American Idol 2012

I'd feel kinda stupid doing a rundown after Gator. Because we were just so diametrically opposed, I'd sound embarrassing.

Suffice it to say, I thought this was one of the strongest nights I've ever seen for Idol. Then again, I love a great ballad. I thought Colton kicked ass. I thought Jessica was, again, fabulous.

And the one thing we DO agree on seems to be Elise, who is just light-years better the last two weeks than she had been before. She damn near out-Planted Plant.

Heejun, DeAndre and actually, Hollie at the bottom. And none of the three were that bad. For once, it's just that someone has to be at the bottom.

 

I agree that it was a strong night. But when you've got singers performing their favorite songs by the favorite artists, you're going to get that passion. And it was obvious that all the contestants had sang these songs dozens of times, unlike in past weeks when they might have had to sing something they'd never heard before walking into their mentoring session.

Gator, I don't see what the problem is with Colton being open about his religion. It's white conservative faith that bothers people, not faith on its own. We've seen black gospel singers God it up for entire seasons on AI (Jacob Lusk last year comes to mind) and no one ever says shit. But whatever. Christian rock is a crappy genre of music, but the guy sang it just fine. He's going to make the top 4.

I really like Skylar. She's Reba McIntyre to Lauren Elaina's Gretchen Wilson.

Yeah, I think Hollie's going home, or at least deserves to. She's been sub-par two weeks in a row. Heejun and Deandre (who was pretty good this week, actually) join her in the bottom 3. Heejun was also far better this week, but the damage has been done. And he's just not that good.

If for some reason Elise gets voted off, it will be interesting to see if they use the judge's save on her. She certainly earned it tonight.

Phil-Phil's going to win the whole thing in a walk. The only debate left is if the voters dispose of Jessica or Joshua first. The other will be the sacrificial lamb for the finals.

 

I'll be honest, I never thought Lifehouse had a "Christian" song in its repertoire.

I mean, they've had about 10 hits in the last four years, but a "Christian" song?

 

No surprise, but now it gets pretty interesting. Skylar in the bottom 3? And Hollie? Who the fuck is voting for DeAndre? He should have been gone weeks ago. Nonetheless, this is a two-dog race between Phillip and Jessica, with Colton or Joshua sneaking in a darkhorse.

Although I think Joshua could very well be in the bottom three next week.

 

Thing with DeAndre is, you're exactly right, he should have been gone several weeks ago. But -- and I NEVER thought I'd say this -- he didn't deserve to go out after last night's performance. And I thought he was solidly better than Skylar last night, though I was surprised America agreed with the votes.

With '80s Week coming up next week, I agree with what they said about Elise ... the timing could be perfect for her to get in the middle of this if she puts up another big performance like this week.

Hollie is very much in trouble. DeAndre could be right back at the bottom next week. I think they're the next two to go.

 

Who went home? I have to watch my DVR from the bottom up because I'm OCD like that, and I have 21 episodes of Maury to see first.

 

Heejun is Heegone.

 

Thank goodness.

 

She's a very good singer, but like Jimmy Iovine said, she's a less-talented, less-polished version of Jessica.

As for Deandre, do you guys dismiss the tween vote factor now? Don't you hear the girls in the crowd squeal for him every time he's at center stage? The guy sucks, but he's cute, and that's going to carry him past some more-talented singers.

Heejun was fun, but he was the worst pure singer and performer left. It was his time.

And yeah, Elise is starting to build some Haley Reinhart-esque momentum. Iovine let it slip that next Wednesday is 80s night. I hope she digs deep and doesn't go to the same worn-out Heart well that we've seen many similar singers dip into in years past. Maybe something by The Pretenders or Blondie would work for her.

 

And Scotty McCreery already has a platinum album? I don't much pay attention to contemporary music at all — let alone country — and I've totally missed his post-Idol career (other than his lip synching on the NFL Thanksgiving pre-game show).

 

Since I am super drunk right now - fantasy baseball draft - let me post some thoughts about this week and what's to come:
-Heejun shouldn't have been eliminated - DeAndre is fucking terrible - but I can't make make an argument because he's not very good. He should have kept with the happy fun Asian stereotype and rode it to the final four.
Colton Dixon I hate whiny emo bitches. I didn't buy the tears at the end of his performance. If you cry at a song, there better be a good fucking reason. Bowersox being away from her child, then singing People Get Ready is example a) of the only fucking time people should cry while singing.

He was good though, but if he doesn't sing Flock of Seagulls next week, fuck him. Kid's got talent, but he's as entertaining as a bowl movement.
Skylar I thought she was great this week and I hate country. Hate it. She's screwed this week. Jimmy said it was 80s week and country music in the 80s sucked. She needs to do something by Prince. Trust me - it will translate. In addition, Prince is the shit.
Hollie She annoyed me this week. Did anyone else notice her accent got super British? Is she going to be speaking cockneyed in three weeks? Terrible song choice - never go big, because if you miss it you look bad - but she's going to have a lot of good options if it is, in fact, 80s week. If she does Alone - or something from Heart, which wouldn't shock me - she's going home.
DeAndre What a sneaky fuck. He sucks. Let's just say it. However, he is playing for a title. There are a billion songs he could do for the 80s that will nut him to next week (Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Osborne) and if he gets into a spot where he gets to pick whatever he wants from any genre, he sings Maxwell http://tinyurl.com/y8mpcwvand D'Angelo

and wins. You're telling me he wouldn't if he did those two?
Jessica Sanchez BORING. Her performance this week was dull. Yes, it was awesome singing-wise, but I was bored as fuck. However, when she came out and did Like a Prayer as part of the group, I was up in my seat. She does that next week, watch out.
Phillips Squared He's DMB, but whatever. He would have to really, really fuck up to not make the final three. I can't see that happening.
Joshua Ledet Only thing I hated was him saying that was the Mariah Carey version - it was the same fucking thing as Harry Nilson - and he cried to earn votes at the end. He's going to have a tough time next week becuase the best vocalists of the 80s were chicks and white guys who sounded black. I'd love to see him try Alone. Or Jeffrey Osborne. Sorry, Woo Woo Woo is all that's in my head tonight
Elise She just set herself in stone. That was the best performance of the year behind Jermaine singing Fievel last week. She's winning this show. I just want to see her behind the piano once.

 

Good call with the pretenders ... I'd also like to see Elise sing "Betty Davis Eyes."

Any other guesses for next week?