<p>Ellemenope, I actually thought Steven was totally rude to Phillip re: his DM song choice. Maybe I took it the wrong way, but I didn’t feel too much love from the judges on that.</p>
<p>You know, re: Phillip and how he was portrayed with his illness/slacking. My sense is that all of those clips of the contestants ranting on their fellow contestants was all pretty tongue in cheek and sarcastic. All of them. Unfortunately for Phillip, if you didn’t know about his illness you might think he’s a slacker. Also weird how they pieced together the clip on Skylar and how half of it ended up being about Hollie insinuating she was “fat” (hard boned or whatever Hollie said) - that was awkward as well, especially in a night when Fat Bottomed Girls was performed twice!!!</p>
<p>I also read that Ryan S was deathly ill last night and almost was not able to host. He had a bad, bad case of the flu and there were apparently (excuse the language) puke buckets around the stage “just in case”.</p>
<p>I think Hollie also had a good night. I replayed her round 1 song and thought it was pretty good. Jessica’s round 1 was really off, imo, and I think she may be in the bottom 3 because of it, even though her round 2 performance was really good. </p>
<p>I really don’t like Elise as a performer without her piano. She looks like a “fish out of water” without the piano to hide behind. </p>
<p>I will be surprised if Phil Phil is in the bottom 3 but not totally shocked. I don’t think it was Steven who hurt him with his critique. I think J.Lo may have been the one that did the most damage.</p>
<p>Interesting…I liked Jessica’s performance #1 in that it was an effort to be age sensitive. Her second song was the typical Jessica song–great singing, but it just seemed too old for her. </p>
<p>This is only my second year with American Idol, but more of this year’s contestants seem to have both the voice AND the performance chops–whereas hardly anyone from last year had superior performance chops. It’s a very competitive year…</p>
<p>I missed it last night, but why would they criticize a DMB song choice for Phillip? He is absolutely a DMB (what is it folk/alternative?) type of singer. IS DMB too obscure for the voters?</p>
<p>somemom - JLo said the DMB choice was too obscure. It was not a song I knew, but I think it was totally a Phillip song. </p>
<p>Jessica is from my area so everyone here is backing her. I really don’t know who would buy her music. The girl has a voice, but I’m not a big fan of her sound and as a performer I think she is just plain boring.</p>
<p>I’ve been watching AI since the very beginning and I have to say that this year I really don’t like any of the contestants very much.</p>
<p>Also I just really miss Simon and his comments.</p>
<p>I really like PP, but I think choosing a Dave Matthews song which he basically copied was a bad choice–I am a PP fan, and NOT a huge DM fan, interestingly. Because of the comparison, I think he should stay far, far away. He was much stronger last week. I think Hollie has an amazing voice, but absolutely zero star power. I can see her having a great career as a back up singer, but not in the limelight. The other girls have that in spades, but I think Elise’s luck may run out tonight.</p>
<p>And it did. Her luck ran out. Nothing would have surprised me. I’m kind of “numb” to whatever happens now it seems! Phillip still remains the only not to be in the bottom three. Now I just pray he can feel better. This all must be taking a toll - so tough.</p>
<p>Elise should get scooped up somewhere. She is GOOD.</p>
<p>I haven’t seen any specific news on PP … is he continuing to see a doctor over the same problem he had in March? (Kidney stones?) Poor guy.</p>
<p>Yes, it was Elise’s time but someone had to go. I was surprised Skylar was in the bottom three, but relieved that she was told she was safe quickly. I think Hollie or Jessica are next, unless someone else bombs big time next week.</p>
<p>Agree with Snowflake, big surprise for me that Skylar was in the bottom 3. She had 2 very good performances on Wednesday night. I’m glad Joshua is getting the voters behind him of late. He is starting to show his versatility and now it’s his to lose at this point in the competition.</p>
<p>I actually thought Hollie nailed it tonight. Jessica’s first song was a poor imitation of Tina Turner, but 2nd was ok. I just don’t get why the judges drool over Skylar so much. I like her, but she does not blow me away. Getting really tired of Phillip’s same old thing. I think Josh is the one to beat. I look forward to his performances each week.</p>
<p>I loved having Stevie Van Zandt as the guest mentor. The advice he gave Hollie to open the show was probably the best advice anyone could have given her. She came out and didn’t try to please her audience, didn’t look tentative, and just let it rip. She had two solid performances. I don’t think she is the weakest female any longer.</p>
<p>Loved Phil Phil’s song choice and arrangement in round 1 but I didn’t think his round 2 performance was as good as his first. </p>
<p>Opposites attract! The duet of Phil and Joshua singing a Righteous Brothers song perfectly complimented one another, just like Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield used to. </p>
<p>Skylar’s performance didn’t look “natural” for me. It looked really forced and she didn’t connect with the song since it wasn’t her choice to begin with. Shocked that the judges thought she was one of the notables in the round 1 recap. Improvement in round 2 but nothing that blew me away. She is the weakest of the final 5.</p>
<p>Jessica’s round 1 performance was awkward. Her body movement was terrible. No 16-year-old should attempt to do a Tina Tuna classic— ever. However, she totally nailed her round 2 performance. Sheer perfection! One of the best vocals all season.</p>
<p>Joshua was his own solid self in round 1 and then in round 2 gave one the AI performances of all-time. I will be shocked if he doesn’t win it all. He outshines all the winners of recent seasons, if one was to draw comparisons. He’s in a class all by himself. It’s not even fair that someone has to compete against him. </p>
<p>I’m hoping Skylar goes home and not Hollie or Jessica.</p>
<p>I like Phillip, but I thought he was the weakest performer last night. He looks increasingly tired, sick and uninterested in the proceedings. I think he’d privately be relieved to be voted off so he can go home and get healthy. I think he was at his best earlier in the season. He seems worn out right now.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t pay to see Jessica or Hollie in concert. Great singers but no personality, and no developed stage presence of their own… Which doesn’t mean they won’t get there someday, they just aren’t there yet.</p>
<p>I think Joshua has the voice and the stage presence to do it all right now.</p>
<p>I totally don’t get the Joshua love. Different strokes I guess! Don’t care for his singing, have no idea what his “style” is, especially don’t like his personality outside of the singing. I think he is very awkward in interviews and with the other contestants at times. The duet with Phillip last night - AWKWARD! (now, I would have loved to hear Phillip sing that song on his own )</p>
<p>I’m pretty apathetic to anyone left. Colton should still be in the running. Even though I don’t care for country, I’ll root for a Skylar win - she’s feisty, has the drive for the limelight and she’d be fun to watch be announced “winner”.</p>
<p>I do love PP, but he seems exhausted. I think he may be in danger, which would be a shame. Hollie sang well last night, but I still find her…meh. I hated Jessica’s first song–too much weird wiggling for a 16 yo. 2nd song was beautiful. Joshua has a great voice, but I would never buy a record from him. Same with Skylar, but she has the country vote, so mine doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>I love the different opinions. I think PP is likable, but his second song should send him home - downright awful! I love Jessica the most, but last night I think Hollie was better. Neither can DANCE at all. Skylar is so comfortable out there she’s fun to watch, but she has a nasal quality to her voice that I can’t love. Joshua is Joshua. He’s really really good, but boring to me.</p>
<p>I predict a Skylar/Joshua final with Joshua taking it.</p>
<p>We are all over the map. Sadly, to me, this means that none is a “star” or IDOL. Which I have been feeling for a while. They all are young, need work, need positioning, more training, grooming before they could really sell out concerts. Maybe they could do pretty well with one hit and an okay album, but that is it.
It takes everything: a great voice, a unique sound, good song-choices with some personal stamp, looks, movement, personality. That is tough!</p>
<p>That Zombies song that PP did was awful! Thank you for carrying a tune, but he couldn’t hit the high notes in the chorus. It was painful to watch and listen to. I think he may be in trouble.</p>
<p>Hollie has been a revelation! Where did she come from?!! She is definitely finding her own groove–better late than never.</p>
<p>Skylar’s first song seemed too frenetic to me (and I like the bouncy Skylar). </p>
<p>Jessica–NOT a good choice for her first song…</p>
<p>Loved Little Steven! But I kept seeing the Sopranos…</p>
<p>If you look at Carrie Underwood AI performances, you can see how much she developed after AI. However, it seems that the Country Music Machine does a better job of taking talent and developing it (kind of like Motown). I don’t see rock having that sort of set up to help a young talent make it to the next level.</p>