• Michael Lynche kicks it off ‘Miss You’ – Lots of heart and soul.  Way to keep it real.  Love your tone.  One of your best performances in my book.  Thoroughly enjoyable.  I wish you had picked a song that would stick with me a little more.
• Randy – Good Praise
• Ellen – What’s not to love about that.  The way to start the night.
• Kara – First night big stage.  You delivered your attitude.
• Simon – Confidence is definitely up.  Being honest, felt the performance at times was a bit corny.  Sang it well, when you watch it back it was verging at times as desperate.
• Didi Benami follows up with ‘Play With Fire’ – Elegant music.  Good balance.  Don’t let the song swallow you up girl.  There you go.  keep strong and keep it up your confidence.   I like the way you mixed it up.  Unique song but not certain it will actually stick with me.  Pitch sounds great. 
• Randy – Always interested in seeing what songs will be chosen you are on fire.
• Ellen – Amazing voice.  You lost your way and you came right back.
• Kara – Sometimes when you push you loose your way about.  Two steps in the right direction
• Simon – Agree with what everybody said.  Cool choice of song, very very solid performance and think you can do better.
• Casey James continuing the show with ‘It’s all over know’.  Love the way you made it country.  Love the strength in your voice.  Perhaps not your strongest performance.  Very solid though.  I enjoy it.  I could see you in the country genre full time and look to see more of who you are.  While a strong performance I know you have a lot more in you.
• Randy – Great artist like this you are back for him.
• Ellen – For most women their hearts will race just looking at you but for me thought it was fantastic.
• Kara – Tonight you were a rock star.  Best performance since we met.
• Simon – An Audition performance.  Not using this stage and platform to do something incredible.  Looking for more be a star.
• Lacey Brown singing ‘Ruby Tuesday’.  Excellent song.  Love the strings intro.  Seemed it a bit pitchy in the beginning.  You have a soft subtleness that is on the verge of wowing me but is not quite there.  Your performance tonight is fair but I personally feel it fell well short of it’s mark and was not your best performance.
• Randy – Very Interesting Arrangement.  Not a vocal wow moment.  Most interesting of the night.
• Ellen – Sleepy a bit.
• Kara – Got to agree it was 50/50 were some issues with notes and think you can do better.
• Simon – Slight issue where you perform like an actress song was ok.  Stop over thinking and let yourself go a bit.
• Andrew Garcia.  Andrew one of your better vocals.  I’m enjoying the energy and passion your bringing the to the performance.  Don’t be afraid of the stage.  This was an excellent song choice for you.  I feel your best since after Hollywood week.  Great job. 
• Randy – Loved the song, stones, was pitchy everywhere. 
• Ellen – What do I know best performance yet.  I love it.
• Kara – Felt it at times but lacked some connection.
• Simon – Somewhat in the middle something did not quite connect.  I hope you survive another week.  Felt rehearsals were better than performance.
• Katie Stevens bringing out ‘Wild Horses’.  I’m glad it speaks to you make us feel it.  Love the almost Angelic lighting and into.  Where’s the energy?  Pitch sounds good, I’m just not wowed by this performance.  There were a few eye openers but for the most part just a flat performance.  It’s lacking personality and I just didn’t feel a connection.
• Randy – Great song if you sing it well,  You gave a very strong performance.
• Ellen – Started pitchy, once you got into it amazing.
• Kara – Never technically perfect you were going in the right direction.
• Simon – Only week where you’ve chosen a really strong song.  Lost the emotion on the 2nd half of the performance.
• Tim Urban shouting out with ‘Under my thumb’.  I need you to be strong.  I think your playing it a little safe.  It seems to be a good song and your doing good with it but I’d like to see you challenge yourself.  You might be amazed by what you can do.  Vocally seems pretty good.  I like you but you need to step it up and not take any more nights like tonight off.
• Randy – Did not get very bizarre did not really like it did not serve you or the song well.
• Ellen – Felt like I was at a resort with a drink.  Little on the beach just didn’t wow me.
• Kara – Applaud unique application of the song.  Made it your own.
• Simon – Applaud for doing something different and didn’t work.
• ME: I love the attitude you showed at the end with Ryan you have a good fortitude about you that I like.
• Siobhan Magnus singing ‘Paint It Black’.  Love the string intro.  Relax your so nervous your pitch is off a tad at the beginning.  Recover and and bring it back.  Once the tempo picked up you seemed to get dynamically better. I do enjoy your performance and love your voice, are you related to Adam Lambert on the show.  Excellent high note.
• Randy – Bringing the drama to Season nine.  That was hot.
• Ellen – I loved everything.
• Kara – Having Flashbacks of Adam Lambert.  Best song interpretation.
• Simon – Stand out performance of the night.
• Lee Dewyze bringing ‘Beast Of Burdon’  I love the raspy voice you have.  Pitch seems great.  You have nothing the be afraid of great performance.  You deserve to be there relax I love what your doing and my foot is just tapping along.  Amongst the guys I would have to say best of the night.  I love how you made it a tad bluesy.
• Randy – Thought it was dope.
• Ellen – Thought it was great.  Expecting more from you.
• Kara – Growing faster than any body.  Not as Pitchy.  Tremendous growth.
• Simon – Really liked you as a person.  Personality does not shine at the moment.  What I want to see is you to have a moment.
• Paige Miles – ‘Honkey Tonk Woman’.  Paige I’m loosing you a little in the beginning.  Their you go much better.  Love what your doing with the lyrics an song.  Interesting spin on the song.  Good performance the lilting is getting a bit excessive almost ridiculous.
• Randy – Did alright with it.
• Ellen – Such great stage presence.
• Kara – Lost at some points.
• Simon – Did great hit some big notes think you are better than that.  Still have not connected.
• Aaron Kelly singing ‘Angie’.  What can I say.  Wonderful start to finish.  I love your emotion.  A song that actually moved me.  A believable performance.  Love the country feel to the song.  When are you cutting your first album for I want it.  Stunning Performance!!!!!  Absolutely the best of the night.
• Randy – You were born to sing love the tender moments in your voice.
• Ellen – Thought that was a great song choice.  One of the best of the night.
• Kara – Connected and very powerful really brave.
• Simon – You choose the right song.  What you did cleverly you sang within the limits of your vocals.  Strongest to date well done.
• Crystal Bowersox ‘You Can’t Always get what you want’.  Pitch is good but I don’t know if i like what you did tonight.  I’m missing the connection that was so evident with Aaron and Siobhan.   Feels more like your first subway performance.  Your voice is still amazing.  I just don’t care for this arrangement for you.  I feel you took a few steps back tonight.  Sorry.
• Randy – Not best performance.  Did not disappoint.
• Ellen – You sing with such ease.  Missing personality added a little tonight stop thinking.
• Kara – Agreed with Ellen.  Not your greatest but easy to watch.
• Simon – What did you mean over thinking, show and family.  Think you were beaten by Siobhan.

• Didi Benami – Safe and in top 12 and based on this week deserves it in my opinion.
• Siobhan Magnus – Safe, I’m glad and look forward to seeing more from you.
• Paige Miles – Simon says has the most potential and she made it.  Sorry to say this but based on this weeks performances I am a little shocked.
• Katelyn Epperly – Going home tonight.  I really disagreed with the judges this week and feel you deserved to be in the top 12.  Well Girl I do hope you continue on as you can go very far.
• Tim Urban – Safe and I’m glad you fought and are in the top 12.
• Todrick Hall – Going home.  You nailed it last night I just think if you could have gotten it at that quality earlier you would definitely be at the top 12.  Well hindsight is 20/20 and all I can say is hold true to your dreams.  You have the talent and I know you’ll make it big.
• Lee Dewyze – Going through to the top 12 and I’m not too surprised.
• Casey James – Safe good although performance last night was not the best I know the talent is there.  Work it man.

Matt Gerard and Scott McIntyre performance.  I loved Scott last year and look forward to seeing his progress over the past year.  Dynamite duo I think both of these guys have have come far.  Matt is definitely the better of the two.   Still all in all a good performance.  Back to the results.

• Crystal Bowersox – Safe, you have come along way and am glad your going on.
• Michael Lynche – Safe, Make certain it’s a sturdy stool.  Congrats Mike.
• Lacey Brown – Safe Stay true to yourself and I’m sure we’ll be impressed.
• Aaron Kelly – Safe,  Like the crowd I’m ecstatic to see you in the top 12.  Kiddo you have what it takes I look and could see you going all the way you have the talent just relax.
• Andrew Garcia – Safe, I know you have the voice but it’s only going to get tougher.  Step it up I know you can shine like the others.
• Alex Lambert – I’m afraid I could never get a real good feel for you.  I love your voice just feel you need to raise your confidence and hang in there I know you have what it takes.  I could never fully determine the type of artist you would be.
• Katie Stevens – I have high hopes for you and look forward to seeing what you will bring each week.  Good luck.
• Lilly Scott – Going home.  I love your voice and know you can go far.  I’m sorry I didn’t like your rendition of Patsy Cline.  Keep at it though I will be looking to see what you do in the future.

I can’t say I agree with all the choices but it’s America’s voice and I look forward to seeing what next week brings with our newly crowned top 10.  Until next week, thank you for enduring my writing exercises with Idol to help me feel the creativity return slowly is good.  I hope to have additional writes up in the near future.

• Katie Stevens – Good tone girl.  I love your pitch, and versatility.  Not one of my most favorite performance by you but strong as always.  Being first I really think you need to wow us and while I thought your performance was great I felt like you played it safe. 
• Randy: karaoke feeling and didn’t get it.
• Ellen: Right Song Choice played it safe.
• Kara: Don’t think you know who you are as an artist.  Singing needed to be perfect but it isn’t.
• Simon: You seem confused though to your credit you take the advice and work with but no identity yet.
• Siobhan Magnus – I hope tonight you pull another terrific performance out of your hat. House of the Rising song is one I love and I look forward to hearing your rendition and voice. A cappella start excellent choice.  You have the voice to pull it off and send chills down spines.  Pitch may be a bit of a concern tonight.  Wonderful dynamics be careful not to screech the louder parts.  Home Run in my eyes and ears great job.
• Randy:  Keep doing what your doing it’s hot.
• Ellen: Knows that house, you are why she loves music. 
• Kara: Loved the a cappella vibe at the front.
• Simon: Not a fan.  Interview to performance felt it was weird.  Didn’t do anything different.  Felt there was no moment.
• Lacey Brown – I know you can do better than last week girl.  Make me remember this performance.  Lacey what can I say I felt it was lacking emotion and forgettable.  Just didn’t stand out for me and I really can’t say why.  I keep looking for something that will make me notice and remember your performance as I think you seem like a nice girl but that performance just didn’t do it for me.
• Randy: Sleepy but best performance in a long time
• Ellen: Best song for her to date.
• Kara: Performances like this is why you got here.
• Simon: Didn’t love the song but you sang it very well.  Haven’t heard the right song for you yet.  Perhaps that is what I’m looking for.
• Katelyn Epperly – I loved what you did last week it’s going to get harder to wow me now but I know you can do it.  Great tone don’t think I’ve seen this side of you yet and am liking it.  My foot was taping right along.  Love this piece for you.  You made it seem so easy tonight.  Definitely my favorite thus far for the night.   Excellent pitch and tone I believe.
• Randy: Positive loved the hair but did not see the connection in the song.
• Ellen: Not certain if that was the right song to wow people not enough.
• Kara: Felt like you weren’t competing tonight.
• Simon: Positive likes your hair.  It was request night at a restaurant.  May have been a mistake.
• ME: I disagree with all the above. 
• Didi Benami – Come on girl last week you took a huge risk and it just didn’t work for me.  I am a fan but need you to wow me tonight.  I know you are capable otherwise you wouldn’t be there.  This is what I was talking about.  I love your sound.  You and the guitar are hot.  Don’t loose that.  Pitch was good I think a few notes fell off their mark but overall all good.  Much better than last week.
• Randy: Much better than last week not seeing the wow.
• Ellen: ‘Yes indeedy Didi.  Was nervous but liked what you did with it.
• Kara: One of my favorite moments of the show so far this season.
• Simon: Head and shoulders above anything heard tonight. Did have a wow moment.
• Paige Miles – Last week I for the most part agreed with Simon.  I felt frustrated and let down.  I know you can do better show it tonight it’s on the line.  You look scared, I know your trying to put in emotion, oops pitch, however it just appears like your a terrified puppy.  Sorry Paige I am not liking your song choice.  Your pitch seems all over the place and your just not pulling it off in my mind.  I think you did better last week and have just had another disaster this week.
• Randy: Did not work, song way to big.
• Ellen: Song is suppose to uplifting but was sad and heavy.
• Kara: All wrong.  Tonight was not the night for that song.
• Simon: Horrible choice of song.  Arrangement was awful.  Peanut performance.  It’s such a shame, you have a great voice ( I agree highly. )
• Crystal Bowersox – While your performance last week was a terrific improvement I hope you are bringing more tonight.  Interesting song choice.  Not certain, well you just caught my attention so never mind.  Keep going good pitch, sound and feel.  It would appear you have found your niche.  You have that quality that really helped pull that performance together.  Maybe not the best of the night but great job.  I Loved it.
• Randy: Loved It.
• Ellen: Needs new adjectives best of night.
• Kara: Great song choice for you.  I can see you.
• Simon: One Million % top twelve next week.  Definitely most improved.
• Lilly Scott – I loved your bluesy feel last week and look forward to seeing what you bring to the stage tonight.  ‘I fall to pieces’ High standard to fall in and one of my favorite songs by Patsy Cline.  I’m sorry your just not hitting it for me I’m worried about pitch.  Song is not suppose to be a happy one.  I don’t feel you changed it up enough.  Love that you can hit those notes but I’m sorry I did not enjoy it as much as I feel I could have.  I really think you could have done an overall better job with it.  This was just not the right direction for me.  I’m still a huge fan of your voice.
• Randy: Loved it.
• Ellen : Loved it.
• Kara: Made it current.
• Simon: Very brave but it didn’t have the wow factor.

• Tim Urban is safe.
• Todrick Hall I didn’t think did that bad nor think he should be going home and he is not.
• Michael Lynche Big Mike I think will be safe and he is.
• Casey  James should be safe and he is.
• John Park sang gravity Randy and Ellen liked but worried about pitch.  John Park goes home.  I can’t say I’m all that surprised.
• Lee Dewyze sang Lips of an Angel – Lee is safe.  I’m not surprised he nailed his performance.
• Aaron Kelly sang My Girl – and is safe, another one of my favorites from the other night.
• Alex Lambert is safe, I can’t really say I enjoyed his performance so am a bit surprised.
• Jermaine  Sellers is going home.  I missed his performance.
• Andrew Garcia is safe and I’m glad he has another chance. 

For the guys I really feel based on this weeks performances that America got it right.  It will get more challenging the further we go.  Let’s see where the ladies fall.  Danny Goeke performance showed he has grown since being on the idol.  I still love his tone and he is better than he was.  I’m glad to see he has continued to grow.

• Crystal Bowersox – I felt nailed her performance and I feel should be safe.
• Result is safe and I’m not surprised.
• Haeley Vaughn – Her performance just wasn’t there for me and I agree with Simon it was an utter mess.
• Result is going home.  I am not surprised.  Best of luck to you, time and work you can still do wonders with it.
• Lacey Brown – Simon felt she came across as being here for the wrong reasons.  I too felt her performance lacking.
• Result is safe.
• Katie Stevens – Although she has a great voice I felt bored and did not remember the performance.
• Result is safe.
• Didi Benami – I felt very let down and disappointed.  I know she could have done better.
• Result is safe.  Didi I hope you pull it together better next week.  I know you can do better and look forward to hearing it you got a second chance make the best of it.
• Michelle Delamor – Took a risk and I felt she did the song justice and her risk paid off we’ll have to see.
• Result is going home.  I’m shocked it was down to you or Didi and based on last night I felt it should have been Didi.  You are great just keep going and best of luck to you girl.
• Lilly Scott – Don’t fully remember the performance.  What stuck with me is the blues quality in your voice.  I hope you stay I’d like to see more from you.
• Result is Safe.
• Katelyn Epperly – Loved the performance and it still sticks with me.  Look forward to seeing you next week.
• Result is safe.
• Paige Miles – Felt like something was lacking.
• Result is safe.
• Siobhan Magnus – Loved your voice and would be devastated if you go home today.
• Result is safe and again I’m not surprised.

I’m not too surprised with the overall results.  The only shocker was Michelle over some of the other girls.  Just goes to show how important your vote is.  Down to the top 16 starting next week.  I look forward to following it more.