Boogie Wonderland

Okay, so DVR tells me I'm just about an hour behind as I watch the final 7 perform again. There is talk about the judge's save last week, so I must vote tonight to keep my Matt in the competition.

You can tell that Idol is really challenged by time, because I get no Ryan at all -- they launch right into it. I also heard that I wasn't the only one who hated tag-judging, so all four will talk tonight. Good. Because really? Who doesn't get that if Simon doesn't critique, there's no point? Tonight is disco night, usually a favorite of mine, because everyone who knows me knows that next to 80's hip-hop, 70's disco holds the biggest spot in my musical heart.

First up, Lil Rounds - I'm Every Woman, Chaka Khan. Lil is rockin' her booty tonight, but the weave is a bit off putting for me. As much as I enjoy that she shakes up her hair weekly, I'm wondering if her real hair has been completely traumatized by it. At any rate, this is a song that should go very well for her. Big vocals, very disco, and yet it's very very mediocre. It's loud in all the wrong places, and while I appreciate she snuck in a song that is associated with Whitney with the under-30 crowd, it's not good enough to remind me of Whitney or Chaka. Randy says she got the party started, but then puts his head in his hands (translation: hated it) and says this didn't show him what kind of artist she is. Kara says she's been waiting for her to sing an artist like Chaka, but doesn't think it's worth the wait, and that she's been every other woman but herself (Lil, not Kara, but I could see where it could be confusing), and it's a problem. Now, I'm not listening to Paula because I've asked DVR to go back like 10 times to see whoever this is in the audience that is giving the stink eye to the judges. Paula doesn't love it either, so there's another hammer coming from Simon, who says she looks sad...awww, maybe he's going to remember his crush. Oh not so much, because he tells her that he's glad she had fun, but this is the last week we'll be seeing her. No originality and that her vocals were a mess, and it cracks me up when Simon describes something as a mess. Ryan gives Lil a chance to lip off that she was not karaoke. Simon says something that I can't hear and it shuts Lil up rather quickly. It's been fun Lil. Enjoy the tour. But the judges have somewhat proven my point. If Lil were a front runner, I suspect they wouldn't have found this karaoke, but since she's solidly in the lower bottom of talent at this point, I think their comments are even more scathing. Too bad, but I'm content to be done with her. But Simon should make sure he's escorted to his car tonight; Lil's mom looks like she's about to wax his behind.

Next up - Kris Allen, who has his guitar. He's singing...She Works Hard for the Money, by Donna Summer? Seriously? All right, I'm a pretty solid fan of this guy, so I'll give it a chance. Oh me likey. Me likey a lot. He has updated the song nicely, and I like this whole KT Tunstall turn. I'm really digging this performance and I suspect that the judges will either go with brilliant or that it sucked big time. I wouldn't have expected to enjoy this, but I love it, and now I'm an even bigger fan than before. Stop vying with Matt for my affection, Kris, my heart can't take it. Kara launches her inner cougar after arguing with Randy on who was going to go first and tells him that his risk paid off (stop agreeing with me Kara; it makes me uncomfortable). DrunkPaula is in full drink tonight, saying that lots of women shop in the men's department, but that men don't shop in the woman's department, or some such nonsense, and then Simon admits that a translator wouldn't be a bad idea, and then there's something about La Perla...and can you see how this show can really infuriate you sometimes? Anyway, to cut to the chase, all of the judges agree with me and Simon makes a point to say that he's the un-Lil. Walter thinks that Simon is disappointed in Lil, and I'd have to agree. Because most of the time Simon's picks go far. I think he feels bamboozled. Anyhoo, nicely done, Kris.

Danny Gokey takes on September, by Earth, Wind, and Fire. Okay, so, with apologies to all of the Danny fans out there, I don't know that I think his performances are stellar week after week, and there are only a couple of bad notes separating him and Lil. No; I take that back. Danny is working' the stage, and DrunkPaula is out of her seat, and I like this vocal. Randara really likes this, noting that he turned a song without a lot of melody into something great. Paula taps into *her* inner cougar saying he has one of the sexiest voices she's ever heard, and I agree. The raspy works for me. Simon doesn't disagree with the other judges but says he's not sure it's a good performance, and I think I get what he's saying. He's sort of agreeing with Kara that this may not be all that memorable. I don't know. I think at this point, Danny and Matt are splitting the r&b vibe voters, so it's too tight to call.

Alison Iraheta - Hot Stuff, by Donna Summer. And it's taken me this long to figure it out -- her voice reminds me of Adele. Okay, I like her hair better without those unforgiving bangs, but I don't know if I like this performance. It's different, and it has a bit of a rocker thing going on, which helps her, because that's who is she is, but something about this is not working for me, particularly because she's still a little jumpy for me. And I REALLY want her to stay out of Madonna's 1990 wardrobe. Randara doesn't love the arrangement, but notes she's one of the best singers in the competition, and Randy says she proves his point every week, and I'm not sure, even after 8 years, what his point is. Paula doesn't mind the arrangement because it's authentic, like she is (have a sip, Paula). Simon says it was a brilliant performance, despite her coming into this week as an underdog.

Adam Lambert - he has the Ken Doll hair, which I like. He's doing If I Can't Have You, by Yvonne something-or-other. He's slowed this down to a ballad of yearning, and wow. It really, really works. This cat can sing. And as much as I enjoyed his Smokey Robinson week, this is my favorite performance of Adam's, and perhaps in my top 5 of this season. Paula is sitting there with tears in her eyes...can you IMAGINE what sort of monosyllabic babbling she's about to do? Randara call him inspiring and that he's brilliant, and 19 Entertainment claps with glee over the records this kid is going to sell. And then Paula starts waving her hands and I'm hypnotized by her jewelry and she says something rather unintelligible, and the look that Simon is giving her is priceless. I think that Paula thinks she's connected this performance with Adam's worst love affair, and there is something about Adam's over the top look and eyeliner that reminds me of Boy George, and anyone who knows me knows that I still feel like John from Culture Club is one of the biggest bastards on the planet, allowing George's love to go unrequited and driving him into a downward spiral of drugs and shame (read the bio, people! It's heartbreaking). Simon says his vocals were immaculate, which is high praise. Ryan notes that his (Adam's) vocals had melted Paula in a pool of "Abdul" (translation: Red Sky, Absolut, Grey Goose...) There is something about Adam that's very unassuming, and very friendly, and I like how he's never once looked smug as the judges heaped all that praise on him, and for that, I officially declare myself an Adam fan. Good thing, because he's gonna win this thing.

Matt Giraudi - Stayin' Alive. Right off the bat, I'm not loving this song choice, but let's see. Bad hair day hat is back. And oh...how it pains me to write this, but I don't love this. He got it right with the BeeGees, but I think that he would have been better off with a ballad, because his voice is so lovely and we didn't get a chance to see that with this song. A slow, pared down version of "How Deep is your Love" would have been a much better choice. Boo! I'm sad that this wasn't better. Randy notes that he can really sing, but he hated everything else. Kara notes (and I agree -- kill me now) that he bought disco back, as no one had stayed with the true theme of disco. Paula takes about 100 words to say she liked it and that Matt will be sticking around after that. Simon didn't like it, saying it came over as a bit desperate, and that it wasn't a great vocal. While I hope Paula's right, I wasn't as into it as she was.

My man Anoop Desai finishes out the night with Dim All the Lights. I was really hoping that this was going to stay slow and I would have said Anoop is the smartest performer, making the most of what he has. But it speeds up. But it doesn't get crazy fast, and you still get to hear Anoop's lovely voice. I like it okay...oh no. Okay, I'm eh on this. It ended awkwardly and not great, and you can tell that Anoop isn't loving this performance. Randy says that Anoop's arrangement is kind of corny, but that he can sing. Kara really likes it, saying he's really hitting his stride. Paula, well, it's the end of the night so we got some words like magic and real men wearing pink (he does look nice...the shadow beard works for him). Simon hates it. Just plum hates it. Says it's his worst.

Bottom 3? Lil, Anoop, and Matt. Anoop has the mathlete vote and gets sent back to the sofa of safety. But you know...? Maybe Matt benefits from his fans (like me) calling like mad because he was so close to elimination, in which case, Alison joins the bottom three, and if that's the case, I think it's the end of the road for Anoop. If I were Lil, I'd soak in the mansion jacuzzi one last time. Then I'd pack and get excited about joining my kids again. Even the review of her performance was really harsh for me.

Okay, so it's over, and I've caught the beginning of this show with Pacey from Dawson's Creek. If anyone would like to write me and tell me what the heck this show is about, I'd love to know.