It seems like only a few months ago that David Cook and David Archuleta were standing on the stage and Ryan announced that the winner was “David–” and my DVR cut off and I had to go online to find out who actually won.

But nope, it’s been a full year and we are about to crown the new American Prince Idol. I’ve made my feelings abundantly clear all season long so it will no surprise when I say GO TEAM KRIS!

For those of you that don’t know, I think Adam is insanely talented but you couldn’t pay me to buy his album and listen to that screaming. I do believe he should win, I just don’t want him to! And Kris has really come so far over the season. The “Dark Horse” (as opposed to the “dark goth”) continuously shocked the audience and judges—and me—week after week!

The finale had three rounds: singer’s choice, producer Simon Fuller’s choice, and crap-ass Official Single by Kara DioGuardi.

Round 1

Artist’s favorite performance of the season

Adam Lambert “Mad World” Tears for Fears

One of the only performances of Adam’s that I really liked all season and was actually able to listen to from start to finish. I was really glad that he picked this one to revisit because there was no screaming! Simple, powerful, haunting and really amazing.

Kris Allen “Ain’t No Sunshine” Bill Withers

This is word-for-word what I said the last time he performed this song

His “Ain’t No Sunshine” is on par with David Cook’s “Hello” from last season. Both songs were very, very well known, pretty much out-of-date, cliched and “owned” by only one artist–meaning anyone else that tried to sing the song, sounded like a karaoke version of Bill Withers and Lionel Ritchie. But not these guys. They completely stripped it down, re-did it in a modern way and totally blew the song out of the water. It was un-real.

And it beared repeating becaue it blew me away all over again.

The only person that summed up my thoughts about his performance even better than I could was  Kara DioGuaridi when she said: “If you can’t feel a Kris Allen performance and he doesn’t move you, then there is something wrong with you. You have a way of creating an intimate bond with everybody in the audience. You make us feel like you are singing to us”

Even better was Simon’s endorsement that yes, America got it right putting Kris in the finals.

Round 1 Winner (judges): KRIS!

Round 1 Winner (me): KRIS!!!!

Round 2:

Simon Fuller’s Pick

Adam Lambert “A Change is Going to Come” Sam Cooke

Why on earth Simon would pick this song is beyond me. IT is the most oversung song on Idol. I actually think Idol must get paid everytime someone sings that song because it is done at least once a season.

The judges were drooling all over themselves over his take and unique spin on the song.

I heard “Blah blah blah Scream Screech SCREAM SCREECH.”

Kris Allen “What’s Going On” Marvin Gaye

I love Kris because he doesn’t need fog, smoke, lights, high pitched screeches and guyliner to rock it out and be AMAZING!

The judges all thought it was too casual for a “night like this” I thought it was a huge risk to get up and just jam out. Let’s face it, he’s not Dave Matthews yet and it takes a lot of guts to get up in front of 7,000 live screaming people and come off chill and relaxed.

Round 2 Winner (judges): ADAM!

Round 2 Winner (me): Adam

but I don’t think that that he won it “a million times over” Kris like Simon said.

Round 3:

Their Will-Be Single

Adam Lambert “No Boundaries” co-written by Kara DioGuardi

I will officially boycott all radio stations for at least three years if Adam wins this competition because there is no way I can handle having to hear Adam’s bloodcurdling screechy version of that song every hour of every day.

From Mr. Cowell:

“You are one of the best, most original contestants we have ever had on the show. I genuinely believe we have found a world wide star in you.”

But he refused to critique his performance during Kara’s song. Because it freaking sucked.

Kris Allen’s “No Boundaries“ co-written by Kara DioGuardi

My tweet: “well crap. Kris’s voice just isn’t powerful enough for that arrangement of the song. I love him, but David Cook he is not.”

The problem was just what the judges said, the key was too high for him. I think if it was lowered just a bit he would have had an instant hit but I think he did the best that he could with a shitty song and the key.

That said, I would MUCH rather listen to that song every single hour of every day on the radio than Adam’s obnoxious version.

Round 3 Winner (judges): not revealed

instead the critiqued the season, not the performance, probably because they didn’t want to bash Kara’s crappy ass song.

Round 3 Winner (me): KRIS!!!!

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My Winner:

GO TEAM KRIS!

What do you think? Who do you want to win?

Who Will Be The Next American Idol? is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Due to the fact that I was physically unable to force myself to listen to any of the performances in their entirety, I shall keep this short, sweet and opinion free, or at least opinion lite.

It was Classic Rock Week. I heart Daughtry. I heart David Cook. I’ve even been known to rock out to some hard rock like Sevendust and Taproot. But I’m just not a 70s/80s Classic Rock kinda girl. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the musical talent of the era  but I literally shudder at the thought of being forced to listen to it for more than half a song. Maybe it’s because my brother and his friends were huge classic rockers?

Anway, the infamous Slash from Guns N Roses was the mentor this week, which was pretty cool! Plus, they added a new twist this round. Instead of singing two solo performances, the contestants had one solo and one duet!  Apparently, Idol feels they have to compete with DWTS for new gimmicks this year.

***Just learned that the contestants weren’t allowed to “make them their own” with the songs this week. They had pretty stricty rules with how much they could change. Still, they could have picked better song choices for me for you.

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Adam Lambert:“Whole Lotta Love” Led Zeppelin

Of course, he was amazing. I didn’t even have to listen to him (thankfully*) to know he was going to be the freaking star of Rock week.

For the first week the producers had him at the front of the show, meaning no other performance could compare, blah blah blah. Yes, he has mad skills. Been saying it for weeks. But I know without a doubt that I would never, ever by his album because shrieking, falsetto rock is like nails on a chalkboard to me. That said, he deserves to win.

(*I did listen until I couldn’t take it anymore)

Allison Iraheta “Cry Baby” Janis Joplin.

Good. Powerful. Her vocal talents are staggering and she actually pulled out some rock swagger.

But, it was kind of a boring song choice since there were no melodies. Basically just her belting out the words “Cry Baby” over and over….and over….and over.

Have to throw out some love for the new hair. She actually hooked up with Adam’s hairdresser for her new long colored tresses!

Kris Allen “Come Together” The Beatles.

Kris is meant for slow ballads only. For one, he is quiet and doesn’t have full ennuciation so when he is trying to rock, you can barely hear him. Simon was right; it felt like a jam session with his band instead of a Top Idol performance. Boring.

Someone should have given him the Monster Ballads Platinum CD to pick from this week instead of Classic Rock Anthems.

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Danny Gokey “Dream On” Aerosmith

Everyone that cringed when they heard that Danny was going to be attempting this Rock Anthem raise you hand!

I lied earlier–I did sit through this whole performance. It was like a train wreck that you know is coming so you keep watching the tracks until it hits, even though you really want to turn away.The final note was bloodcurdling and really, really bad! Kara was right on the money that he should have done Steven Tyler’s “Cryin’” or “Crazy.”

The Duets:

Danny & Kris “Renegade” Styx

Danny outdid Kris in solos during the duet. But their harmonies were really good together. Hated the song choice. Hated performance. It just wasn’t them. The should have done a Classic Monster Ballad—or a 90s Power Ballad!

Adam & Allison “Slow Ride” Foghat

Of course the two rockers hit it out the park. They are ready to put out a duet album together and go on tour. Not that I would buy it or go see them but lots of others would.

all photos from Rickey.org, the best source of latest Idol, DWTS & other reality news!

American Idol Top 4 Recap: Classic Rock Week is Classic Blah is a post from: Stiletto Sports

It was Rat Pack Standards Week in American Idol world and Jamie Foxx was the special mentor. These songs are timeless classics and so well known that it’s hard for singers to not come across karaoke or imitation Michael Buble. I was very wary of what our fave contestants were going to massacre sing

But this is one of the best Top 5’s that Idol has ever had. These kids can really sing and they know how to make it their own.

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Kris Allen “The Way You Look Tonight”

When Kris came on stage in a suit, I knew I was in trouble. You put any man in suit and their hot factor instantly goes up. I’ve always thought Kris was dreamy so tonight I pretty much drooled all over myself.

“The Way You Look Tonight” is one of my favorite songs of all time and I’m wary when others try to sing it. But Kris took this song to a whole new place. It’s going to be the first American Idol song I download on iTunes this season. It was sensational.

He wooed every female in America, ages 6 to 96 tonight.

Randy, Kara and Paula loved him.

Simon did not. Apparently Kris is now a “wet Cocker Spaniel on a walk” that “wears women’s panties*.”

In case you didn’t see that episode, Paula drunkenly accidentally said Kris shops in the women’s department, meaning he knows what women like.  Simon mocked her something silly for that comment!

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Alison Iraheta: “Someone to Watch Over You”

First, her dress was absolutely fabulous. She looked stunning.

I didn’t love the arrangement of the song but her voice was just ridiculous. Katherine McPhee sang it a few seasons ago and I still lsiten to it all the time but Allison may have outsung her.

She put so much power and emotion behind that song that I was totally floored. Plus she made it her own, and not a cheesy karaoke version. Randy called her “Pink but with more octaves” and he is right on the money. Except I really hate Pink (the artist, not the color!) and I love Allison!

Randy, Paula and Kara all thought she was phenomenal. Simon still thinks she doesn’t have the attitude and presence to make it to the finals.

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Matt Giraud “My Funny Valentine”

It’s not my favorite classic song to begin with, and I felt like Matt really didn’t do anything to it.

I was bored silly and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I kept waiting for it to get good. Finally I tuned out and just drifted off.

I almost missed his last runs, which were really good. Randy and Kara felt the same way. Simon liked it and said he thought it was brilliant. Huh.

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Danny Gokey “Come Rain or Come Shine”

Um. Huh. That was different.

At first I really wasn’t feeling it. And then….BAM! The runs at the end were really amazing!

I did think that the band was a bit loud  and kinda overshadowed him but even then you could tell he was singing the hell out of that classic! Totally made it original and modern.

Kara said he had “Rat Pack Swagger” tonight. Paula, Randy and Simon all agree and thought it was “superb!”

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Adam Lambert “Feeling Good”

Snazzy white shiny suit!

I’m really beginning to feel that the other contestants are warm-up acts for the Adam Lambert show, especially since they always put him towards the end. It’s a shame because that’s not the headlining act that I bought my tickets for.

It reminds me of the Live X concert here in Southwest Florida two years ago when Buckcherry and Sevendust were the headliners, but I went to see Chris Daughtry…. I’m loving Idol for Allen, Gokey, and Iraheta but I get a whole lot of Lambert.

Anyway…

Randy said it was a bit “theatrical, drama filled and Broadway” for him, to which Simon retorted, that’s like complaining that a cow moos. In other words, duh. Adam = Mr. Theater.

Kara said: “Mouth drops open. Is he really doing that? Confusing. Shocking. Sleazy. Superb. Way over the top. But I like you.”

I agree with all of those adjectives except

1. nothing he does really shocks me because I expect him to be unexpected)
2. those same qualities actually make me not like him, even though I know he is the technically and vocally the best. I just know I would never actually buy his album and listen to it. Although I do admit that his Mick Jagger screaming would be a better wake up in the car-ride to work than my cup of coffee.

Oh, and Paula said he is the Michael Phelps of the competition. Which is just funny.

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Bottom: Matt and Allison and maybe Danny. Simon may not think that Kris wowed tonight, but all the females will agree that he definitely upped the ante for fan favorite.

all photos from Rickey.org

American Idol Top 5 Recap is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Ah Lil Rounds! Judges have come down on her for not defining herself as an artist on the show yet. Maybe it’s because she can’t even seem to decide on a personal style?

I don’t know if  it’s Lil or if it’s the American Idol stylists, but someone has turned her hair into an  Idol Chia Pet experiment! Watch her hair grow leaps and bounds in a matter of weeks!

I don’t think a contestant has had this kind of hair styling issues since crazy Sanjaya.

I miss the Lil from the auditions. She had her own style and her own sassy sound. And now, she is stuffed into outfits that do not flatter her figure and rocking hair that just defies all logic and reason. Pick one. Go with it.

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Lil Rounds’ Hair Through the Idol Season

Top 13 Promo Photo:

Top 13 Week 1

Top 11 Week 2:

Top 10 Week 3:

Top 9 Week 4:

Top 8 Week 5:

Top 7 Week 6:

Top 7 Week 7

Lil Rounds 8 Hairstyles for 8 Weeks of Idol is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Yeah it did resemble the blazing balls of disco hell…..

Was anyone else terribly bored by disco week? I watched the whole show, rewatched the clips at the end of the show and within 30 minutes promptly forgot every single performance. I even just re-watched the clips and still barely remember them. Nothing stood out to me tonight and I don’t really know why!

Here’s the rundown:

Lil Rounds “I’m Every Woman” Chaka Khan

She finally went back to singing what she knows: divalicious sound. But it’s like the last few weeks of being battered by Simon in judging has sucked her soul out of her singing. It was okay, I just wasn’t wowed.

What I love is that her hair changed again! The stylists can’t seem to decide on her personal style. Maybe that’s why she can’t seem to define herself as an artist yet, In any case I think she’s had more hair changes than Sanjaya.

Kris Allen “She Works Hard for the Money” Donna Summer*

I will never hate on a hot boy playing guitar. I was in the kitchen making dinner when I heard that Kris was singing this song and came running into the living room in horror. But he changed it up and totally blew me away! And I may add, that rendition would fit in perfectly down here in Southwest Florida with all the open-air music venue/bars…. just in case he feels so inclined to stop by and sing it for me!

Side note: Really sick of Simon and Paula’s drama. Or at least Paula. There was a big whole thing about Kris wearing women’s panties or something equally as stupid. It’s not even funny anymore, it’s obnoxious and irritating. And really isn’t fair to these contestants that work so hard to impress us. We don’t even get a chance to get to know the contestants anymore because the judges spend so much time babbling.

Danny Gokey “September” Earth, Wind and Fire

You know I love me some Danny. But I do not love Danny doing disco. Judges liked it but I just wasn’t feeling it. I

like my Danny doing ballads and being all soulful. Not dancing around the stage a la Taylor Hicks! Not my fave choice for me for him.

Allison Iraheta, “Hot Stuff” Donna Summer*

This is why she is the only female left standing! Oh. My bad, forgot about Lil already.

This girl is so insanely talented. She blows me away every week. I feel the same as Randy, I didn’t love the arrangement and I wouldn’t rush out to buy it, but man, she sang the hell out of it!

Outfit was a little much. Ha. Just a tad.

Adam Lambert, “If I Can’t Have You” from Saturday Night Fever

Yes, I realize I’m the only person in America not loving up on Adam. I think he is extremely talented and his skills totally astound me. But I just don’t like him because I know I wouldn’t buy any of his albums.

This week he came close to changing my mind. I thought the song was amazing. Until he did his little Mick Jagger screeching yell in the middle and it brought me crashing back to earth, shuddering violently. Too bad. Thought it was really fantastic.

The crazy Elvis hair was back this week but much more contained and not as slicked with oil. I think I kinda liked this look for once.

Matt Giraud, “Staying Alive” Bee Gees

Ah Matty. Judges saved him last week and I was really happy about that because there are weeks when I really love him. And then there are others when I wonder what the hell he is thinking.

This was one of those latter weeks. Compared to the other leading guys, he just didn’t do enough with the song to make it his own. Really wish he had picked something more soulful and JT like to play with!

Anoop Desai “Dim All the Lights” Donna Summer*

Holy Outfit, Anoop-Dog! I like bits and pieces and love the pink but WOW. That was a whole lot of look for one little guy!

As for the singing and song: Singing, good; song choice and arrangement, YUK. The last note was a hot mess. I agree with Simon, I think the song would have been a huge “moment” if he had just kept it slow the whole time and didn’t let the tempo come in because you could see it coming…..like a train wreck…but you prayed it wouldn’t happen. And it did. Then it got uber-cliched!

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That’s it! Say Goodbye to Lil, Matt and Anoop. Oh, yeah only two go home. I think I have to rewatch Matt and Anoop’s videos to really decide who I want to see one more week.

*photos from Rickey.org. Best reality TV site there is!

American Idol Top 7 Recap: Disco Inferno is a post from: Stiletto Sports

We are down to the Elite Top 8 of American Idol (hey, it’s March Madness and technically, this is a sports for girls site so I’m required to reference Elite 8, okay!)

So happy to see Megan Joy Corkrey booted. That girl’s voice seriously made me want to put my head through a wall just to make the noise stop. Usually I can just tune out the people I don’t like but man, with her, it was like nails on a chalkboard.

But the competition is going to start getting fierce! Here’s a rundown of the contestants–the good, the bad, the hot…and the just not. Click on the name of any song to head to American Idol to hear the performances. And feel free to leave a comment on the bottom. Do you agree? Am I way off? Who are you faves and who do you want to win American Idol?

My Bottom Three:

1. Anoop Desai, aka Anoop Dawg.

My problem with him is that he is not consistent. One week I really like him and the next I want to hit him repeatedly because he sucks so bad. Week 4 sealed the deal for me and I want him out.

• Top 36: “My Prerogative” This made me stand up and dance. Loved it.
• Week 1 Michael Jackson Songbook: “Beat It” I don’t even want to talk about this.
• Week 2 Country/Opry: “You are Always on My Mind” Amazing! Sounded great and really made it his own—and made me want to buy it. I mean if you can take a Willie Nelson song and do that to it…….WOW.
• Week 3 Mowtown: “Ooh Baby, Baby” Good vocals but BORING…. I couldn’t wait for it to end and then promptly forgot it when it was done.
• Week 4 Top Hits: “Caught Up“  Hot mess. Bad. No one can do Usher but Usher.

2. Lil Rounds:

Mostly because I just can never remember her performances. I am however, loving the new haircut she was rocking in Week 4. And I actually thought she sounded really good and was impressed with her skills, I just promptly forgot what she did.

• Week 1 Michael Jackson Songbook: “The Way You Make Me Feel” This made me want to cry. I love this song. I did not love Lil doing this song.
• Week 2 Country/Opry: “Independence Day” The judges weren’t feeling it but I was really impressed. I mean, she is way out of her genre and comfort zone but she worked it! And when she let go, she nailed it! Judges were right–she should have only done one verse, not two.
• Week 3 Mowtown: “Heat Wave” B-o-r-i-n-g. And very karaoke.
• Week 4 Top Hits: “I Surrender” I really thought she did a great job. The problem was that compared to everyone else, it was lacking energy and youthfulness. But vocally it was hot.

3. Scott McIntyre:

Any other season and I’d probably have him in my Top 3 but he’s up against some major competition and he’s been falling a bit flat for me. I know the judges loved him in Week 4 with his Billy Joel selection but I still found it cheesy and piano bar-esque. Which is a shame because I think this kid has mad talent and I have so much respect for him, his gift and his ability to overcome his blindness to be a star. But, yeah, not loving his renditions of these songs.

• Week 1 Michael Jackson Songbook: “Keep the Faith“
• Week 2 Country/Opry: “Wild Angels” Fantastic.
• Week 3 Mowtown: “You Can’t Hurry Love” I loved, loved, loved the way he started the song and really thought it was going to slow it down and it would have been so hot. But yeah…it ended up cheesy lounge/piano bar.
• Week 4 Top Hits: “Just the Way You Are” Jimmy Kimmel said it best, “what on earth did they do to the blind kid’s hair?”

Stuck in the middle with:

Adam Lambert:

Okay, obviously, this guy can sing. No one can deny that. But man, can he take things over the top and in a direction that I just don’t want to hear. Simon was absolutely right when he said that Adam should never to to Nashville after his rendition of “Ring of Fire” which was just…… I really, truly, do not have words for whatever the hell that was. Although it was quite fun to make my old roommate, who is a big Johnny Cash fan from Tennessee, sit there and listen/watch that performance.

Really hating this whole slicked-back hair “cleaned-up” image he has going on too. I may have hated the whole black-goth-stereotyped image he had going but this ain’t better. It’s just plain weird. I did love “Tracks of my Tears.” It actually reminded me of Daughtry and David Cook when they broke out of their rocker images and sang “To Really Love a Woman” and “Music of the Night,” respectively.

And then Week 4, he does “Play That Funky Music White Boy.” Are ya kidding me? I can barely rock out to that song at a bar after happy hour and lots of tequilla shots. I definitely don’t want to hear an imitation of it on TV. Bad plan.

• Week 1 Michael Jackson Songbook: “Black or White” It was kinda like watching Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler doing Michael Jackson. It was a bit odd.
• Week 2 Country/Opry: “Ring of Fire” You just kinda have to see it to believe it.
• Week 3 Mowtown: “Tracks of My Tears” If they hadn’t made him up to look like Elvis I think he would have had a moment. The look was sooooo distracting. Personally, I thought it was too much falsetto. Only so much I can handle.
• Week 4 Top Hits: “Play That Funky Music” Oy, don’t bother.

My Top 3

3. Allison Iraheta/Matt Giraud:

Matt

has seriously been growing me on me in the last few weeks. When he first debuted with all his super-bluesy pieces, I was indifferent. But then he’s been breaking out and just nailing it every week. The judges were not a fan of his cover of the Fray’s “You Found Me,” but I gotta say, yo man, that was da bomb!

They called it a copycat performance, which granted he did sing it like the song was originally intended. But, unlike most of the contestants when they copycat, Matt actually sounded just as good as Isaac Slade. I thought it was amazing.

• Week 1 Michael Jackson Songbook: “Human Nature” See, this is how to take an old song and do it up! This could have been serious Piano Bar Cheesy but he took it and kicked it up. Judges were saying he was like a new Justin Timberlake. And watching the performance again, I really was wowed.
• Week 2 Country/Opry: “So Small” This is when I took notice. This guy worked the piano and worked this song like you can not believe. My jaw pretty much hit the floor and I knew it was time to pay attention to Matt.
• Week 3 Mowtown: “Let’s Get it On” Who didn’t cringe when they announced what Matt was going to sing? I mean is there any way to do this without being karaoke? Apparently, there is because Mr. Matt sounded original, hot and not like the over-cliched song we all love so much! That was hot.
• Week 4 Top Hits: “You Found Me“

Allison

on the other hand, has been losing ground with me. I still love her and I still think that she is absolutely amazing and so beyond talented—but she has not been showing that in the last couple song choices (don’t get me started on the outfit choices, we all know her pink punk rocker ouftit was a hot mess). She rocked out to No Doubt in Week 4, but she tried to hard to be Gwen Stefani. And there can only be one Gwen. I was cool with Matt’s copycat, but Allison’s left me really wishing for more. I wish she had changed it up and just sang the hell out of it. Where is the girl that did Heart’s “Alone?”

• Week 1 Michael Jackson Songbook: “Give in to Me” She blew me away here. She worked that stage like a pro and sang the hell out of that song.
• Week 2 Country/Opry: “Blame it on your Heart” Um. I neither liked nor disliked. It just was. Vocals sounded great.
• Week 3 Mowtown: “Papa was a Rolling Stone” I think I just fast forwarded the performance. I didn’t care for it. The song just isn’t my cup of tea to begin with and I didn’t think it was something I wanted to hear her sing.
• Week 4 Top Hits: “Don’t Speak“

2. Danny Gokey

From day 1 auditions, I loved me some Danny Gokey. I picked him as my #1 right off the bat—just like I did Daughtry and Cook. And I still love him. But, unfortunately, he did get bumped from my #1 spot.

• Top 36: “Hero” It’s breathtaking and really worth listening to.
• Week 1 Michael Jackson Songbook: “P.Y.T.” It was cool. Wasn’t my fave. But it had some really great moments.
• Week 2 Country/Opry: “Jesus Take the Wheel” I can barely write my critique without crying. I had started crying before he even started singing when they showed clips of him practicing with Randy Travis. You just knew he was going to hit this out of the park, and it would be filled with power and emotion. Judges wish he had only done one verse instead of two but I really think it helped build the song.
• Week 3 Mowtown: “Get Ready” His voice still sounded really hot but my gosh, could he have picked a cheesier song? Did. Not. Like.
• Week 4 Top Hits: “What Hurts the Most” This song makes me cry under the best of conditions. Hearing him sing it, with his story……there are no words to describe just how amazing this really was. Geez, I get chills just thinking about it. And I know how hard it is to sing this song, I try in my car all the time. There are a lot of very syncopated words.

1. Kris Allen

At first, I thought Kris was just a little cutie pie. I liked him, but I didn’t think he was on the level of the other contestants. And boy was I wrong. I seriously, love this guy. I will download his Idol performances and will be at the store buying his CD the day it drops. Every week, this kid comes out and totally floors me. I keep expecting not to like it, and every week I’m loving it more and more. He is definitely the most improved on the show and he is gaining skill and confidence real fast.

His “Ain’t No Sunshine” is on par with David Cook’s “Hello” from last season. Both songs were very, very well known, pretty much out-of-date, cliched and “owned” by only one artist–meaning anyone else that tried to sing the song, sounded like a karaoke version of Bill Withers and Lionel Ritchie. But not these guys. They completely stripped it down, re-did it in a modern way and totally blew the song out of the water. It was un-real.

• Week 1 Michael Jackson Songbook: “Remember the Time” Okay if you give a cute boy a guitar, I’m going to eat it up. This wasn’t my fave performance of the night or anything but it was cool.
• Week 2 Country/Opry: “To Make You Feel My Love” I really was speechless. He blew me away. The whole time he seemed like such a young fun performer and he stripped away all that playfulness and here was this amazing soulful singer. Geez, I sound like Paula. But it’s so true. It was so amazing. I don’t know a female that didn’t fall in love with the kid during this song–young and old.
• Week 3 Mowtown: “How Sweet It Is” I loved the opening and really thought he was going to slow it down but he didn’t. And I liked his version but I have a hard time not hearing this song and immediately thinking about Heather and Oz from American Pie.
• Week 4 Top Hits: “Ain’t No Sunshine“

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Do you follow Idol, DWTS, or ANTM? Follow me on Twitter at StilettoSportsJ and tweet live during the shows with me!

And don’t forget, it’s baseball season and the NBA playoffs are about to tip off! Do you know everything you need to know about our sports dominated world? Check out all the Girl’s Guides to Sports available on Stiletto Sports

The Elite Top 8 of American Idol is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Last night was American Idol’s Top 13 Performances! The group picked from the Michael Jackson Songbook—love him or hate him there is no denying the musical past and skills of the King of Pop!

Yesterday I did a post about my insights (a bit delayed) into the contestants before their Top 13 performance. And then last night, I had a blast tweeting with everyone about their performances on Twitter! As I watched the show, I copied my tweets into a new blog post and added any other first impressions I could think of!
Here are my semi-coherent insights and thoughts!
*I did post some videos on here, some to show you the wardrobing style and some because they were so fab! But they are from YouTube and may get deleted! For all performances, see American Idol.com

The Top 13

Lil Rounds
Song Choice: “The Way You Make me Feel”

HATED her version. It is one of my fave Jackson songs and I didn’t like the bluesy tone and didn’t think her voice was working with her at all on it. Just not the right song for me, for her. The judges loved her which made me think I was crazy but my girls on Twitter agreed with me!

But I thought she looked fab and LOVED her shirt despite all the haters. It actually was prettyfashion forward–not 80s prom dress or southern Bridesmaid from hell—like some tweeters commented! I think she’ll do fine this week though and think she will totally kill it next week

Scott MacIntyre
Song Choice: Keep the Faith
I agree with Randy & Simon–thought it was safe and a bit blah. Good, but blah! His piano skills were just sick but I wished the song had a little more power or emotion to tie me to him.

Danny Gokey
Song Choice: P.Y.T
To quote myself from twitter “I really wanted to like Danny Gokey tonight because I love him but huh. huh. That was weird. Great vocals though!”
I do love him and think his voice is just sick! but the actual song….yet I am still a bit perplexed. Just didn’t really feel that song.
I am however, LOVING his style! Those glasses were hot

Michael Sarver
Song Choice: You Are A Not Alone
I really liked it! I wouldn’t download it and listen to it every day or anything. But I thought he did a great job and was clearly loving it which made me love it!
Totally agree with Simon! Not the best vocalist but his passion and love came through and he sang the hell out of that!

Jasmine Murray
Song Choice: “I’ll be There”
*Sigh* Just didn’t feel it. Had potential but it just didn’t feel right. Felt a bit flat and without passion

Kris Allen
Song Choice: Remember the Times
So so so so sad! I Love him. I love the song. I love boys playing guitar (see My Love For David Cook  & Daughtry). However, I did not love anything about this performance. If it is possible to be karaoke while playing guitar, he did it.
I was also horribly creeped out by Paula Abdul declaring Kris “adorable sexy”–even though he is. (I have also been asked to mention that “adorable sexy” is not grammatically correct. It should be adorably sexy)
Oh, and I totally agree with Simon–even if he was kidding—that Kris shouldn’t have showcased the wife in a video so early! It’s like Daughtry! Totally crushing! Hot musicians are not supposed to be married damnit!

Allison Iraheta
Song Choice: “Give into me”
(just the song, not video of performance but it’s good!)

This girl is just ridiculous! She could skip Idol and just make an album already and head on tour! And she’s only 16! I can’t say enough great things about her without gushing like a total idiot! My only critique is that it did sound a lot like her other song “Alone” but hey, that’s not a bad thing since that was badass too! I am not going to throw down and say I want her to win —because I feel it is far worse to win and be forced to produce a crap record then to come in oh, say, third or fourth and put out a really freaking good one—but I want her in my Top 3!

Anoop Desai & Jorge Nunez
Ok, so I was in my kitchen making dinner while these two sang and only heard the performances, I didn’t actually see them. But I found them so lackluster and flat to my ears that I didn’t even bother watching it back on the DVR. Very boring and blah–and in Anoop’s case cheesy as hell—which I think is a shame because I really liked both contestants.

Megan Joy Corkrey
Song Choice: Rockin’ Robin
Quoting myself from Twitter again: “MAKE HER STOP! Rockin Robin? WTF was that? She took Rockin Robin and beat the poor thing to death! I can not figure out what was up with that song choice! Totally didn’t fit her personality”
And before I dig farther, Simon jumped in and vocalized exactly what I was thinking with the quote of the night:

“What a stupid song choice! Vocals weren’t very good. Dancing was verging on ridiculous….If this was the first time anybody had seen this person without all the hype and you were the great hope for american idol they would think we’d all gone completely mad.”

If I didn’t make myself clear in yesterday’s post, I DO NOT LIKE HER.

Adam Lambert
Me: “WOW. He rocked the hell outta “Black or White!” That was original and JUST SICK! He was da bomb dogg!” I totally agree that he could go and drop an album right now and be #1.
But…….
For some reason, I still don’t heart him. Me, the girl who worships Daughtry and Cook and is a secret rocker at heart. I think it’s the rock image styling that’s going on. It’s a little too cliche and over the top for me. I said it yesterday—not a a fan of the uber-black attire–and it was nice to see the blue tonight but still felt like 80’s rocker. I know it’s an image but it turns me off. I would totally love him if he found his own style and not a played out over-stereotyped cliche,

Matt Giraud
Song Choice: “Human Nature”
It started great. I was totally wowed because I just didn’t expect him to be good. I found myself holding my breath the whole time hoping that it wouldn’t go flat! And it  just got better and better. His falsetto was a total shock and impressive. His piano skills were hot!
It really sucks that he came after Adam because I really enjoyed his performance and I think the judges would have been wowed if he was earlier in the show.

Alexis Grace
Song Choice: Dirty Diana
“DAMN! Just like Adam she rocked the hell out of that song! I don’t even know that song but I was definitely feeling her.” What did Kara say? Alexis is “Naughty but I liked it!” Thought she looked fabulous and totally want the necklace! I think the judges came down hard on her. I think her attitude made that song totally work for her and I was very impressed! Stupid Adam ruined it for everyone else!

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Idol Top 13 Recaps, Rants & Raves is a post from: Stiletto Sports