American Idol – The Top Five

OK, the mystery picture. So yes, the phone chord is missing. That is the phone in the now empty cubicle. On Friday it was there. Monday morning it was gone!! How bizzare is that?? Even more bizarre, this is not the first time apparently. Another department in the basement has had TWO phone chords taken. Speculation runs rampant of course. Is there some black market for phone chords? A random prankster? A cheap department manager who doesn’t want to have buy his/her own replacement chord? It’s just insane! All I know is that when this replacement arrives, I am keeping it under wraps until a replacement is hired.

American Idol now. My originally predicted top five? David A, David C, Carly, Brooke & Michael. The actual top five? David A, David C, Brooke, Jason & Syesha. 3 out of 5. Ah well.

Two songs each tonight. Neil Diamond songs. I love Neil. Not just because I love every one of his songs, but also because he looks so damn good!! You know why? Because he is one aging song writer who has NOT had truly horrid plastic surgery. I mean, he may have had it, but if so (and I doubt it), then it’s actually good.

Jason Castro – Forever in Blue Jeans – Here is what I thought of that performance – I typed the first three paragraphs of this while he was singing. Boorrring.

David Cooke – I’m Alive – Oh dear, I am such a huge Neil Diamond that I knew that song! And David Cooke as usual blew it OUT of the water. Oh my gosh, can we just give him the title?? Here is an idea for an album right now: ALL of his performances from this season. They could all be hits.

Brooke White – I’m A Believer – Ah, here is the Brooke I fell in love with early on. Spunky and clear voiced and adorable. She looked relaxed and like she was having a truly wonderful time.

*Break in the action* And I do mean ACTION! They are singing their first song, giving the numbers and then moving them off. No judges reaction until after the second song. I love this pace!! Well, I mean, I love it because it is making for a better show, but my fingers are flying since this I am actually not watching from a recording for the first time since the first week!! WHEW.

David Archuletta – Sweet Caroline – Oh look, David is keeping his eyes open!! Strange to hear that song sung with such a high voice (well, compared to Neil’s baritone). I thought he did a great job. At least he did not pick the total sap song (Syesha has that one). I had fun dancing and singing along.

Syesha Mercado – Hello – She looks so different with her hair relaxed and hanging long. Beautiful dress too. Not sure about the performance. It was pretty. But I was not moved.

Ok, now to the judges and…Paula is..um…*confused*??? How could she not know Jason only sang once?!!! Simon is ripping each one of them a new one and challenging them to step it up on the second song. Wow. I thought the two Davids were great and the Brooke hit her stride again. I gotta check my ears I suppose. On to round 2:

Jason – September Morn – How can he take a slow song and make it slower?? I must be in a crank mood about him because he is truly annoying me. I’m tired of his “huh huh duh, I’m dumb, but I’m cute, right?” routine!! Forgettable. Barely a wedding singer performance. Worst of the night. He should not make the top four.

David Cooke – All I Really Need is You – When David sings, I stop and listen. He stepped it up and was even better than the first time (and I thought he was the bomb the first time!!!). I love how he can be soft and sultry/sexy and then just bust it out.

Brooke White – I am I said – Probably my all time favorite ND song – I wish David C had done this one quite frankly. You need to be a little more angst ridden to sing this song. Brooke in this case IS too pure and sweet and happy IMHO. Still, it was very *Brooke* and she was vulnerable and is a very good story teller when she sings so from that perspective it was better than the first one of hers.

David A – America – It just hit me: Up With People! Remember that group? David A IS so perfect for them!! He’s got an amazing voice – will never hit a bad note. He’s cute enough. He has a totally uplifting, yet not tooo shallow personality since he’s shown some depth of knowledge, yet he is still clearly a bubbly teenager, you know? That was a great song choice, he his some amazing notes, and his fans will keep him going. Dare I predict a David vs David showdown?

Syesha – Thank The Lord For the Nighttime – You know what I think? I think the girl who lost her voice the first day of performances in Hollywood may just have sung herself into the Top Four!! This is the girl who has grown the most as a performer I think this season.

Jason Castro has GOT TO GO!!!