Blunderbuss

American Idol: Top Twelve - Almost Perfect

(crossposted at flaring muzzle)

I missed the results show last night, but when I found out who got turfed, well... All I can say is: I'm very pleasantly surprised by the results.

After the perfomances on Tuesday and Wednesday, I was certain that Melissa, Kinnik, Will, and Kevin were headed home. I didn't even dare to hope that the two most unwatchable contestants -- Ayla Brown and Gedeon McKinney -- would be going home instead of Melissa and Kevin. Melissa gave a dull performance this week, and though she is actually very good, I expected that America may have been looking for an excuse to ditch the girl-next-door. I also thought that Kevin's painful Il Divo Jr. charm had (finally) worn out everyone's patience, not just mine. But, hey, if it means saying goodbye to "robotic" Ayla and "odd little thing" Gedeon, it's a fair trade-off in my book.

The remaining Top Twelve match up almost exactly with my own wish-list, which, after this week's performances remains topped by Bucky Covington and Mandissa. The more I hear of the contestants, the more confident I am that these two are the ONLY two that I would spend money to listen to. (My wife and I were BOTH wandering around the house on Thursday singing Mandissa's "I'm Every Woman," and Bucky's song was a gem of scratchy-melodic grace, as usual.) Yes, yes, Lisa Tucker and Elliott Yamin have beautiful voices, Chris Daughtry is a consummate rocker, and Kellie Pickler is a perfect country "minx," but I find Bucky and Mandissa more appealing than the best of the rest by a longshot.

The performances this week also sealed my opinion of several other popular performers. Talented nut Taylor Hicks is now officially unbearable. I actually have to look away from the TV. And goggle-eyed Betty Boop Katharine McPhee is almost as bad. She has a beautiful voice but geez, simmer-down already. Oh yes, and let's not forget Ace Young. On second-thought, let's.

My revised Top Twelve (Categorized):

The Best

1. Bucky Covington

2. Mandissa

The Great

3. Elliott Yamin

4. Chris Daughtry

5. Lisa Tucker

The Good But Potentially Forgettable

6. Kellie Pickler

7. Paris Bennett

8. Melissa McGhee

The Talented But Insufferable (and Often Excruciating)

9. Katharine McPhee

10. Ace Young

11. Taylor Hicks

Misplaced

12. Kevin Covais

posted by albatross @ 1:18 PM