The Final Two

Here they are: YOUR final two. Yes I was surprised and a little sad that Joshua did not make the final. Be that as it may, I'll be shocked if Jessica wins. But all three finalists are amazingly talented, all three have been touted by the judges and Jimmy Iovine for their musicality,  and all three have careers in music to look forward to, no matter who wins.

Regarding our elimination contest, five of you correctly guessed that Joshua would be eliminated, nine thought, like me, that it would be Jessica, and SIX expected Phillip to be the one to go. I just don't get that. Is it because you don't like Phillip or that you think America doesn't like him? The home visit showing all kinds of women throwing themselves at him should have taken care of the latter objection. You actually don't like him? Well, each to his or her opinion.

The winner of this week's elimination contest is SIMY KOSHY. Congratulations! Next week's prize, for correctly guessing the winner is a set of earbuds. Every one who has voted in the contest this year is entered into the sweepstakes for the grand prize: an 8GB ipod nano.

America Idol: The Final Three Perform

I am here to report that Phillip Phillips just won American Idol. Yes, I know the finale is a week away, but Phil Phil is the 2012 American Idol and that's that.

This week I watched the performance show on Thursday morning instead of Wednesday night. I think being less tired helped me to appreciate what I was seeing. I also think that this may be the most talented, entertaining, and all around outstanding final three in the history of the show.

Joshua Ledet has turned into a star right before my eyes. I love everything about him, but his body movements kill me. He has his own style, but he is like a restrained, cool, laid back version of Jackie Wilson. And to me, classic R&B never gets old. This is his strength. But will this go over with young AI voters? By the way, I liked his version of Imagine better than John Lennon's.

Unlike Josh, Jessica Sanchez has not been getting stronger with each show. She is undeniably mega-talented and will eventually grow up to be an incredible combination of Mariah Carey and the late great Etta James. But she is too young to step up the way Josh has. Besides her youth she has the girl thing going against her. Perhaps it's not fair that the majority of AI voters are girls and women tending to fall for the cute boy. But I think it's more than that. In general, male voices are better than female. Sorry for the way that sounds, but I think it's true. A girl singer has to really have something special to beat out a boy. Jessica is special, but not ripe yet. I pick Jessica for the elimination this week.

I can't say much about Phillip Philips because I'm all choked up. He ended the show with a quietly sexy performance of We've got Tonight that brought tears to my eyes. And that wasn't even his best performance of the night. That would be Beggin. His hometown visit had tears running down my face. He is totally himself at all times, totally unpretentious and natural, and a musical genius. Because of his uniqueness, it's Phillip for the win. Below is the YouTube of his Bob Seger rendition.

American Idol: Hollie is Gone!

So belatedly, the slightly creepy girl who reminds me of Jodie Foster IS GONE!  And I can't believe that Skylar Laine went home before Hollie did!  Is America tired of country after the double country win of season ten? But Skylar is so much more entertaining than Lauren Alaina, though Steven Tyler probably doesn't think so.

Next week's elimination is going to be anybody's guess. I predict that all three of the finalists will do themselves proud (they never fail) and that Jessica will be the one to go. Even though this year's contest included some of the best women singers ever, I expect an all boy finale.

Last week we got a record number of votes in our elimination contest. Eleven voters thought that Hollie would go last week and so did I. Seven thought that Phillip would be eliminated. Don't you like Phillip? He's so great.  Six thought that Joshua would be gone and five thought the same about Jessica. And only five correctly picked Skylar for the elimination. The winner of the week 3 contest was ALAN MAK. Congratulations! Astute pick.

This week was week 4 of the contest, and we had fewer votes. Amazingly four voters picked Phillip for the loss, one each picked Joshua and Jessica, and four picked Hollie and so did I. This week's winner is LISA of the lucky MAK family. Congratulations! 

You can be as lucky as the Maks if you play to win. The prize for week 5 is a $15 itunes gift card. Get in your ballot by next Thursday, May 17 at 6:00 and you'll be automatically entered for the grand prize, an 8GB ipod nano! See you at the ballot box.

American Idol: Toward the Final Three

Yes American Idol Fans. He killed. Again. Joshua carries the thrill factor of American Idol in being the artist who comes from behind and rises to the top. If this weren't a cuteness and popularity contest, Joshua would be the winner of season 11. Not that Joshua isn't cute and not that Phillip isn't a great singer. The alt rock boy will always have a piece of my heart. Phillip will win this season. But Joshua better come in second.

Wait. What about the phenom that is Jessica Sanchez? I put her in the final three of course, but I think Joshua deserves second place more because he is older and therefore more ready for a full time career. He has become an assured, polished, and accomplished performer. Jessica has a scary amount of poise and polish for her age, but she can stand to ripen a bit. She was great tonight. I especially liked her Etta James song. I love hard, blusey R & B. Jessica is like Etta in that she will become mistress of many genres: jazz, blues, R&B. Jessica's performance reminded me that Etta was only 15 when she organized and led her first singing group.

That leaves Hollie and her wooden performance of a beautiful Bonnie Raitt classic. Play the Bonnie Raitt video you'll find below and you'll see what I mean. And I'm not even a Bonnie Raitt fan, but she puts Hollie to shame. I'm getting tired of predicting that Hollie will leave, but this has to be her week to go home.

Of course we may get an unpleasant surprise like last week when we lost the wonderful Skylar Laine. I'll tell you how you voted on that one as well as on this week's elimination on Friday when I post the results of the Niles Library Elimination contest.

American Idol: The Final Five

Here they are, the season 11 final five. And I can't believe that Hollie Cavanaugh is standing there between the great Phillip Phillips and the great Joshua Ledet. After their Righteous Brothers duet, however, maybe they do need someone to separate them. Each of them nearly broke up at some point during the song. They thought that they were singing a romantic tune to each other.

Here is my power list for this week, best to worst:

Joshua keeps getting better and better. Someone has been coaching him not to give cry face all the time and not to go over the top. Plus his outfits are a delight. Slick and getting sexy. Amazing talent.

Jessica is still amazing. Unlike Randy, I loved her Tina Turner flavor on Proud Mary. She gave two great performances this week.

Phillip was solid this week. Not his total best, but awfully good.

Skylar fell down. I didn't think that either of her performances worked. If Randy was offended by Jessica attempting Tina, I was offended by Skylar's version of CCR. Not good. Her second performance was better. I think she'll be in the bottom two this week.

Hollie's first song was well suited to her voice, but she delivered it like the plastic Barbie that she is.
Her second number was much better. I predict that she finally goes home.

Check back on Friday to see if I'm right and more importantly to see if you guessed right in our Elimination contest. You may be a winner.