American Idol 8 – Top 36

So the TOP 36 are divided into 3 groups and the voting and format on the final Top 12 guys and girls is different from other seasons. From each group three will advance – the top vote getter girl and boy and then the second highest vote getter, which could be either guy or girl.  Then there will be a wild card for the final 3 spots in the Top 12. Confusing huh?

Today is the first group of 12 performing., here is a  live blog…

Jackie Tohn. Song: “Little Less Conversation”. All the judges agreed that she was a good        performer except  Simon… Simon thought it was silly and really didn’t like those pants… I thought it was OK, not anything great and I will agree with Simon about those spandex/lycra pants have to go!

Ricky Braddy

Song: “Song for You”. Randy and Kara loved it..Paula is so happy that America got to see how talented he is since he was not really featured before, Simon thinks he is a nice shy guy, does have good vocals but doesn’t have the star quality they are looking for… Well I liked it, I think he was a lot better than Jackie and it was a hard song and apparently it is Ricky’s favorite song..

Alexis Grace

Song: “Never Loved A Man”. Randy loved it… Kara said the genie is out of the bottle, she loved the new image… Paula just loved her… Simon said that she is the best contestant they have had, she may be a dark horse, it reminds him of Kelly Clarkson and that she has great confidence.. Simon said that she has soul… I find that she really did have a powerful voice – she did well

Brent Keith

Song: “Hicktown”. Randy liked what he did and that he did country… Kara thought he was a little bit safe tonight and she thinks that he has a lot more in him, he should take more risks… Paula said he should go for more risks and that he would be a good country singer… Simon said that choosing a country song will make him forgetable and he thinks that he blew it by his choice of song… I really liked his voice and I think he was great

Stevie Wright

Song: “You belong to me”. Randy didn’t like it… Kara said it was really not the right song and Paula agreed with her… Simon said that they were all polite, he said it was terrible and he really doesn’t think she will make it thru to the next round… I will have to agree with the judges too, it was horrible, it definitely sounded out of tune… we’ll see what happens

Anoop Desai

Song: “Angel of Mine”. Randy liked it, huge fan of his, didn’t think it was his best… Kara said that there is a lot of great potential in him… Paula said that it is great that America has already connected with him… Simon said that the song was a bit too grown up and too serious for him and that he has massive likability and that is what he has going for him… I like it and I think he has a nice voice…

Casey Carlson

Song: “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic”. I don’t think that song did her justice, it just didn’t sound right let’s see what the judges are going have to say about it… Randy said it was not good for him – the dog was lost… Kara said everything about it was wrong, nobody picks “The Police” – Kara was disappointed… Paula said it just didn’t work for her… Simon said the singing was atrocious and bad choice of song and she shouldn’t have been allowed to sing that song – he thinks she blew it… Well the judges agreed with me – it was awful!

Michael Sarver

Song: “I Don’t Want To Be”.  Well I’m not sure… some parts sound amazing and some well doesn’t sound right… Randy said it started of weird – wasn’t sure about the performance… Kara didn’t think it was his best performance but he is likable… Paula thought he did a really good job… Simon hopes that America will give him another shot because he deserves a break…

Anne Marie Boskovich

Song: “Natural Woman”. She sounds really good… Randy asked her how she did and she said that she did good – Randy didn’t think she did great… Kara said the song was too big for her… Paula found that she did better, but it is a huge song… Simon said that her voice was not good enough for that song and found it very old fashioned and he thinks she ruined her one chance… Oh well, I thought it was a lot better than the other girls except for Alexis

Stephen Fowler

Song: “Rock With You”. Randy was surprised by the song choice – didn’t find it good at all… Kara didn’t like it either… Paula said that song was a kiss of death… Simon found it a very pointless performance – the whole thing was atrocious and corny – at least he remembered the lyrics … Me, well I’m not sure – some parts sounded OK

Tatiana Del Toro

Song: “Sending All My Love”. I don’t know but there is something about this girl that just turns me off… Randy said she had some moments… Kara said that with her it is a roller coaster ride – she did have some moments… Paula said that she is the most talked about contestant… Simon called her a complete DRAMA QUEEN and that she is desperate to get famous – he found it surprisingly good but she has to lose the demure her… the judges wanted her to do her laugh, she didn’t but the judges did her laugh… OMG she is such a %$# – I can’t belive how she squeezed that in for America to vote for her – that sounded so tacky, so not right! I have to totaly agree with Simon, just that pitch makes her look desperate for that fame!

Danny Gokey

Song: “Hero”. What a voice – just love it!!! I think he is going to be one of my favorites The judges just loved him… Randy called him the redeemer… Kara called him a hero… Paula said sold out arenas… Simon said it was just good – he likes him but just not buying the hype, but Simon is just being Simon… He was amazing and he is my hero – you can rise up after bad stuff hapens to you. I am definitely trying to rise up after the hand that I have been dealt with this year!

So my picks for the three that will go to the Top 12:

• Danny Gokey
• Alexis Grace
• Anoop Desai