Top 5 - The Standards (aka Rat Pack Night)

Needless to say, Grandma Betty is very fired up for tonight's category. This week, her comments won't start with "Well, you know, I don't know the songs very well, but they sounded..."

Everyone is looking sharp tonight....except for Paula who apparently crinkled some fabric and stuck it on the front of her outfit, and Simon busted out another dark gray shirt.

Jamie Foxx....yay! This will be entertaining for sure.

01 - Kris - The Way You Look Tonight
Seriously, this kid could win the whole thing. Excellent selection, he looks sharp. AMAZING yet again. LOVED it.

02 - Allison - Someone to Watch Over Me
She definitely shows her age when Ryan "interviews" her. It was a little annoying to me. For sure she belongs in the competition at this point, because she was the most talented girl, but the guys knock her out. This to me was not her best night. I don't see why the judges fall all over her....the finals, Kara?

03 - Matt - My Funny Valentine
This was not my favorite performance of his, but I thought he nailed it. I am a big fan. I also spit (raspberries) at the TV at Randy and Kara. I didn't have the distance to make it all the way to them in LA though. ;)

04 - Danny - Come Rain or Come Shine
Excellent selection. Tight wardrobe. Can't wait to download it! DUDE, GAME ON!!!!!

05 - Adam - Feelin' Good
He has the highest pitch of everyone left. He deserves to be in the top 5, I'll give him that. I do find it easier to deal with him when I don't watch and just listen. Thank you, Randy, for commenting on the drama factor. Seriously, Paula, a Phelps reference? Aside from the rep that Phelps has now, Adam is not in the same league. (Why am I even acknowledging Paula?)

So here's my ranking (based on gut and my DWTS scoring)
1 - Danny (best wardrobe, vocal, and song selection)
2 - Kris
3 - Adam
4 - Matt
5 - Allison

I know that I have been a crazy Matt fan this season, but this week, I am ok if he or Allison go home.

Grandma liked them all. She does think that Allison is too young to win.

Top 7 - It's Disco Night!

Let me start off with saying I was a HUGE fan of the judges save last week. Being the crazy fan that I am, I totally was sucked into the chanting of the audience and fellow contestants. Well played, judges.

01 - Lil - I'm Every Woman
Lil looks awesome tonight. Not sure I liked the mix of the song, but she did a great job kicking off the show. The judges are so critical of her, that I think it's her time to go. She'll be able to pursue things once she doesn't get kicked on a weekly basis by Simon.

02 - Kris - She Works Hard for the Money
LOVE it! SO COOL! Love him! He really could win it!

03 - Danny - September
Love the selection. He rocked it. Go Gokey! Woo hoo!

04 - Allison - Hot Stuff
She's got a lot going on with her outfit. Rocking out the disco, but sometimes I thought it was odd. The timing was off during the slow part at the beginning.

05 - Adam - If I Can't Have You
They always turn all the lights off except the spot when he sings....Oh the drama! He lost me when he pulled out that screechy crap. As always, it was interesting.

06 - Matt - Stayin Alive
This is why he was saved. I loved it. Sweet!

07 - Anoop - Dim All the Lights
Dude, I was not feeling that at all, and I really like Anoop. He was the style winner for the evening though by a mile. (and not just because he busted out pink)

I have again used a DWTS scoring format, but without double weighting any of the categories (wow, I just sounded like an accountant), it all shakes out pretty close.
34 - Kris, Danny, Matt
31 - Lil, Allison, Adam
29 - Anoop

Style - Anoop/Lil
Song selection - Danny/Matt
Vocals - Kris/Danny/Adam
Performance - Kris

My votes for going home --- Lil and Anoop

P.S. Indy concert is September 5th.....woo hoo!

Top 7 - Songs from the Movies

Here's the question of the day - if they are so worried about going over, why must they babble away the first 8 minutes of the show? Call me crazy.

01 - Allison - I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing
Excellent selection. Very Aerosmith outfit. Solid vocal. Not sure about some of the change-ups she put in there. Overall, it worked.
(Wow, Simon dogged Lil before she's even been on stage)

02 - Anoop - Everything I Do, I Do It for You
I am digging this version. You go, Anoop! (not sure about your jacket selection) Solid, dude.

03 - Adam - Born to Be Wild
I don't hate it. At least the style was consistent throughout. He's still too much drama for me.
(Paula makes no sense AT ALL.)

04 - Matt - Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
The orchestra in the background didn't get it done for me. It was theatrical and the piano was more of a soul vibe. Love him, but didn't love the performance tonight. Still a big fan.
(um this is a ROCK song? really? see how defensive I get!)

05 - Danny - Endless Love
Fabulous selection. Wow. I loved it.

06 - Kris - Falling Slowly
I haven't heard the song, and I need to see the movie....ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!

07 - Lil - The Rose
She has an amazing voice. The beginning was too busy for me, so it made the second half not as cool.
(Simon is just mean to her, not critical, he's mean.)

My votes:
Kris, Danny, Anoop!

don't forget to sign your comments.....I can't be the only one sticking my neck out here ;)

Top 8 - The Year You Were Born

Historically, this has been a really fun category....add to that the "cute" factor of the baby pictures, and I am hooked. On top of it all, we've cut the show to 60 minutes, and I am a happy camper.

I must admit I did a little research regarding the songs they could potentially sing tonight, and not everyone met my expectations based on what they could have done. (more on that later)

01 - Danny - Stand By Me
I like that it's a little unique, or I guess "Danny style". Of all the 80's songs, I must say I was disappointed in his song selection. But he has skills for sure.
COOL

02 - Kris - All She Wants To Do Is Dance
This dude is bringing it. I dug it. I understand the judges, but I thought it was original. I am not sure that the crowd performances are as cool on TV as they may be in the theater.
FUN

03 - Lil - What's Love Got to Do With It
I love the song selection. She has her game face on tonight, until the judges smacked it right off her face. The judges are totally harsh with her, and to be honest, I am confused about what they want her to do with her song selection. Who is the Mary J Blige of the mid 80's? If I were guessing, I would have thrown Tina Turner into that ring.
SOLID

04 - Anoop - True Colors
If you can take a song sung by an artist of the opposite sex and make it work, you'll always get props from me. Love his selection as well. The mix was cool. He's got tight vocals tonight. Nice work, Anoop!
SWEET

05 - Scott - The Search Is Over
I liked it, I didn't love it. I thought it was cool to see him bust out the electric guitar. His selection was smart in my opinion.
NICE

06 - Allison - I Can't Make You Love Me
Her selection was way too safe. I'm bored. I wanted her to sing a solid 90's guy rock song. It would have been so cool. Bonnie Raitt.....really? Paula is stupid. She did NOT make it her own or young. But the judges want her so badly to stay in....not sure why.
SAFE

07 - Matt - Part-Time Lover
This makes me want Stevie Wonder week. I love him. This was AWESOME and cool. (Short comments for Matt because I was too busy staring at the screen and pretending to be Paula.)
AMAZING

08 - Adam - Mad World
I have taken a new approach to trying to understand the phenomenon that is Adam Lambert for American Idol. I don't watch him sing, I just listen. He sounded last night like Kenny Loggins when I wasn't watching. I was not at all sure what song he was singing, and the weird lighting was VERY distracting and odd. I don't see the standing O, but whatever.....for me, he's still too theatrical. I would love to see him in a Broadway show, but I am not buying the album.
DRAMATIC

To me, Danny, Matt, and Kris are in the top tier. Anoop and Adam belong in the game. The bottom three are Scott, Lil, and Allison.

As always....it's just my opinion......

Top 9 - Popular Digital Music Downloads

Really? Is this a category or a free-for-all?

01 - Anoop - Caught Up
Love the song. He's stylish this evening. I liked the performance.

02 - Megan Joy - Turn Your Lights Down Low
Does she always wear turquoise? Why does she have those awkward "dance" moves? This song is more her style, but she never looks like she is comfortable on stage. I am so done with her.

03 - Danny - What Hurts the Most
LOVED IT ALL! I almost cried. (Yes, I am a sap.)

04 - Allison - Don't Speak
Excellent song selection. She is rocking her Gwen Stefani shout-out wardrobe. The pace was a little slow. Her performance was off but she can sing for sure.

05 - Scott - Just the Way You Are
What did they do to his hair? His best performance since Mandolin Rain. Excellent song selection. Yay, Scott! Loved the piano solo.

06 - Matt - You Found Me
This dude is talented. I loved it. I hate Paula and I yelled "Shut UP!" to the judges.

07 - Lil - I Surrender
Way better song selection....horrid dress....solid vocal.

08 - Adam - Play That Funky Music
How many shirts is he wearing? His hair looks ridiculous. Is this song dance, pop, or screech rock? He's a performer, and that's where it ends for me. I don't see it...yell at me if you will....I just don't see it. (When I talked to Grandma at the commercial, she said she really liked it.)

09 - Kris - Ain't No Sunshine
WOW! That was OUTSTANDING!!!!!

My favorites of the evening were Kris and Danny.

Here's how my DWTS scoring shook out:

Danny 38 (Danny won out in the wardrobe category)
Kris 37
Matt 36
Scott 34
Anoop 33
Allison 33
Lil 32
Adam 30
Megan 21