AI 11 - Six Meet the Queen

Blogger is a pain in the ass and changed their whole setup, so I can't just come in and post like usual, I have to deal with their weird changes. I'll have to see if there's a way to revert to the normal.

     Well, I wasn't worried at all about Colton, and maybe a wealth of that feeling was part of what led to his being eliminated. However, I also have to admit that even though he was really good as an artist and seemed to offer a good future of interesting material, he didn't have near the most vocal talent, and that is a big part of this competition, or so they say. Plus, he would have been along the lines of David Cook or Kris Allen winning, and another more different type of artist winning would be nice. 

     It's nice to see Queen back, although of course to me there is much less Queen with no Freddie Mercury. In spite of the fact that I like the songs Brian May and Roger Taylor sing. But they're a different part of Queen. But they seem like such nice guys, though. Brian explains things so nicely. What a wonderful thing that they would go there to talk to them.

     Although it's wonderful to see Queen back, I don't know how I feel about these people performing Queen---and it's a shame Colton is gone, because I bet he would have loved to be here for this. As for who's left, I hope Elise can pull off something incredible, and I'm worried that this is a really dangerous type of music for Hollie to sing without her weirdness. But maybe the fact that she grew up in England, likely more familiar with Queen, will help a little.

     In the medley, Joshua was surprisingly great, while Phillip was annoyingly weird, as usual. Why does he make those pained faces when he's singing? Is it hard for him to hit the notes or what? Hollie did her Shirley Temple kissyface, and Jessica returned with the aged-lady pushing out R & B. They really sounded best when they were all singing together. Elise was okay, but seemed to have trouble staying on key in the harmonies. Skylar didn't have any problems, but I wish she would have sung more than growled.

     I am the opposite of excited to see Jessica singing "Bohemian Rhapsody." She's not mature enough to understand anything about the song---maybe she would be if she'd had other musical experiences, but from what she's shown on this show, it's clear she's not. Now we have to hear her turn this taut dichotomy of delicacy and blistering power into a forced R & B piece of garbage.

     At least that's what I thought. But no! She throws a little R&B power in there, because that's her power (as opposed to rock), but there's also the innocent young girl part where she's just singing softly and sweetly. The center power part was definitely the worst bit, but the rest was pretty good. Although I really disliked the fact she put in the "much" at the end.

     

     Oh, so Skylar is doing "The Show Must Go On?" Interesting choice! I love that one. And it's got a great mix of forceful desperation and strong emotional sweetness. And she was incredible. That was definitely one of the best performances I've ever seen on American Idol. 

     I don't know what Steven is talking about with them "putting a shine" on her voice versus the usual "dry" singing. What the hell is he talking about? I'm glad Randy gave her the enthusiastic response she deserved.

     Joshua is cheating himself out of Queen by singing "Crazy Little thing Called Love," and it's shame. He's way too shouty with it, and his eyes are dead as they so often are. He's also got the microphone almost up his nose.

     This the judges stand for? Ridiculous. That was nowhere near as good as Skylar's performance. I do like Joshua, but I'm disappointed he didn't take tis perfect opportunity to sing something different, not tthrowback or soul. On AI, they used to encourage artists to show a little of something out of their style, but now they're just not doing it anymore, and I don't think it's a good change.

     Why, why, why would Elise do "I Want It All?" First of all, it's much less well-known for non Queen (or non classic rock) fans. Second, she could have chosen something that suits her voice and style much more---there's so much Queen to choose from, I think she could have gone with something rock, but more dynamic. But maybe it's smarter to have her do one where she's not compared to the pure plain vocal.

     I guess it turned out fairly well. She looked a little unsteady at times, and only partly looked like she meant it, but it worked.

     Classical, Steven? I think you mean classic. I'm glad the judges liked it. I guess they were the ones who chose the songs, anyway. 

     Yeeps. "Fat-Bottomed Girls" for Phillip is probably the least exciting choice of song matchup of the night, and that's saying something! I hope he can keep it on the rails.

     There he is doing his weird non-changing thing with random "awww"s tacked on everywhere. He also sounds off key sometimes, when he seems to be sticking to his own note rather than following the melody. He was my least favorite.

     "You've done it again," Steven says, and I guess Phillip has. Same same. Jennifer, on the other hand, is in lalaland saying it sounds like a different "flavor" of Phillip. At least Randy agrees with me. Worst of the bunch so far (though he put it more tactfully).

     Wow, talk about unknown---Hollie gets it with "Save Me." But maybe she knows it more because she's from the UK. 

     Why do they have a 17-year-old wearing a pantsuit? She's doing a mix of normal and nervous. The words are on target, and she looks like she really feels them. But uh-oh, her voice crackled a tiny bit on one of the last big notes. I think she glossed over it well, but she's just still not as strong as she has the potential to be.

     Jennifer gave some very helpful advice, but Hollie's gotten some good advice before, and is only incrementally progressing. I hope she knocks it out with her personal pick later.

     How many times are we going to hear "Dance with My Father" on AI? Here we go again with Jessica. 

     She may be the best to sing it, but she's still straining too much through the middle, and on the whole the meaning of the song seemed way too mature, even if he father has been deployed here or there (what is the military doing in Singapore?)

     Oh, so Jennifer agrees with me about her being the best, but not about it being out of the breadth of her experience. But Randy is right, she is really gifted. I just think she's a little ahead of her age in a lot of her choices. 

     Skylar sounds a little flat in the first verse of "Tattoos on This Town," her personal choice song. She still sounds like she could be on the radio, and like she could have been on the radio in several decades. 

     I think Steven summed it up most like me of the judges, that it was great, missing some of the punch she can pack, and she has to be careful to choose the best songs. But then she explained that she chose it for her hometown, and she did put in a wallop in the second half, so she should be just fine.

     Oh, Joshua is surprising in his choice "Ready for Love" (not Bad Company, India Arie), and shocker of shockers, he totally looks like he means it! Maybe it's not surprising for someone who says he hasn't really had any experience with love, but I was starting to think he was committed to being asexual until he got his career sorted. Oddly, he's putting everything in here I wanted him to put in a Queen song. So maybe that's why he chose that one for the Queen bit, for some variation. But he was still shouty on the Queen. Here he was pretty flawless and awesome, though.

     Randy feels the same as I do. Jennifer and Steven, too! No shock.

     So Elise is going to sing Dave Matthews and Phillip is doing Jimi Hendrix? Oh, yeah, right. The reverse.

     I didn't ever notice that Elise does the hand movement to the notes every time she sings, but that package didn't have the same jovial tone as everyone else's it really looked like the rest if the contestants dislike her, and they don't get along!

     Elise as the guitarist sound pretty awesome on "Bold As Love," but I think she may have chosen a song that was way over almost everyone's head. It's gorgeous, but nobody knows it, and I think you have to hear it a few times to even put it all together and get it all. But she sounded good.

     Ah, Steven agreed with me, you have to pick the songs people know---yikes, then Elise made things worse with a flip "I thought everybody knew that song." Oh, Elise, please, don't come off as a music elitist. Be one, just don't let people know you are in that way. Sneak the good stuff in slowly, so they think they're learning on their own. I like that Jennifer fought with Randy on his interpretation that she overdid it. I think it is subjective, but since she's not Jimi Hendrix, I 'm with Jennifer that the vocalistics made it interesting. Oh my gosh! That was her own guitarist from her band! Impressive.

     Phillip is doing Dave Matthews, which is the biggest surprise of a surprising night. Or maybe more like something people totally expected not only on this night, but ever since he came on the scene. I'm not a Dave Matthews fan and I don't know this song, but it sounds very monotone. The song itself is interesting, but his vocals fall flat for me. They sound like a high-pitched Lurch.

     I agree with Jennifer, if that was the way the song was supposed to be sung, it was indeed too "artsy." I don't know if it's obscure because I know like 5 Dave Matthews songs. So I disagree with Randy, and I think to a lot of people this song will sound "off," whether or not it was supposed to be sung that way. 

     Oh, good, I'm glad to see that Hollie is doing a young, simple song with Miley Cyrus's "The Climb." Aww, crap! She's starting off with her serious mouth business. Be young, Hollie, be young! As she goes, she seems to be relaxing, and by the "just keep moving on" she looks like she's completely immersed in herself singing, like Jennifer advised. I'm so glad! It was awesome! And yes! She got a standing O from the judges. Go Hollie!

Tonight's ranking:

1. Skylar Laine

2. Joshua Ledet

3. Elise Testone

4. Jessica Sanchez

5. Hollie Cavanaugh

6. Phillip Phillips

Who should go? It's easy for me this week, Phillip should go. Compared to everyone left, his vocals just don't measure up. But I don't know if he would go, especially if Julianne Hough has a little crushie on him. That speaks to lots more crushies from the non-famous, non-smokin' hot girls across the country. What I say to them: open your ears, girls!

Who will go? It's tough to make this prediction after Colton left last week. But for three in danger I'd choose. . . no, you know what, I have no idea. I'd say Hollie, Elise, and possibly Jessica or Phillip, depending on whether people wise up to Phillip's actual sound or whether Jessica's safety last week was bounce-back and only bounce-back from the elimination.

    

AI 11 - Lucky Number 7 Part Deux: Not So Lucky This Time

Yahoo!! As soon as I saw "Expect the unexpected" in the intro for the results show, I knew there was a chance. When they divvied up the contestants, I was more excited. I didn't think it was possible, but my wishes came true and Jessica Sanchez got a taste of what it feels like to be a loser when she was eliminated on last week's results show. I didn't feel bad about it, either, like I sometimes do when I hope that a character I hate gets offed on a drama I watch: I felt kind of bad about Danii on Body of Proof---I'd have preferred Jeri Ryan go if they were both going to get the deadly virus. And the annoying bi-curious wife on Boardwalk Empire might have grown on me had she . . . well, probably not. But certainly I was not as pleasantly relieved to see her get that shot through the head as I was to see Tara from True Blood get the same. Finally!

But I digress. Fortunately for everyone, elimination from AI is no shot in the head. Especially when you're this far along, it's more like a turn on The Price Is Right where you "only" win a car and a trip and $10,000, but don't get to participate in the Showcase Showdown. Even more fortunately for Jessica Sanchez, the judges used their save to save her skinny little butt. No surprise there. And I really have no argument with their having done so. If she'd been allowed to leave, this week would have been the last time they could have used it anyway.

I did have a problem with the way the judges reacted. Maybe the idea is that you're supposed to judge the singers on each episode, but it's generally understood that unless it's a major fail early on, that isn't what really happens. Even the judges will say things like "we know what you can do, and we hope you're still here to show us next week" when someone with talent doesn't perform up their usual standard. So the way they blatantly acted as though it was outlandish for Jessica to be in the bottom---even saying that the voters got it "half right" (and totally insulting Elise), then actually told the audience that she was the best and "you have to vote for the best" was just wrong. Wrong and unfair. They should also realize that American Idol isn't all about who is the best, it's about who's most popular. That's why the winners will ultimately sell. You can have all the talent in the world and people may not buy your albums. But if they like you, you could halfway suck and people will still be out there buying your music and paying to see you in concert. I think a major problem with Jessica's performance last week was the song she chose and the way she presented that. As I was watching the results recaps, it hit me again how much I disliked it, and I couldn't imagine who would want that.

The people left are on a relatively even footing in my eyes. Clearly, something I felt about Jessica last week was something the rest of the voters felt also. It snuck up on me, because I hadn't felt anything negative about her at all, but it suddenly struck me that I really think most of the contestants are talented and deserving, and she was the only one constantly getting praise and encouragement with little criticism or realism. She certainly does have amazing talent, but an air of entitlement is not what you want to instill in a rising pop star, or s/he won't be very "pop"ular for long. You have to please the masses, not irritate them with your ego. You want to be the girl next door as a pop star, not Marie Antoinette. Even if you're going to go full-on crazy in your presentation (for example, Lady Gaga), you have to do it in a way that your audience identifies with you (for example, Mother Monster and baking with children).

So it turns out seven really was lucky last week, since nobody went home. It was especially lucky for Jessica Sanchez. But there can be no such luck this week. Someone's getting the boot! I just hope it's a little more clear cut and feels like a right choice.

Oh my gosh, DIck Clark died? I hadn't heard. That's too bad. Ryan's handling wasn't really that great, more self-serving than anything (as usual). It's weird, Dick Clark managed to be really career-serving and focused without ever seeming that way, which Ryan totally does. So failed in that respect, Ryan! Wow, Dick Clark is gone. There can never be another person anything like him.

Colton looks petrified. This theme is a bit of an odd choice. A current song, and an old soul song? It seems like it was designed specifically for a few contestants. Not including Colton! Ah, so maybe that's why he looks petrified.

Maybe this will be the lucky week for Hollie Cavanaugh, because she didn't sound good in the rehearsal. But I don't know. I really don't know if she can overcome herself, though. She started off okay, got a little better, then went back to her robot a little, but then I think she fell into it a little more, in a good way. Is she on stilts? She looks so incredibly tall, and she's tiny! I think she could have hit the high notes harder, but I think she delivered like she hasn't before. Let's hope it's enough!

They are certainly priming Colton Dixon's sister for a return to be a contestant. I hope that works in her favor if she does come back and make it sometime. I hope Colton is doing the right thing by taking on Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". If he changes it up too much, it might work against him. It sounds kind of more girly with him singing it, not any more "rock," which he promised. He's got a female band, which is not working for him, in my opinion. That's not the way you appeal to female fans, which is what I'm sure he has. His voice sounds good (until he gets to the "I want your love" talky bit, which was flat and awful), but it's sort of a silly kid's show version of the song. Milder, more boring.

The judges seemed to like it more than I did, but it sounded like they weren't entirely thrilled with it either.

I wish Elise Testone wouldn't feel like the underdog, and I hope she's not. Oh no. I hope Elise isn't making a mistake singing Alicia Keys's "No One." I don't think it's quite right for her voice, and I don't think Elise is as appealing when she's singing in her begging pose, which she's clearly planning to do in this, since she was even doing it in the rehearsal. She's decked out to mimic Mariah Carey, and indeed adopts the begging pose (aka pooping pose, but with hands in supplicant pose). I guess this is where she's going with her career, cheesy R & B. She was fine, but that's not a style I like. She's not won me over, but maybe she's won appeal with other people.

I guess I agree with Steven Tyler. Yikes! Looks like Elise really does laugh when she's nervous. I hope laughing while talking about her dying dog plays okay with the voters.

Phillip Phillips is singing "You Got It Bad" by Usher, which I don't know at all. I think that will work in his favor, since he tends to change up the songs a little, and here he's taking a smooth sounding song and roughening it up with his gritty hippie dirt. Okay, well, he sounds exactly the same as always, with the occasional off note and weird almost-on-it-but-not through several sections. But it's okay. It's radio-friendly. I'm not buying it. I liked one note where I think his voice was actually cracking, but the rest of it was just him and the way he sings, like out the side of his mouth or like there's a bite of cat fish in there on one side he's trying to save for later. It's just not my thing. If I were an A & R person, I'd certainly listen to his material and probably sign him. But I wouldn't own more than maybe a an album or two of his, probably recorded from a friend or received as a gift.

Jimmy is back to the unfair treatment of Jessica Sanchez saying that she doesn't deserve to be in the bottom three if she's singing Yankee Doodle Dandy. Yeah, she may have a lot of talent, but she has to reach people and give them something they want to hear. "Falling" by Alicia Keys may be it, as long as she is soft with it.

Jessica is also smartly wearing an outfit that adds some fluffy bulk to her. It's very genie-esque. I like it. Her sining is spot-on, but she drives it so hard that I don't really find it appealing. There's a lot of digging and growling and grunting.

Steven picks up on exactly what I mean---as he described it, it sounded as though she was angry with the song. I don't want that. I don't have to hear that in my music, I already have my own frustrations and anger. I don't need to hear someone shoving through a song. Randy of course gives a directive that voters vote for her. Jessica's story of what she thought was happening during the save last week was funny and endearing. I guess when you're singing for your life, you wouldn't relaly understand everything going on around you.

I've never heard the country version of "Born This Way," but I think Skylar Laine can deliver it well. The beginning talking part wasn't really that great, but as soon as she got into the meat of the song, it was good. I wish there wasn't so much growl, but I guess that's the way the song is done. I really prefer Skylar's plain ol' voice, but I guess she's shown a lot of that in the past couple of weeks, so I know it's there even though she's showing something else this week.

I hope Steven's right that there are a lot of people out there voting for Skylar as a C & W and crossover artist. Last week I said aloud that I want her to win. I'm not quite sure I'm positive about it yet, but I definitely would like to see her in the top three.

I wish Joshua Ledet wouldn't do a Fantasia song, because the truth is that nobody listens to her or knows her songs. I guess if this week was just Adele and Lady Gaga (and oddly, Alicia Keys), it would be a little boring. If he can make the song his own, it may work for him. I do like him, but I'm still waiting to see him move slightly more outside himself.

I don't think he's going to do it with this song. He looks nervous, and it seems like sort of a difficult song to sing, so maybe that's why. It is nice to hear him sing something slower. and it could be on the radio, or used on a TV show or commercial. I don't like the gargle-y "yeah yeah"s, but it was a very good performance, all in all. Hm. This is going to be a tough one.

I totally agree with Randy, Joshua showed some restraint and definitely some emotion in this performance. When he shows emotion, it's really the best. He's technically very good, but when he connects it feels real.

Oh, how adorable, The Liverpool Football Club wishes Hollie luck! It really is a little unfair how they spring these things on people right before they sing.

Okay, now maybe I understand why they are doing on old soul song. The host of Soul Train, Don Cornelius, committed suicide in February or March, so they may have been planning on using this as a kind of tribute to his death. It's strange that it comes on a night when Dick Clark has just died as well. Man, I really feel so sad that Dick Clark died. People always said he never aged, and it felt like he would always be there, for sure. But I guess just like the people in your own life it feels like will always be there, it's just not so. Do your best to be conscious of that fact, for your own benefit.

Uh-oh, Hollie's back to her weirdness while she sings "Son of A Preacher Man." I don't know if she was directed to sing it so clipped, with sharp little bursts. I don't like it. It definitely sounded better as she went along, but I hope the contestants are mostly judged on their first performances. It was fine---nothing off that I heard, but the soul seemed a little wrong, and that's kind of important for a soul song!

Randy backs me up on how important the soul is, but luckily for Hollie, he saw more soul in it than I did. The judges are all approving, but I'm more in Steven's boat---she should relax and do it.

Wow, Colton's doing Earth, Wind, and Fire? I'm excited, but scared for him as well. Aw, he's all Coltoning it up so it's barely recognizable as "Dancing in September." It's so crazy, but it actually works. I don't know how. If this is his doing, his idea, his arrangement, he's pretty impressive. Well, he's pretty impressive nonetheless, but he's bank if he came up with this. I love the real song, but he did an amazing job making this his.

I'm surprised that the judges don't like the song. I think they're upset with the fact that he changed up the song. I can also see what they're saying, though, that he's doing the same "Colton treatment," as I noted. But that is what he does, and his Coltoning does offer more diversity than, say, Phillip Phillips's Phillipsing. So I don't know why they're picking on him for it, especially when it worked so well for this one. At the same time, I would like to see him sing something straight and plain, at least once. Like he does in the group/duet sets, but do it on his own.

Elise is back to sing "Let's Get It On." I wish she was singing something less standard. She's pretty damn good, though, and showing off really beautiful honeyed flutey trilliness in her voice. I like those bits a lot better than the rough growls she tosses in. I think this is just about perfect. She's so comfortable with it, too. The end line was dumb and unimpressive, but the rest was so easy and lovely.

I agree with Jennifer that Elise should show some more emotion. I think that's why her performance of "Vienna" resonated with me so much. I really felt it from her. I think this criticism from Jennifer is upsetting her, but I also think it's right on target. People do laugh when they are uncomfortable showing their true (upset) emotions, and often that type of thing is an indication they don't like to show their emotions in general. I don't know if Elise can understand that, because I'm sure she feels like she's a really emotional person because she definitely understands emotions really well---that's obvious in how well she understands the songs she's singing. But understanding other people's emotions doesn't mean you are necessarily forthcoming with your own, even if you empathize beautifully with those other people's emotions.

But "Whole Lotta Love," Jennifer, not "Somebody to Love."

I sort of agree with Randy, too, that she oversang some parts of it, and it did sound kind of crammed in there sometimes. But I think she sounded so beautiful at parts that it didn't even matter. Similar to something the judges might say to Jessica Sanchez, ahem. On whom they are ending tonight (big surprise---that's usually a vote-getter).

Phillip is without a guitar! "In the Midnight Hour." Okay, I'm over Phillip. Officially. Like I want to say "shut up, shut your mouth." He's got talent, but he's so affected, it gets to a point where the talent and affectation are struggling against one another. I wish he could break out of what he does and the faces and the "ow" sound he puts into everything, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Sorry Randy, but I don't feel his emotion every time anymore, because he makes the same face every time and to me it doesn't register as real emotion anymore. And the weird step---to me that's just the same sort of Taylor Hicks Joe Cockering uncontrollable non-dancing. Sometimes it works, if you're pouring your soul into the song, but if you're doing some kind of boondocks bar Dave Matthews thing, it doesn't fly with me.

Jessica Sanchez has the best song for her type of voice for this theme in the competition here with "Try A Little Tenderness." I'm sure she'll kill it and reclaim her throne, especially if they dress her prettily.

Ah, but no, they've dressed her like a knickerbocker aviator in the 1980s, and she's attacking the song with the same anger and R & B singer tricks that turn me off, complete with microphone finger fluttering. And damn, she's going to ruin her beautiful singing voice if she growl screams like she did in that ending bit.

I don't agree with Steven that this is going to win people's hearts. I also don't think it's a good idea that her alter ego comes out, as Jennifer thought she saw in this song. You need the real person before you need the alter ego, unless the alter ego is all you're going to be. I'm not sure the judges are right here in terms of saying she delivered on the emotional aspect. She showed emotion, but I don't know if it was the emotion that people want to see.

Oh! I forgot that Skylar Laine was still going! So she gets any possible exit votes. Unfortunately, I think "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is the worst song of this batch for any of the contestants to sing. Maybe if she can put some kind of a special spin on it, it'll work. A little rock and country, with totally changed-up phrasing. It's interesting. Hers and Colton's are definitely the most altered versions of the songs. Good, I think this is going to work for her. I even like it better than her first song. She is awesome! And who can resist a pink skirt and cowboy boots? I think she took the night.

What the hickety heck? I forgot Joshua also! I'm really kind of tired, and it seemed like the first half went so quickly. I was actually surprised at how few people there seemed to be. I guess there were more than I was expecting fort the second half. Probably the fact that Joshua always sounds "soul" played a little part also.

He's fulfilling his destiny ending the show with Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," which perfectly suits his voice and style, plus ticks the box that he's this year's Adam Lambert vocalist (much better than last year's, James Durbin). This should be perfect from him.

I'm a little disappointed in his connection to the song. He's delivering it, but it doesn't seem like he's thinking about the meaning and feeling it completely. It was just okay, compared with what he could do. It's hard, because he did sing it well, but I'm still disappointed, because I didn't feel the emotion swelling from him. I felt excitement over singing, but not the magic of connection between singer and song and listener that you can get when someone really delivers it all. I love Joshua, but I just wish he felt completely comfortable.

Tonight's Ranking:

1. Skylar Laine

2. Joshua Ledet

3. Colton Dixon (he'd have been number two if he'd done a different first performance)

4. Hollie Cavanaugh ties with Elise Testone, who unfortunately I forgot until prompted

5. Jessica Sanchez

6. Phillip Phillips

Who's in danger? I think we're past the point where the episode performance decides all. I also think it's a very bad sign that I forgot about Elise, one of my early favorites, when I was making my tippety-top list tonight. I think some other people might be as bored as I am with Phillip, though. I think they're in the most danger. I don't know why I'm saying that, because I don't think Phillip has even ever been in the bottom three. maybe girls think he's cute and are just voting for him. I think Jessica will have a bounce-back safety, so I guess my third for the bottom three will be either Joshua or Hollie.

Who should go? I say Phillip. I'm bored, and ain't no change gonna come.

Who will go? If I have to pick one, I'm saying Elise. That Mariah Carey Alicia Keys bit was just not appealing. But crap, I really wish Phillip would go instead! Elise's voice is so cool.

AI 11 - Lucky 7 Take On All Three Years of "This Decade"

Ah yes, :sob:, Deandre went home. About time. How do you go on when someone's eliminated? You say "thank god it wasn't me!" and get your butt ready to sing.

What's going on tonight? Why is everyone so excited? (Because Deandre's gone? Maybe that's just me.) And didn't Ryan just say Akon was coming out? All right, I guess that's all going to go without explanation.

Poor Tommy Hilfiger is back again trying to steer the contestants toward clothing he feels will express their personal styles. Trashy for Jessica, Hippie for Elise, No Hippie for Skylar! And then Trashy again for Hollie! Are the contestants really picking all these outfits? I was blaming stylists for some of the poor choices, but from the looks of it, maybe a couple of these girls just have unfortunate fashion sense.

Skylar generally looks cute, though, and as much as I think Kellie Pickler was a lucky DOB in the right place at the right time to get where she got, Skylar's made a good choice in this song. I don't think using the guitar is a good idea, but I hope if she uses it, it doesn't detract from what she delivered in the rehearsal room.

Oh, crap, she did use the guitar. But she seems relaxed enough, and I don't think they're even using her guitar track. It looks like she's just doing basic chords.

Wow, she is really impressive. She sounds like she's been doing this for years, and like somoene who does it professionally. Maybe it was kind of good she had the guitar to restrain herself a little bit from the passionate gesticulating she tends to do. She's fantastic. And she's so sweet and likable. Very well done.

Awesome! Randy and Jennifer thought she was perfect also. I'm so glad. Yes, and you did feel her right from her soul. All the pieces come together, oh, or as Steven just said, "when [she] sing[s] a song, it's a complete sentence." She's even cute talking to Ryan! "Yes, sir!"

Colton is doing a perfect-for him song, "Love the Way You Lie," by an artists named Skylar to feed into the rumors that he's dating Skylar! Just kidding. But good job continuing the rumor, Colton. If it's really him against Phillip, I think Colton's the one ahead. I think Jimmy knows that too, but he wants to push Colton to keep him fighting fresh. It's a good idea.

Back at the piano again. He's a little wavery, but in an appealing way. And Colton's certainly got the winning style and attitude for the audience. In a Twilight world, he's got the sweet sexy vamping thing going. He absolutely sounds like he could be on the radio right now. and of course he has the looks for it. He's really grown on me. I think for someone his age, he's got great musical taste, and proper poise without being off-puttingly overconfident. Yes, this is way more current and mass-market than Phillip, but it's also got a nice artistry for someone as young as he is.

I almost thought Jennifer was going to say "Colton baby, you just won this competition." But I guess she couldn't really say that. I don't know what she means in wishing the song were "more of a song," but judging by what she presented as her own last week, she clearly doesn't have the taste Colton does. I almost loved this coat too, Steven. I actually typed, then deleted when they went in for a closeup and I saw it was striped and a little batty at the collar. I think Randy had the description pretty well perfect. If I didn't think Skylar blew things away with sincerity tonight, I'd say Colton overtook her. It was close, but I think Colton comes in just below her.

Hm! They're using the same matchups as they used last week for the duets. I hope the stupid viewing audience understands that the package video was a joke.

I don't like the way Phillip makes those weird faces and says his "I"s as he does. Elise doesn't sound like she quite has the range to get this song in the bag. She's smearing the words a little too much, too. She's sounding more like a cheap R&B singer with this than she usually does. There's certainly no comparison between this weirdness and last week's incredible duet. It was a little better near the end, though Phillip's last "know" was uncomfortable. It wasn't my favorite.

It's nice to "duet" with Phillip! It's lucky she said that so very carefully.

Jessica Sanchez has chosen a fairly unknown song, but that sort of works for this week. I'm getting a little tired of Jessica's pushy pushy voice. I'm not saying it's not a fantastic voice, I'm just sick of the way she's using it. It's nice that they're pointing out how very thin she looks, because she could do with a little more.

I don't like the song and I don't like her put-on tough attitude for it. It sounds like she's imitating someone else's accent while she's singing. Maybe it's the original singer.

Jessica seemed like she really liked it herself and was quite proud. I guess she sang it well, but as I said I didn't like the song. It sounded like a crappy Mariah Carey or something.

I'm not surprised Randy is impressed with the performance. I'm sure a lot of people really enjoyed it. I don't think there were any technical problems with it. I just didn't like it, and I'm starting to find her boring. Maybe Jennifer is explaining why I'm feeling the way I am. Obviously the girl can sing, but she's not interesting enough to be a star, and I think that's what the American Idol is supposed to be.

I still can't believe Joshua is only 20! He's so mature. Wow, they got the non-star Fantasia to wish Joshua a Happy Birthday. I hope he really likes her, so that makes a least a little sense more than the "mantasia" Fantasia thing, which has never made sense to me.

I'm shocked at Joshua's choice, but I'm excited and hopeful it will show a new side to him. "In the 'urban' world"? What is Jimmy referring to?

Okay, this isn't exactly playing modern. It's going right to the heart of what I always saw him as, a '60s-ish era soul singer. he's just faster here. All he needs are go-go dancers! Oh, I guess he has a go-go dancer, of sorts. It's still new for him, though. It definitely works. It shows he could do a Cee Lo Green type of thing and work on the charts. Perfect. Well done.

Jennifer likes to pet herself like a cat. Ah, ah, ah. But she pulls it together to give him a coherent comment on how he was the whole package tonight. Randy is back with his new catch phrase that makes even less sense than saying everyone in the competition was in it to win it.

Colton and Skylar are back doing their oddly mixed duet this week. Poor Colton has to do country again. Let's see if they can at least equal last week. Uh-oh, Skylar---no, both of them---sounded a little flat. It's the harmony throwing them off, I think. Skylar shows a nice solo to recover some dignity. Are they giving Colton one also? It doesn't look like it. But he reclaims himself with a charming, flirty smile. He's not doing much to fight the rumors, the way he looks at her!

Ha, nice that Steven throws them right under the bus with it. I think I'm in between Randy and the rest. . . I don't know how much it was all due to Skylar, but they did mess up a little. It was still pretty good, though.

Hollie is so amazing, I hope she can deliver this week. I wish she would just sing naturally, like she does in the rehearsal. I was literally just finishing this sentence as Jimmy said what she needed to be was "natural."

But no. She can't do it. She's back to her Shirley Temply breath poof tough face thing. Stop it! Stop it! Why can't she just sing normally like she can? However, unlike most of the other recent performances, she's not going off key at all. As long as the judges don't mind the weird overly powerful shove-out of vocals and pushy strain, it will be okay. The last belt was impressive.

She was good---almost perfect in the notes, except that style I don't like. I guess I agree with Randy. And maybe a little bit of what Jennifer didn't say. . . I think she needed to be less desperate and frightened and more relaxed and confident and feeling the song.

Here we go again with the same old Phillip thing. Are Jimmy and Akon trying to explain that to him? I don't know, given the way they've edited the commentary. They've fixed him up quite a bit with just the steering they've given him. I hope it works out all the way through.

His voice sounds a lot cleaner, and that's really good. I've wanted to hear his voice sound like this (if it was possible) for a long time. Wow, this even sounds little Top 40 marketable. And this week his outfit is from this century. I'm not a fan of Maroon 5,but I think this song is doing him some favors. The notes aren't all perfect, but it's pretty good. The end dissolved a bit into the spitty smiley sort of regular blah, but it was a small step into showing he can be slightly versatile.

Phillip looks confused by the Steve McQueen Johnny Cash talk. Maybe he doesn't know who Steve McQueen is, since he wasn't a musician. He definitely looks like him, though.

I agree with Randy that the start was better---I think I pretty exactly agree with Randy, except to me it was kind of a wow because I was starting to doubt Phillip would (I assumed he could) do this at all.

Okay, so they're dropping fixing the missing duet half to make a threesome of Joshua, Hollie, and Jessica. I hope nobody---yikes! Jessica came out like crap. Whoever dressed the girls for this is nuts, especially with the accessories. I think in general, your earrings should not cover your boobs. And animal teeth or bone should not look like they've been dipped in blood unless you're dressed for Halloween. Hollie sounds better here, but unfortunately nobody judges you on your group sets.

I'm glad Randy pointed out that everyone was good, but I think it was a little unfair to single out Joshua, because he had more to sing.

I really wish Hollie wouldn't have

Oh my gosh, this is hilarious! Elise agrees with me, I hear. I'll have to check out that video on how to vote for her. Oh, man, that's so funny. Elise has occasionally reminded me of Haley Reinhart from last year, and she sang "You and I" also. With her, it was more of a risk, since the song was virtually unknown then. But I think it worked well for her, and I hope it works for Elise too. I think it's also a smart song because of Lady Gaga's unusual looks. AI voters sometimes tend to skew toward the "I'm voting for the prettiest!" and since Elise has a less traditional look, I think it serves her well to remind everyone that you can be an uber-star without the face of someone from Gossip Girl (post nose job). If you have the body to wear a vinyl bikini, of course! But never mind that, we're talking about the face here.

I'm glad Elise listened to Jimmy and Akon in getting rid of the drums. I hope she doesn't improvise too much, because it's obvious that this song is loved as-is.

She starts off well. Did she just screw up, or is that a word I don't hear in there, an extra "this"? Oops. First loud "you and I" was sharp (sounding). What is she talking about? Singing about? Maybe she's singing some version I don't know, interjected with random words and lines. It sounds good, a little overtaxed, maybe like a pro at the end of a long show, but it's okay. There's a little too much zoomba-zoomba-zoom throat gooeyiness to some of it---and by that I mean a kind of buzzing, sloppy lack of anunciation---but it's fine. I think she's definitely winning over more people than she did last week, but I think that's mainly due to the song choice.

I don't know why Randy's gushing quite the way he is. . . she is great, but this wasn't as incredible as all the judges are saying. I think maybe they just want to make sure she stays in the competition. As they should.

Tonight's ranking

1. Skylar

2. Colton

3. Joshua

4. Elise

5. Jessica

6. Hollie is kind of tied with Phillip, and I could go back and forth for different reasons.

7. Phillip

Who's in danger? I think Hollie is going this week. She keeps landing in the bottom and therefore she's obviously not one of the more popular contestants. I think Elise may still be in the bottom too, but I don't know who else. I would absolutely love for it it be Jessica, to knock her down a peg, but more likely it will be Phillip or Joshua. Like I said, though, I think it's a pretty safe bet that Hollie's leaving, so I guess it doesn't really matter who's in the bottom with her (unless it's Jessica!) I wish we could give Hollie one more chance to do things right (like in rehearsal), but I think this is just it for her. It's a real shame, because she has the potential to be amazing.

AI 11 - 8 Remain for the '80s

I was shocked that Skylar was in the bottom three last week, but not surprised that Heejun went. He was really the least good-sounding singer left, on the whole. I don't think he was bad, but he had the accent he wasn't getting rid of, and he . . . well, Deandre was horrendous, but there was a little more novelty to him. But I think he should go next, for sure. Like Heejun this past week, Deandre just can't measure up to who's left. They're all 8-10 and he's maybe a 6.

Why are they using the Dirty Dancing font and playing "Broken Wings"? Is this going to be '80s week or something? It seems like they kind of already did that with the birth year song week.

Ryan is such a cheeseball. His hair looks yallower than usual. Oh, or maybe that's just the light. So it is '80s week. Well, I hope they choose more really '80s-sounding songs this time. Although I guess there were a few during the birth year one.

Deandre is so disgustingly obsessed with that hair. It's nice curls, sure, but he's worse than most girls with the touching and the flipping and head tilting. It's such a turnoff. Plus, you can see that he has a handsome face, and it would stand out so much more if he chopped that feminine Michael Bolton mop.

Every song Deandre sings sounds exactly the same the way he delivers it (in falsetto), so at this point it doesn't matter what he chooses. Falsetto--oh-oh, falsetti-oh-ooh-oh-oh is all you hear. It's like Charlie Brown adults, but high pitched instead of low.

I think Gwen Stefani is misinterpreting Deandre's look as "worried" when really it's "checking to see that you're watching me/the camera is on me." Gwen's companion looks fittingly bored, but so maybe that is slightly worrying him. I think the producers are actually trying to play up the idea that he's nervous or self-conscious because he really comes across to an audience like an overconfident, undertalented, cocky-arrogant jerk.

Oh my gosh! I agree, but I'm shocked Jimmy Iovine admitted that he thinks Deandre is in the bottom three even before his performance! It sounded like they tried to cover that up a little with the start of the music, but someone put it in there to start with. I feel like that could cause trouble, if only behind the scenes. I wouldn't be surprised if people blamed JImmy when he gets low votes, though. I just hope it doesn't cause an irregularity in backlash protective voting. That's the last thing the competition needs, because he really is the worst.

There it is again, as he starts: Deandre's interests are the camera and his hair, not his audience. The singing isn't as bad as it's been in the past. There's a little bit of non-falsetto, which is best. But he's clearly not really feeling the song or thinking about what he's saying, he's just singing. There's absolutely no connection to the meaning or to the audience. That doesn't work for me.

Thank you, Randy, for pointing out that Deandre should sing less in falsetto and more in his natural voice, maybe with a falsetto garnish.

Oh, I love Foreigner, and I love Elise, so I'm looking forward to this. What? Now she's doing Hallelujah? No, no, no. Okay---oh! and she realizes it herself, that's good. Foreigner is better for this week. I don't think of Hallelujuah as '80s-sounding so much as '70s.

But I don't like this beginning. I don't know what the other people's experiences are with this song, but this is too like it and not enough like it at the same time.It's not special enough, compared to her other performances. It's apt, and she does sound believable, but it doesn't measure up to what she can do. I don't understand the clocks background either. It's just weird. She got a little better near the end, but the R&B run at the very end wasn't right, and was a clear copy of her Vienna run, almost a copout.

It seems like the judges agree with me. I hope this doesn't do her in. She doesn't deserve that. I don't agree with Randy. He should have said this last week to Colton! He was the one under the note the whole time.

It sounds like maybe she psyched herself out trying to pick just the right song this week to pick something showing versatility, instead of just going with whatever felt right. She should worry less about that and more about showing herself through instinct.

Why do they have Colton singing Islands in the Stream with Skylar? It seems right in her genre, but out of his, so if they wanted to change it up, it would work better for him than for her, though for her it would be better if they stuck to the traditional. They're going the traditional route, which definitely works better for her, but is kind of lackluster for both of them. It's good, and they are right on the harmonies, but maybe it isn't special enough for people to take notice. I love the song, so I like it. But I'm not thirteen. The end was more powerful than the start, and I'm glad Randy pointed out the complexity of the duet.

Why does Ryan have to embarrass everyone by implying romances? Nice that Skylar tried to clear it up, but I'm sure rumors will continue.

I'm not surprised Phillip is doing a Genesis song, because he clearly likes that sound, and appreciates Phil Collins at least. It has sounded to me like he at least has been influenced by older musicians he's worked with. And now they prove the point showing him playing with his brother-in-law! But no, his brother-in-law is younger than I meant---though still old enough to offer a few different musical selecti9ons than he might have otherwise been exposed to.

It's nice that they're showing Phillip's brother-in-law, too, because there's an example of a talented musician who can never, ever be on American Idol because he's old, old, old! Over 28! A corpse walking!

They really need to eliminate the age limit.

Oh my god! Phillip sounded awful in the rehearsal. I guess he just had work to do, but they should have let him do a little more of it before they showed him.

Gwen Stefani's companion definitely gave good advice to stop and deliver the line with no guitar.

This, like Elise but worse, just doesn't seem special compared to what he's done. And there's something about the way he's translated the song melodically that makes the end of every line (and more) sound off key. It isn't working. And it's another one where he sounds more angry than tough or scruffy or whatever it is he's usually doing. He looks like he knows it too, or maybe he's just straining with it so much that he looks upset. Altogether, I think this is the worst he's done so far. He also looks the worst. He's got one of those weird half-inch-of-staright-fine-hair "beards" started. He looks unkempt and worn out. I wonder if he's not feeling well. I wonder if they put makeup on the other guys and he won't let them. He looks red-rimmed and ---what? He skipped over the "been" on a "there's been no one." Why would he do that? He knows those lyrics, clearly. Maybe he just got screwed up trying not to play the guitar.

Wow, that was his brother-in-law onstage! The styling made him look so good he was almost unrecognizable to me. I wonder how good Phillip could look, if he'd give them a chance.

The judges are blowing smoke, possibly just because they want to insure his survival. I would like to insure his survival as well, because he's definitely deserving. But this was not good.

Why oh why did they pair Hollie with Deandre? maybe since it's an all-girls' song, it's not a bad choice. It's cute. It sounds similar to the original. It's funny that they have Deandre singing most of the higher parts and Hollie doing the deep. I really like what Hollie showed she could do with the semisolo at the end. Strong, without being forced kissyjujjing---how do you spell "jujj"? "Zhuzzh?" I hope the word is coming across.

Joshua has picked a perfect song for himself in "If You Don't Know Me By Now", but he really should make sure not to overdo it. Gwen Stefani agrees with me. The fact that she calls it "the whatever he does right there" it's clear that she's not quite appreciating it. I hope the adjustments they made in the rehearsal fixed the overdoing, because in my eyes that's his one downfall.

The "never kn-me--woo!' was a little weird, and the trick bits of repetition just to make sounds were pointless, but he was pretty good. I'd put him in front right now (although that's not saying much). He was aware of what he was singing and it was all on key and strong. It could have been a performance at a professional concert. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but I'm sure it was many people's potfuls of tea.

Clearly all the judges enjoyed the tea. That's good, because I'd like to see him stay. He's got talent. I'd like to see him show even more of his breadth, though. He can do more, he's just doing the same right now. Someone push him to do a little different, just so we can hear it.

Wow, I'm shocked Joshua is only 19. I thought he was older. But I really think he should have had a little of experience

So, Jessica is doing Whitney Houston again. Maybe that will help her live up to her previous good performance of Whitney Houston. If there's an opportunity to do it, I suppose this would be it. A cheat to live up to yourself.

I don't know if it's a good idea to have an alter ego, or categorize what you do as someone else inside you. But if it's a tool she has to use, I guess she has to.

She's pushing way too hard at the end of every line, and it sounds ugly. Every time she gets loud, actually, even on the ooos. I don't like the trilling on the "know"s either. She sounds pretty good, clean, a little nicely tough. Oddly enough, at the power point, she looks fake in her "comfort" and doesn't sound as strong. And uh-oh, once again she gets out of breath (like she did in "Turn the Beat Around") and it's clearly audible. She has to get control of that. There's no way you should get out of breath just walking around.

Unlike Jennifer, I don't think her actions seem natural, they seem like playing pretend to me, and like she doesn't always quite believe herself. I don't understand why the judges aren't saying anything to her about her shortcomings here. Randy even pointed out how Whitney sang it so effortlessly, but that was exactly what Jessica did not do here.

I hope Phillip and Elise redeem themselves on "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around." Good, sounds like it. Especially Elise. Why didn't she sing something smoky and sexy like this for her individual performance? I think even Heart would have been a better choice for her. I like that Phillip stays more with his nonscruff voice in the duets and and group songs. They sounded a little tired near the end, but all in all, it was a good show of what these two should have done in their own performances, rather than what they did. And thank god! I hope this is what the voters remember. Phillip looked way more put together for this performance also.

Did Hollie say her dog was Shankly? How cute! Frankly, Mr. Shankly. I agree with Jimmy that the song is cheesy, but so is so much pop! It's perfect in its cheesiosity. It tells the whole story straight out, plain jane, but with hooks. Gwen Stefani is right---the song starts out quietly, but it's an excited, hopeful quiet, the calm before the explosion. What is this talking when Hollie's talking to Ryan? I hope whatever this technical issue is, it doesn't throw her off. Her dress is beautiful and flattering to her, for once.

Shit. Why does she always have to start off with that Broadway drama and thick sound? Why can't she just sing and relax? She's better once she passes the first "what a feeling," but she doesn't look relaxed. She looks like she's going to attack or something, with her crouched stance. Her hair isn't doing her any favors either. It's okay, but it's not that great. The predator-like stance is unnervingly reminiscent of Shannon's posture in her elimination performance. I hope doesn't presage anything bad for her.

Jennifer is exactly on target. I think listening to all the advice is wrecking Hollie. It's a crying shame, because she's got some of the top talent in this group. I hope she has the time to fix it.

It's nice that Ryan finally introduces Gwen's companion, because he's not recognizable to me, or I'm sure many others. Tony Canal, from her band.

Joshua and Jessica sound good together. Joshua looks very un-passionate, though, which I don't like, especially with such a fabulous song. I don't think either of them appreciate the song enough. They're trying to deliver, but to show off, not to show off the song. It's almost like it wouldn't have mattered what they sang. But they were good. Sounded professional. It was funny, though, since the growl-soul and smooth soul were reversed here from the original. I only disagree with the judges because the original song had understanding passion, and this one was more like desperate delivery.

So of course Colton is doing "Time After Time" if he's doing Cyndi Lauper. Yup. Let's see how his take works.

We may have the top performance here tonight. And weirdly, it sounds very '80s, though totally different than the original. It has a Psych Furs-meets-Duran Duran with maybe a little more mixed in. Very John Hughes soundtrack. There are tinges of annoying '90s Green Day garbage and current emo faux-stuffynose whining, but on the whole, it's good. And sounds original to Colton. It's definitely the top tonight for me.

Randy is wrong in the comparisons to Joshua and especially to Phillip. But not wrong in his assessment of Colton. Though it's clear Colton needs no bolstering. Oh, so Colton ripped off the arrangement. Well, it's happened before, and without credit given. I don't think anyone will care. It may mean he's less creative than I thought, but at least he recognizes quality.

I hope Skylar's hunting, deer-eating ways don't lessen her appeal to the audience.

I don't know if I liked Skylar's take on "9 to 5." It didn't even sound like she was pronouncing the "5." I'll be glad to hear "Wind Beneath My WIngs" instead. And I want to hear what she sounds like with a ballad, yay. I always like to hear the differences people can offer.

She's little more unsteady in her starts and finishes in the ballad, but she sounds pretty good. I think with practice, she'd be all over this style. In the more powerful chorus, she's right there and sounds unique and lovely. She's a little too nasal for my tastes in some of this, but she's good. The end was exceptional. She really showed that she could do something completely different really well, which is awesome. I can't believe she was in the bottom three last week! So unfair. She's my second place again this week, maybe even first in terms of heart and vocal ability.

Tonight's ranking, based solely on individual performances:

1. & 2. Skylar & Colton, because I don't want to pick. They get the top spots for individual reasons.

3. Joshua

4. Jessica

5. Deandre

6. Elise

7. Hollie

8. Phillip

Tonight's ranking including duets:

1. & 2. Skylar & Colton

3. Elise

4. Jessica

5. Joshua

6. Hollie

7. Deandre

8. Phillip

I don't think Phillip is really in danger of leaving, but he may be in the bottom three for the first time. I think it will be Hollie, Deandre, and Phillip, possibly with Elise, hopefully not wit the totally undeserving of bottom Skylar. Deandre looked ridiculous in the recap.

Who should go? Deandre.

Who will go? I hope Deandre, but I'm worried for Hollie.