American Idol Rankings: Top 7…again

Well I was half right last week.

Matt Giuard was America’s vote to be sent packing, but the judges decided to save him. And for what? A mediocre disco performance tonight? That’s exactly what they got.

By the way, I’m sorry I haven’t been able to get any political posts up these last two days. Between school and The Spartan Review, I’ve been swamped. Today I haven’t even really had a chance to look at the news, although I have bookmarked a few things that caught my eye (see the LifeStream section to the right).

However, no school work is important enough to impede my weekly Idol fix. So, here are my American Idol rankings for this week…

1. Allison Iraheta (Rising)
This Week’s Performance: 4.7/5
2. Danny Gokey (Rising)
This Week’s Performance: 4.5/5
3. Adam Lambert (Rising)
This Week’s Performance: 3.5/5
4. Kris Allen (Rising)
This Week’s Performance: 4/5
5. Lil Rounds (Even)
This Week’s Performance: 3.5/5
6. Anoop Desai (Falling)
This Week’s Performance: 3/5
7. Matt Giuard (Falling)
This Week’s Performance: 3/5

For the first time in my American Idol Rankings history I gave someone a ranking that isn’t a whole number or halfway between two whole numbers. I gave Allison a 4.7 for two reasons. One, I’ve never given anyone a five and I didn’t want to start now; two, I had just given Danny a 4.5 and I thought she was better.

My number for Adam might perplex some people. If you have read these posts before you know I really don’t like Adam. I just can’t envision what the hell he’s going to sing and produce. I judge these contestants based upon if I would change the radio if the song they’re singing came on. For nearly everyone of Adam’s performances I would change the station. Tonight it felt like I should be watching someone die while listening to that song, it was way too over dramatic.

Should be kicked off this week: Matt Giuard, Anoop Desai
Will be kicked off this week: Matt Giuard, Lil Rounds

Performer who has the most to prove next week: Lil Rounds
Performer who’s smooth sailing: Allison Iraheta
Performer who’s teetering (could fall from top): Kris Allen (even though he just got there)

American Idol Rankings: Top 7

It was movie night tonight on American Idol with Quentin Tarantino as the contestants “helper.” There were some interesting song choices, most were good, and then there were some bad ones, okay one bad one. Overall everyone did very good tonight.

Before we get to the rankings I want to just say a few words about Adam Lambert. I know the media and the American Idol judges are completely in love with him, I thought Paula was going to start making love to him on stage tonight, but I’ve gotta say, I really don’t like him. I continue to find that his performances are way too over dramatic, and tonight’s performance was like an acid trip. If I heard that song on the radio I wouldn’t just turn it off, I’d throw it out the window.

With that being said, it was still good enough to keep him in the third spot, basically because Lil Rounds wasn’t good enough to occupy that position.

1. Allison Iraheta (Rising)
This week’s performance: 4/5
2. Danny Gokey (Rising)
This week’s performance: 4/5
3. Adam Lambert (Even)
This week’s performance: 3/5
4. Lil Rounds (Rising)
This week’s performance: 4.5/5
5. Anoop Desai (Rising)
This week’s performance: 4/5
6. Kris Allen (Rising)
This week’s performance: 4/5
7. Matt Giuard (Falling)
This week’s performance: 2.5/5

Matt Giuard took quite the dive this week. To be honest, he was hanging by a thread after last week’s performance and the week before. He’s just not consistent enough for the top four. I think he’s in serious jeopardy this week after making a poor song choice.

Should be kicked off this week: Matt Giuard
Will be kicked off this week: Matt Giuard

Performer who has the most to prove next week: Lil Rounds
Performer who’s smooth sailing: Allison Iraheta
Performer who’s teetering (could fall from top): Adam Lambert

American Idol Rankings: Top 10

It was an interesting week on American Idol. It was Motown week, so the producers of the show had the brilliant idea of sending the top ten to Detroit to visit Hitsville. Nothing against Hitsville, but I don’t really think sending them to Detroit is much of a treat.

This week was also interesting because Kara showed signs of becoming like her judge to the left, Paula. First she told Adam Lambert, “I have six words for you ‘one of the best performances of the night.’” Which, unfortunately for Kara and her counting skills, is actually eight words. Then she about had a seizure when Allison finished, claiming her vocals were “from God.” Kara might be heading off the deep end.

We also got to here some political views tonight. After Lil Rounds masterfully meshed Kara’s criticism and Paula’s compliments, Paula told her she could run for president, Lil responded by shouting “Obama!” Do Obama supporters have a permanent Obama turrets when anything relating to the presidency or the White House is brought up? Just wondering.

Anyway, on to the rankings (you might notice a little shakeup at the top)…

1. Allison Iraheta (Rising)
This week’s performance: 4.5/5
2. Danny Gokey (Even)
This week’s performance: 4/5
3. Adam Lambert (Rising)
This week’s performance: 4.5/5
4. Matt Giraud (Rising)
This week’s performance: 4/5
5. Lil Rounds (Falling)
This week’s performance: 3/5
6. Kris Allen (Even)
This week’s performance: 4/5
7. Anoop Desai (Rising)
This week’s performance: 3.5/5
8. Michael Sarver (Falling)
This week’s performance: 1.5/5
9. Scott MacInyre (Falling)
This week’s performance: 2/5
10. Megan Joy (Falling, even though she has no where to fall to)
This week’s performance: 2/5

I honestly wouldn’t put much stock into the one-two switch between Allison and Danny. Those two are the clear front runners and my favorites, Allison just knocked it out of the park (out da park if I was Randy) tonight and Danny was so-so. Those two will be trading the top spots for weeks to come.

In the top 13 week I said that there was a clear top four and everyone else was basically equal. I think that has completely changed. A fault line has been created between the five spot and the six spot. The top five are clearly the top five, and without question they are the best in this competition. Everyone in spots six through ten are battling for sixth place at this point.

I have to give credit to Adam Lambert. Last week I said his performance was creepy and way too dramatic, this week he toned down the drama and instead of having a whole drama show, it was just his voice. It was a fantastic performance and that’s why he jumped back up to the three spot, switching places with Lil Rounds. When I heard Lil Rounds was singing “Heat Wave” I thought it was a good choice, but when she performed, it was just off. It was like printing something out and the black ink is running low and it’s in a tone of gray. You can still read it and enjoy it, but it’s not all there.

Should be kicked off this week: Michael Sarver
Will be kicked off this week: Megan Joy

Performer who has the most to prove next week: Scott MacIntyre (again)
Performer who’s smooth sailing: Allison Iraheta
Performer who’s teetering (could fall from top): Lil Rounds