I have the same frustration. I have friends who are AMAZING singers who can’t get a break and these lame kids are getting national attention. Ugh.

Glad you’ve started watching Glee! I’ve said that Lea Michele’s voice is so awe-inspiring, it can probably cure illnesses.

I’m with you re: Kris Allen’s song choices last year. When he sang “Falling Slowly,” I squealed. It’s a gorgeous song that I don’t think anyone had done on AI before him or since.

Anyone else think Siobhan looked like a 40-year-old entertainer on a cruise ship? From the ’80s?

I was SHOCKED I didn’t hate Tim’s performance. First time for me, too.

I guess part of it is I sing (not professionally or anything), and it really bothers me when the people on the show are 1/20th the talent of other singers I know.

I do agree with you on Mamasox. I’m still on board of her train, but I think she should risk it a little more. She did step out of her box with “Midnight Train to Georgia” but I think she just needs to engage the audience a little more. Having her open the night ‘though made me realize she’s that good because I wasn’t comparing hers to the other lame performances. On the other hand, having her performances be alike tells me she knows who she is as an artist. Anyway, I still don’t see any scenario where she doesn’t win (but I’ve been wrong).

(By the way, in my oppinion, Kris Allen didn’t just do well last season. He did win the night and gave surprises: “Falling Slowly” was a very good high-eyebrow song choice -and the studio version is so much greater-; “She Works Hard for the Money” was an amazing reinvention of a song; and “Heartless” gave him credibility. And, on the other hand, he’s not doing that bad in my oppinion. He may not have the Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or Daughtry success yet, but so far LLWD has had great success: Top 20 in Billboard’s Hot 100, good airplay, and it’s heard a lot in Mexico -and that’s saying something-. I won’t be so eager to predict his downfall until at least one more heavily promoted single).

Back to AI9. I’m tired of Cheesebag’s (Mike) shtick. His theatrics work at 0 or twelve thousand, and he doesn’t know how to bring emotion to the stage without looking like a church singer on cocaine.

I like fratboy Lee‘s voice. I really do. And for once, he didn’t look like he might puke on the stage (that would be great TV, though). But he’s still missing some edge.

I’ll bring Tim to this point, because for once I wasn’t annoyed by his performance (except that thing about performing behind the judges which I don’t understand). He might never -and hopefully will never- surpass Crystal, Lee or Casey in the competition, but he’s actually beginning to improve and show growth. And THAT’s something.

Casey for all I cared could have had an X-box guitar and be playing Guitar Hero. I just didn’t understand the performance. I loved his song choice but, as Simon said, it was a wasted opportunity.

And I knew it! Galatea -I mean, Katie– is a robot! This week she just went “NEED-TO-SHOW-EMOTION-ON-STAGE-SO-WILL-SING-ANGRY-SONG-AND-STRUT-ON-STAGE-AND-DO-DEFYING-HEAD-MOVEMENT”. She’s learning to regulate his tune-modulator but otherwise: robotic, robotic, robotic.

I don’t know what’s going on with Siobhan “Asperger” Magnus. Or better yet, I do know and also does she. She doesn’t know who she is. She might like -even love- to dip her toes on different kind of singing, but when she does something like this week (starting a song slowly and taking the church at the end), she doesn’t know how to feel the whole and tell the story. And it’s just frustrating.

Aaron seemed much more confident than ever. His voice was good, but the performance went nowhere. Just that.

And Andrew. Just send that lame guy home, with his Danny Gokey glasses. Stat.

Thanks again, Jason.

Adam didn’t elevate anyone musically. He didn’t inform anyone’s arrangement. No one listened to his advice. He seemed more interesting in preening for the camera and seeming likable than giving actual constructive criticism. And he scared poor little Aaron Kelly half to death.

These kids need actual teachers, not junky wannabe pop stars.

Could not believe it, but Bowersox was even better than usual. She’s finally starting to try. I mean, she’s awesome without trying, but watching her let loose just makes it even more apparent she should be selling cds already. Compare her to Lambert and dare you not to laugh out loud.

Biggest surprise for me last night was that I didn’t actually hate Tim Urban. They must be coaching him on the side so he won’t be so painfully bad. They should do that for Aaron Kelly? Nope, get let the boy go!

Siobhan Magnus is a good lounge performer. I’m sure she would excel at really conservative country clubs in the mid-west. Hey, maybe she could be an opening act for Sarah Palin at white bread college?

Lee Dewyze actually made me bob my head last night.

Will someone please tell Michael Lynche to stand up and rock out already?!

Katie who?

Andrew Garcia needs to let all hang out more.

Casey James did a song I thought was Good Golly, Miss Molly. Never heard of the one he did last night and forgot it right away.