Hi Becky. I agree with you. I'm waiting for that one breakout performance, but it hasn't happened. I guess it depends on what kind of music a person likes.
I think at this point it's pretty easy to pick who the top 5 are (whether or not they'll be voted in the top 5). Not in any order, they are Chris, Taylor, Katharine, Paris and Mandisa.
I guess a lot of people will think Chris was the best last night, but his grim alternative style just doesn't do it for me. AI has always been about stretching the contestants outside their comfort zones. Now Chris is being praised for refusing to do exactly that. Ugh!
I usually think Mandisa is one of the best, but last night she lost the song at the end and really screamed it.
Paris has a big talent, but there's something about the girl that just doesn't connect with me.
I have gone back and forth with Taylor. Some nights I really enjoy him and others are just blah. His song choice last night just might be the worst ever on AI. The sad thing is that Taylor is the only one of the 11 who actually made a stab at really doing the 1950's, but his bad choice of songs killed chance he had to pull it off.
Katharine's performance last night was her best so far, but again, she just doesn't connect with me. I still think she's got the best pure vocals in the competition, but there's something sloppy and insincere about her performance skills.
Paris is frustrating, because she almost doesn't seem to know how to be young. She has this wind-up doll kind of aura about her. She's unable to bring any kind of sincerity or feeling to a song. Barry Manilow spotted it right away. He told her 'Fever' is a mature song and asked her if she was sure she wanted to do it. She should have listened to him.
Elliott is the best of the rest, but I did not enjoy him last night.
Wow, you put into words exactly what I've been thinking:)
Becky