So last week we got rid of Michael Sarver whose time was definitely up. I was really disappointed to find that Matt Giraud was in the bottom two last week. And that Megan is still around. But here we are again, ready to kick someone else out of here.

We’re down to 9 contestants and they are working with “Most Popular Downloads” which gives the opportunity basically ANY song they want. Tonight we’re going to hear a lot of comments like, “That was a terrible song choice.” I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of R&B/Hip Hop bullshit tonight, which means I’m going to fucking hate everything about it. I have a hard time judging performances when the song is shit.

Anoop Desai is up first with “This Girl” by Usher. FINALLY he’s wearing something that looks like an outfit that a guy on national television should be wearing. This song was incredibly boring to me. He’s got a nice voice, but it was a terrible song choice. (See how I did that?). Randy didn’t really dig it. Kara wasn’t a fan. Paula likes his playful side, but didn’t think he took enough of a risk. Simon said he came across as a “wannabe.”

Megan Joy Corkery is here to assault my senses. She’s picked a Bob Marley song, “Turn Your Lights Down Low.” She’s totally got Natalie Merchant syndrome tonight, where every note is just slightly flat. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I can’t tell you how much I hate it. Kara said, “I think you’re in trouble.” Paula rambled on about some weird need for a spotlight and ballad… whatever. Simon thought it was boring and a terrible song choice. Randy likes the song, hated her picking this song. I hate everything she picks. I hate her. HATE.

Danny Gokey picked “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts. Long time readers know I love Rascal Flatts, even though they totally have my career. This is probably my favorite performance of his, even though the verses seemed slightly rushed. He’s got that whole “dead-wife” emotional undercurrent showing through, and the song completely suited his voice. His stage presence was strong, even though he wasn’t dancing all over the stage as he has the past couple of weeks. A strong showing from one of the leads in the competition. Paula was left “wanting more.” Simon thought it was his best performance on the show. He said he was far and away better than the other two. Randy says “tonight’s show starts right here.” He thought it was a great song choice. Kara said he “moved everyone in the room emotionally.” She got goosebumps.

Allison Iraheta chose to play her guitar and perform “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt. She said she “grew up listening to this song.” Uh. I was 22 when this song came out. *sigh* I absolutely despise the “peacock landed on my head” hairdo she’s rocking tonight. So, this is what a No Doubt song sounds like when Pink covers it. Huh. It was a decent cover, but nothing really spectacular happened here. She didn’t vary the melody much if at all, and I’m sure I could pick ten girls out of a crowd at a karaoke bar in San Francisco that could have done exactly what she did tonight. Randy thought she was rushing the band a bit, and wanted to know “What are you wearing?” Kara thought the outfit was distracting and the performance was just “good.” Paula thought her intonation and ability is great. Simon “can’t ignore the outfit.” He thought she shouted the song.

Scott MacIntyre is apparently going to *gasp* perform a Billy Joel song. He’s picked the sappiest one possible. “Just the Way You Are.” He could have picked a rocking Billy Joel song like “Only the Good Die Young,” “Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Pressure,” or “My Life” but instead he picks this slow sappy cliched song that sounds like everything else he has performed on this show. And finally someone realized that just because the guy can’t see his hair, the rest of us are forced to look at him… they cut it or slicked it back or something. It was decent cover, solo with the piano and no backing band. The song suited his voice and it was a passable performance. Definitely better than last week. Kara thought this song was a smart decision. (?!?) She thought it was honest and suited him well. Paula said she is proud of him. Simon called it his best performance by a “country mile.” Randy called it one of the best of the night.

Matt Giraud picked a song that he really likes, “You Found Me” by The Fray. They’ve got him out in the middle of the audience with a keyboard. This is strange. I don’t know what’s up tonight… I’m not really loving this. UMB thinks my ears are broken, because it’s giving him chills. I like The Fray, so I don’t think it’s a song choice issue. He didn’t quite get on the low notes in the verses, and there’s an odd timbre happening when he says the word “Me” that makes it sound like he’s saying the word, “May” and it has a sort of goat bleating frequency happening that makes me make a weird scrunchy face. I’m sad, because I really love him. Paula said it was too much of a “sound-alike” to the original. Simon didn’t get it at all. He thought it felt put on and uptight. Randy thought it was the wrong song for him. Kara thinks he has to commit to either the R&B side of pop instead of the rock side of pop.

Lil Rounds is singing “I Surrender” by Celine Dion. She’s channeling the look of Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard tonight. Unfortunately she’s not channeling her voice. I’ve totally gone from loving her in the early rounds to being bored and unimpressed now. There were some notes that just didn’t quite land where they were supposed to… Randy didn’t like the song choice, though he thought she sang it well. Kara also hated the choice. Paula thought it was too adult contemporary and not young enough. Simon thought it was a safe song, and thought it was “wedding performance.” He thought it was old fashioned.

Adam Lambert seems to have made the disastrous choice of “Play that Funky Music” by Wild Cherry. This is one of my most hated songs on the planet. My band, Total Eclipse, actually has it in the contract that we do NOT play this song (along with Brick House). I HATE IT. He’s rocking the Elvis hair again this week. I will say that he’s changed the arrangement a lot and has brought a bit of a different feel to the verses, which is a nice departure from the original. He’s unquestionably got an incredible voice with a giant range and his pitch, even when he’s hitting those high screeching notes is dead on. UMB can’t believe that Adam has so quickly become one of his favorites (you may remember that he despised Adam just a few short weeks ago). Not my favorite of the night, but leaps and bounds better than almost every other performance tonight. Paula called him a “true genius.” She compared him to Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler. Simon called it original. Randy was afraid it would be corny, but said he worked it out. Kara can’t wait to see what he does next. She also made mention of “Studio 57″ and I have absolutely no idea what she is talking about…. Did she mean Studio 54? Studio 54 plus 3? What the fuck? Did a stage hand give her Paula’s Coca-Cola cup by mistake?

Kris Allen is going to close the show with his version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. This is hands-down one of my favorite songs EVER. EVER. He’s got a little string quartet accompanying him on the keyboard. This is fucking fantastic! It was original, and absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It wasn’t the Sting version, it wasn’t the Bill Withers version, it wasn’t The Lighthouse Family’s version. It was a version I have never heard and it was so stunningly brilliant that I may have to break down and purchase this from iTunes. If I didn’t look completely silly, I’d give him a standing ovation right here in my living room. Randy called it one of the best of the night. Kara said, “That is Artistry.” Paula said he took a 30 year old song and made it sound like the first time she’s ever heard it. Simon loved his confidence, he loved the arrangement. His best performance so far.

Here’s my ranking:

1. Kris Allen
2. Danny Gokey
3. Adam Lambert
4. Allison Iraheta
5. Matt Giraud
6. Scott MacIntyre
7. Lil Rounds
8. Anoop Desai
9. Megan Joy Corkery

So what do you all think? Who’s going home? I fear the worst for Matt… hopefully people love him enough to forgive tonight’s mistake.