This time around, no one lost any states (that's a surprise) so there'll only be the one map posted at the end.
Todrick Hall (Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson): Ok. I have to admit, I wasn't sure I enjoyed this one the first time through. Upon an second listen, I'm still not sure. I'm definitely going to need to check it out on ITunes (assuming they're doing them this early, they don't usually but I hear that their rules and regs have loosened up a bit). You see, I admire what he ~tried~ to do but I just like the original much better. In fact, it's one of my favs to sing when Im having one of those days when the bad memories of a lifetime past are haunting me. To have it twisted around in such a way....well, it just aint right. If going first doesn't kill off his chances, then maybe the crap hitting in the news about him will take it's toll. I don't know how the AI voting population will take to that. Not all the viewers are as rabid as the addicts, so most won't see any of the dirt until it makes it to the nightly news, or TMZ. Anyhow, there were no wins, no losses on the maps. Several others at least garnered a handful of states so it's extremely likely that he's in danger tonight.
Aaron Kelly (Here Comes Goodbye by Rascall Flatts): One rule of thumb in this show is, never sing about going home or any mention of goodbyes. No matter how cute or talented you are, this can be the kiss of death. It was nice, kinda meh. Nothing really special from him. Singing second is NOT going to help him at all. Especially since there's a relatively cute country singer that's going to be singing later in the show. This one looks like another that we can play a shots game with. How? Well, I suspect we're gonna get the SUTA effect with him. Those that are just joining in with me this year, SUTA means Sunshine Up The Ass, it's also known as a sunburnt colon or if it's particularly bad I may say that my colon has 3rd degree burns. Nothing I hate more than SUTA (unless it's for my own choices, of course). He won a total of 3 states in the DI Maps. I don't think there's any danger of him being voted off, even WITH the meh performance and singing second.
Jermaine Sellers (Get Here by Oleta Adams): I'm not familiar with this song. This is two in a row this night, very unusual considering that I used to be a chatroom streamer. Maybe I've let my head set hang up much too long. I found it a bit much, to be honest. Jermaine needs to remember a couple things. The first one he learned in Hollywood, don't throw the helpers under the bus. You never, EVER wanna be rude to those that can help you accomplish your goals. The second thing is, remember that runs (in singing) should be used as "flavoring" or "seasoning" if you will. Spices need to be used sparingly to enhance the existing flavors, not over power them. No wins, no losses in the maps. Personally, I think they made the wrong choice in Jermaines and the other one should have been in his spot.
Tim Urban (Apologize by One Republic): This one was absolutely painful to watch. I'm not even going to listen to it again. Here's another standing rule in the Idolverse, when a previous contestant did the song and really DID the song, consider it DONE. This holds especially true if said performance was done the previous year. You will always be compared back and if you are found lacking, you will be called on it. We saw this on Tuesday's episode with Miss Katie. This episode it was Tim and the idol that slammed a homerun with the song was Kris Allen. Tim's voice was much too weak to take on a song of this quality. He's definitely got to make better choices in the weeks to come. Thanks to Hawaii, some pity votes and the nefarious site choosing him as one of their poster child he managed to win 2 states. I don't know if that's enough to keep him in or not at this point. If he is, he needs to thank Simon for that caustic remark that they had made the right choice originally to toss him off.
Joe Munoz (You and I Both by Jason Mraz): Meh. Nice choice but nothing outstanding here. To be honest the only thing I really remember is that he reminded me of a combination of Anoop Desai and Jorge Nunez from season 8. Anoop's voice in Jorge's body or some combination. Simon was right with the safe and forgettable comment. No wins, no loses, in danger of being cannon fodder for the week.
Tyler Grady (American Woman by The Guess Who): Ok, guilty pleasure... I liked this. Then again I like my rock and I've been hitting the 70's music pretty hard the last few days. What Tyler's going to need to remember is that everything can be brought back (although not everything should be, it simply can be), a retro look/sound with a modern twist. We see this in clothing styles (most of which should never be revisited) and automobiles. Look at the new VWBugs, Mustangs, the Charger. All based on a retro style with a more modern feel. A tweaking of what was great with a bit of today's seasoning. A little bit of Michael Hutchance with a Jim Morrison twist, I think I'm going to enjoy watching this one grow over the course of the season.... assuming people like him enough to keep him in the running. There was only one state won, so he could possibly in danger tonight.
Lee Dewyze (Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol): Now this is what they're talking about! Alot of the kids have been catching flack for choosing songs that are so old... "be current, relevant" (ok, everyone take a shot because those are said alot too) and here is one of the very few that chose something that is within the last decade OR hasn't already been done to death. He was one of my favs the entire night. I'm looking forward to hearing more from him. The judges were right though, I wanna hear a bit more harder rock edge to him... kinda like a cross between Daughtry/Cook sound, maybe. He won one state and could be in danger tonight, but I'm really hoping he's not.
John Park (God Bless the Child by Billie Holiday): Umm What did we say about the freshness date of songs? Now if this was a theme night that dictated this type of song, then yes. But on the very first night and you're in a fight for the Top 12? NO! The song would have been nice if he'd simply took it up a key or two because he simply does NOT have the proper bottom register for those lower notes. It was old, dated, poorly done and Im sorry if it's your mamma's favorite. My mamma loves lots of songs and has a few absolute favorites, but it doesn't mean I should attempt to sing them anywhere but the shower... No wins, no losses, not a good performance. There's a good bet that he's cannon fodder this week.
Michael Lynche (This Love by Maroon 5): Meh. Umm, yeah. Another one that was a big disappointment between this week and Hollywood. I don't know what it was. Ok, he's infectious and very fun to watch but that wasn't the best performance he could have given. However, in the back of my mind I have the fact that one of the other contestants got DQ for breaking the rules (which is a shame because he was another fav from the auditions), wrong is still wrong and Michael should have faced the same fate. Both were mistakes and both should have been DQs. Just my opinion. He won two states, so may or may not be in danger this week.
Alex Lambert (Wonderful World by James Morrison): Umm. No. This was less comfortable than Tim Urban's performance and to be honest, that's saying alot. I demand these 5 minutes that were used dealing with him back. A big ol goose egg and a "you're in danger" entree for the kid and three Disaronno Ticklers to chase away the memory of this one, please.
Casey James (Heaven by Bryan Adams): OMG. It's Ace Covington! Or is it Bucky Young? Whatever, I'm seeing Bucky's hair and hearing his voice coming out of Ace's form. Kara really needs to be careful with her comments though as this easily could turn into her version of Corey Clark. Viewers that have been watching for a while will understand that connection. The only thing uncomfortable about his segment is her behavior. Yes, he's pretty and he has a wonderful voice (I'm listening to it again as I type and I'm really loving how he sang it) and this was a very good choice. One of the few that actually chose the right song for their voice. Not quite a pantiworthy performance, but pretty damn close. The performances in the upcoming weeks shall tell. Will he leave this week? I don't think so. He didn't have the pimp spot, but was really close and he out sang the one that was. That with Kara's swooning (and flooding the stage with all that drool) should be enough to send him through easily. Hey, it got him 4 states won. Not even half what the pimped spot got, but better than the second placer for the girls. That's sayin something. Does he have a shot at this? Maybe. We had 2 years in a row with Caucasian male winners and Im sure they're looking for something different, maybe a girl. I would have said it's an AAM year, but the field doesn't look strong enough to pull it off. Idol may actually have a female winner this year. It's been said that they're looking for another Taylor Swift-sh type for the win. We'll see.
Andrew Garcia (Sugar We're Going Down by Fall Out Boy): I didn't know this song so I had to have a link sent to me so I could hear the original. Hmm. I'm not a fan of either version of it, personally. That's just me though, I guess. Something about singing about cocking and pulling it just brings my mind in all the wrong directions for this show. Anyhow, he does have a beautiful voice for recording and will more than likely buy a cd he puts out later. My problem is that this one is quickly becoming this year's Pimpinator... and we all know how badly I rebel against them. It was a meh performance at best. Thanks to the spot performed in and all the pimping he's gotten so far this season, he managed to garner 11 states. There isn't a chance in hell he's going anywhere tonight.
So who's in the most danger? Let's start with the ones who got zero states:
Todrick: Singing in the first spot is always deadly, and it's worse when the show runs 2 hours. A decent performer with a few skeletons in his closet. If this isn't his last week, I don't think he'll have many more. Due to position, he's more than likely in the most danger this week.
Jermaine: I still say they made a mistake in regards to the Jermaine they picked to send through. Another singer from early in the episode with a performance that not everyone will enjoy, puts him as a candidate for an ouster.
Joe: Too safe and rather forgettable.
John: Picking a song just based on sentimental reasons is not going to get you far in this contest. To perform it poorly, just makes things even worse.
Alex: His was one of the worst of the night. Most of them were terrible tonight, but his performance was one of the worst of the bunch.
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