Top Ten, The Year They Were Born

01 - Ramiele - Alone
This song has been a little over-done on this show. She's back this week vocally. A few times, she seemed to shout, but I thought it was a solid vocal. (Ok, so the judges and I don't agree)

02 - Jason - Fragile
Wow! Excellent selection. While his facial expressions are a bit odd at times, I think I'm sold on this kid. (Hello, this kid is laid back. Do you want him skipping around the stage?)

03 - Syesha - If I Were Your Woman
She has stepped up her game these last two weeks. I liked it. (Paula, let's not go overboard.)

04 - Chikezie - If Only For One Night
This is so much better than last week. He does show some versatility. I liked it, but who knows what the judges will say.

05 - Brooke - Every Breath You Take
She mixed it up, and I give her props for that. I loved it.

06 - Michael - We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions
He belongs at the front of a band. I like what he selects each week to sing. He's cool.

07 - Carly - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
She takes the prizes for the best kid pictures. I thought the selection and the vocal were awesome. The girl has some serious shoes on this evening too. (Randy is fussy!)

08 - David A - You're The Voice
I am not familiar with the song, but he is awesome. Why are we having a competition? RIDICULOUS this kid!

off to another commercial.....thank goodness next week is down to 60 minutes

(Internal Dialogue - "Wait a minute....Kristy Lee Cook....David Cook....did I just pick up on this? Hmm....)

09 - Kristy - God Bless the USA
Who styled her hair? Simon? Rough in the middle, but the selection is a favorite of mine. She should have nailed it with no mistakes since this song is in her wheelhouse (hee hee, had to say it).

10 - David Cook - Billie Jean
His baby picture had me laughing out loud (or maybe I was giddy from all the commercials). I'll admit I had to watch this twice because I wasn't sure the first time around. His voice is amazing! This must be why we are watching this as a competition.

Who's on the bubble this week?
Ramiele, Syesha, Chikezie, Kristy

Have a great week!

The Beatles, Week 2.....yawn.....

Ok, I am going on record that while I know these songs are amazing and classics, two weeks in a row might be dry and dull.

Amanda Overmyer - Back in the USSR - Better than last week, but I'm still not feeling it. She's sorta shouty. (that was not even a real sentence) Did she actually demonstrate a little personality?

Kristy Lee Cook - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Interesting selection, and she looks the best this week that we have seen her. I liked it better than last week. I loved the "musical wallpaper" comment. I will SO be using that later.

David Archuleta - The Long And Winding Road - Solid, strong performance. LOVED it. The crowd cracks me up when he is on stage. I was glad he was back in real form this week.

Michael Johns - He really could record an entire album of these songs. He rocked, I thought. (not sure what the judges heard)

Brooke White - Here Comes the Sun - Was it me, or did her bangs in her face bother anyone else? I really like her but this song was just ok.

David Cook - Day Tripper - He's a freaking rock star! Awesome performance. (The judges realize that they kept this theme again this week.....)

Carly Smithson - Blackbird - It was a little "Broadway" for me but she clearly has talent.

Jason Castro - Michelle - I don't know what to think. (They are not connected to these songs because they connected with their selections last week......Thank you, Simon!)

Syesha Mercado - Yesterday - WOW, she is back and I loved it. She looked great too.

Chikezie - I've Just Seen A Face - Not sure (I am really bored.)

Ramiele Malubay - I Should Have Known Better - It was better than last week, but it was no show stopper.

So for me here is the wrap up:
Off the hook - David, David, Syesha
Only ok because I was already hooked - Brooke, Michael, Carly, Jason
Could get the hook - Amanda, Kristy, Ramiele, Chikezie

P.S. On Oprah Monday, Simon said that David Archuleta, David Cook, Brooke White and Jason Castro were the ones to watch in his opinion based on talent. Also he said on camera that Chris Daughtry was the most talented in season 5, and that it turned into a popularity contest instead. HA! (clearly, not over it)

Top 12 - McCartney and Lennon Songbook

Alright, this week we will review song selection, performance, vocal, wardrobe, and judge commentary.

First off...Song Selection
01 - Syesha Mercado - Got To Get You Into My Life - good
02 - Chikezie - She's A Woman - hmmm
03 - Ramiele Malubay - In My Life - love it, but safe
04 - Jason Castro - If I Feel - like it
05 - Carly Smithson - Come Together - excellent for her
06 - David Cook - Eleanor Rigby - eh
07 - Brooke White - Let It Be - LOVE the song....also a little safe
08 - David Hernandez - I Saw Her Standing There - fun song
09 - Amanda Overmyer - You Can't Do That - no
10 - Michael Johns - Across The Universe - I don't think I have ever heard this
11 - Kristy Lee Cook - Eight Days A Week - like the song
12 - David Archuleta - We Can Work It Out - not my favorite for him.....

Next, performance
01 - didn't like the mix
02 - most energy we've seen from him thus far
03 - heartfelt, but a little dull....strong finish
04 - laidback
05 - she is a strong performer and very comfortable in this setting
06 - he's just cool, might have been a little too "rocky"
07 - have we discussed as a forum that instruments are a plus in my book. little dry at front but she was more involved and connected at the end
08 - not my favorite performance of his, but he's gotta stick around
09 - i am just not a fan. i don't even know what words she is singing.
10 - soulful and simple
11 - little fast, but I liked the country twist
12 - he got nervous :( he powered through but he forgot some words....(I sat and pouted at the tv because I was sad)

Vocal quality
01 - weak start (lower register)
02 - interesting
03 - strong
04 - very unique and solid vocal
05 - rock solid
06 - dude can sing
07 - her voice is interesting too
08 - loved it
09 - I will give her unique
10 - awesome
11 - good, not great
12 - seriously amazing

Wardrobe/Style
Syesha - ok, didn't like the off the shoulder look
Chikezie - stylish as always, although I wasn't crazy about his watch
Ramiele - super cute
Jason - true to his style, but powder blue, dude?
Carly - she looked great
David C - I am struggling with the hairstyle, or maybe the product they are using on him
Brooke - really pretty as usual
David H - stylishly era-appropriate
Amanda - can't handle the hair at all, and smile or go home
Michael - nothing too exciting...as expected
Kristy - cute style
David A - ok

Judge's comments
01 - I agreed.
02 - Again, agree.
03 - I completely agreed with Simon.
04 - He was amazing last week, so that is a tough comparison.
05 - Well, Paula, she has sold 378 records.
06 - Props to the judges.
07 - These songs are what are amazing.
08 - That song leads itself to be over the top.
09 - I just don't get it. Thank you, Simon.
10 - Randy, you said "tooken," and Simon, you don't know their names?
11 - I was indifferent here.
12 - You did force him out of his "vibe" but it wasn't his best to date.

Prediction - a girl goes home

Best of the night - David Cook, Brooke White, Carly Smithson
On the chopping block - Syesha (forgettable), Ramiele (boring and safe), Amanda (mumbly), and Kristy (average)

(Wow, am I glad this is down to one night a week)

Let's voice opinions.....

What were your top 4-6 performances/performers of the first three weeks?

I want to hear it, people!!! I know not all of you have your iTunes to refer to, but come on.....

For me -

• Imagine - David Archuleta
• You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Ramiele Malubay
• Go Your Own Way - Michael Johns
• Love Is A Battlefield - Brooke White
• Hello - David Cook
• Another Day In Paradise - David Archuleta

The Girls on 80's Night

So I am a whole day late.....darn e-filing and depreciation.....

1 - Asia'h Epperson - I Wanna Dance With Somebody - I like it. She's not trying to be Whitney. She's just doing her thing. You go, girl!

2 - Kady Malloy - Some Queen Song - It was just ok. Average. Not sure it's good enough. Not sure she cares.

3 - Amanda Overmyer - I Hate Myself For Loving You - Like the selection. Average performance. Hated the ending. (Her fiance is hot) I'm not sure why the judges love it so much.

4 - Carly Smithson - I Drove All Night - This is the best we've heard from her. I thought it was great.

5 - Kristy Lee Cook - Faithfully - Excellent song selection. She was a little shaky in the middle. This was her best style and vocal.

6 - Ramiele Malubay - Against All Odds - She's the most talented of this crowd. Amazing performance, strong vocal. Is she the tiniest contestant on this show in all the seasons? Did Rondie just say her name incorrectly?

7 - Brooke White - Love Is A Battlefield - Love this performance. She totally mixed it up. She might be my favorite girl. She looked like she was going to cry after she sang.....

8 - Syesha Mercado - Saving All My Love - She just sang her way into the top 12. It was solid.

Here's what I predicted (in the notebook):
In - Asia'h, Carly, Ramiele, Brooke, Syesha
Bubble - Kady, Amanda, Kristy

Game on next week - song selection, vocal, performance, wardrobe, judges commentary - I'll be all over it!

It's 80's Night!

And then there were 8.....

(sidenote - I am guessing at the song titles.....)

1 - Luke Menard - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Nice! I am dancing! His best performance on the show. ....lots of fun. Randy, dawg, the 80's WERE corny. Spit it out, Paula! Simon, George Michael is girly.

2 - David Archuleta - Another Day in Paradise - This is a kid on a social mission. I can't even write about him anymore, he is A-mazing. (Paula would make that two words.) He nailed it. Randy, who bought that shirt?

3 - Danny Noriega - Tainted Love - O M G He's goofy. Randy, did you say shy? Again, spit it out, Paula. Simon made me laugh....and snort aloud.

4 - David Hernandez - It's All Coming Back To Me Now - You go, boy! He's got to be crazy nervous. He belongs in the Top 6 for sure. LOL, Paula said "performer"...hee hee.

5 - Michael Johns - Don't You - Can he take over for Ryan? His voice is awesome. I love this week! Rock On! Awesome. Paula makes no sense.

6 - David Cook - Hello - Holy crap! Making Lionel Richie sound cool. (Well, he was cool....I should say currently cool....this reminds me of the day my brother threw my cousin Emily out of my car for saying she didn't know who Lionel Richie was, but I digress). Sweet! Yeah!

7 - Jason Castro - Hallelujah - Tempo was a little off I thought. His voice is solid. Rough ending a bit.

8 - Chikezie - All The Woman I Need - This is my favorite Chikezie week.

So check it, here is my thought. I have to have the three Davids and Michael Johns in the top 6. I am not set on any of the other 4.

I LOVE 80's WEEK!