Idol Watching Top 9

Interesting that Ryan started the show from the control room!

The "theme" is Lennan and McCartney songs. Just doesn't get any better than that!
(I'm a child of the 60s, a mega-Beattles fan!)

First: Aaron, "Long and Winding Road". Beautiful voice. Amazing talent for such a young man (he's only 16?). I don't think he'll win, but I really like him.
Judges: Randy: great voice, tone; didn't like arrangement, sleepy. Ellen: fantastic, felt like a long and winding song. Kara: good, but not yet great; every song feels the same. Simon: asked why that song (because he felt it represented his journey); old fashioned and boring.

Second: Katie, "Let It Be". She has a lovely voice too, and I love this song; but somehow, this just doesn't "do it" ... maybe too slow? I liked it better towards the end where she changed it a bit, and speeded up some.
Judges: (missed judges comments)

Third: Andrew, "Can't Buy Me Love". So-so.
Judges: not especially impressed.

Fourth: Mike, "Eleanor Rigby". I still just love this guy! Good job .. put his own spin on it, but didn't make it "unrecognizable".
Judges: Randy: parts were great, likes seeing the artist in him blossom. Ellen: he can do everything, it was incredible. Kara: fire! vocals amazing! sold the story. Simon: didn't love as much as the others, sounded like something from a musical.

Fifth: Crystal, "Come Together". Yep. She's the "real thing"... just plain old fun to watch and listen to. I love her, and am already looking forward to a CD. (the "digereedoo -sp? - was fun too!)
Judges: Randy: not best, but solid & loved how it built, even over the digereedoo. Ellen: needs a new way to say how great she is. Kara: one of her favorite performances; slinky, sexy, playful - made her more accessable. Simon: it just works, quirky, contemporary, terrific.
Note: she was more "playful" after the performance, more relaxed, more fun, more appealing.

Sixth: Tim, "All My Loving". Unless this gets better than it's starting out, I'm not very impressed. I dearly love this song, but not his version.
Judges: Randy: your own category; better than last few weeks. liked the Beatles hair do. Ellen: perfect song choice, 2nd best performance. Kara: best are with guitar; like that he took so much critism. Simon: did really well; no gimicks; likes that he takes criticism like a man, no whining.

Seventh: Casey, "Jealous Guy". I like this guy a lot, but this wasn't one of my favorite performances. I actually never heard this song before (how is that possible??). It got better as he went along, but I like "peppier" songs better.
Judges: Randy: love acoustic guitar, loved seeing sensitive side. Ellen: song felt real, best to date. soulful. Kara: showed vunerability which had been lacking. liked that he showed more range. Simon: best performance of the night. very impressed with his improvement over the weeks.

Eighth: Siobhan, "Across The Universe". I liked this better than her screechy songs, but it was so soft it was almost hard to hear. She does have a pretty voice (and is a pretty girl when not done up so wild).
Judges: Randy: love wondering every week what she will do; song a little sleepy, but likes tender side. Ellen: fan of people who march to their own drummer. Kara: showed control, hit the notes; very restrained and polite. Simon: questioned what was she thinking (she answered, she's not going to change who she is). came back much stronger than last week; likes that shes' unpredictable.

Ninth: Lee, "Hey Jude". Yuck! I liked him, but I did NOT like this at all ... sour notes! Yikes!
Judges: Randy: hot look, good job. Ellen: liked confidence, that he didn't get rattled when the guy in the kilt got separated from his parade. Kara: liked his confidence, some "off" note. Simon: doesn't know what you lot are drinking in the house. he wouldn't have done that (bagpipe - like he turned up on the wrong show).

Over all, my favorites haven't really changed. Crystal, Mike, and Casey are at the top. I think perhaps I liked Andrew the least this week. I have no clue who will go home.