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So last week saw the elimination of Lil and Anoop. I correctly predicted that both of them would go home, but I didn’t realize that Alison would be so close to elimination. She’s been in the bottom three multiple times, and for the life of me, I can’t understand why.

So what is in store for Lil and Anoop? I always thought Lil had enormous vocal potential, but she just didn’t live up to it in the competition. I think she could put out a great album, but she’ll have to make more intelligent decisions going forward. Anoop is a terrific singer as well, and generally made smart song choices. However, I think Anoop’s weakness is that he always sounds the same. It’ll be tough for him to put out an album that is enjoyable the whole way through. Anoop also struggles with being a “current” artist. His strengths are in a style that was popular 20 years ago, but he doesn’t fit into the modern RnB genre. However, I would love to be proven wrong on this front.

We are now down to the top 5!

Kris Allen: Kris’ performance was “The Way You Look Tonight.” Overall, this was a solid performance, certainly not Kris’ best, but not bad at all. The judges generally gave strong reviews, but I agreed with Simon that it was a little bit “safe.” It certainly didn’t showcase anything that we haven’t seen before in Kris. Kris has consistently delivered in terms of uniqueness, and has used his vocal abilities as effectively as anyone in this competition.

Alison Iraheta: Alison’s performance was absolutely fantastic. It was beautiful, soulful, and showcase a different side of Alison. I didn’t think she could sing ballads, but wow. Alison has consistently struggled with popularity throughout the show, but I think she may have won some new fans tonight with her first performance.

Matt Giraud: This performance was a risky move by Matt. “My Funny Valentine” is a VERY hard song to sing. Overall, Matt did a pretty good job, but I thought it was a little pitchy, and was definitely on the weaker end of the performances tonight. The competition is so stiff now that there is no real room for error. However, Simon’s very positive review (disagreeing with the other judges) may bode well for Matt.

Danny Gokey: I was a little lukewarm on Danny’s performance. The arrangement was a bit chaotic for me. Nevertheless, Danny’s vocal skills and general creativity shine as always. And the judges LOVED the originality of the performance. Overall, I think the audience will love it as well.

Adam Lambert: Adam’s effort was the best way to close out the first half. As any of my readers know, I’m Adam’s biggest fan. That held note at the end….unbelievable! Adam is almost certainly on the way to the finals.

Prediction for Elimination: Matt Giraud

So last week’s results were very interesting. I correctly predicted that Lil and Anoop would be in the bottom three. But I was surprised that America voted to eliminated Matt Giraud. Matt didn’t have the best performance last week, but I really didn’t think he was the worst. Nevertheless, the judges voted to “save” Matt, thus preventing anyone from being eliminated.

As a result of this, this week’s disco night will eliminate two contestants. We’re down to top talent now, so there’s no longer any room for error.

1) Lil Rounds: This was not the best start to tonight’s show.  I agree with Randy that it sounded “wild.” The arrangement was chaotic and even Paula agreed that it wasn’t working.  Throughout this competition, Lil has made poor song choices and consistently underperformed relative to her vocal talents. I was surprised that Lil survived last week, but I will be absolutely shocked if she manages to get to the top 5.

2) Kris Allen: Disco night isn’t exactly Kris’ core genre. Kris was a bit pitchy at times, but overall this was quite good. I liked the rhythmic arrangement and generally Kris did an excellent job at balancing accessibility and uniqueness. Of all the contestants, Kris has done the best job with song selection and accomplished the very important task of establishing himself as a unique commercial artist.

3) Danny Gokey: This was fantastic! Not only did Danny rock the vocals, but it showed a totally different side of his personality that really excited the audience. Danny is an amazing singer, but as the judges said last week, he needs to step outside his comfort zone to have a good shot at winning. He definitely accomplished that tonight. Well done.

4) Alison Iraheta: Another excellent performance from Alison. As I mentioned before, Alison has amazing vocals, but tonight she really upped it with her stage presence. She was energetic and got the crowd pumped. Randy and Kara bashed the arrangement a little, but I really didn’t think it was that big an issue. All in all, I think Alison did what she need to do to move forward.

5) Adam Lambert: This was one of the most amazing performances of the entire season. Adam showed an emotional, soulful side that still exhibited amazing vocal displays. As Kara said, Adam connected emotionally with the audience in a different way tonight. I’m already looking forward to his first album.

6) Matt Giraud: I’m glad the judge saved Matt last week, because this performance showed that he  has vocal skills. The arrangement was a little cluttered, but  there’s no doubt that Matt can sing. However, the judges were quite mixed on it. I think the message was that Matt was trying a little too hard tonight, which made him seem “desperate.” I agree with this to some extent. Given the strength of the performances tonight, Matt may once again be in danger of elimination.

7) Anoop Desai: Kara and Paula thought this was strong, while Randy and Simon thought it was weak. I gotta agree with the guys. Anoop is a terrific vocalist, and he showed that off tonight, but he’s too one-dimensional. I just don’t see him as a current, unique artist. He sings well, but he doesn’t bring a lot of originality to the table, and when he tries to, it comes off bad. Then he retreats to his soulful comfort zone. At this stage, that simply isn’t enough.

This week is tough. I think Lil is gone for sure, but its tough between Anoop and Matt. On balance, I have to say that Matt has been the stronger, more versatile contestant, and I think the audience will reward him for that.

Predictions for Elimination: Lil and Anoop

Three for three last week! Scott was eliminated, and Anoop and Lil rounded out the bottom three. Scott is certainly an amazing story. To be legally blind and achieve the things that he has achieved is outstanding and inspirational in every way. However, I don’t see him having a successful future in music. At the end of the day, he just isn’t that talented a vocalist and doesn’t bring that much to the table in terms of broad commercial appeal. But I certainly wish the best for him; he is one of the most genuine personalities in American Idol history.

This week’s theme for “Songs from Movies.” Overall, a very solid week, featuring some of my all-time favorite songs.

1) Alison Iraheta: “I don’t wanna Miss a Thing” was an excellent song choice. Once again, Alison showcased her rock strengths. I would have liked to see her sing more of the song in a higher register, where she really shines. But overall, it was a strong performance, and I think Alison has positioned herself well.

2) Anoop Desai:  Coming from the bottom two last week, Anoop had to perform strongly to survive. As always, Anoop shines with slower, smoother ballads that showcase his polished vocals. Brian Adams was a good artist to cover, and the performance was good, but certainly nothing special. Anoop is a talented vocalist, but as I’ve mentioned before, he’s relatively one-dimensional.

3) Adam Lambert: What is left to say about Adam? I’ve already gushed about him enough…,outstanding vocals, electrifying stage presence, and as impressive as always. I’m not sure if this was his most popular song choice, but his delivery was flawless.

4) Matt Giraud: Brian Adams “To Really Love a Woman” is an interesting song choice. It was a little pitchy on the higher notes, but overall this wasn’t bad.  The performance highlighted Matt’s versatility as an artist, but once again, the judges railed on Matt’s rocker take on the song.

5) Danny Gokey: “Endless Love” is one of my favorite songs, and Danny delivered with a simple, moving, beautiful performance. His soul really came through in his magnificant vocals. I absolutely disagree with Simon’s analysis. I think the harp was a beautiful touch, and the traditional take on the song was perfect for letting Danny shine. Also, kudos to Danny for singing this song in light of his personal loss. Very inspirational.

6) Kris Allen: I was less than impressed by this. While the vocals weren’t bad, I thought the arrangement was boring…and it just didn’t feel like the right song choice. Kris would have done better with something with a little more vocal space, allowing him to highlight his incredibly smooth, soft tone. I’ve been vowed by Kris the last couple of weeks, but this was definitely one of the weakest performances of the night.

7) Lil Rounds: Not the best way to close out the night. Lil sounded pitchy throughout, and the vocals were just too busy. Its a shame; Lil has enormous vocal potential, but throughout the competition she has not lived up to her talents.

Predictions for Elimination:

Bottom Three: Anoop Desai, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds

Eliminated: Lil Rounds