American Idol season 7 - Top 10 finalists

Ramiele Malubay - "Alone" The long notes were a little too shouty, and her performance was again underwhelming, even though she's under the weather.

Jason Castro - "Fragile" Thought the tempo was too fast, and he chose a safe song to sing, which didn't really separate him from the pack.

Syesha Mercado - "If I was Your Woman" Not a good song, but her singing was on pitch and very powerful and in control. A shame the song itself sucked.

Chikezie - "If Only for One Night" While his vocals sounded rich and lush in spots, that song was putting me to sleep.

Brooke White - "Every Breath You Take" I found her take on the song tepid and strangely uninvolving, she missed on the emotional undercurrent of the song with a bit of a disconnect for me. This song, when sung correctly, should pick up the tempo and run towards the emotional longing that is the heart of the song.

Michael Johns - "We are the Champions" He should just keep doing Queen songs because his vocal range seems to sound good with the Freddie Mercury songs. He did cheat on the long note in the middle of the song, but he was on his game tonight.

Carly Smithson - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Ow, that was painful, she keeps on being a non-believer in the songs she sing, and she still can't just leave that big note alone, she strangled that last note into something horrible. Relax, lady.

David Archuleta - "You're the Voice" That was a bad song, but the runs got a little boring as well. Just a forgettable listening experience for me.

Kristy Lee Cook - "God Bless the U.S.A" I can see Kristy singing that song before ball games all around the country. That's about it. Simon just doomed her by telling her that was her best performance (that's how he gets people to relax and not vote for her).

David Cook - "Billie Jean" That was pretty tight, all right, he commanded the song all the way through with good pacing and a good vocal performance. "He made it his own" (albeit from Chris Cornell's interpretation) with a different vocal edge from the slowed down tempo.


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Rankings

Enjoyable
David Cook
Michael Johns

Middling if but for a better song choice
Syesha Mercado
Chikezie
Kristy Lee Cook

Under-performed
David Archuleta
Brooke White
Carly Smithson

Once was enough
Jason Castro
Ramiele Malubay


I think Ramiele or Kristy Lee Cook is going home.