American Idol 9 Top 3 – What Should the Idols Sing

Crystal does Gaga? That would be interesting.

I <3 you MJ.

In my ideal world the idols would sing originals… @_@
As it is NEVER going to happen =( Crystal doing Gaga sounds FUN! But I guess David Bowie should be cool too xD
Lee and Nirvana is a good match, but if he likes his public he should do Pear Jam.
Casey… I wish he could play more the guitar and sing Wind Cries Mary by Hendrix…
But these are just dreams =)

So, they do not have to sing something performed in this season then? That is great news for me and leaves the field wide open.

Hmmm. Crystal as Gaga. Might be fun but I am having hard time seeing that. Need to think about this.

Lee…. have to think about this too. Hmmmm.

Casey…would love to see bluesy rock and will get back to ya on what!

I just hope it is not a play it safe type thing.

This is a little off-topic, but since MJ mentioned the finale in the thread:

According to peeps at the AT&T Matt Giraud event Saturday, a bunch of the S8 Idols in addition to Kris will be at the finale including Matt, Anoop and Megan (aka, Megamanoop). I guess an AT&T rep said that? Not sure how reliable this is, and I’m wondering if they’ll get to participate or just sit in the audience.

Crystal: You Are the Best Thing – Ray Lamontagne or Don’t Be Shy – Cat Stevens
Casey: Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan or Just Breathe – Pearl Jam
Lee: Rain King – Counting Crows or Let Her Cry – Hootie and the Blowfish

I think Lee should sing “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I remember hearing somewhere that it’s his favorite song. I heard him sing it before and i think it would be perfect for him to sing it for his choice. Though it might be tough to shorten it.

I always thought Crystal should do “Bad Romance” or something to that extent. She’ll probably do Bowie or something that’s kind of predictable though. Hopefully she’ll prove me wrong.

Casey is a tough one. At this point, if he wants to make to the finale, he has to pull off a Heartless moment. I think he might be able to pull something off doing something that seems so weird at first but so good from his interpretation.

would love to hear Crystal Bowersoxl do a Joni Mitchell song. Or maybe, a twist on something modern. Crystal does Gaga? That would be interesting.

I TOTALLY want Crystal to do a song that was released in the last 10 years, and twist it up. Its the only thing she hasn’t done. If she culd pull it off, it would be a great tactical move.

Casey is a tough one. At this point, if he wants to make to the finale, he has to pull off a Heartless moment.

I have no idea what the deal is with Casey. On one hand he is the last contestant from the south left. So that should hep him. On the other hand, it is hard to imagine him getting past Lee. Maybe Crystal, but even that is unlikely. So I am inclined to believe, like you, he needs a Hail Mary tomorrow.

I think Lee should do something very current, but by a girl, and do it in his folk rock style.

I would love to hear Lee sing a slower, acoustic version of “No Surrender” by Bruce Springsteen or “December” by Collective Soul. For Casey, “American Girl” by Tom Petty or “Turn the Page” by Bob Seger. And for Crystal, “Because the Night” by Patti Smith or “Levon” by Elton John.

I just hope it is not a play it safe type thing.

ITA! That might be what their mind tells them to do, but I think what may have given Kris an edge last year was that he didn’t play it safe at all with Heartless; it could have been a collossal fail but it wasn’t. If you’re already in the top three and have a “virtual” open playing field, why not go for it.

That being said, I suppose they’ll try and balance it out with the songs that were chosen by the judges, so they’ll probably be taking on faster songs since they were all ballads.

Lee-too bad the judges gave him a (re-recycled) ballad, cuz as someone mentioned before, he does a pretty respectable “Simple Man”
ETA: I guess that was you, Jon!

Crystal-She could basically take on pretty much anything. I don’t really have any specific ideas for her.

Casey-I like the idea of Counting Crows, or some Black Stone Cherry, “Tired of the Rain.” As long as he can rock out on the electric guitar and give us something new and non-karaoke…..

Re: the Crystal does Gaga idea…

What about “Poker Face?” Daughtry did an amazing acoustic version and I could see Crystal pulling that off. Or “Speechless?”

Casey I could imagine doing a little Clapton; “Layla,” “Tears in Heaven” or “Crossroads.”

Lee, probably some Counting Crows or Hootie and the Blowfish like someone above me said.

Lee-too bad the judges gave him a (re-recycled) ballad, cuz as someone mentioned before, he does a pretty respectable “Simple Man”

Yeah, that’s the only reason why i don’t think he would do it because of Simon’s pick. I always wanted him to sing it for the longest time if he made it to Top 3. If he doesn’t do it then he’ll either do “Use Somebody” since he mentioned he always wanted to do it on the show but didn’t or maybe some Dave Matthews.

I also agree Crystal is safe. Ellen picked a great choice for her so basically she can sing anything she wants and still make it to the finale.

OK. This is not easy! :)

I too see Lee counting crows.

And I like Poker Face for Crystal.

LAYLA for Casey works for me! It would be great if he adds a little bluesy twist of his own. He could rock this one out big time.

Casey – “Blue Sky” or “Satisfied” by Ian Moore. Since all the prognosticators are prognosticating that Casey will be booted on Wednesday and if so, I want him to go out singing something that is totally off the beaten path that he loves, can inhabit and totally knock it out of the park. His homecoming performances of these songs fit him like a glove, depending on whether he wants soft and acoustic or electric blues. The judges will criticize the obscurity of his choice, but they will criticize no matter what he does.

Lee – “The First Cut is the Deepest” – Cat Stevens. A great song by an artist Lee loves that’s been done by many voices and would sound nice with his. Actually, I think there are other Cat Stevens songs that would work nicely with Lee’s voice.

Crystal – I like the suggestion of Joni Mitchell upthread. “Help Me” is one of my favorite songs ever and I think it would be a great fit for Crystal’s voice.

I’m with those who think Crystal could do anything, but I’d really like to have her pick the last song anyone would expect and make it her own. Or go full-out gospel, but that would never happen on the Idol stage.

I know Lee wants to do “Use Somebody,” and I enjoyed his hometown performance of it on Friday. But I think he needs to do something really uptempo to balance “Hallelujah.” How about a hardcore Springsteen song?

auntieaimee, if Casey did “Pride and Joy,” I could die a happy woman, but like Crystal doing gospel, that’s a big N.O. So, I second cookbunny’s suggestion of “Layla.” In fact, that song hit me the other day as something that would be so amazing for him to do.

MaryS-NJ:
05/17/2010 at 12:01 pm

Since all the prognosticators are prognosticating that Casey will be booted on Wednesday I want Casey to go out singing something that is totally off the beaten path that he loves, can inhabit and totally knock it out of the park. His homecoming performances of Ian Moore’s “Blue Sky” and “Satisfied” fit him like a glove, depending on whether he wants soft and acoustic or electric blues. The judges will criticize the obscurity of his choice, but they will criticize no matter what he does.

I agree with you Mary. As he is doing “Daughters”, I would like to see him rock it out in a bluesy way as he can and has proven at the homecoming events. He can knock it out of the park regardless of what the judges have to say. CROSSROADS by Clapton could work too! I almost see that more than LAYLA.

I think Crystal and Lee both have to knock it out of the park too if they wish to advance. This is still a three way race and I think too close to call. I believe it will all come down to performance and casual voters as no matter what, the fan base will still vote for their favorite.

wjmtv:auntieaimee, if Casey did “Pride and Joy,” I could die a happy woman, but like Crystal doing gospel, that’s a big N.O. So, I second cookbunny’s suggestion of “Layla.” In fact, that song hit me the other day as something that would be so amazing for him to do.

Yes, Pride and Joy would be awesome. But LAYLA or CROSSROADS works!

I actually would have liked to see Lee try “Poker Face”, except that Daughtry already has a 4 million+ hit Youtube version that’s pretty similar to how I’d imagine him singing it. With Simon already forcing him to involuntarily cover Jason Castro, that seems a little bit too much for one night.

I hope they get song clearance from Kings of Leon so Lee can FINALLY do “Use Somebody.” That would put him over the top for sure! Actually, Crystal singing Lady Gaga acoustic isn’t all that far-fetched. She could totally rock, “Alejandro.”

wjmtv: Casey should just do Pride and Joy and rock it out in the bluesy way he can.

She could totally rock, “Alejandro.”

But, as it was just performed would there be too much of a comparison and that might not be in her favor?

I’d love to see Casey sing Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe.” Let Kara compare Eddie Vedder to a barnyard animal. Or if he decides to “go country” Patty Griffin’s “Top of the World” made famous by the Dixie Chicks. It’s no doubt his last week on the show so I’d love for Simon Cowell to diss it as another terrible “bird song.”

I hope to God Crystal doesn’t cover Gaga. That trick has been done too many times already. She doesn’t need to go novelty act to win this thing. I’d love for her to sing something more contemporary however. Maybe KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See” or “Universe & U.”

I’ve only enjoyed Lee’s singing during that very brief glimpse we had of his natural, non-affected singing style when they did that Sinatra medley on results night two weeks ago. But he’s already singing “Hallelujah” so I guess he needs to go more up-tempo. He could really redeem himself in my eyes if his song choice were brilliant. How about something by Amos Lee? How about Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight or Shout Out Loud? Or how abou The Script’s “We Cry“?

With Simon already forcing him to involuntarily cover Jason Castro

, I didn’t realize that is Jason’s version is the original… ;)

BootStar:
05/17/2010 at 12:21 pm

I’d love to see Casey sing Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe.

How but Satisfied?

But, as it was just performed would there be too much of a comparison and that might not be in her favor?

That didn’t stop Kris Allen doing Heartless last year when Kanye performed it earlier that season. It was a small reason why it was so great.

I really want to hear the final 3 sings some faster paced songs… This season has been so slow, boring and blah with most song selections. I think it has a lot to do with the stupid theme weeks, hopefully they are allowed to sing something relevant and newer on Tuesday.

For Casey, I think he could sing some popular alt-rock song. I’d like to hear him sing some Counting Crows(Mr. Jones), Eagle Eye Cherry(Save Tonight), Train(Meet Virginia), Everclear(Father of Mine, Wonderful), Semisonic(Closing Time), Eve 6(Here’s To The Night), idk really, I’ve never really loved Casey and I think his guitar playing is better than his singing so maybe he should go with some Hendrix. Nirvana, The Man Who Sold The World might be good.

For Lee, I think Creep by Radiohead would be interesting. Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight, Tonight. Some Foo Fighters..All My Life, Everlong, Times Like These. Nirvana – About a Girl, Heart Shaped Box. Just please no more Hinder..or maybe he could take a song by a female artist and make it his own. Like a Sheryl Crow or Celine Dion song?

Crystal should sing something that fuels her fire, like Me and Bobby McGee, she tore that song up and seemed really into it and she did her thing and it’s my favorite performance of hers so far. I think she could sing Pink’s “Sober” well, make it her own. One of Jewel’s hits would be good, Foolish Games, You Were Meant For Me. I honestly think anything she sings would work for me and I’m picking too conservative of choices so I’ll throw one out of left field: T-Pain – Buy U a Drank, take it and make it her own.

I didn’t realize that is Jason’s version is the original… ;)

Probably for some it is. :)

, I didn’t realize that is Jason’s version is the original…

I didn’t mean that Jason’s was the original–in that sense every single performance on every show is a cover! In this case it would be repeating songs sung by two former Idol contestants on the same night.

Spawwkles:
05/17/2010 at 12:27 pm

I really want to hear the final 3 sings some faster paced songs…

I agree, especially for Casey and Lee with the numbers selected for them already.

B

ootStar:
05/17/2010 at 12:21 pm

I’d love to see Casey sing Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe

I would agree with this if he wasn’t doing “Daughters”. I am afraid the judges would rank this like they did Mrs. Robinson.

Way back before I even liked Lee, I wanted him to sing Drive by The Cars a la Ed Roland (Collective Soul) but put a little more oomph in it. Doesn’t work that well with Hallelujah though.. could he pull off Everlong?

Crystal – That I Would Be Good by Alanis Morissette

Casey – Ready for Love by India.Arie

k im just looking at kt tunstalls stuff and she did black horse and the cherry tree… am i wrong that someone did this in the past year or so? im thinkin megan?

cuz i think crystal could do this … but not if someone already covered it

still would love to hear crystal do i need to wake up by melissa etheridge

dancin, Megan did it last year and Katherine Mcphee did it in her year twice

Casey – Ready for Love by India.Arie

I love this and think he could do an awesome performance with it but think he needs more tempo with having Daughters stuck on him. I am looking for what I think is the right thing…and nothing has really struck me yet. I would love to see a huge bluesy, rock that knocks it out of the ballpark. Watching his performances at Homecoming shows me he can do it and have the stage presence that all have lacked IMO.

k im just looking at kt tunstalls stuff and she did black horse and the cherry tree… am i wrong that someone did this in the past year or so? im thinkin megan?

cuz i thin crystal could do this … but not if someone already covered it

Megan did it, but it wasn’t a particularly memorable performance. The place to look for these sorts of questions is http://whatnottosing.com/ . That song has two performances by Katherine McPhee and one by Megan Joy listed.

I honestly think that none of these guys are going to pull a Heartless. None of their previous performances, or any of their personalities suggest that they would do something like taking a totally unexpected current song and rearranging it for their style. It’s not a jab at any of them though but since Crystal and Casey haven’t watched alot of Idol I don’t think they are aware of this ‘strategy’. I’m not sure about Lee but he could do anything he wants because at this point I think he is a definte lock for the finale. I’m rooting for Crystal and Casey though I’ve liked them both since the start and I love their kind of music. Best I could hope is for Crystal and Casey to play to their strengths well enough to motivate casual or first time viewers to pick up the phone for them and vote! I really wish that the judges don’t have to give their ‘critiques’ this round and just let the casual and first time viewers make up their own minds just to mix it up a little to see what some people would end up eventually liking. Oh well never going to happen! I like all three of them though and would be ok with anyone in the finale, I just wouldn’t be as interested if Crystal doesn’t make it to the end.

While we’re on the subject of “done already”

Casey – Ready for Love by India.Arie.

was done this season by none other than Big Mike. It would be an interesting risk/reward balance to pull that one out now.

Crystal Bowersox
“She Talks to Angels” by The Black Crowes
“Roxanne” by The Police, as performed by Dilana

Lee DeWyze
“The Dolphin’s Cry” by Live (Acoustic)
“King” by Weezer

Casey James
“Holiday” by Allison Iraheta
“Every Little Bit” by Patty Griffin

Read my thoughts on the judge’s picks here.

was done this season by none other than Big Mike

Oops, I haven’t watched the shows just clips of the people I like, maybe I should go check what’s already been sung this season! I probably read it and it stuck in my head.

I do believe Jon has nailed it on the head, with Lenard Skynard’s ‘Simple Man’ recommendation for Lee.

If her were to do that song, it would be amazing!

I honestly think that none of these guys are going to pull a Heartless

.

I hope you are wrong but we haven’t seen anything thus far that shows me you aren’t. I thought Casey’s homecoming performances show he could if he just lets go and picks a good song.

Casey/Crystal are my top two for finale as well and I don’t think Lee has a lock. Actually, don’t think any of them have a lock at this point as it is a new ball game as far as I can see with last minute watchers. It seems to see if a judge is too hard on a contestant and a voter feels differently, it backfires…even with a first time or casual viewer.

As for anyone doing alt-rock songs, Crystal is the only one I’ve heard that has mentioned any interest about that type of music .. IE: Bowie / 4 non blonds.

Lee – an acoustic version of feels like tonight (daughtry)

Casey – Freebird! Show us some southern rock!
Or a Switchfoot song???

Call me a cynic, but I honestly think that as long as Casey & Lee don’t have horrible performances, they could move past Crystal into the finale. And that’s coming from someone who has voted for Crystal since the beginning of the voting rounds, and exclusively for Crystal for many weeks. I think that everyone has been underestimating the size of both Casey & Lee’s fanbases, and at this point I don’t think anything but a horrible performance will cause voters to switch favorites(and that might not even do it).

I’m expecting Crystal to again be excellent, so it will be important that her performance/song choice sways the casual voters who haven’t already aligned themselves with Casey or Lee. I agree with MJ that a “Crystallized” version of a more current song might do a better job of swaying casual voters, but it isn’t completely out of the picture for Crystal to modernize an older song either.

I actually hope all 3 of them do well and make it tough for America to decide!

MJ YOU ARE BRILLIANT. If Crystal did an unplugged “Bad Romance,” there is NO POSSIBLE WAY that she would lose.

DO IT CRYSTAL! DO ITTTTTTTTTTTT.

I love this and think he could do an awesome performance with it but think he needs more tempo with having Daughters stuck on him. I am looking for what I think is the right thing…and nothing has really struck me yet. I would love to see a huge bluesy, rock that knocks it out of the ballpark. Watching his performances at Homecoming shows me he can do it and have the stage presence that all have lacked IMO.

Do you really think it’s a good idea to repeat something from earlier in the season? And Mike did a good job with this one, too. I would think it would be too big a risk to do this — you *could* end up with people making great comparisons in your favor, but you could also trigger yourself a backlash from supporters of the other guy and get “well, it wasn’t as good as” comments from the judges, if you didn’t hit a home run or just did it in a way that was less to their taste.

Way too risky, I’d say.

I think Casey should go with the obvious and do something by Bob Seger. Something up tempo to really get the audience into it – maybe Old Time Rock n Roll or Hollywood Nights. Casey needs to show he is a great performer if he wants to win it all.

Crystal – I want quirky – Chuck E’s in Love by Rickie Lee Jones.

Call me a cynic, but I honestly think that as long as Casey & Lee don’t have horrible performances, they could move past Crystal into the finale.

No offense to Casey, but if he makes it into the finale it would be very disappointing. IMO, he had one of the worst performances this season with “Blue Skies.” But then again, he did have one of the best performances with “Jealous Guy.” Sometimes it feels like he focuses more on his guitar playing than singing.

Crystal needs to make it into the finale though. If not then it proves once and for all a girl can’t win. And Lee proved himself enough to make it into the finale. He definitely won me over with his Homecoming Concert.

I would love for someone to do a version of Bad Romance similar to this 30 Seconds to Mars cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-JRSLroqzk

But as has been pointed out they probably need to do more uptempo songs to balance out the judges picks.

I agree I think there’s a bigger probability of a Casey/Lee finale than any other combination. I love Crystal I really hope she gets together with the right people to handle and promote her after this, but yeah in the American Idol setting I have accepted for weeks now that she has a very little chance of making it to the finale let alone win, unless she really pulls out a major epic moment. At this point the Casey and Lee fanbases are on major overdrive to get their guy in the finale, and this just doesn’t bode well for Crystal.

Though I’m all for surprises, I think Crystal might stay the course and unleash her stripped-down acoustic “Peace of My Heart,” as that seemed to have been one of her signature songs back at home.

lucy:
05/17/2010 at 12:56 pm

I love this and think he could do an awesome performance with it but think he needs more tempo with having Daughters stuck on him. I am looking for what I think is the right thing…and nothing has really struck me yet. I would love to see a huge bluesy, rock that knocks it out of the ballpark. Watching his performances at Homecoming shows me he can do it and have the stage presence that all have lacked IMO.

Do you really think it’s a good idea to repeat something from earlier in the season? And Mike did a good job with this one, too. I would think it would be too big a risk to do this — you *could* end up with people making great comparisons in your favor, but you could also trigger yourself a backlash from supporters of the other guy and get “well, it wasn’t as good as” comments from the judges, if you didn’t hit a home run or just did it in a way that was less to their taste.

Way too risky, I’d say.

One, I don’t think he should do it in the first place as he is singing Daughters…and two, he should not do a repeat of it as Mike sang it. I didn’t recall that but based on that alone, it is no for me. Whatever he (or the others sing) I just don’t want it to be a safe and boring thing that gets boring reviews. I wish the best for all of them even though Casey is the one for me. I did like Lee in the beginning but he has been to oft key and too intense and I don’t like to watch him. And I agree with the poster who suggests this could come down to Lee and Casey. I have had that thought all along, even though my top two are Casey/Crystal.

With two songs right after a very hectic homecoming schedule, these guys must be super busy to come up with something new (props really to Kris Allen for working on ‘Heartless’!). My guess is they’ll pick one of the songs they’ve covered in their pre-idol days. Perhaps Crystal does Foolish Games, Lee – Use Somebody, and Casey – Drowning on Dry Land.

I just read through most of the suggestions – some real good ones. My suggestions:

Casey – I’d LOVE to see Casey do FREEBIRD – he could really knock the socks off of it.

Crystal – should do a Bruce Springsteen song – Born to Run would be a great one. Has anyone every done a Boss song on the show?

Lee – hmm, Kings of Leon, The Fray, Goo Goo Dolls. Or, as someone suggested – Pearl Jam. Has anyone EVER covered a Pearl Jam song on the show? I don’t know if they could clear the rights to one, the band is very concerned about the non-sellout image.

huckleberryfriend:
05/17/2010 at 12:58 pm

I think Casey should go with the obvious and do something by Bob Seger. Something up tempo to really get the audience into it – maybe Old Time Rock n Roll or Hollywood Nights. Casey needs to show he is a great performer if he wants to win it all.

And I agree he needs up tempo and rock the audience. Not sure about Ole Time Rock b’ Roll though. Don’t think that is the one he needs to knock it out of the park. His homecoming performances show he has the stage presence…he needs to bring it to Hollywood. Someone mentioned FireBird. Funny, he was asked to sing that first by a fan at the StockYard in Ft. Worth.

No no to Gaga. Unless you want me to vom vom. I am so Gaga’d out. Enough already.

Anything current … sick and tired of the oldies.

Jon:
05/17/2010 at 1:02 pm

Call me a cynic, but I honestly think that as long as Casey & Lee don’t have horrible performances, they could move past Crystal into the finale.

No offense to Casey, but if he makes it into the finale it would be very disappointing. IMO, he had one of the worst performances this season with “Blue Skies.” But then again, he did have one of the best performances with “Jealous Guy.” Sometimes it feels like he focuses more on his guitar playing than singing.

Crystal needs to make it into the finale though. If not then it proves once and for all a girl can’t win. And Lee proved himself enough to make it into the finale. He definitely won me over with his Homecoming Concert.

They have all had no so good nights and are still here so obviously they were forgiven. It would be very disappointing for me if Casey is not in the finals and would be more disappointing for a winner to be one who is so often out of key.

sweetsweatredheat:
05/17/2010 at 1:14 pm
, and Casey – Drowning on Dry Land.

That would be sweet as that is a killer IMO.

auntieaimee:
05/17/2010 at 1:16 pm

No no to Gaga. Unless you want me to vom vom. I am so Gaga’d out. Enough already.

I so agree!

Or, as someone suggested – Pearl Jam. Has anyone EVER covered a Pearl Jam song on the show?

What Not to Sing has the answer. Sundance Head is the only contestant ever to try doing Pearl Jam on the show, with his Jeremy performance in the Top 16 round.

Since they all have written and recorded their own material, I would very much like to hear one of their originals. I know it isn’t going to happen, but that is my preference.

They have all had no so good nights and are still here so obviously they were forgiven. It would be very disappointing for me if Casey is not in the finals and would be more disappointing for a winner to be one who is so often out of key

Yeah, they do have off nights. Idk, I just biased cuz i love Lee and Crystal. They seem to have a close relationship to be the final 2 like Adam and Kris had. Though, Casey does sometimes have a goat-like voice. Still like him though.

I’m going to say flat out – no way Casey will be in the final. The judges KNOW the numbers, and I don’t believe casual voters sway the results that much. When you think about it, how much egg would be on their face if they were mouthing off and he really did have a HUGE fan base? I just don’t see it. Syesha didn’t make it to the finals, Kim Locke didn’t, the list goes on. Not gonna happen. [But good luck to him!]

The fact is that more and more rabidish fans are finding material pre-Idol to support their feelings. This is fine, but the casual viewer reacts to what she/he sees on teevee. That’s the way the game is played. Even if everyone tells me that Lee is ASTOUNDING in his pre-Idol stuff [which, in my opinion, he isn't - good, not great] it doesn’t change the fact that he hasn’t done that well ON THE SHOW. I’m sure I’m not alone. For me, for you, Crystal’s performances on Idol as well as her pre-Idol stuff is the best. But that’s me.

I’m going to guess that each of them pulls out very familiar material, as they don’t have a lot of time to work on anything this week.

Crystal: Surely Melissa Etheridge or Piece of My Heart. Something she’s done four thousand times.

Lee – What has he covered? One of those.

Casey – Heaven – he just did it on his hometown tour.

BTW, Lee was a big pussy for singing “girls” and not “whores” when he did the Boxer back home. Please. SING THE SONG AS WRITTEN. Heh.

Casey does sometimes have a goat-like voice. Still like him though.

So does Stevie Nicks at times. Hasn’t hurt her any.

I am not really in any of the final three’s camp, although I think it would make the most sense for Crystal to win as she has been the most consistant. I do not see any of these folks setting the charts or radio on fire. But you never know. Lesser talent has done it before.

Lesser talent has done it before.

2 Words..Bucky Covington

Jon: Though, Casey does sometimes have a goat-like voice.

Jon, I do understand the bias as you said, but I would rather have the vibrato than off key. Ya know, Daughtry has vibrato too. :) Hasn’t hurt him.

songsungblue:
05/17/2010 at 1:34 pm

I’m going to say flat out – no way Casey will be in the final. The judges KNOW the numbers, and I don’t believe casual voters sway the results that much. When you think about it, how much egg would be on their face if they were mouthing off and he really did have a HUGE fan base? I just don’t see it. Syesha didn’t make it to the finals, Kim Locke didn’t, the list goes on. Not gonna happen. [But good luck to him!]

I hear ya but don’t agree. Why all the pimping if the numbers are so skewed for two? I just don’t buy it. Talk about egg on the face….what about Kris Allen? Who would have thunk at this juncture of the season last year with Adam Lambert and Gokey? I still say the Casey dog can hunt and it isn’t over until the fat lady sings.

Jon:
05/17/2010 at 1:38 pm

Lesser talent has done it before.

2 Words..Bucky Covington

Hmmm. I actually liked Bucky in a way and saw a video of him the other day in that I thought was really good.

Hmmm. I actually liked Bucky in a way and saw a video of him the other day in that I thought was really good.

He reminded me of Alan Jackson in the video.

Who would have thunk at this juncture of the season last year with Adam Lambert and Gokey?

Anyone who heard “Dream On” the previous week. Danny was living on borrowed time from that point onwards.

Casey’s vibrato is kind of out of control at times…

See, I don’t know about the whole pimping issue. I don’t think it’s pimping at this point. I think it’s just – that’s the way it is. Maybe I’m just not that much of a believer in the Machiavellian underpinnings of AI, but I think they’re just producing a TV show, not coming up with a Devious Plan. In fact, I’m not sure how much they care who wins. But how much excitement would there be if they admitted that Crystal had been ahead by a yard from the beginning, just like Carrie? Not much. And if Casey really had that big a fan base, why wouldn’t they be supporting him? He’s not embarrassing at all nor is he a “cute, won’t sell” contestant. Country sells, right? I don’t know, it wouldn’t make any sense. My feeling is that they’re pushing Lee because he is the ONLY contender that would sail against the Bowersox. If it’s Casey vs. Crystal – they know she gonna crush him like a bug. ;) I think she’ll crush Lee too, but it’s much less clear. Also, I don’t think Kris was the biggest shock. At this point last year, the judges were still giving him a chance and odds. Gokey had started to slip.

k

costell:
05/17/2010 at 1:55 pm

Who would have thunk at this juncture of the season last year with Adam Lambert and Gokey?

Anyone who heard “Dream On” the previous week. Danny was living on borrowed time from that point onwards.

Was that the one ended with the scream? At any rate, judges were not pimping for Kris and if one read or listened to what was being said, one would assume there was not a way for Kris to win. We know how that went down.

I don’t think you can write Casey off just yet. I’m not convinced that Crystal has a big lead in the votes and it’s hard to say where Mike’s fans will go if they do vote. I think a lot of Aaron’s votes went to Casey which is why he lasted past Mike. Crystal may have a good voice but her personality is lacking imo. Odds are still in her favor but nothing would surprise me including her going out at 3rd.

songsungblue:
05/17/2010 at 1:55 pm

Casey’s vibrato is kind of out of control at times…

See, I don’t know about the whole pimping issue. I don’t think it’s pimping at this point. I think it’s just – that’s the way it is. Maybe I’m just not that much of a believer in the Machiavellian underpinnings of AI, but I think they’re just producing a TV show, not coming up with a Devious Plan. In fact, I’m not sure how much they care who wins. But how much excitement would there be if they admitted that Crystal had been ahead by a yard from the beginning, just like Carrie? Not much. And if Casey really had that big a fan base, why wouldn’t they be supporting him? He’s not embarrassing at all nor is he a “cute, won’t sell” contestant. Country sells, right? I don’t know, it wouldn’t make any sense. My feeling is that they’re pushing Lee because he is the ONLY contender that would sail against the Bowersox. If it’s Casey vs. Crystal – they know she gonna crush him like a bug. ;) I think she’ll crush Lee too, but it’s much less clear. Also, I don’t think Kris was the biggest shock. At this point last year, the judges were still giving him a chance and odds. Gokey had started to slip.

I respectfully disagree with most of what you posted. Kris was a big shock to all I know and the pimping I heard was not for Kris Allen! He was just kind of there in much the same manner being attributed to Casey’s presence. And I am not convinced Crystal is going to crush anyone. I put my money on Casey if it comes down to the Casey/Crystal top 2 which is my preference. As for Casey’s fan base, I would submit they have been supporting him…after all, he is still around. I also think after the homecoming, his fan base has grown. Casey and the vibrato is no more out of control IMO than Daughtry or as another mentioned Stevie Nix. I hope all of them do well post idol. I just favor Casey and think overall he is the best package and do see him doing well in Nashville as you mentioned.

I actually would feel badly for Casey if he won. He’d have TWO rabid fan bases implying he didn’t deserve it, and zero help or promotion.

But again, I just don’t see it happening. I’ve been watching this show from the beginning, and it has rarely surprised me. :) I think Kris won because Adam was a bit flamboyant for some watchers, and this was not a surprise. It was clear that Adam was gay even before he came out, and there are always going to be people that are not okay with that [Grrrr. I hate that, but it's true.] Personally, I don’t think he would have pulled it out against Gokey.

bean99:
05/17/2010 at 2:05 pm

I don’t think you can write Casey off just yet. I’m not convinced that Crystal has a big lead in the votes

I don’t think it has been a run-a-way and I do believe the votes are close and that is why so much pimping is ongoing. And I agree, it is up for grabs and no clear winner.

Keep believing!! ANYTHING can happen tomorrow!! And I am banking on the miracle of Crystal vs Casey!!! Even with that Top 2, nothing’s for sure in the bag. This is American Idol.

songsungblue:

05/17/2010 at 2:05 pm

I actually would feel badly for Casey if he won. He’d have TWO rabid fan bases implying he didn’t deserve it, and zero help or promotion.

But again, I just don’t see it happening. I’ve been watching this show from the beginning, and it has rarely surprised me. :) I think Kris won because Adam was a bit flamboyant for some watchers, and this was not a surprise. It was clear that Adam was gay even before he came out, and there are always going to be people that are not okay with that [Grrrr. I hate that, but it's true.] Personally, I don’t think he would have pulled it out against Gokey.

I would be elated if Casey won! The same could be said outcry for Lee winning and be the first out of tune AI winner. I have already heard that. And the case could be made that Crystal is too quirky for middle America. So, we can find fault with all of them, but at the end of the day America will vote and we will have a winner. Really, they are all winners already for all are further down the road than talent wise they deserve … IMO.

monleo1705:
05/17/2010 at 2:08 pm

Keep believing!! ANYTHING can happen tomorrow!! And I am banking on the miracle of Crystal vs Casey!!! Even with that Top 2, nothing’s for sure in the bag. This is American Idol.

I’m in! :) Casey/Crystal would make it more interesting to say the least. The reset button would definitely be pushed at that point. As last year and previous seasons proved, nothing is for sure with AI.

I would like to hear Crystal do some David Bowie, maybe “Golden Years” or “Rebel Rebel.” She’d sound great on a Joni Mitchell song , but that might be too predictable.

For Casey, I’d suggest “Lido Shuffle” by Boz Scaggs. He’ll have to choose an up-tempo song to compliment that snoozer of a judge’s choice he got stuck with.

As for Lee, he’ll also need an up-tempo song to go along with the overdone “Hallelujah” (I used to like that song, but now I think it needs to take a long vacation.) He might sound good on Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer.”

Good luck to all of them.

I like the idea of Crystal changing up a Lady Gaga song. Bad Romance was done in the Hollywood Rounds (remember Destiny’s Wild vs. Neapolitan?), but how about Pokerface? Chris Daughtry did an unplugged version that was pretty good.

Here is a mash-up medley of Gaga tunes that is could provide some inspiration for what a Crystallized version would be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoNdr0AbttI

Don’t get me wrong. I’m in favor of a Crystal/Lee standoff. :) Just because I don’t think it’s going to happen does not mean I don’t hope it will. Lee has really lost me.

Bruce Springsteen has never agreed to clear his songs for Idol, so that probably isn’t happening

And as for the Freebird suggestion? How is Casey supposed to cut a 10+ minute song down to 1:30-2 minutes? That doesn’t seem possible.

I just hope they come up with stuff that is fresh (at least in terms of being done on AI)

Hoping for a Casey/Crystal final. Crystal/Lee would be my 2nd choice, with Lee/Casey bringing up the rear

Taylor sang Dancing in the Dark. That’s the last time I remember Springsteen clearing.

Casey – Heaven – he just did it on his hometown tour.

He also did it in the first week of semifinals. I don’t want him to sing it this week. If he makes it the F2 he’ll have to repeat anyway, then he can do it.

actually would feel badly for Casey if he won. He’d have TWO rabid fan bases implying he didn’t deserve it, and zero help or promotion.

But again, I just don’t see it happening. I’ve been watching this show from the beginning, and it has rarely surprised me. I think Kris won because Adam was a bit flamboyant for some watchers, and this was not a surprise. It was clear that Adam was gay even before he came out, and there are always going to be people that are not okay with that [Grrrr. I hate that, but it's true.] Personally, I don’t think he would have pulled it out against Gokey.

Some people will find something off-putting about all the contestants to justify not supporting them or supporting others. It has nothing to do with the music and mostly it’s just stupid stuff. Consider stuff that’s already been said about these contestants:

Crystal = “Dirty hippy girl… Needs to wash her hair… Pimping her baby!… Ungrateful…Shrieky…difficult…”

Casey = “Just a pretty boy… Needs a haircut… Took off his shirt – the manho…dumb blond…stiff…goat throat…”

But then there’s
Lee = “Takin’ a dump on the stage…Deer in the headlights… Pitchy, dawg…awkward…Duuuuuude!…”

See, I think this is probably part of why the judges are hedging bets with Lee over Crystal (or Casey for that matter). He’s got a commercial sound but he’s also got non-threatening “every man” appeal. Most criticisms of him are about his performances not him personally. Personally, I’d like Lee better if he could sing a song and stay in tune for the whole time but never discount first impressions.

songsungblue:
05/17/2010 at 2:33 pm
Taylor sang Dancing in the Dark. That’s the last time I remember Springsteen clearing.

It’s the first, and probably only time Springsteen has cleared a song for AI. It was special request of Clive Davis.

Springsteen cleared “Dancing in the Dark” for Taylor Hicks, but that was probably because Clive Davis asked him to. “Thunder Road” would work for Lee, but it’s not likely to happen

“Freebird” is all about the guitar solo. The lyrics are pretty scant, so the vocals don’t count for much.

I think Kris won because he’s terrific, but o silly me.

I want to hear girlfriend Crystal sing the blues — hopefully Janis Joplin (“Piece of My Heart”?) or Bonnie Raitt (“I Can’t Make You Love Me”?) or something comparable. Sister gets much more dramatic when she goes for the blues.

Casey should play to his strengths — how’s about “Layla”? With hot guitar….

Lee should head for Joe Cocker territory or some new version of it. Something lively with a modest range, so he doesn’t drive into the off-key ditch (which doesn’t seem to bother the judges, but sure as heck bugs me). If it hadn’t been done so well before, I’d say “The Letter.” But forget that — I’d like to hear him tackle “Crazy” if that’s not too predictable, or how about something like soul-manish like “Mustang Sally” or “Hold On, I’m Coming” ? Might be too introverted for that. But this is it, boychick: He should get hot & fierce.

Even if Casey did slip into the finale IMO he wouldnt have a chance in hell of winning. Not only would the pissed off Lee fans vote against him but going head to head with Crystal she would stomp all over him vocally. Kris was different last year. He may not have had the judges blessings and wasnt pimped to the degree Adam and Danny was but by this point he delivered more memorable performances than Casey and his momentum was quietly building. After Danny’s disastrous Dream On I knew he wasnt making the finale.

I’d like to hear him tackle “Crazy” if that’s not too predictable, or how about something like soul-manish like “Mustang Sally” or “Hold On, I’m Coming” ?

You would want Lee to reprise that Casey sang on R&B night? That would interesting since he is already performing a song the Tim performed already this season. But “Mustang Sally” might be fun.

As for “Crazy” I’m pretty sure it’s never been cleared for AI.

Even if Casey did slip into the finale IMO he wouldnt have a chance in hell of winning.

I totally agree with this and as much of a Casey fan as I am, nor should he win over Crystal. She’s been the most consistent of all this season and her artistry has really been in evidence. Now as far as Lee’s fanbase, they probably would vote against Casey in protest, but I’d rather Crystal win anyway as the sappy coronation single would be less damaging for her reputation than Casey’s (or Lee’s for that matter).

Crystal = “Dirty hippy girl… Needs to wash her hair… Pimping her baby!… Ungrateful…Shrieky…difficult…”

Casey = “Just a pretty boy… Needs a haircut… Took off his shirt – the manho…dumb blond…stiff…goat throat…”

But then there’s
Lee = “Takin’ a dump on the stage…Deer in the headlights… Pitchy, dawg…awkward…Duuuuuude!…”

And these are the top three. :) The only thing we know for sure is one of the above will be the 2010 American Idol. Fault can be found with all and until this past weekend, Mary, I would have agreed totally with most everything you said. But after seeing homecoming performances, I think TPTB need to take another look at who they pimp. JMO.

Trina:
05/17/2010 at 2:41 pm

Even if Casey did slip into the finale IMO he wouldnt have a chance in hell of winning. Not only would the pissed off Lee fans vote against him but going head to head with Crystal she would stomp all over him vocally. Kris was different last year. He may not have had the judges blessings and wasnt pimped to the degree Adam and Danny was but by this point he delivered more memorable performances than Casey and his momentum was quietly building. After Danny’s disastrous Dream On I knew he wasnt making the finale.

Casey has had memorable performances like Jealous Guy and Don’t…much along the lines of Kris Allen. I see Casey’s momentum definitely building and he may be peaking at the right time. I see Mainstream America choosing Casey over Crystal. Casey has been going head to head with Crystal and Lee since the beginning and all three are still standing. I still say this is too close to call.

And these are the top three. The only thing we know for sure is one of the above will be the 2010 American Idol. Fault can be found with all and until this past weekend, Mary, I would have agreed totally with most everything you said. But after seeing homecoming performances, I think TPTB need to take another look at who they pimp. JMO.

Oh I know, JW, and I agree with you but the script has been set for this season I think as far as the PTB are concerned. I’m just saying it’s the same thing every year. Pick a contestant -any contestant- and somebody will find fault with something about him or her.

With two songs right after a very hectic homecoming schedule, these guys must be super busy to come up with something new (props really to Kris Allen for working on ‘Heartless’!).

Don’t feel too bad for them. In earlier seasons, they had to do three. And one was picked by the top of the crappy song pickers, Clive Davis. :)

I’d rather Crystal win anyway as the sappy coronation single would be less damaging for her reputation than Casey’s

I don’t know about that. Pretty damaging for her too it would seem since some set expectations very high for her.

Mary S
Oh I know, JW, and I agree with you but the script has been set for this season I think as far as the PTB are concerned. I’m just saying it’s the same thing every year. Pick a contestant -any contestant- and somebody will find fault with something about him or her.

I just hope that script gets re-written for TPTB by the votes! I actually think AI is going South as the same old game is getting old and the novelty is gone.

I get what you mean about the contestants.

I actually would feel badly for Casey if he won. He’d have TWO rabid fan bases implying he didn’t deserve it, and zero help or promotion.

I don’t think this Season was good enough to have rabid fanbases. It’s been a painful season to watch. While I like Lee and Crystal, I’m not invested in any of the remaining three. I’m sure they have thier fans, but nowhere near other years.

I wouldn’t mind Casey making it to the final two instead of Crystal. It’d be a slap in the face to the producers and judges who kept telling us it’s a girl’s year.

<

blockquote>sunny2:
05/17/2010 at 2:59 pm

I wouldn’t mind Casey making it to the final two instead of Crysta. It’d be a slap in the face to the producers and judges who kept telling us it’s a girl’s year.

What do the judges know? :) I have disagreed with them on most all they have said this year and apparently voters have too. WE see who is still standing and as much as I hate to see it, I think it will come down to two guys left. I much prefer Casey/Crystal standing in the finale.

Lee – Mr. Jones by Counting Crows

Casey – Suffragette City by David Bowie

Crystal – Love Song by the Cure or I’ll Stand By You by the Pretenders.

sunny2:
05/17/2010 at 2:59 pm
I wouldn’t mind Casey making it to the final two instead of Crystal. It’d be a slap in the face to the producers and judges who kept telling us it’s a girl’s year.

When did the focus of the show become about slapping the producers and judges in the faces? The contestants can’t help what the judges do, yet they are the only ones that are punished by it. If the judges and producers turn people off that much, they just stop watching and leave the voting to those that actually vote for a favorite singer.

jambajim:
05/17/2010 at 12:56 pm
MJ YOU ARE BRILLIANT. If Crystal did an unplugged “Bad Romance,” there is NO POSSIBLE WAY that she would lose.

DO IT CRYSTAL! DO ITTTTTTTTTTTT.

I totally agree with this. Vocally the song’s in the right range, it would work as a stripped down acoustic version, and Crystal has said that she listens to everything. I’m sure she knows of the song – I just don’t know if she’d ever consider doing something like that. I totally think it’d work for her though. And I think she’s got the skill to rearrange a song like that too. She’d never watched the show before this season, but do they perhaps have a chance to watch past seasons in their free time? Crystal seems to be a pretty smart cookie, she might have something just like this in her back pocket for this exact selection. If not this (cause I seriously doubt it) then maybe she could go something like Jewel’s “Foolish Games,” although it’d be a risk – I think even though she’s got a song that at least can be up tempo as a judge’s choice, she needs to keep it up tempo for the most part. My feeling is with how AI is now, only the guys can get away with slow songs.

Casey – someone said Hendrix, that might actually be a good move on his part. “Hey Joe,” “Fire,” “Red House,” any of those. “Fire” would probably be the most well known of them, at least among the younger crowds, but I think the other two would actually be better suited to him. I don’t see Casey really doing “Foxy Lady” but that’s another well known one.

Lee – meh, I don’t want to see him win or even make the final 2 so can I sandbag him? LOL. If I have to pick one, I know his judge’s choice song is already slow, but how about Nickelback’s “If Everyone Cared,” or how about Green Day, “Time of Your Life” or “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”

I really think it’s going to be a Crystal/Lee finale. That’s what I’m hoping for anyway. I think Lady Gaga would be cool to hear from Crystal. The type of music Crystal usually sings isn’t really the kind of music I would listen to so it would be cool to hear her try something different. As for Lee, well I just really wish they could do original music…but maybe like Kings of Leon…I agree Nirvana would be good too…but I know I’ll love anything he does.

I hope the contestants are as creative in their picks as some on here have been, but I am so afraid they are going to do their usual and just play it safe. Boring. I haven’t seen anything that really strikes me for Casey or Crystal. Just would love bluesy rock and both of them can do it. I am with the one who sandbags Lee. :)

OMG—MODERN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Idol is sooooo outdated,and you’re gonna sell records singing songs from way back when (unless you’re a middleaged cat lady)
Crystal-BedRock (ok not really..;))

Lee-Check yes Juliet
Crystal- Poker face maybe or Sober (creativity is necessary)
Casey-Um,idk,rascal fatts?

colette:

05/17/2010 at 2:37 pm

I think Kris won because he’s terrific, but o silly me.

Obviously, America agreed with you! :)

Casey/Crystal this year. Hope America agrees with me. :)

I’m gonna like die if they pick old songs…again…

*
luvadamlambert:
05/17/2010 at 3:33 pm

I’m gonna like die if they pick old songs…again…

And that is probably what will happen due to playing it safe and clearance.

I wish Adam Lambert could pick a song for and then mentor and arrange same. Talk about stepping out of the box!

I didn’t mean that Lee should do “Hold On, I’m Coming,” just something in that vein…maybe?

I LOVE the idea of Casey tackling Hendrix. And my favorite in that vein is “Castles Made of Sand” — but “Purple Haze” would wake the show up!

I think modern is good, but only if it’s a song that really can connect with viewers in two tiny minutes. this is the big problem all but the most melodic, traditionally structured contemporary songs face on “Idol.” It’s why they go back to oldies again and again, IMO. you just can’t do that much with a bridge-less, rhythmic repetitive song in 2 minutes, in terms of creating Big Drama. Not that this bunch is particularly dramatic, but one hopes they can please rise to the occasion….

Re: people saying Crystal should do “Piece of My Heart,” it probably wouldn’t be a bad choice for her except it was her audition song. I’m not sure if that actually aired (I’ve only seen it online), but she couldn’t repeat it yet, could she? Wouldn’t she have to wait until final 2?

I saw a few people say that they think Crystal crushes Casey (say that 5 times fast) if it comes down to them as the final 2. Actually, I think Crystal beats Lee in the final 2, but loses if it’s Casey she’s against (and of course, that’s if she gets there). The Southerners are dedicated Idol watchers, and if Casey gets eliminated, I have a feeling Crystal’s style appeals to them more than Lee’s. Also, I have a feeling a lot of casual voters will be struck by how good Crystal is, having not heard the Lee pimping all season. However, if Casey goes up against Crystal, I think he gets a good many of Lee’s “OMG he’s so HOT” votes, if they still vote. Plus his dedicated Southern fanbase. That said, I’m a Crystal fan…and want to see Casey in the final 2. He deserves it much more than someone who can’t even sing in key consistently.

The only thing that’s made me think Crystal could run away with this at this point was the Idol Democracy poll from last week, when she hit 55%. At that, if she maintained that percentage of the actual Idol vote as well, she wouldn’t need to pick up a single vote from anyone eliminated to win. But then there’s the casual viewers tuning in the last couple weeks.

One of the things that sucks about winning is singing a very corny coronation song. I remember reading a rly good idea about how the contestants should write their own song. It makes it more personal that way and shows off that their truly artists. At least make them part of the writing process.

I think modern is good, but only if it’s a song that really can connect with viewers in two tiny minutes. this is the big problem all but the most melodic, traditionally structured contemporary songs face on “Idol.” It’s why they go back to oldies again and again, IMO. you just can’t do that much with a bridge-less, rhythmic repetitive song in 2 minutes, in terms of creating Big Drama. Not that this bunch is particularly dramatic, but one hopes they can please rise to the occasion…

This. I’m not saying that there’s no good modern music, but it really has just become all about the hook and the bass line, at least with most of the “top 40″ sorts. Country music still is very melodic and often has plenty of “build” to a song, but the problem is that it’s also not exactly the most popular music either. There’s certainly plenty of country fans, but there’s also just as many (if not more) who HATE country music.

Pshhh, you want something WAY out there and bizarre and TOTALLY non-Idol that would probably create a huge buzz for Crystal? If she could work out a half a capella, half accompanied with her acoustic guitar “Ave Maria.” A lot of people would HATE it, but it would also be that water cooler moment that people have wanted. It’d almost be a natural outshoot of her gospel sorts of songs – and she’s got the purity of vocal tone to do it too.

And I’ll just say it again – still holding out for that 0.01% chance of all 3 of them doing originals for their picks. Crystal – “Grey Haired Rock Star” or “Holy Toledo,” Lee – “Flower Child” or “Annabelle.” Don’t know about Casey.

colette:
05/17/2010 at 3:38 pm

I LOVE the idea of Casey tackling Hendrix. And my favorite in that vein is “Castles Made of Sand” — but “Purple Haze” would wake the show up!

I think modern is good, but only if it’s a song that really can connect with viewers in two tiny minutes. this is the big problem all but the most melodic, traditionally structured contemporary songs face on “Idol.” It’s why they go back to oldies again and again, IMO. you just can’t do that much with a bridge-less, rhythmic repetitive song in 2 minutes, in terms of creating Big Drama. Not that this bunch is particularly dramatic, but one hopes they can please rise to the occasion….

I like Hendrix for Casey.

With respect to your comments, I see issue in song selection with an appeal to a vast audience and age range, demographics etc. It is not easy.

Jon:
05/17/2010 at 3:43 pm
One of the things that sucks about winning is singing a very corny coronation song. I remember reading a rly good idea about how the contestants should write their own song. It makes it more personal that way and shows off that their truly artists. At least make them part of the writing process.

Obviously that is a “price” any contestant would pay as winner of IDOL. Viewers have hated many of the coronation songs, but that is part of the IDOL contract for the winning contestant. It would be nice if they allowed contestants to co-write, but that isn’t exactly practical since they have no idea who will win and the song has to be written in advance so it’s ready for the week of the finale.

I think Casey should sing something like Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You.” It’s upbeat, which is a nice contrast to the sleepy “Daughters.” Plus it’s got mad guitar and would really show Casey’s commercial potential – I’ve always seen him as someone who could do well in the country market a la Keith Urban. And the lyrics will appeal to voters much more than some of the “jam” music Casey leans towards. He’s already done Keith Urban once this season, so I don’t see it as too much of a stretch. And it won’t matter if Casey smiles the whole time, because it’s a happy song.

IMO, Casey still has a shot at the final two. If he can loosen up and pulls out a country/southern rock tune that motivates the “apple pie” vote, he’s a contender. And, while we are making Gokey comparisons, let’s not forget Lee’s out of tune (to the point of notes hurting my ears) rendition of “Kiss From a Rose” last week. I don’t see Crystal as a lock either since she’s a little… unusual for Idol (though extremely talented).

And, while we are on the subject of “goat” vibrato, let’s not forget that Cher has made a pretty comfy career for herself in spite of (because of?) her vibrato. I remember Belinda Carlisle having a pretty goaty vibrato as well.

Idol Democracy poll from last week, when she hit 55%. At that, if she maintained that percentage of the actual Idol vote as well, she wouldn’t need to pick up a single vote from anyone eliminated to win. But then there’s the casual viewers tuning in the last couple weeks.

But, how many actual voters really participate in a poll like this? Is it more the dedicated fans? Just askin’ cause I don’t know. I know with Gallup Poll, questions are just asked of anyone and results are a high %. Rasmussen asks questions of likely actual voters across demographics, and the % is consistently much lower. So, I don’t know that a poll really tells us much. I still say this is to close to call.

#
clickchick:
05/17/2010 at 3:56 pm

IMO, Casey still has a shot at the final two. If he can loosen up and pulls out a country/southern rock tune that motivates the “apple pie” vote, he’s a contender. And, while we are making Gokey comparisons, let’s not forget Lee’s out of tune (to the point of notes hurting my ears) rendition of “Kiss From a Rose” last week. I don’t see Crystal as a lock either since she’s a little… unusual for Idol (though extremely talented).

And, while we are on the subject of “goat” vibrato, let’s not forget that Cher has made a pretty comfy career for herself in spite of (because of?) her vibrato. I remember Belinda Carlisle having a pretty goaty vibrato as well.

Apple Pie is the key and exactly my sentiments when Mainstream America really votes. Two words. Kris Allen. And I think Casey has a very real shot at winning this whole thing…regardless of who he goes head to head with. It is a matter of song choice at this point IMO. It is his to lose.

Didn’t Crystal mention in a recent interview that she was going to sing “What’s Up” by the 4 Non Blondes on the tour? Maybe she’ll pick that one for Tuesday night.

So interesting, all the comments about Casey’s chances. I think he and Crystal are the best musicians, in terms of sheer musical ability. But will his guitar chops and great looks carry him beyond what has put me off him (and I was an initial fan) — a certain blandness, and a constant vibrato that kind of pulverizes a lot of his vocal performances?

Interesting, though, the idea that Lee & Crystal may be fighting over the same audience, while Casey has a whole demographic of his own — including that Southern thang……pretty smart of him, intentionally or not, to say how much he missed hearing “y’all” in L.A.! Maybe he’s got the “y’all” vote, which is substantial (I say it all the time myself….)

The Idol Democracy poll is, as I understand it, a survey that people sign up for (I was actually going to sign up, but I didn’t). It’s geared towards Idol watchers – who they would be/are voting for. Of course there’s no guarantee they’re actually voting, but it isn’t just a randomly picked survey like Gallup. I don’t think it’s exactly 100% accurate either, especially since 55% of voters could cast 1 vote each, and then Lee’s 19% or whatever he had all cast 100 votes…well, you get the picture. I think their whole purpose was to compare their results to the actual ones and see what difference multiple votes make compared to a fairly decent sample voting once each (I read somewhere they have just over 3,000 participants).

Worth noting though is that Crystal has never been ranked anything but #1 in that poll – from the first Hollywood week on. And after Aaron’s elimination, Lee (and Mike) lost support percentage wise, while Crystal and Casey gained. Casey’s gain wasn’t big, Lee’s loss was several percentage points, Crystal’s gain was over 13%. Mike’s voters, if they do vote, could be a very important swing vote.

AndreaH:
05/17/2010 at 4:02 pm
Didn’t Crystal mention in a recent interview that she was going to sing “What’s Up” by the 4 Non Blondes on the tour? Maybe she’ll pick that one for Tuesday night.

Linda Perry has repeatedly denied the use of “What’s Up” on televised Idol. Contestants have sung it in auditions and it was Adam’s song in Hollywood week, but they weren’t able to show it. I remember some contestant saying that Linda Perry has always said “no”.

CindyM:
05/17/2010 at 4:11 pm
AndreaH:
05/17/2010 at 4:02 pm
Didn’t Crystal mention in a recent interview that she was going to sing “What’s Up” by the 4 Non Blondes on the tour? Maybe she’ll pick that one for Tuesday night.

Linda Perry has repeatedly denied the use of “What’s Up” on televised Idol. Contestants have sung it in auditions and it was Adam’s song in Hollywood week, but they weren’t able to show it. I remember some contestant saying that Linda Perry has always said “no”.

But yes, Crystal did say that she’s going to sing it on the tour. Probably doesn’t change whether she could do it on the show, but she did say she will do it on the tour (after looking off camera asking if she was allowed to say – I don’t know if she was supposed to or not, but she was trying to be a good girl, lol).

But yes, Crystal did say that she’s going to sing it on the tour. Probably doesn’t change whether she could do it on the show, but she did say she will do it on the tour (after looking off camera asking if she was allowed to say – I don’t know if she was supposed to or not, but she was trying to be a good girl, lol).

Yep, I think the rules for what they can sing on tour is a lot less rigid. Since the Idol songs are sold on Itunes and televised, some artists refuse to approve. Just like Daughtry sang Whole Lotta Love on the Idol tour, but they had never approved a song for use on the tv show before.

colette:
05/17/2010 at 4:06 pm

So interesting, all the comments about Casey’s chances. I think he and Crystal are the best musicians, in terms of sheer musical ability. But will his guitar chops and great looks carry him beyond what has put me off him (and I was an initial fan) — a certain blandness, and a constant vibrato that kind of pulverizes a lot of his vocal performances?

Interesting, though, the idea that Lee & Crystal may be fighting over the same audience, while Casey has a whole demographic of his own — including that Southern thang……pretty smart of him, intentionally or not, to say how much he missed hearing “y’all” in L.A.! Maybe he’s got the “y’all” vote, which is substantial (I say it all the time myself….)

Colette, just that the discussion is ongoing about Casey winning is telling in and of itself as a week ago, such a thing was unheard.

Now, the Y’all thang is for real! I am not Texas, although I do not reside there now, and Darlin’, that is the way we talk. And yes, we do miss it when we don’t hear it.

As for the blandness, I agree with you there, BUT, watch his Homecoming performances and it is anything BUT bland. THIS is the Casey I want to show up on that AI stage Tuesday. :)

Now, the Y’all thang is for real! I am not Texas, although I do not reside there now, and Darlin’, that is the way we talk. And yes, we do miss it when we don’t hear it.

Ooops!!! I AM from Texas, although I do not reside there now.

mozart4898:
05/17/2010 at 4:07 pm

Thanks for the poll information. It will be interesting to see how this thing plays out and a sure measurement of accuracy for the poll will be who wins. In any poll, there is a margin or error factor and I don’t know that can even figure in this case with one being able to multiple vote.

Heck! I am fine and wish for Casey/Crystal in the finale. If Casey had gone home instead of Big Mike, I would have voted for Mike. Most all I know say the same, so I am in hopes, BM’s votes go to Casey. :)

As for the blandness, I agree with you there, BUT, watch his Homecoming performances and it is anything BUT bland. THIS is the Casey I want to show up on that AI stage Tuesday. :)

I agree with you 1,000% watch his hometown videos especially the ones with his band. I have been a very casual Idol observer this year until I saw the “Gravity” vid Friday night. “WTF? Why isn’t this the Casey that is on Idol?” was my immediate thought. THIS is the Casey I will pay to go see perform (just not on the Idol tour) and I will buy his CDs if this is the music that is on it.

If he can loosen up

Plus, if someone — anyone — successfully loosened up and did a strong performance in that condition, it would be a first overall for this season.

In other words — chances not good, I’m thinking.

just sayin.

l

ucy:
05/17/2010 at 4:43 pm

If he can loosen up

Plus, if someone — anyone — successfully loosened up and did a strong performance in that condition, it would be a first overall for this season.

In other words — chances not good, I’m thinking.

I don’t know who the “he” is to which he refer, but IF it is Casey, he surely let loose this past weekend. :)

just sayin.

I think Casey should sing something like Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You.” It’s upbeat, which is a nice contrast to the sleepy “Daughters.” Plus it’s got mad guitar and would really show Casey’s commercial potential – I’ve always seen him as someone who could do well in the country market a la Keith Urban. And the lyrics will appeal to voters much more than some of the “jam” music Casey leans towards. He’s already done Keith Urban once this season, so I don’t see it as too much of a stretch. And it won’t matter if Casey smiles the whole time, because it’s a happy song.

I see what you’re saying but IMO the kind of country Casey’s most suited to doing isn’t country pop a la Keith Urban. If we’re still thinking of mainstream country hits then I think it’d be fun if Casey did Long Time Gone from the Dixie Chicks Home album. Simon’s head might explode if he heard that one. It’s a great rootsy country song. Or Casey could have some fun with some Dierks Bentley, What Was I Thinking or Lot Of Leavin Left To Do. Most people might not recognize the songs but IMO Casey might stick in people’s minds better if he does something not everybody recognizes.

How about some Sheryl Crow uptempo for Crystal? I’m thinking A Change Would Do You Good or Can’t Cry Anymore. They’ve got peppier beats and that might help Crystal seem more contemporary.

Lee: I want to hear something not contemporary because my thing with him is I don’t see how he stands out among all the HAC pop rock WGWGs. Maybe a Smokey Robinson Motown song would help me see him differently.

THIS is the Casey I will pay to go see perform (just not on the Idol tour) and I will buy his CDs if this is the music that is on it.

Mi lo.! :)

H

ow about some Sheryl Crow uptempo for Crystal? I’m thinking A Change Would Do You Good or Can’t Cry Anymore. They’ve got peppier beats and that might help Crystal seem more contemporary.

I thought of Sheryl Crow earlier today for Crystal and that has stuck in my mind. Glad to see someone else on that page to.

I am having a time deciding with Casey as I want the bluesy rock, country rock, rocky blues. :)

Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week. Oh well, at least he made it top 3 & got to enjoy coming home..

Windmills – I suggest Keith Urban because KU’s music is really guitar-centric and because we’ve seen Casey perform his music before. As much as I’m hoping that Casey leans more towards a “Long Time Gone” more “authentic country” sound post-Idol, I don’t know that this is the kind of music he wants to make. Plus it may be a little too country for a general AI performance. He has said he wants to combine country, pop, and blues, and we know he wants to play, so I really do see Keith Urban as being a good fit for tomorrow. Add in some romantic lyrics and we could see Casey in the finals! (“What Was I Thinking” is a fun song, I just don’t see it as one that’s going to win Casey new fans or really inspire people to vote.)

Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee.

No most of the commentors on this blog are very pro-Casey, but you are definately not the only one who likes Lee. This season he has been my favorite as well.

My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week.

Why is that? He has had a number of great performances over the last few weeks. And every contestant has had at least one week that went poorly.

Mariam94:
05/17/2010 at 5:06 pm
Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week. Oh well, at least he made it top 3 & got to enjoy coming home..

Mariam – you are most definitely NOT the only person who likes Lee. Lee has a very large fan base, perhaps just not vocal on this blog. I actually like Lee a lot, along with Crystal who is my #1 fav and Casey. I think all 3 of them are good. Lee’s TV performances, to me, have been way too pitchy, but his ITunes recordings are good.

Edited to add that from what I’ve seen, Casey fans tend to prefer a Casey/Crystal finale, while Lee fans tend to prefer a Lee/Crystal finale. I’m sure this isn’t true across the board, but it seems to be a pattern from what I’ve seen. I’m not sure if Crystal fans have any particular favorite other than getting her to the finale, which will be a tremendous feat!

Lee – Airplanes Pt.2 (It’s a hip hop song by B.O.B. featuring Hayley from Paramore. It’s really big on the radio right now and I think Lee can put a nice rock twist on it… kind of the same feel with Kris and “Heartless”)

Casey – “The Blowers Daughter” by Damien Rice (It’s an emotional song with an acoustic feel and he shines when its just him and his acoustic guitar… and i’m staying with the daughter theme.. heh)

Crystal – Pokerface (Possibly the Chris Daughtry version of it, except with an electric guitar. I really want to see sing a contemperary song and I REALLY want her rock out)

While I love “The Blower’s Daughter”, I’m having trouble imagining a 90 second performance of the song. It just needs too much time to build. Perhaps “Cannonball” might work better for a Damien Rice song (I could actually picture either Lee or Casey doing it)?

Mairam: All three are already winners just to be where they are and Lee will no longer have to sell paint…not that there is anything wrong with that. He has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, I am sure and he has a lot for which to be proud. It is not that I don’t like Lee, I just prefer Casey’s style and think he is overall package. But, Lee has a huge fan base as does Crystal and Casey. Whoever goes home this next week, goes home with a head held high and a bright future ahead. I wish them all the best but my vote still goes to Casey.

Edited to add that from what I’ve seen, Casey fans tend to prefer a Casey/Crystal finale, while Lee fans tend to prefer a Lee/Crystal finale. I’m sure this isn’t true across the board, but it seems to be a pattern from what I’ve seen. I’m not sure if Crystal fans have any particular favorite other than getting her to the finale, which will be a tremendous feat!

Interesting observation. I am Casey fan, but Crystal would be #2 for me at this point so that is why I would like to see Casey/Crystal top 2.

Well, you know, it could be Casey/Lee finale and that is what I have predicted although it is NOT what I want.

Hmmm…from the observation from J9BT, I wonder if the Casey and Lee fans are direct opposites in demographics. Interesting.

Another possibility

Lee – “Everything” by Lifehouse (It is a long song, but it has momentum, and it has the epic feel that Lee needs.)

I’m not from Texas, but I love “y’all”! My favorite Texas moment: seeing a sign on an Austin Jewish deli: “Shalom, y’all!”

Mariam94:

Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week. Oh well, at least he made it top 3 & got to enjoy coming home..

I’m still here too, Mariam. Lee has definitely taken a hit in the blogosphere this last week, but boy, there sure were a lot of teenagers at Arlington. Teenagers and their legendary thumbs. :) I am cautiously optimistic.

I just really really hope he pulls another THLAL out of the back pocket of his low-riding pants (although I will say his pants looked respectable on Friday. I would’ve let him date my daughter. ;) )

Mariam: I often find on blogs and message boards many seem to be against Lee, but the general public seems to really like him. I think he has a great chance at making the finale. If fact, odds seem to be in his favor. He has lots of hometown support, which really helped Kris last year. I know I’ll be voting the full 2 hours, so don’t give up. I’m still hoping for a Lee win!

They’re job tomorrow night is to pick a song that proves they can be contemporary artists, especially in contrast to the 50 year old songs they’ve been covering the past few weeks.

I’m totally into Crystal singing an acoustic version of a pop song a la “Heartless”. Not necessarily Lady GaGa, but that wouldn’t be terrible. I think something by P!nk would be good, to snag a few comparisons similar to “Me and Bobby McGee” “Sober” could be a really good choice, and “Who Knew” would be beautiful. I could also see her singing “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell. It just fits her.

Casey should go for something a little unexpected as well. Maybe he could cover something by a female artist, something he only did for “Bubbly” and “Don’t” (and for Don’t he didn’t have a choice). And those were two performances of his that I really liked. I can’t think of any specific songs though.

To whomever said Lee should cover Counting Crows, nononononono. Please no. Adam Duritz doesn’t deserve that. Especially Mr. Jones, which has a bit too much range for him. Has anyone else noticed that he gravitates toward songs with filler words in it? Hey Jude, The Boxer, Kiss From a Rose.

Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week. Oh well, at least he made it top 3 & got to enjoy coming home..

You are definitely not the only person who likes Lee. He is definitely my favourite this year and I think he has had a lot of great performances (Beast of Burden, Treat Her Like a Lady, A Little Less Conversation, The Boxer and That’s Life to name a few). The majority of people who post here seem to be Casey fans, which is probably why you don’t see many positive comments about Lee.
We’ll have to see what happens tomorrow night but I think that Lee has a great shot at making the finale. This is actually the top 3 that I wanted, so I’d be ok with whatever happens. I think thy can all be sucessful in their post-idol careers.

colette:
05/17/2010 at 6:04 pm

I’m not from Texas, but I love “y’all”! My favorite Texas moment: seeing a sign on an Austin Jewish deli: “Shalom, y’all!”

Too cute! Darlin’. The other favorite expression.

Mariam94:
05/17/2010 at 5:06 pm
Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week. Oh well, at least he made it top 3 & got to enjoy coming home..

LOL … I thought that too, but I realized that the Lee fans are enjoying his successes elsewhere and have no need to shoot the others down. We have great confidence in him, or I do and my friends do. Plus, everyone I talk to not in the blogoramas love him…. most don’t even realize these kind of sites exist. I’m the only fantard and keep them posted on all the inside scoop we learn from places like MJs. His thread at the AI Forum is the most popular, or was last time I was there, so there are plenty of Lee fans. I am waiting for a dedicated Lee site (like Planet Fierce is for Adam) – and he did have those 40k out to see him last Friday, so yeah, I think he is going to be just fine :)

I would be shocked if Lee is not in he finale. The only question to me is who will be standing next to him.

I think Crystal has the edge, but anything can happen.

Still don’t want him to win though. I like him and will probably check out his stuff when it drops, but not for the win.

I hope it’s lee/crystal jut because I hate Casey

This is actually the top 3 that I wanted, so I’d be ok with whatever happens. I think thy can all be sucessful in their post-idol careers.

From those to pick, these three are the best overall I do believe. Success is really relevant and in my mind, they are successful as it stands today. Race too close to call, but it would not surprise me to see Casey/Lee as top two.

luvadamlambert:
05/17/2010 at 6:26 pm

I hope it’s lee/crystal jut because I hate Casey

LOL. It MUST be demographics as one pointed out earlier, Casey fans want Casey/Crystal and Lee fans want Crystal/Lee. What I don’t want is Casey/Lee. :)

For what it’s worth…

1. Crystal Bowersox: Young Americans by David Bowie

3. Casey James: If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow

someone mentioned lifehouse for lee…. this fits him perfectly probably a song like “whatever it takes”

PS…I think he should “Broken” by Lifehouse.

3. Casey James: If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow

Kind of like this pick.

Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week.

LOL, I wouldn’t worry. As much as I personally think Lee’s been overpraised I think he’s the most popular person this season.

Late to the party, but finally got around to watching some of the homecoming videos.
Just have to say, if Casey did that “Drowning on Dry Land” Tues. night, he’d give Lee a real run for his money. Casey needs to just be himself, which he seemed to be in those videos, loosen up and just pull out those blues. I googled the song since I wasn’t familiar with it, and it’s by a current Louisiana blues artist (which Ellen would go for). Only problem is that blues songs are slow and the time allowed is so dang short, but I know Casey could figure it out. Have Rickey doing that cool blues bass with him and the place would erupt. Better to go out with a bang than a whimper. I hope all three of them do that, actually, so we really know what they’re about (I think Crystal has shown that already).

savgal:
05/17/2010 at 6:46 pm

Late to the party, but finally got around to watching some of the homecoming videos.
Just have to say, if Casey did that “Drowning on Dry Land” Tues. night, he’d give Lee a real run for his money. Casey needs to just be himself, which he seemed to be in those videos, loosen up and just pull out those blues. I

And seeing those videos of Casey over the weekend is exactly why I think he has gained momentum. I would love for him to do Drowning ON Dry Land too. I think it would bring the house down whether the judges like it or not. I am not sure Simon would get it. :)

Crystal has, so far, been consistant, just not anything more than that. I don’t feel “Star” from her. I would, however go 200 miles to see her so that isn’t bad.

Lee has everything it takes to be a relevant performer. Personally, I think the earpiece monitor has been the hardest thing for him to get used too. First time a tried one it wasn’t pretty. I would go 300 miles to see Lee.

Casey is a great guitarist. He is limited in range and is lamby/goaty. On a single song it isn’t that bad, but a whole album of that would make my skin crawl. I would not go 50 miles to see Casey.

Oh, and I think Lifehouse would be an awesome pick for Lee!

I just watched some of Casey’s homecoming performances & I really liked “Drowning on Dry Land”. I think he’d do really well with this song tomorrow night, if that’s what he picked.

Crystal is harder for me, cause it seems like she could change alot of songs & make it her own. She just needs to have a good time on stage & I think she’ll be fine. That goes for all the contestants, I guess.

I would not go 50 miles to see Casey.

And Casey is the only one I would go see period.

Hmm, I just went and listened to a few songs & it struck me. Lee would sound amazing on Switchfoot “Dare You To Move”! :D What do you guys think?

And James Morrison for Casey? Haha, just putting something out there.

Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week.

If this blog was a representative of the actual outcome then Adam would have won by 50 million votes :p

I like Crystal and Lee both equally. I tend to keep quiet about Lee because I’m in the minority here so maybe theres more like me. I’d be fine with either Lee or Crystal taking the crown. I don’t mind Casey, I think he’s super pretty and very likable with a nice voice, bottom line for me though is I doubt I would ever buy a CD of his. When I vote I try to envision who’s music I will want to shell out hard earned money on.

I want to see some crazy song choices that will make people think “WTF are they thinking?” I really like seeing these song choices turn awesome. Though I really only think Crystal has the chops to make such a choice, but Lee is the only one with a choice I’ve had for a long time.

That said, here are my (hopefully wacky and most likely not going to happen) picks.

Lee – Crazy in Love. Someone suggested Lee do this song during R&B week. I thought “Hmm. I think that would actually be stupid enough to work and be awesome!” My only thing is that I would not want him to be rapping. Stick to the Beyonce part. This might actually end up good for Casey, too, if he can pull it off.

Casey – He should country up Jamie Foxx’s “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down”. I think Casey could have a total “Jealous Guy” moment there if he rearranges it with a guitar instead of the piano.

Crystal – Alright With Me. Mostly because I want to see someone sing a Kris song, but the only one of the three I can see doing a decent job with one is Crystal. And I think this would be a very interesting performance from her. I’d love it. And because that song is sex in song form amazing.

The likelihood of any of these song choices is probably zero.

I can’t for the life of me think of two LESS similar performers than Casey and Adam. Lulz!

Casey IS stiff and the only good performance I can remember from him was Jealous Man. That’s an awful lot of nothing to balance a season on. Best of luck to him, but I would never pay to see him perform. Just the grinning alone would get to me.

Adam’s music is not my thing really, but I’ve never witnessed so much charisma. The guy flies right through the TV screen. He’s astounding. Casey…the word astounding doesn’t come to mind.

Someone said that Casey would be a good fit for Christian Rock. I can kind of see that, actually.

And seeing those videos of Casey over the weekend is exactly why I think he has gained momentum. I would love for him to do Drowning ON Dry Land too. I think it would bring the house down whether the judges like it or not. I am not sure Simon would get it. :)

The momentum Casey’s gained is with some internet AI fans who are a tiny fraction of the number of people who watch and vote on AI. Most of those people have no idea about anything Casey did in his hometown performances and AI probably won’t show any full songs of what Casey played for his visit on Tuesday.

But I agree with the 2nd part of what you said as far as Casey performing Drowning On Dry Land. Whatever he does he shouldn’t hold back. But I see lucy‘s point about how the fact that we haven’t seen any of these people really let go yet doesn’t bode well for them suddenly not holding back Tuesday. I expect Casey’ll go out Wednesday but whether or not he does the important thing IMO is for him to perform Tuesday night like he showed he’s capable of.

Casey IS stiff

Casey was not stiff at the homecoming and I hope that Casey shows up and brings it all home tomorrow.

The momentum Casey’s gained is with some internet AI fans who are a tiny fraction of the number of people who watch and vote on AI. Most of those people have no idea about anything Casey did in his hometown performances and AI probably won’t show any full songs of what Casey played for his visit on Tuesday.

Could be but if the Casey we see in Ft Worth shows up tomorrow night, then that tiny fraction you mentioned becomes big.

But I agree with the 2nd part of what you said as far as Casey performing Drowning On Dry Land. Whatever he does he shouldn’t hold back. But I see lucy’s point about how the fact that we haven’t seen any of these people really let go yet doesn’t bode well for them suddenly not holding back Tuesday. I expect Casey’ll go out Wednesday but whether or not he does the important thing IMO is for him to perform like he showed he’s capable of Tuesday night.

Could be but I still say it is too close to call. No one has run away with it this year. I expect Casey to be there singing next week. I just hope they don’t play it safe for if they do, that is just as likely to cause their being voting off as going for it. I pray Casey does not hold back this week. He can win this thing.

Lee: “Manhattan” by Kings of Leon
Casey: “Rise” by Eddie Vedder
Crystal: “Gold Dust Woman” by Stevie Nicks

the important thing IMO is for him to perform like he showed he’s capable of Tuesday night.

And I agree 100% with this. If Casey had been performing the way he can all season, we wouldn’t be having this discussion tonight. :)

windmills:

But I agree with the 2nd part of what you said as far as Casey performing Drowning On Dry Land. Whatever he does he shouldn’t hold back.

Correct me if I’m wrong, because this is only my 3rd season, but is there any way on earth TPTB would let him put on a performance like “Drowning on Dry Land?” If so, color me stunned.

I’ve always snickered at people who say they don’t want so-and-so to win, because he/she will have a better career without the Idol baggage. “Sour grapes,” I’ve sniffed.

But I’m not laughing now, because that’s exactly what I want for Casey. His performance at Kelly’s Lounge showed me what he should be doing: not country blues, not southern rock-blues, and sure as hell not Christian anything. He should be doing hardcore, back-alley, tracks-on-your-arms REAL blues. The fact that he’s a pure Texas gentleman who looks like the frickin’ Archangel Gabriel only adds to the fun.

But there is no element of 19etc. that even knows such music exists, much less how to go about helping a client to create it.

He’s a professing Christian, so it’s not THAT out of line. :) But I take your point, wjmtv. He’s got a very Robert Cray Band feel to me, and that sort of deep Southern blues is not very mainstream right now.

There will always be a place in the market for him, but if anyone is NOT top 40, it’s Casey James. Even in his hometown vids, I feel like there’s a wall of glass between him and his audience. If you ask me, he’s LESS stiff but he’s still stiff. It’s like…he’s in his own world when he’s performing. I don’t know. Not for me – but I’m glad he’s got a lot of people in his corner.

I still believe that all three should be judged by their performances on the show itself. Saying that Lee performs in tune when he’s in a bar in Chicago, or that Casey is more at ease when he’s on a Texas fairground – that doesn’t seem relevant. Just sayin’.

wjmtv, this may shock you, but Bo Bice actually sang “Whipping Post” by the Allman Bros. on Season Four. Reading about that on the internet was what made me check out this crazy show, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Bo just went for broke, and that’s what I want Casey to do. Had to look up the lyrics of “Drowning” because I thought I heard the words “little piece of tail” and was shocked, but it is actually a sort of cautionary tale (no pun intended!) in the song. Would something like that be allowed by TPTB? Well, they ALLOWED some of the most vulgar costumes and dancing and simulations the last couple of seasons……

Even in his hometown vids, I feel like there’s a wall of glass between him and his audience.

Oh my. I saw a connection almost like never seen between Casey and his fans in his hometown videos. He stayed to hug them…stopped his caravan to get out and hug his fans and sign autographs. He was feeling the music and the fans and vice versa. I have talked to people I know who were there and there was a personal connection. That is one of the things I have loved about Casey from the beginning. I feel his music when he sings and plays. I love that connection. He is the only idol this year where I have seen that.

Crystal — “I Want To Come Over” by Melissa Etheridge. She loves ME, and this song would play better to her strengths than most others.

Lee — “Letting the Cables Sleep” by Bush. Would suit his voice well, and could easily be pared down for the show since it’s a somewhat repetitive song at full-length. I could picture him having a moment with this if he did it a capella.

Casey — “Hard To Handle” by the Black Crowes, or “Like a Hurricane” by Neil Young. The latter is a bit long but almost all instrumental–if he pared it down to the vocals he could sing almost the entire song, while still being able to rock it out on guitar.

Lee: “Manhattan” by Kings of Leon
Casey: “Rise” by Eddie Vedder
Crystal: “Gold Dust Woman” by Stevie Nicks

Yes, YES — perfect!!! I love “Rise.” Getting clearances for these songs is the challenging part.

I don’t like Rise for Casey. Drowning on Dry Land is just it for me so far. Like a Hurricane could be a possibility but not crazy about it. I think I just do not care for pop songs but love blues.

Casey can sing the phone book

Well, he couldn’t sing Sinatra.

DLee:
05/17/2010 at 8:47 pm

Casey can sing the phone book

Well, he couldn’t sing Sinatra.

Glad you noted I left Sinatra off my list. Not a Sinatra fan to begin with. :)

ok this is perfect for lee “Goodbye my lover” James Blunt, he could do an amazing rock version of this song

another good one for lee is “here without you” the recording already sounds like lee so it would fit but he won’t change it up much so that might be a negative.

this might be a little to difficult vocally for casey but “clocks” by coldplay could work if he pulled it off.

Crystal should do “my life would suck without you” shes shown the most attitude after her performances not during so this would be easy to show some attitude. Also has she even done a song from this decade ever?

mike19213:

ok this is perfect for lee “Goodbye my lover” James Blunt, he could do an amazing rock version of this song

Hmm. Yeah, I think I can hear him doing this one. If he really Lee’d it up, I might even be able to scrub away all memory of Michael Scott singing it in his office. ;)

ETA: Wow, Mike. You have some awesome ideas. I would kill to hear Crystal sing that!

Lee needs to have at least one amazing/great performance tomorrow night to redeem himself from last week’s Kiss From a Rose. If he can manage that, I think he’ll have a lock on the finale. I think Crystal is in it, regardless. But once Casey is eliminated, I’m guessing a bunch of his votes will shift to Lee (although perhaps not those of some of his fans on this site. :) )

Songwise, as long as Lee keeps it contemporary and Crystal keeps it obscure (or dated), Lee will pull in the casual vote.

These would be my choices:

Crystal Bowersox – Who Knew by Pink
Lee Dewyze – Used Somebody by Kings of Leon
Casey James – Walking in Memphis

For Casey: Kings of Leon Use Somebody.

LaurelG:
05/17/2010 at 8:58 pm

Lee needs to have at least one amazing/great performance tomorrow night to redeem himself from last week’s Kiss From a Rose. If he can manage that, I think he’ll have a lock on the finale. I think Crystal is in it, regardless. But once Casey is eliminated, I’m guessing a bunch of his votes will shift to Lee (although perhaps not those of some of his fans on this site. :) )

Songwise, as long as Lee keeps it contemporary and Crystal keeps it obscure (or dated), Lee will pull in the casual vote.

Some of us will be very disappointed Wed. night. Lee should have gone home last week IMO. He will say so long on Wed. and then it comes down to a whole new ballgame and I believe Casey will walk away the winner.

But once Casey is eliminated, I’m guessing a bunch of his votes will shift to Lee (although perhaps not those of some of his fans on this site. )

I dunno about that. I think that there’s a bit of a Casey vs. Lee rivalry, and if either guy goes their vote shifts mostly to Crystal. That’s why I think she’ll take this in the end, unless someone has a World I Know or Heartless moment in the final hours here that ignites the casual voter to action en masse in which case there’s your winner.

Mariam94:
05/17/2010 at 5:06 pm

Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week. Oh well, at least he made it top 3 & got to enjoy coming home..

I like Lee and like his pre-Idol recordings. I just hadn’t seen this side of Casey as most people hadn’t. I want Lee/Casey in the finale.

But I’m not laughing now, because that’s exactly what I want for Casey. His performance at Kelly’s Lounge showed me what he should be doing: not country blues, not southern rock-blues, and sure as hell not Christian anything. He should be doing hardcore, back-alley, tracks-on-your-arms REAL blues. The fact that he’s a pure Texas gentleman who looks like the frickin’ Archangel Gabriel only adds to the fun.

I know how you feel and you are right, there is no way Casey should be pushed into country anything or Christian anything. This dude is meant for hard-core blues.

I have no idea what the kids will sing for personal choice songs Tuesday. I’ve always been terrible at guessing songs, even with a list, so without one, I’ve got no chance.

I think best case scenario would be for Lee to go home in 3rd place, because I feel he will get signed anyway, then Casey as the runner-up, because I’m not sure tptb will sign him otherwise, and then Crystal FTW. That way we get music from all three of them. I’ve been voting for Casey on and off, and voted nearly the whole two hours for him last week, to get him past Big Mike, but now I think I’m going to have to vote strictly for Crystal. I don’t want any surprise boots in that quarter. To me, Lee just isn’t that good a singer, even if I do like his tone, it’s not enough by itself to be worthy of the Idol crown. And I think Crystal has been differing degrees of amazing from day 1. Imo, she has really earned the crown. I hope she and Casey really blow their song selections out of the water tomorrow. I wouldn’t mind if either ended up winning, but am leaning Crystal’s way because I prefer her voice, and I’d really like to see a girl win, to combat all the noise from the blogosphere that a girl can never win again. Show ‘em what you got, Crystal! Girl power all the way, lol!

Some of us will be very disappointed Wed. night. Lee should have gone home last week IMO. He will say so long on Wed. and then it comes down to a whole new ballgame and I believe Casey will walk away the winner.

Casey should of left when he sang Sinatra. He was the worst of the night. But he didn’t. So obviously people are looking at past performances to base their vote on.

I also agree that Lee would probably won’t get most of Casey’s votes. He might get some but i believe people would go Crystal. If Crystal were to leave then it might be split evenly with Casey and Lee maybe. Tough to say. If Lee leaves then Crystal might benefit since people who love Lee like Crystal too. Though it might be a cute guy factor in the end in that situation. Obviously this isn’t fact but this is what i believe

Just chiming in to say ‘another Lee fan here.’

I can’t be bothered with Internet fanwars – SO stupid! – so I don’t argue when people slam him, but I can tell you that the person with the most vocal Internet fanbase is often not the actual most popular (examples – Blake Lewis, Bo Bice and Adam Lambert). I suspect that Lee has been far and away the highest vote-getter for quite some time, and that’s why the judges suddenly stopped praising Crystal and started fawning over Lee. They’re just catching up with reality.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Casey/Lee finale. Casey seems to have some intense fans and maybe they can carry him to the finale. No way Lee isn’t making it.

Lee – Brilliant Disguise by Bruce Springsteen
Casey – Down by Jay Sean
Crystal – Jesus Take The Wheel by Carrie

This is the week to have that final Moment. That Heartless Moment. Really, anyone could take the title this week.

I’m not voting too hard, but I have voted for Crystal and Casey. I can’t imagine ever voting for Lee. He’s my hometown guy, but I’m just over the coupling of his unimpressive live performances with the major pimpage.

suspect that Lee has been far and away the highest vote-getter for quite some time, and that’s why the judges suddenly stopped praising Crystal and started fawning over Lee. They’re just catching up with reality.

Or perhaps he’s not getting the votes and they want to sign him, but prefer to do it in the context of being in the top 2.

OR, maybe Crystal is running away with the votes and they want to make it look like it’s a contest by criticizing her and propping up Lee.

Casey is hard because he has to take a huge risk if he wants to make the finals and have a BIG moment. Maybe taking on an artist you wouldn’t expect (unlike john mayer). The best i got is David Bowie “Changes”

Willis:
05/17/2010 at 10:04 pm

Lee – Brilliant Disguise by Bruce Springsteen
Casey – Down by Jay Sean
Crystal – Jesus Take The Wheel by Carrie

This is the week to have that final Moment. That Heartless Moment. Really, anyone could take the title this week.

- OMG if casey sang down i would laugh for at least 4 hours…. there is no possible way that could work with his stiffness and vibrato.

sallysimmons:
05/17/2010 at 10:01 pm
Just chiming in to say ‘another Lee fan here.’

I can’t be bothered with Internet fanwars – SO stupid! – so I don’t argue when people slam him, but I can tell you that the person with the most vocal Internet fanbase is often not the actual most popular (examples – Blake Lewis, Bo Bice and Adam Lambert). I suspect that Lee has been far and away the highest vote-getter for quite some time, and that’s why the judges suddenly stopped praising Crystal and started fawning over Lee. They’re just catching up with reality.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Casey/Lee finale. Casey seems to have some intense fans and maybe they can carry him to the finale. No way Lee isn’t making it.

I’m confused…so who are you saying you think has the most vocal Internet fanbase? It certainly seems to me it’s not Crystal if that’s what you’re saying. I don’t really think Lee’s been “far and away” the highest vote getter for quite some time either – only one week has Crystal not been the leader on DialIdol (both in score, and I believe also in raw votes), and she’s lead the IdolDemocracy poll since day 1 too. That said I wouldn’t be surprised if sometime in the last month or so Lee has beaten her in votes. However it seems as it’s come closer to the end, Lee IS picking up a lot more support. I think the judges not praising Crystal was planned to avoid a backlash against her and to make it a closer race in the end, plus I think some of it may have been the honest opinions of the judges – we know Simon doesn’t like country and she was the most pure country that week, and she did two more laid back songs in back to back weeks, something that the judges also don’t seem to like. But whatever.

I wouldn’t be totally surprised at a Casey/Lee finale either, although I think it’ll spell the end of this as a legitimate competition. The best singer in the top 3 not even making the final, with a guy who in half of his live performances has had serious pitch problems making it over her, would just be ridiculous. If Crystal’s fans don’t vote-split to get their 2nd favorite in, I think she’ll make the final 2. Problem is, most of Crystal’s fans have a 2nd choice and I think a good many may try to get Casey in over Lee, diluting their support for Crystal and getting Casey in.

Crystal supporters – DON’T vote split!!! Regardless of how you feel about the other 2, if you want Crystal in the final, ONLY vote for Crystal. You have 2 hours tomorrow night, make the most of the whole time voting for her. Have a party and get some friends to vote for her too, lol.

mike19213:
05/17/2010 at 10:13 pm
Casey is hard because he has to take a huge risk if he wants to make the finals and have a BIG moment. Maybe taking on an artist you wouldn’t expect (unlike john mayer). The best i got is David Bowie “Changes”

The risk factor is why I was suggesting Hendrix. “Hey Joe,” “Fire,” “Red House,” even “All Along the Watchtower.” While we realize he’s a great guitar player, the vibe of all of those songs would get to the sort of thing heard in some of his hometown visit performances. No, they’re not vocally heavy songs, and odds are, the judges would slam him for that. But if he sang the vocals convincingly (which wouldn’t be too hard) and ripped it on the guitar parts too, he’ll pick up casual votes. Especially if it’s a more well-known Hendrix song like “Fire.” And I’d hazard a guess that Casey knows some Hendrix already – any guy who’s ever picked up a guitar and played for a while tries. He’s got the chops to pull it off. And while it’s a singing competition, that’s gotten lost more and more with looks and personality becoming a bigger and bigger part of it. At least if he blows it away on the guitar, it’s still music.

MJ, your suggestion of Lee singing Nirvana is an amazing suggestion, i think he would do awesome, I’m not sure how he could pull of Smells Like Teen Spirit, maybe Come As You Are or The Man Who Sold The World would be awesome, i think Casey should do something bluesy as that is in his genre, and Crystal should definitely do Joni Mitchell, or maybe even Melissa Etheridge

I don’t think Lee should do Man Who Sold the World. First off, it’s Bowie, and I’m not sure Bowie would clear for Idol. Has he ever?

Besides, for me, it would pale to this reality singing show version by Ms. Jrodis Unga.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zsNdGf8Bt8

I know Idol viewers don’t care about Rock Star, bit I can’t imagine Lee doing it so beautifully.

I think the judges not praising Crystal was planned to avoid a backlash against her and to make it a closer race in the end, plus I think some of it may have been the honest opinions of the judges

It might sound crazy, but maybe their criticism ARE honest opinions. I mean she wasn’t amazingly good during Top 6 and 5. Lee is growing, maybe not to everyone, but he is. So maybe they actually mean what they say with no strings attach. Or maybe I am crazy.

All Along The Watchtower should actually be okay clearance wise because Cook almost sang it in season 7. I think that’s a cool idea for Casey. But after seeing Casey’s hometown vids, I also think he’s got a chance to have a moment if he finally just does his blues thing. We know Crystal’s sweet spot because she found it on the live performance shows. Lee’s strength is the studio recording friendly tone of his voice so people who dig Lee will vote even if he sounds like hell tomorrow night. I don’t think the AI audience has been exposed to Casey’s natural element yet. If he can simply get that across, it might help him stand out and give him the momentum to get to the final. Maybe. It’s gonna take a lot to derail the Lee/Crystal train that TPTB are riding, cuz they are bringing that sucker on hard.

Also, if Lee sings Nirvana I will weep, and they won’t be tears of joy. Just NO.

pj, I’m reffering to the Nirvana version of The Man Who Sold The World, the version sung on Rock Star was based on the Nirvana version..

Casey: Gravity – who cares if he sings 2 JM songs! I saw him sing it at Key’s Friday and no there wasn’t any stiffness. I was so grateful to have heard him in that small of a venue – it was packed, with people witnessing something that we might not see again, as I predict he will be opening for a big name sooner than later!

I also agree with the Blues as his strong point, and equal amounts of men and women at Key’s were digging it!

sunchick, whats wrong with Lee singing Nirvana i think he could pull it off if he does it right, Nirvana is a band close to my heart, but im also a Lee fan so im positive about it, obviously your not a Lee fan

I don’t know who Lee is as an artist, so it’s hard for me to pick for him. I have purposely not chosen to watch or listen to any pre-Idol videos or music.

He seems like the judges want him to be a rocker, but I don’t buy it. He has no swagger. He has bagpipes! I’m sorry. He spent too much time at the Arlington Race Track if that’s his idea of “making it his own.” Yes, I’ve seen bagpipers there. I’d wager he has too. LOL.

I have a good idea who both Casey and Crystal are. Casey is a Stevie Ray Vaughn wannabe and Crystal is a vanilla Ani DiFranco. They are both more talented than Lee.

how about Lee doing Glycerine by Bush, anyone?

Alright first off everyone in the top 3 has the same amount of talent, there is no reason why anyone should be hating on anyone else, thats what gets annoying fanwars started…

dragonus456:

I understand that,but I suspect Bowie still owns the rights and would have to clear it for Idol. Lots of artists have cleared stuff for Rock Star, but never for Idol. Idol is cheap.

Also, Lee’s pre-idol stuff is kind off bluesy-folk-rock

TPTB have been pushing hard for a Crystal/Lee finale all season. Unfortunately for Casey, they will continue to throw him under the bus this week. And if Casey somehow beats the odds and pulls a win, it will be Season 8 all over again. TPTB have always had their favorites, and they make no apologies for that. They have never liked Casey the way they like Crystal and Lee. And if he finishes in 3rd place, it’s unlikely he will be signed by 19.

dragonus, IMO Lee doesn’t project the emotional gravitas to pull off Nirvana. Or the grit. Also, I can’t imagine Bandzilla laying it down like the Rock Star House Band if they went plugged in. Plus, and I’ve said this all along, just because he has a husky tone, it doesn’t necessarily make him a power rock belter like Cookie. Lee has consistently sounded awful when he tried to belt. His vocal sweet spot is more Dave Matthews/Adam Duritz than Layne Staley/Kurt Cobain. I think he is better suited to something like the Counting Crows Colorblind.

Sunchick, wouldn’t it be great if they hired the Rock Star band next year with Ricky Minor and Simon gone? I know… never gonna happen.

Actually, Sunchick, thats an awesome idea, Lee would sound awesome on Mr. Jones

usually just kind of go through quickly here since so many Casey fans have “taken over”. That’s Ok. It doesnt’ matter how many times you say it, it doesn’t make it true.

Amen, sister [or brother]. There’s absolutely no way around a Crystal/Lee finale. It is written. Heh.

Or perhaps he’s not getting the votes and they want to sign him, but prefer to do it in the context of being in the top 2.

OR, maybe Crystal is running away with the votes and they want to make it look like it’s a contest by criticizing her and propping up Lee.

LOL. I guess we can make anything seem like anything if we want it badly enough. If Lee wasn’t getting the votes, they wouldn’t want to sign him and therefore wouldn’t need to hype him.

It’s hard for me to imagine that Crystal is running away with anything. I started out the season firmly in her camp, but week after week she lost me. Her performances are competent but uninspired and her voice is nothing special. But the back-talking is what really put me off. Please kid, you’re not in a position to be answering Simon Cowell back just yet.

Talking to other people, I know I’m not the only one to jump off the Crystal train mid-season. So I personally think she could be in trouble this week. But like I said, we can make anything fit our pre-conceived narrative so who knows?

OK, I can be down with either a Crystal and Lee finale or a Crystal and Casey finale. But I cannot be down with a Lee and Casey finale. It will then be the 3rd straight year of 2 guys in the Final 2.

My worry – the bias towards 2 guys who some voters apparently find attractive, may work against the artistry of Crystal’s amazing talent.

Pj, I aint gonna lie. I’d totally watch next year JUST to get a glimpse of Sasha if that happened. You hear that, producers? Take THAT, X Factor. If only.

ETA: Yeah, Mr. Jones is a good choice too, but Accidentally In Love is better. ETA2: Oh I forgot about the random false notes in Mr. Jones. Not a good idea. Scratch that. I’m sticking with Colorblind.

It might sound crazy, but maybe their criticism ARE honest opinions. I mean she wasn’t amazingly good during Top 6 and 5. Lee is growing, maybe not to everyone, but he is. So maybe they actually mean what they say with no strings attach. Or maybe I am crazy.

Well, do you honestly believe that they found the best people to go to Hollywood? Or chose the best 24 singers? Or judge them fairly? This show is cast by producers for entertainment value.

If you watched S7, you may have seen Paula judging a contestant on a song he had yet to sing. She was being fed lines from the producers. She was just too out of it to cover for it. So yeah, I think there’s an agenda.

Wow, it seems like I’m the only person that likes Lee. My hopes of him making it into the finale 2 has totally disappeared this last week. Oh well, at least he made it top 3 & got to enjoy coming home..

I’m a Lee fan so you’re not alone. I wasn’t too on board with him when the show started but he grew on me. To me, he grew as a artist and I checked out some of his pre-idol music. I LOVE IT. He has the best recordings out of all of them and definitely the most marketable. I would listen to him on the radio and in my ipod than most of the other contestants. I read an article on him about how he had a troubled past and went on doing music with nothing to fall back on. He wants this. What sealed the deal for me wanting him to win was his homecoming videos on how touched and grateful he was for all his fans. His mini-concert felt like an actual concert. Loved all of his performances and sounded great. Whether he wins or not, I’ll support him always.

dragonus456:
05/17/2010 at 10:41 pm
how about Lee doing Glycerine by Bush, anyone?

That might actually work for him. See, Lee’s vocal tone IS quite interesting, the big problem is his problem with pitch in live performances. His tone might work well on this song though. That said, it’s kinda sleepy especially when contrasted with “Hallelujah.”

I take big issue with you saying they all have equal talent and they’re all good though, that sort of thing. They’re not equal at all. Nor are they all perfect. Lee, as has been said ad nauseum, has frequent pitch problems live and that’s really sad at this stage of the game. It’s one of those things that’s quantifiable, it’s not just opinion. And the fact so many people are willing to overlook it is disgusting if this is to be taken seriously as a competition. Maybe Lee can perform fine in the right situation, but on AI he has frequently been off. Lee has also shown on the show that he’s only an adequate guitar player, however at least one video I’ve seen of his hometown visit showed much more guitar ability than we’ve heard on the show.

Casey is an outstanding guitar player, first and foremost. That’s kinda a drawback for him though since people don’t find him to be a great vocalist. However, Casey has been mostly very good pitch wise, and has a pure honest tone to his voice. On the other hand, his vibrato for many people is just horribly annoying. He seems to be a more complete musician to me though than Lee, because being in tune is basically an absolute necessity for a professional performer.

Crystal has a wonderful sense of style and a beautifully clear natural voice, and wonderful control of it. If this really is a singing competition, she should be the winner hands down. However her voice isn’t totally perfect – on a few occasions she goes too far and her voice can get almost unpleasantly edgy. She’s also shown herself (this is hard to quantify as fact but I really would argue it is) to be the most versatile of any of them style wise. This

she wasn’t amazingly good during Top 6 and 5

to me is actually very untrue. Listen to Summer Wind. No one else was that stylistically accurate for big band/Sinatra week, and the clarity and beauty of her natual voice and phrasing shine through in that. Lee was actually pretty good that week but Crystal was every bit as good if not better. No One Needs to Know was, for the style, also a dead-on performance. However it was a style that isn’t very popular, therefore “it wasn’t amazingly good” in the same sense that the Cleveland Orchestra performing Mahler’s 5th Symphony wouldn’t have been amazingly good on Sept. 13, 2001 in many people’s opinions (however, the crowd that was there was all in tears).

And then there’s their songwriting talents and pre-Idol recordings and all of that. They’re also far from equal and again, some of that is actually quantifiable, other parts of it is just opinion. Unfortunately, a lot of people only seem to be interested in looks, or at least in big part.

In my opinion (and that’s all it is, an opinion, even though I’m willing to back it up with explanation and basically already have), Crystal is by far the best. Casey second to her. Lee is far behind because, as a musician, having big pitch problems in at least half your live performances is just inexcusable. No matter how cute you are.

I’ve said it before, please don’t let Lee do a Counting Crows song. I don’t want them compared. And Mr. Jones has a few notes that are pretty far out of Lee’s comfort zone.

@mozart, I agree with a lot of your post, Crystal is far superior pitch-wise to Lee, and to a lesser extent Casey. I disagree about Casey’s tone though. It’s a technical mess. He sings from his throat and his voice always sounds very forced. It makes me miss the technically good singers like Siobhan. . . and I guess Katie.

They have never liked Casey the way they like Crystal and Lee.

Well, I don’t think Casey gave them a reason to like him up until Jealous Guy. I sure didn’t think much of him because he picked songs that had few lyrics and limited range. It was obvious to me that he just wanted to play his guitar and the singing was secondary. He even admitted it before his Sinatra performance. He said he really hadn’t concentrated on singing until that night when he had to because they took away his guitar. Quite honestly, the majority of his performances appeared lazy to me and maybe the judges felt the same way?

Is American Idol about singing or not? Why should someone win who chose not to really sing much until his last few performances? Casey has guitar skills but this isn’t an instrumental contest and I don’t think his voice is all that good.

IMO, the viewers should vote according to what they see on the TV show, not on their hometown visits or their studio recordings which can easily be electronically tweaked. Their live performances every Tuesday night are the best indicator of how a contestant performs under the stress and stringent confines of AI.

I’m sorry but I don’t believe Casey deserves to win this contest.

To be truly honest, i know i’ma get hate for this, but majority of Casey’s live performances were basically the same thing. What i mean by this is that he seemed like he sang the same song from Top 12 till “Jealous Guy” then went back singing the same song again till “Don’t.” He doesn’t show range at all.

At least with Lee, it doesn’t seem like the same song over and over again. Although Lee doesn’t show too much range, he does show it in some of his performances, even with pitch problems. What Lee lacks during live, he makes up for it in his recordings which is important since it’s their recording voice you will hear after idol which will sale their CD’s.

Is American Idol about singing or not?

Not. LOL Its about that ever fickle popularity. And who the Sony peeps want to sign because they have an A&R strategy ready for them. And who makes for interesting reality teevee. And when it’s really good, it’s about strengths and weaknesses as a performer and making smart, interesting choices to highlight the strengths. And the singing.

Lee shows me the same thing every week. LOL. But it’s mileage. It varies.

I’m thinking that Casey should do “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny (if it could get cleared). I mean, Lenny sells to commercials so why not Idol?

You can bang your head to it and enjoy the vocals at the same time! Win!

It would also be a FU to the judges. I’m just not sure he has the swagger to pull it off. Where is the swagger this year?

Okay, my pick for Crystal is Laura Nyro. Tom Cat Goodbye. She can play piano, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e40ZV0MBT3k

I’m talking to myself here, but I think Nirvana is too iconoclastic for Lee. But how about Everlong by Foo Fighters?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y

Maybe stripped down and acoustic?

She can but I doubt at this point she’d do it again. She didn’t seem too comfortable with it on stage – I think it’d be worth her while to get more used to it but top 3 isn’t the time for it.

She totally rocked the harmonica + guitar combo on “Hand In My Pocket” while on her hometown visit though…it was amazing but I doubt she’ll do that again now either.

mozart, you’re probably right. I doubt the judges would get it either.

Everlong for Lee – I think the range would work for him, but I can’t see something like that on AI. I really don’t anticipate he’ll end up going that vein of “rock” anyways. But I dunno. It’s a good song though.

dragonus456:

Lee is good, Casey is good, and Crystal is good, thats all why there in the top three

My sentiments exactly. I’ll be thrilled no matter who wins, because they’re my top 3.

Jon:

It might sound crazy, but maybe their criticism ARE honest opinions. I mean she wasn’t amazingly good during Top 6 and 5. Lee is growing, maybe not to everyone, but he is. So maybe they actually mean what they say with no strings attach. Or maybe I am crazy.

If by “amazing” you mean Crystal didn’t reach Expected Idol Bombastic Levels, you’re right. But she has been spot-on every time she’s stepped on the stage. And she’s consistently been the best performer of the night. Other people have had “moments” (Casey with JG, Lee with THLaL) but she’s been, week in and week out, reliably awesome.

Lee gets my vote for “Most Improved.” He really didn’t believe in himself when all of this started, and he’s come so far in just a few short months. Of course, now that he’s holding his head up and daring to make eye contact, people in the blogosphere are calling him cocky and self-centered. (eye roll) I remember them saying the same thing about Cookie, and we now know that nothing could be further from the truth.

idolbeat:

Casey: Gravity – who cares if he sings 2 JM songs! I saw him sing it at Key’s Friday and no there wasn’t any stiffness. I was so grateful to have heard him in that small of a venue – it was packed, with people witnessing something that we might not see again, as I predict he will be opening for a big name sooner than later!

Words cannot describe the jealousy I’m feeling towards you right now. :)

I think Lee doing Nirvana could be very fine. The internet is a constant source of fascination to me, as it puts me in contact with so many people who see the same exact thing I do and come away with a totally different reading (see above comment on “being cocky.”) In this case, I’m talking about when I hear people say he doesn’t connect emotionally to a song, I wonder if they’re seeing the same person I do. I find him to be a bundle of emotion with feet. There’s a serious volcano simmering in there, and I hope I’m around when it blows. It’s gonna be great.

@pj, I don’t think that’s a good idea for Crystal. She needs something contemporary. I suggested “Who Knew” by P!nk, I think she could sing a beautiful rendition in her own style. I like Foo Fighters for Lee though. Maybe “Wheels”, their new single, or “My Hero”?

Lee – Everlong, think he’d do a great acoustic version. I thought he did great at Sex On Fire on Youtube, but not sure if they’d let him do that on the show. I liked his Use Somebody too.

Casey – Caught up in you by 38 Special, because I think he’d be great with Southern Rock, it’s a good guitar song also.

Crystal, I know she’d be good with something like Come Through My Window. I’d like to see what she’d do to True Colors because I think she’d do something different with it.

The important thing is for them to put some originality into the songs. And to find something within their range also.

IDK what each of them should sing, but I believe the songs they choose should have the opposite vibe of the the judges’ choice.

I guess this means uptempo for all of them.

I want Crystal to win. I believe she deserves it for being the best and most consistent all season. However, I obviously cannot control how America votes. I also want to see her win because I still want to see a female win after two yrs. of males. FWIW, I was drawn to DC because of his sincerity in his music. The same with Kris. I see this in Crystal as well. If for some reason she can’t get there, Casey would be my second choice. Why? Well I’ve seen it said here that Casey has only done a couple of good songs. True, I think so too, but in those couple of songs I have seen this sincerity in the music.

I think I see some of this in Lee as well, but, how do I say this, I also see a longing for the spotlight as opposed to the simple sincerity and I believe this is something that may be tripping him up on the idol stage. To me, at the end of the day [and in a perfect world] it’s about the music and knowing who you are w/o compromise. I see this in Crystal first, Casey second.

I’m talking to myself here, but I think Nirvana is too iconoclastic for Lee. But how about Everlong by Foo Fighters?

Also too iconoclastic for Lee. I kind of like the idea of him singing “All These Things That I’ve Done” which is a crowd pleaser, not too vocally challenging, and different from what he’s done before.

Crystal: “Suddenly I See” KT Tunstall – she needs something modern-ish and upbeat

Casey: “Daughter” – Pearl Jam. It would amuse me if he sang Daughters and Daughter.

I kind of like the idea of him singing “All These Things That I’ve Done”

Cue the people saying he can’t sing that because Kris did it on tour… 3, 2, 1…
(and I’m a Kris fan)

Personally, I’d love it. One of my favorite songs.

Also too iconoclastic for Lee. I kind of like the idea of him singing “All These Things That I’ve Done” which is a crowd pleaser, not too vocally challenging, and different from what he’s done before.

Well, Marty Casey did “Everlong” on Rock Star, so… LOL. Why are these Idol peeps so inferior? “All These Things That’ I’ve Done” isn’t a bad choice. I just don’t think he has a chance in hell of pulling it off.

Obviously, Crystal is beautiful. LOL.

will they do a Trio to take the place of the 3rd song????????????
something Chipmunk style would be so AI….or maybe Kumbaya with a geeTar circle jOAN bAEZ style.

We can expect Lee to be best he’s ever been on the Idol stage tomorrow. Being welcomed by a crowd of 41,000 at his Homecoming would surely boost his confidence! I can’t wait to see what he has in store. Lee’s fans better vote hard.

Casey: “Daughter” – Pearl Jam. It would amuse me if he sang Daughters and Daughter.

DUDE. When I first saw the judges’ choice for Casey, I misread it and thought it WAS Pearl Jam’s Daughter. I was alll, whoa, slightly edgy choice there, Idol. Nicely done. And then I realized it was the girls become lovers and turn into mothers song. Sads. I kinda think they had that picked out for Big Mike (lyrically, it’s so him) and then just kept it for Casey.

“All These Things That’ I’ve Done” isn’t a bad choice. I just don’t think he has a chance in hell of pulling it off.

He needs direction to perfection….

and gave us a lovely Summer Wind is just one more reason I love her. That was a sadly unappreciated performance, IMO.

Ditto, it was indeed lovely, as is she.

Crystal: “Suddenly I See” KT Tunstall – she needs something modern-ish and upbeat

That’s a perfect choice for Crystal!

I wish Lee did Crash Into Me, like he did on his hometown visit. I know they don’t thend to perform their personal choices on their homecomings, so it’s not happening, but it still would be great.

Crystal’s worst performances (Top 6 and 5) were, IMHO, miles better than 50% of Casey’s performances, which tend to be quite mediocre. Of course Casey’s fan will disagree, and that’s fine. I don’t have anything against him, but there’s only place for 2 on the final, and those places belong to Crystal and Lee. One has been consistent and reliable throughout the entire season, and the other is the only contestant who’s had any growth at all.

Casey is a very good guitarist and he’ll do great on his career. But being absolutely objective, I don’t think he would be here if he didn’t look like a perfectly young, long haired, blonde American version of Gerard Butler. Does he seem like a nice guy with good manners? Yes he does, but that doesn’t tend to affect my musical preferences.

Just my two cents.

One thing is for sure, this Top 3 will surely be a close race.

would love to hear Lee do T-Pain’s -I’m N Luv wit a stripper. I would vote for him 41,000 Times, it reminds me of his preIdol package. Pleez Lee…Just do it

I dunno if anyone upstream has suggested this already, but here is how Lee can pull a Kris-Allen-Heartless surprise…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acULghgYUg0

(Travis’s cover of Spears’ One More Time)
rockin’ out a modern pop anthem

I think Casey could do this too, but the song have too much range for him.

tessa:
05/18/2010 at 1:39 am
We can expect Lee to be best he’s ever been on the Idol stage tomorrow. Being welcomed by a crowd of 41,000 at his Homecoming would surely boost his confidence! I can’t wait to see what he has in store. Lee’s fans better vote hard.

It’ll be interesting to see how all of them respond actually. All 3 of them had emotional moments on their homecomings (Lee with the video we’ve pretty much all seen at the AT&T store, Crystal right after arriving home and “hearing the biggest cheer she’d ever heard for one of her own songs” (up until then, as they were much bigger the next day) and also in the private visit she did at one of the bars she used to do gigs, and Casey while at the hospital…probably among other moments for all of them). The other thing to consider though too – as I understand it, Lee sang at least 11 songs while home, Crystal did 15-16 at least that I know of, and I have no idea about Casey but I’ve seen video of at least like 4 of them floating around and it sounds like he played some decent length sets really so probably as many songs as the other 2. They could all show some stress on their voices if they weren’t really prepared for that. I hate to say it but Crystal in particular, it was noticeable on her last performance this past Friday, the national anthem. She sounded tired – still good, but it had definitely worn on her voice some.

But I think they were ALL surprised at the amount of support they saw going home, and emotionally that could charge some performances tomorrow night. Lee has seemed to be the least emotionally connected honestly so if he can tap into that it could be interesting. On the other hand, if he DOESN’T and Crystal and Casey both do, those two may appear to have “it” even moreso than him. We’ll see.

Do NOT want to see Casey do Free Bird. Bo did it, did it very well, and Simon hated it with a passion.

I totally agree with this and as much of a Casey fan as I am, nor should he win over Crystal. She’s been the most consistent of all this season and her artistry has really been in evidence.

I don’t think consistency has anything to do with winning this contest. If it did, the judges would choose the winner, not the
public.

I am as Southern as they come and I’m pulling for Lee. My second choice is Casey. DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS!

(Travis’s cover of Spears’ One More Time)
rockin’ out a modern pop anthem

No offense, but rocking out Britney is so over done that I don’t think there would be much surprise there. Besides Travis, Marty Casey performed a popular Hit Me Baby acoustic cover years ago on Rockstar, Bowling For Soup did a popular rocked out cover not too long ago…and there are countless other Britney tunes that have been rocked out. Off the top of my head, A Static Lullabye has an awesome cover of Toxic, FOB and AAR and Franz Ferdinand and Lily Allen all did Womanizer covers… plus it’s really not that different that what AG did with Straight Up.

I’m still calling that Lee will do “Simple Man” or “Use Somebody” and Crystal will do something from Melissa Etheridge with maybe both guitar and harmonica like she did with “Hand in my Pocket”

I’m hoping Lee would do “Hallelujah” that can’t be compared to Jason’s and Tim’s. Maybe playing the piano because he can play it. It’s a good chance to show that he can. Maybe any one of them can do something a cappella like Bo Bice did. Crystal would probably be best for that.

Also, about covering “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” Kris did a cover a while back, just to let people know.

The perfect song for Crystal is Janis Ian’s At Seventeen. It’s a beautiful song, never been done on idol stage and just really fits Crystal like a glove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClgfwBMsB1w

He should be doing hardcore, back-alley, tracks-on-your-arms REAL blues.

That’s what I think Casey should be doing, so I would be delighted to see him lose after making top two. I also can not see Crystal doing Top 40, so wouldn’t mind her as runner up, either. Crystal needs to do something exciting tonight almost as much as Casey does; she has been consistently the best performer, but she has become a little dull. Lee needs to concentrate on staying in tune and smiling: if he does, he wins as most improved, but if he doesn’t, the public may blow off the judges pim opinions.

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Great songs for Casey could be Clapton’s Key to the Highway, Have You Ever Loved a Woman, Nobody or Knows You When You’re Down and Out. He would also do an amazing Whipping Post. I hope he showcases his superb bluesmanship tonight.

Oh my. I saw a connection almost like never seen between Casey and his fans in his hometown videos. He stayed to hug them…stopped his caravan to get out and hug his fans and sign autographs. He was feeling the music and the fans and vice versa. I have talked to people I know who were there and there was a personal connection. That is one of the things I have loved about Casey from the beginning. I feel his music when he sings and plays. I love that connection. He is the only idol this year where I have seen that.

I believe you when you say you’ve seen it. I’ve seen it a couple of times myself.

But obviously, when you look at all our various faves over the years, this kind of thing is quite a subjective judgment. Some people feel one person’s presence, others don’t feel that one but feel somebody else’s.

About the only thing *objective* about it is that it seems clear that there are some people who communicate a connection to *more* members of the audience than most of the others do. Kelly C seems to be one who seems to communicate a presence and connection to a pretty large group of the audience. Even in those cases, though, there are people who *don’t* feel it from that person.

Part of it, I suppose, is that, for many, if a genre doesn’t reach you, then a singer in that genre is unlikely to reach you. But there’s obviously a lot more to it than that.

It’s like love, I guess, or sexiness, or judging whether a certain actor projects truth and charisma — our responses to all these things vary hugely from person to person.

So, for Casey (as for Lee and Crystal, since I’d say none of these three obviously falls into the “a whole lot of people feel his/her connection” category), it’s all going to come down to just how big a portion of the audience feels that connection this week and next and how fervently those people feel it and thus how fervently they’re inclined to vote. …

Out of every other possible thing these three people could turn up the heat on tonight and next week, I hope that it’s the “connect with the audience” factor. But I don’t know how feasible it is for somebody to turn up that factor. If you don’t know what’s blocking you from connecting with a lot of people or if it’s something in your nature that’s hard or impossible to change, maybe you can’t even turn it up, even if you want to. At times, though, I’ve felt flashes of strong connection-to-the-audience from all three them, so I guess we’ll see.

Unfortunately, I’ve never been convinced to feel the spark from somebody by anybody else’s declaration or argument that they’ve seen it! … You either feel it or you don’t.

If you haven’t read them already–My posting guidelines. READ THEM.

http://mjsbigblog.com/idol-appearances/guidelines

Just really getting excited about tonight. Read a spoiler-free article about their rehearsal yesterday from LA Times, and sounds like going home inspired them and loosened them up.
I am fine with Crystal winning this thing; as a woman, my heart goes out to her as a (for the present) single mom trying to make a better life for her little boy, and my ears love her music.
But as for runner-up, I want a real fight for second between Casey and Lee tonight—-a no-holds-barred throwdown, each doing what they do best. I want Randy to shout that we got us a real competition tonight, and for Simon to say (as he did for Kris last year) that he had discounted Casey, but can no longer count him out. I want to hear that the voters are going to have a hard time choosing tonight, because all of them brought their A game.

But as for runner-up, I want a real fight for second between Casey and Lee tonight—-a no-holds-barred throwdown, each doing what they do best. I want Randy to shout that we got us a real competition tonight, and for Simon to say (as he did for Kris last year) that he had discounted Casey, but can no longer count him out.

Amen. I honestly think there are *tons* of songs that any of them could sing that would hit the mark. The real question is — Are you going to stand up and fight for it? … The blame placed on song choice is so often a red herring, to me. I honestly think the judges say it a lot because the alternative — Wow, you really did a mediocre job with that one — is just too uncomfortable to say frequently. Because when somebody *does* stand up and fight and uses their vocal and live-performing skills to do well, they always say, You can sing anything, dude! That’s the truth of it, for the most part, seems to me. People have made “moments” with loud songs, soft songs, fast songs, slow songs, new songs, old songs, tons of stage movement, no stage movement. The performer makes the lion’s share of the difference. Not the song.

Has Pearl Jam or Eddie Vedder EVER been cleared on Idol? I don’t recall anyone ever singing a track. I still stand by my choice of “Rise” for Casey. Eddie Vedder has a little bit of a goaty vibrato and TOTALLY works it. He sings with passion and is such an exceptional artist. When Casey emotionally connects with a song, people remark on his vocal stylings much less than when he doesn’t. I think Casey would do great with Pearl Jam or Eddie Vedder’s solo material.
I REALLY don’t like Lee singing well known Kings of Leon tracks like Use Somebody or SOF. I really don’t like him doing Nirvana either because again those songs are so emotionally charged and backed. It won’t even come close to sounding as good as the original…it will just sound like a subpar cover. Lee has emotions, but you really have to watch for them…he’s just not very dynamic. That’s fine, but when you don’t have much personality, you’ve got to come through with the vocal. I’d like to see him do something where he can shine. He’s never going to be as sexy as Caleb Followill and he’s never going to be as cool as Kurt Cobain. He just needs to be himself and stay away from covering such dynamic artists. The judges will predictably ruin him if he does. It’s been their main critique all season…they’re just waiting for him to deadpan another performance. They’re evil! ;-) Lee could definitely get away with singing Kings of Leon’s “Manhattan” because it is uptempo which will help him in the personality department, and it’s a lesser known KOL song. It is in the right vocal key too.
Crystal…I don’t care what she does as long as she does it well. I don’t want her to go!!!

Do NOT want to see Casey do Free Bird. Bo did it, did it very well, and Simon hated it with a passion.

It’s one of those songs that gets some of its power from its length, for one thing. Hard to do a very effective version in 2 minutes or less. Definitely one to stay away from, I’d say.

Here are my suggestions :)

Crystal –
“Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows, the VH1 Storytellers version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNLKoCIR5kg

Casey-
“How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox Twenty, but the version by Boyce Avenue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqigBTKHeTo

or “Love Remains the Same” by Gavin Rossdale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soh3r4WRPyY

Lee-
“Lollipop” by Lil Wayne, but the Framing Hanley version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSEZsfVwbHY

or “The Gift” by Seether
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku84Dad2R6A