<p>No disrespect to any of the others in the top-10, but Alex Preston is the only one that I would go see in concert or buy/download his music. I liked Harry’s analogy of hitting the target with the water pistol at the fair and being the lead horse artistically. I think MK is in the bottom 3 and going home on Thursday. </p>
<p>I agree with you, jshain. There are some good performers, but Alex is very current and I could see buying his music. Caleb is really talented, but he needs to be the front man of some major rock band. Sam is very good, but he is so achingly young. I’m sure he’ll be a big seller in a few years.</p>
<p>My bottom three…MK did not sound good or have a decent performance. CJ sounded bad to me. Jessica–yuck. That voice, ick, and the song choice—I really hate that song, and seeing her smiling and singing about mass murder was kind of gross. Could be any one of them going home, but my guess is Jessica.</p>
<p>Alex is clearly the star here, regardless of what the vote shows. </p>
<p>I wholeheartedly agree with you @jshain. Alex is ripe and ready. While he has a personal awkwardness, it’s so endearing and DOES NOT interfere with his musical abilities. I would also buy his music, tickets to his concert. I truly hope he makes it to the end because otherwise the show will be hard pressed to have a good finale. </p>
<p>Sam did better last night. His voice is STELLAR. He just needs the stage presence and audience connection that may come with time - will it come with AI time is yet to be seen. His voice - so, so enjoyable and on key.</p>
<p>Jena has the potential to be another front runner but I thought she was not good last night. I know her song Clarity well, but I thought her voice was full of nerves at the beginning and just felt it was a karoke performance. I actually liked Jessica’s voice last night but her face is just void of emotion or the right type of emotion when performing.</p>
<p>One thing I have learned to do is to sometimes listen, but not watch them - really can show them in a different light and REALLY is a testament to their voice alone - and let me tell you, last night I did that with CJ and it was NOT GOOD! He was awful!</p>
<p>Caleb was shouty. Malaya was actually pretty good but I am still anti-Malaya just because she truly seems too young not just in voice but in person. MK has moments of goodness, then flops. And I think she also may need an attitude adjustment - her body language and facial expressions on stage, during interviewing and while she’s in the “lounge” are quite telling. </p>
<p>Majesty has lost her confidence. I am hoping that she makes it through tonight and has at least one more chance to redeem herself. Again, the nerves in her voice were so evident last night. </p>
<p>Caleb - WAY TOO SHOUTY!!! (that’s me shouting…
)</p>
<p>Did I miss it or did they NOT show the voting ranks last night??? I hope they nix that routine. </p>
<p>I didn’t see the stupid rankings either. So I’m hoping they were nixed. </p>
<p>I liked Alex best, thought Sam’s voice was great. Caleb was shouting and although we like Jena wasn’t thrilled about that performance. </p>
<p>Liked that the kinder, gentler Harry went away also lol! </p>
<p>I’m hoping MK goes, it’s time. And she looks so unhappy. </p>
<p>I missed last night. Why do you feel MK would be unhappy? Do you think she is annoyed at their attempts to ditch the backwards cap and wear just a tad of makeup? Perhaps she sees that as trying to feminize her in an inauthentic or commercially conventional way or lessen her “obviously gay” (her words) impact when that’s the last thing she wants to do? I don’t know, just a thought.</p>
<p>She’s still seen in footage wearing the backwards cap though she didn’t on stage last night. I personally don’t care if she’s wearing make up or not, but must say it seems they are putting A LOT of makeup on her!!! </p>
<p>I wonder if she is just not an outwardly happy looking person. She doesn’t seem to smile a lot. I’m thinking she is just had it/frustrated with the judges comments. She may indeed be doing the very best she is capable of and be frustrated that that apparently isn’t good enough. Which is true!! </p>
<p>I think that it’s interesting that both MK and Alex look uncomfortable on stage. But while Alex seems to be able to channel his quirkiness into his music, MK’s just makes her seem awkward.</p>
<p>I think both Alex and Jena have “quirky” sounds which could be successful if they get the right material. Quirky in a GREAT way, I mean.</p>
<p>I was surprised when Ryan Seacrest asked her, during her post-performance segment, what she thought happened when she came in late with the band midway through her performance and she said she didn’t know. To me, it looked like she got “lost” with the band accompaniment when she was shaking a girl’s hand in the audience.</p>
<p>As poor a performance as it was, the award for the worst performance last night IMO, by a landslide, goes to CJ. It was painful listening to him. JLo commented that he nailed the final rehearsal to which Harry replied, not caring about what happens in the rehearsal, only caring what happens when the “light goes on”.</p>
<p>As someone above commented, closing ones eyes can result in a different judgment. I have done that often, and CJ (and Majesty and MK and others, for that matter) don’t benefit. They are very likable people, but they have serious flaws as singers (not idiosyncrasies like Alex has). Alex sounds better with my eyes closed, as does Jena. Full disclosure, I’ve been on vacation, so I have not watched the past two weeks, but I’ll watch them on DVR later. I know who got voted off last week, but I think I’ll avoid this thread until after I’m home and watch the performances. </p>
<p>CJ was a huge disappointment last night. He was great doing the Marshall Tucker (?) song the week before. But was horrendous last night. 17-year-old daughter suggested that if they’d combine Sam’s video with Alex’s audio they’d have a winner. </p>
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<p>Or that other guy that got eliminated earlier who was incredibly handsome. He’d be a superstar with Alex’s voice and musical talent. But I still think that with the right backing and support from the record label, Alex could go far.</p>
<p>I think Alex is incredibly talented, and I would actually download his music (first time in a long time for an Idol contestant). I even find his quirky mannerisms and “I’ve-really-gotta-pee” leg twitches when he performs sort of endearing. But I’m a middle-aged mom, so my opinion probably shouldn’t count for much. </p>
<p>You can download performance starting this week on iTunes - I’m just about to go shopping!!</p>
<p>I like Alex’s voice, but I cannot watch him!</p>
<p>[url=<a href="Entertainment in Sarasota, FL | Sarasota Herald-Tribune[/url</a>] an article about our cousin Sam. In audience last night was his grandma Jackie, grandpa Roy and his sister Emily. </p>
<p>Curt but heart tugging story Lergmom. Thanks for sharing. This is the kind of story American Idol is made of. :)</p>
<p>MK goes home. It’s the right call. They shouldn’t save someone unless they truly think they could actually win the whole thing. That’s my opinion. </p>
<p>But I have to say, I think some of that judge banter was legit. I don’t know Jennifer and Keith looked pretty upset. Jennifer wouldn’t even speak when Ryan asked for a decision!</p>
<p>MK has been in the bottom many times - it was a good run for her.</p>
<p>I thought that MK’s final performance showcased her voice beautifully. I got goosies myself. I do think it was the right call, though, especially because she will be going to be on the tour. </p>