Then I started with IDOL. I agree with the others. For the first time, it really did seem like a competition where people were really bringing the best they had to offer to the table. That said:
Carly was the best by a very wide margin. A total pro with superb vocals and stage presence that makes the rest of them look clumsy and amateurish. She just knows how to move to the music and how to use her arms and the mic beautifully.
#2 for me was David Cook. He was excellent, gave a nice rock vibe to the music, and overall had real presence on the stage.
I hate to admit it but I finally halfway enjoyed Amanda Overmeyer tonight. I think that vocal style will get very tired before much longer, but I did feel she sang in tune tonight and did a better than average job entertaining.
Michael Johns had a nice rendition, too.
Most horrible for me tonight was Jason Castro. I thought he was simply dreadful with a falsetto that didn't work part of the time (not the first time that's happened) and a really forgettable rendition of the song.
David Hernandez, my favorite male singer until tonight, was way off the mark with a song that had notes too low for him and a breathlessness about him that made him sing off pitch often and made him try too hard to overcompensate.
Both of the first two women (Syesha and Ramiele) seemed scared to death and gave poor performances. And, of course, David Archeleta forgot his lyrics in a couple of places and was just way out of his element. He took the criticism well, however, so he should be safe.
So, I'd like to see Jason go, but he seems to be a favorite of the swoony preteens so I'm picking either one of those two girls or David Hernandez to leave tomorrow night.
