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Please don’t bother trying to find her
If LaKisha doesn’t make the top ten (and this year’s American Idol tour), she has only herself to blame. She picked a boring song, over the smart recommendation of Lulu to sing “You’re My World,” which she could have belted out in her own soulful style. “Diamonds Are Forever” showed off nothing of the talent we know she has. I hope she stays around, but even Haley was better tonight.

One of my other favorites, Gina, was also disappointing. Her version of “Paint It Black” was kind of lifeless, actually, and it shouldn’t have been. It should be the kind of song that brings out the best in her voice, as “I Who Have Nothing” brought out the best in Jordin.

For the first time since the competition began, the guys were as good as the girls tonight. In fact, on my score sheet, I had three of the top five performances by male singers. That didn’t include Sanjaya, but he was miles better than he’s been in the past, and for once he was fun to watch. He’s not going anywhere for at least a few more weeks, so the little girls can count on seeing him on the tour this summer.

I love the British Invasion music. These songs have been around since I started listening to the radio. For the most part they’re fun songs, fun to listen to anyway. This is the stuff I listen to on XM radio (Sixties on 6) as I drive around in the car, so I know they’re fun to sing, too. How the contestants treated the material was something I took a little personally, but for the most part it was one of the better nights of the competition.

Most of my votes went to Melinda, just because she’s so far and away the best that I can’t help myself. But I saved a few votes for Stephanie. I thought she was wildly underrated by the judges, and I would hate to see her leave before some of the lesser singers. She oozes class, and her song tonight (“You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”) is one of my all time favorites.

Who’s going home this week? I’d have to guess that Phil is a likely candidate, based on the fact that he was in last week’s bottom three, and that he was less than electrifying with his performance of “Tobacco Road.” If one of the women is voted off, I’m going to suspect collusion. I won’t have any proof, other than the feeling that the producers might want an equal number of boys and girls in the top ten.

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