New Top 5 Picks

Crystal Bowersox - Contestants
1 - Crystal Bowersocks
2 - Michael Lynch
3 - Casey James
4 - Lee Dewyze
5 - Siobhan Magness

I know this is kind of a moot point since we're already down to nine, but I wanted you to see how much they have changed both with eliminations (namely Lilly Scott) and with my changing opinions based on the contestants' performances from my original picks. I've always liked Lee and Casey but I find myself liking them more and more and Michael has been consistently great though I'd probably be less likely to buy his album. Katie and Aaron have grown on me as well. Didi was one of my favorites in the beginning but she picked such bad songs and arrangements that she had to go. Andrew finally had another great performance, but I don't know if it's enough for a comeback this late in the game.

Idol's Top 12

Dear America,
I am very disappointed in you. Your American Idol elimination choices last week were terrible.
Sincerely,
Emily J.

How can my single vote compete with the young girls voting for the teen contestants hundreds of times each episode? Why is there no limit to the number of votes a single phone can put in?! Anyway, you really should have better taste. I am especially upset that Lilly Scott will not be our American Idol this year. She was my very favorite.

And now onto last night's show and the top 12. Really, this is a talented group of singers. For some reason I'm not a big fan of the three teenage contestants, and it's not that they are not great, I guess I'm just old now and I don't connect with them.

Here's my rundown:
Michael: You rocked again, brother. You rocked.
Didi: I love you.
Andrew: It was fun seeing you without the guitar. Your best performance since Hollywood!
Casey: Probably my favorite performance from you as well. Bravo!
Katie: I think you have a great voice and this was perhaps your best performance and song choice, but I just feel lukewarm about you all around.
Lacey: Great song choice, good performance, but my overall feelings towards you are best summed up as, "eh."
Aaron: You do this weird hip shake thing that I find annoying. You have a great voice and I think you are very talented but I'm just not a huge fan.
Lee: You have a great radio voice. You are handsome. You are talented. All of your performances are starting to sound the same though.
Siobhan: The judges loved you last night. I wasn't blown away, but I really do like you. And your tattoo on your shoulder is way cool.
Paige: I don't remember you from Hollywood week, but since then you have not made a great impression on me. You make terrible song choices and arrangements. You are boring and forgettable despite a cool voice. Last night you rocked the house. Good job!
Tim: Snore. At least you made the song sound current.
Crystal: You were awesome as always, though I would have picked a different Stones song if I were you.

My Top 5 Picks

The American Idol contestants are down to 16. Here are my choices for top 5 (I tried to pick 10 but couldn't):

1- Lilly Scott (currently my very favorite)
2- Crystal Bowersox
3- Didi Benami
4- Katelyn Epperly
5- Andrew Garcia

I don't have very strong feelings about the boys this season (except for thinking Todrick and Alex are very cute). I thought in the first live show, Lee Dewyze gave the best performance and last week big Mike was the best (who I've never been a fan of before).