Top 9 Results

Recap
My order for America was Jena, Caleb, Malaya, Alex, Sam, Jessica, Dexter, Majesty, C.J. That gives us a B3 of Dexter, Majesty, and C.J. Jessica is my bubble, once again.

Jen's Dress
Beautiful. She looks great in red.

Yo
Randy picked the same T3 I did.

Half Hour
Why is the show only a half hour tonight (and next week)? Results shows really only need a half hour, anyway, but it still makes me a bit sad. I like to overindulge.

Jena's Shorts
I almost missed them.

Mom Is Psychic
Mom is calling out the "safe" names three seconds before Ryan. Impressive.

Janelle Monáe – "What Is Love"
The first thing out of Mom's mouth was, "Dumb hair." Agree. I really liked the performance, though. I love simple dance steps done in unison, à la The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Bruno Mars. Janelle et al. used elements of the simple unison steps. The whole presentation was party-like and fun. I'm not convinced that she was singing live, but I still enjoyed it. Mom says the showgirls were wearing thongs. If so, gross, but all I saw on their rears were feathers. One more thing: there were a lot of fit abs on that stage.

Majesty-Sam-C.J.
Two outta three ain't bad.

Interrupted
Jennifer's reaction when Harry interrupted her was funny.

The Save
Mom thinks that the judges will use The Save on Sam or Majesty, but not on C.J.  I think they will use it on only Sam.

Majesty?!
Not C.J.? Mom and Ed are convinced that she's getting Saved, based on Jennifer's face when Majesty was announced as the B1. This performance isn't very good. It's both out of tune and out of time... but you look great, baby. It doesn't matter, though, because the judges aren't even watching her. Ooh, Jennifer's face doesn't look happy anymore. Mom and Ed are changing their minds... Majesty is gone if The Save is based on this performance. Why is Majesty acting so drunk/goofy? Ed says she's overcompensating for extreme sadness.

T8
Majesty is gone, and C.J. lives for another week. I'll bet he goes next week, then the judges use The Save the following week. What do you think?

Top 9

Rock Band Week
Also known as "Caleb Johnson Week."

Fall Out Boy
Neat.

Group Song
American Idol, hear my cry! Ask and ye shall receive! I'm glad for the return of the group song. I was going to write something about the vocals being a little weak, and more about it being OK because the contestants seemed to be having fun. However, then Malaya entered the scene. Good heavens, girl, calm it with the head banging. She could hardly sing because she was so concerned about making her hair flop everywhere. All I remember from that performance is flying bronzed-tipped hair and "UP UP UP!!!!! UP UP UP!!!!!"

Idol Top 9... GO!

Alex Preston – "Don't Speak" by No Doubt
I'm glad that Idol has finally started to put the song and original artist on the screen when a contestant sings. Why has it taken 13 seasons for them to do that? I'm not a giant jazz fan. I respect it, I can groove to it, but I don't dig it the mostest. That said, I completely dug this version of "Don't Speak." Well done, Alex. He was a great front man for the big band. Ed just said, "This guy will get second place." I replied, "I said that last week." He answered, "I said that two weeks ago. Scooped." LIES. Shut up, judges. Alex was awesome, and you know it. The shoe-sock theft stuff was kinda funny, admittedly.

Majesty Rose – "Shake It Out" by Florence + The Machine
Hair: Yes. Outfit: YES, even with shoulder pads. However, the outfit didn't really go with the song. Her fashion seemed more "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" than "Shake It Out." The vocal was weaker than a freshly minted kangaroo crawling in his mommy's pouchie for the first time. WEAK, y'all. I like Majesty a lot, but she just got really spazzy and all over the place.

Theme?
Ed and Mom are telling me I'm wrong on the theme.  They say it's "Band Night," not "Rock Band Night," or, as Mom put it, "Singing With Band Night." :o)

Dexter Roberts – "Down In The Boondocks" by Little Big Town
Nice pants, granddad. GREAT song choice for Dexter. As I say every single week, you may hate country, but this is *good stuff* for those who love country. He did a great job, but it was very similar to the original, though not quite as polished. That may hurt him. However, country America was down with that. I was. Yay, Dexter. His shout out to the band at the end was polite, too.

Giant Gummy Bear
How have I never had one of these? How about you guys talk about Dexter?

Keith's Lizard Move
He keeps flicking his tongue around. Mom *says* she's bothered by it.

Malaya Watson – "The Long And Winding Road" by the Beatles
I'm worried about this performance for two reasons, both of them previous actions by Malaya this evening: 1.) OUT OF CONTROL activity in the group song, and 2.) the pantomimed nose-picking before the commercial break before her performance. Such a classy girl. Oh, wait. Her song choice is going to allow her to stay in control. Yay. "Good girl, Malaya." She is looking mature, acting mature, singing mature. I just wish she would stick with this image. It's cool to be spontaneous and fun, but do it with class. Her vocal was so slick. "Lead me to your door," was heart-melting. And THAT ENDING. Keep doing this, Malaya! More good stuff! Beautiful. Amber, has she been taking classes from you on the side? She's sounding more and more like you every week. Keith just noted the exact same lyric I did.

Sam Woolf – "Hey There Delilah" by The Plain White T's
I'm so sorry you all missed the fly harmonies I was adding. The beat was neat, and I enjoyed the vibe. Mom was excited about the light bulbs, for some reason. However, Sam seemed a bit too rigid for the calm vibe and rosy shirt. When JLo asked to whom Sam was singing, Ed said something about "my pet hamster," and Mom cannot stop laughing because she thought he said "Mark the hamster." I asked why that was funny, and she said, "A hamster... named MARK! Who names his hamster... MARK? HAHAHA!" Welcome to my world, Idol Watchers. Anyway, good performance. Yay, Sam. (Mom just said, "Did they like him or not? I don't even know." Too much laughing about Mark the Hamster.)

Jessica Meuse – "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac
Jessica is hellbent on letting us know that she WORKS HARD on those bar gigs. Setting up, singing, tearing down. Très difficile. It's neat that she plays fiddle, though. Oh, no. I just heard Mom scream, "Jessica... has a... HAMSTER!" (I think it was a gerbil, however.) Mom is choking on her own spit through her uncontrollable laughter. This is one of those "you had to be there" moments, and I really wish you all were. This fit is something to behold. ANYWAY, back to Jessica. (I've turned into HCJ talking about a Gummy Bear when I should be focusing on the singer.) I thought this performance was great. Her higher notes sounded less shaky and more controlled than ever. Full, even. I've said all along that Jessica is a Stevie Nicks-ish singer. Mom thinks she did well because she was forced to focus on the performance rather than "phone it in."

Hamsters Everywhere
Oh, no. Hamster in a commercial. Mom has lost it again.

C.J. Harris – "If It Hadn't Been For Love" by SteelDrivers
Before he sang, Mom said, "I think he's going home this week." When he started singing, I thought, "No way!" He was setting a great atmosphere. I was drawn into his performance. Then, the chorus. Oh, the chorus. Everything fell apart instantly. I wanted to pull a Mom and hide under the blanket, but alas, I had no blanket. Buh-bye, C.J.

Caleb Johnson – "Dazed & Confused" by Led Zeppelin
I'm surprised he isn't going last. Jena must have something to bring. Really, is there anyone more professional than Caleb in this competition? He oozes confidence, charisma, and COOL. Everything about him says, "This is what I do." I feel like I'm watching a seasoned performer EVERY TIME I see him. I want more, more, more Caleb. Winner winner, chicken dinner. His voice is übercontrolled, chill in the right places, and wild in the right places. His instincts with motion and even the mic are A+, dead on, right. STAND UP, Harry! C'mon, man.

Jena Irene – "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence
She looks like Lea Michele tonight. The first third of the song just sounded bumbly and shouty. The remainder of her performance was flat-out rocked.  I could understand the lyrics, the power and cry in her voice were controlled, and she didn't overdo any bit of it. Best Jena performance I've seen. Happy for her.

Tonight's Show...
...was extra fun, mostly thanks to the hamster fun. I truly hate it that you all missed those moments. Aside from the hamsters, I enjoyed the variety of songs selected and the chances to look at different sides of some of the contestants. I want Malaya to continue with the focused vocals and Caleb to continue being Caleb.

Jo's Ranking

1. Caleb
2. Jena
3. Malaya
4. Alex
5. Sam
6. Jessica
7. Dexter
8. Majesty
9. C.J.

I would put the Mark the Hamster fun in between Malaya and Alex.

Jo's Prediction of America's Ranking

1. Jena
2. Caleb
3. Malaya
4. Alex
5. Sam
6. Jessica
7. Dexter
8. Majesty
9. C.J.

I'm feeling that my B3 and America's B3 will match. Will be tough to see CJ go. I like the guy.

What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!

Top 10 Results

Recap
My order for America was Alex, Caleb, Malaya, Sam, Majesty, Dexter, Jessica, Jena, C.J., and MK. That puts JennaIMeanGina in the B3 with the initial-ites, and Jessica on the bubble (in spite of Jessica's good performance).

Ryan
When he entered the auditorium, I thought he was going to crowd surf. It scared me. Thank goodness he was just going for a selfie.

Limo...
...is not a limo. They are in two different SUVs. Dislike. Like on the round(dinner)table discussion, though.

Dexter B3'd
I had him bubbled on my list, but not America's list. I thought he was more popular with country America.

Jennifer Lopez – "I Luh Ya Papi"
The "in the hood" intro was awkward. I know awkward is overused, but there's no other word. The harmonies were pretty good. Let's just do a checklist:
Beginning = awkward
Harmonies = good
JLo's shoes = uncomfortable
Sparkly hose = cool
Live singing = not happening
Chorus = I WANT TO KILL PEOPLE. The words "I Luh Ya Papi" repeated indefinitely MAKE ME WANT TO KILL PEOPLE.
Rapping Dude = also lip syncing
Dancing = good, but not overcoming the HOMICIDAL CHORUS
Bottom Line = If you like that song, we are no longer friends.

Wait A Minute
Some of those girls are former Idols. Oh... yeah... still hated it.

JLo's Quick Change
Rather impressive, especially the hair. However, SONG IS STILL DUMB. Bone chillingly bad.

Majesty B3'd?
Unfortunate. I really liked her. America, please start getting her. Understand her. Embrace her. Luh her.

How're Ya Doin', Jo?
Quite unwell, thank you. 0 for 2. And I've been doing so well this season. I thought I had my finger on the pulse of America. Unfortunate.

Royal Teeth – "Wild"
Why is that boy so skinny? Someone get him a hamburger and fries. The redheaded gal is pretty good, and her top is awfully cute. I was cool with the performance as long as she was being featured. The boy made me nervous, though. I was afraid he was going to break. I liked the percussion-full, confetti part... when there was no singing.

Group Songs
Where are the group songs? They were always canned and awful, but I found them endearing. They are like the carefree childhood you don't appreciate until it's gone.

MK B3'd...
...and likely B1'd.

MK B1'd
I really like MK. As I've said before, MK seems like the kind of gal I would like to get to know. I just think Idol is not the format for her. No way the judges Save her. It's kind of sad that she's preparing with the band for the song that is destined not to Save her. (Was MK changing her song when she was talking to Rickey Minor?) The judges are making a show of deliberating. Ed made a good point: the judges should listen to the singer sing, then huddle. It's a little rude to talk while the contestant is performing. Why are they still talking? The judges are just dragging out the drama.

And Then There Were Nine
Goodbye, MK! Do you guys think the right decision was made? See you next week!

Top 10

Selfies
Nothing wrong with that. :o)

Top of the Charts
...and songs no older than four years old. These shows tend to flop a bit. I thought 2013 had a lot of great tunes, though, so maybe some of those will get picked tonight.

JLo
Love the dress. Hate the walk. She looks like she's about to topple over.

Earthquake
Is it bad that I didn't know there was an earthquake? Hey, Cali: don't you have earthquakes, like, all the time? Chill. The other 49 states don't care, just like you don't care about our snowstorms and tornadoes... that happen within 24 hours of each other.

Idol Top 10... GO!

MK Nobilette – "Perfect" by Pink
I told Ed and Mom that MK is automatically out by virtue of being the first performer and the performer who has yet to show a personality. Then I heard the song selection, and I got excited. Ed and I performed Pink's "Perfect" last fall, and it's a song we enjoy and know well. Then I heard MK sing it, and I got bummed again. This performance is the worst I've seen this season. Nothing about it is confident. Even her Touching of the Audience Hands was contrived. Oy, she just jacked the lyrics... she's trying to work her way through it with some adlibs... it's just BAD. Now she's losing confidence, and the vocal is getting even shakier. Poor girl. Oh, kiss of death: Keith just said, "You look great." Followed by the "How do YOU think you did?" That statement is the KISS OF DEATH. I will predict MK's departure right now. Right now. Write it down.

Dexter Roberts – "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line
Uh-oh. The graphics are making Mom car sick. I've said it before, I'll say it again: you may not like country, but county folk like Dexter, guaranteed. He has that sick slide and a flirty flip that will have folks voting with fervor. He's a natural country performer who makes the crowd feel like they are part of the performance. There were some sour notes at the end. However, everyone left to perform could be 1,000 times better, and he'd be safe. Thank MK, Dex.

Inside Joke
Mom tried to play a joke on Ed tonight by sticking a funny picture on our fridge.  She blew it by laughing uncontrollably at odd moments. :o)

Jena Irene – "Clarity" by Zedd
Jena looked fully uncomfortable in the first verse. Her voice, visage, and personality completely changed in the chorus. As she approached center stage, she really started to shine. However, it was short-lived. I thought everything went downhill from there. I get that it was electronica, but the voice she was using was weird. It was WEIRD. I didn't like it. I didn't like the accented "glow sticks" command or the over-pronounced words. She can do SOOOO much better. And dress so much better. However, again, safe. Thank MK, Jenna. Gina.

Ed Quote
"Three duds in a row."  Word to your mother.

Alex Preston – "The Story of My Life" by One Direction
I called his tune selection. I'm sure he'll do something cool with it. Oh, this performance is genius. The tempo, the groove, the tricky little vocal inflections. This guy is consistently cool. I'm moving him into my Finale Top 2 with Caleb. I liked this version better than One Direction's. I'm downloading it. Can we download Idol studio recordings on iTunes this year? I have a hard time watching Alex's face when he sings (and Mom has a hard time watching his "tiny, tiny ears," which she says in a very high-pitched voice), but I'll take a performer over a pleasant-faced poser.

Malaya Watson – "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars
Strong opening. This performance is what I was expecting from her when I picked her in my Top 2 a month ago. Everything about it was perfect. Inflection, dynamics, vibrato, emotion, ALL PERFECT. It seemed less like her typical chesty stage performance, and more like a powerful poignancy. Malaya is approaching the greatness of Idol Watcher Amber Williams now. I knew she had it in her.

Caleb Johnson – "The Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga
Ed thinks he'll choose "Born This Way," though I thought he might go with "Hair." He hoodwinked us both with "The Edge of Glory." I should've known. (Idol Watcher Wendy Miller: did you hear the joke about walnuts? HA!) This isn't my favorite Caleb performance, but it's darn good. Had I been unfamiliar with the song, I would've thought this was originally a rock tune. There was a seamless transformation from Gaga to Caleb Johnson. I prefer more upbeat stuff from Caleb, but this presentation was not at all slouchy.  Ooh, yucky last note.

Keith/HCJ Face/Off
That was some funny stuff. Keith had to have rehearsed that tumble of music vocab. Impressive.

C.J. Harris – "Invisible" by Hunter Hayes
I don't know this song at all, but he sounds WAY out of tune. Am I wrong? The sharpness. THE SHARPNESS. I mean, he may be beating out MK for a ticket home. He was passionate, but that was just all kinds of badness. Keith's advice was excellent. What a nice way not to say, "Dude, that blew." I wish we could've heard him in the nailed rehearsal Keith referenced. HCJ was a little demeaning. Pretty sure C.J. knows what it means to be sharp, dill weed.

Jessica Meuse – "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster The People

She sounds like Stevie Nicks more than ever tonight. Her voice is almost like a caricture of Stevie's voice, with certain parts magnified. I thought this performance was Jessica's best so far. She sounded more in control, vocally and emotionally, than she has on any live show. She'll fall comfortably in the middle tonight.

Majesty Rose – "Wake Me Up" by Avicii
Any X Factor Watchers out there? Restless Road did something similar with this song last fall. I liked it then, and I like it now. Actually, I prefer Majesty's folk version to any other I've heard. She was tentative at the right times and powerful at the right times, and both managed to be potent. There were some flaws (she looked genuinely frightened a few times), but she left me with a very positive feeling. Mom and I liked her makeup, too. I called it "golden," and she called it "glowing." Keith is full of crap. Folk is where it's at.

Sam Woolf – "We Are Young" by fun.
I'll bet most of America heard the opening lyrics to this song for the first time ever tonight. Sam sang them very clearly. The overall vibe was very similar to that of fun., but I didn't care. I like fun.'s version, so I liked this, too. I wished Sam had been a little more forceful during the middle part of the song. He had a real opportunity to be a little crazy there. HCJ is saying the same thing.

Tonight's Show...
...was better than I thought a "recent hits" show would be, though there were some clunkers. Some folks really surprised me with great performances.

Jo's Ranking

1. Alex
2. Malaya
3. Caleb
4. Majesty
5. Sam
6. Jessica
7. Dexter
8. Jena
9. C.J.
10. MK

I don't know if me putting Malaya above Caleb is a result of her actual performance, or a result of her performance being a lot better than I thought it would be.

Jo's Prediction of America's Ranking

1. Alex
2. Caleb
3. Malaya
4. Sam
5. Majesty
6. Dexter
7. Jessica
8. Jena
9. C.J.
10. MK

Bye-bye, MK, mmkay?

What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!

Top 11 Results

Recap
I predicted a Bottom 3 of Majesty, Ben, and MK, with MK going home. Smiley Sam was my bubble, if only because he performed first and was forgettable.

Idol Top 11 Results... GO!

Six Biiiiiiillion Votes
...but it's not, because people can vote a biiiiiiillion times.

HCJ to Perform
Ed said, "Harry Colonic," and Mom replied, "Harry Iconic!" :D

Limo Ride
I love to hear the contestants' thoughts on the show, the judges, their performances, etc.  Fun.

Caleb, CJ, Dexter
All safe! Predicted!

Harry Connick, Colonic, Iconic, Jr. – "One Fine Thing" and "Come By Me"
So, he's good. It guess this jazzy stuff just isn't my thing.  The "jazz flute" was reminiscent of Anchorman, which follows last night's movie theme. The second song was better, if only because it was upbeat and featured HCJ on the keys. Mom likes that the musicians' music stands have tablets instead of sheet music.

Judge Impressions
Maybe Caleb shouldn't be making fun of HCJ so harshly?

Cradle
It's probably really hard to sing a song while being cradled in someone's arms. That was really awkward, though. Would've been better with some instruments.

"Fill The Stools"
Hee!

Malaya and MK Safe, Ben and Majesty B3'd
That makes me 2 for 3. I had MK going home, though. I had Ben next up in the ranking. Maybe he's the goner?

Beggin' Party Poppers Commercial
MUST OWN. Must own for Abbi!

That Reminds Me
Where are the Ford commercials this year? I don't miss them; I just wondered where they went.

Mali Music – "Beautiful"
I'm grooving to this performance, but no one else in my house is. It's a little sleepy, but the mellow beat is right for a chill mood.  However, it's dragging... butt... badly.  And oh, my, that's some bad pianoing.

JLo's New Single
I was worried for her sanity during the intro.

Tonight's Show
Longest... hour............. everrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Sam B3'd
That's two-point-five for three again. That's really pretty good for me.

Judges
Why are the judges acting like this B3 is a big surprise?

Percentage of Separation
0.07%? Wow.

Ben Outsies
Predicted. I don't think the judges will use The Save. They might've used it for Majesty or Sam. Ben has chosen a good song, but he's not singing it well. Ick. Oh, lyrics mistake! He didn't cover it very well, either. And... The Save is saved for later.

Whoa!
We in Casa Cobb haven't watched a results show live yet due to conflicts on Thursdays. Our DVR cut off the end of the show those first two weeks, so we hadn't yet seen the voted-out contestant's picture darkened. Good heavens. That's harsh.

See ya next week, Idol Watchers!

Top 11

Daylight Saving Time
Mom arrived at Casa Cobb in something other than total darkness! Hooray, DST!

JLo's Ponytail
Like!  I Dream of Jeanie!

Music From The Movies Theme
Again with the wide open theme. I like that the contestants have wiggle room rather than being pigeonholed as in past seasons.

Idol Top 11... GO!

Sam Woolf – "Come Together" by The Beatles from Across The Universe
CUTE (but slightly awkward) vignette of the contestants acting like Sam. It's a little early to know the contestants' quirks, which gives this idea a touch of awkwardness. However, I'm looking forward to the others, so it can't be all bad. There was nothing wrong with this performance. It was vocally spot on. However, I was a little bored. Not bored... just not entertained as much as I think I could've been. I am slightly bothered by the fact that Sam's teeth are always visible. Mom: "I wish they showed the band because I want to know what makes the 'SH-CH' sound."

Jessica Meuse – "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel from The Graduate
Ooh, a little rough on the vignette. I wonder how she felt about it. Who did I call an acquired taste last week? Jessica is, as well. She definitely has talent. Her rock sound has a distinct nasal twang that will be loved by some, hated by others. However, this is a show where people vote FOR a contestant instead of AGAINST a contestant. That fact will work for her. I liked the acoustic beginning, but when the band joined her, they SCREWED IT UP! She stayed the course, though.  Bad last note. Weak. Really liked Jessica's hair and make-up tonight. The judges concurred with me on both the band and the hair.  Ed didn't like Jessica's "toeless boots."

C.J. Harris – "Can't You See" by Marshall Tucker Band from Blow
Boring vignette. BEST CJ PERFORMANCE EVER. He sounded like a seasoned star. Confidence. Grit. Solid pitch. I've had him low on my list for the last couple weeks, and I had almost forgotten why I originally liked him. Now I remember! Hooray for CJ. Keep it going next week, dude. Also, I liked watching JLo's Jeanie ponytail bop around her head.

Interjection
The number things are dumb.

Dexter Roberts – "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynrd Skynrd from Forrest Gump or Sweet Home Alabama or any number of movies set in the south
Ed nailed the song selection. Vignette: "Can I borrow your guitar real quick? And break your string? Before your big rehearsal?" That quote from Alex and Caleb's muttering made me LOL. (I use LOL about once a month, so you know it's real.) The little pompadour suited Dexter well, but what suited him best was this song. Whether you love or hate his genre, you have to admit that Dexter knows who he is. Roll Tide Roll. LOL again. Good heavens, Dexter has made me acronymical. Next thing you know, I'll be hashtagging.

Ben Briley – "Benny and the Jets" by Elton John from 27 Dresses
Funny vignette. GREAT choice to play the piano, but I think it was missing something by not adding in the band. This performance is not the best I've heard from Ben, but he nailed the "read it in a magaZIIIIIIINE." Oh, wait. Here comes the band. I like it better than him at the piano. So, bad choice to start on the piano. But now I know he's good at playing the piano. So, good choice to play the piano? Who knows. The falsetto stuff at the end was uncomfortable. Idol judges are always so big on knowing oneself. I know that's important in the industry, but I like a well-rounded singer. Yay for showing your many facets, Ben. (Keith is talking about the same thing.)

HCJ on Piano
Never disappointing.

Majesty Rose – "Let It Go" by Adele Dazeem... oops, Idina Menzel from Frozen
Another funny vignette. Somewhere, Amelia Unger is thrilled. That child analyzed this film for four-and-a-half miles (while we were running, not driving), one freezing cold Saturday morning. I loved it. This performance, however, I did NOT love. I thought Majesty was difficult to understand, I thought her pitch was FLAT as Kansas, and I thought the notes sounded fractured. However, she performed the song well. She sang with confidence and expression, from her heart. Her make-up looked great, as well. I feel like the weak singing trumped the good performing, though. The world is loving this song, so I don't think it will respond well to this sub-par rendition. In summary, click here.

Caleb Johnson – "Skyfall" by Adele from Skyfall
Ed just said, "Alright, the show is starting." YES. In the vignette, I liked the "Caleb" hair on MK. OH MY GOD. JESSICA! I have been saying, "If Jack Black and Meat Loaf had a baby..." ALL SEASON. I've thrown Chris Farley in there, too, though. This was not my favorite Caleb performance, but boy, was it good. I like to see him rock out, but I also enjoyed watching him be poignant and rely solely on his vocal. He SLAYED that *Adele* song. You guys, ADELE. He dominated it. Even though I prefer watching him rock and roll, my second-favorite from him is better than everybody else's tip-top. Also, it was important for him to show all facets of his performing ability. Well done, Master Caleb.

MK Nobilette – "To Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan from Hope Floats
She looks hot tonight! Jessica was funny in the vignette. I LOVE this song. Just like MK said, I like most of its covers, too. (Most notably: Garth Brooks and Idol Winner Kris Allen) MK tried her darnedest to deliver a personality, but it just didn't fly. She's just too nervous. It's obvious that she's uncomfortable in every possible way. What a shame that such a beautiful voice is getting overshadowed by her discomfort. Making her walk up to the judges made me fully uneasy. She was trying to make heartfelt gestures with her hand, but it just came off as bad acting. Poor MK. I really like her.

Alex Preston – "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard from Once
Good vignette.  As you can probably tell by reading, I write about the contestants while I listen to them. However, I just listened to Alex. I didn't want to miss any of the poignant moments. It was simply a beautiful, touching performance. Loved the song. Loved the interpretation. Loved the rendition. Only suggestion: get pants that aren't high-waters if you're going to wear weird shoes, Alex.

Jena Irene – "Decode" by Paramore from Twilight
Love, love, LOVE Jena's shirt. Vignette was a little boring. Mom goes, "Look they gave her trees." So they did. What a very powerful performance. It was a great song to show her poignancy, emotion, and musicianship. I followed her to all the places she took me. It was the best kind of roller coaster. I completely bought into that one. Well done, Jenna... I mean, Jena.

Malaya Watson – "I Am Changing" by Jennifer Hudson from Dreamgirls
The contestants NAILED her personality in the vignette. This song was the best selection Malaya has made so far this season. She was heavy vocally, but her conviction sold it. It was less of an "I'm a good singer!" performance, and more of a "This is me!" performance. I just want her to push less. She's going to blow out her voice singing like that. Though this was her best performance so far in the live shows, I think she can do better.

Tonight's Show...
...was a stand-out.  We usually don't get a show this good at the Top 11 level.  Even the performers that struggled tonight weren't slouches. Enjoyable. I was entertained.

Jo's Ranking
I said I wouldn't do this, but I thought there were clear cut divisions tonight...

1. Caleb
2. Jena
3. Alex
4. CJ
5. Dexter
6. Jessica
7. Malaya
8. Sam
9. Majesty
10. Ben
11. MK

Jo's Prediction of America's Ranking

1. Caleb
2. Alex
3. Jena
4. CJ
5. Malaya
6. Dexter
7. Jessica
8. Sam
9. Majesty
10. Ben
11. MK

I think that ranking stuff Ryan shows tells us nothing.  The way people are voting while the show is still in progress doesn't reveal much. I'd rather Ryan show back the performances. That review always helps me... uh, review the night. :o)

What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!

Top 12 Results

Recap
I predicted a Bottom 3 of MK, Jessica, and Emily, with Emily going home. Jena was my bubble.

I'm writing on a delay tonight due to the Joseph performance. (Went well.)

Idol Top 12 Results... GO!

Phillip Phillips Song
Too bad it wasn't sung by Phillip Phillips.

HCJ's Gummi Bears
I thought it was kind of crappy that he threw his Gummi Bears into the audience. Someone selected those Bears especially for him.

HCJ's Sermon
OK, Harry. You can stop talking now.

HCJ's Sermon
Seriously. Stop.

Drew Brees
Awwww. Cute. Now can we have some results?

HCJ's Sermon
STOP.

Emily B3'd
One for one. Won't last long because I had Jessica in the B3, as well, and she's safe.

Rock Fever
Cute story. Worth the time it took to tell it.

Phillip Phillips – "Raging Fire"
Phi Phi is an acquired taste. If I had to pick my Top 10 favorite songs of 2012 and 2013, "Home" and "Gone Gone Gone" would be on the lists. I love them both. I didn't like this single as well as I dig the others, but I did enjoy it. His sound is more than gritty. It's unrefined... and I mean that in the nicest way. He just a dude with a guitar... and a super fly band. Mom was NUTS for this performance... couldn't stop talking (HCJ style) about how much she loved it. She was concerned, however, about Phi Phi's health. She said he "looked drugged." I agree, but he's always looked that way. Phillip Phillips is on my list of celebrities I'd like to meet. I think he and I would harmonize well.

Majesty's Hair
Jo like. Mom hate. Ed not care.

Jena B3'd
Thought that might happen. I won't say two for two, because Jena was actually my bubble. One-point-five for two?

Alex's Face
Did you see Alex when Ryan said to Jena, "You, too, are in the Bottom 3"? Alex thought Ryan said, "You TWO are in the Bottom 3." Alex looked dumbfounded.

"All I Want" – Kodaline
Like. LIKE. Avett Brothers meet Simon and Garfunkel. I wish the unison whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoas had been in harmony. Mom noted, and I agree, that the percussionist is the star of this gig.

JLo
"My birthday was in July." I realize she was speaking of her childhood, but it's funny to me that she used "was." "My birthday was in July. Now it's in October."

MK B3'd
Two-point-five for three. Really, that's pretty good for me. Are you impressed? You should be.

Prediction
I'll bet a girl goes home. Hey-o!

Bye-Bye, Em.
I called it. I'm sitting here being really impressed with myself. (Thank you, thank you.) This is the gal Ed considered elevating to the level of his "new Haley Reinhart." I'm glad he didn't. She selected a good song for The Save, but unfortunately, it wasn't well sung and merits no kind of Saving.  Save The Save for someone who needs Saving. If there were a traveshamockery, like Caleb being voted off the show or something, we would require that The Save be intact.

Harrifully?
Harry used the word Harrifully. I think he meant "carefully," but it was still odd.

See you next week for Top 11, when the contestants make a Jo-iful noise! (Get it? Hey-o!)

(Don't forget to comment on the Facebook link!)

Top 12

Commentin'
I have disabled commenting on this blog, not because I am a jerk, but because I want you to comment on the link I post on Facebook. I think some people were reluctant to comment, both because some people were unable to comment here, and because the comments were split into two places. Now, if you want to comment, you are forced to comment on the link posted on our Facebook News Feed. Bwa-ha-ha. <-- evil laugh

Ed-less
We are without Ed tonight. He is in Seymour with the BNL boys basketball team, practicing in the gym where they'll play in the Sectional Semis on Friday. Practicing for Sectional is more important than Idol? Psh. Whatever.

New Intro
I miss the "wha-wha" intro song. I'm dismayed.

Ryan's Tie
Mom gave it a shout out before JLo did.

Home Theme
Awfully wide. I like that the themes aren't so specific so far this year.

Idol Top 12... GO!

Jena Irene – "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall
In her vignette, Jena said, "Me and my Mom," twice. I don't mean to be a grammar elitist, but that grated. However, this is not a grammar competition. This song is a favorite of mine. Though I wouldn't have minded a copycat version, I liked the style Jena chose for her version of this song. The performance had a nice upbeat feel, and she did things with the melody that made the song unique. Whoa, HCJ just took the words right outta my mouth.

Alex Preston – "I Don't Wanna Be" by Gavin DeGraw
Where are the socks? Compared to his performance last week, I wasn't wowed. However, I could find nothing wrong with it. It just wasn't that entertaining for me, perhaps because it didn't showcase that haunting voice that I love. The minor note at the end was my favorite. (Excuse me, "on the nine.")

Jessica Meuse – "White Flag" by Dido
The curls! We love the curls! I realize that Jessica's sound is unconventional and unique. She is truly talented. However, I thought she sounded nasal and pinched tonight. Her vibrato sounded out of control, and the notes were not struck with confidence. I believe the last notes were the results of emotion, so I can overlook those. Keith just concurred with my "not struck with confidence" analysis. I'm down with the judges tonight. I thought Jessica's comments after her "judgment" were very mature. Good girl. ;-)

Dexter Roberts – "Lucky Man" by Montgomery Gentry
He said this song is "something that means to me." It was a little word slip, but I think that statement could become a little catch phrase. The higher parts of the melody in this performance were sung with more strength than the lower notes. However, the key selection was made with the higher notes in mind. In its genre, this song was very well sung and performed... almost acted out. I really enjoyed it. Nonetheless, I'm not certain that twangy country is going to be popular with most of America.

Emily Piriz – "Let's Get Loud" by JLo
Aw. The boyfriend. She just lost every single American male vote. Also, Emily's top and Ryan's tie match. I don't know that this is the best song to showcase a vocal. It's light, fun, Latin, and hot. It just doesn't work well for a singing competition. I couldn't hear much of her voice, and what I could hear sounded out of breath and/or oversung.

Caleb Johnson – "Working Man" by Rush
Ed will be pumped when he hears that Caleb is doing a Rush song. My thoughts after the first note: HE IS A STAR. Every note, movement, and look backed up that assessment. This guy is a PRO. He knows how to move, how to sing, how to interact, how to PERFORM. He's the man to beat. Would've loved to have seen what he was doing at the end when the camera was on the contestants' couches. Funny that he ended up on the floor. HCJ: "You are always consistent." He shows his consistence with... consistency? Song I would love to hear Caleb sing: Meat Loaf's "Heaven Can Wait." Also, Meat Loaf's "For Cryin' Out Loud." Really, anything from the "Bat Out Of Hell" album.

MK Nobilette – "Drops of Jupiter" by Train
I would love to get to know this woman. She seems pretty cool. When she was talking to Ryan, I thought he said she was going to sing, "Train Song," (like, by Todd Snider), and I was FREAKING OUT. Oh... wait... a Train song... meaning a song by Train. Gotcha. MK could be the best singer in this competition if she would calm the heck down.  She was SO NERVOUS, and it affected every note. She looked and sounded terrified. Speaking of Train, it was a train wreck. If she could just relax, she'd be a force. From Keith: "Just be... you know what I mean... like, much cooler." Thanks, Keith. Unhelpful. And insulting.

C.J. Harris – "Waiting On The World To Change" by John Mayer
I thought this guy would be voted off the show last week, but I'm glad to have him with us still. Throughout the song, his guitar was out of balance with the other instruments, and it distracted me. The verses were sharp. In the chorus, C.J. had better pitch, but sounded a bit slurred and almost drunk.  I really want to like C.J., but he's not giving me much substance.

Sam Woolf – "Just One" by Blind Pilot
Second best performance of the night (so far). What a chill, laid-back vibe Sam brought to the scene. His performance reminded me of a barefoot, hand-in-hand walk with your other half on a comfy spring day. His liquidy voice filled the spaces between the words.  Great voice, great vibe, great performance.

Malaya Watson – "Take Me To The King" by Tamela Mann
Mom said, "Boy, does she look different." I said, "With her hair straight?" and Mom replied, "...and her mouth shut." :-) All of her good qualities remind us of the original article, Idol Watcher Amber Williams, who is a new mommy TODAY! Congrats, Amber! I thought this performance sounded like a really good church performance, but not something that would be marketable pop. The end sounded screechy to me, but Mom said, "At least she screeched in tune." Amber Williams could sing circles around her here. That said, Malaya sounded much better than she did last week.

Ben Briley – "Turning Home" by David Nail
No one there for him. Sad face! Ben didn't sound as strong as he did last week, though I wouldn't call this a shoddy performance. Some of the notes felt forced. The music didn't flow from him like it did last week. It had a stilted feel that caused me to lose a connection with the song. I think the judges and I were saying the same thing in different ways.

Majesty Rose – "Fix You" by Coldplay
Brilliant song choice to be sung acoustically. She sounded GREAT in the beginning, but when she broke into those ending notes, Mom was looking for a blanket under which to hide. Those notes were SO BAD. So bad. She went for it, missed it, and tried to hang onto it with confidence. It just didn't work. Majesty backed off the mic and had a look on her face that said, "That did not go as planned." I still think she's one of the best singers in the competition.

Tonight's Show...
...was more entertaining than last week's show. On the whole, the contestants have gained maturity from experience. I anticipate that the shows will get better and better.

Jo's Ranking
No ranking yet. I'll start doing that around Top 8ish. Standouts for me were Caleb, Sam, Dexter, and Jena. Jessica, Emily, and MK were the weak links.

Jo's Prediction of America's Ranking
I think America's Bottom 3 will be MK, Jessica, and Emily with Emily going home. (I type Email every time I try to type Emily.) Emily just didn't shine. Jena is on the bubble. I loved her, but in the first performance position and with a relative unmemorable performance, she might be in trouble.

Who do you think will get to go back to his or her beloved home?

(Reminder: tomorrow's blog will be delayed due to a previous commitment, a performance of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.)

(Another Reminder: Comment on the Facebook link!)