American Idol's Season 8, Top 7 - again. Performance and results.

Those of you who saw American Idol last week already know that Matt Giraud made the "save" and came back this week. That is why we have two weeks in a row of "Top 7" and will have no Top 6. We're going directly to Top 5. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

This week is Disco week. Ick. I'm not a fan of disco. My mom would have loved this week, if she were still alive. I thought about her a lot. Ahem....anyway....

Lil Rounds started off the night on Tuesday with I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan. I didn't care for the performance. I felt bad for her because the judges, once again, gave her confusing messages. Oh, except Simon, who told her they wouldn't be seeing her again. What a schmuck. Randy said, "Sounded so wild to me". "You definitely can sing. It still didn't really show, is what kind of artist and what you can do at this point in the competition." Kara said, "All of America has been waiting for you to sing Chaka Khan, and I'm not really sure it was worth the wait". Ouch! "Still didn't tell me who you are as an artist". (I'm sure she's as tired of hearing this as much as I am). Paula talked about how she was on vocal rest the day before and how she gives her credit for being able to sing as well as she did. Simon told her in his most blunt style, when Lil said she had a lot of fun, "I'm glad you had fun because I think this is the last week we're going to see you."

Kris Allen sang "She Works Hard For the Money" by Donna Summer. Okay, I had flash backs of when Jason Castro said he was going to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". I was like, "whaaaaat??? Ewww!" But, like Castro last season, I LOVED it!!! In fact, I'm surprised the judges didn't say something comparing Kris to Jason. It was so Jason Castro-style, which is why I probably loved it. I have to say, Kris Allen had been flying under the radar most of the season. The only thing I can remember about him is that he is in the music ministry at his church and that he is married because Simon told him it was stupid of him to mention that so early in the season. He just didn't impress me, until now! Here is what the judges said: Randy - "You know who you are. You come out every week and this proves the fact that you are ready for the big time dog." "Amazing". Kara said, "You took a real risk with that arrangement and it paid off BIG TIME!" Paula told Kris, "Had a classy Santana feel to it." She spent some time talking about women shopping in the men's department, but how not too many men shop in the women's department, to which Simon widened his eyes and shrugged his shoulders and apologized to Kris for that comment, that Simon just didn't understand. Simon's comments are "It was original. It was well thought out. That was NOT karaoke. It was a fantastic performance."

Danny Gokey sang an Earth Wind and Fire song, September. It was pretty good. Everyone seems to like Danny. Unfortunately, after Kris's amazing performance, it paled in comparison. I did like his own spin on it. Randy told Danny that he was kinda worried when he heard this was his song choice. (Yeah, you too huh?) "You turned this into something that really worked for you tonight." Kara told him, "I was really worried about you in disco night. Sorta like asking Simon to wear a plaid shirt or something. You are an incredible vocalist. Your pitch is so right on - always. Another solid performance for Danny." Paula's was short and sweet. "I think you have one of the sexiest voices ever." Simon said he "agrees with what everybody else said, but as a performance though, I didn't really get any star power." "The performance was a bit awkward and a bit clumsy." (I didn't get that at all)

Dear young, rocker Allison sand "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer. As always, awesome vocals! Rocked it out and made it her own. Great job and very much true to her style. Randy disagrees with me though. He said he "didn't love the arrangement. A little over indulgent for me, but you're one of the best singers in this competition." "You can really sing." Kara said that "making it slower kind of hurt the performance but I gotta say, you picked the right song." (I disagree that the comment that slowing it down hurt the performance.) Kara went on to say that "You're one of the BEST singers. From a singing perspective, that was like a 9/10 for me." Paula told her "the word compromise does not even belong in your musical vocabulary." "That last note, you hit it off the charts." Simon told Hot Stuff, "taking everything into account, that was a brilliant performance."

Adam Lambert sang, "If I Can't Have You" from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. He said he wanted to perform something he could connect to emotionally. Wow, did he! That guy is a performer, for sure! He had his hair in that pompadour style again, showing he's pretty versatile. Randy was like, "Dude! I'm telling you something. You are ready right now." "He is a hot one tonight AMERICA!" Kara told Adam, "Adam. You're brilliant. I don't know what else to say." Paula, with a tremble in her voice, told him, "Tonight, you chose to pick a disco song and not make it cliche and up-tempo. I felt your pain. I felt your vulnerability which was beautiful. It's as if you tore your heart out and left it on the stage. You're fascinating. You're brilliant. You're awesome and you will be in the finals." Simon said, "It was original. You're going to remember it. Your vocals were immaculate." And what Simon says, is true! :-)

Matt Giraud sang Staying Alive by the Bee Gees. Pretty good vocals and performance. I would have picked a different song though. It's a funny thing. Matt is becoming disappointing to me. I had higher hopes for him. But where Matt is lacking, Kris Allen is taking over. I'm shocked at that revelation, but happy at the same time. Randy said he "Didn't love the song choice. Didn't love the arrangement, but -- you can really sing dude." Kara told Matt that he "brought disco back." "I like to see you move." "Solid". Paula told him, "you pick songs like I bowl. Sometimes you throw a gutter ball and sometimes you get strikes. This was a strike." Simon, in his typical Simon style told him, "Sorry to put a damper on this, but I actually didn't like that performance." Wow Simon. Really? Why don't you stop beating around the bush so much.

Anoop Desai sang "Dim All The Lights" by Donna Summer. What, is she the only queen of disco? He looked good in his grey suit and dark pink shirt. As always, his vocals were awesome, but it's my opinion that he is just not star quality. I loved the scruff though. Made him look sexy. Randy told Anoop, "you can sing also. Anoop, nice baby. Nice." Kara said "I thought it was a great song choice. For me it sounded like it could actually be on the radio. Your best performances the last 2 weeks." Paula said, "Real men know how to wear pink". "Good job". Simon was typical Eeyore with, "Mediocre at best. It was a horrible version of that song. Worst performance of yours by a mile". Wow, seems to me that they were ready to get rid of Anoop now and wanted to be sure the viewers knew it. Sheesh. I'm ready too, but I totally disagreed with Simon.

Results:

I had a taped copy to draw on for the performances, so I could get all my quotes right! (hey, if I weren't such a perfectionist about it, this review would have been done days sooner!) I didn't have that luxary for the results night, so that's all from memory. Those of you who know me are cringing now because my memory stinks! But, I'll do my best.

Well, who could forget that cute little David Archuleta from last season's AI? The girls went crazy in the crowd. As for the eliminations, I wasn't sure how they were going to handle that, but surprise, surprise, they sent Lil home right away. I'm glad it was her. Out of the 7, there were only 2 I wanted to go home. She was one of them.

Paula choreographed the group number, which in my opinion was the best group number thus far. Way to go Paula! She should do all of them.

The last two standing were Anoop and Allison. I was really, really hoping it would be Anoop that went home. Two reasons: I like Allison a lot and think she's a great singer and performer. Anoop, even with his awesome vocals, is no performer and is overdue to go home. Thankfully, after all the waiting and Anoop saying something like, "Let's get on with it Ryan", we find out that Anoop is the one going home.

I hear that with Lil gone, it's the first time in Idol history that there is no black person in the top 5. I also heard that if Allison went home, it would have been the first time there wouldn't be a female in the top 5. I could care less about these statistics. Black, female, black female. Who cares really? There's always a first for everything, right? I would have hated to see Allison go. Not because she's female, but because she is just darned cute and good at what she does!!

Besides the bad singing from some disco-era oldies (Freda Payne singing Band of Gold, Thelma Houston singing Don't Leave Me This Way and KC from KC and the Sunshine Band singing Get Down Tonight), there really isn't anything else to blog about this night.

Next week's theme for the top 5 is Rat Pack Standards. This should be interesting. I think Kris Allen, Danny Gokey and Matt Giraud should do well. This is going to be tough for Allison and maybe, even Adam -- nah!