Fireflies
As badly as the judges want this guy to be good, it just isn't happening. Of all the contestants that allegedly lack this season's most precious commodity that is identity, Lee seems to be the one that is the most enigmatic of all. I'm now well aware of three types of songs he can't sing. I have yet to hear him perform anything from a genre where he assumes any degree of mastery. Like all of these guys, he's only one really bad night away from being sent home. Tonight probably wasn't that night. But it's coming.
ODDS ON STAYING: 6:1
Trouble
I'll admit that it wasn't horrible. He sounded a little like Nick Hucknall but without the great voice. Judge Whatshername plopped out this nugget of wisdom in her assessment, "The only thing standing in the way of you winning, is you." Uh... yeah, and maybe five other people still in this competition. Actually, Alex is only an unlikely and bizarre American Idol serial killing spree from winning. But Paula is still lurking around out there, so I guess anything's possible.
ODDS ON STAYING: 8:1
Hallelujah
When I heard Tim was doing this song, I truly thought it would be a disaster. Turns out it wasn't. For the first time this season, he was quite good. Not an extraordinary performance, mind you — but a very pleasant surprise. He may have earned his way into the final twelve.
ODDS ON STAYING: 10:1
Genie In a Bottle
I was hoping Andrew would have gotten back on track with this song choice, but he fell short yet again. He desperately needed some snap in this arrangement but instead, it was clumsy and disjointed. The guitar got in the way of his vocal, his vocal was absent of tempo and as a result he failed to show the talent that he showed in the auditions. I think it's the end of the line for Andrew and that's bad news for Paula Abdul. With his "Straight Up" cover, Paula's enjoyed more positive buzz in the last three weeks on this show than she ever did in eight seasons as a judge. Proof once again that Paula Abdul is a perpetual and undeniable force of nature which can never be extinguished.
ODDS ON STAYING: 13:1
You'll Think of Me
Casey played it safe with a pretty sterile song choice but he delivered a solid performance nevertheless. Make no mistake, there's a strategy to be played as an Idol contestant. If the only way you could possibly go home is to totally blow up a song, then being smart and choosing something you can't possibly screw up is the shrewdest of tactics. Casey will be around next week and several more after that — providing he doesn't do anything stupid that might distract anyone from his mesmerizing good looks.
ODDS ON STAYING: 3:1
I'm Already There
Before he could croak out the third note of this song, we all knew Aaron had made a bad decision. While he obviously had no business singing a song as mature as this, it seems that Cowell is beginning to realize how the judges are screwing with the minds of the younger contestants. By telling these 16-year-olds what they aren't supposed to sing, they're whisking Aaron down the same road they've dragged Katie. I'm afraid it may be too late for both of them. It almost begs the question: Is it time to raise the minimum age of Idol contestants to 18?
ODDS ON STAYING: 14:1
Somebody To Love
Todrick is a little like tuberculosis. About the time you think it's been completely eradicated, it shows up again. While it was a little too big for his limited ability, the song's theatrical nature turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. Todrick managed to get through his performance no worse for wear. He'll be back to infect us for at least another week.
ODDS ON STAYING: 7:1
This Woman's Work
Michael was our last hope for greatness tonight and thankfully, he was great. I wont go so far as to say that it made me feel like crying (as Whatshername has an "Abdul" moment), but Michael's decision to go the way of soulful as oppossed to being all rock and roll, is a wise one. His strong performance tonight established him as a contender for the title. For now.
ODDS ON STAYING: 3:1
It's been very hard to get a handle on this group. While a few of the girls have exhibited some prowess, the boys have been largely insipid at best. I find it interesting that the judges have used the word "frustrated" over and over again when assessing the girls, but never seem to voice the same "frustration" with the guys. I sense that they don't expect any more from them than the rest of us do. So far, there's no American Idol in this bunch.
At least five of these guys are at risk of being eliminated, but I'm going to guess that Andrew and Aaron will be the two that are on the way out.
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