Karaoke Gone Wild

Alright, let's get one thing straight. There is a clear line between everyone else and Crystal. The simple fact is...Crystal feels what she sings. She puts her heart and soul into a song, and as a result, you get a straight forward, no cheese, honest to goodness REAL song. She enjoys it, does it for the music, and really makes it work.

Then, there's the rest of the bunch. Siobahn is close to joining Crystal in that category of performers I'd stop doing anything to watch, but not just yet. Michael is close as well, but his cheese factor grates on me a little bit.

But the rest of them. I mean, really? Am I going to stop what I'm doing so I can listen to 2 minutes of Paige Miles taking 2 minutes to find the right pitch? Do I need to continue to sit down and not only watch Aaron Kelly swoon over Miley Cyrus, but then go out and sing a song that's been sung by every drunk wedding karaoke singer with just a little bit of talent? Is Tim Urban worth anyone's time?

Now, I don't want to forget Lee Dewyze. He's got some great gruff to his voice. But, he's a poor man's Danny Gokey. Or David Cook. He has the chops, but not the presence. He's got the voice, but not the power. I just kinda wish the guy would have some fun on the stage. Have some fun with the audience. Have fun with the cameras. Don't treat it like you're singing at a Miss America pageant.

Casey made a decent comeback tonight, but it's just so obvious that both he and Andrew Garcia started with full heads of steam, but now are losing quite a bit of it. I loathe the fact that Andrew is still compared to a Paula Abdul song he covered in Hollywood week, and that the judges still haven't commented on Casey's weird warble in his voice. Am I the only one noticing this? Casey has all the stage presence of a Mr. Potato Head. He smiles, and responds to stimulus, but I get the feeling he'd be just fine sitting in the studio, riffing on the guitar and recording songs.

But here's the bottom line: Of Katie Stevens, Tim Urban, and Paige Miles...two of those are going on the top 10 tour this summer. So now, for the low low price of 54 dollars a ticket (starting price), you can hear any 2 of those 3 try and find their pitch for two and a half hours in concert! Doesn't that just make you excited?

I'm baffled too, by the judges. They ripped apart Paige. They tore apart Tim. They didn't like Andrew. They knew Katie was pitchy and all over the place. Yet, these are people THEY CHOSE to put in the top 24. Seriously? There weren't 1000 other guys who looked similar to Tim Urban who were more talented than him? Are you honestly telling me that Paige Miles was one of THE BEST black girls to put in the top 24, and that there weren't another 1000 who were better than her? These are two of the people we have to vote for?

Idol producers, and judges (if you had any say in it, beyond what Simon Fuller had to say)...you have done America a disservice this season. You've highlighted the supremely talented by surrounding her with poop. Crystal deserves better competition.

All that being said...here's tonight's Idol Rankings: 1. Crystal. 2. Michael. 3. Siobahn. 4. Lee. 5. Casey. 6. Didi. 7. Aaron. 8. Andrew. 9. Katie. 25&26 (where they belonged when the top 24 were chosen). Tim and Paige.

Ironically, Tim was #25. If only Chris Golightly hadn't been disqualified...