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Some guy just called in to Rush's show and gave out a shout out to the Soul Patrol. Wasn't you was it? ;)

Nope, Never called Rush's program, although I do listen to it if I have the chance.

Here is my take on how the current crop of finalists can be REALLY JUDGED though...

Firstly, I don’t think one or two nights ( whether great, average or bad ) in a show like American Idol is going to define how a singer is going to do in his/her singing/performing/recording career should he/she win the competition.

For instance, Ruben Studdard was consistently good in season 2. I never saw him really have an off (bad) night. He was always good but never really wowed me.

Clay Aiken had some bad nights. I never liked his rendition of Grease and the song he picked out of the lottery — Vincent, left much to be desired. This didn’t stop him from being a more successful recording and concert artist than Reuben.

Fantasia had awful nights as well, and so did Carrie Underwood ( I really hated her rendition of Macarthur Park and Pat Benatar’s Love is a Battlefield ). Well what do you know, when their records came out, they were into their element and sold multi-platinum copies ( Carrie’s debut has already surpassed triple platinum and has overtaken Kelly Clarkson’s first two albums ).

Heck, even the great Bo Bice was coasting through MUSICALS night where he felt like a fish out of the water ( although he could’ve chosen some songs from say the rock opera — TOMMY ).

Of all the contestants, I think only Kelly Clarkson never had a off night ( too far back for me to remember ). Were Simon and Randy ever critical of Kelly ? I can’t remember either.

My point is simple — It isn’t really a level playing field to compare say, what Whitney did in her album with what Kat did in AI, or what Taylor did in his performance last nite with say James Ingram's.

Reasons :

1) Whitney had several takes to make the recording of her song perfect. Kat does not have that luxury.

2) How would Kat sound on the same song HAD SHE THE CHANCE TO RECORD IT IN STUDIO and the chance to correct imperfections ?

3) Arrangements count.

For instnace, Altough Taylor’s performance was not horrible, I believe the orchestration was a bit much. This compared to James Ingram's simpler and more soothing background made his sound better than Taylor’s.

4) Voice suitablility ( and this goes to song choice ). Taylor’s is a soulful. bluesy type of Tenor. Therefore, songs that cater to this type of voice naturally are a fit for him. Hence, I don’t know how he would sound like in a duet with Katharine singing Bocelli’s hit — THE PRAYER. I am willing to bet it won’t fit unless the arrangement becomes a jazzy version. But if you do this, then it becomes HERESY to classic lite purists.

5) How would James Ingram sing this same song had it been presented to him the first time and he had only days to practice it and then perform it in front of 30 million people who scrutinize your every breath and phrasing ?

YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE ?

In the end, recording and performance careers are VERY DIFFERENT from what American Idol is trying to mold.

When your career IS music, you HAVE TO CHOOSE A NICHE. I don’t think you can everything to everyone.

Unfortunately, THAT is EXACTLY what a venue like American Idol is forcing you to do. Do you believe that Taylor is going to do DISCO or COUNTRY music in his career ? If you say NO, go to the head of the class.

BUT THEN, HE IS FORCED TO SING DISCO MUSIC. What do you expect him to do ?

Let’s turn it around and ask the following questions (use your imagination ).

1) How would Whitney Houston sound like singing WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS or WE WILL ROCK YOU ?

2) How would Andrea Bocelli sound like singing the songs in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER ?

3) How would Kenny Rogers sound like singing Superstition or Don’t You Worry About a Thing ?

Most importantly, imagine these people having an extreme make-over, hiding their identities and then performing in front of and being JUDGED by Simon for singing these songs during theme night…. I wonder what kind of colorful comments they’d receive.

So, here’s my point…. it isn’t TOTALLY FAIR to judge a person based on one or two nights ( not especially when the theme does not fit his/her genre ).

YOU HOWEVER *CAN* JUDGE THE PERSON FROM HIS/HER *TOTAL* NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES TAKEN WHOLISTICALLY.

In this sense, we KNOW that Kellie Pickler is really the sore thumb sticking out among the 6 vocalists left. I’ll give this to her — SHE TAKES ON CHALLENGES and REFUSES TO BE PIGEON HOLED INTO THE COUNTRY SINGER people are typecasting her as.

Unfortunately, by doing so, she reveals her vocal limitations and her : A) Lack of training; B) Lack of performing experience. With seasoning and vocal lessons, I’m sure Kellie (who has raw talent ) can make it. But NOW IS NOT THE TIME.

Taylor was once again forced to change songs 2 days ago, allegedly according to what his dad said in an interview in Birmingham. This seems to be the norm for AI with him. Last night was simply "Bring Chris back from the bottom 2 night". No offense to Daughtry, as he sang a crappy song well, but AI is shameless this year in their rigging of their desired result.

I haven't had time to rewatch/relisten to the performances, but off the cuff - Kat, Paris and Taylor were better than the judges said. Pickle bit, and Elliot was very good. But the night was all about Chris, right Simon?

:) I agree. I love all your posts by the way.