American Idol – Top 9 and iTunes Top Downloads
This is one of those categories that is either great or abysmal for the contestants. Some of them really know who they are and know what works for them and others are still struggling to find their place.
Anoop Desai opens with Caught Up (Usher), and I liked the up tempo as far as confidence and swagger; but I do think his vocals suffer some in this. I do think the judges' indecisiveness about what they want from him will actually help him with the voters.
Megan Joy Corkrey follows with Turn Your Lights Down Low (Bob Marley/Lauren Hill), and despite a few pretty phrases at the end, the song sucked. There is just something about her that I can't connect with, and the all over the place vocals are distracting. Oh please, let her be gone tomorrow.
Danny Gokey sings What Hurts The Most (Rascal Flatts), and this is definitely his comfort zone. I really enjoy him when he is singing something he believes in and his level of emotional connectedness in this song just kind of draws me in. He needed a good performance to get him back on track and this was it.
Allison Iraheta performed Don't Speak (No Doubt), I like it, she's good. I have the feeling something didn't go quite right with the guitar; but oh well, this is a singing competition. I just wish the judges would lay off the outfit. She's what 16-17 years old, so she dresses weird, lots of kids that age do, who cares. She can sing and she is captivating when she is comfortable on stage.
Scott MacIntyre does Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel), and it's the first time all night I am really surprised. Previous Billy Joel weeks have been a horrible experience for me because I love Billy and I hate to hear his songs torn apart. BUT Scott delivered a strong performance that was very enjoyable, I only wish he'd laid off the attempts at power and kept to the lyrical and sweet range he is so comfortable in.
Matt Giraud is up next with You Found Me (The Fray), and while it started a little rough, I enjoyed the overall performance. I think he feeds off the crowds energy and a little more in the mix was good for him performance wise. Not his best; but certainly not his worst either.
Lil Rounds sings I Surrender (Celine Dion), and I still have no idea who she will be when she records. She has a beautiful, strong voice; but she really seems to struggle with song choice and stage presence. I want her to be good, here's to hoping it happens next week.
Adam Lambert changes it up again with Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry), he is once again vocally perfect and ultimately a little strange. They have toned down his look just enough to take some of the edge off of the theatrics. While I still can't picture his CD looping endlessly in my car (that would be David Cook), I can easily say that if a song of his came on the radio I wouldn't change the station.
Kris Allen closes with Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers), and to me it is just brilliant. I loved, loved, loved his vocals and he comes off better on the keyboards than he ever has on guitar. He really needs that emotional connection to shine and I think he nailed it this week.
I'm so happy 
that 
David 
is on the results show tomorrow!!!!!!!
that David is on the results show tomorrow!!!!!!! Top 3: Kris, Adam, Danny
Bottom 3: Anoop, Lil, Megan
Bookmark to:
He is definitely one that has benefited from having the stylists work on him. He has a much cleaner streamlined look now.
I like Scott’s new look don’t you.