IdolHeadEd.com - Andrew Garcia and Casey Jones: Will anyone else contend?

We know that guys usually have the upper hand on Idol. But this year could prove an exception.

I love Andrew Garcia. His story is America personified. I love Casey Jones. His story is the human spirit personified. But both are great musicians in their own right. Can we say as much about the remaining 10 guys? I’m not so sure. Lee Dewyze looks like a possible threat and Aaron Kelly will have bopper support not seen since Archie. Tyler Grady shows some po as well.

Season three was the only season we had more girls than guys. Last season we had only 4 girls in the top 12 and one of them should have won. This season we are back to the top 24 format that guarantees an equal gender split. Oddly enough this season should be the season of girls. It may be anyway. For me season 3 was the worst of all the seasons even though one of my top 5 Idols of all time, Diana DeGarmo. Was runner-up.

Let’s look at the competition as we can judge it now. After Wednesday we will be able to give a true assessment. For the first time I can recollect we actually have seen every guy perform at least to some degree unlike super secret Paige Miles and Michelle Delamor. So we at least have something to go on. I will rank them from my assessment of the best to worst.

Andrew Garcia: Without question Andrew leads the pack and that is inarguable at this point. In fact he could be one of the best males ever on the show. His understanding of music and musicality are unsurpassed. He can be viewed on YouTube in dozens of videos and already has the largest fan base of any contestant this season. And from what we have seen and heard so far he deserves it. Look for him in the cleanup spot on Wednesday singing Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning". Just a guess.

Casey James: Casey not only sings well he has female fetching looks and can stroke a mean guitar. This will come to his rescue more than once this season. Personally I love his voice too. He has a subtle charm about him that does seem to come across as unemotional. This too shall pass. The unemotional part that is. We saw a glimpse of this when he was chosen for the top 24. Look for him to be one of the last two males standing.

Lee Dewyze: Lee has been kind of shoved off to the side but what I heard from him reminds me of another Idol, David Cook. Once he gets one the stage I think he will standout from the rest of the pack. He will need a bit more emotion and a makeover.

Aaron Kelly: As good a singing 16 year old guy as we’ve had since Archie. Not nearly as polished. He could surprise. I am sure, if he doesn’t out right suck on Wednesday, he should hang around til the last round of the semis.

Tyler Grady: Tyler is interesting enough and does have seemingly enough to get him into the top 12. But I haven’t seen enough to make me believe he’ll hang around too long. His personality will certainly help him.

John Park: John was great in his initial audition but we didn’t hear anything after that. He does have the potential to do quite well.

Todrick Hall and Jermaine Sellers will be competing for the same spot and I’m sticking to my prediction that only one, Jermaine, will make the top 12. Todrick can out jump Jermaine though. Whatever that’s worth.

Michael Lynche is just average at best. I, unlike many other bloggers, don’t think he will even make the top 12.

Tim Urban replaced Chris Golightly. That’s never a good thing. If you didn’t make the first cut just how far can you go? Well George Huff did the best in that category. He made it to 5^th. But when you look at his competition you can understand why. Last season a great singer and unfairly sent home Felecia Barton was a last minute replacement. Had she had this year’s format I believe she could have done as well as the Huffmaster. But Tim Urban isn’t Felicia in talent or Huff in personality. He’ll have to pull a Keith to hang around. He won’t.

Joe Munoz = Cannon fodder. Nuff said.

Alex Lambert = some more cannon fodder that happens to play the highly popular instrument, the Ukulele.

The fact is every time we heard Andrew he was on his game. Another fact is, we saw him almost as much as Gokey last year. No girl got the screen time he did with maybe the exception of Crystal Bowersox. Didi may have gotten almost as much. Casey got enough screen time. They tried to shove some Michael Lynche down our throats but I don’t think it took.

We’ll see what shakes out on Wednesday but I’m all about the girls this year. But hey, I’m all about them every year.

Is it Tuesday yet?

Idolhead Ed