Was anyone as surprised as I was last night when Kristy Lee Cook WASN'T in the bottom three for the first time this season?
Not I. Her song choice more or less cemented that. Which brings up something else I've been meaning to mention/talk about...
The judges ALWAYS talk about "Song Selection". I think what the Contestants keep forgetting is that they are indeed Contestants, they are Competing against each other. Yes, they can pick a "good song", but if most of the people who are casting votes for them have no idea what words and melody just came out of their mouths, well... They've sunk themselves real good. The song doesn't have to be "wildly popular", but it should at least be something that "is in the air". I really think that's what did Chikezie in last night - and even affected David Archuleta's standing. Yes, they liked the song, but if their public had never heard the song before, well, they basically just alienated them.
"American Idol" is basically a "Popularity Contest" in the guise of an over-produced mega-Talent Night. And I believe the "popularity" part carries over to the songs themselves.
*Of course, now there's all the talk about David Cook covering Chris Cornell's version of "Billy Jean" almost phrase for phrase. Hmm....