But it is not one decent performance. Anyone who can come on an AI stage and do Judas Priest, is alright in my book. Having seen Rob Halford perform in the early 70's I can tell you James did a fantastic job with that song (and I was not stuck on him prior to this).
Have seen last nights performance and despite some of the formulites on Betfair who talk through their books, he showed he is a strong candidate to win this.
In my eyes only Scotty is currently the one to beat.

That's true, after one rather unique performance from Aiden in week 1 he shortened to become favourite to win over the weekend. But he soon drifted out again, and was eventually eliminated a few weeks later. It turned out he hadn't even topped the voting that week, he came about 5th.
I think one punter tries to act clever and ahead of the pack, then others follow thinking that person knows something and all of a sudden it becomes a betting frenzy.

Well I predict at least a Top 5 placing

Hi Kosar

I agree. He's put in two pretty flawless weeks now. And last night showed that he's not all about the screaming. I can easily see him winning.

I was a perturbed to see my early favourite, Casey Abrams, not do as well as I'd hoped.

I'm on to win £200+ whichever of Durbin, Abrams, McCreery, Lusk or Toscano wins.

The big lay is Megia. I'll cheer when she's knocked out! Just trying to decide whether to reduce my exposure to Alaina or not. She's good but I think her odds are far too short.

Come on Kosar - give me 9-1, not 9-2!!

I was impressed to see Bet365 more alert than the other bookies to the fact the Hungary has got a stonking Eurovision entry this year.

Hi buddy

Problem is I have always priced in favour for the Southern States contestants as historically they are the main voters on this show. Middle America will lap up Scotty and Alaina and to a lesser extent Paul. I personally can see a few Nashville Execs kicking themselves that they never got to Scotty first.
I think it will be tough for anyone to get past he or Alaina, but I believe James brings enough difference from the norm on these shows to go very close.
I cannot have Jacob in a million years, and although on Thia at 40/1 I do not see her winning.
The majority are show fillers but the main contenders are
Scotty and Alaina
Paul - but may be too indie for middle USA
Casey - but we have seen a Taylor Hicks before. Producers wont want him
Pia - Has the looks, and voice, but again may struggle to sell
and of course James.

Taking Kelly Clarkson out of the equation (because she was new and shiny) the biggest sellers from this show has been Carrie (Country) and Daughtry (Rock)
They have bought in Jimmy Iovine to mentor them and he has worked with Lennon, Springsteen, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash and U2 to mention a few.
Alot points to the type of act they want winning this

Horses for courses I suppose. As a big fan of Halford, I found Durbin's attempt borderline comical.


That's more than a little insulting to Kelly who is an exceptional vocalist, far more so than Carrie, and whose material and genre has far more international appeal than Carrie's.

Daughtry may be "rock" but he's the friendly and acceptable face of it .................. covered by Westlife and other MOR acts and played on daytime Radio 2 and mainstream radio in the States. A far cry from what Durbin is claiming to be trying to put out there.

The acts Irvine has worked with are pretty diverse in genres and doesn't suggest much at all.

Yeah.

I think I saw Alaina as a precocious overhype, like that previous season 15/16 year old half-Portugeuse Katie who was pitched as the winner in the audition shows and then disappeared quite early.

But this one is, as you say, country, and she seems to have a savvy comfort zone already.

Hmmm. May hedge.

Some said that about Jordin Sparks in the early live shows.

I apologise if it sounded insulting (although I dont think I said much about her ability). She is very good at what she does. Better then Carrie? well Doctors differ and Patients die.
The point being made is that the 1st winner benefits from the full force of the show to succeed.
You can look at the UK Idol/X Factor figs and see that 1st winner Will Young has outsold all other winners by 2 to 1.

As for Iovine you only need to look at his top selling Production Credits to see what he is best at

Top Production Credits:
Patti Smith - Easter - 1978
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes - 1979
Dire Straits - Making Movies - 1980
Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna - 1981
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Hard Promises - 1981
Bob Seger - The Distance - 1982
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Long After Dark - 1982
Stevie Nicks - The Wild Heart - 1983
U2 - Under a Blood Red Sky - 1983

They are a who's who of some of the top selling Rock (AOR) in the States and world wide.

Final point in regards Halford. I rate him one of the top 5 Rock vocalists of all time (Gillan is in a class of his own). The fact that James Durbin took him on and did a very good fist of it, was brave of him.

They're also very dated and, with one exception, not exactly shifting many records or selling out big venues these days. I thought exactly as you did when I heard Iovine was going to be working with the contestants this season but it makes me wonder what they are trying to achieve with these young people. Where is the relevance to today's music?

I also think it would be a shame if this meant that there weren't to be any guest mentors this year.

As for James, the only fist he made of it from what I could hear was ham. Pretty much like BLB said about the performance, it's horses for courses when it comes to vocalists. I'm not a fan of metal but my brothers are and they wouldn't put either Halford or Gillan as high as you clearly do. That's life though.

Depends on their age as well. Gillan is one of the best vocalists ever. Played Jesus Christ for AWL many years ago on the request of the Lord as he recognised his greatness.
And I would not class Purple as metal either.

As for dated etc. Bob Seger and Tom Petty remain two of the greatest songwriters of the last 50 years. Seger took a 10 year hiatus to be with his two young children and be with them at their most important years. Came back 3 years ago and his 1st album in many years went Platinum and his 1st Tour sold out in mins. Just announced a new album and Tour (which has already sold out in many places)
As For Petty, I think everyone should watch the 4 hour documentary on him and see what he has done and achieved. Still sells out everywhere he goes and his 1st album in 8 years went straight into no2 in the Billboard chart on release.
PS I saw all these guys back in the 70's (still the best decade of music ever

My brothers are .......errmmmm ............ mature They're old enough to be my father, and two of my three sisters are old enough to be my mother. My mum thought I was the menopause

You can guess that I am well into my 50's.

Most quantify that I come at this Show as an Odds Compiler, and I would never in a million years buy a record from any act that appears on reality shows.
I come from the angle that it matters not a jot what acts do internationally as this is an American show in which Americans vote on. People like Seger and Petty are still relevent in the US as the majority of album sales are bought by the over 25's. Therefore AOR and country will do very well.

A music snob. Get over yourself.

The majority of ablum sales may be to over 25s but do you think the artists you listed appeal to many under 55s?

Hardly a music snob. More to do with hating to give money to the likes of Mr Cowell.
The wife is a Daughtry fan, plus has also Cd's by Will Young, Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood and a couple more A1 acts and I am happy to listen to them. My Passion is blues and Southern Rock
Luckily both my son and one of my grandsons are into those acts you feel will not appeal (and if you ever been to a concert of this type of performer you would know it covers a broad spectrum of ages). That at the end of the day is what music should be about, not defined to a specific generation, who fail to then hear there is a great history of terrific music out there

Pia, James and Scotty final three. Pia wins.
Just my opinion

Although I'm a James fan, at the moment I'd be happy if any of those 3 won