OK, just my opinion, after resting on it overnight, I'd rank the girls thusly:
1) Lakisha
2) Melinda (really pulled into a virtual tie with last night's effort)
3) Jordin (continues to improve...has a chance!)
4) Stephanie (doing nothing wrong, great personality but up against big voices)
5) Sabrina (will get a contract but won't win AI)
6) Gina (best voice among the white girls)
7) Antonella (improved 100% over last week, has a chance to make top 12)
8) Leslie (I actually like her but iffy this week)
9) Haley (same as above)
10) Alaina (pretty girl, voice not on par with rest)

Good list. Obviously, the thing that's cool is that we mostly all agree on the better girls and where they stand. We just tend to disagree about who is actually the worst! :D

The reason this is fun is everyone looks for different things and hears different things that bother them to different extents. Your list is perfectly ordered I think as far as who are the top 6 and who are not. I just tend to disagree with how you rank the bottom four, but that doesn't matter.

I just still don't get the Antonella thing. I guess I never will. I don't have an issue with anyone saying that she may not be the worst, but all these words like "improvement" and "chance to make the top 12" (the latter, without a disclaimer that it would only be because she's hot, and has nothing to do with her voice. sure she may make the top 12, but for all the wrong reasons.) are totally foreign to me. I guess I just don't see how someone who sings a song more OFF-pitch than ON for an entire performance is somehow worthy to make the top 12.

Just picking your brain Somer! :D I want to understand, I really do.

Well, I wasn't a music major in college and can't even carry a tune myself but I've always seemed to be able to tell when something is "off"...I thought a number of the girls were a bit "pitchy" at times but I don't think she was off key that badly...not more than those I rank beneath her anyway. Again, I would surrender to those who actually can read music...I can't...I'm just going on how she sounded to me and overall, I liked her performance. I think when 30-40 million folks vote, the majority are like me...going on how it sounded to them!

Don't get me wrong somer, I'm not trying to be judgmental. I suppose that I'm wary of how America votes for the competition (as illustrated by Taylor winning last year...at least he could stay on the right notes).

I don't claim to be the end-all of music conversations. I've made music, but am always realistic about my own vocal abilities, so I'm not even trying to judge them per se, but when someone sings a song that is just all over the place it stands out like crazy to me.

Ha! Obviously I can't change how she sounds to you, I just get more and more horrified by her every week. These competitions are weird though, people can have really terrible weeks. Going back to her audition, I thought she was really really good, so perhaps the nerves and the mini-scandal have rattled her a bit, because I do know that she's better than she has been since the actual show started -- but I'm not letting that cloud how I feel about her actual performances the last two weeks.

To each their own! The beauty of Idol and discussing it on a forum for racehorses :D

My sister would have won this competition. Too bad she didn't try out... most of these people sounded terrible last night.

Well, I was pretty much correct with the girls, I think AJ was a surprise for a lot of us...

Yep, they got rid of two of the three worst girls, so I'm okay with that.

They got rid of one of the most boring guys in Nick, but I was surprised that AJ got the boot tonight. I never figured he'd win or anything but he certainly didn't deserve to go after tonight.

And Sanjaya and Antonella live to sing another day....defying all proper logic.

But the buzz is that Sanjaya who might be the worst ever to make it this far, has some sort of network going on out there.....Last week he was in the top 4 vote getters and I just read where is was in the top 5 this week.

Well Taylor managed to win -- so anything is possible.

Imagine being someone who auditioned, or made it to the Hollywood round and then got the boot. Someone who could actually sing, and sitting at home right now watching him get through two rounds. It must be so infuriating!

Do you remember that redheaded disaster John Stevens. He was a crooner, and he was awful! He went pretty far, for a guy who SUCKED! And Sanjaya has something that he didn't.........INDIAN NATION!

Any guesses on who's out next week?

Well, I think we should see their performances first...lol!
Haley, Gina and Antonella would appear to be the "bottom three" right now but I don't know if there will be a "race factor" as we go along. Will there be enough votes to carry all 5 black girls forward? Gina has been the strongest of those 3 so far so if based only on singing ability, I'd look for Antonella and Haley to leave next week but again, folks are voting for not against so we could see one of the black girls fall...in that case, who knows? The guys...I just can't seem to care at this point.

Obviously we'd *think* Sanjaya would be gone next week, but who knows after the last two weeks! I'd be looking at Chris R. if he doesn't show up with a big performance, and possibly Sundance if he doesn't come with it (though I'm not sure what kinds of demographic are voting for them, so the singing may be irrelevant.) Brandon may also have numbered weeks if he doesn't bounce back.

As for the girls, you're spot-on. I think that Sabrina would be the first "black girl" to go, but Haley and Antonella have a pretty firm hold on the bottom rungs. Gina is still capable, and with a good week I think she could stick around again. With a bad week....goodbye.

I agree with the votes for the black girls. I just think one of them will get knocked off next week. I think Haley is a goner too. Antonella, say hello to the top 12. As far as the guys go, it doesn't really matter because I do not think any of them has a chance to win. For the record, I think Ghetto Timberlake is the best guy. And with THE INDIAN NATION behind him, Sanjaya will be in the top 12!

But his album tanked. While Chris Daughtry's is doing great. Perhaps Americans are happy to phone in to help the sweet, grey-haired guy win, but when it comes to actually spending money for his album, well, that's a different situation. Maybe Taylor is the American (As Long as Supporting Him Doesn't Actually Cost Anything) Idol.

John Waite sang "Missing You" first, by the way. Tina's cover was from the mid-90's. And not very good. (Don't start chewing me out; I love Tina and would listen to her over John Waite anyday. But it wasn't a good cover. And yes, I kinda like that song. I have a thing for the early '80s, okay?)

That's why I said "made famous" by Tina Turner, because most people identify that song with her :D Though I guess I then called it "the original," oh well, drinking does that to me.

I've been thinking/obsessing about Idol, and realized that who I like has pretty much been a great indicator of huge album sales or the opposite resulting from this show.

If I love the winner, their album(s) do great, examples: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood

If I can't stand the winner, their album tanks compared to other people who did not win that season: Ruben Studdard (vs Clay Aiken), Taylor Hicks (vs Chris Daughtry).

And if I am completely indifferent to the winner of an entire season of Idol (read: Fantasia), then I can't tell you how they will do, becaue I don't care. Though now she's in the Broadway production of one of my favorite books ever, so perhaps I will revisit my indifference.

Moral of this whole, I-am-an-omniscient-predictor-of-Idol-alum-record-sales thing?

Taylor Hicks sucks.

I don't think so. I honestly didn't know she did a "cover" of the song.


I am so angry that I haven't been able to post today.

Ok fine, damnit. Most people = me.

How old are you? Perhaps this is clouding all of our discussion over who made it famous.

Oh wait, EDIT: Nevermind, it was rude to ask your age, Ms. BM. I will chalk it up to me being a stupid youngster who assumed that Tina Turner is the reason people know this song, because she's the reason anyone I know knows it.

If you are NOT in your thirties, then you must show me some respect. :) HA HA! I am an older woman!

Honestly, I can only think of Mr. Waite singing the song.