'Idol' thoughts

Let me start by saying this: If there’s one reason I keep watching “American Idol” this season, it’s to see what Andrew Garcia will bring each week.

I've never declared myself a fan of Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down.” But Garcia’s acoustic take on it tonight was sweet music to my ears -- much like his much-talked-about Hollywood Week performance of “Straight Up.” I wholeheartedly disagreed with the judges on "Sugar," and I was completely surprised to hear all four of them say they weren't impressed with the performance. (Simon: "Not original enough" ... Have you heard the original!?)

Up to the moment Garcia started singing Wednesday night, I’d been thinking I was thisclose to being over and done with “American Idol.”

Not one of the 24 Idol wannabes gave a performance that had me feeling so giddy I’d risk -- quoting a recent description of me from my friend Tom -- “passing out from a music-euphoria-induced coma.” And believe me folks, I can be a sucker for some pretty raunchy music sometimes … (Now I’m starting to wonder if I'm crazy for liking Andrew Garcia’s “Sugar” performance as much as I did ...)

Maybe it’s that I’ve got so much going in my life right now to care. Maybe it's that there’s a dozen other things I could be doing than wasting two hours, three nights a week, watching what feels more and more like a karaoke singing competition.

Maybe it’s that I’m not feeling the kind of attachment to any of the contestants this year that I remember feeling during past seasons for a Chris Sligh, a Gina Glocksen or a Brooke White ...

Maybe it's that I've been watching "Idol" for too long and the novelty has worn off for me.

Wednesday night’s guys night performances were dreadful. Aside from Garcia, none of them made an impression on me.

I haaaaaated Todrick Hall's performance of “Since U Been Gone.” Sure, I give him props for changing it up and taking the kind of risk the judges lust for. But I haaaaaated it.

Jermaine Sellers (“Get Here”), Tyler Grady (“American Woman”), Lee DeWyze (“Chasing Cars”) and John Park ("God Bless the Child") -- I couldn’t wait for their performances to finish.

I’ve never understood what the judges see in Tim Urban and was utterly dismayed when I read the judges had decided to bring him back to the competition. Interestingly, everything Simon said in his critique about Urban’s performance was what I’d been saying during his previous performances.

And Kara’s flirt fest with Casey James was just wrong, even if his rendition of “Heaven” was decent.

Ok, Michael Lynche’s smooth rendition of “This Love” made a slightly more positive impression on me. The judges were just lukewarm on Lynche’s take, too, even though he did a commendable job of making the song his own without “murdering it” (ahem, Todrick).

For the girls on Tuesday night, I had higher expectations than the boys. But all the girls offered were two hours of mostly bad song choices, terrible runs and forgettable performances.

Haeley Vaughn? Have I mentioned I don’t understand what in the world the judges hear in her voice? Truth be told, her version of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” was better than I could have predicted, and it might have been her best performance to date. But seriously, she’s like a little school girl wailing off-key in the shower. She’s gotta go.

And Lacey Brown made a valiant effort trying something different on “Landslide,” but there’s no lying -- it was awful. Like Simon, I was ready for it to end after about 15 seconds. Haeley might actually be safe, thanks to Lacey. And thank you, Randy, for reminding the younglings that Fleetwood Mac made “Landslide” famous, not the Dixie Chicks … And Kara, pulling out the references to Sixpence and The Sundays -- nice!

I had seen Janell Wheeler and Katie Stevens as frontrunners until Tuesday night. Now, I’m not so sure. And I’m not getting the "dark horse" fuss about Siobhan Magnus.

As for my bright spots from Tuesday night?

Didi Benami stole my heart singing Ingrid Michaelson’s “The Way I Am.” My thoughts about Miss Ingrid are no secret, and I thought Didi‘s version was a charmer. I totally disagreed with Simon; I get a strong Brooke White vibe from her, which might be good sign that Didi could go far. That’s not so good for winning the whole thing, though, and I get what the judges meant about her being too sleepy.

Crystal Bowersox, I thought, was the best of the girls with her coffeehouse take on Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket” -- one of my all-time favorites. Loved her vocal, loved her acoustic guitar, loved her harmonica-playing, and I’d totally download her version from iTunes. I’ll bet Crystal is in the top 12, easy.

Here's a good read from The New York Times: On ‘Idol,’ Shifts in Power, Not Talent

Phoebe's Playlist

Here’s another post I’ve been wanting to write for weeks - months even.

Not long after Kates and I learned she was pregnant, I began delving deep into our music collection for the perfect playlist. Naturally, music is a huge part of our lives, and we hope it will be a big part of Phoebe's …

Perfect being the key word, the construction of this playlist turned into a tedious, obsessive process. I am a perfectionist after all, and when I really want something I'm gonna go after it whole-heartedly, not moving to the next task until the one at hand is complete. I'm digressing ...

Also noteworthy is that the making of this list only spanned what I have on CD and digital formats. Imagine what it would’ve been had I broken into my vinyl collection or my boxes and boxes of cassette tapes, and taken the time to record those songs into a digital format …

There were some tough cuts along the way -- Johnny Rivers' "Swayin’ to the Music" being one of them -- but they had to be made in order to keep the playlist to a good number - a two-CD set if you will. Then, some more cuts were made after Phoebe’s birth, because some of the songs I had chosen were gender specific. I toiled long and hard to get the right songs with just the right lyrics and just the right sound.

In the end, it proved to be exactly what I had set out to do ... It's a marvelous collection of music, comprised of the artists we love, singing the songs we love. A lot of the lyrics are pretty appropriate and meaningful, and there’s a couple really good cover versions on this list.

I rocked Phoebe to sleep using it tonight ...

So here it is, Phoebe’s (Lullaby) Playlist … Phoebe’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Playlist is forthcoming.

(Songs are in order and titles are linked to their lyrics - where applicable - for your perusal …)

Disc One

1. Thirty-Something Main Theme … It is a quintessential theme for adulthood, and I think it’s one of the sweetest instrumentals ever composed.
   
2. Here Comes the Sun (Bob Khaleel) … Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter. This was the first song Phoebe heard when we turned on the iPod after her birth, and I was holding her for the first time.
   
3. April Come She Will (Simon & Garfunkel) … And while I was holding her for the first time, I rocked her and repeated gently "April come she will!" Phoebe’s due date was April 10, but there was a time we thought she was going to arrive in March, and even then we thought she was going to be a boy. I badly wanted to use this beautiful song on her playlist.


4. Sweet Thing (Van Morrison) … Had to get a Van Morrison song on the list. And “Sweet Thing” is a sweet song.
   
5. I Will (The Beatles) … Simple, sweet melody. And it’s The Beatles.
   
6. Night Swimming (REM) … An old-school favorite of ours and probably our favorite REM song of all. Kates and I were unanimous about adding it to the list when it came on the iPod while we were driving home one night last winter.
   
7. I Don’t Want To Live On The Moon (Shawn Colvin w/Ernie) … We adore Shawn Colvin’s music, and here she’s singing with Ernie - need we say more? We’ve long loved this song and the night we heard it live will always be a cherished memory … (Hear the song (with a really bad Ernie voice) and watch the video here.)
   
8. Windmills (Toad the Wet Sprocket) … Another old-school favorite of mine that’s perfect for mellowing out …
   
9. Homebird (Foy Vance) … Much of this song’s beauty lies in its sound. (Hear it here.)
   
10. ‘Til Kingdom Comes (Coldplay) ... "For you, I've waited all these years / For you, I'd wait 'til kingdom come."
    
11. Ice Cream (Sarah McLachlan) … Another longtime favorite.
    
12. Gotta Have You (The Weepies) ... It's no coincidence there's a lot of Weepies music on this list. We've been listening to them a lot for the last several months.
    
13. The Luckiest (Ben Folds) … If you know me at all, you know Ben Folds' music is something deep and special to me. Still, I didn’t start to fully get the sentiments expressed in “The Luckiest” until last fall.
    
14. World Spins Madly On (The Weepies) … Sort of a dark song. But it’s The Weepies and, like “Homebird” much of its beauty lies in its sound. (Hear a sampling of the song here.)
    
15. Songbird (Eva Cassidy) … Christine McVie’s original for Fleetwood Mac is a gem, but Eva Cassidy’s voice brings another dimension to it that makes the song even more beautiful. (Hear it here.)
    
16. Love Has a Hold On Me (Amy Grant) … This one was on the cutting board, but after a strong vote of approval from Kates, I kept it on the list.
    
17. Imagine (Avril Lavigne) … I wanted to add “Imagine” to the list, and out of all the versions out there I settled on Avril’s cover because she’s current, Kates and I love her music and her version has a sweet, childlike, girlish vibe to it.
    
18. Answer (Sarah McLachlan) ... I will be the answer / At the end of the line / I will be there for you / While you take the time / In the burning of uncertainty / I will be your solid ground / I will hold the balance / If you can't look down (Hear it here)


19. All Through The Night (Shawn Colvin) ... A beautiful, prayerful lullabye


20. Lullaby (Dixie Chicks) … This one is heart-achingly beautiful.

Disc Two

1. Sooner or Later (Michael Tolcher) ... This is the edgiest and most upbeat song on the playlist, and it could've easily gone on the Rock 'n' Roll, but there's the gentleness in the lyrics, and the parental sense of wanting to see your daughter succeed, made this song too hard to pass up.


2. Everything (Michael Buble) … A recent hit, this song was another one of those that would’ve made our Soundtrack for the Last Nine Months.


3. Song For You Far Away (James Taylor) … I had to get some James Taylor in there, and this was the one to get in.
   
4. The Heart of Life (John Mayer) ... I hate to see you cry / Laying there in that position / There's things you need to hear / So turn off your tears and listen
   
5. Keep It There (The Weepies) ... The thing I love about this one is the way the lyrics read like a nursery rhyme, and the melody is beautiful, too. For the purpose of this playlist, it's my favorite Weepies song.


6. Northern Sky (Nick Drake) … Nick Drake's stuff is one of a kind, and this is one of those that gives me chills every time. (Hear it here.)


7. Sunrise (Norah Jones) … Sunrise, sunrise / Looks like mornin' in your eyes (Hear it here.)


8. Love Song (Treat Williams) … A great cover of a great song I discovered just a few months ago. The cover version, not the actual song.


9. Somebody Loved (The Weepies) … Sun turns the evening to rose / Stars turning high up above / You turn me into somebody loved


10. Blackbird (Sarah McLachlan) ... It's Sarah McLachlan's angelic voice on one of the most beautiful Beatles songs around.


11. Stewart’s Coat (Michelle Branch) ... Just give me many chances / I'll see you through it all / just give me time to learn to crawl.


12. All the Pretty Li’l Horses (Shawn Colvin) ... Hush-a-bye / Don't you cry / Go to sleep, my little baby.


13. Let It Be (Brooke White) … Like “Imagine,” it was important to me that this song also made the list. Brooke White charmed us big time this year on “American Idol,” and after her amazing rendition of the song, it seemed only appropriate to add her version. (Watch it here.)


14. Never Saw Blue Like That (Shawn Colvin) ... Sung at our wedding this song has as much meaning to Kates and I as any on this list. (Hear it here.)


15. A Cold Wind Will Blow Through Your Door (Bill Ricchini) … As Kates and I were driving up and down the state’s eastern coast after my grandfather died last Easter, this song seemed to come on every time we turned on the iPod. I couldn’t resist putting it on Phoebe’s playlist. (Hear it here.)


16. I’ll Say I’m Sorry Now (Shawn Colvin) ... For everything I do / That will tear into you / Let me say I'm sorry now


17. Last Sunset (Glen Phillips) … A gentle gem from the great Glen Phillips, former frontman of - do you know? - Toad the Wet Sprocket. (i.e. one of my all-time favorite bands and the artist behind the “Windmills” song above.)


18. Stars (The Weepies) … A dreamy, good lullabye. (Hear it here.)


19. What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) ... A classic that needs no explanation. (A nice clip here.)


20. January Rain (David Gray) … Another sweet, sweet instrumental - this one conjures up warm visions and dreams, and gives Kates and I the chills every time.


21. Lullabye (Billy Joel) … This one made Kates cry a couple weeks ago as she was rocking Phoebe to sleep to the song. Take a look at the lyrics and this one explains itself. It's perhaps the most perfect song on the list, and the perfect way to end it. (Hear it here.)
    

Stuff

Sigh.

Before tonight's A.I., I said aloud that I'd only be shocked if either of the Davids went ...

And it ended up being Brooke ... Oh, sweet, adorable Brooke.

Dang.

Her style was too tame and indie-ish for me to ever truly believe she could win the whole she-bang. But it was that same style that had me admiring her big time from the first moments I heard her Carly Simon-ish voice (who, by the way, gave her a big endorsement today). I've rooted for Brooke more than any other contestant in my measly two seasons of Idol-watching ...

My first thoughts after she was eliminated tonight were I can hardly wait to get her album.

(And for the record, I barely care about "Paula-gate" and all the conspiracy theories. It was just another amusing moment of Paula being Paula in my book.)

* * *

... I spent $40 filling my little tank of gas today. Kates spent $50 on hers ...

... Makes my memories of complaining just a few years ago of $1.20-a-gallon gas in Independence, Mo., seem really distant ...

... It also makes me think of my favorite gas-related political cartoon of all-time. Every time.

* * *

I returned to my office space yesterday. Had to get back some time, I've been telling people.

I had 432 e-mails to sort through. Yeah.

* * *

I got started with a story about Sheryl Crow's tour swinging through the region and spent some time pulling up some good stuff on YouTube ...

Here's Big Hair Sheryl singing "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with Michael Jackson on the "Bad" tour. Classic!



I also stumbled across this cover of "All I Wanna Do" from English singer/songwriter Amy Studt. I kind of like it ...

* * *

Commas, Turning Up, Everywhere

WASHINGTON—In the midst of a crisis that may have reached a breaking, point Tuesday afternoon, linguists, and grammarians, everywhere say they...

Idol chatter

... Not that I ever lost respect for David Archuleta -- his goody-goody attitude and goofy humble smile are just a bit much sometimes -- but tonight, he got my admiration back ...The moment he said he was pulling out "Sweet Caroline" and "America," he had won the night ...

His "Sweet Caroline" was the performance of the night in my book, and his "America" -- like Kristy Lee Cook's "God Bless the U.S.A." -- was just smart ...

Yes, it was Neil Diamond night, which meant a plethora of good tunes to pull from for the Idol clan ... Even while most of the performances were a little so-so, it was the most I've enjoyed a Tuesday night Idol in weeks ...

I still think Jason Castro needs to be the next to go. "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "September Morn" are great songs ... But I'm tired of his doped-down versions, those dreadlocks and those glazed-over-duuuuuuude-eyes. No energy. BOR-ing.

Then there's Syesha who really does have some talent and a wonderful voice. But I don't disagree with Simon who said last night she could be in trouble ... Her "Hello Again" was nice and strong. And her "Thank the Lord" was cool and Motown-ified. But her personality is showing up too late in the game and she hasn't shown the umpf to get her to the top ... But hey, I liked the hair down last night.

And Brooke. Oh, Brookey ... "I'm a Believer" is one of my all-time favorite songs, period. But when she said she was singing it, I groaned. I knew before she picked up the guitar it was not the song for her. And it was horrific. ...Her "I Am I Said," however, was a complete turnaround -- brilliant. She was emotionally attached to it, she was at her piano and I thought that was the second-best performance of the night ...

Which leaves rocker David Cook. Yep, he's still a sure bet for the finals in my book ... I didn't think his performances were as good as the last few weeks, but he's staying consistent -- which is something only he and lil' David have done.

Idol chatter

Ah, American Idol ...

Where were we before the expansion of our family ...

Ah, yes. Michael Johns had just been dismissed (no shock to me, America), and then there were seven.

Then, Phoebe arrived a couple days later. And we watched Mariah Carey Week from our hospital room ...

When David Archuleta sang “When You Believe,” Kates and I were with Simon -- We could’ve bet a million bucks he was going to sing that song. And we still weren't impressed. The shine on ‘lil David has rusted. We also were turned off by Syesha's “Vanishing” and Jason Castro's “I Don’t Want to Cry.”

We liked Brooke's version of “Hero.” But we loved Carly Smithson's brilliant “Without you.” And David Cook's “Always Be My Baby” -- Awesome. No, we didn’t like David Cook those first couple weeks. But week after week, as the competition has progressed, again and again, he has proven his ability to be, as Simon said, daring and imaginative. He did one of my favorite Mariah songs and his rocked-down version of it was an ace. He's beginning to leave any doubts he's going to win this thing.

On the other side, Kristy Lee Cook's dismissal after her awful “Forever” (another one of my Mariah favorites) had to have been one of the most predictable exits of the season ... But I will say her exit performance, seated in front of Simon, was a gem.

And that brought us to this week. With six Idols left. Andrew Lloyd Webber Week ...

Eh.

My mother will scoff at this one, but I'm hardly an Andrew Lloyd Webber fan. Which made this week a little less exciting to watch -- along with the idea that these next few weeks have everyone going through the motions to get the Idols whittled down to the David Cook vs. David Archuleta final.

Before tonight's show I predicted it was Jason Castro's night to go. ... A surprise to me, Jason didn't even make the bottom two, but I can tell you Carly -- who did go -- would have been my next guess. All season long, given her record label past, the expectations and buzz around her seemed to be unrealistically high and I think that, combined with the notion she never really got it (She admitted herself last night she had been choosing songs to please the judges and fans, not for her own fun.) led to her perhaps-earlier-than-deserved demise. (Here's a good read from the LA Times: Seeking closure with Carly Smithson)

At the same time, Syesha hardly deserved to be in the bottom two. Though she's likely to go any week now too, her fantastic “One Rock n’ Roll Too Many” was arguably the best performance of Tuesday night. And it was even better last night during her possible exit performance ... (And seriously. What was up with Carly and Ryan yapping in the background all through Syesha's time? Tacky indeed.)

And what's with everybody beating down Brooke for starting and stopping her song, "You Must Love Me," when she flubbed the lyrics ... Geez people, everybody was totally praising her for it and complimenting her maturity when she did it earlier this season. What changed!? She was only a few notes into the song and I've seen and heard dozens of top performers do the same thing. It shows professionalism for wanting to get it it right and I'll never blame them for doing it ... And extra kudos to Brooke for sticking with her descision last night ...

One more thing: I called it that David Archuleta would sing a song from “Phantom,” and he sang “Think of Me.” Kudos to him for trying to turn it into a pop song. But I agree with Simon, it was forgettable. I'm so bored with 'lil David ...

Here they come again

It’s Idol night again …

Tonight it was Dolly Parton doing the mentoring … Ok, cool. Should be sort of fun, right?

Eh. My excitement seems to be lessening with each week as the lines between the talented and the wannabes grow finer. Then there’s others we're just getting sick of …

Brooke White started it off with “Jolene.” I really liked it, again. I loved the band … Kates and I continue to love her style, her song choices and everything else about her. We’re totally getting her album …

Carly Smithson did “Here You Come Again.” … And whoah, did Carly regain her footing! Yes, she was smiling. Yes, she appeared to be having more fun this week. And her slowed-down arrangement was soaring. Performance of the night, no doubt.

Jason Castro with his version of “Travelin’ Thru” kind of got us liking him again, too. I think when he’s got that upbeat Jason Mraz / Jack Johnson thing going he can be really entertaining and fun to hear …

In the second tier tonight, I start with David Cook and his “Little Sparrow” … It was all right. He’s been getting more exciting with each passing week, but this week I thought the electricity was lacking …

I expected Syesha Mercado to kill on “I Will Always Love You” … and she did -- for the first half of it. But the second half was pitchy and it really slipped …

And David Archuleta … Whatever. The moment he said “The song reminds me of when I‘m singing…” Kates and I burst out laughing with Archuleta mockery: (Said in dreamy David Archuleta voice) The song reminds of when I’m singing about roses and sunshine and rainbows and pretty little things that make me so happy I just lick my lips over and over … Now little David’s sweetness is just plain annoying …

Then there was Michael Johns' vocals, which I totally didn’t like. And Kristy Lee Cook who should’ve knocked it out of the park this week, but didn’t. And Ramiele Malubay, who just needs to go home …

Idol chatter

…So here we go. Another night of “American Idol.”

This was a weird night. Our minds are on so many other things. And I really wasn’t excited for tonight’s show …

But it goes on. And tonight the Idols are singing songs from the years of their births. Nice … So I looked over a list of the top songs from the year I was born. But before doing that, there already was one song playing in my head -- If I were on stage tonight, I think I’d have to sing Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America.” Love that song! (And while we're talking about the awesomeness that is Supertramp -- How 'bout "Dreamer." Now that one's been a favorite of mine since the day I learned to play a cassette tape ...) … After looking at the list, Billy Joel’s “My Life” and Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me” also would be possibilities …

Ramiele Malubay started off with Heart’s “Alone.” And sang it totally off-key. Didn’t like it. I’ll say it again: She needs to go.

Didn’t like Jason Castro’s version of Sting‘s “Fragile” either. His vocals were uninspired and, hey audience, it’s not a clappy type of song!

Syesha Mercado sang “If I Were Your Woman.” … Yeah, so apparently the judges liked her performance, but at this point I was totally tuned out. Kates and I were musing about the burst of 1987 babies. And then I threw out the possibility that it’d be fun to see a 1988 baby sing Tiffany’s “Could’ve Been.” Didn’t happen …

I also tuned out for Chikezie, who was back to his boring ballad-singing self. I was barely paying attention; I didn’t know what song he was singing …

My ears perked up, of course, when Brooke White took the stage … Yes, her rendition of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” was fantastic. In past weeks we’ve said she was channeling Carly Simon. This week Kates rightly mused that she had a Sheryl Crow vibe going … And as the judges noted, she showed her maturity and professionalism and rightly started the song again after a bad start ...

Talk about channeling! … How about Michael Johns doing his best Freddie Mercury! The dude knew how much America loved his “Bohemian Rhapsody,” so he pulls out a “We Will Rock You” / “We Are the Champions” Queen medley. Awesome.

Carly Smithson did “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” It was pretty good, but not great …

David Archuleta sang "You're The Voice" …And America, I agreed with Simon’s theme-park comment. He sang it well, but I thought the whole performance was sort of hokey …

Kristy Lee Cook, in the You’re singing what!? category, sang “God Bless the U.S.A” … Um. Ok. After her disasters of the last few weeks, it was a good performance from her. No doubt, she earned some points with it … Simon hit it again: It was a clever song choice and it’s probably going to keep her in the competition.

David Cook played it risky with a slowed down version of Michael Jackson‘s “Billie Jean” … I was skeptical initially, but the further he got into the song, I kind of liked it. Bold. He’s the sleeper.

My performances of the night: David Cook, Michael Johns and Brooke White.

I think Ramiele, Jason Castro and Chikezie earned spots in the bottom three.

Idol chatter

I wasn’t thrilled that “American Idol” was doing The Beatles again tonight. I’m a strong believer in the notion that it’s nearly impossible to duplicate a good thing, and tonight was proof of that … There were only two clear successes. Meanwhile, the race for who goes home this week is wide open …

Amanda Overmyer started it off tonight with “Back in the U.S.S.R.” … I liked it, and she looked tonight like she was having as fun as ever. It definitely showed in her performance -- she looked good. … But about midway through the performance I also started thinking exactly what Simon said when it was over, she’s starting to get boring. And we’re hearing the same style from her week after week

Kristy Lee sang “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” -- great song! (Which she had never heard before!? Kristy Lee, c’mon!) … I kind of liked the arrangement, but she was pitchy and clearly unsure of the melody …

David Archuleta did “The Long And Winding Road.” One of my least favorite Beatles songs, definitely my least favorite of their hits … David sang it well, but that was it. He totally played it safe. He picked an easy ballad. And all the teenie girls go wild. He’s like Amanda -- it’s getting to a point where -- no matter how pure his voice is -- we know what to expect every week …

Michael Johns sang “A Day In the Life.” Nice, I was thrilled to hear he was trying it (and that there finally was a contestant who had heard of The Beatles! … Seriously, were you kids raised in Antarctica!?) … But it didn’t translate well on the stage. The judges are right, he’s gotta stop sorting himself out and just bring it -- which he hasn’t done since he blew us away with his “Bohemian Rhapsody” during Hollywood week.

Brooke White… Have I mentioned how much we love her!? The yellow dress. The charm. Singing “Here Comes the Sun.” … So the judges didn’t like it. Fine. She’s still great.

David Cook did “Day Tripper” … and rocked it! Performance of the night! Liked the vocoder, too… I never thought I’d be saying this a couple weeks ago, but he’s really starting to grow on me. He’s definitely a sleeper in the competition …

Carly Smithson sang “Blackbird” … One of our favorite songs, and she nailed it. She’s the girl to beat.

Jason Castro sang “Michelle.” Didn’t like it.

Syesha Mercado sang “Yesterday.” … Tough song. Big risk. I thought it was all right.

Chikezie sang “I’ve Just Seen A Face.” … I cheered out loud when I heard the song choice. Another one of my favorites … But I didn’t at all dig the slowed-down beginning. Then he sped it up and added the harmonica. Then, like Simon said, he went all “Achy Breaky.” It was definitely schizophrenic. I think he tried, but there was no way he was going to top last week …

Ramiele sang “I Should’ve Known Better” … Good song. Poor performance.

David Cook and Carly Smithson were my favorites tonight -- hands down … I’m picking Ramiele, Kristy Lee and Jason Castro in Wednesday’s bottom three.

America's Top 12

And suddenly there were 12.

Without Danny Noriega. I wasn't over it when "Idol" started tonight ...

But, hey -- for the first time in Idol history -- tonight was a tribute to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. We were totally having fun, and by the end, I'd almost forgotten last week's travesty ...

It also helped a lot that the guy I thought should have gone before Danny gave the performance of the night and, arguably, one of the most memorable of the competition so far ...

Holy crap, Chikezie! He blew the roof off the studio!!… The dude, who I’ve never completely understood, did “She’s A Woman” and started it off with a down home “O Brother Where Art Thou?” thing (Kates was beaming when she called it before the judges). Then the band kicked it in high gear, and there was Chikezie totally rocking out. Kates and I loved it so much we were left as breathless as he was after the performance. Who knew he had it in him!? And if he can keep it up, he’s totally in …



And that means, by george, David Archuleta is human! I picked out his Stevie Wonder version of “We Can Work It Out” the moment he stepped from the stairs. He fumbled the words. He seemed totally out of place. And if there’s anything we’ve learned from our years watching “Idol” -- never start on the stairs.

Carly Smithson barely stood a chance of me liking her performance because she sang “Come Together,” one of my least favorite Beatles songs. But she still sang it well enough to remain the girl to beat.

And Brooke White is right behind her. Love her! Loved seeing her at the piano. Her version of “Let It Be” was passionate and heartfelt and priceless.

David Cook’s rock-out version of “Eleanor Rigby” was pretty sweet. And Amanda Overmyer finally looked like she was having some fun tonight -- I really liked her version of “You Can’t Do That” too.

Michael Johns' version of “Across the Universe” was OK. So was Syesha Mercado’s version of “Got To Get You Into My Life” -- though I really loved the brass on it.

I couldn’t have agreed with the judges more on Ramiele Malubay's boring version of “In My Life.” And the same happened on Jason Castro’s “If I Fell.” Which sucks because those are two of my most favorite Beatles tunes.

Didn’t like David Hernandez at all.

But he wasn’t near as bad as Kristy Lee Cook’s “Eight Days A Week.” I was totally OK with the idea of a country version, but her arrangement of it was plain awful. The look on my face when she finished it must’ve looked like I had a toothache …

I predict Kristy Lee goes tomorrow night.

Another American shocker

Danny Noriega -- one of my favorite guys, not to mention the entire 'Idol' competition -- was booted tonight.

Unbelievable.

Say what you want about his attitude and flaboyance … But Danny and lil’ David Archuleta -- to me -- were the most consistent and fun-to-watch vocalists in the whole group. I always got a kick out of his attitude (ish!) and his performance chops, and I thought his rendition of “Tainted Love” on Tuesday night was really kind of cool.

Never mind that Kady Malloy, Luke Menard and Asia’h Epperson went tonight too. Kady should have been gone last week. Luke was barely average. And Asia’h was decent, but I always thought her voice was weak -- plus she got more negative points Wednesday night for wearing those uber-distracting chest-high pants …

So Alexandrea Lushington, who I considered one of the top girls, was booted last week. And now Danny’s gone …

I don’t think I want to watch “American Idol” anymore.

* * *

So after watching the boys on Tuesday night, I had hoped it would be David Hernandez and Chikezie to go … But if I was to place a bet, I would have put it on Luke Menard and Chikezie. Turned out I was half right.

Luke sang Wham’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.” Yeah, I thought it was a surprising song choice, too, but I also thought he sang it well. And I can’t blame him for picking it -- it is a decent ‘80s song.

David Archuleta. Geez. Stop the competition now. The kid’s got it… Ryan Seacrest teased us before his performance that he would be singing Phil Collins, so I mused he could sing “Against All Odds” or perhaps “Sussudio” (joking!)… But he goes and does a cool “Another Day in Paradise.” I do agree with Simon, though, David’s gotta start finding some upbeat songs.

David Hernandez? Singing singing Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back”? Really!? He sang well, but I wanted him dropped just for attempting that song …

Michael Johns sang Simple Minds' “Don't You (Forget About Me).” Breakfast Club soundtrack. 1985, baby … Excellent song choice for him. Great performance. At least I still have him as one of my faves.

David Cook … It took us a few bars to figure out the song he was singing, then came the “Hello” and we realized it was Lionel Ritchie’s song. In unison, Kates and I did a “ugh” … Then he picked up the pace a little bit and rocked it out. It’s the first performance of Cook’s that we’ve really enjoyed, and now we’re kind of hoping he gets into the Top 12.

Jason Castro did “Hallelujah.” One of my all-time favorites. He got it.

Chekezie did “All the Woman That I Need.” …Another groaner. Didn’t Like it at all. Plus he already sang it for his audition.

* * *

After watching the girls Wednesday night, I would have bet Kady Malloy was gone, along with Amanda “I‘d rather be anywhere but here” Overmyer, or Ramiele Malubay ...

Seriously, the last couple weeks Amanda has looked like she couldn't be having any less fun. Her performances have been just poor enough that I'm surprised she's still in the competition. But mostly I get that the feeling that she just wants to hop on her motorcycle and ride away from all the crying girls ...

Speaking of crying girls, Ramiele did do "Against All Odds" and I didn't like it. She's another one I thought should have been out weeks ago.

On the other hand, Carly Smithson shined again with her rendition of "I Drove All Night."

And I thought Kristy Lee Cook totally upped her odds with her country-fied version of Journey's "Faithfully." She took the judges advice and nailed it ...

Brooke White kept up with the contenders with her version of "Love Is A Battlefield." ... I love her soulful voice. And for once I disagreed with Paula -- I'm glad she didn't bring in the band ...

And then there was Syesha with another Whitney song -- "Saving All My Love (For You)." I liked her performance too.

Carly, Kristy Lee, Brooke and Syesha are clearly the girls to beat.

'Idol' night

Well, folks, we've had our first shocker of the season. Alexandrea Lushington, who I thought -- at the least -- was a solid Top Three among the girls, was given the boot ...

Unbelievable. Shame on you, America. It should have been Amanda Overmyer going instead.

On Wednesday night, Alexandrea sang Chicago‘s “If You Leave Me Now” -- a tough song, but she put her own touches on it and her movement from low to high notes was flawless. In fact, I thought she performed it even more beautifully than Chicago did. It was really good ...

Just adds more truth to my theory that the majority of people who watch -- and vote -- on 'Idol' don't know, get or appreciate the really good music.

As for the other cast-offs, I can't say I was happy to see Alaina Whitaker go either. Granted, her performance on Wednesday night of "Hopelessly Devoted To You" wasn't good, let alone a poor song choice. But the girl had some potential and charm, I thought ... Then she goes and gives possibly the most riveting send-off performance I've seen.

And the boys -- Jason Yeager and Robbie Carrico -- not shedding any tears about those guys. Just weeding them out.

* * *

About those boys ... There were a ton of great songs delivered during their performances on Tuesday night, but the top guys are clear ...

Michael Johns started off the guys with Fleetwood Mac's “Go Your Own Way” and my ears shot up the moment I heard the opening guitar strums on that one. It’s a GREAT song and I thought Michael did a pretty good job on it. A little pitchy around the first chorus, but I thought it was a great choice for him. And at times, if I wasn’t watching the TV, I think I might have mistaken his voice for the real Lindsey Buckingham …

Jason Castro sang “I Just Wanna Be Your Everything.” I can’t say I loved the song, but I do love his vocals. He’s totally got the Jason Mraz thing going ….

Luke Menard did Queen’s “Killer Queen.” … One of my all-time favorite songs, and I thought he did it well -- kind of surprising since I thought he was going to be gone last week. Simon just seemed to be disliking everything Tuesday night.

Danny Noriega sang The Carpenters’ “Superstar.” Great rendition, but his interaction with the judges was more entertaining. (When he admitted that his Elvis cover last week was "a mess" -- I disagree -- and Simon questioned him further, his "ish" response was hilarious ...) Even with his attitude, I really like the kid -- Kates and I agree, he’s weird, but it’s a sort of cute weird.

And then there was David Archuleta, singing a jaw-dropping beautiful version of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” I’m with Paula: perhaps the most memorable performance ever on that stage. Whether he borrowed the version of the song shouldn't matter -- the dude can sing, ... In the meatime, the fawning over lil' David continues to be just as entertaining. This from EW ...

He has the eyes of Bambi, only darker and perhaps 11 percent more earnest. When the camera catches his broad, open, guileless grin, you can kind of understand how a mother feels the first time her baby looks up at her and smiles. And when he sings — oh, that voice! — grandpas (and Paula) grab their handkerchiefs and dab the corners of their eyes, remembering simpler days when ''nice boys and girls'' were the toast of the airwaves.

David Hernandez and David Cook aren't worth mentioning -- I just want to see them gone. And Chikezie isn't one of my favorites, either, but I think he still has potential.

So my top guys remain in this order: David Archuleta, Danny Noriega, Jason Castro and Michael Johns ...

* * *

And Wednesday night was ladies' night ...

I thought Carly Smithson started it off with a bang. With the '70s week theme, you knew there had to be a girl who was going to try Heart's "Crazy On You," and Carly nailed it. This was the first week I've considered her a serious contender.

Syesha Mercado. Didn't know the song. But even if I did I'd have to agree with the judges that it was a poor song choice. ... Her baby cry, by the way, was amazing and creepy wrapped into one ...

Brooke White -- my girl. A smile lit up my face the moment I heard her playing the opening chords of a sweet, slowed-down version of Carly Simon's "You're so Vein." She had a little trouble with the lower notes, but she was totally chaneling Carly, and it was a brilliant song choice for her. I loved it, and she redeemed herself after her so-so performance last week ...

On the other side ...

I'm still not getting Ramiele Malubay. I thought Kristy Lee Cook's “You’re No Good” was lacking, along with Kady Malloy's “Magicman” -- though I still have an ounce of faith that they can do better. But I thought Asia’h Epperson (singing “All By Myself”) and Amanda Overmyer (with “Carry On My Wayward Son”) were as good as gone with their awful performances ...

After Wednesday night, my top girls were, in order: Alexandrea Lushington, Carly Smithson and Brooke White.

Guess I was wrong.

The Girls' Idol night

... So after David Archuleta sang a great "Shop Around" last night, I've had the song in my head (in my best Chandler Bing impression) all the live long day! ... I got up this morning, and it was in my head (singing: And then she said / Just because you've become a young man now ...). So I immediately turned on my iPod and put it on because it was so engrained in me. Then I was humming it and tapping my fingers to it all day at work. And when we got home from our birthing class tonight, I played it once more ...

Speaking of David Archuleta, in case you missed it, EW's review had a great bit on the boy wonder:

... the inevitable top-five finisher David Archuleta. If I didn't know better, I'd say that a magical Idol witch concocted little David in a cauldron, using the soft, downy fur of a week-old kitten, the damp, cool nose of an innocent puppy, and the voices of a thousand angels as her main ingredients. Sure, David's voice momentarily disappeared when he reached for the growly lower notes of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' ''Shop Around,'' but his purity of tone and lack of showbiz-kid ickiness make him irresistible. Plus, the kid has the power to draw a laugh-out-loud-funny punch line from Ryan Seacrest: ''You can only vote for him. You can't actually adopt him.''

And there was this on the surprisingly great performance from Jason Castro:

Yet somehow it only took a few minutes for folk-rocker Jason Castro to establish a delightful laid-back hippie-dude persona and showcase the kind of sweet, bombast-free vocals that rarely, if ever, make an appearance on the Idol stage. By the time the guy finished his performance with a look of befuddlement and a nervous chuckle — he's only sung live in front of an audience a handful of times, he noted — I could imagine a very specific internal monologue unfolding in his brain:

Dude, I had the gnarliest dream. I was in the American Idol semifinals, playing my guitar and singing the Lovin' Spoonful's ''What a Day for a Daydream,'' and it was freaky and scary and kind of awesome. And then, Paula Abdul said I was ''minimal,'' ''effortless,'' and ''joyful,'' and Simon ranked me in the top two performances of the night. Dooood!

Yeah, so I thought the boys were good, not great ... But I also didn't go in with the same high expectations for the boys that I had tonight for the girls ...

Turns out the girls failed me. And I'm beginning to wonder what drugs the American Idol people are taking to make them gush over "the most talented Top 24" in American Idol history."

Seriously? ... The last two night's performances was proof that these kids did not grow up listening to oldies stations (which in my opinion, you've got to do at least a little bit to truly appreciate pop music), and I find that really sad ... The judges also were being nicey nice again tonight …

So here we go, my off-the-top-of-my-head thoughts on tonight's Idol performances ...

First up, Kristy Lee Cook sang “Rescue Me” … Hmm. I really wanted to like it. She sounded good. I liked the tone of her voice. But I wasn’t feeling it. The tempo was slowed down and it lacked pizazz.

Joanne Borgella sang “Say A Little Prayer.” … Ugh. Nope. Didn’t do it for me.

Alaina Whitaker sang “More Today Than Yesterday” … Nope. Didn’t like her either. She was groaning and yelling for half the song …

Amanda Overmyer sang “Baby, Please Don't Go” … I liked it, but I didn’t love it. The song showed off her rocker ability, but not her singing ability.

Amy Davis sang “Where the Boys Are” … Not good. Boring. Never have understood the appeal to her actually.

Brooke White sang “Happy Together” … Ah, my favorite, Brooke. She picked a great song -- and an arrangement that was worlds better that David Cook’s take on it last night. She was good, but she didn’t blow away the other girls like I’d hoped.

Alexandrea Lushington sang “Spinning Wheel” … Awesome. To quote Randy, she “blew the doors off” it. Perfect arrangement (loved the brass!). She totally surprised me and got my nod for the best performance of the night.

Kady Malloy sang “Groovy Kind of Love.” … Nice rendition, which I wanted to like more than I did. But she was a little pitchy and she was off the beat. I agree with the judges she needs to lighten up -- her Britney impression was HA-larious!

Asia’h Epperson sang “Piece of My Heart” … Like we really needed another person to sing “Piece of My Heart,” let alone another Janis Joplin song. But the girl took it and made it her own. She’s right up there with Alexandrea.

Ramiele Malubay sang “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” … Yeah, she’s another one that I don’t get the appeal. She picked a song that was ripe for belting, and didn’t deliver. She did not -- Simon -- out-sing everyone else tonight.

Syesha Mercado sang “Tobacco Road.” … She definitely can sing, but I sort of felt like she was yelling. But I’m also not a fan of the song to start.

Carly Smithson sang “The Shadow of Your Smile” … Eh. Good vocals. But I’m just not seeing the appeal for her either.

Last night I gave my Top Five boys, but tonight I'm struggling just to name three girls ...
1. Alexandrea Lushington
2. Asia’h Epperson
3. Carly Smithson

Idol chatter

Ah, American Idol's Hollywood week. Where the drama never stops ... And now with the final cuts tonight, we're down to our final 24 for Season 7.

Ryan Seacrest and Co. keep touting that "this is the most talented group we've had in Idol history!" But I'm not feeling it as much as I remember feeling it at the point last year -- although last year I was an Idol virgin so perhaps that's one reason I'm not as surprised or blown away by some of the auditions this year. And was it just me and Kates or did anyone else look at the finalists tonight and say "Who are some of these people!?!" Kates and I didn't miss an audtion and we swear some of the people that made it through never got an ounce of TV time in the previous episodes ...

Oh, but I do have a clear, cut and dried favorite: Brooke White. She's good-looking, so charming, wonderfully talented -- I was struck by her the moment she stepped up to audition in the first episode of the season, and no one has impressed me more since (which also might be a reason by I wasn't compelled to post anything about the other regional audition shows) ... So I was a little concerned when they showed a lot of her crying uncontrollably in the previews for tonight's episode. And it was hard to tell if she was upset that she hadn't made it through or just overcome with emotion. They could not possibly cut her!? I thought. Turns out, she was overwhelmed with nerves and she got through just fine.

As for our other favorites ...

How about the Janis-Joplin rocker chick Amada Overmyer. I've cringed every time this season someone tried to audition with a Janis song (Why, why! why!? would you try to show off your singing talent with a Janis Joplin song!?) -- and there have been many of them. But Overmyer impressed and she too charmed us. Then! we find out she survived a car crash a week before Hollywood Week (12 staples in her head!), and she does a great rendition of The Doors' "Light my Fire." ... She's got a soulful voice that's got big potential, but Simon was right about her downfall when he told her last night: With her voice you know what every song is going to sound like.

For the boys, I'm really, really intrigued by David Archuleta ... Yeah, so the kid's only 16 years old, which leaves him with a lot of growing up to do. But the kid's also a gem in the making. Dare I say, a voice as smooth as silk. He hooked me when he auditioned with "Waiting on the World to Change." Then his audition of "Heaven" was so good it made one of the background singers cry ...

And Michael Johns. The dude announces he's going to be singing "Bohemian Rhapsody." And I'm thinking, Dude. Seriously. No one can do that song justice but Queen. You're so gone. Then he goes and hammers it! Awesome.

And I sort of like David Cook -- my Blue Springs, Mo., home boy! -- who sang "Everything I Do," which kind of suited him (unlike a lot of the others who sang it -- like the Latino guy whose name I can't remember. His rendition was so awful, Simon said it reminded him of a resturant where someone picked up a guitar and murdered a Bryan Adams song. Actually, I was thinking of that classic scene in Christmas Story when the Japanese singers are trying to sing “Deck the Halls.”)

I'm also impressed with Danny Noriega (another young kid with a super voice ... but he's slightly creepy), David Hernandez ("Love the One You're With" ... Nice.), Irish girl Carly Smithson (who sang a powerful "How Do I Get You Alone"), and Syesha Mercado who charmed by fighting through her failing voice.

There were some others who we liked too, but didn't make it ...

Like Josiah Leming, the kid who hooked us in Atlanta with the back story about him living in his car (where the heck are his parents!?) … He's clearly talented and he totally had that Keane / Queen sound. His "Grace Kelly" was awesome… But the kid had clearly lost it when he came out last night, dismissed the band and did a wreckless "Stand By Me." I couldn't blame the judges for giving him a second chance, but when it came down to the final cut he was not ready ...

Kyle Ensley. How could you not love this guy in Dallas!? Loved his audition with "Somebody to Love." And his rendition of "You Raise Me Up" showed he has a great voice. ... But his "Loves Grows Where my Rosemary Goes" was totally corny. Kates and I mused he’s the star of the high school musical. He's the soloist in the church choir … but he’s not the next American Idol.

Then there was Amy Flynn, the perky 17-year-old dance captian from the Charleston auditions, who I thought had lots of potential … She's gone.

Suzanne Toon, the single mom with a compelling backstory … Gone.

Angelica Puente, our hometown girl … Gone

Angela Martin, who also had a compelling backstory … Gone

Alesha Stelzl, the girl who got through after learning Dolly Parton's "Islands In The Stream"... Gone. (Though this one's among the least surprising cuts ...)

And those crazy Lampkin kids -- who might have provided the most entertaining audition of the season … Gone.

But here's one we absolutely won't miss -- how about beauty queen Brooke Helvie. It didn't matter how awful she sang "Unchained Melody". … It was even worse that Paula nearly gave in and let her pass! Even after Brooke tried to be all cutesy and sing again ... Thank the lord the judges cut her loose. "I just wish I was give a fair chance like everyone else,” Brooke sobbed to the camera. Bull. See ya later Brookey.

Ah, good times. And it only gets more dramatic, more exciting and more intense from here folks.

Good reads, including EW's complete Idol coverage ...
a 'American Idol' gets down to 24
a Carly Smithson, an 'American Idol' singer with a major-label past
a Top 20 'Idol' Contestants of All Time
a Jan. 30, Miami auditions: Love Is Deaf
a Feb. 5, Atlanta auditions: Tales, You Win
a Feb. 6, Best of the Rest: Old Dog, New Tricks

American dreams

Grab your kids. Lock the doors. Grab some popcorn ...

It's American Idol time. Kates and I were rookies last year, but we survived. Now we're back for a second dose, and this review sums it up perfectly ...

The start of the Idol season is a lot like recommitting oneself to fitness excellence after seven months of sloth.

There's at least a little bit of dread: ''Wait, Idol's back already? What if this season is a bust? What if there's nobody in the finals I want to root for? What if Simon makes fun of a mentally challenged kid at the auditions again?'' There's most certainly pain: Milo Turk's ''No Sex Allowed'' was a triple assault on my ears, my eyes, and any love I may have ever felt for novelty songs. There might be a few tears: Oh, Temptress Browne, I'd have joined that group hug in a skinny minute! (More on that in a moment.) But by the time you're finished with the workout (or, yes, the season premiere), you realize something: ''Hey, I'm suddenly chock-full of endorphins. I feel amazing. I'm going to go back tomorrow, and at least twice a week from now until the end of May!''

... So let's get to the point: I wasn't as impressed with last night's premiere as I remembered being last year. I was a little frustrated that last night's show seemed to spend much more time focusing on the bad auditions then the talented singers ...

But there was a whole lot to like. ... Kristy Lee Cook was good. Junot Joyner did one of my favorite Elton John songs well. And Chicago girl Angela Martin, her heart-wrenching back story aside (her daughter has Rett syndrome) shined. But my favorite was easily the final audition of the night, the charming blonde Brooke White. Her rendition of Corrine Bailey Rae's "Like a Star" was better than the real thing. (Check out her MySpace and this blog post.)

My favorite audition bombs of the night: Alexis Cohen was a disaster, but snooty Christina "Princess Leia" Tolisano -- and her rant about Idol only taking models for its contestants -- was plain nuclear.

* * *

... So I had an interesting dream last night.

... I dreamt I was part of some group of agents preparing to carry out an assassination attempt against a leader, possibly of another country (I was up late last night watching a couple fascinating! documentaries about Kennedy's assassination and all of the surrounding conspiracy theories -- none of which, by the way, have held up... Read about the documentaries I watched here and here.) ...

The imagery of the dream is fading this morning. But I remember scenes of preparation and lurking around a ritzy hotel with my partners -- sort of like Danny Ocean's 11 at the Bellagio, though the hotel was more classic 1940s than glitzy Las Vegas ...

And then I remember, just before we were about to carry out this plot, our group was sitting on the floor of a hotel conference room, in a circle, a la Sunday School like we were about to sing Kum-bay-ya... The plot began to unravel right in front of us as opposing leaders, who were previously unaware of the plot, began to question our motives like some sort of congressional hearing ...

Arguing ensued, and suddenly I shot to my feet, pounded my fists on a table in front of me and shouted something like "Enough!"

A man sitting across the table, who I think was an attorney I know, looked at me and asked sternly, "So what should we do?"

I couldn't answer him, no matter how badly I wanted to speak my opinion. I was speechless.

And that's all I remember of the dream ... My lack of aggression and assertiveness in certain situations has dogged me in recent months. I wonder if this has anything to do with that ...