Shmuel's Soapbox: American Idol Annex

Top 5: Performances

It's Big Band week! And since it's devoted to a genre, not a performer, it might not suck! Even without John Stevens, who, for all his faults, would've been in his element for this one. (As everybody seems to be pointing out... but it's still true.)

Diana: "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Come On, Get Happy"
I dunno... a bit flat. Not terrible, but she just doesn't seem on tonight.

George: "I'm in Heaven" and "What a Wonderful World"
Not bad. (Randy's right. Good, but safe.)

(What's with Paula's mike? ...oh, good, they've fixed it.)

LaToya: "One Thing Leads to Another," a badly flubbed segue, and "Don't Rain on My Parade."
The first song wasn't bad at all. The second happens to be my personal anthem, and while she did succeed in interpreting it differently than usual, she sucked all the life out of a song that properly ought to be bursting with vitality. She's not getting my vote this week.

Jasmine: "The Way You Look Tonight" and "It's Almost Like Being in Love"
Just a bit off in parts, but, on the whole, quite pleasant!

Fantasia: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," the night's least insipid segue, and "All of My Life"
Fantasia was... moderately brilliant, actually. These were unquestionably the night's best performances.

Overall rankings, top to bottom: Fantasia, large gap, George, Jasmine, LaToya, Diana.

Who should go: Probably Jasmine, actually; I think she did a better job than Diana this week, but not by much, and I think Diana's trajectory through the season has been better.

Who will go: Probably Jasmine. Maybe Diana. Slight chance of LaToya. Ain't gonna be George or Fantasia.

(Edited to belatedly add: of course, the big question is whom John's votes are gonna go to. Some of them will evaporate, but I think Diana, George, and Jasmine are the most likely beneficiaries. George as the last man standing, and the other two -- but especially Diana -- getting the youth vote.)

Who I voted for: Being biased, but also not being willing to be totally dishonest about this, I broke my usual practice of voting only once and gave one apiece to George and Fantasia.