LINKAce Young, “Tonight I Wanna Cry”
Sandy: Zzzzzz. Oh, sorry, was someone singing? I found Ace to be very boring this week. He went for the emotional thing and it didn’t work for me.
Jenn: This was the first night I’ve really liked Ace since the final 24. Nice falsetto, dude! I think he’s redeemed himself from last week. This was another song that was arranged in an un-country way, and it worked for Ace. I think he’s started listening more to the judges and is taking their advice on song choice, etc. I wouldn’t say this was one of the best performances of the evening, but it was much better than last week, at least, when I proclaimed, “I’m so over Ace.”
Tyler: Once again, the song eludes me. Once again, Ace eludes connecting with me. Once again, Ace didn't sound all that great. Once again, anyone wearing a dress will not care. Once again, I predict a bottom three appearance. Vocals: 17. Performance: 9. Other: 2. Total: 28.
David: By picking a song that didn’t sound very “country,” Ace made a smart move. He started out well, but sounded almost squeaky in the middle. Never, however, was it exciting. Dull. Boring. Yawn. Was it enough to save him? I’m not sure.
Bruce: It was a perfect song choice and Ace got every bit of mileage he could out of it. The nerves crept in and ruined a couple of his softer notes but it was without a doubt his best performance to date. It may have just earned him a chance to sit in his chair while someone else stands at center stage during the elimination. 8
Mike: This is an absolutely tremendous song, and when I heard Ace was singing it, I got excited because I thought it was perfect for him. Boy, did he disappoint. Ace took a song that was absolutely dripping with raw emotion and recited it with all the emotion of a schoolboy reciting the Preamble. My fiancé, who loves both Ace and this song, hated this. I can’t give it any lower grade than that. Ace was a favorite. He REALLY needs to step it up.
CONCLUSIONS:
Sandy: I think the bottom three will be Ace, Kellie, and Taylor. I didn’t feel like their performances were that great this week. I think Ace’s fans may be a bit complacent, and it could be the end of the road for him this week. Exit, Stage Right. See ya next week!
Jenn: No Dixie Chicks? I really wanted to hear “Sin Wagon.” That’s what I would’ve sung. No one really stood out for me this week, except maybe Kellie. She’s definitely safe, of course, and deservedly so. As strange as it sounds, I think Paris is in danger this week. Her performance wasn’t up to par, and when she knew she’d be competing with people who seem to have country music in their blood, she should have done more to ensure her safety. If I didn’t know how beloved Taylor is, I’d put him at the bottom, but I think he’ll be fine. Instead, I would put Chris there because I think people will be disappointed that he didn’t sing something the way he normally would. I thought Bucky would be okay this week, but he was disappointing. I think he’ll be in the bottom three with Paris and Chris, and Bucky will be the one to go home.
Tyler: This was almost as bad as last week. Did Lex Luthor steal their talent to power Brainiac's new body or something? I know I'm supposed to be unbiased, but an American Idol without Kellie Pickler is worth all the pizza in Iowa. Even Pagliai's. Since I believe in imminent apocalypses, Kellie will not even be in the bottom six. Ace should and will grace the bottom three, as will Elliott. Mr. Yamin is good, but not very vote-worthy. Joining the boys in the bottom three will be either Mandisa or Paris. Neither exactly wowed anyone, and they're also splitting demographics. My final prediction will be a Paris-Elliott-Ace bottom three, with (sadly) Elliott going home.
David: Chris and Katharine shined this week. Paris struggled more than anybody, but hopefully will be safe. It’s not her fault she was forced to sing in this genre that is totally outside anything she will ever do. But this type of music is supposed to be Bucky’s specialty. He couldn’t even do well in this area, there is no way he’ll do well in others. It’s time for him to leave. I don’t care who the other two are in the bottom three, as long as Bucky’s gone, but I’ll say Ace and, well, maybe Paris.
Bruce: For some reason, country week always makes the contestants look about as comfortable as a vampire in a crucifix factory. I really don’t know why. Artists as varied as Ray Charles and Kid Rock have scored huge country hits and even the Pointer Sisters released a magnificent country hit called “Fairy Tale.” Yet most of the contestants came to the stage looking like a nurse was trying to shove a 3-foot needle into their 3-inch buttocks. Idol history shows that voters are forgiving when their favorites stumble during Country week and I doubt this season will be any exception.
Ace turned in a remarkable performance in an otherwise lackluster week and I’ll be surprised if he isn’t safe this week. Ryan’s little chat with Kellie tells me that the impact of her increasingly foolish comments is getting big enough to affect her votes. The problem is that the net result was that when given the chance to admit that it was all part of the act, she instead chose to tell a national television audience that she really is that ignorant. I just don’t think that bodes well for her. This week she’ll make her first trip to the Bottom three. After tossing a lot of coins I think that Paris will receive a brief wake-up call to center stage. As I stated earlier, I think the road has come to an end for Bucky. I know I’m way out on a limb with my first two choices, but we’re nearing the point where there are always a couple of surprising and disturbing moments during the eliminations and I’m expecting a real shocker. I just hope it isn’t Taylor instead of Paris or Kellie.
Mike: Everyone who expected that Keith Urban would have more songs than anyone this week, raise your hands. Liars. It’s inconceivable to me that no one – particularly Taylor – sang a freaking Kenny Rogers song!
The bottom three based on performance should be Ace, Kellie, and Bucky. But as everyone should know by now, American Idol voting has very little to do with actual talent. Ace and Kellie have rabid fans of the type who will vote their fingers off all night – teenaged girls. They’re not going anywhere anytime soon. The actual bottom three will be Taylor, Katharine, and Bucky. Taylor because there has to be a shocker every week, Katharine because she doesn’t seem to have the fanbase, and Bucky because he fumbled the ball in the week he should have dominated. Bucky, having served his purpose, will hopefully be going home