AI Top 6

So. Sanjaya is finally out of there. Does anyone else maybe think even a little bit that the show maybe might not be as fun/awful/delightfully bad without him? I hate to even say it. Also, how many of you think that people cheering for your departure on a national television show would make you cry like a baby? Raise your hand.

Tonight is “Songs of Inspiration” with the Top 6. I’m excited because I think the top 6 deserve to be here. But “Songs of Inspiration”? This night could go one of two ways for me. I could either roll my eyes every time someone announces what they’re singing. Or I could literally blubber for an hour. Let’s hope for the latter, shall we?

I’ve read that my votes don’t count because I vote from the Eastern Time Zone, but I have a California area code. Still, our votes won’t only save contestants this week; they will also save lives. That’s pretty exciting.

Uh oh. They’re playing “Trouble” by Coldplay and showing footage of poor African children. That’ll get me every time.

Chris is first with “Change the World” by Eric Clapton. This is going to be a good night. His performance is…OK. I want him to be so much better. (Ooh, and Brandon’s in the audience. Yay.) I like Chris’s suit. I don’t really have anything else much to say about his performance. It was nice. The judges all liked it though, so who am I to disagree?

Now they’re showing footage of poor American cities while John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change” plays. Here come the tears again.

Melinda is next with “There Will Come a Day” by Faith Hill. She gives me chills and makes me cry. What LaKisha lacks in passion when she performs, Melinda literally radiates with. It’s amazing. I don’t believe it was her best performance ever. But she’s pretty much unstoppable at this point in the game. Simon even compared her to Elliott by saying this performance was “a vocal masterclass.” I think it’s a compliment to both of them.

Blake is singing “Imagine” by John Lennon. Look at him being all serious and intense in the spotlight with just a piano with him onstage. I swear he’s improving every week. And he may be the only one in the competition for which that’s true. I thought this was a lovely, simple, confident performance. Again, not necessarily my favorite he’s ever done but still totally solid.

LaKisha is singing “I Believe” by Fantasia. She’s banking on American Idol winners to get her further—Carrie Underwood last week and Fantasia this week; hopefully, she won’t tackle “Since You’ve Been Gone” next week. These people already WON…ergo they are better than her. I guess she doesn’t know that. She does have a big voice though. You can’t deny that. But she made “realized” into two words. Re. Alized.

Phil is singing “The Change” by Garth Brooks. He sounds like Marc Cohn, who sings “Walkin in Memphis”! Phil is solid. In fact, technically, he’s the best male singer in the competition. But he just never knocks my socks off, gives me chills, makes me smile or cry. I often remain unmoved by his performances, and this was no exception, even though it was really good.

Who else got weepy during the One.org commercial? OK, maybe it was just me.

Jordin has pulled ahead to first place in the EW.com poll, by the way. In fact, she was a full 14% ahead of Melinda the last time I checked. She’s singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel. I’m convinced Jordin was emotional during this performance because her voice quavered the whole time. It certainly wasn’t her best—I completely disagree with the judges—but I appreciate that she was moved by the evening. I can’t imagine singing after seeing all that precious footage all night.

Favorite of the Night: Melinda
On the Way Out: LaKisha