IdolHeadEd.com - The switcheroo. Can the boys do it on short notice?

Will the guys bring it up a notch or can we go ahead and give it to the girls?

Big Mike: “This is a Man’s World”
Best I’ve ever seen him. No pitch problems and a lot of power. His stage presence was great and he did look like the main act tonight. I didn’t care for the non-melodic song but he did a great job on that. Until now I thought he was just another mediocre singer. Well now....I still do but he's a better mediocre singer. Great way to start off the show. He won’t easily be forgotten even going first. I wrote this before the judges gave him a tongue bath by the way. Grade A-

John Park: “Gravity”
Like Mike, better than last week but still not great. He had his moments. Just a few missed note. It was a good song choice. If he stays he needs to go up beat next week. I did hear some of the potential I thought he had in his audition. Grade C

Casey James: “I Don’t Wanna Be”
The best version ever on Idol……… at least in the beginning. He did get lost a little on the bottom notes. I predicted the guitar playing. I knew it would be this good. That’s the good news. The bad news isI think he concentrated a little too much on the guitar and the vocal was a second thought. Still good enough at least for tonight.Grade B-

Alex Lambert: “Everybody Know”
He’s still nervous looking but when he hit the chorus he calmed down and we got to see why he is here. This was pretty good. I love the tone of his voice. Miles better than last week. I liked this quite well. Do I sound surprised? That's because I am. Grade B+

Todrick Hall: “What’s Love Got to Do With It”
Unlike last week’s rearrangement of the Kelly tune, this Tina turnaround worked much better. That being said it wouldn’t and won't make me pick up the phone. It was just kind of boring. Blaming the judges will not help. It's kinda like throwing the "band under the bus". Are you takin' lessond from Jermaine? Grade C+

Jermaine Sellers: “What’s Going On”
Started off too slow but it picked up and he was 10 times better than last week. I actually liked him this week. I didn’t think I would. The judges bashed him. I might agree that he gave us too many runs. Kara was right saying he trying to show us everything. He got a little cocky. I wonder if that will cost him. Grade B-

Andrew Garcia: “You Give Me Something”
No guitar. But he can still sing. There were some pitchy notes. I didn’t like this as much as last week but I did like it better than the judges. Ellen hit it on the nose about the “Straight Up” performance. It appears he will probably have to ride that performance to the top 12. I hope he comes out next week and blows us away again. Grade B

Aaron Kelly: “My Girl”
Started off rough for me. It was just OK. I liked him better last week. There were a few pitch problems. I don’t know what the dawg heard. I didn’t think this was a good song for him. He needs to sing songs that will appease his core audience. What would that be? I don’t know because I don’t hang in those circles. He looked less confident this week to me and gave me that Kevin Covais feel. And yes Kevin I know you read my stuff and that was not a compliment........ this time. Grade C-

Tim Urban: “Come on and Get High”
He reminds me of a bar singer. That’s not a good thing. I didn’t like the song that much. Better than last week but that ain’t sayin’ Much. There is no presence with this guy. It reminds me of a high school talent show performance......in a bar. If he stays it will be a miracle. Everyone else has stepped it up. He was pitchy as well. Grade C-

Lee Dewyze: “Lips of an Angel”
Lee gets the pimp spot and looks a bit nervous about it. Good song for him and he does quite well. There were some pitch issues but nothing drastic. He felt the song and I liked listening to him. He can do better but this was the second best of the night. Reminds me of a cross between Daughtry and Cook. I think he might be my favorite guy right now because he is not a pro singer, he’s a paint salesman. It’s cool to see him do so well. Grade A-

Well this was way better than last week but that’s no big compliment. No D’s from me but I’m not hot to pick up the phone for anyone. Big Mike and Lee were easily the best of the night for me. So I’ll just go ahead and make them my safe ones for the night even though I am not a Big Mike fan. He did show tonight that he is a better singer than I gave him credit for. Everyone else just kind of blurred together. Here’s my order of finish:

1. Big Mike
2. Lee
3. Casey
4. John
5. Alex
6. Andrew
7. Jermaine
8. Todrick
9. Aaron
10. Tim

Yeah I ranked John above Andrew this week. I never thought that would happen. And Alex just saved himself. I really like this guy’s sound. I could hear that on the radio. He gets my most improved this week by a long shot. I still like Casey a lot even though the judges beat him up. Tonight he wanted to show his guitar skills and left some of his vocals in the locker room. He'll still survive. Aaron will survive on bopper votes alone. His song choice and singing were just average. He was one of the few this week that took a step back. Tim just doesn’t have it. If he survives it will not be because of his singing. Todrick and Jermaine are almost interchangeable for me. Neither to this point has shown me much more than diva-ness. Nikko Smith could smoke these guys.

Even though Aaron and Tim are the bottom of my list I don’t think they go home. It looks like Todrick and John might be leaving. Jermaine might be a little worried too. In fact I wouldn’t really miss 4 or 5 of these guys. There are no OMG guys. I thought Andrew could have been but now I might have to depend on Lee or Casey to be the guy. Andrew is a mega talent but since his “Straight Up” I agree that he has gone downhill. This is the very danger of having an early great performance like that. Ace Young anyone? He is the most talented of all the guys and I think he is getting a bit scared now. I was really afraid of this happening. The same thing could happen with Didi. I don’t think he is in any current danger but if he continues to give performances so far beneath “SU” he’ll not make the top 5 much less the final. I have no doubt he’ll be in the top 12 but how far he goes once he gets there is the question. I’m guessing his odds will change this week and not for the better.

Well I’m looking forward to the girls because the “Woodstock 3”; Siobhan, Lilly, and Crystal, are all ending the show tomorrow night. We will get to see them back to back to back. It will allow us to compare who, for me, are the most talented of the girls minus Didi who has the dubious honor of going first. Big Mike had that duty tonight and he fulfilled it well. I have no doubt Didi will do the same.

Is it Tuesday yet?

Idolhead Ed