We are down to the top 9 tonight. I think there are so many great songs for the Idols to choose from tonight. I guess it will come down to them picking the right song. We shall see!

The night started with Aaron Kelly. He sang ‘The Long and Winding Road’. I think Aaron does have a good voice for someone his age, and Kara was right, he does have a great tone to his voice. I think this performance was probably one of Aaron’s worst. I think he was all over the place and he really struggled. I think Aaron might be in trouble.

Up next was Katie Stevens. She sang ‘Let It Be’. I think the song started pretty good. She did have a couple little spots. Overall I think she did well with the song. She was able to hit some high notes and this was much better than her last couple of performances. I don’t know what Simon was talking about, I didn’t hear country in that song at all!!  I however don’t know what she was wearing! Her outfit just did not go with what she was singing or the mood of the song. She was cute, but kinda a crazy choice. At this point in the show, I think Katie will be safe tomorrow.

Andrew Garcia sang next. He sang ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’. I will say first that I thought it was a strange arrangement of the song. Andrew also had a sort of Buddy Holly thing going on tonight with the hair and the glasses! Andrew did sound good singing the song, but it was just kinda strange. I don’t think of that song with horns and trumpets and the what not. Andrew can sing, but I think he could have chosen a much better song. I think he’ll be safe.

Michael Lynche sang fourth tonight. He sang ‘Eleanor Rigby’. For me the beginning was a little rough. I think he got better as he got into the song. Michael has a powerful voice and sounds really good on the high notes. I didn’t think this was going to be a real great song choice for him, but overall I think he pulled it off. I think he gets stronger and stronger each week.

Next we heard from Crystal Bowersox. She chose ‘Come Together’. I don’t care what anyone says,Crystal is the reason to watch this season. She could sing an encyclopedia and it would sound good. I could hear her version of this song on the radio right now. The only thing I could say negative about tonight was that she really seemed like she was concentrating on the guitar tonight, like she wasn’t sure she really knew how to play the song. Her voice was awesome and I think it was a great song choice for her.

Tim Urban was next on stage. He sang ‘All My Lovin’. Tim has a certain look about him. He kinda reminds me of a Davy Jones or something. I knowanyone under 30 will have to look up who that is! Maybe it’s the hair!! I think Tim did a decent job tonight. I almost agree with Randy that Tim is almost in his own category. He has his good moments and bad moments, but just isn’t in the same league as the other singers. He’s just a good looking kid that can kinda sing.

Casey James sang next. He sang ‘Jealous Guy’. Casey was sporting some very curly hair tonight!.I think someone went crazy with the crimping iron! I think Casey sang that song pretty well, but it was very slooowww. I found it to be a little boring. He had a couple pitch problems. He’s a talented guy, but I’ve grown stale watching him. I’m really wondering if he can just be on the stage and sing without a guitar in his hand and I’m really tired of hearing about how good looking he is. I know there are a lot of people that like him, maybe it’s just me.

Siobhan Magnus was eighth tonight. She sang ‘Across The Universe’. This was a very low key performance for Siobhan tonight. I continue to say she is an odd duck with crazy hair styles and clothing choices, but this is supposed to be about her singing ability. I actually liked this performance from her. She did have a couple places she was off key and she did have her high note in there but it didn’t come out like she was screaming it like it has in the past. I think she showed pretty good control over the song and kept it tender. I agree with Randy that is was a little bit tired, but it was kinda soothing.

Lee Dewyze ended out the night. He sang ‘Hey Jude’. I think the beginning was a little rough, but I thought the chorus was really good. It definitely got better as he got into it. He is also looking more comfortable on stage. He looked like he was having fun tonight. Lee has grown on me and I like him more and more as the weeks progress. I have no doubt that he’s going to stick around.

I think tomorrow night’s bottom 3 will be Tim Urban, Katie Stevens, and either Siobhan or Aaron.

There is going to be plenty of fluff tomorrow night with Rhianna, David Archuletta, and Jason Derulo(never heard of him). Tune in to Fox Providence tomorrow night at 9pm for the results show. 

Tonight the contestants had a huge selection of music to choose from with Billboards number 1′s and they had the “pleasure” of having Miley Cyrus as their mentor. I do want to give a shout out to the security guard sitting over Simon’s left shoulder all night. Hey Will!  Smile more, you’re on camera!!

Lee Dewyze started the night tonight singing “The Letter”. I actually liked Lee Dewyze tonight. I think he is getting more comfortable on stage and it shows. I think he can still continue to work on his presence and he can only grow stronger. I think he has a good voice even if he does remind me a bit of David Cook. I expect Lee to stick around.

I had hopes for Paige Miles tonight singing a Phil Collins song that I normally enjoy. This song was just not for her though. She was breathy and off key most of the song. I think she is in real danger of being in the bottom 3 tomorrow night. Paige has a big voice, but has yet to really show us that she deserves to be in the top 12. I agree with Simon that it’s almost like she has stopped even trying to be competitive.

Tim Urban chose a Queen song tonight with “A Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. I think Tim’s voice was ok tonight, but he still looks uncomfortable on stage. When he starts trying to move around the stage his voice is compromised. I kind of equating it to not being able to walk and chew gum. The young girls in the audience are in love with Tim, but I think his cute boy looks that have so far kept him in the competition, are about to run out. On Tim I agree with Ellen, it was corny!

Aaron Kelly sang an Aerosmith song tonight “Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”  He was the latest contestant to come into a Tuesday night with Laryngitis. Overall I think he did all right for not having much of a speaking voice. Kara had the gall to say that he had the “best song of the night”, but we had only heard 2 other people. I will agree that he was better than the 2 previous singers. I’m not exactly sure where his fate is going to fall tomorrow night, but he will probably stay around.

Cyrstal Bowersox

Crystal Bowersox was up next. She sang a Janis Joplin song tonight. I have to say Crystal is really the only reason, for me personally, to keep watching this season. This girl is so amazingly natural on stage. She is truly what American Idol stands for, finding great talent and giving them the stage to show the awesome talent that exists in America. She is going to be a star no matter what happens on the show. If you can’t tell…I love this girl!!

Big Mike, Michael Lynche, sang “When A Man Loves A Woman”. I think he really did a good job. It was a very sweet, soft song and I think it was a good song choice by him. I think Mike was able to show off his voice without over-doing it. I think he managed to stay pretty much on key and the falsetto at the end was a nice touch. I don’t agree with Kara saying it was boring, but I did agree with Simon. If they had really softened up the presentation with just Mike on the stage with a piano, it could have been a pretty great performance. I don’t think Mike has anything to worry about tomorrow night.

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Andrew Garcia sang “Heard It Through The Grapevine”. Before singing the song I thought it was a bizarre song choice with all the other options out there, and after hearing the song, I still think that. I was just a blah performance for me. I think so many people had high hopes after his “Straight Up” during Hollywood week and I think many people are disappointed in him. I really think he has failed to deliver the goods. Andrew has a good voice, but tonight was not his night at all. Randy said it all…it was a horrible song choice.

Katie Stevens sang next with “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie. Having met Katie I have been a fan of hers since day one. I don’t think her performance was spectacular tonight, but think she did an ok job. She did sound a bit nasally tonight. Katie does have a strong voice, but I don’t think she’s quite up to a Fergie song and it might have just been too big for her. I do hope she stays in the competition. For her young age, she really is talented.

Casey James was up next with “The Power of Love”  Casey really is the “rocker” this year..or at least he tries to be. I do think he has a good voice, but I’ve have yet to get a real connection from him. He still seems so stiff and afraid to take advantage of that huge stage. I think he needs to get away from the guitar and just rock it out on the stage. His performance was just all right for me and I don’t agree at all with Kara saying that he is “on another level”. Simon really hit it right on tonight. I don’t think Casey will go tomorrow night, but do think he days are shorter rather than longer in the competition.

Didi Benami sang “You’re No Good” I think Didi has one of the most unique voices in the competition, but has yet to really shine. Didi kind of reminds me of Taylor Swift. I think she could make a good CD, but seems to struggle when singing live. Tonight’s performance was pretty boring for me and not really memorable. She was below the key for a lot of the song. I think Didi might be in trouble tomorrow night.

Siobhan Magnus closed the night with “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder. Siobhan has really continued to wow me. She has a big voice behind that quirky figure. She did give herself away tonight as being a true New Englander by saying “wicked cool”. I think she was trying more tonight by working the stage a bit more than usual. I will also say that I look forward to the hairstyle she’s going to come out with each week. She kind of reminds me of Sanjaya there! I think she gave another good performance but wonder if she is just throwing in those crazy high notes because the judges loved the one a couple of weeks ago. Tonight she kind of screamed the note instead of singing it. Tonight was good, but not her best. I’m not sure what is going to happen with her tomorrow.

My prediction is that Paige Miles will go home tomorrow night, and deserves to go home. I think the bottom 3 will be Paige, Tim and possibly Didi or Andrew.

So it was the girls chance to impress us tonight. I think some of them accomplished that and some of them really disappointed…again.

Let me start with my favorite of the night…and that goes to Crystal Bowersox!!

I was so glad to see she actually made the show tonight and hope she continues to feel better. Crystal started the show and sang ‘Long As I Can See the Light’ and I really think she did an awesome job! Simon told her “we’ve got a really serious artist here” and I couldn’t agree more. She makes performing on that stage look so effortless. She knows who she is and doesn’t stray from her true self. If Crystal is not with us next week there is something really wrong with the voting population. I’m just saying is all!!

On a side note, as someone who works in television and knows a little about the “Idol Engine” I have no problems in saying that FOX and the folks at Idol absolutely played up her illness and wanted us to believe that she wouldn’t be back tonight. I am not downplaying her diabetes and do believe she was truely ill, but in television is all about the ratings. They leak the news that she might be out of the competition and of course viewers tune in to see the outcome. It’s a smart play and every show on television use the same ploys to pull in those rating numbers!

Siobhan Magnus of Barnstable, MA

I think my second favorite of the night has to go to Siobhan Magnus. She was the last to perform and sang ‘Think’ by Aretha Franklin. I totally agree with Simon when he says she is a funny little thing. This girl is quirky, but when she opens her mouth I am like…WOW! She has an incredible voice with such a huge range. She absolutely killed on the power note at the end of the song. The girl from New England is making us(or at least me) proud!

There were 2 girls that really stood out to me as the worst of the evening. Haeley Vaughn sang ‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus. I really liked this girl when she first auditioned. She is young and so full of life. Her smile can really make the day brighter. That being said, she is totally out of her league in this competition. She was almost completely off key the entire time she was singing. I also think her stage presence is really lacking. She just doesn’t know what to do with herself when she’s on stage. I think she has potential, but just needs to grow as an artist.

My other least favorite was Lacey Brown. She sang ‘Kiss Me’ by Sixpence None The Richer. I think she had a horrible week last week, and she did nothing this week to improve on that. I think she was really trying to please the judges by going with a song that Kara recommended. She had pitch problems through the entire song and there were points where she sounded out of breath. She is a cute girl, but again I think she is just out of her league.

I was really looking forward to Katie Stevens and Paige Miles this week.

I think for being 16 years old Katie Stevens really has a great voice. She sang ‘Put Your Records On’ by Corrine Bailey  Rae. I do think this was a better song choice for her this week. It was something a little more current and had a fun side to it. That being said, I think the song was a little safe for her and didn’t give her a chance to really showcase her voice. I also think the ending of the song was pretty rough for her. She really had problems with the pitch on the last few notes. I’m am betting though that she will be here next week.

Paige Miles is someone I have liked from the beginning. She is a beautiful and girl and has a great big powerful voice. I think her song selection last week and tonight has not helped her at all. I do think however that tonight’s choice of ‘Walk Away’ by Kelly Clarkson was better than last week. She was able to have fun on stage and show her personality but that song didn’t really give her a chance to showcase that big voice. She did hit a couple of big notes, but overall the  performance was lacking.

So, those are my thoughts. I’m not going to break down every performance. The other girls Didi Benami, Michelle Delamor, Lilly Scott, & Katelyn Epperly gave OK performances, but nothing that really stood out to me.  Overall I think the girls might have a slight edge on the boys at this point.

My picks for those going home this week are:   Haeley Vaughn, Lacey Brown, Tim Urban and John Park.

So this is my first post as an “Idol Blogger”!  I figure that I spend all week talking about Idol, why not write it down too?!

So we are about a half hour away from tonights live show and there are rumblings that Crystal Bowersox fate is up in the air. There is no official word from American Idol or FOX on the status of Crystal’s health. Ken Warwick, Idol’s Executive Producer, told Ryan Seacrest earlier today that if Crystal cannot return to the competition tonight that she may be out and that only one girl would go home on Thursday. Mr. Warwick went on to say  ”You go through all your life singing, hoping, waiting for your break, then this comes along and it will go sour, which is an awful shame”.

On a personal note, I’m really hoping that Crystal is doing better and will be able to continue. I think she is one of the strongest performers on the girls side of the competition. She has great stage presence and really knows who she is as an artist. I can definitely see her going very far in the race to be the next American Idol.

Here’s to hoping that the girls put on a great show tonight. There has yet to be someone that really blows me away. Maybe tonight will be the night!!