9. Scott MacIntyre: (Last week: No. 10) Scores more laughs per minute than any other contestant this season — those jokes about his pink pants last week killed, and we loved his "We can move it closer" quip when Paula insisted that his piano was separating him from the audience on Grand Ole Opry Night — but vocally, dude just doesn’t have the chops. Honestly, how many of you can remember what he’s sung the last three weeks without the help of a Google search?
8. Megan (Joy) (Corkrey): (Last week: No. 
Kind of shocked Stevie Wonder didn’t loudly condemn her hate crime against "For Once in My Life" when he had the mic during last week’s results show. And unlike her wonky cover of "Walkin’ After Midnight," Megan couldn’t hide behind the specter of "influenza B." Needs to find a way to translate her perfectly fine rehearsal footage to the big Idol stage, or else, like a McDonald’s special deal, she’ll be with the show "for a limited time only."
7. Lil Rounds: (Last week: No. 7) The judges keep telling us she’s one of this season’s strongest singers, but her utterly flat take on "(Your Love Is Like a) Heat Wave" and those imperfect verses on "Independence Day" seem to indicate otherwise. What’s more, her shocked, not entirely gracious response to constructive criticism could make her fans a little less enthusiastic about speed-dialing. Can’t survive on early hype alone for too much longer.
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6. Matt Giraud: (Last week: No. 5) His Motown Night cover of "Let’s Get It On" was perhaps his strongest live performance this season. Unfortunately, the fact that he was forced to go first, combined with the fact that he was up against fellow blue-eyed soulsters like Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, and Michael Sarver, led to a surprising appearance in the bottom 3. On the plus side, his flirt with elimination gives a jolt to his speed-dialing fans. On the flip side, it may cause some to consider him one of the weak antelopes straggling behind the herd.
5. Anoop Desai: (Last week: No. 6) The early favorite who plummetedto the bottom after a woeful "Beat It" on Michael Jackson night hasstaged a two-week rally on the strength of an awesome "Always on MyMind" and a pretty good "Ooo Baby Baby." Still, we’d suggest a styleupgrade — perhaps a buzz cut and a perfectly cut suit — to jolt theviewing audience to the fact that he’s a true contender, not just amidpack player.
4. Danny Gokey: (Last week: No. 3) The endless stream of praisefrom the judges’ panel ended with his somewhat clumsy rendition of "GetReady," which could mean they’re turning on the early front-runner, ormight just represent an attempt on their part to appear "fair andbalanced." Whatever the case, the polarizing personality hasn’t missedmany notes in the competition — save for those so-so verses in "JesusTake the Wheel." Now it’s his task to start proving he’s got theoriginality and freshness to succeed in a post-Idol world.
3. Kris Allen: (Last week: No. 2) Doesn’t ever get much credit from the judges, but he hasn’t hit a bum note since reaching the top 12. What’s more, his one-two punch of an understated "To Make You Feel My Love" and a thoroughly charming "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" has him one breakout performance away from raising the flat-ironed hair on the back of Adam’s neck. Still, will Simon’s dig about his alleged lack of swagger hurt him with voters?
2. Allison Iraheta: (Last week: No. 4) Found herself blasphemously close to elimination during a Top 11 week in which she performed "Blame It on Your Heart" with power and pluckiness. But undeterred, she roared back with an emotionally gripping "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" that drove the judges — well, the judges who weren’t busy playing with crayons — to the brink of ecstasy. Big question is: Are the producers on her side now, or was that Motown Week pimp spot the only bone she’ll get thrown?
1. Adam Lambert: (Last week: No. 1) Oh, come on now, you didn’t think he was gonna drop from the No. 1 position after that riveting, emotionally devastating cover of "Tracks of My Tears," did you?
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Predict who goes home on ‘Idol’ next week!
Comments (1-15) of 212 Add your comment
Adam- Over-rated, cringe-worthy vocals? Absurdly self-indulgent stage presence? I don’t get the obsession viewers have with this deranged individual no matter how brilliant his range may be.
Allison- The girl’s got chops, but sadly she won’t last too long. I’d like to see her go far based on her pure talent
Kris- My favorite male contestant aside from Anoop. More stage presence, more personality, more vocal ability than Matt and Danny.
Danny- Like Adam, an over-rated, self-indulgent contestant who can sing but isn’t that great.
Anoop- My favorite from Day 1, my favorite today. But I agree a style upgrade is needed.
Matt- The Viva La Vida incident will NEVER be forgiven in my eyes
Lil- Her potential is completely fading as showcased during two disastrous weeks: Country and Motown. Hopefully viewers will vote Allison instead of her, due to Lil’s over rated vocals.
Megan- GET LADY CAW CAW OUT
Scott- So sweet! EW, Megan is worse.
But no Scott doesn’t belong here.
I would agree with that ranking. Adam in heads and shoulders about the rest and Allison is the best female. I think I would put Lil at 5 and Anoop at 6.
Being in the music field all of my I would agree that Adam is #1 and Allison #2. It sounds like Bailey is tone deaf.
Anoop is still my favorite and the only reason I’m watching. And no buzz cut for Anoop.
Agree with your rankings. Adam is definately the leader of this pack. Plus, many of the people who’ve worked with him in musical theater say his Idol performances so far have only scratched the surface of what he’s capable of. If that’s true, I feel sorry for the rest of them. It’s quickly becoming “The Adam Lambert Show”.
Seriously, Slezak–I am not getting your Kris love. You talk about how much you love Fantasia–a singer who “throws her soul down on the ground”–and that’s what you’re starting to like about Adam–but you love and adore Kris, Mr. Milquetoast? Mr. Just-One-Of-Dozens? Seriously? Not unique, not interesting, not stand out. I can barely remember him by the end of the show.
Musiclover, I respect your choices, but Allison is my 2nd favorite too! Are we really that different? Yes, I admit that Adam is extremely talented, possibly the most talented in the competition. The rankings were purely based on my own music taste, not exactly on who I think is the most “original.” I think with Adam, you either hate him or love him, and I just happen to choose the latter. But like I said, Allison’s my 2nd favorite too. I’m sorry if I offended you?
Musiclover, I respect your choices, but Allison is my 2nd favorite too! Are we really that different? Yes, I admit that Adam is extremely talented, possibly the most talented in the competition. The rankings were purely based on my own music taste, not exactly on who I think is the most “original.” I think with Adam, you either hate him or love him, and I just happen to choose the latter. But like I said, Allison’s my 2nd favorite too. I’m sorry if I offended you?
I completely agree with these rankings. Adam and Allison are in a league of their own.
I completely agree with your list this week! An Adam/Allison finale would totally rock. Kris should be up there too. Adam was stunning this week and I’m glad we got a look at this side of him. He said he was very nervous at being so vulnerable and thinks he only made it this far on showcasing mad vocals. However, I still think with Idol being what it is, that he won’t make it past 5th. With his success, the gay/flamboyant/drag/too gay/not gay enough/hasn’t announced it on the show so pretending to be in the closet/trying to not be flamboyant/sounds like a girl conversations are heating up and people are itching to “get at him”. He says he has developed a thick skin, but he’s really a softie and this will take it’s toll. I see him reverting back to the OTT Ring of Fire alter ego that worked well in Hollywood for him and that he can hide behind yet won’t win him American Idol.
Kris Allen at No.3, Slezak? Really? I really like Kris but saying he hasn’t hit a bum note since the top 12 is a bit OTT. He’s a nice guy, with a nice voice and a charming personality. I’m still waiting to see what he can really deliver.
Danny Gokey is still way overrated. I’d swap poll positions between him and Anoop and put Anoop at #4 at least. Sure, he tanked with Beat It, but his last two performances have been great. Danny’s on a downhill slide.
Matt is still struggling to connect with the TV audience. I don’t know what it is, but he doesn’t do it for me.
I’m still on the fence about Alison. Like I always say, she’s got the pipes but does she have the maturity? I haven’t seen it yet and hope she shows us something new this week.
**In my last comment, I accidentally said I loved Adam! Couldn’t be further from the truth- guy’s talented, but not to my musical taste.
Yeah, it killed me to admit Adam did a beautiful, nuanced version of “Tracks,” but the boy kept his tongue in his mouth and sang the heck out of that song, instead of screaming on key. Still, Allison is more consistently awesome–not stagey and posing, as Adam usually is. She was, as she always is, just naturally tough and soulful. I’d love to see her win.
Personally, I think Adam just had an identity crisis. He completely changed his look, and sang a completely different kind of song. I think that last week will be seen as a huge mistake. (Like the mistake by Ace Young when he wore a pony tail and was promptly eliminated)
Bailey, Ita with everything you said. Anoop is ‘the only one for me’.