American Idol 7 - Top 2: "David vs. David"

It's time for a full recap of last night's episode and it's the final one for this season! I am a little sad that it's just about over, but at least my Tuesday and Wednesday night's will be a whole lot less busy now. I'll say this about season seven, despite all of the controversy, the declining ratings, the producers' tricks and some of the blunders (ahem - Paula), this has probably been the most enjoyable season of American Idol yet. The talent probably wasn't as good as originally spoken about prior to the top 24, but it was pretty darn close. And in my view, especially since I never saw the Clay vs. Ruben final in season two, this is the best finale I have ever witnessed. I have a feeling the results are going to be extremely close! You and I probably know who should be the American Idol winner after last night's results, but never say never. So how did everything go down during last night's performances? Well, let me tell you...

Round One - Songs chosen by music executive Clive Davis:

David Cook - singing "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2: Glad to see the contestants are able to wear the ear pieces again. For those that may not know, the producers nixed the ear pieces about a month ago simply because "they didn't look good." They seem to help the singers and awful lot, though. Cook is starting off quite well with this song selection. This song really utilizes Cook's upper registry quite well, so no low notes to struggle with. He's really starting to rock out and have fun on stage and is really getting the crowd into it. They are even on their feet and Cookie is really looking like a true star with this performance. He has really embraced this song and what it means. He really did a great job with it and it proves to be an excellent song selection for him. To me, this is the best he's sounded in a few weeks.

David Archuleta - singing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John: Previous American Idol contestants have tackled this song included Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, and a few others. Some Archie fans have been a bit concerned about this song choice and whether or not David would be able to pull it off. This is David Archuleta now, he can sing anything. He starts off by sitting on the steps of the stage and looking very poised. He appears to be in the moment and very focused. He gradually gets up and slowly walks onto the stage itself; no struggles at all. It's a good song choice for Archie in that it's a song with a great message (he loves those kinds of songs) and it's not a completely dull and sappy ballad. His vocals during this performance are superior and he really appears to be in his element. He did magnificent with this song and the judges are giving him high praise. The audience can't stop cheering for the guy and Archuleta is in near-tears. He is so overwhelmed by the moment. A truly flawless performance.

Round Two - Songs selected from the American Idol Song Writing Contest:

David Cook - singing "Dream Big": I am so glad to see the contestants being able to change up the arrangement of these songs to suit their style. Even though David Cook can sing ballads, he usually ends up doing much better when he's rocking out to songs. To me, this song does not do Cookie very much justice. I guess I'd have to know if this song was meant to be sung this way, but starting out I'm having a hard time hearing the lyrics. It just does not seem like that great of a coronation song for me. I did not enjoy this performance nearly as much as Cook's first song. He's definitely rocking out to it and playing the guitar and he's simply making the most of it. It was the best he could do with it and it appeared to be arranged to suit his style. I thought it was good, but nothing outstanding. I totally agreed with Simon in that it did not seem like a truly "winning moment" kind of song.

David Archuleta - singing "In This Moment": Now you have to believe that before going into this second round of songs, this would probably suit Archie more than Cookie. Most of these songs are going to be ballads more than uptempo, rock songs, so Archuleta should do good with his song. And right off the bat, he sounds flawless again! It's a perfect choice for him as it's a ballad and it allows him to show off his vocals. The tempo even picks up a notch which makes it that much better. He is totally on fire and doing absolutely great with this song. He picked the absolutely perfect time to peak and he is actually making me love this song; it sounds so good. His vocals are absolutely on-spot and to me, it looks like I am watching this year's American Idol. Definitely the perfect song choice and to me, this is the right "winning moment" song. Picked the better choice over Cook, that's for sure.

Round Three - Contestants' Song Choice:

David Cook - singing "The World I Know" by Collective Soul: Ugh ... I love this song so much. We originally thought Cook was going to sing this one during the Top three week but he sang the Switchfoot song instead. Glad to see he's singing it now. It's an absolute perfect song choice for Cook and it allows him to do his thing. It starts off very low key, just as the original does while strumming away at his guitar. He picks a play from the David Archuleta playbook and chooses a song with a haunting message. That probably wasn't his intention as he more than likely just enjoyed the song as it was. He changed up the arrangement a tad bit and made it sound somewhat different, but to me, he's playing it the way it's supposed to sound - and that isn't a bad thing at all. For me, it's not a song that should be changed all that much. I think it was Cook's best performance of the night and I really enjoyed it. He was so into it he even got emotional.

David Archuleta - singing "Imagine" by John Lenon: There was some speculation early on from the fans that Archie would either sing this, Angels, Shop Around, or even Stand by Me. But for me personally and for the majority of others who've watched season seven from the very beginning, this song was Archie's defining moment and it makes sense that he's wrapping up his American Idol experience with it. It's the song that won over the hearts of millions and it's such an appropriate way to end. He could really put the final nail in the coffin with it as he's excelled before with the song and probably will again. He's mixing things up a bit and putting in a few different runs here and there. I totally admire what he did with this performance - not completely mirroring what he did in the semi-finals but still generally staying true to how he performed it before. There's not much more I can say about it - it was absolutely superb.

When I first heard that Clive Davis was going to pick two songs for the David's to sing, I was pretty disappointed. He was supposed to be part of season six and choose songs for the top three contestants, but it was quickly changed and he never appeared. I thought he was washed up as a music executive, so I was surprised he returned this season. But after last night, I am glad he made his return to the American Idol set as he picked two killer songs for both contestants. Good job, Clive! The boxing theme for the night was a tad bit overkill, but still enjoyable. I just couldn't see Archie as a prize-fighting boxer, heavy-weight or light-weight. LOL The boxing theme actually added more tension and suspense to what could've been an actually boring finale. So to that, I say well done to the Idol producers. And no matter what happens during tonight's results, it appears that both Archie and Cookie are glad to be where they are at and will take the runner-up spot to which ever one should win. Here's how I rank the final two contestant's after last night's performances:

Round One:
#1: David Archuleta
#2: David Cook

Round Two:
#1: David Archuleta
#2: David Cook

Round Three:
#1: David Archuleta
#2: David Cook

Based on the performances last night, David Archuleta swept all three rounds and should be declared this year's American Idol. As Simon Cowell commented last night after Archie's rendition of "Imagine," he provided the knock-out win. However, with that being said, I have been following the race between Cook and Archuleta ever since the top 12 began and know the huge following that Cookie has. It's even bigger than Archuleta, apparently. So, based on that, I am predicting an upset in tonight's results: David Cook will win American Idol 2008. I hope I am wrong, but I just have that feeling. Yes, Archie is more deserving and is the better singer. But as we've seen time and time again on this show, the results are sometimes not fair. You could say in season two, the better contestant didn't win. This same year could have the very same result. But whatever happens happens. I am content with whatever the results may reveal and I know both of the David's will be happy with the results. They've gotten the support from millions of new fans, the exposure of being on television, and getting the chance to do what they both love, singing and performing. I am proud of them both; for that matter, all of the contestants who have made season seven the very best yet for me. It has truly been a season to remember.

UPDATE (10:33 PM - 5/21/08): David Cook is crowned as the 2008 American Idol. Let's be honest, I've been an avid fan of Archuleta all season long and I thought after the results, I'd be really upset. But I am actually at peace with what has happened. Cookie is also an amazing guy and a tremendous performer and I expect nothing but big things from him in the future. The same goes for Archie as well, who may have a little more freedom to do what he wants with a recording contract than Cookie will with the management at 19. This is a season to remember and one that I won't quickly forget for a long time. Hmm, now I have to see if I can find a way to get to the American Idol Live Tour in September...

David vs. David Performance Rankings

Less than an hour away from the top two performance show, I thought I'd try to sneak in one last blog before the two David's face off to see which one will become the next American Idol. I am a big Archie fan and have been since the very beginning of the season. I also like David Cook but he has only become a favorite of mine since the top 12 or so. The contestant who I'd want to win is David Archuleta. But I have a strong feeling that David Cook will capture the crown. I believe this because of multiple reasons. The first is that Cookie has been consistently number one in regards to iTunes sales out of all of the contestants that have released songs on their this season. Archie seems to have always come in a close second or sometimes third or fourth. Also, Cook has been the number one vote getter for much of this season (according to Dial Idol), particularly ever since his rendition of the Lionel Richie song "Hello" during 80's week. David Cook also has the backing of Simon Cowell, who has been pimping Cookie on both "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno and "Ellen." The producers also seemingly want David Cook to win - I'm not going to get into the full details on what has gone on during the course of the past two or three weeks, but the writing definitely seems to be on the wall that David Cook will win it all. But you know something, I am okay with that. Because I think Archuleta will be fine regardless. There are a lot of questions concerning Archie, whether or not he's too young yet, whether he really knows what kind of album he wants to put out, and whether he'll be fine without the influence of his father (let's be honest, his dad probably hurt David's chances some in becoming the eventual winner, whether the rumors are ultimately true or not). Archuleta has a lot of time to grow and develop to become a singer we'll remember for all time. Cook is already "seasoned" of sorts, already having one (if not two) records released and being part of a band and touring, but only in small establishments. I said this awhile back, but I will be happy regardless which David wins. Yes, I'd like Archuleta to win, but I just don't forsee it happening.

So with the end of this season nearly upon us, I have compiled two lists of rankings - one for Archuleta and one for Cook. These rank both singers performances from the semi-final round up to the top three. Many of you will probably agree with most of these and where they place, but I am sure there are some surprises in here, too. Here is how I rank each of the performances from this season's top two finalists:

David Archuleta's Performance Rankings
#1: Imagine
#2: Stand by Me
#3: Shop Around
#4: Love Me Tender
#5: Angels
#6: The Long and Winding Road
#7: Think of Me
#8: Smoky Mountain Memories
#9: With You
#10: America
#11: You're the Voice
#12: When You Believe
#13: Longer
#14: Sweet Caroline
#15: And So it
#16: Another Day in Paradise
#17: We Can Work it Out

David Cook's Performance Rankings
#1: Little Sparrow
#2: Always be My Baby
#3: The Music of the Night
#4: Hello
#5: Baba O'Riley
#6: Eleanor Rigby
#7: Day Tripper
#8: Billy Jean
#9: All I Really Need is You
#10: I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
#11: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
#12: Happy Together
#13: I'm Alive
#14: Dare You To Move
#15: All Right Now
#16: Hungry Like the Wolf
#17: Innocent

Once again, like other rankings I've done this season, these are soley from my personal opinion and nothing scientific has gone into these. The large factor into all of this is that these choices are based upon my listening enjoyment. Whatever songs I've enjoyed the most, they're higher on the list. Pretty basic strategy, right? Hopefully most of you agree with these choices and be sure to enjoy tonight's performance episode! Remember, it's the last one of season seven. And be sure to vote for your favorite David!

American Idol 7 - Random Thoughts

Who I want to win American Idol: David Archuleta. I guess it's no secret that I've been a big David Archuleta fan since the very start of the season. And I can honestly admit that no other contestant has captured my interest from start to finish ever since I've been watching the show. I've never understood how people cannot like the kid. I believe that a lot of the criticism from the so-called media experts have been unjust. Either that, or they blame David's downfalls on his father. I'll address that issue a little later in this blog. But David is a sincere, modest, and genuine individual and for those people who still think it's all an act, well I guess there is no hope for them. If you didn't realize what kind of a person Archie is after watching his homecoming video recap on Wednesday's results show, then you're blind. All season long, we've seen David overwhelmed at the praise he's received after stunning performances, deflected comments from others who say he truly is a great singer, and saying he's not worthy to be in the presence of certain recording stars. That's just who David Archuleta is. He has no ego about being a music star and the only reason he's in it is to sing and he hopes others will enjoy his singing. Well let me tell you, he has many, many fans that will follow him along his journey. And if he doesn't win American Idol and ends up being the runner-up, I don't believe that's going to hurt him, either. He's caught the eye of many people, from music executives, recording artists, Hollywood producers, and even movie directors! Heck, the exposure he's gotten from American Idol could allow him to do anything. As Randy says every week, he can sing anything. Well I say, David will be able to anything! I think the results after next week's finale will be extremely close; rivaling those achieved during season two's Clay vs. Rueben final. I really hope it'll be Archie who wins it because I've followed him ever since his audition in San Diego and I've been a fan since that time. I don't need to tell you anymore about the kid because he is who he is. David Archuleta for the win!

Controversy over David's Dad: I don't believe I've really weighed in on the Jeff Archuleta controversy that has hounded David since the "We Can Work it Out" performance. I've mentioned it briefly but never gave my true opinion about it. I've kind of gone back and forth about it ever since the situation surfaced. In the beginning I believed whole heartedly that David's dad was a stage father. It was vindication for David's poor performance during the first Beatles week. Then people close to the Archuleta family were backing up Jeff and saying he's not at all how the media makes him out to be. So I was comforted for a time after hearing that Jeff doesn't yell at his son until he starts crying. But then Naomi Judd made an appearance on the Today Show and told the nation how much of a overbearing stage dad that Jeff really was. She's credible in all of this because she was a judge on Star Search when David competed at the age of 12. She even said Jeff had to be locked up in a security box because he was such a negative influence during the show. I believed the whole stage dad story all over again because of her accounts since it really seemed like she was speaking the truth! But then stories surfaced from the Archuleta camp that said Naomi was hardly ever backstage and never even met David in person! They were supposed to meet after the final episode but she had already been whisked away on a plane. I have good reason to believe that Naomi never really saw Jeff be a stage dad first hand and only heard the rumors that were going around. So five years afterwards, she remembers what she heard and decided to blast Jeff Archuleta and add more fuel to the fire. So then I got to believing that she's not really credible at all and only said what she said about Jeff Archuleta to re-gain attention again. Because really, what has she been up to ever since she's been on Star Search? Not a whole lot. It was probably a publicity stunt for her to get back into the public limelight and what better way to do that than to talk about a front-runner contestant on the top rated TV show in America. So then finally, we have the recent report about David's dad being "banned" from helping David backstage at American Idol. Of course TMZ was the first to uncover the story first and then for whatever reason, the story developed legs and started spreading onto more credible media sites such as the Associated Press and CNN. But at this point, however, I was only half-believing it. It appeared to me that the previous stories about Jeff Archuleta being a stage dad were blown so far out of proportion than they should have that all they did was develop negative press for David and it may have hurt him with the voters for awhile. So again, this time around, the Archuleta camp had to back up daddy Archuleta a third time and eventually, staffers at American Idol were doing the same. He wasn't banned, but asked not to participate with David in song selection and arrangement exercises like he has previously. So even though I've been back and forth on this issue for some time, I've come to the conclusion that Jeff isn't at all a bad guy like he's been made out to be and is only doing what he can for his son and providing a huge amount of support for him. Even David stood up for his dad in a recent TV Guide article. Even though we are nearing the end of this season's American Idol, I just don't think the Jeff Archuleta stage-dad stories will entirely end, although they should diminish some.

American Idol Season Eight: It's hard to believe season seven is almost over. It doesn't seem like we started all that long ago. So after many posts regarding the show in this blog, the American Idol reviews and random postings will be coming to an end. And once this season is over, it will be the last time I write at all about the show in this particular blog. I am washing my hands of it here at Luke's Ponderings. Okay, before you go all crazy, it's all part of a bigger plan for me. Seeing how American Idol has consumed my life during the past four+ months, I have decided that one of the best ways for me to communicate my obsession for the show is in very new blog - with a title still to come. Some of you may have come across specific blogs dedicated to the show or the contestants. Well my new blog will be devoted entirely to American Idol and the news around it. You will see my recaps, my random thoughts, news articles, and many other features there. I will also cover the auditions, the Hollywood Round, the semi-finals, and the finals. There will be more American Idol coverage in that blog more than I've ever done in this one. That doesn't mean I am going to abandon Luke's Ponderings because I am going to continue to do my usual routine with this one. I just feel that all I've mostly talked about during the past few months was this show and that could drive some people away. So be sure to check back in the late fall or early winter when the new American Idol blog by me will be released. Hopefully it will develop a following like some of the other popular Idol blogs that are currently on the web.

You know, there were a couple of other topics I wanted to discuss regarding American Idol, but I think I am going to save those until another opportunity. We still have three days left until the finale performances from David Archuleta and David Cook, so I think I'll be able to sneak in one final random thoughts blog before all is said and done. May the best David win!

American Idol 7 - Top 3

Can you believe it; next week is the finale all ready?! Honestly, where has the first half of the year gone? It's amazing how quickly things have progressed but we are now down to the final three of American Idol! And I must say, all three contestants are definitely qualified to be there. It also doesn't hurt to have huge fan bases like the two David's have. Not only do the contestants have three songs to sing tonight, but they also get to choose a song of their own. In addition, the judges will be picking songs for each of the contestants and the producer's also have a say in song selection tonight. So this could prove to be a very interesting night for each of the three finalists. Song selection could make it or break it for them tonight. Wouldn't it be great to see all three contestants nail all of their songs? That way, the voting would be so unpredictable and wide open! It'd be fabulous. I don't forsee that happening, however. Let's get this party started!

David Archuleta - singing "And so it Goes" by Billy Joel: So Paula gets to choose for David. Did you know that whenever Paula picks the song for one of the three finalists, those contestants have never gone on to become the eventual American Idol? Let's hope David is able to break this curse! I really liked how this started off acapella. I agree with Randy; maybe he could've played a bit of this on the piano. Still, this is an enjoyable performance by Archie. He seems very much in the moment and really connecting with the song. He's able to have a connection with a song everytime he's up on stage and he makes it believable. Randy is right in that David is really in the zone and is in it to win it. I tend to agree with Simon in that it was good but nothing exceptional. He has two more songs in which he can really wow the crowd.

Syesha Mercado - singing "If I Ain't Got You" by Alisha Keys: Randy picks a song that Alicia Keys had a hit with and the good news is that it's contemporary! Nice pick by Randy. She's singing the song quite well. The song starts off pretty low key and Syesha is singing it how it's supposed to sound. Definitely not doing anything different to make it her own, but that's okay. It was a good performance from her but I wasn't blown away by it. I do think she has really embraced the competition for what it is and we're seeing her more comfortable and in the moment when she's up on stage. She is looking the part of a star and looks very elegant everytime she sings. I do wish she could've changed up the song some and made it her own. She could've even done a few runs to make it different. Still, it was a nice performance from Syesha.

David Cook - singing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Raberta Flack: So Simon has the honors of picking the song for Cookie. An interesting choice, to say the least. Simon really tries to challenge a contestant whenever he's picking a song for them, and he definitely challenged David on this one. It's a very soft and low key song for him, definitely something we've rarely seen from him. Other than "Music of the Night," we haven't seen David tackle a ballad before. Usually they start off slow, like a ballad, but then they tend to pick up. Not necessarily so with this song. The tempo is gradually picking up and it sounds to me he's making it his own, although I am not really familiar with the original version. I actually liked seeing this side of Cookie and the last note really made this a good performance for him.

David Archuleta - singing "With You" by Chris Brown: Now who saw this coming? David chooses the most contemporary song of them all by picking an R n B song that talks about "boos" and a variety of other current R n B phrases (I can't remember all of the lyrics in the song at the moment). He takes a risk with this song and he seems pretty familiar with it. Otherwise, why would he have chosen it? He must like it enough. Looks like he briefly had trouble with the lyrics momentarily but made a nice recovery. It didn't appear that he forgot anything but he may have lost the tempo for a bit. Definitely seeing a different side of David here although I don't know if it truly works for him. The fans always crave for an uptempo song, but I don't know if this is the right one for him. Again, a good performance but not great. I am getting a bit concerned for David because Randy didn't gush about him being able to sing anything like usual. David needs to be on his "A" game for the next song.

Syesha Mercado - singing "Fever" by Peggy Lee: Syesha is looking particularly sexy with a short dress and is throwing in her sassy attitude into this performance. I must say, this is an interesting song choice for Syesha. I thought she'd want to do something more contemporary. I enjoy it when she's moving around on the stage and showing off her "broadway" personality, if you will. First she's sitting on a chair, then starts moving around and dances around Ricky. Then she goes back to the chair and leans/walks around it. She appears to be really in the element with this song and she sounds strong. Not a lot of high notes for Syesha to show off her incredible power and I didn't think she did anything very different with it. Nevertheless, it was still a nice performance from her.

David Cook - singing "Dare You To Move" by Switchfoot: Nothing against Simon, but these kind of songs do tend to suit David more (not to say I didn't like Cookie's first song - but it did seem awkward). I love hearing a contemporary song from him. An earlier song spoiler had him singing "The World I Know" by Collective Soul which would've been an absolute killer song for him to tackle. Personally, that song is one of my favorites. "Dare You To Move" is a good one, too, but not as great as the original spoiler stated. It ends up being a great personal song choice for him and out of the three contestants, Cookie picks the best of them all. I did notice a few pitchy notes, particularly in the beginning of the song. Arrangement-wise, it did seem rather short and he may not have incorporated enough of the middle-portion of the song into it. Otherwise, still well done for David.

David Archuleta - singing "Longer" by Dan Fogelberg: Clues have been out for awhile regarding this song chosen by producers. Even though it wasn't figured out right away by the fans, they eventually got it. This song does suit Archie's style and it's the perfect range for him. He's sitting down and does his usual thing with a classic ballad. This is the kind of performance we're used to seeing from David. He's definitely hitting this one out of the ballpark and vocally it sounds spot-on. Yeah, I guess it is a sappy kind of song lyrically, but David did a lights-out job with it. It's not his fault the producers chose it for him. Simon doesn't seem impressed by David tonight. Basically what I'm getting from him is that he did good, but not great. I hope that's not a bad omen for tomorrow.

Syesha Mercado - singing "Hit Me Up" by Gia Farrell: This is sounding like a fun little ditty for Syesha to sing. It's a very upbeat and fun song and it appears she is having a fun time with it on stage. She is still well-dressed but not donning a dress this time. I am not all that familiar with the song and the "Happy Feet" penguin movie is being referenced throughout the judge's comments, but it appeared to me like she didn't do enough with the song. It ends on kind of a bland note for me. It has definitely left me with a sour taste in my mouth. A very pleasant, rather cutesy song song but maybe not suited for Syesha's style. She does better with the more power-ballads and this song choice did not show off her vocal power. I bet secretly to herself, she absolutely hated having to sing this.

David Cook - singing "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith: Didn't we see an Aerosmith song done by Michael Johns during the week he was eliminated? I wonder if this is going to be a new curse for American Idol - those who perform Aerosmith get eliminated next night. Nah, that's pretty doubtful. I really didn't care for the orchestra sound to start the song. It seemed especially tacky for this kind of song. He's doing his usual thing with this song; an exceptional rock sound, great vocals, and ending the night on a good note. This song proves to be a good fit for David and he knocks it out of the ballpark. For me personally, this was Cookie's best performance of the night and the best out of all three contestants. He was really on his game for this one.

So after tonight's performances, I am feeling a bit disappointed overall. I'd rate this one a 7.5 out of ten. I don't think everyone was on their game tonight and with the added pressure of performing three songs, I don't believe the contestants were completely focused as they could've been. Also, the contestants experienced an ultimate high of going home and getting a star-like homecoming which probably threw them off, as it was tough getting back into the competition mode again. That being said, I don't think anyone was truly terrible. Heck, they didn't make it this far to be bad. I think David Cook is a definite lock to be in the finale. I am a bit concerned about David Archuleta after his second song which didn't receive the usual props from Randy. However, the judge's were probably the most negative for Syesha and they basically dubbed her as being forgettable. So with that being said, I have a feeling Syesha maybe going home tomorrow. But didn't we say that a lot throughout our journey through the top 12? Anyways, here is tonight's performance rankings:

#1: David Cook - best of the night
#2: David Archuleta
#3: Syesha Mercado - eliminated (eliminated - 5/14/08)

So there you have it; I believe Syesha will be going home after tomorrow. She has really peaked at the end of this competition and she's really grown into an ultimate performer. However, I believe the time has come for her to exit stage left. It's time to make room for the David vs. David that a lot of American Idol fans and producers have wanted for some time. But I will say this, don't be surprised if there's a shock elimination tomorrow night. Remember last week when Ryan said only a million votes separated the three contestants? If it was that close last week, who's to say it can't be that close this week, too. Remember to look for the elimination update to be provided sometime Thursday (that's when I'm available to do it). Until then, see you next week!

Computer Trouble

...And so it begins. The new desktop computer I bought last June is broke already! Well, it doesn't appear to be anything major, but I cannot get on the internet for the life of me. And not being on the internet is pure torture for me now! You know those two lights (the green and orange ones) that are supposed to light up when you have your ethernet cord connected to the CPU? They are not lighting up at all. So I got to believe something is wrong with the ethernet card. Thank goodness I still have my trusty laptop that is about six years old and it still allows me to get on-line (although the start-up is extremely slow). Otherwise I'd be going through serious withdrawls. So that's the story there - for some reason, the computer is not recognizing the internet connection. It can't be my service provider because it's working on the laptop. So I'm not sure what I've got to do next. Probably consult with Hewlett-Packard, the manufacturer of the computer, to see if I can get the problem solved. The good thing is that the computer is still under warranty (for a little over a month) so if the ethernet card is indeed bad, I can get it fixed without charge (hopefully there isn't some loophole, though). It's going to be tough being without the computer for a short while, if I have to have sent in to be repaired. We'll see what happens, I guess. I'll keep you updated!

UPDATE (5/12/08): Alright, so having to work two 12-hour shifts over the weekend and another eight hours on Monday; I didn't really get much of a chance to deal with this computer problem. But after work Monday, I got around to making a phone call to HP to see if they can figure anything out. I already tried several different troubleshooting methods, to no avail. I already had my mind set that the ethernet card is bad. I dealt with a technician for over 30 minutes, trying one of the troubleshooting methods I had already went through. No luck accessing the internet that time. Then he wanted to see if the computer even recognized the network adapter. Nope, the computer wasn't even recognizing it. Then the technician wanted me to do a complete system recovery which would end up deleting every single file I had saved on it. Well, this would be no problem because I didn't have a ton of stuff saved on it. So he called back in 20 minutes after I had everything saved and began the system recovery process. Once that was over with, we dealt with the same results. The computer still was not recognizing the network adapter. That is when it was determined that my computer needs to be sent into HP to have it repaired. So here we are onto today!

Seeing that my service warranty with HP was set to expire on June 6th (a bit sooner than I earlier realized), I decided to extend the warranty for another year (tacking on another $159.99 to my credit card). But hey, if something like this happens again, I can get it repaired at no cost! I guess this little experience has taught me to expect the unexpected. New computers these days are made with cheap parts (or so I've heard) and they are more susceptible to malfunctions. So in another three months, the motherboard could fail. At least in that case, I am completely covered and can get it replaced at no charge. Fed Ex is supposed to drop a box off at my apartment where I'll then pack up the tower within it. I will then call Fed Ex to have the computer picked up where it will be shipped to an HP service center where it will be repaired. I have been told that the repair will take four to seven days and then be shipped back to my apartment. When it is returned, it will be good as new!

This whole ordeal has been a pretty interesting process, I must say. I can't say I know a lot about the HP company, and I am assuming their headquarters are based in the United States. But they have service centers all across the world. The technical staff I talked with on the phone was based out of India. So needless to say, I had some trouble understanding these individuals at times. But I've had Indian priests at my church in the past, so I am somewhat used to their accents. They were very knowledgable, patient, and knew what they were doing. Even though the process can be rather tedious and a person tends to get impatient after being on hold for awhile, it ends up being all worth it in the end. Because at least in my case, my computer is going to be repaired at no charge thanks to the warranty I still had after buying this computer 11 months ago. It will be tough being without the computer for four to seven days (and it will probably be longer than that if you include the shipping days), but like I said earlier, at least I have my laptop. If I didn't have that, I'd really be lost!

I will continue to keep everyone updated on the repair progress of my computer. I am just awaiting the box from Fed Ex so I can get it shipped off to be repaired. After that, it's all a waiting game.

UPDATE (5/16/08) - Fex Ex dropped off the box to put the computer in yesterday and they picked it up today around 2:30 this afternoon. So it is on it's way to Irving, Texas to be repaired as we speak. I wonder how long it'll take before I get it back? Any predictions?

American Idol 7 - Top 4

With two weeks remaining in the competition, we are closing in towards the finish line of season 7 of American Idol. There are no more mentors remaining - just the contestants singing songs and trying to get the viewers at home to vote for them. Of course it always helps to sing the best they possibly can, but this year it seems to be more of a popularity contest than anything. And I hate that I'm saying that because I usually cringe to myself when critics say that about this show. But they are right about this season (except for the two David's, who I must say are the last two remaining singing talents left). Tonight, the contestants choose songs from the vast collection from the artists inducted in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. No, they aren't necessarily rock songs, otherwise David Cook would win this night for sure. There's a wide variety of genres of songs at the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame and I'm sure we will see more than just rock songs during tonight's show. On with the review!

David Cook - singing "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran. A very interesting song choice for David as I never really pictured this to be a true rock song. But that is where David is always amazing at changing around the whole vibe of a certain song. He definitely brings on a more rocker-edge to the song unlike what the original sounded like. It's a decent song to show off David's rock 'n roll skills but it doesn't necessarily help him show off his usual stellar vocals. I'm not particularly blown away by it and he bascially sang it how it's supposed to be sung. However, it's very consistent to how he performs and it looked like he was having fun on stage. Not great, but definitely good.

Syesha Mercado - singing "Proud Mary" by Ike and Tina Turner. Syesha is looking very stylish and quite beautiful in her dress tonight. I tell you, ever since Andrew Lloyd Webber week, she has really turned up the heat in this competition. She is totally embracing who she is and her personality is finally coming to light. She is looking very sexy and sassy while singing this song. She is also displaying a massive amount of personality - more so than ever before! This is the perfect song choice for her, because she starts off really slow but just as in the original version, the tempo picks up part-way through and things really get moving on stage. Just as with David Cook's performance, Syesha looks like she's having a lot of fun with this song. I am very impressed with this first performance from Syesha.

Jason Castro - singing "I Shot the Sheriff" by Bob Marley. Okay, I think when most people think of this song, they are most familiar with the cover done by Eric Clapton (then again, maybe not. But at least for me, I think more of Clapton's version over anyone elses). So this should be interesting to see how Jason interprets Marley's original version. Just as the judges said, it was just okay for me. The arrangement was pretty crazy at times and Jason seemed to flounder on some of the notes. I will say this, however, he did inject a funky, soulful vibe to it and that made it interesting to listen to. He does sound "airy" at times, as if he's breathing too much while trying to sing at the same time. But I think that's actually how Jason typically sounds. I thought it was decent, but definitely not blown away. The judges absolutely hated it and it'll be interesting to see how Jason's able to compose himself for the next song.

David Archuleta - singing "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King. Great song choice for David because it's a very recognizable song and many generations of people are familiar with it. That could prove to be a double-edged sword, however. Because it is such a popular and well-known song, if he doesn't do well with it, the karaoke reference will be appropriately used. But I am confident that Archie will be able to pull this one off. It starts off really great; actually quite amazing. The vocals are superb and the Stevie Wonder-like runs he does are spectacular. And did anyone else catch the brief injection of Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls" into the song towards the end? That was such a genious move! In fact, as the performance ends, I get chills. It was absolutely amazing. Finally, FINALLY, a moment to rival "Imagine." It also looked like he was having fun on stage which also added to the moment. Absolutely superb.

David Cook - singing "Baba O'Reily" by The Who. So Cookie starts off round two with a song more suited for him. That's not to say "Hungry Like the Wolf" wasn't a good choice for him, but it didn't allow him to do his usual vocal masterpiece. It actually sounds quite soulful to start off and he's also playing the guitar. Usually his performances are the best when he's strumming away on the guitar. This is sounding REALLY good. It definitely blows away his first song by a mile. It also seemed like he injected more personality into this song, which is definitely a plus. I am not totally familiar with the original, but to me, this sounded much more current and contemporary. The judges are absolutely loving it and rightfully so. He really rocked out with that song choice.

Syesha Mercado - singing "Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. Wow, a change of wardrobe for Syesha and she's looking even more elegant than before. I tell ya, she really looks great with her hair straightened like that. So Syesha chooses a ballad for round two which allows her to take her time on the vocals and hit those powerful notes littered throughout the song. She's definitely having no trouble with this one and it appears she knows it well. She is clearly showing off her vocal power with those higher notes, albeit sounding a bit strained at times. She also sounds a bit screechy but not nearly as bad as earlier in the competition. This might not have been quite as good as her first song choice - but it is still a very solid performance.

Jason Castro - singing "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan. I was really looking forward to Jason's take on this song because "Mr. Tambourine Man" is a true classic. But partway into the song, he makes a terrible blunder - one we've seen fairly recently on "Idol." Jason forgets the lyrics to the song!! The first two words I write on my notes for Jason's performance are "He's sunk." And I thought he was doing quite decent up until that point. After that, I really didn't pay much attention to the performance because honestly, what's the point? His first song was just okay and forgetting the lyrics to his second song will not help him at all. Now if his first song was superb, maybe, then maybe Jason could be saved. But two performances that are just blah will not cut it. I really don't see how Jason could be spared after this week.

David Archuleta - singing "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley. From the rumor mill in Internet-land, Archie is actually doing a cover of this song by Norah Jones, which will be more of an acoustic sound. I'm actually kind of nervous for David because I don't want him to see what happened to Jason throw him off. He starts off the song in a different position than usual; sitting on a stool in the center of the stage. He is singing the song ... well, quite tender, actually. It shows off a more vulnerable, pure side to him (not that he already isn't). It's basically acoustic but with the piano playing in the background. David comments in the video prior to his performance that he's never tackled a truly "romantic" song. But he definitely pulls this one off without a hitch. He had a bit of a hiccup with the last note which was quite high for David's standards, but he's definitely going to be okay. By far, the best two performances of the night and just as Simon said, he crushed the competition. Way to go David!!

My goodness, I am more pumped after tonight's American Idol performance show than I've been in some time. I guess it's probably because David Archuleta did so great tonight and I am absolutely ecstatic that he did so well. In my last blog, I said that unless Archie really blows away the competition, David Cook will win it. Well I am happy to say that tonight, David A. blew away the competition and he is once again the favorite to win! Oh man, the David vs. David finale is going to be so epic, especially if these two keep duking it out the next couple of nights. So for tonight's Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame night, I'll give it a rating of nine out of ten. Have I shown off enough Archie love for one night in this blog? I know, I know, I shouldn't be so blatent with it, but this is one night I've been waiting for for awhile. It's great to see David Archuleta finally step it up and blow away the competition. I don't want to say he hasn't been great since the top 12 because he has (okay, except for "We Can Work it Out"). But I think he's been too consistent and hasn't really mixed up the arrangements of the songs or made them original much. However, after tonight, nobody can say that now. Here's tonight's contestant rakings!

#1: David Achuleta - best of the night (by a mile!)
#2: David Cook
#3: Syesha Mercado
#4: Jason Castro - eliminated (eliminated - 5/7/08)

So there you have it; the top 4 is now in the books. And if the voting holds up and Jason is sent packing, we won't have an all-male final three like I had originally thought a few weeks back. Syesha is waaaaaaaay more deserving to be in the top three than Jason, so if Jason is spared tomorrow, I will call blasphemy like you've never seen. It's time for people to vote for people with the best vocals each and every night they perform. That is so crutial at this stage of the game. Vote for David Archuleta, vote for David Cook, and vote for Syesha Mercado. But for the love of god, DO NOT vote for Jason Castro. He deserves to go after tonight!

Be sure to check in tomorrow after the results for an update to this blog. Until then, see you next time!

American Idol 7 - Random Thoughts

It's another three days until the top four performers sing again on American Idol, but that doesn't mean I haven't thought about the show. I've got a few thoughts that I'd like to share with you about the show and one of them is regarding the voting process that takes place each and every week. American Idol relies on viewers to call into "866" toll free numbers to place votes for their favorite contestants. Either that, or viewers can also send text votes for their favorites. But those two methods are the only way viewers can vote for their Idols. Voting via phone is also restricted to just American viewers of the show. Just think how many votes each contestant could receive if they accepted international votes? I realize that's probably not an economical thing to do and it could possibly sway the votes for a contestant that has ties or ancestry with a particular international country. But think of the possibilities that could exist if people internationally could also vote for singers on American Idol. The show is already broadcast around the world as it is; why not let the international folks vote, too?

I think one of the things that is dogging the show at this point in time is having the competition turn into a popularity contest. Let's be honest, for most of this season, the worst singers left have stuck around for far too long compared to those with really good vocals. You can make the case that Syesha Mercado belongs in the top four based on the past few weeks. But prior to that, did she really have any memorable performances worthy of her sticking around for as long as she has? And how about Jason Castro. The last two weeks have not been stellar weeks for him and only a couple of his performances were truly memorable since he's been in the top 12. The same can be said for Brooke White (who left this week) and for Kristy Lee Cook who lasted far longer than a lot of people imagined. Meanwhile, exceptional singers like Michael Johns and Carly Smithson get the boot far sooner than anticipated. I know they always preach about voting, voting, and voting and not to let your favorite go sooner than they ought to. But voting over and over again for two straight hours week in and week out gets to be rather tedious. This is why I think there should be a change in the voting process with American Idol.

Now I don't follow Dancing with the Stars all that closely, but sometimes I can't avoid watching it (particularly if I'm over at my parents). I don't know the exact voting procedures that are in place, but from what I've heard, voting takes place not only by phone, but through the internet. So for those people who don't want to keep dialing their phones, the internet could be another option. Also the judges on Dancing with the Stars have a say in who gets to stay and who goes. I know their votes are only a certain percentage of the overall pie, but they do have a say. Now I realize this will probably be a difficult task for Paula Abdul if the judges ever get to have a say as to who did the best because she usually thinks all of them do well. But I think it's something that needs to be looked at. American Idol is trying to reach out to fans and ask what they can do better to keep the viewers interested and not bailing out each season. I've witnessed the public outcry on various internet message boards after a favorite like Michael Johns or Carly Smithson gets voted out. Some people vow never to watch the show ever again. Chris Daughtry's shocking elimination in season five was the most surprising moment in the show's history. I think some people haven't even recovered from that incident and it's already been two years. I think you will see that ever since season five, the ratings for the show have been on a gradual decrease. I know it makes the show unpredictable when there's a shocking elimination, but for the overall integrity of the show, I don't believe it's necessarily a good thing. It turns people off and they never watch the show again.

One thing that has bugged me about this season is the lack of any contemporary and current songs. In season's past, we've had a Billboard Top 100 songs week and even during Country Week, contestants have sung current country hits. That has largely been lacking this season and it's been a big disappointment for me. I mean sure, we were able to see contestants sing recent songs during the auditions and Hollywood Week, but ever since then, current songs have been lacking from the competition. I realize that there's more difficulty in trying to gain the rights to sing these songs, but for the majority of those artists, they are more than willing to comply because it gives their songs more exposure. But the producers of the show seem to be more reluctant to go that route now and that's unfortunate. That's not to say songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's aren't great because there are a countless number of classics during those decades. But it would be nice to hear a contemporary week for a change. I guess having the Idols sing Mariah Carey songs is about as contemporary as they come this season.

So as things are shaping up, it appears we are in store for a David vs. David finale. This is exactly what I want and I think having both David's in the finale will be extremely good for the show. You are pitting two contestants that are largely opposite of each other but perform exactly how they intend to perform each and every week. They are staying true to who they are and they have coveted the largest fanbases of any contestants this season. Unless David Archuleta is able to pull off an amazing, heartfelt performance like he did with Imagine during the semi-final round, I just don't see him winning the overall crown. David Cook has been leading the votes every week since Idol Gives Back (according to Dial Idol) and his songs have been consistently number one compared to all the other Idols on iTunes. He is truly the front runner and I believe the only way he can be defeated is if he majorly screws up between now and the finale (i.e. messing up his lyrics or sounding incredibly bad). That's not to say I wouldn't like Archie to win the entire thing because I would. He's been my favorite ever since the semi-finals and I really believe he's deserving of the title. But if he ends up being the runner-up (or is shockingly eliminated in the next couple of weeks), I still believe he will be alright and get a record deal out of this experience. As I said, he has a tremendous fanbase that is especially loyal and will follow him throughout his post-Idol journey. But whichever David ends up winning, I'll be happy either way.

American Idol 7 - Top 5

We are getting down to the wire now, with only five contestants left to sing their hearts out and try to capture the American Idol crown. I was a bit surprised by last week's elimination show when Carly was given the boot. But I wasn't totally shocked or outraged like a lot of people were. Get a grip people; it's only a TV show. Okay, maybe if Carly was a favorite of mine, I probably would've felt the same way. Not to say she wasn't growing on me as the week's progressed, but she never struck a chord with me since I've been watching this season. It'll be interesting to see how the remainder of the competition progresses; who will be let go week after week and who will be the eventual American Idol winner. Only time will tell, so let's get started with this week's review. The contestants had to tackle the songs of Neil Diamond, a favorite singer of my family's. This was a real treat to watch this (and hopefully my mom was able to catch it in San Diego this week where my parents are on vacation). So how did the contestants fair?

Jason Castro - singing "Forever in Blue Jeans": This song starts off pretty low for Jason. We haven't really seen him use his lower range in his performances and I really liked it. He handled it pretty well. However, I'm not jumping out of my seat over this. Overall, I think he did a nice job with the song but it's nothing that we're going to remember when looking back at this season. It just wasn't memorable enough. He basically sang it the way it's supposed to and did nothing original with it. Vocally, it was consistent to how he's sung in the past. Maybe this is the style that Jason wants to embrace but it may be getting old with viewers.

David Cook - singing "I'm Alive": Starts off kind of awkward for me. It reminds me of his performance during Idol Gives Back, but not as bad as that. The song gradually starts picking up and it is sounding better for me. Before I was aware, the performance was over. The song seemed very short and that may have been because of the arrangement. If that was the case, the arrangement could've been a lot better. I don't think he did enough with this particular song. Same as I said with Jason, vocally it's very consistent to what we're used to hearing from David. But overall, I did not care much for this song choice.

Brooke White - singing "I'm a Believer": Brooke trying to show off her "Rocker" side with this performance (whatever ounce of Rock she has in her). It starts off really strange for me as if she's having difficulty hitting the right notes. It almost seems too low for her at times. She appears to be happy and looks like she's having a good time on stage; much different from how she looked last week. I thought it was funny how she did a "whoo!" during the song which was one of her most embarassing moments in a previous week. But this time she didn't spin around on stage (how could she with a guitar in hand?). It's nice to see her change things up and do an up-tempo song, but I don't think it worked quite as well as she hoped. It didn't seem like the right song for her.

David Archuleta - singing "Sweet Caroline": It's nice to see David do a few up-tempo songs once in awhile. I know the fans have been clamoring for something upbeat for awhile now (and we get two in one night). I didn't expect him to choose this song so it ends up being a nice surprise. This performance also seemed very rushed and short; much like David Cook's first song. I know they only have a minute in a half to perform, but this seemed a lot quicker than that. I think there probably was too much chorus in this song and not enough of the rest. I think the arrangement could've been a lot better to incorporate more of the song other than the chorus, but vocally it was superb. David took a risk by doing something up-tempo and he did an exceptional job.

Syesha Mercado - singing "Hello Again": A very sweet and laid back song choice for Syesha. She's not trying to over-sing and be too shouty in the song which is very good strategy for her. I like how she looks on stage tonight. She definitely seems to be in her element now. Vocally it's very good but the song is a bit on the boring side. I'd have to agree with Simon's assessment in it being old fashioned. I wouldn't be surprised if Syesha made it through to the top four (despite what Simon said) because it appears her fanbase is growing stronger and stronger each week. She could be a dark horse to sneak into the top three.

Jason Castro - singing "September Morn": Jason is back on stage singing his second song and I can tell you right off the bat; I'm not crazy about it. It sounds very boring and it's about to put me to sleep. I don't think Jason is doing enough with these songs to change them up and make them his own. The pressure of this competition may be getting to Jason because he hasn't seemed the same in a couple of weeks now. As Randy said, this is just an okay performance and it's nothing really that memorable. The way he ended the song wasn't all that great either as it sounded pitchy to me. Don't be surprised to see Jason wind up in this week's bottom two.

David Cook - singing "All I Ever Really Needed is You": For me, this sounds much better than David's first song of the night. Even though David has a great vocal range, I think this one is more comfortable for him. He's making this sound very contemporary and current as if it could be on the radio today. I think the arrangement is far and away better than his first selection and his displaying his exceptional vocal range in this one, as well (using his falsetto towards the end). He definitely did a lot more with this song than the first and he showed great risk in picking Neil Diamond's lesser popular songs in "I'm Alive" and "All I Ever Really Needed is You." It's no surprise he's one of the favorites to win.

Brooke White - singing "I Am ... I Said": Now this is the Brooke White we've grown to love. As the judges commented, she looks very vulnerable during this performance and that is where she does her best. She's back at the piano and is doing an exceptional job with this difficult Neil Diamond song. This is a whole lot better than "I'm a Believer" and she's definitely in her element with this one. I do believe she also does a better job with the ballads as opposed to the lighter-faired songs. This performance has that singer/song-writer vibe that the judges have commented about Brooke in the past. It seemed very believable for Brooke and definitely more memorable than her first song.

David Archuleta - singing "America": Despite one point in the song where David's voice cracked (he is 17 after all and his voice is still deepening), it was another stellar performance from David. It was a very wise choice of song for him (even though I didn't particularly care what Simon was insinuating with his comments) and he showed off his range with this song. He does a great job week in and week out incorporating runs that tend to make the song his own. "America" is also a song with a good message which David enjoys choosing, so it's a good fit overall for him. Arrangement was a lot better this time around than the first song. Tonight was a very nice change of pace for David and hope we see more of it during the remainder of the competition.

Syesha Mercado - singing "Thank the Lord for the Night Time": I had my doubts that Syesha was going to be able to pull off this song, but she did a really good job with it. I was pleasantly surprised and it ended up being rather enjoyable. I admired her song selections tonight where her first song was a slow ballad while this song is much more upbeat and very fun. She is dressed really stylish tonight and is looking more and more like a star. I think she's is really coming into her own this late in the game. She may have finally embraced who she is and has finally found that confidence and it's probably winning over new fans, as well. Definitely a fun performance to wrap up the show tonight.

Even though I enjoyed most of the performances tonight, I did not enjoy the format of this episode at all. It was way too rushed and not having the judges critique after the singers first performance just seemed out of place. If the producers are wondering why they are losing viewers, it's changes like these that may be part of it. Overall, I'd rate tonight a five out of ten. As I mentioned, the performances themselves were decent, but the show just seemed so out of wack from the beginning to the end. It just wasn't all that enjoyable for me. And what the heck is Paula doing making comments on a singer's second song when he hasn't even sang it yet! Obviously she's basing her comments on dress rehearsal - otherwise how could she have known? Just another one of those moments on this show that makes me wonder if it would be better off without Paula. But then I'm left to contemplate whether the chemistry would be the same between Simon and a new center judge. So I still have mixed thoughts whether a change on the judge's panel would be a good thing or not. And with those thoughts out of the way, here's how I ranked the contestant's after Neil Diamond night:

#1: David Cook - best of the night
#2: David Archuleta
#3: Syesha Mercado (actual bottom two - 4/30/08)
#4: Brooke White - eliminated (eliminated - 4/30/08)
#5: Jason Castro - bottom two

I think Simon is wrong in his assessment that Syesha will be in trouble after her two performances. As I commented earlier, she really seems to be coming into her own and is attracting new fans. I do think both Brooke and Jason will be in trouble this week (should've been last week's bottom two, in fact) but I think in the end, it'll be Brooke going home. Jason still has a strong-enough fan base that'll keep him in this for one more week. I think the voting public is tiring with Brooke and despite one decent performance from her this week, this will likely be the last time we get to see her sing on the show (except for the finale, of course). Updates to this blog will follow after the results, so be sure to check back in later Wednesday night!

Update (5/1/08) - Brooke White gets the boot Wednesday night. She was very emotional - not even able to finish her song! Good luck to her - as I've liked her ever since I saw her first audition. She definitely has music in her blood and will do well in the future.

Songs I Dig - 7

So about a week or so ago, I had absolutely no songs that could be added to my blog because of all the new ones that had been released within the last couple of months, none of them had been that catchy for me. However, that recently changed and I am happy to bring you five songs that I'm currently digging. These are all newcomers to the "Songs I Dig" blog but some of them are familiar to radios and iPods out there. I am sure you'll enjoy most (if not all) of the songs on here and if you haven't yet heard of them, be sure to check them out in your free time.

"I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz - I'm always happy to hear Jason Mraz back on the radio waves when he releases new music because his songs are unique and original. He brings a very different sound to his songs and "I'm Yours" is no exception. It has a folksy-jazzy sound to it and it's very pleasant to listen to. His music is always positive and uptempo, which is very pleasant from the mundane ballads that some singers tend to stick with over and over again. "I'm Yours" is the first song released from Jason's newest album titled "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things." Hopefully this album will achieve great success for Jason because I think he deserves it.

"In Love with a Girl" by Gavin DeGraw - Here's a song I wasn't completely sold on until about a week ago and now I find it to be one of my new favorites. Gavin had great success with his last album with hit songs such as "Chariot," "I Don't Want to Be" and "Follow Through." It also didn't hurt that he gained popularity when "I Don't Want to Be" was featured as the theme song to the teen drama "One Tree Hill." This newest song from Gavin has a similar sound to "I Don't Want to Be." In this song, he sings about a girl who is the epitome of a soul mate; treating him right, being understanding, and pretty much falling in love with her at first sight. Don't you wish it could be like that for everyone in the world?

"Best Days" by Graham Colton - This song has been out for a little while now, but it still hasn't gotten old for me. It's a part of Graham's newest CD titled "Here Right Now" which was released late last year. It was also featured on "American Idol" as the song played during a contestant's ending montage after they were eliminated from the show during the semi-finals. Personally I enjoy this song a lot more than Ruben Studdard's rendition of "Celebrate Me Home" which is too dull for my tastes. I think Graham's song should've stayed with the show right through until the final two because it's that good. Obviously other people feel the same as its also been featured on other TV shows, too.

"No Air" by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown - This is another tune that took me awhile to really catch on to, but now I find it quite enjoyable. I think when I first listened to it, I questioned the meaning of the song because it sounded so sappy and pretty silly. At that time, I didn't understand the true message in the song, which I now fully understand after listening to it several times. I also like the pairing of Sparks and Brown in this song and they present a strong sense of chemistry while singing. Jordin was my favorite to win American Idol last season and it's nice to see her having some post-Idol success with not only "Tattoo" but now "No Air."

"Say it Again" by Marie Digby - Marie is a relative newcomer to the music scene as she started seriously working on music around 2004. The websites YouTube and MySpace have given her the needed exposure for interest in her debut album titled "Unfold" which was released earlier this month. You might have also heard her cover of Rhiana's number one hit "Umbrella" which she performed acoustically. I know I heard it a couple of different times on Sirius radio and you might have heard it on radio stations locally. She's actually been signed by a record label since 2005, but has only recently released her debut album since. I don't think that's going to hurt her future at all, because it looks pretty bright.

So there you have it; the latest songs I think everyone should give a listen to. I definitely think we'll be hearing more from each one of these artists in the years to come as they have a lot more music and songs in them, I'm sure. So be sure and check their songs out on either YouTube or MySpace and see what you think of them. Thanks for reading!

Most Embarassing Moments

So I was doing some thinking on some possible blog topics for the future when I started remembering some embarrassing moments from my past. I guess the motivation for this subject came up while watching some American Idol contestants discuss their most embarrassing moments. I was literally in bed last night about to go to sleep when several entered my mind. So quickly, I grabbed a piece of paper and started writing down some events that were quite embarrassing for me. None of them are really all that recent; in fact, I'm having a hard time remembering anything that was all that embarrassing in the last few years. But the following five are moments that I'll probably remember for a long time to come and which now I can laugh about. At the time, they weren't very funny at all!

Okay, the first moment happened when I was in junior high or high school (I'm having difficulty actually remember WHEN this happened); I'm thinking eighth or ninth grade. I was on the junior varsity basketball team and I was actually in the game as opposed to sitting on the bench where the majority of time I was. We were at a visiting school that didn't have a good basketball team - which explains why I was in the game. We had a fairly comfortable lead so I got the opportunity to play in the game. Someone passed the ball to me and I was open. I believe I was just beyond the three point line which was well within my range. So I aim and shoot towards the basket. The only thing was, I overshot and the ball ended up going above the backboard and into the supports that held the backboard up. In fact, the basketball bounced around like a pinball for a bit in the supports before finally reaching the floor. I guess you could say I was pretty excited to shoot the ball and my adrenalin was pumping which led me overshoot the ball. I remember hearing the visiting crowd laughing and my coach giving me a grinning look back at the huddle. All I wanted to do after that shot was dig a hole in the floor and cover myself up in embarrassment. I would rank this one as being the number one most embarrassing moment for me because it was in front of a crowd of people (thankfully not on home court, though) and I felt really small after that.

The next embarrassing moment goes all the way back to when I was in kindergarten class. Probably the reason why I still remember this one is because this moment was taped by my father and is part of our home movie collection. So every now and again, I'm able to watch this back and laugh at myself. But honestly, it's not that bad of a moment; certainly in comparison to the first one. It was kindergarten graduation and my class was performing all sorts of cutesy little skits and songs to our parents who sat proudly in the audience. I'd have to look back at the tape because I honestly cannot remember what this particular skit was about. But there were three of us lined up together voicing this one skit. Essentially it went, "the mother, the father, and the baby..." something or other. This one girl was the "mother" I guess, and I was the father. Like I said, the exact details are so foggy; I just remember the true moment that was embarrasing. Prior to this we were saying some lines and then came the most important part of the skit; our solos, if you will. This girl was supposed to say "the mother," to start things off. Well, she wasn't saying anything. It was as if she had forgotten to say her line and didn't know that's where she was supposed to come in. So I guess I took the liberty to help her out and I blurted "the moth..." and then cut myself off. I think I didn't actually mean to say it and it more or less just came out. Anyways, it got her to say her line and I was able to say mine and the skit was completed afterall. But at the conclusion, the audience filled with parents chuckled aloud. So I guess I find it a little embarrassing to this day, but it was so long ago, all I can do is laugh about it now.

The next embarrassing moment was another that occured many years ago; probably when I was about seven or eight. It was the summertime and I was out fishing with my great uncle (who I absolutely adored) and cousin. My dad showed up later that day to record some of my fishing to be included on video, which is probably why I am able to remember this one just as I did with the kindergarten moment. So I was having a ball that day catching numerous fish. They weren't very big but the most exciting part about the experience is catching all of those fish and truly having a successful day. Well the one part that was caught on camera was of me absolutely refusing to take the fish off my hook after it had been retrieved out of the water. I guess it was too slimy and wiggled way too much for me to take it off, so the whole time, my great uncle had to take all the fish off my line. Heck, I couldn't even put the worm on my hook! My dad gave me a bit of a hard time for not having the guts to take the fish off the hook (my words, not his) which is understandable. I have gone fishing since and have no difficulties taking fish off the line, let alone putting the worm on the hook! Still, it's one of those situations I'll never forget, especially when it's on tape for many generations of my family to enjoy.

Next up is probably the most recent of embarrassing moments I could think of. I was either in my last or second to last year of college and it was springtime. I can't remember the exact details regarding the event, but I believe I had just gotten out of my last class of the day and decided to take a walk through one of the buildings on campus that housed the library. I was so focused on a subject in my head that I didn't even realise I was about to walk into one of the main entryway's windows and not the door itself. I think I was focused on picking up a copy of the university's student newspaper ... no, I remember now. A group of girls were sitting in the lobby of the building in a circular fashion. I was rather curious why they were seated there instead of sitting inside the library itself. Well, maybe they needed a "loud" place to gather. So as I turned the corner and made my way towards the door, I was looking at them instead of remembering where the actual door was. The next thing I remember is hitting my head on the glass and making a rather large thud against the window pane. Dazed and confused, I quickly gained my composure and walked briskly away from the scene and instead walked around the building instead of through it. It's one of those situations that you can't contemplate yourself doing but when you actually experience it yourself, it's pretty frickin' embarrassing, especially with people around! But now that I am in my safe confines behind my computer, I can actually laugh about it now.

The last of the embarrassing moments is one that just popped into my head and it's not for me individually but one for the whole sixth grade class at the time. It was our annual spring-sing event so we were singing a song that, I guess, was supposed to bring spring-like thoughts to those in the audience. Well we ended up singing the Tom Petty song "Mary Jane's Last Dance," which is actually a pretty odd song choice. I guess it was popular at the time and we as a class wanted to choose something that was edgy and different than the pleasant, flowery songs that other classes had chosen. We rehearsed many different times but apparently it wasn't nearly enough. We started singing the song and it started off pretty good. But somewhere along the line we got off track and weren't singing along to the beat of the music and the lyrics got majorly flipped around. It honestly seemed like one part of the group was singing a completely different part of the song than the other and that continued right on through to the end. I honestly believe our music teacher was flabbergasted at how bad it was, considering that we had done so well prior and sounded really good. I remember him saying some comment to the audience, but I no longer can recall what he said. Something along the lines of "well, that was interesting." Not that I can blame him. But walking off the stage, I remember feeling pretty angry and lost at what had gone wrong. I couldn't believe how we couldn't keep to the beat of the song and strayed off so badly - maybe bad direction from the music teacher? I'll never truly know, but it's one of those moments that leaves me puzzled to this day.

So there you have it; my listing of top embarrassing moments that I can currently remember to this day. I'm sure there are others that I'll remember eventually and new ones that will pop up. Some may even be so bad that I can add them here!

American Idol 7 - Top 6

I thought for sure I wouldn't get a chance to do a complete recap of tonight's performances, but with only six contestants left, it's getting easier and easier (but soon they'll be doing two songs). So just in the nick of time, here we go!

Tonight it was the songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber, quite possibly one of the greatest broadway music composers of all time. I had the opportunity to see Phantom of the Opera when I was a freshman in high school and it was such an amazing show to see live. It wasn't in New York City but in Green Bay, Wisconsin when the show was traveling across the country. And some of the other shows that Webber has written songs for, such as Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar. Even though I may not have ever seen those shows, at least I am familiar with some of the songs in those shows. So this will definitely be a very entertaining night of American Idol. It may not be as edgy as it's been with some of the other mentor weeks, but it'll be interesting to see how well the contestants adjust to singing these songs. Onto the reviews!

Syesha Mercado - singing "One Rock and Roll Too Many" from Starlight. She is looking very sexy and sultry on stage tonight, complete with a stunning red dress. She's definitely showing a large amount of personality on stage tonight, something we haven't seen from her yet this season. She's dancing with Ricky Minor and another member of the band. Now that's really great to see and I'm really liking her performance tonight. She's clearly playing the part of a broadway star on that stage and she's owning it. In my view, this is her best performance of the season so far. Clearly, this is her element and she's made to sing these songs and become a star on broadway. It was a very enjoyable performance and it should definitely keep her in another week.

Jason Castro - singing "Memory" from Cats. Jason is a big risk taker this week, singing a song that's very familiar with the general public, especially one from such a long-running musical. Reports are that he was very ill this week and lacked energy (and who could blame him). We'll see if that ends up affecting him tonight. The opening package of Jason being mentored with Andrew Lloyd Webber was very funny, but Jason admits that he was very nervous about tonight. He looked very stylish, although his vocals were definitely off. He was pitchy in spots and he had some difficulty hitting the lower notes of the song. I did think the last half of the song was better than the first and overall, it was a decent performance. Definitely not his strongest but he did take a risk picking this song. It may not have had the results he wanted, but it wasn't completely terrible.

Brooke White - singing "You Must Love Me" from Evita. Oh man, right off the bat - she flubs and forgets the lyrics. She asks Ricky to start the song over, which she does. Thank god it wasn't later into the song, otherwise she'd have no choice but to keep going (ala David Archuleta: "We Can Work it Out"). Still a very awkward moment and it definitely threw her off for the rest of her performance. She is clearly shaken by the mistake and sounds unsure, almost wavering a bit as she sings (as if she's about to cry or is very nervous). But gradually, she starts to pick herself back up and by the time we reach the last note, this is the Brooke White we're all familiar with. However, she did seem to struggle the most with the lower notes in the song which ended up being in the first part of the song. She looks thoroughly disappointed at her blunder and it just might end up costing her this week.

David Archuleta - singing "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera. Word is David is going to be changing the tempo and arrangement of the song up a bit and make it sound more upbeat. We'll see if this risk will pay off for him, since he hasn't done a more upbeat song in some time. I wouldn't say it had a really high tempo with it, but it was definitely mid-tempo. It ends up being a great arrangement for the song and he hits this song out of the park. He was phenominal vocally and very consistent to what he's been doing. I like that he's not using the ear piece anymore which shows his comfort of performing on that stage now. As Simon said, it was very pleasant but I completely disagree with his assessment of calling it forgettable. That just more or less throws him under the bus after he did a great job with the song. I really felt that emotional connection that David displayed while singing the song. He was definitely into the moment.

Carly Smithson - singing "Jesus Christ Superstar." I think Carly has become my new favorite female contestant on the show just because of her bubbly personality. She may not be as wholesome as Brooke, but she is able to take criticism from the judges quite well. I am not all that familiar with this song, although I have heard it before. This is truly the first (and only) upbeat performance of the night and gets everyone on their feet. The song did seem a bit too high for her in parts and she tended to over-shout at times. The background singers also overpowered her in a few segments. But overall, it was probably her best performance in some time and she definitely displayed her vocal power in this one. You could tell she had a lot of fun up on that stage and just hearing Simon give her a positive review, she was absolutely giddy. That's nice to see.

David Cook - singing "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera. Aw man, David Cook with the pimp spot again? Let's hope he really brings it tonight. I love this song choice and it's probably my favorite from Phantom of the Opera. I really enjoy seeing this broadway-side to David and it shows that he doesn't always have to be a rocker week in and week out. Tonight's performance definitely does not hurt him and he'll sail safely into the top five. He's very soothing and sensual with the softer, slower portion of the song. He's really connected with this selection and I am loving the passion he's bringing. He did a splendid job tonight and it's my favorite of his since "Little Sparrow" from Dolly Parton week. Absolutely amazing vocally and the end note was a fitting way to conclude the night. Awesome and very consistent for Cookie.

I really liked tonight's show, even though some of the contestants didn't have spectacular performances. I would give tonight an eight out of ten, overall. It was pretty easy to guess who would be the most challenged tonight, but who would've guessed that Brooke would end up faltering as badly as she did. That just might be the final straw for her and she'll end up packing tomorrow night. With that being said, here are tonight's rankings:

#1: David Archuleta - top performance
#1: David Cook - top performance
#3: Carly Smithson (minor shocker ~ eliminated - 4/23/08)
#4: Syesha Mercado - bottom three (bottom two - 4/23/08)
#5: Jason Castro - bottom three
#6: Brooke White - eliminated

Yes, I gave both David's #1 tonight because they were both spectacular and it's extremely difficult for me to pick one over the other. I hate to say it, but I think Brooke will be going home. Jason had a sub-par night, but I don't think it's the end of the road for him quite yet. I think he'll have one more week to recover and deliver one more decent performance. I've been a fan of Brooke's for a long time, but I also tend to believe she's worn out her welcome some with her excessive back-talk to the judges at times and her failure to really enjoy the moment. With that being said, she has my pick to be sent home tomorrow.

Beauty and Ugly Together

Today was a glorious day to spend outdoors in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with temperatures approaching 70 degrees in many spots. So far this year, that is the warmest it has gotten and I am sure we will be seeing many more warmer days ahead. I didn't want to miss out on this opportunity of enjoying the nice weather, so I ventured out and took a short drive near Lake Superior and enjoyed a nice walk around the immediate area that includes part of the local university's campus (mainly the sports complex). I wasn't surprised how many people were out enjoying the beautiful weather like me. I saw many people walking, running, biking, roller blading, and even saw one girl on her skate board AND talking on the phone at the same time. Now that's something I never saw before. There were also a lot of people raking their lawns, sweeping their sidewalks, and collecting brush to put on the curbside for the city to pick up next week. People were really making the most of this beautiful weather and I can't say I blame them. After the kind of winter we've had, especially one where it didn't seem it would end, today made it all worth it.

But a bit of news I stumbled across on various local media sites left me a bit saddened. It just goes to show you that up here, our pristine environment can become polluted. No, we're not immune to these issues that occur in more populated areas. A tug boat pulling a barge close to shore touched bottom which caused it to start leaking oil into Lake Superior. It's unknown how much of the oil spilled into the lake but the U.S. Coast Guard does have the area surrounded so that the spill doesn't move further out into the lake. From the sounds of it, they may have the oil cleaned up by the evening, which sounds very promising. So I guess it's not as bad as it could've been. For one thing, because of a light wind, the containment area was smaller than if it were a windy day. And after all, it was only a tug boat. Just think if it were one of those ore frieghters that frequent our shores or a barge carrying oil? Now that truly would be a mess. It's safe to say that the wildlife in the area should not suffer from this since environment officials were quick to respond and those on board of the tug reported it rather quickly. But I am sure there'll be some ramifications because of this spill.

On my way back from my walk, I drove nearest to the oil spill on the lakeshore and as I approached, I could smell oil in the air. I also saw the barge and tug boat out into the lake, and upon sawing them both, I grew pretty angry. Then I saw the containment bouys in the lake that were keeping the spill confined and watched as people walked along the bike path and peered out into the lake at the same time, trying to see if they could see anything new. And really, what was there to see? I did notice people looking up to the sky and sheltering their eyes to the sun. As I looked above and trying to focus on my driving, I could see a helicopter, probably one from the Coast Guard, surveying the spill to see if it is contained. Still, it just all seemed rather sad to me that this had to happen. Apparently the tug was steering the barge too close to shore and hit bottom. I am sure it could've been avoided, but there's not much that can be done about it now. But I was pretty surprised to see the crowd near the lower harbor, whether they were enjoying the weather like the majority of people were today or not. I was still pretty impressed to see the crowds walking along the shore and it almost reminded me of the festivities around the Fourth of July. If it was because of this big news event around here or because of the weather, I guess that can be debated for awhile.

So anyways, despite that rather unfortunate news event, today left me in high spirits. It's amazing when the weather turns nicer and really lifts the spirits of everyone. Not only did it feel and sound like spring, but it also smelled like spring, too. You can smell things coming alive, particuarly the grass growing and beginning to green up. It's a wonderful time of the year, in fact, one of my favorites. When you're able to be outside without having to bundle up and brave temperatures below 32 degrees, it doesn't get much better than that. We're upon my favorite time of the year and I'm excited for it.

American Idol 7 - Top 7

We are getting down to the wire on this season's American Idol and it ends up being a very important week with the group singing songs by Mariah Carey. I think Randy said it last week that at this point in the competition, this is where we know exactly who the contestants are and who the front-runners really are. The contestants get a true challenge this week trying to pick a song suited to them and one they can make as original as they can to avoid the Mariah comparisons that could come their way. Let's see how they ended up doing tonight:

David Archuleta - singing "When You Believe": First time David gets the opening slot and I guess everyone has to have their shot to open the show. For some contestants this season, it has proven to be the kiss of death. But this should be no problem for David, particularly if he sings well. He picks a very difficult song; one in which BOTH Mariah and Whitney sang as a duet. It starts off really well; even as the beginning of the song has the lower registry of notes that David sometimes has difficulty with. He was really in the moment with this song and you could really feel the emotion David displayed as he sang. He was on pitch note for note and I think this is possibly David's best performance since he sang "Imagine," not saying that any of his previous performances since then were bad. I just feel this ranks as high as "Imagine" in greatness. He even sang falsetto after Mariah's advice of doing so and he nailed it! Truly a spectacular performance from David and what an awesome way to start tonight's show.

Carly Smithson - singing "Without You": I thought Carly was very smart in picking this song tonight and Simon was hoping she'd tackle it even before "Mariah week" began. It is one of Mariah's more popular songs so we'll see if Carly is able to bounce back after last week's mis-step. In the beginning, I thought she tried doing a few things different with the melodies and attempted to differentiate herself from Mariah, but then she mimicked her spot-on for the rest of the song. I'm not saying that was a bad thing, but it would've helped her to stay away from those dreadful Mariah comparisions. She definitely had no trouble hitting the higher notes in the song, but I doubt she has the high range that Mariah does (honestly, not too many people do). I thought it was a big improvement over last's weeks inspirational song choice and it'll be more memorable as well. Also, she looked very confident and happy to be on stage. She does tend to over-think during her performances which might cause her to lose confidence on stage. But I liked her this week.

Syesha Mercado - singing "Vanishing": This is one of Mariah's less-recognizable songs and one that I'm not all that familiar with. Mariah says herself that it's one of the first songs she wrote back when she was 17. I thought this was a very smart move on Syesha's part because during the previous two weeks, she picked big songs in which the judges could not help but compare her with the artists that made them famous. Vocally is sounds good and just as consistent as Syesha's been for weeks. It does sound boring in the beginning but things start picking up as we progress towards the finish. She definitely can hit those big notes with ease. I feel at this stage of the game, it's getting more and more difficult to say anything negative about the contestants performances because they are really starting to show who they are and continue to highlight their strong points. Overall, I thought it was a good performance from Syesha but we'll see if she's someone the voters remember on results night.

Brooke White - singing "Hero": I thought this was a good song choice for Brooke as it definitely suits her style. From the recorded piece, it appeared as if Brooke was going to play the guitar, but she now resorts to playing it strictly with the piano with no accompaniment from band. This has the potential to be as good as "Let it Be." But unfortunately for me, it falls short of that mainly because there were a few pitch problems here and there throughout the performance. Brooke has been one of my favorites for awhile but she has not been as stellar as she could be lately and it very well could come back to bite her one of these weeks. She seems to be a bit awkward on the higher notes as if she's unsure about them. It's definitely very authentic and consistent from Brooke as we've seen this week in and week out from her. She's definitely not going to mix things up and go all Amanda Overmyer on us now. As I said, I still didn't think it was her best but she definitely sounded good. She knows what kind of artist she wants to be.

Kristy Lee Cook - singing "Forever": The contestants tonight are picking very smart songs to perform and Kristy is no exception. She tends to struggle with the lower notes which is when she gets pitchy, which is exactly what happened tonight. Not that it was a huge distraction, mind you, but at this stage of the competition, she has to be better than that. With that being said, I thought this was another strong performance from Kristy; even rivaling last week's inspirational song choice. She is really improving week after week and is definitely making her case for staying in the competition. Just think of all the complaining that was going on when she made it into the top 12. She continues to gain momentum and grows confidence-wise. She was particularly solid with the last part of the song, hitting those higher notes with ease. However, just as in Syesha's case, will her performance be one of those that voters will remember? Personally for me, I think she has a strong case to be in this season's top six, but we shall see tomorrow.

David Cook - singing "Always be my Baby": Who would've thought that David Cook of all people would do a rendition of this Mariah classic? And what surprises me the most is that he is not playing the guitar for two straight weeks which I find to be pretty impressive. Seems like he always tries to fall back to his guitar following a performance without it. So far, this is proving to be better than last week's debacle with that Our Lady Peace song. It does start boring for me, however, and with the lower notes that make up most of the beginning, I don't find this to be David's best. He does start ramping things up particularly when we reach the chorus of the song and the performance becomes memorable. He definitely sounds the best when he hits notes in his upper register and I am liking how he turned the end-portion of the song into something more rock-sounding. But this choice is definitely outside of the box for David and he did a good job with it. Now was it worthy of receiving a standing ovation from Randy? I certainly didn't think so and I scratched my head why the judges were glowing over this so much.

Jason Castro - singing "I Don't Wanna Cry": So it's Jason's first try at closing the show in the pimp spot. Let's see if his performance is worthy of getting such a hallowed spot on the show. So it's neither a ukelele or a guitar that Jason uses and strictly concentrates on his song with the microphone in his hand. This may be a good thing for Jason because singing a Mariah song might be a tough challenge for Jason. It's one of Mariah's more obscure songs which might be a blessing for Jason. It sounded good vocally, no glaring pitch issues but it was something that did not blow me away. Jason stays with his usual performing style and stays authentic and original, much like we've seen during previous weeks. Similar to Brooke, I doubt we'll ever see Jason rock out to a Queen song like a few other contestants have done this seaosn. I believe Jason earns himself a spot for next week's show and I'd be shocked if he were voted off tomorrow (please let it be a girl that gets voted out tomorrow!).

The contestants definitely seemed more prepared and more confident this week which made the performances that much more enjoyable. So for that, I rated tonight's show an eight out of ten. It's not easy to sing songs by Mariah Carey, but I give my praise to all of the contestants for doing an admiral job. Of course, some contestants excelled over others and as Simon said, the boys did a better job with Mariah's songs with the girls (of course Simon would say that because whatever song the girl's sing, they'll always be compared to the original). With that being said, here is how I rank the contestants after tonight's performances:

#1: David Archuleta - best of the night
#2: David Cook
#3: Jason Castro
#4: Carly Smithson - bottom three
#5: Kristy Lee Cook (eliminated - 4/16/08)
#6: Brooke White - bottom three (actual bottom three - 4/16/08)
#7: Syesha Mercado - eliminated (actual bottom three - 4/16/08)

It is getting very, very tough to predict who gets eliminated at this stage of the game. Obviously the four girls will get the strongest consideration for elimination this week but as we saw last week, you can never discount a boy being kicked off (Jason Castro being the male with the least strongest performance). I think Syesha will get the boot this week, but I think I said that last week as well. Brooke and Carly could also be shown the door as well but I do believe Kristy Lee will get another reprieve from the bottom three this week. She's gaining momentum and votes as she continues to up her game. Tomorrow will be a very interesting night and we'll see just how shocking the results end up being on our way to next week's Andrew Lloyd Webber theme.