American Idol Top 9 (again) reviews

Crystal 10½
For some reason this didn't seem to suit her, excellent though she was in almost every way. Kinda thing you might find on a B side. Top marks for quality and solid performance but no extras this week. I wonder how the public voters will take it, bearing in mind the big teenage fan numbers building up for one or two others who really ought to be going but may not.

AndrewG 4
So good to see Adam Lambert being so honest. This was not good. OK, in tune but eminently missable. I've never rated this guy who for some reason was favourite at one point. With two departing this week, surely he has to be one of them, and I'm writing this without having yet seen the others.

Tim 14
That worked well. Possibly his best effort so far and making up for several weeks of average. Again, great advice from Adam who seems to be right on contestants' wavelengths. His fans will like that and the judges' complimentary remarks will boost his confidence of making the final few. Need to see what Aaron comes up with, though, who could split his support vote. People will remember that and I can see him going down a gentle storm during the tour with that simple track. He always looks a bit out of place doing the Glee smiley stuff, as does Crystal but for different reasons.

Lee 8½
If this track hadn't already been done that way a few years ago this would have been brilliant. Unfortunately, it had been and he just seemed to be doing a copy, admittedly very competently. Not a good week for him but not a bad one either. Solid, not inspiring. Judges seemed to love it so maybe it was better in the studio that on the screen.

Aaron 7
Hmm. Where's he going with this. Break half-way through made a difference and just rescued it. No mistakes and a decent performance although he just couldn't really grab the song and make it his, which would have been damn difficult anyway. No idea about this one really. He may be in trouble as Tim did so much better. Way better than AndrewG though.

Siobhan 10
Terrible ending. She almost went in a fabulous direction that would have had everyone raving about good she was but, instead, may have lost a lot of people. Who is she? Bit mixed up and confusing. Sheena Easton meets someone else. That won't do her much good this week but she does look fantastic and, with someone telling her what to do, this girl could be a star. Hence my marks (5+5).

Mike 11
He (or someone) is picking great songs to perform. This seemed too short to tell the story, though. Nicely presented and one of a few that have that extra spark so far this time. The 'save' made sense.

Katie 14½
That was the best performance so far. Great look and style. Well done. Not at all familiar with the track which may cause her some problems but she deserves to stick around and actually out-Crystalled Crystal in my view. I don't see her winning (unless she's dead lucky with selections and happens on some tracks that just suit her and no-one else as can happen as we know!) but heading for a place in the last few and comes across as someone who could sell records and deliver some goods.

Casey 9
Rounding off the week and with generally pretty average competition preceding his stroll on stage, he had every chance of walking off with a huge smile and securing that good solid place in the last 7 which ought to see him through to a final. He didn't really take it, just cruised, again. Pity.

The star of the show, however, has to be Adam Lambert who was really good both as a mentor and in communicating so well on screen. Amazing guy, but when is he going to break into the UK?

Dorothy last 10

Forgot to mention that Amy left last week, not who I expected although she was going to be pushed out sooner or later as, attractive and competent as she may be, she didn't seem to fit the bill for the innocent Dorothy they wanted :)

So now, this week. Well, apart from two, possibly three notable exceptions, this was a poor and somewhat tedious evening. In fact, I couldn't be bothered to do this update and am only now watching the results show.

So here's what I thought to Saturday's group:

Sophie 10 
Competent
Jessica 4 
all over the place and a bit bland
Bronte 6½ 
moves like she's on strings but she did put a lot of effort and with a bit more shading could be good
Dani 9 
a good singer and a genuine performer but this was still a little uninspiring
Steph 5 
she tried but it really didn't work. More fun than some though
Jenny 20 

a beautiful version of Songbird - faultless. A star. Actually the star of the group.
Danielle 16 
an excellent effort - the girl's got something
Lauren 10 
a good translation of this number
Emily 12 
Confident and proving a popular performer
Stephanie 16½ 
Spot on. A contender. She also seems to look like a Dorothy to me for reasons I haven't a clue why!

---

Farewell to Bronte this week as two of the Lord Andrew's 'top five' bombed with the telephone people. Lauren definitely outsang an off-key Bronte but may have trouble getting enthusiasm where it matters - with the premium rate diallers, an odd crowd.

American Idol: Big Mike survives

Probably the right bottom three this week. I was convinced that AndrewG was going as I just find him annoying now and can't see him having a hope in hell of winning or even reaching the final three. Aaron, who was really rubbish and, similarly, has to go pretty soon, seems to have pulled in more votes with even that performance so there's hope we can wave farewell to AndrewG soon. Aaron may still pull off some show-stopping performance but I just don't see how he can ever compare to the likes of Casey or Lee if they stay on top form.

Mike was a surprise bottom runner, though, which makes you wonder just who really is voting and why. Or not, as the case may be. Impressive show of support when the judges saved him. they'll be hoping like hell now that one of Lee, Casey or Crystal don't flop with ATT-land one evening on their way to the final Five.

There seems to be several contenders with God on their side this year, or maybe it's just more noticeable with Tim and Mike thanking him on Facebook. Presumably He is one of their Facebook friends.

So it's another last 9 next week with an intriguing bottom 2 to go.

American Idol Top 9 Reviews Pt II

Tim 9
Far better than before - a different guy on stage tonight (well, last night - UK gets the programme a day behind). A bit restrained when he could have let go and got some extra ☼ points but pretty damn good and the girls will not worry about the rubbish guitar-playing - and they're the votes he needs. Pretty cool overall and spot on in many ways. Back in the game. Just.

Casey 17
Just really good, great choice and that performance should seal a place for the next few weeks. This guy is one of the very few that deserve to be competing as an American Idol.

Siobhan 15
Of all the hundreds of lennon & McCartney tracks to go for this was one big risk. I don't know of any other attempt at this but she came close to making it her own and a little special. In places, brilliant, although that may escape the attention of those dialling in ATT premium rate land. She looked good too - a genuine artiste. Oddly, despite the 10½ point difference between her and Aaron, I'd be nervous tomorrow in her shoes.

Lee 13
Good strong crowd-pleaser. He can sing and is building up a lot of confidence. Reminiscent of the 2008 David winner. If Casey slips up, he's got a chance. And anyone who can admit to choosing a bagpipe player to accompany a delivery of Hey Jude deserves some support.

American Idol Top 9 Reviews Pt I

Aaron 4½
Long and long-winded, uninspiring. This is from someone in the top nine of hundreds of thousands in 2010?? Surely not. Saving grace: it was in tune.

Katie 14
Crystal clear and accurate, a confident performance. She looked good and you felt you were watching someone who cared. Definitely in her groove at last this week. Well done, with even some, just a little, star quality for the first time that should see her back next week.

AndrewG 7
OK, sort of. More fun than for many weeks but not much more than a sing-along really and certainly not finalist material which is just another reminder of the shortfall in expectations this year, so many seeming to peak at the auditions. He should have gone last week. May not this week, though.

Mike 16
I'm starting to expect something great from this guy, a bit like waiting for Adam to perform in 2009. And he's close to delivering the goods too. Not all of it worked and it wasn't my favourite rendition of Eleanor Rigby either but he's shown that there's a huge difference between him and the other two boys who preceded him tonight. I can see that as an album track.

Crystal 16½
Now hear is someone I really do look forward to seeing each week, and I can well imagine buying her album(s). I couldn't figure out what on earth she could do with Come Together but she built it up and up and was really getting into the groove when it stopped. Shame, but I can see that going down a storm on a real stage without ad breaks coming up. Nice work, although not so sure she should be 'nice'. Beat Mike this week.

Romania: strong entry for 2010

This could do well, if they can perform it well live, that is. Nice to see something up-to-date and they really do show up the UK's dated offering. Of course, dated may be in again this year so who knows?!

Dorothy last 11

Stephanie 9
Not easy on the eye with that lipstick but great performer and notes spot on. Lousy diction.

Lauren 9
Beautiful voice and control but just marginally less than inspirational

Dani 8
Odd choice of song and laying back didn't work. Talented and has that star quality but not much displayed tonight.

Steph 5
Shaky in places, bright in others. Not sure she'll go that far.

Amy 9
Competent, attractive but doesn't suit this role. Just something missing but she could find it. This is just the start, after all

Danielle 11
You have to pay attention to this girl, even if she does miss notes. Lots of belief in what she does.

Emily 4
Looked really scared, probably worrying about what the judges would say about all those odd notes and the 'rabbit in the headlights' look. She's better than this, if she survives, which I think Lord Andrew will ensure for this week, at least.

Bronte 17
Brilliant. Everything just worked so well. Not sure about the nightie, though. Odd but she could be a star and one of my predictions to win.

Jessica 15
Strong performance. Lots of acting but not the best of voices. Another with star quality, though.

Sophie 18
Second best of the night. Everything good and a real star.

Jenny 20
Easily the best tonight. Professional - she could perform anywhere already. Dorothy? Dunno but she's great.