randy, and Kara loved it, Simon called it clumsy and amateurish.

Allison: Singing "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by The Temptations. She's still one of my favorites. She really wiped the floor with this song - just such a powerful voice coming from a 16-year-old girl. Kara is going crazy for her. Everyone else loved her too.

Final Note: Smokey Robinson is a handsome man. And he's so nice and sweet to all the contestants. I have a little crush on him.

Who I think is going home: Michael
Who I hope is going home: Michael

End Note: Annoyed yet? I just saw a preview for Glee, the new Fox show coming up in May. I CANNOT wait.

idol top 11 (100th blog!)

This is my 100th blog. Unfortunately, I have nothing clever to contribute tonight. It's St. Patrick's Day, and it's Tuesday. I seem to have developed a weekly Idol blogging habit, so here we go...

Tonight is country night. Really? It seems a little early to throw this one at them. We'll see how it goes. Randy Travis is the mentor, which is really cool. He's pretty much the epitome of country music.

Michael the Oil Rigger: Being from Texas, he might be the closest we have to a country singer, and he's taking on a tough song - "Ain't Goin' Down Til the Sun Comes Up" by Garth Brooks. Lyrically, it's a super fast song, and he's not missing a word. I would have stopped breathing after the first chorus. The judges liked him (except Simon), but obviously don't like that style. I think he'll get a lot of votes from the country fans.

Allison: Singing "Blame it on Your Heart" by Patty Loveless. To quote Randy Travis, "This girl has pipes." This is definitely not her typical genre, but she sounds awesome. I love this little girl. The judges love it even though Simon is reluctant to admit it.

Kris: Singing "To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks. I'm a little bored with the song choice because so many people have covered it. Actually, I just find him boring. He has a nice voice and everything, but blahhhh. Simon thought it was "terrific" and everyone else loved it too. I guess it's just not my thing.

Lil Rounds: Singing "Independence Day" by Martina McBride. This is a beautiful song, and I officially have goosebumps. This woman is so talented, it's crazy - and here's an R&B singer doing country. Judges didn't like her song choice. Simon called her "Little" hahaha he's such an ass.

Adam: There isn't a lot of buzz around Idol this season, but the little buzz there is seems to be around Adam. Singing "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash. His video with Randy Travis is hilarious...singing a song by one of the kings of country in a dark sort of Middle Eastern style. I typically like this kind of offbeat contestant, but he just doesn't do it for me. I can't put my finger on it. Simon called it "indulgent rubbish" and Randy called it "current and young"

Scott: Singing "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride at the piano. It's a pretty ballad - the best style to suit his voice, but runs the risk of getting repetitive. I worry that Simon is going to skewer him. Actually, he liked him, but everyone wants him to step it up with the song choices.

Alexis: Singing "Jolene" by Dolly Parton - a classic. This isn't an easy song to sing, and she's not Dolly Parton. It's the same risk you take when you try to sing a Whitney track. She made it a little bluesy, and it didn't really work for her. The judges don't love it. I still really like her though, so I hope she stays around.

Danny: Singing "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. It looks like he's wearing a parka. Distracting. It's a pretty song and gives him the opportunity to belt out some big notes. A good choice for him a thing - he wouldn't have done with with traditional country twang. The crowd goes crazy for this boy. Judges still love him, though he had some weak spots.

Anoop: Singing "You're Always on my Mind" by Willie Nelson - another classic. I love this song. Anoop is no Willie, but he's singing really well. You can tell he's really trying to step it up after being toward the bottom last week. Simon said he's gone "zero to hero" and I have to agree.

Megan: Singing "I Go Walking After Midnight" by Patsy Cline. Here's another classic song, and you can't touch Patsy. Megan definitely has a different sound - I think you either love it or hate it. I find it cute and fun, but I worry it doesn't have staying power for the duration of the competition. Although I do like that she brings something really different to the table. Apparently, she is sick with the flu. The judges really liked it.

Matt: Singing "So Small" by Carrie Underwood at the piano. I don't know this song, but it's nice. Nothing too special. He sounds a little like Gavin DeGraw. I think I compared him to Justin Timberlake last week. Odd. I do like him though, and he's a super talented pianist. Judges are very complementary.

Who I hope will go home: Kris

Who I think will go home: Alexis

Who got my vote*: Allison and Anoop

*My vote is 25% based on talent and 75% based on my bizarre emotional attachments, which will likely fluctuate.

idol top 13

Finally, the big stage. Let's be real, this is where the competition starts. What's with the new entrance/intro? A voice from above introduces the judges who walk onto the stage and down to their table. A little over the top. The stage is ridiculous as usual. I think I just had a seizure.

Michael Jackson songs tonight. I always love this theme. It's not easy though - if you can sing an MJ song, you gotta make it work.

Lil Rounds: Singing "The Way You Make Me Feel." Her voice is so strong - no doubt there. She's confident and comfortable on stage. Her top looks like an unfortunate 80s prom dress, but I can overlook that. Seems like she does this every night. Judges love her. I hope she gets votes because she's swimming in a sea of cute boys, who are going to scoop up those tween voters.

Scott: Singing "Keep the Faith." Behind the piano is obviously where Scott is comfortable. His voice plays off the piano really well, and he turns into a performer. I don't know this song - it's a little hokie - but he definitely has an identity, and I like that. The audience is going crazy for him. Simon hated the song because no one knows it. Quote: "It's fine being artistic, but not on this show." Simon, you're making it difficult for me to defend my love for this show to the music snobs of the world.

Danny: Glad the producers highlighted a different aspect of his life beyond the loss of his wife - he seems genuinely fun. Singing "PYT" (Pretty Young Thing). I like that he picked such a fun funky MJ song. He's singing his heart out and engaging the audience - he definitely came to play. Paula said he's on his way to the finals, Simon thought his voice was brilliant, but his dancing was hideous. He's in for sure.

Michael the Oil Rigger: Singing "You are Not Alone." Sorry MJ, but I hate this song. The performance seems overdone and hokie (that's my word of the day). Simon gave him one of his best compliments which was kind of surprising - said he made up for his weaker voice with heart and passion giving it 110%. Randy called him one of the best, and Cara liked him too. I wasn't wild about it.

Jasmine: Her family is too cute. Singing "I'll be There." This one's a classic, someone had to pick it. She's basically singing the Mariah version. I know judges love that she's very young, marketable and commercial, but I find her kind of boring. Judges comments are good, but not great.

Kris: Family video snooze. Singing "Remember the Time" with his guitar. I loved this song in 6th grade. The guitar makes him a little more interesting - it gives him a confident little swagger that seems to work for him. He looks like he's having fun - this is the first time I've really like one of his performances. Cara says he spent a lot of time helping the other contestants this week. Awwww...puke. The ladies love him. Simon says he shouldn't have brought the wife out so early (in the family video) - cut to the wife, she is NOT happy.

Allison: Turns out she's Salvadorian, and grew up singing at a Latin shopping center (like Cosco) - I love it. Singing "Give in to Me." Kind of a dark song, but it works for her rocker girl shtick. I'm worried she won't attract too many votes, but I think she's super talented and cute. She's only 16! Judges really like her, but I'm worried they're jinxing her.

Anoop: Singing "Beat It." Love that he chose this song, but it doesn't show off his voice too much, and I wish he smiled instead of looking so intense. His charm is in his goofy nature, and we didn't see that this time. Paula said this song is untouchable and Simon called it horrible.

Jorge: His family video is super cute, he seems to have one thousand relatives. Singing "Never Can Say Goodbye." It's a nice ballad that shows off his huge voice, but I'm bored. Judges weren't wild about the song choice. Simon called it corny and awful. He'll get votes.

Megan: Singing "Rock n' Robin." Is this an MJ song or does he just own it? I'm confused, I'm also confused about why she would choose this song, but she's actually really making it work for her, but it's a risk. She has a great quirky retro sound, and she's crazy beautiful. She crowed like a bird at the end. Simon called it a stupid song choice, but the other judges pretty much liked it.

Adam: I'm trying not to be distracted by the heavy makeup and scary internet photos I keep hearing about (but haven't seen - promise). Singing "Black or White." He's singing the hell out of it, but I'm not sure he connects with the audience. He's sort of intimidating if that makes sense. No doubt that he's super talented though. Paula loves him so much, she nearly passed off. Simon says he's in a different league.

Matt: His parents are precious. Singing "Human Nature" at the piano. Just like Scott, you can tell he's much more comfortable behind the piano. I forgot about this song - good one. He sort of singing it like Justin Timberlake. I wasn't a fan before, but he's winning me over. Judges liked it.

Alexis: Singing "Dirty Diana." I don't know this song, but I like it. She's singing her little heart out - looking very confident and strong on the stage. Simon thought it was over-the-top, but the rest like her. Notice the change in her voting number because they realized the version ending in "13" (never used before) is a sex hotline. Oops.

We learned that two contestants will be eliminated tomorrow night.

Who I hope will go home: Michael and Jasmine

Who I think will go home: Anoop and Jasmine

Who got my vote*: Danny and Allison

Paula Notes: Feathers.

*My vote is 25% based on talent and 75% based on my bizarre emotional attachments, which will likely fluctuate.

top 36: round three

It's round three of the top 36 - the last round. At this point, I hardly remember Hollywood week, so tonight should be full of surprises.

So far, we have 2 girls and 4 boys going on to the top 12. Let's hope for some standout girls tonight to even that out. (Note: the final 3 for the top 12 are "wild card spots" chosen by the judges)

Von: 22 from Missouri. Singing "You're All I Need to Get By" by Marvin Gaye. I always worry when they go with a classic. Ugh. He sounds like he's doing a George Michael impression - actually looks a little like it too. I stand corrected - the judges like him. Just too cheesey for me I guess. Haha... Simon said he reminds him of Clay Aiken, but he looks appalling.

Taylor: 17 from Utah. I remember her from auditions - she's cute and very tall - reminds me a little of Jordan Sparks. Singing "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. Good stage presence and soulful voice. She has super shiny tights on. They look like pleather. I want those tights. Judges didn't love it.

Alex: 19 from California. I remember rooting for this guy during auditions because he's so awkward, making his the voice that comes out of him surprising. Singing "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" by Elton John. I love this song. He has a nice voice, and he's trying to put some rock and roll into it - coming out a bit awkwardly. Simon skewered him - it was like a bully picking on a nerd. Meany, stop it Simon. I kind of love this kid.

Arianna: 17 from California. Don't remember this girl at all. Singing "The Winner Takes It All" - first live Abba song on Idol ever! I love it! I'm guessing this is because of the Mamma Mia movie. She's changing the melody a lot - making it more theatrical and going after some huge notes at the end, but not going so well. Simon called it absolutely terrible, other judges pretty much agreed.

Ju'Not: 26 from New York. I like this guy - another one who's different from the norm. Singing "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White Tees. I embarrassingly join every other female under the age of 30 who loves this song. He's singing it like a slow soul ballad - totally changing the melody. It worked for me, and the judges liked it too.

Kristen: 22 from California. Singing "Give Me One Reason" by Tracey Chapman. Good choice for her voice - also putting soul into it, this seems to be a trend tonight. A little bored. Judges were a mixed bag - seem to like her voice and range, but not her style.

Nathaniel: 18 from New York. This guy bothered me during Hollywood week. I'm all about theatrics, but he struck me as unnecessarily over-the-top. I can't handle the crying and drama. And the headbands are not good. Singing "I Would Do Anything for Love" by Meatloaf. My mom did not like me listening to this song when I was little because he says "screwing around." Ok, I'm actually having fun listening to this guy. He's having a good time. Get rid of the drama, and we can be friends Nathaniel. Simon said it was excruciating. Randy can't see what kind of artist he would be.

Felicia: 23 from Virginia. She's the one who replaced the girl who was cut after they found out she already had a professional recording contract - that comes with a bit of pressure. Singing "No One" by Alicia Keys. I think she's doing really well. She has a nice, clear voice and good confidence on stage. But what do I know? Judges seem to agree. I'd like to see her again.

Scott: 23 from Arizona. Not to blatantly label, but most people will remember him from auditions as the blind guy. We also found out that he's an amazing singer and pianist. Singing "Mandolin Rain" by Bruce Hornsby. A little worried this song is too old, but he has such a nice voice. I want to listen him while driving in the car with my windows down - sorry. He is too cute. Judges like him because he's authentic - I agree. Hope we get to see him at the piano.

Kendall: 24 from Texas. Hate to say it, but I feel like she's the token blonde country singer. She is crazy talented and beautiful, but a little boring. Judges think she's adorable, but not stellar reviews. I'm worried she'll get all the country fan votes and that will push her through.

Jorge: 20 from Puerto Rico. Singing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John. He was criticized during auditions for trouble with pronunciation because of his accent. You can tell he worked on that for this song. He really has a great voice. He made Paula cry. Prompting Simon to say "You heart him, don't you?" Haha. Ok, now he's crying. I'm a softy.

Lil Rounds: 23 from Tennessee. She gets a full name listing because let's face it, an incredible name. I've liked her from the start. Singing "Be Without You" by Mary J. Great song. She sounds amazing and looks confident on stage. She worked "call this show if you can't be without me baby" into the lyrics. I love it. Simon called her brilliant. Cara called her powerhouse.

My Boy Picks:

1) Scott 2) Ju'Not

My Girl Picks:

1) Lil 2) Felicia

Wild Card:

Jorge

Paula Notes: Really with it tonight. Love her hair. Jewelery scary.

top 36: round two

Tonight was the second group of 12 from the top 36. This week was a rough...not many standouts.

Ryan is looking extra casual. Seems a little too casual...like he arrived late and didn't have time to visit wardrobe, so he went on with whatever he was wearing.

Jasmine - She's young, but seemed mature and professional during Hollywood week. She's singing "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles - big shoes to fill. Seems like a bad song choice for her. Or she's just trying too hard. I was expecting her to be one of the best, but not really seeing it. Looking sexily at the camera is just awkward. She's definitely sweet and "commercial" as Randy said, so maybe that will earn her some votes.

Matt - A dueling piano player by trade. He was really good during Hollywood week when he was behind the piano. He sings "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay. I actually kind of like it, but I'm not sure if that's because I like the song. He seems a little out of breath, but so does Chris Martin. Ok, really out of breath. I'm slightly worried about him. Judges didn't like it - mostly criticized song choice, but Simon called it horrible. It seems like the judges still really like him and are pushing for him by reiterating his piano performance during Hollywood week.

Jeanine (from DC!) - I don't really remember her from tryouts, which is surprising because she's really outgoing and bubbly. She sang "This Love" by Maroon Five. I'm not loving it. She's wearing these god awful daisy duke jean shorts and a tuxedo jacket with black sequents on it. I can't get past the outfit. It's so bad. So bad. I think she's singing, but I can't see past the jean shorts.

Norman Gentle - I cannot believe this guy made it to the top 36. Don't get me wrong, I love the act, but I'm so surprised Simon let this one come through. It proves that Idol is trying to work the ratings, and how much the producers determine who goes through to voting rounds. He's definitely entertaining. He sings "I'm Telling You I'm not Going" from Dreamgirls. It's ridiculous, but I have to say it's refreshing. Favorite moment - he called out "Doogie" when he saw Neil Patrick Harris (can I say how much I love that he keeps turning up?)

Allison: Here's another one who I don't remember at all from tryouts, although she is definitely out there and confident. She's 16 and singing "Alone" by Heart. She's actually rockin it. Her vocals are really good. I like this little punk. She reminds me of a funkier version of Kelly Clarkson. Judges all agree that she's the best so far. She needs to work on the speaking parts though.

Kris: I don't remember this guy either. Where have I been? I love "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson - it's a quintessential childhood song for me. He's doing pretty well. He's fun and cute. He seems a little bland, so this song was a good choice to liven things up. I expect he'll get some votes. Simon, Randy and Paula like him, but Cara was on the fence.

Megan: She was one of my favorite auditions. Singing "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae. I want her to be good -I love her full arm tattoo for some reason. She's refreshing and seems comfortable on stage - not trying too hard. Singing is a little shouty though...not sure the judges will like it. Seems like the judges are pulling for her in the same way they were for Matt.

Matt the Welder: There are two Matts and I forgot to note last names, so this is Matt the Welder. Because he's a welder, and the producers like to tell us this. He's a regular blue collar guy. He picked "If You Could Only See" by Tonic. I don't like this song at all. He's doing fairly well, and I do have a soft spot for husky boys who can sing, but I see him as more of a fun bar singer. Judges were not enthused.

Jesse: She's a single mom from Minnesota. She looked straight out of a greasy diner at the first audition, but she just warmed me up with her pre-performance tape. She seems cool and normal. She picked "Betty Davis" by Kim Carnes, and it's perfect for her voice. I really like this one. Ok, apparently the judges didn't really agree. Paula is a fan, but Simon called her "too cool for school." He has a point. She's talking back to the judges way too much. Don't do that.

Kai: We saw a lot of him during auditions. He's the one who's taking care of his sick mother full time. Ok, producers. You win. I like this guy. He picked "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" by Jimmy Ruffin. Little afraid that Simon's gonna call him a cruise boat singer. Ahh he said hotel singer - I was close. Others said old-fashioned and forgettable.

Mishavonna: She's singing "Drops of Jupiter" by Train. I don't love this song at all, but I actually like her version better. She's super cute. You can tell she's had mic training and looks like she's having fun. Simon called her cold and old. Not promising.

Adam: Producers definitely saved the "favorite" for last just like last week with Danny. He's singing Rolling Stones "Satisfaction" - finally someone takes a risk. He theater trained - was in Wicked a think, and it's pretty obvious. He comes across as way more comfortable on stage than the others - perhaps a little cocky. He's not really my style. He's lucky he's on a night with a weak bunch of boys. Paula loves to love him. Simon is on the fence. "Da bomb" escaped Randy's lips.

My Girl Picks:

1) Allison 2) Megan/Jesse

My Boy Picks:

1) Adam 2) Kris

Wild Card:

Norman Gentle (because why not?)

Paula Notes: Her eyes appeared half closed for the entire eveing.

idol top 36: round one

Audition rounds on Idol are hit or miss for me. I like to watch, but I mostly save them on my DVR and watch while I'm folding laundry on the weekends. Hollywood week is similar, but it starts to suck me in with the drama. By the time the judges chose the top 36, I'm settled in for the season.

Tonight was the first round of the top 36 performances - the first live show of the season. Let's see if I have this right - the top 36 are broken into 3 teams of 12. Each week, a 12 team competes for the top 3 spots (top boy, top girl, and the next highest vote earner). That will give us 9 at the end of three weeks, then the judges will pick additional 3 wild cards for the top 12, who move on to the big stage. Do I have it?

I'm not sure how often or how much detail I will be using to blog on Idol this season. I'm guessing it will be some combination of ranting, silly 14-year-old girl swooning, and pretending to be a Hollywood record producer.

Here's what I have for you this week. A few words on each of the contestants, and my picks for who should go on to the next round.

Jackie: The girls were much weaker than the boys, but I didn't mind her. She's charming, and she picked a tough song to sing (Little Less Conversation, Elvis). Did not love the Sandra Dee pants with hi-top sneakers.

Ricky: Who is this guy? Nice voice, but boring. Judges really like him though.

Alexis: Cute and sassy singing Aretha. I think she "created" this image, but it seems to work for her. The judges are eating it up.

HOLD THE PHONE. I JUST SPOTTED NEIL PATRICK HARRIS IN THE CROWD. CONTINUE.

Brent: Again, who is this guy? Nice, normal, country singer. Snooze.

Stevie: Cute and 17, but she doesn't have the chops for this stage.

Anoop: Love him. He sang Angel of Mine by Monica. I used to love that song! He's genuine and talented, but awkward. America will love him. Don't know if he'll get the votes, but I'm guessing he would be a judge wild card pick.

Casey: Super cute, but horrendous song choice (The Police?!?).

Michael: This is that guy who works on a oil rig. Come on, America loves him. He's having fun and looking comfortable singing the always likeable Gavin DeGraw song. Fun.

Ann Marie: She should be selling me software at a marketing conference.

Stephen: Yikes. At heart, I think he's a piano crooner, but he tried to do some sort of Motown version of Michael Jackson's Rock With Me. As Paula said, you can't touch that song.

Tatiana: SEND THIS GIRL HOME. SHE IS COMPLETELY LOONEY TOONS.

Danny: This boy had me from the very beginning. He can probably thank the producers for that, but he just seems like a genuinely good guy with real talent. And obviously not too worried about cool guy image because he sang Mariah Carey - and rocked it.

My boy picks:

1) Danny 2) Anoop

My girl picks:

1) Alexis 2) Jackie

Wild card:

Michael

Paula Notes: Standing ovations, slurring, mullet formation on top of head.