American Idol: Final 10 – The Way I Hear It

Ramiele — Alone — Gosh, she’s tiny.  This started off slow and then built up nicely, although i can’t help but compare her to the original and her voice seemed not quite big enough.  She had a couple of off-ish moments, but I still don’t think we’ve heard her at her best yet.   

Jason — Fragile — I don’t know this song, and it pretty much bored me, but Sting has always bored me — so much for that.  I’ll give him just an OK tonight.
 
Syesha – If I Were Your Woman — It seemed like a bit of an odd arrangement but she sang it well.  It’s too slow, though.  I think that’s the problem — it’s lacking the movement of the original.  But well sung.
 
Chikezie — Let Me Take You Home ?? — Don’t know this song at all.  Sounds a bit pitchy at times. 
 
Brooke — Every Breath You Take — Well now, I liked that.  One of the few Police songs I like, and it was interesting.  I agree that it would have been better with just her at the piano.  She does well pared down, simple.
 
Michael — We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions — Nice and strong.  Well sung.  He does Queen very well, and that’s not easy.  Nothing new there, but well sung.  When he has the right material, this guy is terrific.
 
Carly — Total Eclipse of the Heart — I love this song, so I’m not sure why this was a little off for me.  Maybe she was missing some of the abandon I felt from Bonnie Tyler’s version?  I hated what she did with the ending.  I’m afraid I won’t ever get the point of this girl.  I kind of feel sorry for her because they set her up to be the next American Idol, and she’s not connecting — it must be awfully frustrating for her.
 
David A — What the hell is he singing?  It was awful, whatever it was, and so was he.
 
Kristy Lee — God Bless the USA — Weird song choice, but it was probably one of her best performances.  Ouch, bad note — big bad note!!  
 
David Cooke — Billie Jean — God, he was one ugly baby.  That was really interesting.  I’ve never heard that version.  The more I hear this guy, the more I want him to win.  Ok, I just went to Rhapsody and listened to Chris Cornell’s version — excellent and very different from MJ.  But David did it justice, too.  And the real plus is he’s totally relevant to today’s music scene.  By the way, did you notice that when they sing versions different from the original, Ryan now says who’s version it was, so they don’t have the same problems they had went Daughtry sang the Live version of I Walk the Line.
 
Ok, the bottom 3?  Chikezie, Carly and Ramiele, or even David A.

Going totally on the record here and shouting that David Cooke should be our next American Idol.  If the voting is fair & honest…he should win.