Idol Aftermath

OK...I admit it. I'm irreversably and undeniably hooked on the American Idol show. I don't know how it happened...but it's too late to turn back now.

So, here are my thoughts on last night's performances by the "Elite 8" who performed songs from the year they were born. (Mid to late 70's and early 80's)

----Rating Scale 1=Pathetic 5=Average 10=Show Stopper----

--Nadia Turner--My thoughts haven't changed on her from the beginning...very good performer, average voice. Last night's poor choice of songs (Some obscure Crystal Gayle tune) was unbelievable. She's so much better when she does high energy stuff that I can't believe she went for a slow...and totally unimpressive...tune like that. (Last night's rating- 5)
--Bo Bice--Perfect voice for a rocker. Excellent performer. But last night's "Free Bird" was not too inspiring. It didn't have a lot of range to the vocal...and there was never a moment in it that really got you anywhere close to "goose bumps". (Last night's rating-7)
--Anwar Robinson--Very good voice, technically excellent. Struggles with being warm to the camera. Last night's crooning was not bad...but took a Dionne Warwick song to places it didn't need to go. (Last night's rating-6)
--Vonzell Solomon--Cute as can be. Not the best voice in the world...but she's gotten more out of it than I expected earlier in the competition. Very good performer. "Let's Hear It For The Boy" was a perfect choice for her bubbly personality. (Last night's rating-8)
--Anthony Fedorov--He shouldn't even still be in the competition. But, the guy came back to show he's got some ability. "Every Time You Go Away" by Paul Young was a good choice for him. The teeny-bopper voting block will likely keep him alive for another week.
(Last night's rating-7)
--Scott Savol--"She's Gone" by Hall and Oates may be the most vocally challenging song anyone has ever sung on the show. He tackled it...but didn't nail it. Once his voice got into the higher register he was OK. I think his rap sheet and his little snippy comeback to Simon Cowell's critique won't help him with the voters. (Last night's rating--6)
--Carrie Underwood--Carrie had the look of someone who knows that there's no way she's getting voted off the show until the last 2 or 3 contestants, and she's probably right. She's got movie star looks...a very good, if not great, voice...and has the entire country music crowd on her side. Why she would pick Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" for last night's performance I can only guess. Her agent...(I'm sure most of these kids have one already)...probably told her it was time to use national TV to get some sexiness out there, a la Brittney Spears. So, she accomplished that.
(Last night's rating--7)
--Constantine Maroulis--This guy is easily the best performer in the bunch. I said performer, not singer. He knows theatre, he knows lighting, he knows working the camera, and he knows how to play his steamy sexiness to the teen-girl crowd. Simon called last night's performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" astonishing. I don't think he necessarily meant that in a totally positive way. But Constantine can sing well...and he comes off as a professional.
(Last night's rating--9)

Prediction--The bottom three will be Scott Savol, Nadia Turner and Anwar Robinson. Bye-bye to Nadia.