[over3Owithabrain]

Ok, here I goes with my happy recap:

First off - best show. This season. Ever. Five performers wonderfully singing classic American songs, each in their own styles, while remaining true to the original intent. Two really bad performances, one of which was the worst mangling of a song I have seen in five years of the final 12. Rod Stewart was fun to watch, he seemed to genuinely enjoy being on the show with the "kids". Seems like a great guy to down a few scotches with and chase ladies. A truly enjoyable show, which had everything we all love about AI. Especially the singing.

Chris - Stepped up and delivered, far exceeding my (and I assume many others) expectations. Who knew beneath the plaintive wailing of alt rock there lay such a sweet and smooth tenor? Sang it straight but added a few subtle touches to make it his own - in the right way. Very good, and a great resume-builder as he advances easily.

Paris - I appreciate but do not enjoy Billie Holiday-type stuff, so the song was a little difficult for me to get into. That said, she yet again proved what a great singer and performer she is. I think she almost has TOO much talent for her age. But she was classy and elegant, and is coming off more and more likeable on a personal level each week. A step forward for her as well as we approach the nitty-gritty.

Taylor - Once again with his performance, a second viewing/hearing makes one appreciate what an artist he truly is. Simon calling the beginning "lame cabaret" was a huge stretch, but it was a bit slow and too easy for Taylor (although it mostly seemed that way because he sang it so smooth and effortlessly). Ahhh, but the Woohoo Man was just setting the pins up so he could knock 'em down, bringing the crowd to its feet in joy and appreciation as he built to a spirited finish. This guy has the IT factor in spades, and I don't believe I'm exaggerating when I say he may be the most well-liked and enjoyable performer in AI history. Hicks will be safe at least until there is no one left but a "bottom three".

Elliot - You get the feeling this guy is mounting a huge comeback and may be positioning to pull off a dark-horse victory, although I still find that quite unlikely. His vocals were superb, and despite Simon's dismissal, his stage presence was much improved over his prior frog-like bouncing as he sang. He captured the feel and most definitely the sound of that kind of song. His most enjoyable performance to date.

Kellie - I really don't need to say this and add to the obvious, but it's my post and I'll cry if I want to. Dear God in Heaven, that was a train wreck! My musician wife said the worst part for Kellie was not losing time, but NEVER getting it back. Any singer worth his or her salt finds their way back if they do happen to stray, usually unnoticed by the listener, but always quickly. But that's the point - Kellie is not really a singer, just a "personality". She is nowhere in the league of the Top 5 in this group, and it was an unintended blessing that America saw that once and for all tonight. It won't get her off tonight, as she Heed and Hawed her way out of it, but it will not be forgotten.

Ace - Wassup with the Travolta-in-Pulp-Fiction look? The judges liked the song a lot more than I did. He will be gone tomorrow, though not chiefly because of this one forgettable effort (BTW - I love when we have omen song titles, like tonight's "That's All"). Not his worst and not his best, but the whole thing just didn't work, and as it was he needed a homerun. He SHOULD get a reprieve due to the Pickling of "Bewitched", but he won't. G'bye G'Ace...

Katherine - Perfect song for her, enabling her to keep it low and sweet, without the caterwauling of previous weeks when she attempts high and loud. Could do without the extreme closeups, and I thought Simon's praise was way too much, but she did deleiver a very good performance. This was her time to shine and she did. She may be the last girl standing, but a guy is gonna win this year.

Am I the only one wistfully remembering the good ole days of American music - long before the hiphop and new-country invasion?

[b9]

Could do without the extreme closeups

They had to shoot her that way.
She wore a POWER suit FGS.
The most vulnerable song ever written, and she wears a power suit???

[silent_jonny]

Kellie is not really a singer, just a "personality". She is nowhere in the league of the Top 5 in this group

Exactly. You nailed it.

and it was an unintended blessing that America saw that once and for all tonight. It won't get her off tonight, as she Heed and Hawed her way out of it, but it will not be forgotten.

LOL! The Gherkin is a master of the "fake pout", making her bottom lip touch her chin. "I'm saw-wee!" I hate that.

[montag813]

She is nowhere in the league of the Top 5 in this group

No way. Kellie may not have raw vocal talent, but she does Country and attitude-pop with big gusto. In contrast, Ace is pathetic. He has no range and his lousy falsetto is driving me nuts. If his teeth were as gross as Elliot's he would have been gone 5 weeks ago. Also I think Paris is very overrated.

[Texas2step]

Good solid recap. I like it when someone steps up and delivers a recap without their bias showing through.

Chris - Stepped up and delivered, far exceeding my (and I assume many others) expectations.

For those who don't care for his style of music, it probably did far exceed their expectations. However, those of us who like this music and have really been listening were not surprised at all. I predicted he would "knock one out of the park" and I believe he delivered.

Kellie - I really don't need to say this and add to the obvious ... that was a train wreck! .... It won't get her off tonight ... but it will not be forgotten.

Yes, it was a train wreck. But, I believe it will be "forgotten" if she can recover in the coming weeks. From what's been posted earlier, she (along with Paris and maybe another) had to change songs late in the week. This was a tough song, and if she did change late in the week, could be the reason for not being able to pull it off.

I'm giving Kellie a pass on this one. She's the only one in the competition with little experience and no formal training, and with this style of music, it shows.

When Kellie has been able to do her style of music, and the time to prepare, she's done quite well. I know a lot of people are put off by the "country bumpkin" personality, but lots and lots of people love her for it.