7. Lil Rounds: (Last week: No. 7) Finally got negative feedback from Simon & Co. after a Tina Turner impersonation that wouldn’t pass muster at a small-town drag bar. After five weeks on the big Idol stage, the woman who the judges claim is one of the season’s strongest singers (seriously?) has been unflinchingly flat ("I Surrender"), unpleasantly manic ("Heat Wave"), or just plain forgettable (Michael Jackson week). With her desperation beginning to show, she has virtually no chance to take home the season 8 crown.
6. Anoop Desai: (Last week: No. 6) As bad as he was on "Caught Up" and "Beat It," he’s delivered the vocal goods on "Always on My Mind" and last week’s inventive, original "True Colors." Problem is, the inconsistent trajectory has left ‘Noop Dawg with an unstable fanbase, resulting in bottom-three encounters for two weeks running. Needs some kind of dramatic statement — a successful uptempo number, a radical style upgrade, a breakout interview moment even — to make America take a second look/listen, and convince them a vote for Anoop is not a wasted one.
5. Danny Gokey: (Last week: No. 4) Not exceedingly popular among EW.com readers (he only got 8 percent of votes in last week’s Idol Power poll) but apparently somebody’s voting for the guy, as he hasn’t made a single bottom-three appearance, despite an overbaked "What Hurts the Most" and a "Stand By Me" that was a melted cheddar slice away from dripping with cheese. Needs to prove he’s capable of subtlety and originality if he wants to make those early predictions of a Gokey-Lambert finale a reality.
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4. Matt Giraud: (Last week: No. 5) Like Anoop, he’s suffered from an uneven run over the course of his seven live Idol performances, but last week’s delectable "Part Time Lover" was the kind of game-changing moment that proved the hat-clad soulster might have some relevance in a post-Idol world. That said, anything resembling "Viva La Vida" or "You Found Me" in the next two weeks, and Matt could easily see his "Idol journey" come to a premature end.
3. Kris Allen: (Last week: No. 2) Even Carrie Underwood and David Cook had off weeks during their Idol runs, so we’re willing to forgive Kris’s lame, oddly arranged "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" during "Songs From the Year You Were Born" Week. And apparently, America felt the same way, as the season 8 heartthrob avoided the bottom three. Still, the guy who wowed us with "Ain’t No Sunshine" and "To Make You Feel My Love" needs to get back on track pronto; he’s presumably gunning for the same voting bloc as Danny and Matt, and he really can’t afford defections from his bandwagon at this crucial point in the competition.
2. Allison Iraheta: (Last week: No. 3) She’s been in the bottom three for two of the last four weeks, but her gut-wrenching "I Can’t Make You Love Me" may have been a turning point in convincing Idol viewers she’s the real deal. Then again, the Infuriating Mr. Cowell raised the specter of the charmingly kooky teen having a "personality" issue — which might be code for Simon saying he can’t believe she’s threatening his pre-ordained Adam-Lil-Danny final three. How far can she get without Simon love? We may find out between now and the end of April.
1. Adam Lambert: (Last week: No. 1) After a merely mortal "Play That Funky Music," the long-standing front-runner returned to his otherworldly heights with a haunting, moving "Mad World." With six weeks remaining, it would almost take a case of massive self-implosion (or self-sabotage) to stop his march to the finale. Here’s hoping he doesn’t test that theory with a selection off the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" soundtrack on Tuesday!
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I cannot STAND Adam Lambert. I don’t get all the love. Apparently, you either really love him or you really hate him. And I have to say, I have given him a handful of seconds each week to wow me, but all he does is trigger the fast-forward button on the remote.
I can’t STAND Anoop. Dude just doesn’t have it. Bye bye.
Gentleman of American Idol…
This year there’s no doubt who the winner is..
Adam Lambert…
Top two Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta…
The most talented performers in AI 8 year history…
RC, I think Adam is completely contrived. Every move is calculated by Adam and his team of advisers (whomever they may be) for maximum effectiveness. But last week, he proved he has chops beneath it all, and I bought his MP3 — my first download of the season. So, even skeptics can be converted.
matt’s part time lover is a tad bit overrated. that last power falsetto into a growl was terrible. that being said, matt should still be at number 5 and gokey at number 4. while danny has indeed been underwhelming the past two weeks, he’s got tons of devoted fans. it sucks that anoop is still struggling to find his ground. i hope he cracks the top 5. i’ll be content with that.
yea i mean mad world was just…insane!!! it was soo brilliant that i dont think it could get any better. i cant wait to see what adam will come up with this week!!!
I think Anoop’s voice and performances are so much better than Lil’s and Danny’s……Lil is just boring, and Danny sounds like a broken record….always the same….nothing original. I really don’t see why the judges keep pimping them so much! And, I think last week’s performance by Anoop seemed the most relaxed one he has done yet….like he finally shook off all the crap the judges have said to him and just sang from the heart! He definitely should stay a few more weeks.
I respect your opinion (to each his own) but I have the exact opposite reaction to Adam. I cannot for life of me understand how you could NOT like him. From the consistently polite, gentlemanly way he conducts himself, to his incredible goosebump inducing vocals and riveting stage presence, he wows me every week in those few seconds when you are reaching for the remote.
i want an adam/anoop final, but im probably not gonna get that. my second chocie would be adam/allison, with adam winning it all. vote ppl!!!
I really love Anoop. He just needs some time to develop and I’m willing to wait. I wonder who is voting for Danny since I never see any support for him on this website? Just curious.
I actually think Simon sees Allison as a moneymaker, that’s why he wants her to connect with the audience more.
Adam/Allison finale please…either way both will be successful after AI is over.
Only in your twisted, overheated mind is Danny 5th! He gets the most votes every week and will win this thing…while Miss Lambert can retire back to his bedroom and cry on his perfumed pillow.
I have also wondered about Danny and his supposed front runner status. Not one person I know either at work or home or just in casual conversation EVER mentions Danny as a favorite. It has never happened and I’m an avid AI fan, so I talk about it a lot. I find that really strange. And I’m with you, Anoop has a much better voice than Danny. It’s his personality that people are not connecting with unfortunately.
I really don’t get the Adam hype. I just don’t understand it.
Anoop is a way more talented singer and just a much more awesome guy!
I’d much rather hang out with Anoop than any of the other contestants.
And he’s the ONLY one I’d buy a concert ticket for. Heck, he’s the only reason I’m buying a ticket for the tour this summer.
Thank Anoop you American Idol producers.
unfortunately there are a LOT of casual voters who don’t spend a good amount of time online reading about american idol and what not. while there are many non-danny fans online, we don’t necessarily make up the entire voting population.