10. Scott MacIntyre: (Last week: No. 10) Continues to rule the roost when it comes to personality — "We can move it closer," said Scott, when Paula insisted that his piano was separating him from the audience — but his lackluster spin on Michael Jackson’s obscure "Keep the Faith" and off-pitch cover of "Wild Angels" haven’t indicated he’s an American Idol champ in the making.
9. Michael Sarver: (Last week: No. 8) No one can say the affable roughneck doesn’t have some talent — not after his heartfelt, tuneful "You Are Not Alone." But his out-of-breath, extreme-karaoke cover of "Ain’t Going’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up)" exposed his limitations. Has neither pure vocal firepower or true originality — and you usually need one or the other (or preferably both) to win the Idol crown.
8. Megan (Joy) (Corkrey): (Last week: No. 11) The Lady CawCaw became the Lady Cough-Cough after the judges excused her iffy rendition of "Walkin’ After Midnight" because of her bout with "Influenza B." And while we far preferred her whimsical take on the Jackson 5′s ”Rockin’ Robin" the week prior, unless she irons out her ongoing pitch wrinkles, it’ll be a miracle for her to crack the top 5.
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7. Lil Rounds: (Last week: No. 7) Lil knows how to belt out the big notes, but as Randy (surprisingly) pointed out, the confident young mother needs to work just as hard on the verses as she does on her choruses. After three live performances, Lil has yet to deliver a truly stellar performance, and that means Motown Week could just as easily be her shining moment as it could be her Waterloo.
6. Anoop Desai: (Last week: No. 9) All together now: "ANOOOOOP!" That’s right, folks, the R&B crooner who floundered badly on his Michael Jackson cover came back with a vengeance on (of all the themes in the world) Grand Ole Opry night. Yeah, his "Always on My Mind" wasn’t exactly country, but it was sung with magnetism and nuance — and it put this early fan favorite right back in contention.
5. Matt Giraud: (Last week: No. 6) Idol loves a slow build, and each week since The "Viva La Vida" Incident, Matt’s been picking up momentum, capped off by his touching performance of Carrie Underwood’s "So Small" on Grand Ole Opry night. Yeah, his performances tend to get a little riff-rific, but his voice is distinctive, and he’s an intriguing candidate for folks who love longshots.
4. Allison Iraheta: (Last week: No. 2) Inexplicably found herself in the bottom three during a Top 11 week in which she performed "Blame It on Your Heart" with power and pluckiness. Which raises the question: Despite the continued success of Kelly Clarkson, why do Idol voters seem allergic to speed-dialing for female rocker contestants? Wake up, America! This girl is the real deal!
3. Danny Gokey: (Last week: No. 3) The judges flipped for his "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," but Randy and Kara were a tiny bit more critical of his "Jesus Take the Wheel," which wobbled during the verses, and got overbaked on the chorus. (Maybe he should’ve sung "The Spectacles of Many Colors"?) Motown Week should be right in his wheelhouse, but he needs to heed the judges’ constructive criticism to avoid a backslide.
2. Kris Allen: (Last week: No. 5) His understated "To Make You Feel My Love" was the highlight of Grand Ole Opry week, and combined with his jaunty, guitar-playing "Remember the Time," it helped him score an all-important "you could do well in this competition" from Simon. Add his obvs heartthrob appeal and you’ve got a legit contender for the whole enchilada.
1. Adam Lambert: (Last week: No. 1) Whether you loved or hated his sitar-infused, hyper-theatrical, sexytimes-with-the-camera rendition of "Ring of Fire," chances are it evoked a strong feeling and got you talking. (Then again, you could’ve said the same for Constantine Maroulis at this point in season 4.) Still, add Adam’s undeniable buzz to the fact that his "(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction" and "Black or White" sent the judges into fits of rapture, and he remains the front-runner — for now, anyway.
I agree, except I would put Allison ahead of Gokey on my personal list.
Put the GO in GOkey!!!
Put the CORK in CORKrey!!!!
Good analysis. Adam has too much buzz that probably can’t be killed off. I like Allison too, but for some reason Kris caught my attention for the first time last week. I think he’s the sleeper Idol who could very well end up in the top two.
I hope to some degree we have a rocker versus rocker finale. Allison versus Adam would be awesome. But, America probably will keep putting that god-awful Danny Gokey into the finale. Anoop, Michael, Matt, and Kris are cool too. Hope the next to go is Scott. BORES ME TO TEARS!
HEy Slezak
We know you read Vote For The Worst but now you’re just plain plagiarizing them. They coined both terms Caw Caw and Cough Cough.
You’re critique of Megan is very karaoke bro.
How can you even compare Constantine with this Adam guy. Constantine is as straight as can be and this guy is as gay as can be. Adam’s look into the camera was certainly not to entice a lady; more likely a gentleman. How can a female think this guy is sexy. Ladies, the “man” prefers men.
So… I’m confused… because i just don’t get matt giraud… was his performance really that great last week?
and i actually really liked megan. i genuinely would buy an album made by her… =P
i love how the readers love allison too!!! she’s #2, for the second week in a row, i think. i heart her, go iraheta!!!
Anoop has always been my favorite and still is. I don’t see why everybody believes it’s a lock for Adam Lambert to win. People, despite his fans, he’s got a LOT of haters, which puts him in the same spot as Danny Gokey: overrated favorite who I don’t think will win. As far as I’m concerned, there is no sure bet for a winner, or maybe even a Top 5. Michael and Megan Joy need to go, Scott still has a couple of weeks left on him. Anoop is awesome. And mark my words: I WILL NEVER FORGIVE MATT GIRAUD FOR RUINING VIVA LA VIDA!!!!!!!!! Poor song choice (as in the best song ever horrible, cringe-worthy, pitchy vocals? Trust me, EW, the “Viva la Vida” incident, as you referred to it as, is far from forgotten or forgiven. However, Matt does have a shot in this, as does Anoop, Danny, Adam, and I believe Alexis would have gotten further had it not been for her recent elimination. Michael and Megan Joy SERIOUSLY NEED TO GO. Lil’s buzz is fading; her Martina McBride performance was bad. ANOOP DESAI!
Alexis going home while Sarver and Confused Dandelion go on tour?
Pathetic!
But really this show at times has been a popularity contest for men since the start. Until the later rounds some women go home early while men hungry tweens power vote for side jaw/no upper teeth Kris. Nice job Americuhhhh.
Im rooting for Matt and Alison at this point. Megan, Anoop, Lil and Danny are closely behind while Sarver, Scott and Side-jaw can take a flying leap into a pile of virginal teens.
To Kay: What does it matter who they are singing to? Neither one is going to ask you out on a date.
The difference between Adam and Constantine?
1. Adam’s vocal range
2. Adam takes on a stage persona,and when he walks off, he is humble and gracious. Constantine carried that persona off the stage.
3 Adam’s vocal range
4. Adam’s vocal range
5. Adam’s vocal range
Adam belongs in the number one spot, he is far and away the best vocalist on the show and the most entertaining. The gay remarks, really? grow up, nobody cares about his sex life. He is the most exciting person on the show. He is also bringing in a new audience who tuned out a long time ago because of the same boring crap.
Slezak’s been calling Megan The Lady CawCaw for weeks. Also, learn the difference between “you’re” and “your.” That is all.
Very strange that there are only 3 ladies in the top 10. Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre definitely need to be the next two contestants to go. They are boring and just not that good.
And hopefully, voters will soon come to their senses and “put the GO in GOkey!”
I don’t know what’s up with Season 8, but this year’s Top 10 as a whole doesn’t do anything for me. Last year I was LOVING David Cook and the gang. This group doesn’t hold a candle to them in talent or charisma, so I’m bored. The only one I’m truly loving is Allison, probably because she such a diamond in the rough. If I hear “package artist” one more time…!!!