1. Lee Dewyze – Miley indicates lacking stage presence needs work I agree.  Great song choice Lee.  Much more personality than last week and that I’ve seen from you so far.  Feels like you are connecting a little better.  Love what your version of the song.  Jazzing it up with the horns made it hot.  Great performance.
• Randy – Knocked it out of the box.
• Ellen – Comparing him to a pen I think.  Fantastic.
• Kara – Raised the bar for yourself never sounded better or seemed more comfortable.
• Simon – Really surprised you choose that song.  Seemed corny, you were missing last weeks point and it was not a moment.
• I disagree with Simon 100% you brought back a classic.
2. Paige Miles – With Phil Collins song “Against All Odds” – Sounding pitchy at the open to me.  Watch that tone girl.  Very rough don’t know if it’s your voice still healing but it is not sounding good at all.  I don’t know but are you singing in the key that’s right for me.  Hitting the big notes is great but you have to hit all the notes in between.  I’m sorry but this is coming across as a train wreck I just do not like what you have done tonight it was a terrible performance.
• Randy – Honestly terrible.
• Ellen – Positive you didn’t fall down.  Look stunning.  Passing to Kara and Simon.
• Kara – You stopped competing and listening worse we’ve heard from you and all over this season.
• Simon – Had here critique herself.
3. Tim Urban Taking on Queen “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – I look forward to it.  You need to knock it out tonight.  So far great.  Pitch is good.  Interesting switch up on the key.  Have fun just don’t break anything.  Way to hit the audience and connect.  You are in your element tonight.  I’m enjoying immensely seems it a bit forced so you just need to relax a tad more I think.  All in all one of your better performances but expect to be dinged.
• Randy – Vocals were so boring, bad karaoke.
• Ellen – Felt like it was an audition for High School Musical it was corny
• Kara – Ellen hit the nail on the head.  Didn’t change it up enough.  Acted like you already made it.
• Simon – Sliding around was a good distraction from the song.  Completely and utterly pointless and silly song choice.  Your not taking a part in this.
4. Aaron Kelly – Problems with your voice.   I’m pulling for you kid.  Wonderful choice.  I think it will gentle on your voice.  Absolutely rocking it out.  Country all the way and I love it.  It’s as good as watching the original artist.  You need to come out of your shell a bit.  However I can see where you may not be feeling the best.  One of the best two of the night.
• Randy – Not a perfect performance.  Thank you came out and started singing.
• Ellen – Perfect voice.  You are so good.
• Kara – Best song choice of the night.  You know how to pick the right songs.
• Simon – Very brave for what you’ve got. Making yourself old fashioned.  0% chance you are going home.
5. Crystal Bowersox – Me and Bobby McGee – Miley is absolutely right you can do it take the risk.  I think it’s a perfect song choice for you.  Opening felt a touch rushed but before the first chorus you had it where it should be.  Great vocal.  If you are having pitch problems I’m not seeing it.  However it feels like I’ve seen this performance countless times before.  I think you could have made it more your own.  I feel you played it safe and stuck too close to the original.  Someone of your caliber should be making it more your own.
• Randy – That’s what is called being a star.
• Ellen – Nothing wrong with the performance only thing we are missing a connection and personality.
• Kara – Felt more, loose the guitar. 
• Simon – Wouldn’t change anything. 
• I feel you are being giving more praise than you deserve by the judges.  You do have a great voice and can do a considerable amount but I feel disappointed for you can do so much more.
6. Michael Lynche I love the song choice for you that is the best song you could have chosen.  This is it.  I’m tired of saying I’m looking for more.  Let’s see.  That’s it big guy. Wonderful that is where you need to be.  That is the sweat spot.  Chills and I don’t get ‘em often.  Best performance from you that I’ve seen.  Tonight you just entered the competition in my eyes.  Keep fighting and keep going you are moving in the right direction.
• Randy – Not perfect song choice, not best vocal but loved what you did.
• Ellen – Safe choice like driving the speed limit.
• Kara – Technically it was really good felt it was a bit boring, over indulgent.
• Simon – Almost too much, keep it simple remove the band.  You made it very lounge.
7. Andrew Garcia – I agree loose the guitar I’m sure you can do it as long as you don’t forget your lyrics.  Unique intro to the song.  Finally you are showing personality.  Vocals sound good.  After the unique intro all I can say is it seemed a bit routine and familiar.  I’m not wowed, it’s a good performance, I know you can do better.  Make it your own next week, don’t be afraid to make changes that enhance who you are.
• Randy – Was not good.  Wrong song choice not the kind of vocalist you are.
• Ellen – Not enough to get a bunch of people onboard not a good song choice.
• Kara – Your really confused you were being moved like a puppet.  You have to go back to that moment and figure out what you did.
• Simon – Problem was the arrangement was horrific you sucked the soul out of the song.  Made yourself really corny.
8. Katie Stevens – Big Girls Don’t Cry – Big Song I know you can do it.  Excellent pitch good song choice and I love your voice.  I don’t know if you’ve made it your own enough.  I love your performance. and it would seem your confidence is getting better.  All in all a good but not great performance.
• Randy – Not best performance and a little pitchy.  You listened and I like that.
• Ellen – Think it was your best performance so far.
• Kara – This is it for you pop with R&B leanings this is where you belong.  Mad pitch issues.
• Simon – Think you meeting Miley was great for you.  Do I believe you are believable.  Good performance.
9. Casey James – Power of Love – Good pitch I already like you but this seems to be a text book performance of this song.  You have the talent and skills to make this your own.  It just feels like your breezing through.  Work for it.  Nothing should be easy and safe.  You didn’t wow me tonight like I know you can.
• Randy – Was not a fan of the song choice you did it well and it was believable.
• Ellen – Best vocal of the night.
• Kara – You are on another level.
• Simon – That song was old fashioned 25 years ago.  Did not make it current.  No effort, no originality.
• I agree with Simon.
10. Didi Benami – Come I’m tired of seeing no changes show me something new.  I love the quality in your voice.  It’s a believable performance.  You are knocking it out.  Close to the original not much change up but I am enjoying you performing this you are really getting into it and connecting with the song. Great job and vocals.  Next week show me more you. 
• Randy – Loved the idea of it.  Pitch all over the place.
• Ellen – Don’t get the song choices tonight not the right one for you.
• Kara – Felt you were playing a character it felt like it wasn’t you.  Left me confused.
• Simon – Certain irony, like the bad part of a musical.  Didn’t sound like you.
11. Siobhan Magnus – Have confidence for you are one of the top runners in this competition.  Wow what a voice.  Great song and you performed it well.  I’m not being wowed.  You have your own sound that I love and I feel like we’re missing that tonight.  Did not like the screeching at the end.

    Randy – Thought it was great.

    Ellen – More please.

    Kara – Not best performance.  Loved the end note.

    Simon – Real split, some will like it, some won’t.  Reverse the screaming do it at the beginning.

All in all there were some good performances, however I didn’t see any risks or anyone trying to changeup the songs to their own personality.  Simon I think Crystal failed in making it relevant and pushing herself as well.

David Cook Still a joy and pleasure to see.   Watch him just knock it out with ‘Jumping Jack Flash’.  Working another album.  Look forward to seeing it come.  He is also going to Africa for Idol gives back. 

Yeah the Ford commercials are back.   interesting way to color a car.

• Paige Miles– Is in the bottom three.  Based on last night I can almost see it.
• Lee Dewyze – Is safe and I think we definitely got that one right.
• Siobahn Magnus – Safe, I would have been very upset if not.
• Aaron Kelly – Safe.  That takes care of my two favorites from last night.
• Andrew Garcia – Safe
• Tim Urban – Bottom Three, I hope he is able to pull it out.
• Didi Benami – Safe.
• Crystal Bowersox – Safe
• Katie Stevens – Safe
• Michael Lynche – Safe
• Casey James – Safe Thank you Come on  I don’t like seeing called last.
• Lacey Brown – Bottom Three and I can’t say I’m too surprised.

I think the bottom three is accurate.   Person going back to their seat is Tim Urban.  I know Tim you have some growing to do.  I’m looking forward to what you do next week.  Keep it strong.  Let’s not hit the bottom three again pal.

This brings it down to either Paige Miles or Lacey Brown.  Personally I hope that Paige is safe vs. Lacey.  Final two who is it?  Lacey is going home and I can’t see the judges using the save.    Wow this is not helping your case Lacey.  Pitch is all over the place.  I’ll post if they save her but don’t think it is going to happen.

• 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.