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First off, I can't be the only one who thinks the whole walking-down-the-stairs-and-giving-a-fake-pose intro is overwhelmingly awkward, right?
For the snoozefest that was the Top 12 Girls, Katie Stevens emerged as the strongest performer...Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Katelyn and Siobhan made up the next tier...everyone else fell far below that. For the Top 12 Guys, there were 3 clear top dogs: Lee DeWyze, Casey James and Andrew Garcia. Tyler Grady would be a bit behind them, but the rest were just terrible. Biggest Surprise = Casey James. Biggest Disappointments = Ashley Rodriguez, John Park and Michael Lynche. The 4 who might get chopped by way of America's axe are noted in RED below.
TOP 12 GIRLS
Paige Miles No. And what was that little left kick-right kick-karate chop combo at the end?
Ashley Rodriguez The Mr. T neck gear is a little excessive, but the rest of her get up is there. The performance - not powerful enough for me.
Janell Wheeler I kind of liked her voice and performance today (much diff. than my opinion of her prior to this week). Also... might just be the pants, but she was moving well out there.
Lilly Scott Well, that was different. The quirkiness is still there. Also still there, although barely peeking through her hair, are the peacock earrings! As long as those earrings stay, she'll stay. At least until next week.
Katelyn Epperly I liked her performance. I also disagree with Kara - Katelyn's new look works..the more controlled hair being the focal point.
Haeley Vaughn WTH was she wearing? She looked like a nurse. Clothing choice aside, she continues to be enjoyable to watch and listen to.
Lacey Brown Landslide is one of my favorite songs, and she just killed it. Not NY-killed it, but Webster Dictionary-killed it. Style-wise, she was actually able to pull off the 80's table cloth and rock it as a dress (see right). Impressive.
Michell Delamore Okay, now I know who she is. And I like it.
Didi Benami The Way I Am is a great song. She didn't NY-kill it, but that performance was solid. She also has an incredible way of breaking up one syllable into 3, or 4, or 5.
Siobhan Magnus Style-wise, still an eyesore. Voice-wise, she has this old school Celine Dion/Sarah McLachlan-vibe I'm digging. Not saying she sounds like them, but rather the vibe I get from her is like the vibe I get when I listen to Celine. That sounds really weird, but whatever.
Crystal Bowersox Now she's rocking the peacock earrings too?
Katie Stevens What a set up to have her last. Much like how Gokey and Lambert were last a lot last year, Stevens going last is indicative of who the Idol producers have pegged as their S9 favorite to this point. That being said, she can sing and she took a step up in the wardrobe and style department this week...I don't know why everyone's giving her lip for wearing what she wore - I thought it was fine.
TOP 12 GUYS
Todrick Hall Dude's got style, but that was one of the weirdest renditions I have ever heard. He won't be here next week.
Aaron Kelly No.
Jermaine Sellers Style - yes. Performance - not that great. He has some very awkward facial expressions when trying to hit those high or powerful notes. He tried to Adam Lambert that song, but failed miserably.
Tim Urban Wack. He can't hit high notes, or low notes for that matter, and he was awkward on stage. Only reason he stays is if people vote with their eyes instead of their ears.
Joe Munoz He might get through to the next week in the same way Yao Ming gets chosen for the NBA All-Star team each year, regardless of performance.
Tyler Grady So different than the rest of the Top 12. Props to the real navin for pointing out that his shirt sleeve also has a peacock on it. Did Lilly provide everyone with her designer's number or did I miss the memo on a new trend?
Lee DeWyze Do they sanitize the mics after each performance? ...because he basically made out with it. Aside from that, I still think his voice is great.
John Park First 30 seconds aside, that wasn't absolutely terrible. Still, I'm rather disappointed in his boring performance.
Michael Lynche He sounded like a teenager singing that song. A bad performance for him. I also don't think he actually played the guitar he brought with him.
Alex Lambert He has a nice sounding voice. That's not to be confused with a good voice - it's not powerful and his range is sketch.
Casey James That was a solid performance. He actually moved up in my books. I thought that was a DJ Sammi song, but supposedly Bryan Adams did it first. Let's hope him and Kara don't pull a Paula/Corey Clark scandal from S2.
Andrew Garcia Another set up. He's still good. Nothing new to add.
Now that the Top 24 is final, let's rank the Idol hopefuls. I'll start with my rankings and then end with my predictions on who survives and makes the Top 12.
RANKINGSWomen
1. Ashley Rodriguez
Hispanic girl who is always seen wearing blazers. She was the favorite since the premiere episode of Idol and her audition in Boston. Opinions have not changed about her yet. In a sea of sob stories, she'll need to develop an angle to win the sentimental voters over.
2. Didi Benami
Blonde whose best friend passed away. Her first audition was shoddy, but she had a good story to rally behind. In Hollywood, her performance of Terrified won me over big time - this chick can sing and is likely the early favorite.
3. Lacey Brown
Redhead who was eliminated next to Megan Corkrey in S8. This girl has a lot of style, has thus far been humble and can sing. What's not to like? When asked by Simon whether she should have been cut last year, she answered "yes"...how awesome is that?
4. Katie Stevens
Girl whose grandmother has Alzheimer's. She doesn't do it for me in the looks department - she doesn't look like a star...merely a cookie-cutter teenager. Kara was high on her, though, saying that she could win it all.
5. Haeley Vaughn
Black country singer. Those three words say it all. There is currently no Black Taylor Swift and no country version of Beyonce. Although her excessive makeup makes me look away at times, I am digging her style and think she has potential (there is definitely some industry whitespace for her to fill).
6. Lilly Scott
Girl with white/gray/blonde hair and jazzy auditions. She's got style. I want to know the story behind her peacock earrings - there's got to be a story there.
7. Janell Wheeler
She will not win this competition but Idol's shown her so many times that she's growing on me by way of the exposure effect.
8. Crystal Bowersox
Hippie mom who keeps showing that picture of her son. Her looks, the way she dresses and the fact her son is the focal point of her tv segments all add to her striking resemblance to Claire Littleton from Lost (above-right). She can sing too, but she's not winning the show. That was quite an awkward moment she shared with the Idol judges after they told her she made the Top 24...Kara: "Congratulations! Give me a hug" . Crystal: "No. I want to show you a picture of my son" . wtf
9. Katelyn Epperly
10. Siobhan Magnus
She undoubtedly has style...just not one that I fancy. One of her outfits in Hollywood week was a jean jacket over a Sandra Dee pink top with some random leg warmers. Interesting combo, but I see her getting to be a bit much.
11. Paige Miles
She has no unique style, edge nor story yet to crack the Top 12.
12. Michell Delamore
Who is she...where did she come from? I don't recall seeing her auditions nor any segments about her in any of the episodes this season. Therefore, I cannot give her any love.
Men
1. Andrew Garcia
He is America's one chance at crushing Idol's hope of crowning a female winner this season.
2. Lee DeWyze
He's different than the rest of the Top 12 guys and in my opinion, has one of the better voices.
3. John Park
Korean Northwestern student who got Shania Twain worked up. I don't think his voice is anywhere close to being spectacular in the one performance we've seen (Idol has not given him any air time since his initial audition)...but I must root for the Asian.
4. Michael Lynche
Dad whose wife gave birth during Hollywood week. He can belt it out.
5. Jermaine Sellers
6. Tyler Grady
Blast from the 70's. At least he's different.
7. Casey James
Guy Kara's crushing on. He also took his shirt off during his audition after some pressure from Kara. Kara's the only judge he appeals to at this point.
8. Todrick Hall
This guy's a dq, but his initial audition wins him a ton of points.
9. Alex Lambert
He's the guy who said "It will look ignorant if we just sing and sway side to side." Ignorant? Really?
10. Joe Munoz
Anoop Desai look-a-like anyone? ...mixed with Jorge Nunez of S8.
11. Tim Urban
Who?
12. Aaron Kelly
David Archuleta without talent. In fact, google image search aaron kelly american idol, and you will see nothing but Archuleta pics.
ODDS
This is how I see them stacking up in the competition, taking into consideration everything behind America's vote.
Women
1. Didi Benami
2. Ashley Rodriguez
3. Katie Stevens
4. Crystal Bowersox...she could be the dark horse this season
5. Haeley Vaughn
6. Lacey Brown
7. Lilly Scott
8. Janell Wheeler
9. Siobhan Magnus
10. Katelyn Epperly
11. Paige Miles
12. Michell Delamore
Men
1. Andrew Garcia
2. Lee DeWyze...may make it through to the semi-finals because he is the White male that probably appeals most to the majority of women in America. Hey, that's how Kris Allen made his way to the end last season.
3. Michael Lynche
4. Casey James...he might make it far for the same reasons as Lee DeWyze above.
5. Tyler Grady
6. Aaron Kelly...I'm afraid he will definitely be this year's VFTWer and for that reason, will make it at least to the Top 12.
7. John Park...unfortunately American entertainment historically does not favor East Asians.
8. Jermaine Sellers...he should be in the Top 12, but likely won't make it.
9. Tim Urban
10. Todrick Hall
11. Alex Lambert
12. Joe Munoz
