Harry Connick, Jr. was a fabulous mentor. Do you all agree? This season, for me, has been quite lackluster, as far as the contestants go, but the mentor’s have been out of this world!
I love Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack music. My husband, Joe, sings Sinatra, so the music holds a place in my heart. For the most part, though, the top 5 were average at best.
Poor Casey had no idea what to do with his hands while performing without an instrument for the first time this season. Hi voice was great, but the whole performance was so uncomfortable, that it was comical. It was so funny, and not in a good way, that after the show VFTW switched from Mike, to Casey. Casey has had a great run on Idol. I love the southern rock, and am sure that, in the future, I will happily check out Casey’s music.
Mike has just a great voice. For the first time, I wasn’t completely turned off by him either. I don’t know what it is that makes me not like Mike. I think, it’s just, to me, that it all seems so contrived, with Mike. He just seems phony. I know he is trying to be more “real”, but i just isn’t quite working. If American Idol were indeed about the voice, then Mike would be a finalist. As we all know, however, Idol is much more othan a great Voice. Rarely does the best actual voice win. It is also about personality, charm and connecting with the audience on a very deep level. All of the past finalists (final 2/3) have had some magic, inspiring way to pull at the viewers heart strings and make them want to pick up the phone, in droves, for hours. I’ve seen it with all of the other finalists. I just do not get it with Mike.
Aaron was okay. He seems like a nice kid with a good voice, but I see no spark with Aaron. He’s been compared, by the show, to David Archuletta. I get it. He’s about the same age, with the same type of look. But that’s where it ends. Archie has that special spark while performing, and Aaron does not. However, with Tim and Katie before him, falling by the wayside, Aaron picked up a ton of the tween voters. He’s going to be at least top 3 this season. At this point in the competition it really becomes about Second Favorites. (Tim leaves, then Aaron being the second favorite of the Tim fans, will they pick up the phone for Aaron before, let’s say, Crystal? Absolutely!)
Crystal was great, as usual, but for the first time, I see her going the way of Melinda Doolittle. Because she was great, so far above everyone else in the beginning and she hasn’t improved. It’s starting to be a little of the same old-same old. This is very sad for me, as I picked her to win in the Idol pool. She doesn’t have the same entertainer quality that Adam had, nor does she have the charming underdog quality that Kris had. Unless Crystal can pull out a “moment” and do something totally new and different and actually really connect with the audience, she will not win. Remember, it is all about Who leaves and where those fans go. Casey leaves….Do the majority of the fans vote for Crystal or someone more similar to Casey? Crystal needs to figure out how to pick up those new voters.
I have always liked Lee’s voice. In he last 3 or 4 weeks, I’ve thought he would be in the final two – with Crystal. Last night, for the first time, I actually thought he could win. Lee needs to send Harry a huge gift basket, because Harry brought out the charm, and the confidence, in Lee. Crystal has been my favorite this season, but for the first time, I actually voted solely, for Lee. He entertained me. I actually felt his excitement. Like Kris did last year, Lee is gaining momentum every week, towards the end. When it counts. If he keeps the confidence and really entertains, The “Girls Year” chant that the judges shoved down our throats in January will not come to fruition. Then, then next question will be….Can a girl ever win American Idol again? We will save that for June.
Here’s my ranking of the performances last night:
1. Lee
2. Crystal
3. Mike
4. Aaron
5. Casey
Who should go home? Casey
Who will go home? Casey
What are your rankings?
My rankings:
1. Lee
2. Mike
3. Aaron
4. Crystal,, (always has been overrated)
5. Casey
Time for Casey to go home
should: Casey
will: Casey
All the top 12 this year were likable (except for Big Mike) but not very good singers or entertainers (although Didi had potential).
Crystal has the best voice but she is only great in her niche.
A very weak group.
None of them have anywhere near the artistry of someone like Brooke White or many other Idols who finished below top 5.
I’ll keep this one relatively brief…
1. Michael Lynche
2. Crystal Bowersox
3. Lee DeWyze
4. Aaron Kelly
5. Casey James
Your Bottom 3 America: Casey, Aaron, Crystal
Bottom 2: Casey and Crystal. Yes, that means that Aaron is safe again. No, I don’t get it either.
Should Go Home: Casey. No-brainer.
Will Go Home: I’m not quite yet ready to call for the shocker boot yet, but I wouldn’t be completely stunned by it. I’m going to say that Casey can make plans for bar gigs in Texas, but don’t be shocked if Crystal is sent packing instead.
1. Lee
2-5. Everyone else.
I think Casey will go home but it wouldn’t completely surprise me if Crystal went home. She needs to suck it up and let the judges talk. She only has to listen to them for a couple more weeks and then it’s over. You don’t always have to be right Crystal.
I think the only shocker for me would be if Lee went home. And I would be soooooooo sad. =(
:TIED FOR FIRST:
Lee – Definitely his best performance thus far. Love the confidence boost! I mean FINALLY, he looked pretty comfortable up there and we could all see it. “That’s Life” was the perfect Sinatra song for him.
Mike – Another (and the only other) contestant who gave a great performance last night. To me, this was Mike’s best so far. A definitive ‘moment’ for him, especially after all of the flack he was getting for being “annoying” and “not worthy of saving”. After tonight, I don’t think anyone can honestly say that he doesn’t deserve to make it to next week.
:Rounding Out 3rd:
Is that I’m putting Aaron in third. Sure, his vocal might’ve not been pitch perfect all the time, and maybe a little boring, but the thing that puts him above Crystal this week, who was equally as boring and ‘okay’ performing, is that he’s the more likable. Simon was right, you can’t help but like him when he’s done singing. He’s a nice guy.
By the way, talking back DOES hurt your chance Crystal. Pair that with the fact you’ve been getting a bit of bad press, and the other fact that you seem to be losing your luster quickly (two weeks in a row… she wasn’t great)… We might not see you around much sooner.
Needless to say I’m putting Crystal in 4th place in my rankings this week.
:The Casey Train Continues:
This should be. Absolutely. 100%. No. Surprise. Casey did so horribly last night. He tried to do some things out of his comfort zone, and it didn’t work. Since his guitar was kidnapped by Harry’s band, he didn’t really have much of an idea of how to use the stage either. Very, very awkward stuff. If he survives this week, I’d actually be a little happy.
He has the potential to make the top 3, he really does, but Sinatra was just not his week to show that. Shania was, and Beatles, so maybe he’ll manage to make it somehow. Definition of “maybe” in that particular sentence: .0000001% chance! Even Casey himself has said that he deserves to go home, and that he’ll face the facts if he has to. (Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/americanidoltracker/2010/05/idols-top-5-talk-sinatra-night.html)
Here’s the list one more time…
1. Lee/Mike
3. Aaron
4. Crystal
5. Casey
Who should go home? Casey
Who will go home? Like rk said, it could be a shocker. But if it is a shocker it’ll be Crystal, or possibly Aaron leaving. The only reason Aaron’s a shocker is because of Casey, of course, but really, he still has a slim chance of leaving us tonight too. The only people who I believe are safe 100% tonight are Mike and Lee, for good reason of course. It’s Casey, Crystal, or Aaron’s turn to leave now… Probably still Casey. He was so horrible, it was funny. If he survives this time, it actually might go in the history books as a new wonder of the world. I myself would be fine with that.
Predicted Bottom 3: Casey, Crystal, Aaron
Predicted Bottom 2: Casey, Crystal
Predicted Elimination: Casey
As far as the actual results show going on tonight, I’ve been seeing some comments floating around about Lady Gaga AND Harry Connick Jr. performing together. To set the story straight, Lady Gaga will be featured in a pre-taped performance, while HCJ will be performing live.
I agree with rk. Crystal and Casey in the bottom two. I really do think Crystal is a good singer and have been voting for her constantly. But her talking back to the judges annoyed me soo much yesterday that i spent time voting for Aaron instead. I got in about 500 votes I think. So I would not be surprised if we say bye to Crystal. She needs to stop being so full of herself and take the judges criticisms well
Should: Casey
Will: Casey
Aaron should go home, he might be the most boring top 5 contestant of all time.
I actually enjoyed Casey moving around without the guitar, he’ll probably be the one to go home, but he’s going to be a successful recording artist even if.
Lee was great and I loved Crystal doing something diffeent.
Moo
The thing about Sinatra is that he did not have a classically great voice, but he could tell a story through song like no one else could. He was never cheesy or hammy, he was cool and I don’t think many people get him until they are well into their 30s.
Mike took a Sinatra song and sang it well, but he added such cheese and ham to it, it ceased to be cool, he continually has the same “here i am, emotionally connecting” pantomime every week. It doesn’t matter what he sings, his actions are exactly the same, walk here, put arms in air here, tilt head up and look like im crooning. He comes across as cocky and aggressive every week.
Aaron is simply singing something he knows nothing about, he is a little kid and sucks the soul and passion out of everything. He is a paper doll going through the motions.
Casey is sweet, charming, good looking, but needs to stick to his slow burns. Jealous Guy and Don’t were far and above the best weeks for him and when he sings Huey lewisy, he might be entertaining, but not in a good way.
Crystal seems to think she does not need to change, does not need to grow, does not need idol, does not need us. I loved her up until a couple weeks ago, then I still really liked her, but when she was offered free dental care she got snarky about it, saying she is beautiful just the way she is. I think this was wrong. It is one thing to have self confidence, but to absolutely not concede that you have imperfections and deny that healthy teeth are a luxury few can afford was a slap in the face to every kid whose parents cannot afford braces and every single mother who works two jobs but doesn’t smile because of a missing tooth.
People die from lack of dental care, they can get infections that spread and its a nightmare for many of us parents without dental insurance. My son has dental issues related to his disability and his last surgery was almost $12,000. He will need another next year.
It’s ok if you don’t want to get veneers, but to flat out refuse to improve yourself in any way is wrong, in my opinion. Most of us would love the idol perks and no one would think any less of Crystal if she took advantage of them. The fact that she is set in her ways does not bode well for working in the industry she has chosen. I realize that this has nothing to do with this contest on the surface, but I do think it belies an underlying issue with who Crystal is as a person and her defensiveness has completely turned me off.
And lastly we have Lee. I, too, for the first time think he has a shot at this. He brought cool, swagger, good phrasing and channeled Sinatra like no one else on the stage last night. His pitch problems don’t worry me at all. His recorded music is great and he is rising at the right time. I think he can and probably will steal this contest. He has incredible buzz-is a frequent trending topic on twitter on non idol days, has a huge voting base of women over 18, and is a guy’s guy as well. He is the most radio ready, and his music will sell. I understand the purists who dislike him, but he has won people over week after week, I see Tim’s fans frequently talk about how they are backing him now and I think he will pick up Casey, Mike and Aaron fans as they leave.
I think the final two will be Crystal and Lee and I think Lee has a huge shot to take the crown.
He is the only one I am voting for.