AIS9: Top 6 [Farewell, Siobhan]

THE COMPETITION heated up this week with the songs of Shania Twain. And what a tight competition it was. The Top 6 contestants really performed well and I was anxious to know to would be sent home. But in the end it was Siobhan who got cut. She did well with an upbeat song but I think it all boiled down to popularity.

Anyway, let me recall the performances last Wednesday. Casey James and Aaron Kelly gave their personal bests. Casey gave an acoustic rendition of Don’t. I really liked it. I think the country-popular genre suits him better than blues. His tone was reminiscent of that vocalist from Lifehouse and matched with a very melodic song, I had to agree that it was his best performance yet. Through the whole season, his laid-back performances are the ones that stood out. He should stick with it. Aaron also did well this week. It would be really disappointing if he didn’t given that he’s the resident country singer this season. He made a perfect song choice and it showed his range. He still sounded a little strained on the high notes but what I really liked was when he hits the softer ones. Michael Lynch nailed a country ballad. I’m glad he decided to deliver the song with an Rnb-Soul twist. It was good; however I think he could’ve done more with it. The climax was a little hanging in my opinion. Lee sang the only Shania Twain song I know. I liked the part when he sang the verses with those slight changes in the melody. He didn’t change the chorus part that much. But over-all it was still a solid number. His tone just seems to make any song contemporary and current. He’s still my bet to win the whole thing. His toughest contender, Crystal, on the other hand gave an easy-listening performance. It’s too laid back no wonder the judges commented that it wasn’t one of her best. I mean people got used to Crystal delivering the weekly bomb. Well she deserves an off-day although it was not really that off. Everyone else just stepped up a notch.

Lee and Crystal are still the front-runners but given what happened this week, everyone now seems to be on the same footing. It becomes more exciting now. Two weeks back I actually thought Idol was slightly losing its luster and many people think that it is. Hmm… I wonder why that is. By the way, I really like the bands featured on the Results Show. Lady Antebellum is it? And the Sons of Silvia. They sound really good.

Four weeks to go! Woohoo!