American Idol Top 6

The season is already almost over. In less than a month it will be. They are really pushing through this final season for whatever reason. I am having a hard time getting into it, perhaps because of some other concerns in the real world, and I also have a bad cold. I wish this could all be going on a month or so from now when I might more appreciate the diversion. Oh well, I am going to live blog a recording of the show. Seacrest is wearing a t shirt and jacket like it's 2003. He may not care either.

We are told the Bottom Three from last week will sing at the end, once again, and the judges will save just one. I thought everyone did pretty well last week, but my bottom three were Lee Jean, Dalton Rapattoni and Sonika Vaid. I predict that instead of Dalton, it will be Tristan McIntosh joining Lee and Sonika in the Bottom Three. I will be very surprised if Sonika is a former contestant by the end of tonight though.

There are going to be duets and solos. I will have to rank them both.

1. La'Porsha Renae and Trent Harmon- "See You Again"

This was a nice duet from the people who are probably the two front-runners. Trent's vocal range continues to impress and La'Porsha is always solid. This was a soothing American Idol performance, perhaps for people wanting to forget that America is headed to hell in a handbasket.

Was Jennifer Lopez trending on Twitter?

2. Avalon Young and Sonika Vaid- "Rise Up"

This was also good, but the song was kind of boring, so it did not leave a huge impression. Sonika would have been good on Glee perhaps. She looks great on camera, in addition to her strong vocals. Avalon looks vaguely like Lea Michelle.

3. MacKenzie Bourg and Dalton Rapattoni- "I Want It That Way"

I did not want it that way. I do not think this Backstreet Boys duet worked. The song just might not work as a duet or something semi-acoustic. It was out of MaKenzie's wheelhouse and Dalton came across as overly restrained and uncomfortable with the whole thing.

The judges thought it ain't nothing but a mistake and told them why.

4. Tristan McIntosh and Lee Jean- "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing."

This has to be like the 87th time this song has ever been sung on Idol. Odds are this may be the last one. I thought it started off kind of iffy but they actually made it work by the end. Both of these youngsters put everything into it, unlike the previous performance. Both Tristan and Lee have some rough edges but lots of potential. I feel like I say that every week though.

Duet rankings, all contestants in league with their partners

8. Dalton Rapattoni
7. MacKenzie Bourg
6. Tristan McIntosh
5. Lee Jean
4. Avalon Young
3. Sonika Vaid
2. La'Porha Renae
1. Trent Harmon

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1. La'Porsha Renae- "Come Together"

So, we are just going to be hearing songs that have been done a lot on Idol in this round. I guess that saves them money. La'Porsha delivered a powerful rendition on this Beatles song and worked the stage like a pro, but she really, really should not have worn that outfit.

2. MacKenzie Bourg- "You Are So Beautiful"

This was a very nice, technically impressive performance. He showed off different aspects of his voice and I am sure people will like it.

3. Trent Harmon- Stand By Me"

Another strong performance by Trent although I felt like he might have taken things a bit too far on some of his runs and phrase changes and what not. I wonder how many people will find it odd that he is wanting to keep his family away from visiting him at the show.

4. Tristan McIntosh- "A Broken Wing"

No Bottom Three placement for her after all. She must have fans. Bad news for Avalon or Dalton. This was the fourth consecutive very good solo performance. I am starting to get tired at this point, but Tristan sang it very well and appeared connected. She still needs more seasoning though.

5. Dalton Rapattoni- "Eleanor Rigby"

He acted surprised that he made it safely and was not in the Bottom Three. Dalton does a lot of acting though. This performance was more of his style with a lot of stagework and production. He is pretty good at that, but he sang with a put on accent and it just felt sort of fake and like someone auditioning for a musical and not an original type artist.

Now, for the Bottom Three:

6. Avalon Young - "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"

It is interesting that she sang a song that has her last name in the title and P.Y.T. after we learned about her O.C.D.  I think she might have taken her devotion to Justin Guarini from Season 1 a bit too far in this song choice though. She sounded ok, but it really was not a vocal that went anywhere and was probably polarizing, as seen by her second week in the Bottom Three. It's probably the end of the road for her. Apparently, she might not actually be gay and that might cost her some votes.

7. Lee Jean- "Let It Be"

This performance had a few shaky notes and some flaws, but I am once again left with the thought that at the age of 16, there is not much separating Lee from where he is now as a singer and being totally great. It's probably the end of the road for him though. I wonder what the overall reaction to him has been. We have seen white singers who seem to want to be black and we have seen a black singer from a couple years ago totally do the country rock redneck sort of thing, but Lee is a black kid who's style and musical tastes seem to be very caucasian.

8. Sonika Vaid- "I Have Nothing"

Certainly an ambitious song. I think she might have had some nerves, or lingering shyness, because it was maybe not as good as I thought it could be, but she certainly seemed to do enough to qualify for diva status or whatever on the Whitney Houston selection.

Solo rankings:

8. Avalon Young
7. Lee Jean
6. Dalton Rapattoni
5. Tristan McIntosh
4. Sonika Vaid
3. Trent Harmon
2. MacKenzie Bourg
1. La'Porsha Renae

Composite with tiebreakers

8.  Dalton Rapattoni
7. Avalon Young
6. Lee Jean
5. Tristan McIntosh
4. MacKenzie Bourg
3. Sonika Vaid
2. Trent Harmon
1. La'Porsha Renae

I think it is fairly obvious the judges will save Sonika. That is what happened. I wish I could be a Republican Presidential judge and have the ability to eliminate two candidates.

The bottom three for next week? I will predict Dalton, Tristan, and Sonika.