Finale – Season 13

Recap
It's all Caleb. Jena and Caleb put on a great show at times last night, and I would really be happy with either of them winning, but it's always been Caleb for me.  Allow me to refer to this post from February 22, 2014, where I declared Caleb the winner. (You can ignore the part about Malaya. That was before I knew she was such a spaz.) I called this match three months ago, and I'm two hours from its realization.

Sad Night
Ed just said, "This is always kind of a sad night." We enjoy getting together with Mom and, through our blog, with our friends. We're going to miss you guys!

Idol Finale – Season 13... GO!

Opening Medley
Not bad. We are a bit horrified by Jena's pants, but lucky for her, the voting is over. It's not a fashion competition!

So Many Epic Surprises
Yes, I'm sure.

Sam Woolf – "Home"
If I don't hear a "Ladies and gentlemen, Phillip Phillips!" I'm going to be frustrated. Oh, here he is!

Phillip Phillips & Sam Woolf – "Raging Fire"
Phi Phi is so the real deal. No, the rill dill. He's the rill dill. Ed was just talking about how he didn't particularly dig Phillip during his competition season, but Phillip is now Ed's favorite Idol of all-time. He makes such. good. music. It's so relate-able. His music is fun to play, fun to sing, and fun to use when making slideshows. Ryan just said, "Sam Woof." Is he from this area?

Jennifer Nettles – "That Girl"
Unworthy of an introduction? This performance is a little weird and out of place. Surely it's leading to something else. If not, I'm at least happy with her shirt and pants.

Jennifer Nettles & Jessica Meuse – "Wrecking Ball"
Singing Miley. Hm. It's not bad, though. They make a good team. Oh, there's Haley Reinhart. Ed is happy about that sighting. Jennifer and Jessica sound great when they're singing harmony. I wish they'd done more of that and less back-and-forth.

Jennifer Lopez – "First Love"
Anything will be better than that horrible "I Luh Ya Papi" crap. Now Jennifer is flat hot, but that costume is a little more revealing than I would prefer. It's got a dirty dance costume feel. All the flailing about is little immature, and it's clear that she's lip syncing. Mom: "Tina Turner, she ain't." However, it's far and away better than the Bluh Bluh Bluh Papi. Oh, good heavens. She's floor twerking. It's come to this, JLo? I'm violated.

KISS (2/4) & Caleb Johnson – "Love Gun" & "Shout It Out Loud"
Those guys are old, but they can perform. I would rather watch them than watch Jennifer gyrate on the floor. Caleb is clearly better than them, though. Did I ever tell you about the time Mom saw Gene Simmons in the Myrtle Beach airport? She and Dad were with Sam and Mac, and Mom tried to use Sam and Mac, 15 and 12 at the time, to get close to Gene. However, the boys refused to be pawns in her little game, so she remains Gene Simmons-free. Ah, Caleb's brother in makeup! Ha! Ryan makes Gene Simmons look like a space age giant.

Bad Lip Reading
Some of them were funny, but most of them were indeed bad.

Aloe Blacc & Idol Guys – "The Man"
I have never liked this song because I think it's a ripoff of Elton John's "Your Song." I like Aloe Blacc, though... but a live singer, he is not. Pancake FLAT. Oh, good heavens, CJ is joining him, and is even more out of tune, if that's possible. The other guys are making it better, but Aloe just keeps jacking up his own song. He is so flat. Kansas prairie flat. Olympic track flat. 32 double-A FLAT.

Ford
A NEW CAR! Just like every year, you two.

Mentors
Aw, I always like that. And... A NEW CAR!

Demi Lovato & Idol Girls – "Don't Really Care" & "Neon Lights"
Mom: "She's a lot better than that other guy already." Keith and Harry look like they're having fun, but Jennifer looks like she sees competition.. until she sees the camera on her! I barely remember two of these gals. Jessica and Jena are the only two girls who sounded any good here. I don't know why, but Demi Lovato always reminds me of Kate Winslet.

Jena Irene – "Decode"
I love her behind a piano. Mom notes, "This is her third outfit."

Paramore & Jena Irene – "Ain't It Fun"
Mom has been talking about what a fun party atmosphere the show is creating tonight, and this performance solidifies it. However, much like Caleb was better than KISS, I thought Jena sounded better than Paramore's front gal. In fact, I think Caleb and Jena have been better than everyone tonight. Yay, big yellow balloons.

John Legend – "You And I"
What a good singer. I was a bit bored, though. After that big yellow-ballooned Paramore party, this performance is the brakes.

John Legend & Malaya – "All Of Me"
The lack of braces and glasses makes her look much more mature. This duet is really, really good. Like, touching. Her notes were so lilting and sweet. I would download that.

Where Is MK?
Her absence is not being explained. That worries me a little. I really think she just wasn't into all this business, though.

Jason Mraz & Alex Preston – "Love Someone"
LOVE the harmonies. I realize they are getting some assistance from the BGVs, but it's still choice. Ed likes Jason Mraz's guitar's sound. I feel like these two are channeling Simon & Garfunkel a little. Jason Mraz is my favovrite celebrity performer of the night.

33 Min.
Only 33 min. of Idol 2014 remain. It's so sad.

Ryan's Family
Ryan did not get his hosting talents from his family. God.

Ryan Seacrest – "Right Here Waiting For You"
That was WAY too long.

Richard Marx & Ryan Seacrest – "Right Here Waiting For You"
Classic song. He sounds just the same. Did Ryan really have to join him? Richard Marx's face is stressing me out. It's so plastic surgeried.

Darius Rucker – "True Believers"
Ed: "This is gonna be good until C.J. starts singing." Darius sounds more like he did in his Hootie days than he does in his new reimagining. We think the bad note we hear is being sung not by him, but in the background.

Dexter, C.J., & Darius Rucker – "Alright"
I really like C.J. the dude, but a great singer, he is not. That said, this performance is one of his best of the season. I've missed Dexter. He was a lot of fun. All this unison. Give me some harmonies.

Lady Antebellum – "Bartender"
The "Need You Now" introduction by our final two was a little awkward, but I really liked the Lady Antebellum performance. I love the way Hillary Scott attacks notes. Reminds me of my friend Tammy Sue. Do you suppose that MK would've sung with them? Where is she, anyway? I think she just said, "No, thanks." Also conspicuously absent is Candice Glover, last year's Idol.

#JudgesRockIdol – "True Colors" & "Go Your Own Way"
Why is Jennifer putting on that little girl's voice? Dislike. I liked her dress until I saw that it was just another opportunity for a cleave show. I loved Keith's and Harry's early contributions, but Randy's weird hand motions were... weird. Song change. Wow, Harry. For someone who knows everything about pitch, those were some pretty sour notes. He made up for it with the keys solo, but Keith's guitar solo was better. Why does Jennifer find it necessary to constantly spin?

The Moment
We're there. The moment has arrived. Aw, Caleb is whispering sweetly to Jena. They seem really close.

Who Is It?
I say Caleb. Mom says Caleb. Ed says Jena.

CALEB!
I predicted a winner from the outset! For the first time! I feel like I won, too! I'm a winner! I'm a winner!

Jena
Jena will be fine, and like seasons past, will probably be more successful as a runner-up than Caleb will be as a winner. She is SO pop, and will resonate well with the music-listening public. Caleb is just a seasoned rocker, which plays well on American Idol.

Sing, Baby!
...and he can't even sing. That's kind of funny. Aw, all the hugging. The lifting. The happiness. And now he sings. The hand touching! The confetti! THE CONFETTI! I love that he sang, "Thank you all so much! God bless you all!"

Goodbye
It's been fun, Idol Watchers. Thanks for letting us into your Idol lives this season. The nation is falling out of love with American Idol, but I can't imagine a world without it. Anything, even a TV show, that brings my husband and Mom to hang out with me, and then allows me to have fun discussions with my friends, is top notch in my book. I've had a lot of fun with you guys. Here's to next season. Until then...

Cobb, out.

Top 2 – Calebena

Caleb's Voice
My voice is worse. I hope his is better.

Prom
The Prom trashing scene looked like it'd be fun to shoot. Mom and I want to pop balloons and necklaces.

Coin Toss
Jena won, and chose to go first? What the heck?

Idol Top 2 – Calebena... GO!

Round #1 – Picks from Simon Fuller

Jena Irene – "The Dogs Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine

What a great pick. Jena voice sounds a little strained and shaky, but I notice it's only when she's moving, and it's likely due to nerves. She was also pushing her voice forcefully. (I'm currently experiencing vocal strain, and all her pushing is making me uncomfortable.) All of that is probably just me being extremely picky, though. It was actually a great performance, especially the end when Jena struck a pose on the stage floor. My favorite part of the whole thing was THOSE DRUMS. Love those drums. And Jena's eye makeup. Mom is a big fan of the eye makeup.

Caleb Johnson – "Dream On" by Aerosmith
Awwww! Ed and I have some history with this song. When Draymond Green played for Michigan State, and an announcer would say his name, I would sing, "Draymond! Draymond! DRAYMOND! DRAYMOND!" <sarcasm> Ed loved it. </sarcasm> Caleb started the song a little weakly. It made me nervous for his voice. However, like Jena, I think he was cobwebbed by nerves, because he completely turned around the mojo in the second half. Mom and I were waiting with baited breath for the higher "dream ons," and we were not disappointed. I was so excited that he was hitting those notes... and not just screaming them, vocalizing. It was flat kilt. Round 1 goes to Caleb. STAND UP, Harry, you piece of crap.

Jo's Round #1 Ranking

1. Caleb
2. Jena

Interlude

When Caleb was twerking on Jena, she laughed, and then she looked instantly stressed. It would be hard to have lighthearted, fun moments right before an important performance.

Round #2 – Contestant's Fave

Jena Irene – "I Can't Help Falling In Love" by Elvis Presley
Oh, yay. We loved this one when she sang it two weeks ago for Top 4 week. Here's what I said originally:

I was worried about the slow pace, but it was wonderful and touching and emotional and BEAUTIFULLY sung. Those runs. Those note progressions. Those dynamics. It was phenomenal. Coupled with her piano playing, that performance was some classy musical genius... one of the best of the season, for any contestant.

I feel exactly the same tonight. Even Mom gave a standing ovation, though I'm not sure if her ovation was for Jena's performance or for Jena's eye makeup.

Caleb Johnson – "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney
Caleb's choice is also from Top 4 week. I said:

This song choice was a great way for Caleb to show the "poignancy" for which the judges keep pining, without sacrificing his rock-n-roll style. Caleb took us on a great ride through the range of that song. I told Mom and Ed, "I can't wait until he does the high ooh-ooh's," and he didn't disappoint. This performance was his best of the evening, in my opinion. He needs to attack each performance like this.

This presentation complemented Caleb's Round #1 song very well. I thought tonight's was a little more "all over the place" than it was two weeks ago. Caleb showed more control in Top 4 week. It was still great, though.

Jo's Round #2 Ranking

1. Jena
2. Caleb

Funny, I thought about calling this round a tie, like Keith did, but I feel Jena edged Caleb here. I wouldn't call them tied overall, though, because I think Caleb beat her by a long shot in Round #1.

Round #3 – Single

Jena Irene – "We Are One"
Unless you are Phillip Phillips or Lauren Alaina, I don't like your single. I never like this part (unless it was PP or LA), because I don't know the song. I can't jam. Yes, I know, you have to try new stuff to learn and like new things, blah blah blah, but yuck. That's not the way I take my Idol. "Home" and "Like My Mother Does" are the only singles I've ever liked. I've typed this whole soliloquy while Jena is singing, and I feel like I haven't missed much. It was flat, not in pitch, but in performance. No up. No down. Same beat. No dynamics. A cheesy, "Thank you, America!" thrown in for good measure. I like Jena. I just didn't like this song/performance.

Caleb Johnson – "As Long As You Love Me"
Typical rocked Caleb performance, but like with Jena, this performance was my least favorite of his three. I just didn't connect with the song. It felt like a plateau. As I'm typing, it's still happening, and I'm waiting for him to do something memorable or outrageous. This is your LAST performance, Caleb... the last competition performance of the season, in fact. Man, he's even getting off pitch. This song sucks. DO SOMETHING, Caleb. Oh, well. I was not satiated.

Jo's Round #3 Ranking

Tie. I'm going there. Sorry. They were both just equally eh to me.

Tonight's Show...
...was a typical Finale Eve show. I got some good, I got some eh, I got some great. No surprises. It unfolded just like I thought it would. Where was MK in the final song thingy?

Jo's Overall Ranking

1. Caleb
2. Jena

Jo's Prediction of America's Ranking

1. Caleb
2. Jena

Round #1 went to Caleb, Round #2 to Jena, and Round #3 was a tie, but I think Caleb was WAY better than Jena on Round #1, and that might win it for him.

As I said MONTHS ago, Caleb is the American Idol. Period. Team Caleb. I wouldn't be upset if Jena won, though. I like her, too. I just like Caleb best, which is cool since he's going to win.

What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!

Top 3 Results

Recap
Last night, Caleb's voice caused him to falter, and song choices and arrangements blemished Jena. However, both of them brought it all to Round #3 to flat kill their performances. Alex did well, but was shadowed by Caleb and Jena. Therefore, I predicted a Caleb-Jena finale.

Hometown Visits
I've been thinking about it all day. Kleenexes are nearby. BEST PART of every Idol season.

Brain Games
Our team was eliminated in Round #3, tonight's first round. However, that loss allowed me to be at home in time to watch Idol with all of you... silver lining. :o)

Idol Top 3 Results... GO!

Puppy
I like puppies, but that was some high level awkward.

Jennifer's Dress
It's so ugly, it's beautiful.

Alex's Sweater
...would look great in my 1991, 12-year-old girl closet.

Jena's Hometown Visit
I'm already crying. Good heavens. Home for the first time in three months. Crying grandparents. I CAN'T TAKE IT. Her room. Her bed. Her basement keyboard chill room. Plane with her name. Hometown parade. Great big concert. If they show her grandparents crying one more time, I'm going to lose it. Even Ryan is emotional. Classic good hometown visit.

Scotty McCreery – "Feelin' It"
These are the moments when I wish you could all tumble into Casa Cobb and observe Ed. His grave and and deep dislike of Scotty McCreery is one of my greatest enjoyments. Let's just listen in to Ed's comments... or not. I can't type any of it for public viewing. :o) I was never a big Scotty McCreery fan, but I can dig his groove. I just can't watch his sideways mic, sideways face stuff. It enrages me. Wait, here's one from Ed: "He looks like a crappy George W. Bush impersonator." And another: "I'd like to go to one of his shows, pull him offstage, and curb stomp him."

Alex's Hometown Visit
"This was his favorite place to eat in high school. That's $5.08." Ha! All those people in his house to see him... so neat. Both Alex's Dad and friend noted that he doesn't understand what's been going on in his hometown. His friend said, "I've been here while it's been building." Interesting perspective. No wonder it is such a shock to the contestants when they come home. Home is not the way it was when they left. Why does Idol keep showing Jennifer? She looks completely bored. All home visits are fun, but Jena's home visit just kicked Alex's home visit's butt. This one didn't even make me cry.

Caleb's Hometown Visit
Of course Caleb went to a School of Rock. I've always called him Jack Black meets Meat Loaf meets Chris Farley. CALEB'S BROTHER. Hilarious. Ooh, I spy an MAO (Miss America Organization) crown. There's his bro live! Haha! Oh, good heavens, now I spy some crack. Cool that he gets to sing with KISS, but I did not need the crack.

Hometown Visit Award
It goes to Jena. I'm a little disappointed in the hometown visits this year, but Jena's was so good, I can overlook it. I think the smaller towns always do better hometown visits than big cities. I hope someone from Bedford makes the Top 3 someday. We would throw a kick-butt hometown visit.

Jena T2'd
1 for 1. Good for her.

Alex or Caleb?
I really think it's Caleb. I called it from the beginning. But his vocal issues...

Caleb T2'd
*sigh of relief* I hope he's cured by Tuesday.

Alex Gone
Boo. I'm sorry for him, though I'm not surprised. He will have a successful career in music.

Next week will be a great showdown! My money is on Caleb, but we'll have to see how Jena and Caleb perform next week. Don't forget, Idol Watchers, TUESDAY is the day Caleb and Jena perform, and the finale/results show is on Wednesday. See you then! (Comment on the facebook link!)

Top 3

Holy Home Visit Week!
This is my favorite week. Last year, they showed home visits on the performance episode. Tomorrow's results episode is an hour long, so maybe the home visits will be shown tomorrow.

Schedule
Listen up, Idol Watchers. Get the lowdown on the Idol schedule for the next week. Tomorrow, Idol is on at 9:00 and lasts an hour, like it used to do. Next week's episodes are on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday's episode is 8:00-9:00. Wednesday's finale is 8:00-10:00.

500th Episode
The "look back" intro was SO FUN. All those old audition and performance reels make good memory lanes.

Caleb's Voice
OMG. You guys, this is a bit uncanny. I am struggling with an as-yet-undiagnosed vocal chord problem. I've been describing it to people as "the vocal equivalent of a stress fracture." Caleb's doctor described his condition as a runner running with a hurt ankle, which is something from which I just healed, as well. Uncanny. However, the real story is that Caleb is sick, and his voice is affected. SUCKS. I wonder if this development will affect what was his certain win, as well. SUCKS.

Home Visit Preview
Oh, yay. I can't wait. Jena's dog was waiting on her at the airport. C'mon. I'm already crying.

#IdolSelfie
Really? REALLY? I don't get it. I do not get it.

Idol Top 3... GO!

Round #1 – Randy's Picks... YO!

Caleb Johnson – "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS
His voice is OK in the beginning range. Let's see how it goes for the rest of the song. I like the start in the throne. Do I hear a hint of stress in his voice, or am I looking for it? No, I think he's fine. I like the slow, boiling groove of the song. Here comes the high note... and nailed. He's good to go. Hope he holds out for two more songs. "You on your worst night is better than most people on their best night." I'm going to hazard a guess that Jennifer's comment is no consolation for Caleb. He wants to be his best all the time. Period.

Casa Cobb Comments
Ed: We've been watching all this time, and there's been only one song.
Mom: You must've forgotten that Selfie one.

Alex Preston – "Pompeii" by Bastille

I'm excited to see what Alex does with this song. Ooh, he has a drum. Will he be playing? I hope so. So far, it's a stripped down version, but staying very close to Bastille's original. I like it. Oh, here goes the drum. Hey, Idol, turn on his mic. I like this performance a lot, but I may be swayed by the song, which I've loved since I downloaded it as the iTunes free single of the week on the second-to-last day of school last year. Mom is in heaven. She thinks this performance is Alex's best, and she's furious that Ed doesn't like it. She just said, "I like that he's moving, I like that he played drums, I like that he played guitar, and I like that he didn't play the guitar." :o)

Jena Irene – "Titanium" by David Guetta
Likin' the bedazzled jacket. Not likin' the song choice. Likin' that she is standing on the pedestal with the fly fabric spread like a skirt. Mom is freaking out that she is standing up there. Ed noticed that she has a safety belt of sorts... that she can't disconnect! Oh my! She's handling it well, but it's taking away from the bust-out moment. I think that Jena is a victim of a bad song choice here, though I do enjoy watching her having a great time. Is Keith having convulsions? What is that?

Jo's Round #1 Ranking

1. Alex
2. Caleb
3. Jena

...and my friend Odie is somewhere being thrilled that I put Jena last. :o)

Round #2 – Judges' Picks

Caleb Johnson – "Demons" by Imagine Dragons
Ooooh, you can hear the stress in his voice here. He's having the exact same problem I am: more breath is required to make sound, and he's not accustomed to it. I really, really, really feel for him. How frustrating. It's not bad, by any means. It's just vocally rough. Oh, now it's getting bad. Poor, poor guy. How will America react to this development? The loss of his voice has leveled the playing field in a strange way. Nice encouragement and advice from Keith. Caleb is handling it so well. I would be bawling. When it happened to me in Joseph in March, I was bawling.

Alex Preston – "Stay" by Rihanna

So, our basement is flooding, which marred this performance slightly. However, I heard enough to know that I was very taken by the strings section. Of course, Alex delivered a beautiful, beautiful rendition. I loved listening to the notes tumbling out of his mouth with ease. Bubbling brook, he is. The sounds he's making are daggers to the heart for Caleb right now. Based on personal experience, I can say that those sounds are the exact ones that Caleb can't make and wishes he could.

Malaya
Did Malaya just take out her retainer on national television?

Jena Irene – "Heart Attack" by Devi Lovato

Nice start. Cute shirt. The upped tempo is making it difficult for Jena to get out all those words in that low register. This arrangement is so. freaking. rushed! It's causing Jena to be way behind the beat. The vocal is strong, and I especially liked the bridge. ("Burst into fla-a-a-a-ames.") I liked her phrasing better than Demi's, but the whole thing was ruined by the crazy fast beat.

Jo's Round #2 Ranking

1. Alex
2. Jena
3. Caleb

Poor Caleb's voice.

Round #3 – Home Picks

Caleb Johnson – "Dazed and Confused" by Led Zeppelin
He's going to let it all go here. The beginning started well, but then the cracks started popping up at the most inopportune times. Still, he did a fabulous job with a wounded instrument. It was fun to watch Jennifer and Keith stand up and rock out, even though JLo appeared to be channeling a stripper. What is up Harry's butt? Dude, enjoy yourself. OH MY GOD, the mic stand! THE MIC STAND! Caleb! Every frustration he had with his voice tonight was just taken out on that mic stand. He just earned back every vote he might have lost, and probably gained some more. That was one of my favorite Idol moments of ALL TIME.

Alex Preston – "The Story Of My Life" by One Direction

Loved this one. It's the only Idol performance I've downloaded this season. I like it more than One Direction's. I especially like his hesitation on "It's fro-o-o-zen." I didn't think he performed as well as he did the first time he presented it, but it was still great. Mom had a problem with the graphics. They nauseated her.

Jena Irene – "Creep" by Radiohead

Ed is pumped. He loved this one. He played it back several times the night she performed it originally. She closed the show well with some great musicianship. Professional, emotional, and flat nailed.

Jo's Round #3 Ranking

1. Caleb
2. Jena
3. Alex

Tonight's Show...
...was a great Top 3 collection. Caleb's vocal stress was a bummer, but he made me forget it all with the mic slam. Alex showed all the reasons I like him, and Jena displayed some true artistry.

Jo's Overall Ranking

1. Caleb
2. Alex
3. Jena

Jo's Prediction of America's Ranking

1. Caleb
2. Jena
3. Alex

I have always been attracted to Alex's quirky performances and arrangments, but I think Jena's beauitful and dominant voice resonates more with America than Alex does. Also, that last performance was strong. Therefore, I predict a Caleb-Jena finale.

What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!

(There is a possibility that tomorrow's notes will be delayed. It depends on whether or not our Brain Games team makes the finals. So everything will probably be biz as usual.) :o)

Top 4 Results

Recap
Though I prefer Caleb to Jena, I predicted America would rank the contestants first to worst: Jena, Caleb, Alex, and Jessica. Jessica had a great final performance in Round #3 last night, but I think it was too little, too late. The others eclipsed her.

Confession
I just spent a good three minutes researching the correct usage for the past tense of outshine. I couldn't decided between, "The others outshined her," and, "The others outshone her." I went with eclipsed.

Hometown Visits
I can't wait until next week's hometown visits. I always cry.

Idol Top 4 Results... GO!

Trapdoor

We missed that last night.

Nothing
I've been sitting here for ten minutes with nothing to type. These results shows are getting lamer than lame.

Jena T3'd

1 for 1.

ALL COMMERCIALS

Is it just me, or are there more commercials than usual? How about a celebrity performance? A group performance? Everyone talks about how Idol is slowly dying. This format is part of the reason why.

Paddle Boating and Picnicking

Slightly less boring than the nearly never-ending commercials.

OMG

Jena: "We've been here for three months."

Jessica: "That's almost half a year."

Almost, Jessica. Almost.

Caleb T3'd

2 for 2.

Commercials

This is embarrassing. I'm embarrassed for Idol.

Alex T3'd

3 for 3.

Jessica

We nailed it, Idol Watchers. Fourth in the biggest singing competition in the country is pretty awesome. Good for her. I'll miss her personality and some of her singing. I think she would be a better studio performer than live performer. Looking forward to her first album. Poor thing. How could one not be emotional? Alex's turn next week.

Normally, I ask if you guys think that America got it right. Since I know you all think they did, I'll ask this: are you as annoyed with these Idol results shows as I? What can they do to make it better? I would even be OK with the lip-synced (lip-sunk?) group songs again. At least it would be something. Comment on the Facebook link...

Top 4

Ryan
Scruffy. Dislike.

Order
The contestants are standing in the order in which I think they'll go home: Jessica, Alex, Jena, and Caleb.

Jennifer
Mom thinks she looks like Judy Jetson.

Idol Top 4... GO!

Round #1 – Break-Ups

Caleb Johnson – "You Give Love A Bad Name" by Bon Jovi
This performance was fun and well sung. Really good. Enjoyable. However, it felt phoned-in to me... for Caleb. The last 10 or so seconds were really bright, but the rest was just like, "I have to do this dumb walk through the audience stuff... I'm just getting this one out of the way... easy peasy..." C'mon, Caleb. Top 4 level, all day long.

Jessica Meuse – "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson

Bad karaoke. I have nothing else to say.

Audition Cities
If I were seven years younger, I would SO audition in Nashville.

Alex Preston – "Too Close" by Alex Clare

Lip sync girl doesn't know the words! Hahahahahaha! I don't know why that is so funny to me. "Imma look so cool and mouth the words... or look completely silly." :o) Regarding Alex, he was much improved from last week. I like the acoustic vibe; it honors the original, but gives it a new spin. I love it when he throws the cool chord progressions at the end... the ones HCJ calls the mysterious epic ninth or whatever.

Jena Irene – "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar
Jena seems to be channeling Caleb. She sounds professional and is owning the stage. I'm not a big fan of the staging itself, though. She looked a little lonely out there. I wish she'd had some musicians with whom to jam. In any case, her vocal was one of her strongest with the exception of the last note. She is demanding America's attention.

Heels
So lame. Please stop making this show all about the judges, all the time.

Jo's Round #1 Ranking
Caleb
Jena
Alex
Jessica

Even though I thought Caleb was coasting and Jena was doing work, I feel his coast is better than her work doing in this case.

Round #2 – Dedications? (We never really got it.)

Caleb Johnson – "Travelin' Band" by CCR
There's the band with Caleb.  I think that move is genius. It promotes the image of Caleb as the seasoned musician by surrounding him with seasoned musicians. Plus, those musicians are always terribly fun to watch. Enteratinment promotes entertainment. I really enjoyed the rock-n-roll turn on this CCR classic. It was a cool, new way to hear an old tune. The more I see Caleb, the more I want to see Caleb live. (Mom didn't like this performance, by the way.)

Jessica Meuse – "So What" by P!nk

Slightly better karaoke. All her moves seemed half-hearted. Even knocking down the mic stand was kind of like, "Eh. I'm knocking down the mic stand now."

Jena Irene – "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga
I always appreciate an attempt to change a song, and this was a neat change-up. I just didn't like it very much. It was a little overly screamy for me. Don't get me wrong, I think her performance was nailed. It just wasn't my cup of tea with a pinkie in the air.

Alex Preston – "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

This was pretty straight-up identical to the original, but it was good... in his wheelhouse, one might say. The judges will hate it because "he's not doing enough" to be the Idol. There goes Jennifer...

Jo's Round #2 Ranking
Caleb
Alex
Jena
Jessica

Round #3 – Make-Ups

Caleb Johnson – "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney
This song choice was a great way for Caleb to show the "poignancy" for which the judges keep pining, without sacrificing his rock-n-roll style. Caleb took us on a great ride through the range of that song. I told Mom and Ed, "I can't wait until he does the high ooh-ooh's," and he didn't disappoint. This performance was his best of the evening, in my opinion. He needs to attack each performance like this.

Jessica Meuse – "You And I" by Lady Gaga

Fully recovered, but is it enough, or is it too little, too late? Either way, it was a great song choice, and a fabulous performance for her to close her presentations. That song could not have been more perfect for her. She didn't have to change anything about herself to make it work. Her quirks fit right in. (I conjecture that the guy she likes is one of the Idol T10.)

Jena Irene – "I Can't Help Falling In Love" by Elvis Presley
Ed is sad that she's not singing "In The Ghetto." I was worried about the slow pace, but it was wonderful and touching and emotional and BEAUTIFULLY sung. Those runs. Those note progressions. Those dynamics. It was phenomenal. Coupled with her piano playing, that performance was some classy musical genius... one of the best of the season, for any contestant.

Alex Preston – "Yellow" by Coldplay
I loved the little runs Alex put at the end of some of the notes. It was a strong performance, especially at the end when he did the magical mystic minor third fourth. Those parts were uniquely Alex, but I'm missing his bold rearrangements.

Jo's Round #3 Ranking

Jena
Caleb
Jessica
Alex

Tonight's Show...
...didn't surprise me. Most of us predicted before tonight that Jessica would be the next to go home. I'm just disappointed that Caleb seemed like he was playing it a little safe in the first two rounds. He'd better go hard every time, with tenacity, or he's in jeopardy of having his rightful Idol throne usurped. Jena knows what's up... and what she's doing.

Jo's Overall Ranking
Caleb
Jena
Alex
Jessica

Jo's Prediction of America's Ranking
Jena
Caleb
Alex
Jessica

Like we said, y'all.

What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!

Top 5 Results

Recap
Though my ranking was Caleb, Alex, Jessica, Jena, and Sam, I predicted that America would rank the contestants Caleb, Jena, Alex, Sam, and Jessica. We shall see.

Shocking Twist
A shocking twist! I hope it's shocking! And twisty! Prediction: Whatever it is, it's going to be stupid.

Idol Top 5 Results... GO!

A Peek Into Casa Cobb
Ryan to HCJ: "How far have they come in your opinion?"
Ed: "They've come this far, right here."

Party
So, Idol throws a party for the contestants, but they have to pick up their own party supplies and decor, and have to set it up, too? Nice.

Keith Urban – "Good Thing"
This was a fun performance, and as Mom noted, better than Keith's hideous display last season. I liked the poppy, upbeat atmosphere he created. The best part was Mom's quote at the end: "He looks like Peter Pan. I like him."

Shocking Twist
What is it? Ed thinks they'll give the contestants the option of getting rid of the lowest contestant tonight, or two next week. I think they are going to tell who the B2 are, and then tell the T3 to choose who goes home. (I think that because the shocking twists are always either lame or heinous, and I'm going with heinous tonight.) Mom thinks Ed is right. Sam thinks they're canceling the show.

No Results Yet
Awfully late for the play-by-play. Does that have something to do with the Shocking Twist?

Dramatic Proposal
Ah! The Shocking Twist has become a Dramatic Proposal!

Ed = Right
Like usual. My way would've been more dramatic. That was neither Shocking nor Dramatic. They're going to send home one tonight and one next week, or no one this week and two next week. The math is the same.

Cold Hearted Snakes!
I love it. We think Jena and Caleb were the dissenters. I'll bet things are a little tense in the Idol house this week.

Sam Is Out
Ed and I are cheering. Mom is crying. Sam (Cobb) is laughing. Mom is now lamenting that she didn't vote... espeically now that she sees all the Facebook pics are old women. HA! I'm glad America got this one right. He was in Jo's B2, but I thought America would vote out Jessica. This song performance is the loosest and best Sam has done all season.

Future
Casa Cobb is in agreement: Jessica goes next, Alex will be 3rd, Jena will be the runner-up, and Caleb will be the Idol. Write it down.

What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!