I’ve been checking out other Idol blogs and the anti-country music fans are out in full force. Dolly Parton Night was pretty damn good in my book, although the Sixers were playing so well I was wearing down the return button on my remote.
David Cook did a terrific job on Dolly’s “Little Sparrow,” but he was not the hottest performer of the night. Michael Johns leaped past Cook into front runner status with his superb, sexy and soulful take on ''It's All Wrong, but It's All Right.'' I still don’t know what the bug up Simon’s bum is when it comes to Carly Smithson, but her enchanting performance of “Here You Come Again” was dyn-o-mite. Her pop interpretation of the song blended with her fabulous vocal skill to create the only performance that challenged Michael Johns this week. Yet, there was Simon, saying it was only okay. Is he nuts?
David A. did his usual polished vocals on "Smokey Mountain Memories," but he seems to have lost his emotional mojo. Even since his tear-inducing “Imagine,” his performances have been technically good but emotionally disconnected.
Jason Castro’s “Travelin’ Through” had more energy than some of his recent performances, so I’ll count it as a rebound. Syesha, couldn’t resist going the Whitney route with Dolly’s ''I Will Always Love You.'' You don’t cover Whitney, people! Haven’t you learned that yet? Brooke White was only okay with “Jolene.”
Can there we any doubt that the bottom two this week will be Kristy Lee Cook and Ramiele, doing “Coat of Many Colors” and “'Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” respectively. Kristy has to looks to skate by and even get signed to a country label, but if she isn’t dumped this week, it is only because it will be the end of the line for Ms. Malubay.
Here is my top nine:
1) Michael Johns; 2) Carly Smithson; 3) David Cook; 4) David Archuleta; 5) Jason Castro; 6) Brooke White; 7) Syesha Mercado; 8) Kristy Lee Cook; 9) Ramiele Malubay.