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Whew!! (wiping brow)

I thought Anthony sang better tonight than he did last night. The more I listen to him, the more I think he really has a voice worth developing ... though I still maintain it isn't "there" yet. The curse of the tenor: always late to develop! I hope he keeps actually working on his voice after this is over, rather than resting on his laurels and deciding he's already got a great voice. I heard some very nice "ringing" tones tonight that bode well for the future, if he keeps at it.

As for Scott, I have to say he behaved in a classy manner tonight. Good for him. I'm sorry if I have really offended anybody with my remarks about him. I was thinking where my dislike of him came from. It did not originate the first time I heard him sing. I listened to him, decided that he had some talent but that his voice was weak and he was relying too much on that showy "yodeling" that has come into vogue in the last 10 years or so. Then he opened his mouth to the judges, and I got a load of his attitude ... and that was it. I will accept attitude from someone who really IS tremendous and amazing (in whatever field) but it is just plain annoying in someone who is less than stellar in their field. I do hope, though, that he maintains his improvement in attitude, and continues to work on his voice while he works on his career.

As for the others, unless there is a major meltdown of some kind, I see Anthony or Vonzell leaving next week, and Carrie and Bo as the final two contestants. No idea who will win that showdown! Carrie is superior vocally, but Bo really owns the stage when he is on it. (I do wish he would occasionally put down the mike stand, though! :)

I have to disagree with those who said Vonzell was flat. There were a few notes here and there that were not spot-on, as well as one particularly memorable and ill-advised slide-up to a "big" note, but you haven't heard "flat" till you've listened to the HS freshman choir .... LOL! I like Vonzell a lot, but I think she fails to appeal broadly enough because she is just a tad ... well ... insipid, quite frankly! Carrie is also insipid, for my taste, but she is appealing to a different demographic that will put up with it.

Someone mentioned along the way that I must have studied some voice. I did, about 15 years' worth, and was deeply involved in theater and music for a while. I have great sympathy for Carrie, actually, since I suffered then from the same issue she has (as I see it, anyway): a very nice, well-trained voice, but a lack of stage presence and comfort in front of an audience. Hope she can loosen up and get past that!

Looking forward to next week!

Your take on Anthony is dead on. He's got talent but it's still at the emerging stages. Considering the fact that Doctors said he wouldn't be able to speak after his surgery, that's a pretty big overcoming!

A lot of the young girls and former "Constantinians" are now voting for him. I believe that many of Scott's "underdog" votes will go for him too.

Speaking of Scott...I've also "slammed" him a bit on this thread. I have a difference of opinion on his past charges from several other Freepers, but since that stuff was in the past, and he DID disclose it to the producers, I was willing to give him a pass on that stuff. But I think I agree with you on the attitude thing. Early on, I thought he was "average" but I liked him a bit. (The underdog factor I guess) But, after some thought, 2 things he did made me take a turn on him. First was when he was "difficult" with the "group" of guys and refused to rehearse with them. Second was his "tude" with the Judges after mediocre performances. Simon can be rough on people, but he is trying to give constructive criticism too.

I used to really like Vonzell up until she decided that she's the 2nd coming of Whitney Houston. She sang some good stuff early on, but her recent take to "over-sing" and "over-note" every song is like chalk on a blackboard. If she "keeps it simple" and "real" (as Randy would say), she could make the top 3 or even top 2.

Carrie and Bo are pretty much in a league of their own. Carrie's vocal talent is what keeps her in this thing. When she picks the right tunes (Heart's "Never" was her best), she owns the stage, without even needing to "perform."

Bo is the performer. He's had a lot more experience than the rest and it shows it. His voice is naturally pleasant to listen too and he knows his limits. He's not a great singer, but he knows how to use his voice and appeal.

It will be a tough finals if it comes down to Bo vs. Carrie, which I'm predicting that it will.