I can't really muster any enthusiasm for any of the competitors.Its easier to say who I dislike rather than particularly like any of them.The word 'bland' is appropriate and I'm really not that interested in this series.

I agree. I loved PI because my favourite was Will and I loved AI3 because I loved Fantasia. This AI reminds me of PI2, there's no one that stands out anymore. I liked Anwar, but, I find I am getting more and more disappointed with his performances. I am rapidly losing interest :sleep:

Angie xxx

This weeks show was very boring. My favourite Anwar seesm to have lost his spark though I must say im quickly becoming a fan of Constantine. Hes realy growing on me and showing he can be very versatile, much more than other contestants.

Jessica Sierra is like Jessica Garlick then. Nice voice but that's it. At least to everyone else that is, because I loved them both :P

I know Anwar hasn't been as good as he could be in the last few weeks but he is way better than most of them! Can't believe he was in the bottom 2!!!

Also Can't believe Jessica went - I thought she had the best voice out of the girls - What a shame!

Very suprised about the bottom 3! I liked Jessica!

Oh well! At least Vonzell's safe ....for now!

Do you guys think another girl will go next week?

I must admit to losing interest in it a bit now If the contestants can't muster up more enthusiasm, then why should I ?

They are not choosing the right songs for their vocals or even putting any omphh into the performances. And some of their prancing about is just plain cringeworthy at times


I will continue to watch it for Simon now, although even he is beginning to look bored with it all, and worried when Paula jumps him

I can't believe the songs that the contestants chose. I seem to recall that there WERE some decent songs from that decade, but apparently was listening to different radio stations than the AI competitors.

Definitely a lot of my opinion this week will be coloured by the fact that I didn't know half of these songs.

Bo
Wasn't familiar with the song. Didn't like that the hat covered his eyes. Thought it was cute when he gave Paula the hat and better, because then we didn't see Paula's eyes! Wasn't crazy about his singing tonight.

Jessica
Didn't know nor like the song. Thought the judges' comments were right on about how it didn't showcase her vocal talents and sadly, I have to agree with Simon's comment that Jessica lacks a likeability factor, although I still think vocally she is the best of the ladies.

Anwar
Didn't recognize the song at first. I agreed with Simon that Anwar was sloppy in the beginning of the song. Simon said that he usually makes up for it in the end w/incredible vocals (to my mind: those over done power notes). Overall, I just wasn't impressed.

Nadia
This was the first enjoyable performance of the night, but it wasn't a show-stopper. She looked and sang well.

Constantine
This was the scariest performance of all for me tonight, because I liked it. (How can I possibly like Constantine two weeks in a row after feeling he shouldn't even have made it past his initial audition?) He didn't scream, he simply sang--maybe that's why!

Nikko
I was surprised that the judges liked him so much this week. Maybe I was still in shock over liking Constantine, because I couldn't really enjoy Nikko this week. I didn't recognize the song, but I will say his was one of the most spirited performances in the show.

Anthony
One doesn't really have to say too much about Anthony, because he's fairly consistent in his singing and unexcitability. However, I will give him credit for trying and for changing his appearance (and lament the fact that whomever advised Anthony to change his look didn't work as hard w/Jessica).

Carrie
This was the liveliest and most emotional that I have seen her. She walked across the stage singing, before standing still like she usually does and I believe at one point, she arched her eyebrows. I didn't know/like the song, however.

Scott
Nope- didn't like him on this one.

Vonzell
Thank heavens I waited until the end. The entire show was redeemed by Vonzell who looked the part of idol and sang beautifully. And, I don't really think she looked good simply in contrast to the others. YAY, Vonzell!

More Random Thoughts-

I haven't really followed Kelly Clarkson's career very much-- didn't watch AI1, but there's a few songs of hers that I enjoy and I have seen her perform on the AI shows and in the World Idol competition. I do like her voice and some of her songs, but I find that I am surprised by her performances -- I can't imagine anyone standing so still singing "Breakaway", for instance -- to me, that song is too exciting to sing without moving to it.

I find Carrie Underwood reminds me of Kelly in this way-- nice voice, pretty face, but the words and the music contradict the performance -- does that make any sense? I want to see SOME emotion, SOME interaction with the song. I find Carrie somewhat creepy in that this is missing from her performances.

At the other end of the spectrum we have Vonzell and Nadia. Of the two, I love Vonzell because she seems so very genuine in her performance and she truly appears to love it. I feel that even if Vonzell has carefully rehearsed each move, it still looks fresh and spontaneous and I could easily believe none of it's rehearsed.

Nadia seems a little less spontaneous, perhaps more carefully thought out, but everything is still so complete in her performances and she seems to be enjoying them, that I can't help but enjoy them, too.

Bo is also a complete performer. I get the impression with him that it doesn't matter if there's an audience or not, he is singing and reacting with the music and enjoying what he does. So, even if *I* don't enjoy the song or the performance, I can see the talent.

(Fantasia to me is like a cross between Bo and Vonzell -- looks spontaneous & totally in response to the music. Ruben had consistency and pure joy about him in his singing -- I don't think he cared that anyone watched.)

The rest of the competitors fall somewhere below this.
I've liked Constantine's last two performances -- maybe it's just the lack of screams?

Anthony seems to be trying, but may not have it in him vocally. Nikko can do it, but needs exactly the right songs for him and needs to spend more time working on them vocally.

Anwar needs to just do something livelier and more consistent w/out the power vocals.

Leaving Scott... Nope, I don't really want to critique him. I think I'm ready for him to leave the competition.

Ahhh, the world is warming to our Connie!!

Whilst I agree that the contestants are all losing their enthusiasm, and mine along with it, you can hardly blame them. Simon basically told them all that they didn’t have a cat in hell’s chance of beating Carrie last week (and the poll numbers support this – she’s getting a minimum of 50% in the polls I’ve seen with the others mostly getting somewhere between 5-10% - Bo seems to get around 15-18%).

When you know you’re just there to make up the numbers until the judge’s favourite inevitably wins, I’d imagine you’d think about getting out of the competition sooner rather than later. Hence the unusual sight of two of the most professional singers (Anwar and Nadia) appearing in the bottom 3. IMO, there’s pretty much only one person playing this competition to win it (and god strike me down right now!) – Constantine. He’s picking songs that are popular, fun and is trying to make advances on Carrie’s lead more than any of the contestants.

Of the others, Bo couldn’t be crap even if he tried and will stay ahead of the game for most of the competition; Anthony, Scott and Nikko really aren’t good enough to make it much further; Anwar and Nadia have given up on the idea of winning; only Constantine and Vonzelle are making any effort at all. As for Carrie, she’s coasting, and she knows it. Hence her picking a song this week that she’s probably sung a million times before (not least in the 2nd round auditions). She’s fully aware that Simon will let her do whatever she wants, he’s happy with her country-fying everything she sings, and will continue to do exactly that up to, and including, the final. Interestingly, Randy is particularly harsh on Carrie week in, week out. I think he was a big Mario supporter and doesn’t like the direction the show has taken this year.

Only Carrie and Bo have the fanbases to carry them to the final. At this stage, Constantine and Vonzelle deserve to be in the final 4, simply for having the guts to step up and compete.

Nadia will probably leave next, although expect The Powers That Be making every effort to keep her in as the imbalance between male and female is so pronounced that another female exit will result in 3 guys to every girl left. Nikko or Anthony could be a casualty of the ‘Nadia Push’!!

I'm just glad that Vonzell's stepping it up! Her fanbase is growing along with Nikko's! I heard that Vonzell got the 2nd highest amount of votes this week (no prizes for guessing who got the most votes. )

Yeah Steg i heard them too but they are most likely not true at all:
West Coast Totals Only

CARRIE - 31%
VONZELL - 12%
SCOTT - 9%
ANTHONY - 8%
BO - 8%
NADIA - 7%
JESSICA - 6.7%
ANWAR - 6.3%
CONSTANTINE - 6.3%
NIKKO - 6.1%

If true i am happy at Carrie well out infront and Vonzell getting a chance to be in the final 2 but Anthony and Scott higher than Bo is insane and as has been said take the figures with a pingh of salt.

Poor Jessica - she should have lasted another 3 or 4 weeks.
Bet Nadia's shitting herself now though...

I wasn't sad to see Jessica go; Simon was right about her not being likable enough. Did anybody notice that they didn't seem very sad about her leaving? They were crying a lot when Mikalah left. I think Nadia shed one tear for Jessica and that was it. Carrie was really upset about Mikalah but not Jessica leaving.

My take was a bit different. It was Jessica who they showed crying last week when Mikalah left. She was extremely upset.

This week, the cameras focused on Carrie the most, followed by panning the cameras onto a few others including Scott and Anwar. Anwar looked quite upset. Scott looked impassive and Carrie looked blank, as usual.

Then, they did the group hug thing, which I think it was fairly emotional.

I agree with everything you have said Dizzie. Although I haven't yet seen this weeks show I have been more and more disappointed with some of the contestants performances each week. I am sorry to hear that Jessica went this week cos I thought she was one of the better singers but as someone else has said she didn't have the x factor. Still don't get why Cassie is so popular - she is too safe so if the final was between her and Bo I would be supporting him, but I really wish some others would raise their game to give us more of a contest.

Carrie was crying a river over Mikalah leaving.

Here are the songs the contestants sang (thank you steg for posting the titles) with some of the judges comments.

Bo Bice - Remedy
Randy - that was hot
Paula - you did an awesome job
Simon - I didn't like the song, it was a little bit like something you see at a wedding

Jessica Sierra - On the Side of Angels
R - you sang it well, good job
P - this song didn't showcase your vocals
S - you don't have that likeability factor of other contestants

Anwar Robinson - I Believe I Can Fly
R - the lower register was pitchy
P - you've made me love this song
S - I don't think it was anywhere near as good as you thought Paula

Nadia Turner - I'm the Only One
R - you made something out of that song
P - you're back Nadia
S - 1000% improvement over that horror last week

Constantine Maroulis - I Can't Make You Love Me
R - this was your best vocal performance for me
P - your best male vocal performance (since women usually sing this song)
S - I think you did better than Bo tonight

Nikko Smith - Can We Talk
R - that was incredible
P - I'm so proud of you
S - a breath of fresh air, quite a good copy of the original

Anthony Federov - Something About the Way You Look Tonight
R - it was alright
P - I thought you did a great job
S - in parts it was absolutely excruciating

Carrie Underwood - Independence Day
R - great, great, great performance
P - you sounded really wonderful
S - you have that "it" factor

Scott Savol - One Last Cry
R - it was alright, (a little?) pitchy
P - I didn't hear pitchy at all
S - in a karaoke bar I would have switched the microphone off

Vonzell Solomon - I Have Nothing
R - that was a great performance
P - you sang even higher than Whitney, one of the top-notch performances of the night
S - you pulled it off

My favorite this week was Constantine. I guess someone who went to the Boston Conservatory should be able to sing, but it just looks like he often goes out of his way to hide that fact. Or maybe he can only sing sometimes. I do find his theatrics distracting btw.

I didn't know most of the songs the contestants sang this week. Actually, the show was quite boring and I said to myself, "Why am I watching this?". It is times like this that I miss the days of AI2.

I thought Anthony was better than the judges seemed to think. Carrie Underwood was very good, but I didn't like the song and all I could think of was that her great voice will be wasted in country music. But then I would not have picked that particular country song for her to sing.

Anwar seemed to lack spark, and I hated the song that Bo sang. But he did a good job of singing it anyway. I still like Scott's voice and thought he did okay. I was disappointed with Nadia's performance because I do like her sometimes.

I still didn't care for Jessica, so I won't miss her. Vonzell did a great job, though..........I just wish I could get excited about it. Nikko was good, but nothing outstanding. I wish he would do something different.

Hopefully next week they will all blow me away...........

Thanks for this, Sweetgum!

You're welcome steg. Hopefully I'll get these posted earlier in the week next time.

I hate to have to admit it. You are right. My lovely Anwar seems to have lost his light. The sparkle that was there has gone. I'm hoping that he will dig deep and rescue himself. Vonzell really has begun to shine.

Me too - I have a ridiculous over-grown schoolgirl crush on Anwar, but have been disappointed by the last 2 weeks' performances.

I think Constantine is showing us that he can be versatile. I downloaded a few songs from the 'Pray for the soul of Betty' website and liked them.
I think at this stage in the competition they have to move up a gear. People will get fed up with the same type of performance week by week.
I think it was really unwise of Simon to say to Carrie she would win etc.

I feel like you Pelicano, Anwar is so gorgeous but hasn't performed well yet. Constantine makes my flesh crawl. He's a good-looking guy but doesn't he know it. Sorry but he's a smug slime ball in my opinion.