Wednesday night note:  THEY VOTED OFF MANDISA!  I can’t believe it!  They kept awful singers like Elliot and Ace and Bucky — and got rid of a truly great singer. The voting has nothing to do with talent, and just has to do with popularity - as we’ve known all along.  Sigh! 

It sounds like a fun thing to do. So I’m going to live-blog “American Idol” tonight. Check here starting 7:00 central daylight time.

(7:00 p.m.) Here we go. The top 9 contestants are set to sing. Ryan Seacrest introduces the show. Then the usual music and graphics and cheering.

Oh, look at Ryan — a little facial hair has grown since last week! It looks fairly nice on him. A little scruffy, but good.

The week’s theme is country - with Kenny Rogers as an advisor to the contestants. Now they’re giving the Kenny Rogers’ bio.

(7:03) Taylor is up first. He’s singing “Country Roads” - an old John Denver song (I think). He’s toning down the jerky movements this week. It’s okay. He looks a little uncomfortable.

Randy: “For me, dude, it’s a pretty good choice for you. The vocals were just all right. . . Didn’t see you exude any of your personality.”

Paula: “The song choice just didn’t allow you to shine…”

Simon: “I thought it was safe, boring, lazy… It sounded like you’ve chosen that song ten seconds ago - no rehearsal. . . “

(7:11) Mandisa is next. She’s my personal favorite. She’s singing a Shania Twain song - “Any Man of Mine.” She’s got the attitude to carry off that song. Kenny Rogers said she had chosen a song that had more words than all the songs he’s ever recorded put together. Okay, she’s good - but not fantastic.

Randy - “. . . weird song choice for me . . . at the end you got it together.”

Paula - “You could sing the phone book, the encyclopedia . . . ”

Simon - “I thought that song was horrible. . . ” Lots of boos… “Why do I get booed for being constructive?”

(7:16) Elliot is up next. Ryan described him as the “soul singer.” Hmmmm. His song is “If Tomorrow Never Comes” - a Garth Brooks song. His voice is kinda weak. I just don’t like Elliot.

Randy - “Right now I’m sitting here thinking I love this song . . . but Dude, finally tonight the competition is starting. . . that was hot!”

Paula - “There are so many things I adore about you, Elliot. You are such a breath of fresh air . . . I think you’re fantastic.”

Simon - “Elliot, I thought it was a good song choice. I thought it was safe, a bit hesitant, like you were a bit nervous. . . . it was the best so far, but you’re going to have to do better than that in the future.”

Well, what do I know? I thought it was awful. Every week the judges rave about Elliot, and I just don’t see it!!!

Paris and Ace will be up after the commercial break.

(7:25) Now it’s Paris’ turn. Cute outfit - definitely a little bit country. She’s singing “How Do I Live?” - a good old Trisha Yearwood and Leann Rimes song. Her voice is a little quavery at the beginning, but is getting stronger with each word. I think this is the best performance so far tonight. She’s had a few questionable (pitchy?) notes. I really liked it!

Randy - “I could tell this is one of the toughest songs you’ve sung. . . The front part of it was not good, but you got it together. For me it was just all right.”

Paula - “I didn’t feel like you connected with the song . . . .”

Simon - “Paris, I have to disagree with Paula.” (Cheers!) “I thought it was very good. I thought it was an excellent choice of song. It reminded me of an early Dionne Warwick.”

I generally agree with Simon on the basics, and this is definitely true in this case. Randy and Paul just fawn all over Elliot and then criticize Paris. Unbelievable!

(7:29) Ace is up. Ah - a slow one. His voice sounds a little weak, though. “Tonight I Want to Cry” is the song - a current Keith Urban (I think) song. I would say it could put you to sleep to listen to it.

Randy - “Once again, these are hard songs to bring your own personality to. . . . it was nice but it was really boring to me. . .at least at the end you showed a little falsetto. . .”
Paula - “I totally disagree. . . . I thought it was a contemporary nice take on it.”

Simon - “I think you had a good night tonight. Very good.”

(7:37) Kellie’s up now. She’s a country singer. So she SHOULD do well. Ryan is talking about her naivete “act” - so she’s talking about how it is real and not fake. She’s singing “Fancy” - a Reba McIntyre song. She’s owning this song. I think she’s doing a great job. It’ll be interesting to see what the judges say.

Randy - “Yo. Finally . . . I thought it was great. Your element. . . This is your night.”

Paula - “It was a song you could sink your teeth into. . .”

Simon - “I hate the song personally, but I thought your performance was good.”

Whew! Finally I agree with the judges on a performance. I hate the song, too, but Kellie did a good job with it. I really liked her outfit. (Now THAT sounds like something Paula would say).

Chris and Katherine will be up after the commerical break.

(7:44) Chris is up. A slow song . . . Yawn!! He’s not putting any emotion into it. He’s singing “Memories of Us” - can’t remember who sang it. He’s got a good voice, but this song is a dud. However, the judges adore him, so I’m sure they’ll continue with that.

Randy - “I actually really enjoyed it, man. . . ”

Paula - “You show versatility and still stay true to who you are.”

Simon - “It was great to see a different side of you . . . having said that, for two weeks now the contestants have chosen really boring songs. . . “

Yea! At least Simon is on the same wavelength as I am. I just don’t see Chris’ appeal.

(7:47) Katherine’s turn. I don’t know this song…and I can’t understand the words well enough to figure it out. Okay - it’s “Bringing out the Elvis in Me.” I’ve never even heard of this song before. I like Katherine’s singing, though, and I think she’s doing a good job. She’s keeping my interest anyway! A couple of the others just about put me to sleep. Katherine has a very natural stage presence.

Randy - “Kind of a bluesy country. Very nice. . . ”

Paula - “That’s your style. That’s your niche. . . ”

Simon - “I don’t know what to say. That song is just peculiar. . . ” (Katherine interrupts him to say “Simon, you just don’t like country music, and that’s okay.”)

Let’s see. . . who’s left. Oh yes - Bucky.

(7:54) Bucky is singing a song I don’t recognize either. Gee! For a Nashville gal, I haven’t recognized two of the songs tonight. I can’t understand the words. He’s not enunciating the words very well. I hate to say it because I really like Bucky - he’s got such a cute smile and I like his voice - but it sounds like he’s just mumbling the words. “Best I Ever Had” must be the name of the song…. going by the last line - which was nice.

Randy - “Bucky man….it was all right tonight…good song choice for you, I think. . . ”
Paula - “This is your element. . . .”

Simon - “I’m not an expert in this music, but it sounded all right tonight. It was okay.”

That’s it. I think Bucky or Ace will go home tomorrow night. I’d personally send Elliot home, but everyone else seems to think he’s great.

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