Goils!

OK! I know I’m late getting in this review of the girls of AmIdol…I’ve been on a trip for 5 days! Get over it! LOL

Since we know who was voted off the show this week, let’s start with that. Once again, American audiences are making this about popularity rather than talent – and let’s face it, this IS a talent contest, not a beauty pageant. Nevertheless, I don’t suppose that anything will change in the near future and so once again, I am gearing up for major disappointments in the coming season as well. Seriously, this is the same audience who voted off Jennifer Hudson, Tamyra Gray, Chris Daughtery and Clay Aiken. So, I need to prepare for the possibility that super talented LaKisha Jones or Melinda Doolittle may face a similar fate.

Having said that, the eliminated singers this week were bound to be shown the door anyhow. But if we’re being honest here, why are Antonella and Sanjaya still making the cut, for a second week in a row? The newspapers are saying it’s because they have built up a fan base. A fan base? Don’t you usually have to be known and GOOD to have a fan base? Don’t you need to have a following? A reputation? Some actual singing history, sprinkled with some actual talent?

From what I hear, Antonella’s popularity stems from seedy pictures of her being distributed on the internet. Say, didn’t past contestants get booted off by default for such a tawdry scandal? Have the standards changed here? And I haven’t even mentioned the fact that she can barely carry a tune, let alone try to sing a Celine power ballad! The USA Today put it just right: She’s got a future in Modeling but she should stay far away from a microphone!

And I’m truly at a loss as to Sanjaya’s staying power. Perhaps it’s the “Puss in Boots” sad eyed faces that he makes whenever he’s on stage or when he’s being judged by Paula, Simon and Randy. Are tween girls really that gaga over this sorry karaoke crooner?

So Nick, Alaina, AJ and Leslie are this week’s casualties. Again, these four were sure to be eliminated anyhow, but just not expected to go so soon.

Now, how ‘bout them womens?

If I were a betting man and a talent scout, I would have to make the final four contestants all girls. And IMHO, they would be LaKisha, Melinda, Stephanie and Sabrina.

Last week LaKisha stole the show with “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls. Simon told her that she laid down the gauntlet and raised the bar for the entire competition. This week, about the only criticism she got was that her outfit was somewhat distracting. Her version of “Midnight Train to Georgia” was totally worth it and she’s a definite force to be reckoned with in Season 6.

She was followed by the “Big Voice in a Tiny Package,” Melinda. I was hearing a combination of Anita Baker, Oleta Adams, Aretha Franklin, and a hint of Shirley Bassey in that voice, and her phrasing choices were out of this world. What’s funny is that two years ago, Constantine Maroulis sang a sultry, jazzed up version of “My Funny Valentine” that was amazing. I was even happy that they decided to record that version on the “American Idol: Season 4 – The Showstoppers” CD and I have this song in my iTunes playlist.

Melinda’s version sent electricity up and down my spine. It was the same feeling that I got when Fantasia offered us that unbelievable rendition of “Summertime” three years ago! I was simply awestruck at the versatility and magnitude of her talent. And notice that it was so (in Simon’s words) “phenomenal” that there was simply no reference to Constantine’s previous effort.

If there is any real justice in the world, Melinda and LaKisha should definitely be in the finale.

But stranger things have happened, so we’ll just have to muddle through our weekly AI ritual until May.

Is it me, or is Ryan seemingly getting queenier and queenier every week? Hmmmmm.