The Final 7

I know that everyone had a good chuckle over my husband’s Idol Chat revisited last week, but please be assured that I am well and not psychologically damaged from the untimely departure of Michael Johns. I will confess to getting a little misty, but Idol is nothing if not dramatic and unpredictable, and he would have gone sometime. I think there are many who have underestimated Syesha’s fan base. When the word broke that tivo had predicted Syesha would go home, I had this feeling we were in for one of those major Idol upsets. I hope Aussie boy does well in the same way that Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson have done after their early exits. Moving on. Tonight was Mariah Carey night, and I will confess to approaching this with some dread. Others may be wowed by her five-octave range, but all of that squealing like a pig gives me a headache. That being said, I was completely impressed with her candor, advice and support of the contestants, and I actually enjoyed the evening.When you take all of the obnoxious runs out of her songs, she actually has written some beautiful lyrics. Let’s break it down:

DAVID ARCHULETA "When You Believe"

This was a fantastic arrangement of the song, and I enjoyed it more than when Mariah originally sang it. David always delivers a sincere performance, and he actually took some risks while showing off his range. It was a really professional performance. Randy thought it was the bomb. Paula thought he made Mariah proud. Simon said it was very, very good. He also said "we aren’t in for a lot of laughs this evening" and delcared that David had set the benchmark for the night. He will definitely survive the cursed first position.

CARLY SMITHSON "Without You"

Since when is this song Mariah Carey’s? Carly starts out in the chair with Ryan and tells the audience how much everyone misses MJ. I am impressed by how much more beautiful the girl looks when her arms are covered. She has a great voice, and she sings well, but there was something unsure in her delivery of one of the key runs, and it didn't quite hit me with the wow that I expected. Randy thought that Carly needed to believe in herself, but that it was pretty good overall. Paula liked her vocal restraint and thought she made the song her own. Simon didn’t think she quite got where she wanted to go with it, and that it was just an ok version of the song. I thought things were going along pretty well, until they had to focus the camera on her husband and for longer than usual. Freddie Kruger doesn’t have anything on that guy. Unfortunately for Carly, even after covering her ink, I am not sure she did enough.

SYESHA MERCADO "Vanishing"

I can’t criticize one choice Syesha made with this song. I thought it was a beautiful vocal, and despite Randy insisting it was pitchy in spots, he is crazy because it was dead on. Syesha should avoid being in the bottom three after this performance. Randy thought it was bold, but pitchy in spots (wrong) but that she did a good job. Paula thought she was smart to pick a song that was less well known. Simon did not think that was smart, and thought she ran a huge risk in picking that song. Ok, which is it Simon? If she picks a song you know then you tell the poor girl that she pales in comparison or she is a wannabe. At this point I think you are picking at this girl. Give the poor thing one night where you acknowledge her talents for goodness sake! Ok, I am off my soapbox.

BROOK WHITE "Hero"

Brooke impressed Mariah with her genuine delivery of her song. It started off very promising, with Brooke at the piano, but somewhere halfway through the song Brooke looked liked she was dissolving into a fit of nerves. Every part of her face was trembling and twitching, and the more nervous she became the less in tune she was and the quicker the tempo. There were a couple of times that she seemed to struggle to play the melody. I thought she looked beautiful, but that performance totally stressed me out. Randy was really digging it until the bridge. Paula thought she was authentic to who she is (?) and told her to avoid letting bad notes speed her up. At this point Simon is trying to speed Paula up, and mercifully she wraps up her disjointed observations. Simon thought it was like ordering a hamburger without the beef. The vital ingredient was missing. I am thinking, who writes Simon's stuff? Regardless, the rose is off the bloom as far as Brooke’s concerned.

KRISTY LEE COOK "Forever"

Kristy Lee gave Mariah Carey chills when she sang this song for her in rehearsal. She looks absolutely gorgeous and she sounds pretty good. I don’t think this was as good a performance as her last couple ones have been, but her stage presence has grown and I think she managed to stay true to her style, which is saying something this week. I actually thought she had some great moments in the chorus, but that she lost the melody a few times on the verses and overall it wasn't memorable. Randy thought it was not amazing but she stepped it up at the end. Paula thought she was smart and she was blown away by the arrangement. Simon was quick to tell her it didn’t give him chills but thought she managed with what she could. I think given the other songs tonight, this performance will land her back in the bottom three.

DAVID COOK "Always Be My Baby"

I was really impressed with David's arrangement of this, and given that I loathe the radio version, I really enjoyed it. It was an original interpretation, a solid vocal and an engaging performance. It was a little like teen feel good song turned into a rock stalker, and it left me wanting to play it again.  I just wish they would change up the guys' wardrobe a little. Randy stood up for the first time this season and said David is ready to cut a cd. Paula thought it could be on a movie soundtrack. Paula, half the time I don’t even think you know what you are talking about. Simon likened it to a breath of fresh air after Karaoke hell (Kristy Lee, I presume?) and said it was original and really great. David is moved to tears.

JASON CASTRO "I Don’t Want to Cry"

I love the ensemble on stage and I am blown away that Jason is able to turn this ballad into a folk song that completely fits his vibe.His vocal was great and I actually played this one a second time. I would buy this as an I-Tunes download in a heartbeat, it was my favorite song of the evening. Randy didn’t get it, he thought it was like a luau on a beach. Paula said she would love to be at that beach all night long. Simon agreed with Paula and said what is apparent to all, the guys won the night.

The top three are the David’s and Jason. The bottom three are Kristy Lee, Brooke and Carly. Based on vocals, Brooke should go home. If the kids became too terrified after their long look at the boogieman, it could be the end for Carly instead. I truly enjoyed Syesha this week, and I hope that she enjoys a week of safety. Tune in tomorrow.....